The most fundamental rule of golf is to play the ball "as it lies" (USGA rule 13-1). Exceptions may be made on a per tournament basis because of poor overall course conditions due to weather. An exception to rule 13-1 can be declared by the Tournament Committee. When an exception to rule 13-1 is declared for a specific day, the following local rule will be in effect: "A ball lying on your own fairway may be lifted and cleaned, without penalty, and placed within one club-length of where it originally lay, not nearer the hole, and so as to preserve as nearly as possible the stance required to play from the original lie."

Embedded Balls

The Embedded Ball Rule, USGA rule 25-2, is in effect, modified as follows: "A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground may be lifted without penalty, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. Relief is permitted everywhere on the course except in hazards."

The "placement" of a previously embedded ball is only permitted when rule 13-1, "play it as it lies" is waived for the day. The declared extent of the waiver on any given day will dictate whether placement is (a) allowed only on the player's own fairway, or (b) permitted everywhere other than in hazards. The damaged turf should not be repaired until after the shot is played.

Rocks in Fairways

Exposed rocks in FAIRWAYS, whether marked with white circles or not, are "Ground Under Repair" and Rule 25-1 applies. Relief is provided by a free lift and drop within one club-length of where the ball originally lay, not nearer the hole, and so as to preserve as nearly as possible the stance required to play from the original lie.

Stones in Bunkers

"Stones in BUNKERS are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies)."

Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and, when a player’s ball is in a hazard, a scone lying in or touching the hazard may not be touched or moved (Rule 13-4). However, stones in bunkers may represent a danger to players (a player could be injured by a stone struck by the player’s club in an attempt to play the ball) and they may interfere with the proper playing of the game. This "optional local rule" may be found in Appendix 1, Part A, Paragraph 5 and Part B, paragraph 4, of the USGA Rules of Golf. Please note that this rule DOES NOT grant a player the right to intentionally touch or move his ball. However, if the ball is INADVERTENTLY moved by the act of removing the stone, the ball shall be replaced, and there is no penalty provided the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the stone. This rule is strictly limited to BUNKERS and no other hazards.

Non-Conforming Equipment

USGA Rule 4 prohibits the use of golf equipment that the USGA has found to be not conforming to the rules. Such non-conforming equipment may not be used in any RGC tournament. Scores of rounds in which non-conforming equipment is used should not be posted for handicap purposes.

French Drains

All French drains are immovable obstructions under Rule 24-2 and relief is allowed in both fairway and rough for interference with both lie and/or stance The ball may be dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole without penalty.

Local Rules for Individual Holes

2nd hole:

The position of the water hazard behind the green does not allow an adequate area to drop.  Therefore, two ball drops have been established on either side of the green, whether marked or not. The center of each drop area is 15 feet to the outside of the tree behind the green and 10 feet from the edge of the hazard. The ball must be dropped in the drop area closest to where it entered the hazard, even if closer to the hole than where the ball entered the hazard. A one stroke penalty applies.

4th hole:

The right side is a Lateral Water Hazard from the tee to the drainage ditch in front of the Ladies tee. Along the right, stance and lie relief is permitted from the French drain at the base of the hill only, and not as relief from the hill itself. The nearest point of relief for this drop may be up the hill.

8th hole:

The ditch on the left side, approximately 100 yards short of green, marked with yellow stakes and lines, is a water hazard and relief taken from there incurs a penalty of one stroke. The rocks in front of the hazard are Ground Under Repair. A free drop is permitted within one club length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. The entire original maintenance area is Ground Under Repair. The boundaries of this area are the foundation of the old building along the 8th fairway, the stone wall between that building and the 5th green, the stone wall along the 4th fairway, and all the bare areas on the 8th green side of the building. A ball drop has been established, whether marked or not, two club lengths from the foundation of the old building. In order to obtain relief, the ball must be found within these boundaries. If the ball is lost, no relief is permitted, and the customary stroke-and-distance penalty for Lost Ball applies. Similar relief is also permitted from the new maintenance building. Again, in order to obtain relief, the ball must be found.

