Locust Grove High School Golf Team Rules & Etiquette of Golf

The golf team was created to provide a competitive environment for golfers to learn good sportsmanship and the enjoyment of playing with their fellow golfers from other High Schools. Purpose

Player Responsibilities - Etiquette  Be considerate of other players!! Don’t talk, move or stand near a player about to make a stroke.  Leave the course and the facility in better condition than you find it!  Replace divots  Repair ball marks  Rake sand bunkers  Don’t drag your feet on the greens  Be careful with the flag stick  Always act like ladies and gentlemen

Player Responsibilities – Course Conduct  No club throwing  No swearing  No cheating  Disciplinary action may include disqualification, suspension and/or expulsion from the team without warning!  Players should point out rule infractions upon other players.

Player Responsibilities – Pace of Play  9 holes should be completed in 2 hours.  Walk to your golf ball and be ready to play when it is your turn.  If someone has a lost ball, play your shot first, then help them search for the lost ball.  If you can not see the group ahead of you, you are playing too slow.

Player Responsibilities – Tee Times  Players should arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled tee time.  Players arriving 5 minutes after the last golfer, in their group has teed off will be disqualified.  Players are required to give 48 hours notice (or as soon as possible) when withdrawing from an match. This must be done directly to the coach!  Failure to give notice will result in suspension from the next event in which the player is scheduled to participate.

Player Responsibilities – Scorecard  Players are required to keep score for another player in their group, not your fellow team mate.  Each player is responsible for his/her score for each hole. The scorer is not held responsible for the addition of your total score, you are accountable.

Player Responsibilities - Scorecard  Upon completion of the round, scorecards should be returned to the scorer’s table and players must wait for their cards to be checked.  If a player withdraws during a round, they must check in at the scorer’s table and the coach before leaving the facility.

Spectator Information  Golf carts are not provided to parents, spectators or volunteers.  If you are interested in renting a spectator cart, please check in advance with the host facility.

Spectator Information  Do’s and Don’ts Do help players look up rules in the rule book Don’t make any rulings for the group in question Do help players search for lost golf balls Don’t give players advice – (club selection, type of shot etc.) Do carry water bottles, clothes, or rain suits for players Don’t carry the players clubs or bag Don’t talk on your cell phone while on the course Do help keep the golf course clean and neat Don’t let any player get away with damaging the course

Player Responsibilities - Rules  It is the obligation of every player to know and follow the USGA Rules of Golf. Georgia High School Exceptions:  Players may use push carts in regular and post season matches.  Players may NOT use electronic devices that compute playing distances.  Players should not seek rules advice from spectators.  Players should discuss rules questions with fellow competitors, the coach, and consult the rules book.

Player Responsibilities - Rules  Doubt as to Procedure In stroke play only, if a competitor is doubtful of how to proceed (uncertain of a rule) he/she may, without penalty, play a second ball. Providing that: The player announces their intention to a fellow competitor and the player announces which ball they wish to count if the rules permit

Player Responsibilities - Rules  Playing a Wrong Ball The penalty for playing a wrong ball is 2 strokes and the player must correct the error.

Player Responsibilities - Rules  Loose Impediments Natural objects (such as stones and leaves) not fixed or growing, not solidly embedded and not adhering to the ball. May be moved unless the impediment and your ball lie in or touch the same hazard. If you accidently move your ball while moving impediments it is a stroke penalty.

Player Responsibilities - Rules  Obstructions Obstructions are artificial (i.e., man-made) objects. There are two types of obstructions: --MOVABLE --IMMOVABLE

Obstructions - Rules Objects defining out of bounds such as fence posts or stakes and immovable artificial objects out of bounds are not obstructions (Therefore: No relief without penalty!!!! ).

Obstructions – Movable - Rules Movable Obstructions anywhere may be moved. If your ball moves, replace it without penalty.

Obstructions – Immovable - Rules Interference exist when an immovable obstruction or abnormal ground condition interferes with a players lie, stance or areas of intended swing. On the putting green, interference also occurs if the condition on the putting green intervenes on the line of putt.

Obstructions – Immovable - Rules Through the Green: The player shall lift the ball and drop it within one club length of the nearest point of relief on a part of the course that  is not nearer the hole,  avoids interference, c. is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

Obstructions - Immovable Nearest Point of Relief The point on the course nearest to where the ball lies which (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference (lie, stance, area of swing) and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. --It is the spot where the club is grounded in a simulated address position.

Player Responsibilities - Rules Water Hazard Defined by yellow stakes or lines Player has 3 options 1. Play the ball as it lies – no penalty 2. Play the ball at the spot from which the original was last played – 1 stroke penalty 3. Drop behind the hazard keeping the point which the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped – 1 stroke penalty 1 2 3

Player Responsibilities - Rules Rule 26 Lateral Water Hazard Defined by Red stakes or lines 2 additional options 1. Drop 2 club-lengths from the point of entry into the hazard 2. Drop 2 club-lengths from point on the opposite margin, equidistant from the hole

Player Responsibilities - Rules  Ball Lost or Out Of Bounds If your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, you may play a provisional ball before you go forward to look for the original, provided you announce your intention to do so. “That one might be out, I’d better hit a provisional ball”

Lost Ball - Rules When is a ball lost? 1 of 3 actions must occur  Cannot find or identify the ball within five minutes after you have begun to search for it  The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball  Player has played provisional ball from where the original is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that option

Lost Ball or Out of Bounds - Rules If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, add one penalty stroke and play the provisional ball or, if you did not play a provisional ball, replay the shot. The penalty is a stoke plus distanced.

Out of Bounds - Rules The ball is OB when the entire ball is at rest OB. The OB line is determined by the inside edge of the stakes or fence posts O.B. 1

Questions?