Local Rules

COURSE RISKS

Important Information

Please CLICK here to read how to stay safe on the course

Safety at Cowden 8th (or 17th as it is known!)

New arrangements for accessing next tee

In response to members’ safety concerns we have blocked access to the 18th tee from the gap in the trees at the left of the 17th fairway. There have been a number of near misses as players walk back up the 17th fairway into tee shots coming over the hill.

Players should take their bags down to the 17th green and approach the 18th tee via the path behind the trees. If your playing partners are not aware of this please inform them. Extra signage is now in place at the 17th tee to remind players.

Updates and Clarifications

Paths: If a ball is lying on a path or where a path interferes with a player’s stance or swing rule 24.2 applies. A player MAY take relief within one club length of the nearest point of relief and not nearer the hole. At Muckhart in the absence of clearly defined pathways in places we should treat all black paths and artificial surfaces as immovable obstructions and apply the above rule. If not sure then play the ball as it lies. Please also note that a ball lying on a bridge over a Water Hazard and within the bounds of the yellow posts or lines is classified as being in the hazard and rule 26-1 applies.

Seeded Divots: Golfers are reminded that in 2010 the R&A withdrew the facility for golf clubs to establish a local rule giving relief from seeded divots and the ball must be played as it lies. However we would request that in casual play common sense should prevail and relief should be taken.

Unusual Equipment: Players may use devices that measure or gauge distance only as stated in Rule 14-3. Howver the use of a distance measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play (eg gradient, wind speed, temperature etc) is NOT permitted, regardless of whether this additional function is used (Decision 14-3/0.5 refers)

Rules

Local Rules

To read more on rules, please go to Scottish Golf

Out of Bounds (Rule 27): Beyond any boundary wall, fence, or line of white posts

Water Hazards (Rule 26): Areas marked with yellow posts are water hazards, areas marked with red posts are lateral water hazards.

If your ball has entered either yellow or red posted water hazard you have the option of playing again from where you played your last shot under stroke and distance, or under penalty of one shot drop the ball behind the hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit of how far you go back. Of course if you find your ball in the hazard you have the option of playing it without penalty as long as you do not ground your club.

ONLY IN A RED POSTED HAZARD do you have the additional option of under penalty of one shot dropping a ball outside the hazard within 2 club lengths but not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

Ground under Repair (Rule 25): If a ball is lying in or touching GUR, or when GUR interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the player MUST lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club length of and not nearer the hole from the nearest point of relief.

Rocky Outcrops: If an outcrop of rock on the fairway or in semi rough interferes with the proper playing of the game , it may be deemed as GUR. Outcrops outside of the fairway or semi rough should not be deemed as GUR. Broken Ground does not constitute an outcrop of rock.

Staked Trees (Rule 24-2): Staked, tubed or wired trees are immovable instructions and relief under rule 24-2 applies.

Stones in Bunkers (Rule 24-1): Stones in bunkers are moveable obstructions, rule 24-1 applies.

Fixed Sprinkler Heads: These are immovable obstructions and relief from interference by them may be obtained under rule 24-2. In addition if such an obstruction intervenes between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief without penalty in the following circumstances: If the ball lies on the putting green it may be lifted and placed not nearer the hole at the nearest point of which intervention by the obstruction is avoided. If the ball lies off the putting green (but not in a hazard) and is within 2 club lengths of the intervening obstruction it may be lifted, cleaned, an dropped as above.