9th hole:

Any ball coming to rest on or beyond the stone wall behind the green is OB.

13th hole:

The left side of the hole, from a point nearly at the bottom of the hill below the tee, extending until the point where the existing yellow-staked water hazard already exists near the green, has been marked as a Lateral Water Hazard.

14th hole:

The right side tree line will be played as a Lateral Water Hazard from the tee to a point, approximately 100 yards from the green, that is even with the point where the crushed rock drain on the right side ends. The entire area on the left side from the Back Tee box to the Forward Tee box is a Lateral Water Hazard. Any ball entering this area that is not found can be assumed to be in the Hazard .The wooded area beyond the last red stake is not a Hazard. Any ball entering this area must be found. Play a provisional ball in case the original ball is lost.

Tournament Procedures

Tournament sign-up sheets will be posted several weeks in advance of an event. Sign-up sheets for our two season-long tournaments, the Two-Man Team Match Play Championship and the Players Cup (individual match play), will be posted during the opening weekend of the golf course. Tournaments that have pre-set tee times, such as the President’s Cup, have a limit to the number of players permitted. The Two-Man Championship is limited to 64 teams (128 players) and the Players Cup is limited to 64 individual player. All other Tournaments usually have an unlimited number of openings. New Members must establish an official handicap to participate in any Tournaments.

Tournament Results Review

All tournament results are subject to review and affirmation by the Tournament and Rules Committee.

Breaking Ties

In MATCH PLAY TOURNAMENTS, ties at the end of regulation play will be broken by sudden death extra holes, with handicap holes designated the same as during the regulation 18 holes. The playing of extra holes will begin on the same hole as regulation play began unless required otherwise by the Golf Director’s office. 

In STROKE PLAY TOURNAMENTS, except in the President’s Cup, ties for first place will be broken by a match of cards. The Committee will employ a match of cards on the basis of the best net score over the last nine holes. The last nine holes, is defined as holes 10 through 18, regardless of the competitors’ playing order of the two sides of the course. If the tying players have the same net score for the last nine holes, then the winner will be determined on the basis of the last six holes, or the last three holes if still tied, or finally the 18th hole. If still tied, and no playoff was arranged, then the competition will conclude as tied.

In the case of a tie for 1st place in the President’s Cup, the Tournament and Rules Committee may arrange a playoff if feasible. Should there be a playoff, the Committee will determine a reasonable number of holes for the playoff. If it is not feasible to arrange a playoff, then the Committee will employ a match of cards.
 
The minimum prize paid to any individual who places in any tournament will be $10, regardless of ties. All prizes will be awarded in whole dollar amounts. Fractions of dollars will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
 
Administration of these rules and guidelines is solely the responsibility of
the Tournament and Rules Committee of the Board of Governors of the RGC.

Submitting Score Cards

Score Cards for GHIN Computer

Scorecards should be checked carefully and adjusted for Equitable Stroke Control as defined by the USGA. Players with Course handicaps from 0-9 can record a maximum score of double bogey on any hole; players with a Course Handicap of 10-19 can record a maximum of 7 on any hole; for 20-29, an 8; for 30-39, a 9; and 40 and above, a 10.

According to USGA rules the maximum index for tournament play is 36.4.

Score Cards for Tournaments

Scorecards for Tournaments should be checked carefully and attested, with a signature, by at least one member of the foursome or playing group, unless otherwise stated on the scorecard. After the card is attested it should be immediately submitted to the Pro Shop for tabulation in the Tournament results. Once the scorecard is signed and submitted, no changes can be made. Your adjusted scores must be posted in the computer with a "T" for Tournament for those events so designated. Failure to do so can result in the imposition of a penalty under the USGA rules. Scorecards will be retained by the Committee.