Sandiway GC - Local Rules (Effective 4th July 2025)
1. Out of Bounds
A ball is out of bounds when it is (a) beyond and over any fencing bounding the course or (b) beyond the course side edge of the white line on the RHS of the 18th fairway (c) beyond a line between the course-side edges of the white stakes to the right of the 6th green.
The white stakes with black tops on the RHS of the 18th fairway have been placed for visibility and these stakes are movable obstructions and as such can be removed to play a shot without penalty.
2. Protection of Trees
Young trees and Heather Restoration Areas identified by either stakes, bands or plastic sleeves, blue staked/lined areas are no play zones.
If the ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing or if a ball lies in a heather restoration area marked with blue stakes/lined the player must take relief under rule 16.1f.
Players must use the drop zone on the RHS of the 6th Hole when taking free relief from the no play zone if a ball lies in the Heather Restoration Area.
Penalty for playing ball from a wrong place in breach of Local Rule: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.
3. Ground Under Repair
Ground under repair is defined by any area encircled by a white line and relief is available under rule 16.1
4. No Play Zones
No play zones are defined by blue lines and relief must be taken under Rule 16.1f.
5. Integral Part of the Course
The artificial walls and artificial surrounding borders of bunkers, the artificial surface on tees and the wall to the left of the 12th fairway are integral objects.
The sandy area to the right of the 5th hole at the top of the hill is part of the “General Area” and is not a bunker.
The road or path from near the 7th green to the greenkeepers compound is part of the General Area and is an integral part of the course.
6. Fairway Yardage Marker Discs
Fairway Yardage Marker Discs are Immovable Obstructions, and relief may be taken under Rule 16.1.
7. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green
Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
The logs stacked as small structures between the 2nd & 4th fairways are defined as Immovable obstructions and players may take relief under Rule 16.1
The player also has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is: •
On the line of play, and is:
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Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and
- Within two club-lengths of the ball.
Exception - No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
Exception - No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
8. Motorised Transportation
During a round, a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorised transportation except as authorized or later approved by the Committee. A player who will play, or has played, a shot under stroke and distance is always authorized to ride on motorized transport to assist in maintaining a satisfactory pace of play.
Penalty for breach of Local Rule: The player gets the general penalty for each hole during which there is a breach of this Local Rule. If the breach occurs between the play of two holes, it applies to the next hole.
9. Practice Ground
A player may practise on the designated area of the competition course before or between rounds. The designated practise area is to the right of the 1st fairway only and is identified by the mown area to the right of the trees on the 1st fairway.
10. Suspension of Play
A suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged note of the siren. All other suspensions will be signaled by three consecutive notes of the siren. In either case, resumption of play will be signaled by two short notes of siren.
See Rule 5.7b
11. Preferred lies (Local Rule to apply during any period when preferred lies are in operation)
When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by lifting, cleaning and placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
- Reference Point: Spot of the original ball
- Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches from the reference point, but with these limits:
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Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
- Must be in the general area.
In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
12. AERATION HOLES
If a player's ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player's stance or, on the putting green, on the player's line of play.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a."
13. Road crossing holes 5 and 7
The road/track that crosses holes 5 and 7 which is not artificially surfaced, is treated as an immovable obstruction from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1
14. Temporary local rule (With Effect from 29th March 2025 Until Further Notice)
The wetland area in front of the 10th tee is now defined as a penalty area, marked by red stakes and red lines and a player may take relief under penalty using one of the options under rule 17.1d..
NB – The central pathway is an integral part of the penalty area, and no additional relief is allowed for a ball landing on the pathway.
