UNIVERSAL GOLF INVITATIONAL 2022

 

TOURNAMENT LOCAL RULES

 

The Local Rules on the back of the score card and on the club notice board are withdrawn and the following Local Rules apply for the duration of the Tournament

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  PREFFERED LIES- PREFERRED LIES ON FAIRWAY IN PLAY

In order to speed up play, and to protect the course, “a player may prefer the lie of his ball one hand-span, not nearer the hole, IF THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that it lies on the fairway in play.”

 

There are numerous areas on the course where doubt may exist as to whether the ball is lying on fairway or not. If there is ANY doubt, the ball MUST be played as it lies. Please do not enter into any discussions/arguments in this regard.

If in doubt DO NOT prefer the lie of the ball. The rule is very clear, “absolute certainty” is a pre-condition for applying this rule. A player may NOT play 2 balls for implementation of this rule.

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2. 1.OUT OF BOUNDS: The boundary of the course is defined by the walls, fence, white posts and lines, club house environs beyond the chain and the inner margin of the brick paving between the 9th and 18th greens.  The electrified fence attached to the Boundary wall is live and is an integral part of the course. When Playing Hole No 9, the short driving range is out of bounds, and marked with white stakes, in addition the area bounded by the INNER MARGIN of the brick paving leading from the short driving range to the corner of the club house behind the caddie masters desk behind the 9th green is also out of bounds.

      A ball which crosses the brick paving on the 9th or 18th holes defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond the           paving is out of bounds even though it may lie on another part of the course  

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ALTERNATIVE TO STROKE AND DISTANCE FOR LOST BALL OR BALL OUT OF BOUNDS

When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or

virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may

proceed under the Stroke and Distance Local Rule for a

PENALTY OF TWO STROKES

rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.

This Local Rule is not available if a provisional ball has been

played. Once the player walks off the Tee Box without a

provisional being played the penalty is enforced

See diagram explaining the relief area.

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2. WATER HAZARDS. The duck pond to the left of the 16th fairway is a lateral water hazard defined
  by red stakes. Play is prohibited from the area inside the red stakes of the lateral water hazard on
   the 10th hole.

 

3. ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS: Rule 25-1b. Through the green

 

a)  If the ball lies in a hole made by a cricket or depression made by tractor tyres and damage by
     other course machinery or the holes, mounds and earth workings of termites, the ball may be
     lifted cleaned and dropped within one club length from the nearest point of relief.  
     If the ball lies in the groove at the junction of Bent grass of the fringe of the green and Kikuyu
     of the fairway the ball may be lifted cleaned and placed within one hand span no nearer the hole.

b)  If the ball lies in any re-sodded or repaired area or an area defined by a continuous white line or
     grass cuttings and grass sods piled for removal and if the condition interferes with the player’s
     swing or stance, the ball may be marked, lifted and dropped within one club length of the nearest
     point of relief. EXCEPTION: A player may not take relief without penalty under Rule 25-1b if it is
     clearly unreasonable for him to play a shot for any reason other than the abnormal ground
      condition or if such condition would only interfere by taking an abnormal swing or stance. There
     are no preferred lies and no relief for mud on the ball. The embedded ball rule applies in
     any closely mown area through the green.

 

4.  IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS: Rule 24-2 (Compulsory relief without penalty of one club
    length must be taken from the nearest point of relief if the following situations interfere with the
   player’s swing or stance or if the ball lies in or on the situation.)

   

i) Newly planted trees under 2 club lengths in height or marked by white stakes or protective fences.

(The fence is part of the obstruction)

ii) Fixed sprinkler heads or any part of the course watering system

iii) Drinking water points and their walled surrounds

iv) Cultivated gardens.

 

Relief without penalty may be taken from the following immovable obstructions

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(i) Protective fences (and their foliage) around 7th tee and mens’17th tee

(ii) The base plate holding the 150m markers and the metal distance markers on the
    fairways.

     NOTE: all unsurfaced roads are an integral part of the course

 

5. MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS
  i) Stones in bunkers  
   ii) The wooden 150 m marker poles (the bases of these poles are immovable obstructions)

6. GENERAL:

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A) THE USE OF CELL PHONES on the course may be CONSIDERED TO BE A SERIOUS BREACH OF
    ETIQUETTE and a penalty of two strokes may be imposed at the discretion of the Tournament
  Committee

b) PACE OF PLAY: If a group of players loses the distance equivalent to two par 4 holes from the
    group in front and this situation persists for the play of two holes, all players in the group will be
    penalised one stroke. If the slow play continues the penalty will be an additional two strokes. A
    “Comfort break” of a maximum of seven minutes may be taken after 9 holes of play. 

 

c) DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE: RULE 3-3 applies and players must report the play of a second ball
  to the Tournament Committee before returning their score cards.

 

e) DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES: a player may obtain distance information by using a device
   that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring
    device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g.,
    gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the
    penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used."

 

6) HANDICAPS: The handicap that you start the tournament with cannot change unless you receive penalty chops

 

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 IF YOU ARE NOT OFFICIALLY HANDICAPPED BY  A GOLF CLUB YOU ARE INELIGIBLE TO WIN A MAJOR PRIZE  

 

f) GOLF CARTS:  If a LOCAL player requires the use of a cart it is his prerogative to obtain one   

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In cases of a dispute the player will appear before the rules committee where a final decision will be made

 

Rules committee: Imraan Meman, M Mandu , K Mandu & Royal Harare Golf Club

 

Tournament director: Imraan Meman (Bossi)

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Tournament Committee :  Imraan Meman, Hamid Adam, Mahomed Nooria, Rayaaz Dada, Ziyad Adam, Suleman Darsot, 

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