Expanded Model Local Rules - 2024

Expanded Model Local Rules - 2024

The MGA Terms of Competition references many Model Local Rules.  Here is the full text for each of those.  Click HERE to download a copy.  Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for the breach of a Local Rule is: 
 
Match Play-Loss of Hole; Stroke Play-Two Strokes
 
MODIFICATION OF PENALTY UNDER RULE 3.3b(2) FOR MISSING PLAYER OR MARKER CERTIFICATION - MODEL LOCAL RULE L-1
Rule 3.3b(2) is modified in this way: If a player returns a scorecard without the hole scores being certified either by the player, the marker or both, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes).  The penalty applies to the last hole of the player's round.
 
PRACTICING BEFORE & BETWEEN ROUNDS (Stroke Play Only) – MODEL LOCAL RULE I-1.1
Prior to and after a round in stroke play, a player may practice on the designated practice areas.  Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is modified in this way: A player must not practise on the competition course before or between rounds.  PENALTY: 1ST Breach – Two Penalty Strokes (applied to the player’s first hole).  PENALTY: 2ND Breach – Disqualification.
 
PRACTICING BETWEEN HOLES (Stroke Play Only) – MODEL LOCAL RULE I-2  
Rule 5.5b is modified in this way: Between the play of two holes, a player must not (1) make any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just completed, or (2) Test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball.  This does not preclude a player from finishing out a hole where the score may not be used in team competition.  PENALTY: Two Penalty Strokes at next hole.

CONFORMING BALL RULE – MODEL LOCAL RULE G-3
Any ball used in making a stroke must be on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the USGA.   PENALTY: Disqualification.
 
GATES IN BOUNDARY FENCES AND WALLS - MODEL LOCAL RULE F-26
All closed gates that are attached to boundary walls and fences are part of the boundary object.  Relief is not allowed from such a gate under Rules 15.2 or 16.1. 

But an open gate is not treated as part of the boundary object and may be closed or moved to a different position.
 
RELIEF FROM SEAMS OF CUT TURF – MODEL LOCAL RULE F-7
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:
  • (a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.
  • (b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance.
 
All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.

BALL DEFLECTED BY POWER LINE – MODEL LOCAL RULE E-11
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line during the play of a hole, the stroke does not count.  The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made.
 
However, a ball striking a tower, pole or support wire without striking the power line itself, or striking the power line when out of bounds, must be played as it lies.  There is no line of flight relief from these obstructions.

INTERFERENCE BY ANIMAL NOT DEFINED AS LOOSE IMPEDIMENT - MODEL LOCAL RULE E-13
A player may remove an animal, other than those defined as a loose impediment, that is touching or near the ball without penalty and may do so in any way.

If the player's ball moves while they are removing the animal:
  • There is no penalty, and
  • The ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated; see Rule 14.2) 
MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION – MODEL LOCAL RULE G-6
During a round, a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized or later approved by the Committee. A player who will play, or has played, under penalty of stroke and distance is always authorized to ride on motorized transportation.  
 
If applicable, players and caddies may ride on any shuttles available made by the Committee on listed holes.
PENALTY: General penalty for each breach. If the breach occurs between the play of two holes, it applies to the next hole.
 
PROHIBITING USE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF SHOES - MODEL LOCAL RULE G-7
Rule 4.3a is modified in this way: During a round, a player must not make a stroke while wearing shoes with:
  • Traditional Spikes - that is, spikes having single or multiple points designed to penetrate into the surface of the ground (regardless of whether made of metal, ceramic, plastic or other material); or
  • Spikes of any design that are entirely or partically made of metal, if such metal may come in contact with the course.
Penalty for Breach of Local Rule - see Penalty Statement to Rule 4.3

TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – MODEL LOCAL RULE F-23
Definition of TIO: A temporary immovable obstruction (TIO) is a structure that is temporarily added on or next to the course, usually for a particular competition, and is fixed or not readily movable, such as tents and scoreboards.  TIOs include any supporting guy wires connected to them, except when the Committee decides the supporting guy wires are to be treated as immovable obstructions.
 
