MIRAFLORES GOLF CLUB LOCAL RULES (As of 22nd July 2022)

 

1. Hole 2 - Where a ball enters the red Penalty Area (PA) to the right hand side or to the rear of the green and cannot be dropped within 2 club lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the hazard line and remain not nearer the hole, the ball must be dropped in the drop zone, under penalty of 1 stroke (ref: Rule 17).

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2. Hole 4 - The turf nursery and hole 5 teeing area to the left of the 4th green are deemed Out Of Bounds when playing the 4th hole.  The pump house to the rear of the 4th green is an immovable obstruction.  If interfering with stance or swing, free relief may be taken (ref: Rule 16.1)

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3. Hole 5 Teeing area - The fence to the left of teeing area is an immovable obstruction. If interfering with stance or swing path, free relief may be taken (ref: Rule 16.1).  A ball crossing the lateral PA (red stakes) but not carrying the lake should be dropped within 2 club lengths of where the PA line was last crossed, not nearer the hole, or replayed from where the original stroke was taken. In both cases under penalty of 1 stroke.  A ball clearing the PA but then falling back into it where indicated by yellow painted line may either be played as it lies or (under penalty of 1 stroke) be dropped in the designated drop zone.  A ball crossing the lake to the far left and landing Out Of Bounds must be replayed from the tee under penalty of stroke and distance. (Ref: Rule 17).

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4. Hole 5 Green area - If the ball is inside the PA and cannot be played as it lies, you may either: use one of the drop zones (the zone closest to where your ball crossed the boundary), or replay the stroke from the original position or drop your ball no more than two club lengths from where it crossed into the PA, no closer to the hole.  In all cases under penalty of 1 stroke.  (Ref: Rule 17). 

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5. Hole 8 - The electric fencing to the left of the 8th fairway defines the Out Of Bounds area.  If a ball comes to rest within the course but the electric fencing interferes with your stance or swing, free relief must be taken. (Local rule to protect player’s safety).  A reference point should be marked 1 club length from the electric fence, no nearer the hole. Proceed as per Annex 1/ii below.  (Ref: Local Rule A-5)

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6. Holes 12 and 15 – The rocks surrounding Penalty Areas are within and integral to the PAs. They may be treated as immovable obstructions and free relief taken if the ball is outside the PA. As there is danger from club/ball striking the rocks, relief is 2 club lengths. (Ref: Rule 16.1).

 

7.  Holes 12 and 15 -  If the ball is in the hazard and last crossed lateral PA markers (red stakes) 2 club lengths lateral relief may be taken under penalty of one stroke. If the ball is in the hazard and last crossed yellow PA markers, drop a ball behind the point where the ball last crossed the PA, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped, under penalty of 1 stroke.  (Ref: Rule 17)

 

8.  If the ball comes to rest within a boundary wall (for example on hole 14) it is considered OOB. If a boundary wall interferes with swing or stance, no relief is given from immovable obstructions, such as the cart path.  (Ref: Rule 2.3).

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9. Buggy paths and attached drainage gullies - Where a ball lies on/in a path or attached gulley, or where a player’s stance or swing is affected by the gulley or path, the ball may be dropped without penalty.  (Ref:   Rule 16.1).

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10. Drainage ditches - Free relief may be taken from open ditches and channels, i.e. those covered in stones or wire mesh.  (Ref: Rule 16.1)  Old ditches that have grown over (e.g. hole 17) are not eligible for relief.

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11. Plastic protective matting - In some areas of the course, green plastic matting has been inserted into the ground to reduce wear and tear (e.g. the entrances to the green, Hole 15). These should be treated as immovable obstructions and free relief taken.  (Ref: Rule 16.1)

 

12. Artificial grass matts on tee boxes - Teeing Area - Where used, a tee mat defines the teeing area. You must, when starting the hole, play your ball from it.  Penalty: General Penalty. In stroke play, proceed under Rule 6.1b(2).                                                                                                    Page 1 of 2

13. On fairways when the ball comes to rest on ground that is clearly bare, free relief must be taken.  Play from the closest patch of grass.  (See dropping annex below).

14. Ground Under Repair - Indicated by blue markings/posts. A player must not play a ball from, or stand within the GUR marked area. Full relief must be taken (see dropping annex below).

 

15.  Netting and support posts - All netting and associated posts within the course boundaries are deemed to be immovable obstructions. If the ball is embedded in the netting, or the netting or posts interfere with your swing or stance, free relief may be taken, (Ref: Rule 16.1) except where boundary fencing would also interfere with your swing – in this case no free relief is given.  (Ref: Rule 2.3).  You may not replay the shot that struck the netting or post.  If the netting or support posts are marked to show OOB line, relating to the hole that you are playing, there is no relief from the posts or the netting.

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16. Bridges - All bridges that span PAs, are deemed to be integral parts of the hazard but as such, they are also deemed to be immovable obstructions.  If you are inside the margin of the hazard and prefer to take relief, you may, under penalty of 1 stroke.  If you are outside the hazard but the bridge interferes with your stance or swing, you may take free relief under the immovable obstruction rule.  Note: there is no relief for a “line of sight” stroke.

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17. If a ball strikes an electricity pylon or overhead cable, situated within the course boundaries, including in front of the tee box on hole 12, the stroke must be retaken without penalty.  (Ref: Local Rule – E11).

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18. Measuring Devices - devices for determining distances only are allowed.  (Ref: Rule 4.3).

 

19. Miraflores Code of Conduct & Disciplinary Procedures are adopted as a local rule.  Please see website or noticeboard for full document.  (Ref: Rule 1.2b).

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ANNEX - RULES FOR DROPPING A BALL

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1. Rules for dropping a ball where a free drop is permitted

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1/i. The nearest point to where the ball lies, which provides full relief, is marked with a tee or other object. This point is known as the Reference Point.

1/ii. A measurement of 1 club length from the Reference Point, not nearer the hole, is made and marked in the same way.  Note: Any club may be used to measure the club length, except putter.

1/iii. Drop the ball from knee height to the side or front of you, between the markers, no nearer the hole.

1/iv. The ball is in play unless it rolls nearer the hole or comes to rest outside the 1 club length marked area.

1/v. In both cases the ball must be re-dropped.  If a similar result occurs, the ball must be placed on the point where the ball first struck the ground on the 2nd drop.

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​2. Rules for dropping a ball under penalty

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2/i. Rules are as per those for a free drop, except that where a ball has entered a lateral PA, the player, under penalty of 1 stroke, marks 2 club lengths from where the ball last crossed the PA line, and drops a ball no nearer the hole within the marked area.  The ball must stay within the marked area.

2/ii. Declare a ball “unplayable” and, under penalty of 1 stroke, drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped (Rule 19.2).

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3. Rules for dropping from paths and attached gullies

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3/i. If a player decides that there is no suitable point of free relief (see above) then the player has the following options:

a. Play the ball as it lies.

b. Declare the ball “unplayable” and play the ball from the last position under penalty of stroke and distance.

c. Declare the ball “unplayable” and proceed as per 2/ii above.