PART A: LOCAL RULES
As provided in Rule 33-8a, the Committee may make and publish
Local Rules for local abnormal conditions if they are consistent
with the policy established in this Appendix. In addition,
detailed information regarding acceptable and prohibited
Local Rules is provided in “Decisions on the Rules of Golf”
under Rule 33-8 and in “How to Conduct a Competition.”
If local abnormal conditions interfere with the proper playing
of the game and the Committee considers it necessary to modify
a Rule of Golf, authorization from the United States Golf
Association must be obtained.
1. Defining Bounds and Margins
Specifying means used to define out of bounds, water hazards,
lateral water hazards, ground under repair, obstructions and integral
parts of the course (Rule 33-2a).
2. Water Hazards
g a. Lateral Water Hazards
Clarifying the status of water hazards that may be lateral water
hazards (Rule 26).
g b. Ball Played Provisionally Under Rule 26-1
Permitting play of a ball provisionally under Rule 26-1 for
a ball that may be in a water hazard (including a lateral water
hazard) of such character that, if the original ball is not
found, it is known or virtually certain that it is in the water
hazard and it would be impracticable to determine whether
the ball is in the hazard or to do so would unduly delay play.
Appendix I 101
3. Areas of the Course Requiring Preservation;
Environmentally-Sensitive Areas
Assisting preservation of the course by defining areas, including
turf nurseries, young plantations and other parts of the course
under cultivation, as ground under repair from which play is
prohibited.
When the Committee is required to prohibit play from environmentally-
sensitive areas that are on or adjoin the course, it
should make a Local Rule clarifying the relief procedure.
4. Course Conditions — Mud, Extreme Wetness, Poor
Conditions and Protection of Course
g a. Lifting an Embedded Ball; Cleaning
Course conditions that might interfere with proper playing of
the game, including mud and extreme wetness, warranting
relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green or permitting
lifting, cleaning and replacing a ball anywhere through
the green or on a closely mown area through the green.
g b. “Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules”
Adverse conditions, including the poor condition of the course
or the existence of mud, are sometimes so general, particularly
during winter months, that the Committee may decide to grant
relief by temporary Local Rule either to protect the course or to
promote fair and pleasant play. The Local Rule should be withdrawn
as soon as the conditions warrant.
5. Obstructions
g a. General
Clarifying the status of objects that may be obstructions (Rule 24).
Declaring any construction to be an integral part of the course
and, accordingly, not an obstruction, e.g., built-up sides of teeing
grounds, putting greens and bunkers (Rules 24 and 33-2a).
g b. Stones in Bunkers
Allowing the removal of stones in bunkers by declaring them to
be movable obstructions (Rule 24-1).
102 Appendix I
g c. Roads and Paths
(i) D
eclaring artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths
to be integral parts of the course, or
(ii) P roviding relief of the type afforded under Rule 24-2b
from roads and paths not having artificial surfaces and
sides, if they could unfairly affect play.
g d. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green
Providing relief from intervention by immovable obstructions on
or within two club-lengths of the putting green when the ball
lies within two club-lengths of the immovable obstruction.
g e. Protection of Young Trees
Providing relief for the protection of young trees.
g f. Temporary Obstructions
Providing relief from interference by temporary obstructions
(e.g., grandstands, television cables and equipment, etc.).
6. Dropping Zones
Establishing special areas on which balls may or must be
dropped when it is not feasible or practicable to proceed
exactly in conformity with Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction),
Rule 24-3 (Ball in Obstruction Not Found), Rule 25-1b or
25-1c (Abnormal Ground Conditions), Rule 25-3 (Wrong Putting
Green), Rule 26-1 (Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards)
or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).
