Rules, Local Rules & Etiquette

Rules

We have a lovely course in fine condition in a beautiful part of the world and best of all it belongs to us, the membership. Take ownership, responsibility and act responsibly.
Golf has many rules and a lot of commentators consider that there are far too many and that they are far too complicated. Be that as it may we are where we are with a complex set of rules.
As with any person playing a sport or game you should be familiar with the rules. You can obtain an electronic copy clicking here and there are hardcopies free of charge in the clubhouse. Illustrated rulebooks are also available from the usual sources. At the end of the day golf is a game of complete trust and integrity.
The Rules are set out by the R & A and are universal and affect all golfers as does, in general terms, course etiquette. There are however some rules local to Todmorden and also some etiquette. Please read these below.

Etiquette

1. If you take a divot replace it and tread it down firmly.
2. If your ball makes a pitch mark on the green repair it. Click here for the correct method. If you see another you can repair that as well because it has obviously been made by the ball of someone less considerate than you.
3. Do not litter the course. Take it home or put it in the bin.
4. Please take home or bin your broken tees. Plastic ones, particularly, are virtually indestructible and harmful to local wildlife.
5. Observe the dress code. Click here for details.
6. If you fear your ball may be lost or out of bounds following a stroke and you intend to play with another ball you must clearly announce to your companions that it is a “provisional” ball. Comments such as “I’ll play another” or “I’ll reload” are just not acceptable and incur penalties. See the Rules.
7. Players in a competition have priority on the course to casual member players and visitors.
8. If you are on the first tee and there are players coming up the 9th fairway who have taken their 2nd shot to the green and they are continuing their round then they have priority to you.
9. Players on the 2nd tee have priority to those on the 18th tee. The 9th tee is fairly well protected by trees but balls do have a habit of threading themselves through so be vigilant and shout “fore left” if it is appropriate to do so.
10.  If you are on either the 7th tee or the 16th tee and there are players on either green then, clearly, you would wait for the green that you are playing to to clear but you must also wait for the other green to clear as well.
11. If you are coming off the 8th green to play the 9th and the group in front of you is playing the 18th please ensure that you can see all the group at the top of the fairway before you tee off.
12. If the wall on the 9th/18th green Impedes your stroke you are entitled to free relief but no nearer the hole.
13. If you have to play out of a bunker please ensure that you rake it smooth after doing so.
14. The clubhouse dress code is smart casual. Golf shoes must not be worn and hats/caps must be removed.
15. It is the responsibility of anyone playing the course (member or visitor) to be fully and adequately insured and you should be able to provide evidence of such insurance if requested.  Any incident involving a third party (person or property) must be reported to the clubhouse.
16. Keep up with the pace of play. Playing “Ready Golf” is perfectly acceptable. If you lose pace with the group in front you should let the group behind through.
17. Please keep to your booked tee time and do not tee off before or after.  If you do either by more than 5 minutes you will incur stroke penalties. The 15 minute time slots have been deliberately chosen to prevent blockages on the first tee and allows those coming up the 9th as referred to at 9 above to slot in before you. If this delays your tee off time by more than 5 minutes then you do not incur any penalty.
18. It is customary to address Club officers by their post. For example, Mr Captain, Mr President, Lady Captain etc. These officers are still members of our club and community with no ‘airs and graces’. No officer expects to be referenced by this on every conversation and in public but in the club, and on the first greeting of the day perhaps, we’d like to see these club traditions upheld like most others.

Local Rules

1.  Out of Bounds.

a. Beyond all walls and fences bounding the course.
b. On the car park and practise areas beyond the white stakes.
c. The area defined by the white stakes to the left of the path leading to the 1st tee.
d. Other out of bounds areas are defined by white stakes.
2.  Penalty Areas.
Lateral penalty areas are defined on the course by red stakes. Water penalty areas are defined on the course by yellow stakes. Penalty stroke under 17.1 d applies.
3. Obstructions. 
All artificial surfaced paths and stone covered drains are deemed immoveable obstructions. Benches, tee markers, shelters, marker posts, bells, fairway distance markers, waste receptacles and irrigation covers are deemed immoveable obstructions.
The stone supporting structures at the 1st/10th, 4th/13th, 7th and 16th tees are deemed immoveable obstructions. Rule 16.1 applies to immoveable obstructions.
4. Fixed Sprinkler Heads.
All fixed sprinkler heads are immoveable objects and relief from interference may be obtained under Rule 16.1. In addition, if such an interference is, on or within 2 club lengths of the putting green of the hole being played and interferes with the line of play between the ball and the hole then the player may obtain relief without penalty as follows, If the ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and within 2 club lengths of the intervening obstruction it can be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to which the ball lay, which is (i) within one club length, (ii) not nearer the hole, (iii) avoids such interference and (iv) is not on the putting green.
5.  Integral Parts of the Course. 
All walls and fences defining the limits of the course. The raised grass banks internal to the course.
6. No Play Zones. 
If the ball is in an all white marked area defining ground under repair or in an area marked as ground under repair or affected by abnormal course conditions or your ball is outside such an area or conditions but the area or conditions interfere with your stance or intended swing you must take relief under Rule 16.
7. Protected Trees.
Such trees are staked and if such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or the area of intended swing then the ball must be lifted but not cleaned and dropped in accordance with the provisions of Rule 16.1.
8. Suspension of Play.
In relation to Rule 5.7 suspension of play is indicated by numerous short klaxon blasts and abandonment by continuous blasts.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULES 4,5 and 6.
In Match Play, loss of hole and in stroke play, 2 strokes.
Kind regards
TGC