The outermost edge of the TIO is used in determining whether a ball is under the TIO or whether the TIO is on the player’s line of sight between the ball and the hole.  Lines or stakes may be used to define the edges of a TIO or to connect multiple TIOs into a single, larger TIO.
 
A TIO is different from an immovable obstruction, and this Local Rule provides additional relief from interference by a TIO. This means that the player can choose to take relief by using either:
  • The procedure for taking relief from an abnormal course condition in Rule 16 as if the TIO were an immovable obstruction (this relief is also available when the ball lies in a penalty area or when the TIO is out of bounds), or
  • The additional relief option available under this Local Rule.
a. When Relief Is Allowed
Relief from a TIO is normally allowed when there is physical interference or line of sight interference from the TIO.
Interference under this Local Rule means that the player has:
  • Physical interference,
  • Line of sight interference, or
  • Both physical and line of sight interference.
(1) Meaning of Physical Interference by Temporary Immovable Obstruction. Physical interference exists when:
  • The player’s ball touches or lies in or on a TIO, or
  • The TIO interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing.
(2) Meaning of Line of Sight Interference by Temporary Immovable Obstruction. Line of sight interference exists when:
  • The player’s ball touches or lies in, on or under a TIO, or
  • The TIO is on the player’s line of sight to the hole (that is, the TIO is located on the straight line between the ball and the hole), or
  • The ball is within one club-length, measured on an equidistant arc from the hole, of a spot where the TIO would be on the player’s direct line of sight to the hole (this one club-length wide area is commonly referred to as the “corridor”).
(3) When No Relief Is Available Despite Having Interference. If the ball touches or is in or on the TIO, relief is always available.  But when the ball neither touches nor is in or on the TIO, there is no relief under this Local Rule if any of the following applies:
  • From either physical interference or line of sight interference:
    • There is no relief when playing the ball as it lies would clearly be unreasonable because of something other than the TIO (such as when the player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush outside the TIO), and
    • There is no relief when interference exists only because the player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances; and
  • From line of sight interference:
    • There is no relief when it is clearly unreasonable for a player to play the ball far enough that the ball will reach the TIO, and
    • There is no relief when the player cannot show that there is a stroke that he or she could reasonably play that would both (a) have the TIO (including the corridor) on the line of that stroke, and (b) result in the ball finishing on a direct line to the hole.
b. Relief from Interference for Ball in General Area
If the player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by a TIO (including a TIO located out of bounds), the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
  • Reference Point: The nearest point of complete relief where both physical and line of sight interference no longer exist.
  • Size of Relief Area from Reference Point: The entire area within one club-length from the reference point, but with these limits:
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
    • Must be in the general area,
    • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
    • There must be complete relief from both physical and line of sight interference by the TIO.
 
If the player has physical interference from the TIO, instead of using this relief procedure he or she may choose to take relief using the procedure for taking relief from an abnormal course condition in Rule 16.1b, treating the TIO as if it were an immovable obstruction. The relief procedure under Rule 16.1b is also available when the ball lies in a penalty area or when the TIO is out of bounds. See Clause f of this Local Rule for how to take relief.
 
f. Player May Proceed Under Other Relief Rules
(1) Taking Relief by Using the Procedures in Rule 16.1 or this Local Rule. If a player has physical interference from the TIO as defined in Clause a, the player may either:
  • Choose to use the relief procedures in Rule 16.1 or
  • Use this Local Rule.
  • But may not take relief under one of these options and then take relief under the other.
If the player chooses to use the procedure for taking relief from an abnormal course condition in Rule 16.1, he or she must treat the TIO as if it is an immovable obstruction and take relief based on where the ball lies:
  • In the general area using the procedures in Rule 16.1b.
  • In a bunker using the procedures in Rule 16.1c.
  • In a penalty area using the procedures in Rule 16.1c as if the ball lies in a bunker.
  • On the putting green using the procedures in Rule 16.1d.
(2) Taking Relief under Rule 17, 18 or 19. This Local Rule does not prevent the player from taking relief under Rule 17, 18 or 19 rather than taking TIO relief under this Local Rule.

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