Local Rules
Please note:
– Motorised carts/bikes are not permitted between any bunker and green
– Golf carts are not permitted within 5 metres of any green and no buggy or cart is to be parked in front of a green or taken onto the tee area
– Distance markers are measured from centre of each green
RMC GOLF CLUB LOCAL RULES (OCTOBER 2025)
To be used in conjunction with the 2023 Rules of Golf
1. OUT OF BOUNDS
The boundary of the course is marked by fences and black and white painted stakes. The boundary along Hopkins Road is the inside edge of the Koppers log fence. A ball that crosses Hopkins Road is out of bounds, even if it lies on another part of the course.
Note: no relief may be taken from a boundary fence or an out of bounds stake.
Internal Out of Bounds
During play of 4th/13th hole, the left side of the hole bordering the practice nets and practice chipping area, defined by black and white painted stakes, is out of bounds.
These stakes are boundary objects during the play of 4th/13th hole.
2. 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 as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance:
For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3 – Dropping Ball in Relief Area).
There are two Estimated Reference Points:
(a) Ball Reference Point – the point where the original ball is estimated to have:
• Come to rest on the course, or
• Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds
(b) Fairway Reference Point – the point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point. The ball should be dropped within 2 club lengths of the edge of the fairway.
But the player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:
• That ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or
• The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance.
NOTE: This option is NOT available during Championship or Open competitions. During these competitions, if a ball is lost or Out of Bounds, players should proceed under normal Stroke and Distance penalty procedures.
3. BALL DEFLECTED BY POWERLINES
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball strikes the power lines within the boundary of RMC Golf Course, the player must play another ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 Making next stroke from where previous stroke made).
4. PENALTY AREAS
Penalty areas are defined by red stakes. Relief may be taken as per Rule 17.1d (1), (2) & (3).
5. STAKED TREES
Staked trees are no play zones (including the stake and any wrapping). If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f No play zone in abnormal course condition.
6. NO PLAY ZONES
Areas of the general area of the course defined by painted white lines are no play zones that are to be treated as an abnormal course condition. Relief must be taken from interference by the no play zone under Rule 16.1f.
All garden beds are compulsory no play zones from which relief must be taken.
Note: The area of the “Purple Course” tee area on 5th/14th hole surrounded by concrete pathways, including tee area and gardens, is to be considered as a No Play Zone from which relief must be taken.
7. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS
Except in a penalty area, distinguishable wheel marks, ruts made by machinery, buggies or carts may be treated as an abnormal course condition.
8. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS
In accordance with Rule 16.1, relief may be taken from any man made object that interferes with a player’s stance or swing. This includes roads/paths with or without artificial surface, sprinkler heads and distance markers.
9. SPRINKLER HEADS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREENS – LINE OF PLAY INTERFERENCE
If a sprinkler head is on a player’s line of play, and is within two club-lengths of the putting green, and is within two club-lengths of the ball, the player may take line of play relief (under Rule 16.1b).
10. DROPPING ZONES
Dropping zones (DZ) are marked with painted plates. Note: when a player is using a dropping zone the ball must be dropped in the dropping zone and it must come to rest in the dropping zone.
Line of play relief from protective fences has been introduced for several areas on the course:
3rd/12th holes: Line of play relief from protective fence: during play of these holes, if the protective fence on 2nd/11th tee is on a player’s line of play, the player may take free relief by dropping a ball in and playing it from the drop zone located in the rough adjacent to 11th tee area. Note this relief is only allowed if the ball is in play nearer the hole than where the dropping zone is located (see Rule 14.3).
4th/13th holes: If the protective fence at the rear of the 9th/18th tee box is on a player’s line of play, the player may take free relief by dropping a ball in and playing it from the drop zone located in the rough adjacent to 4th/13th fairway near the protective fence. Note this relief is only allowed if the ball is in play nearer the hole than where the dropping zone is located (see Rule 14.3).
6th/15th holes: If the protective fence near the 16th tee box is on a player’s line of play, the player may take free relief by dropping a ball in and playing it from the drop zone located in the rough adjacent to 6th/15th fairway. Note this relief is only allowed if the ball is in play nearer the hole than where the dropping zone is located (see Rule 14.3).
7th/16th hole: For balls hit into the penalty area, a new drop zone has been created.
The drop zone MUST be used if your ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in the penalty area and is unplayable. Relief should be taken in accordance with Rule 14.3 and a one shot penalty applies. The drop zone is located at the 7th/16th hole Short Course tee box.
9th/18th holes: If a ball lies in the garden bed left of the green, a player may drop in the drop zone adjacent to the garden bed without penalty.
17th hole:
i) If a ball lies on the path left of the green and before the orange marker, the ball may be dropped in the dropping zone left of the front of the green, or
ii) If a ball lies on the path past the orange marker, it may be dropped in the dropping zone behind the green.
11. RELIEF FROM TREE ROOTS
If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference from exposed tree roots that are in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, or in the rough within two club-lengths of the fairway, the tree roots are treated as Ground Under Repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b. Interference does not exist if the tree roots only interfere with the player’s stance.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.
12. RELIEF FROM BARE EARTH
Relief may be taken from bare earth patches in parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less. Relief may be taken by dropping the original ball or another ball as shown in Rules Diagram 16.1b. The ball must be dropped no nearer the hole and must be within the “general area”. NOTE: Divots are not bare earth patches and no relief is allowed.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULES
General Penalty: Match Play – loss of hole; Stroke Play – two strokes
AUTHORISED BY:
DIRECTOR MEN’S GOLF DIRECTOR WOMEN’S GOLF
GREENKEEPING STAFF HAVE RIGHT OF WAY AT ALL TIMES
REPAIR DIVOTS AND PITCH MARKS AND RAKE BUNKERS.
CARRY A SAND BUCKET