THE COURSE: Hole-by-Hole description and information
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HANDICAP ALLOWANCES BY COMPETITION TYPE: Playing handicap table
DRESS CODE: What you can wear on the course

Current Local Rules

Below are the current Local Rules for Richmond (Yorks) Golf Club, last updated on 20 October 2025.

Out of Bounds

A ball is out of bounds: a) beyond any boundary fence, hedge or wall, b) beyond lines of white marker posts, c) in or on the clubhouse.

Integral Part of the Course

The wall protruding from the perimeter wall of the practice area to the left of the 1st and right of the 10th hole is an integral part of the course. (Rule 8.1a applies).

Overhead Power Cables

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line during the play of 10th hole, the player must replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot where that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).

If the player replays the stroke but does so from a wrong place, they get the general penalty under Rule 14.7. If the player does not replay the stroke, they get the general penalty and the stroke counts, but the player has not played from a wrong place.

The poles are ‘rub of the green’ when struck in flight and immovable obstructions (Rule 16.1) if they interfere with a player’s stance or swing.

Immoveable Obstructions Close to the Putting Green (Rule 16)

Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1. The player has an extra option to take relief when such immovable obstructions are on or close to the putting green and on the line of play:

Ball in General Area: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:

• On the line of play, and is:
• On or within two club-lengths of the putting green, and
• Within two club-lengths of the ball.

But complete relief must be taken, which includes both physical and line of play interference.

Exception – No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

Protection of Young Trees

The young trees identified by a stake and/or a tree protection tube are no play zones:

• 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 area of intended stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.

• If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief under Rule 17.1e.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

Penalty Areas – Rule 17

Yellow penalty areas marked with yellow stakes (Rules 17.1d(1) and (2)).
Red penalty areas marked with red stakes (Rule 17.1d(3)).

Mandatory No Play Zone Penalty Area

The area to the left of the 4th green marked with blue posts is a no play zone that is treated as a penalty area and relief must be taken from interference by the no play zone under Rule 17.1e. Drop Zones are marked with a sign and the drop must be within one club length of the sign.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rules

General Penalty (Match Play – Loss of Hole; Stroke Play – Two Strokes.)

Players must check for walkers on designated footpaths.

Temporary Local Rules

PREFERRED LIES (Ref. Model local rule E-3)

As from Saturday 20 September 2025, there will be preferred lies on FAIRWAYS and closely mown areas only.

Preferred lies on fairways and fairway length cut grass around greens (aprons).

• Mark Ball
• Clean Ball if required
• Place Ball within 6 inches, not nearer the hole.
• Once only placing allowed.

Rules Committee 20 September 2025

MODEL LOCAL RULE E-3

When any part of a players ball touches part of the GENERAL AREA, cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief, by placing the original ball, or another ball in and playing it from the relief area.

Reference point is the spot of the original Ball. Size of relief area is 6 inches from the reference point, but within these limits, not nearer the hole.

NEWLY LAID TURF/SEEDED AREAS

Model Local Rule E8.1

The areas defined by the newly laid turf/seeded areas:

• The new drainage channels on the 5th fairway
• To the right of the 9th tee area
• To the rear of the 11th tee area
• The new drainage channels on 15th fairway/rough

are NO PLAY ZONES that is treated as abnormal ground conditions(GUR).

Free relief must be taken from interference by the No Play Zone under Rule 16.1f.

Rule 16.11.

1. Find the nearest point of complete relief which is the reference point for your drop, which is not nearer the hole and where the No Play Zone G.U.R no longer interferes with your ball, stance or intended swing.
2. Drop the ball within one club length of the reference point.

TRACTOR TRACKS AND RUTS

The standard rules of golf do not automatically grant free relief from vehicle track marks or ruts. The tractor tracks on the drainage works carried out on holes 5 and 15 are to be considered as G.U.R and as such if a ball comes to rest in tractor tracks on these holes, free relief may be taken under Rule 16-1a.

Determine the nearest point of full relief, not nearer the hole, then drop the ball within.  one club length of that spot. The ball may be cleaned.