WEST FLORIDA GOLF TOUR LOCAL RULES/ HARD CARD

The current Rules of the United States Golf Association and The R&A govern all play on the West Florida Golf Tour.

RULE 20.3 c(3)

The WFGT strongly urges its players to play 2 balls if they are not sure how to proceed with a ruling as a rules official is not always present. In addition to playing 2 balls, players are also asked to play a provisional ball when he or she thinks it could be lost (this is even more prevelant now that the search time has been shortened to 3 minutes).

MEASURING DEVICES:

Measuring Devices will be permitted on the WFGT, however they cannot measure anything other than true yardage (ie, slope or wind).

PACE OF PLAY:

Time Par is 4 hours and 15 minutes on the WFGT. Please keep pace with the group in front of you and play ready golf. Players have 40 seconds to play their shot.

WEATHER:

A player has the right to suspend play if he/she feels threatened by dangerous lightning conditions without penalty. If West Florida Golf Tour or host club should indicate suspension of play all players should mark their balls, cease playing immediately and seek shelter.

Discontinue Play Immediately: One prolonged signal note. Discontinue Play: Three consecutive short signal notes, repeated. Resume Play: Two short signal notes, repeated.

OUT OF BOUNDS:

• Defined by course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes, lines and perimeter fence posts.
• When a paved road or curb defines out of bounds, a ball that is on or beyond the road or curb is out of bounds even though it may lie on another part of the golf course.

PENALTY AREAS:

• When a penalty area is bounded by out of bounds, the penalty area edge extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.
• When a penalty area coincides with the out of bounds line the Local Rule is in effect allowing an additional relief option on the opposite side of a red penalty area equidistant to the reference point.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR:

Defined by white lines. Other areas of ground under repair, even when not marked, include:

• French drains (trenches filled with stones or the like).
• Large or hard ant hills on the course.
• Edging grooves around putting greens.

SEAMS OF CUT TURF (Newly Sodded Areas):

If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:

• Ball in General Area: The player may drop a ball under Rule 16.1b.
• Ball on Putting Green: The player may place a ball under Rule 16.1d Interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS:

Wood chips and mulch are loose impediments.

PRACTICE:

Players are no longer allowed to practice putt between holes, even if they aren’t holding up play. Players will receive one warning before potential disqualification.