STPGA Junior Golf Hard Card Little Linksters, Junior Links, and Caddies

Rules of Golf will govern all play. The following Local Rules, STPGA Rules, and Caddie Rules apply for all tournaments.

Local Rules

Out of Bounds: A ball coming to rest on or beyond the road is out of bounds, even if it comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes. 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): Two estimated reference points are the 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) and the fairway reference point (the point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but if not nearer the hole than the ball reference point. The size of Relief Area based on reference points is anywhere between a line from the hole through the ball reference point and within two club-lengths to the outside of that line, and a line from the hole through the fairway reference point and within two club-lengths to the fairway side of that line. The player may NOT use this option to take relief for the original ball when the player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance. A player may use this option to take relief for a provisional ball that has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds. (Model Local Rule E-5)

Ground Under Repair: Areas completely encircled with white lines, seams of cut turf, fire ant mounds, and French drains filled with stones.

Doubt as to Procedure: Under Rule 20.1c, p.122, when in doubt as to procedure, a player may play two (2) balls without penalty. The player must determine which ball they want to count and report all facts of the situation to the committee before signing and submitting the scorecard.

Penalty Area: Native area, fescue, wooded areas or the like may be defined by red or yellow stakes or freshly painted lines. Check with an STPGA staff member prior to playing.

Close of Competition: The competition shall be deemed to have closed when all scores have been validated in the Scoring System and approved by the STPGA Rules Committee. In the event of a playoff the competition shall be deemed to have closed when the playoff scores have been approved by the STPGA Rules Committee.

Replacing Club that is Broken or Significantly Damaged: Model Local Rule G-9 is in effect.

Ball Played from Outside Relief Area When Taking Back-On-The-Line Relief: Model Local Rule E-12 is in effect.

STPGA Rules

Artificial Devices: Cell phones and smart-watches are NOT permitted at any point during play. Violation of this rule is a General Penalty for each infraction.

Transportation: All players must walk but are allowed to use a pull cart at the discretion of the host facility. Shuttle holes will be designated on a per tournament basis by the STPGA staff.

Stroke Limit: There is a 10 stroke per hole limit in effect. Once the player has hit their 9th stroke and is not holed out, they must pick up and record a 10. A player may be subject to disqualification if they pick up their ball prior to their 9th stroke and give themselves a 10.

Bunker Rule (Little Linksters only): If a player’s ball is in a bunker and the player has taken two (2) strokes at the ball in the same bunker and has not advanced the ball out of the bunker, the player has the option, for no additional penalty, to drop the ball outside the bunker. The player will drop the ball at the nearest point of relief, one club length no closer to the hole and continue play.

Penalty Area Rule (Little Linksters only): If a player hits 2 balls into the same designated penalty area, they have the option to drop a ball on the opposite side of said penalty area with no additional penalty.

Note: Players must count the two penalty strokes for hitting into the penalty area before proceeding under this rule. Example: Player hits his or her first (1) shot into a penalty area. Player drops and lays two (2). Players proceeds to hit his or her third (3) shot into the same penalty area. The player then can drop on the other side of the penalty area and lay four (4) and proceed to hit their fifth shot (5).

Caddie Rules

All Caddies must follow rules outlined in the caddie quiz and listed on the STPGA Junior Golf website.

Caddies must step to the side and not stand directly behind the player when he or she takes their stance or makes a stroke (Rule 10.2, p.59). Breach of this rule is the general penalty. NOTE: Once the player takes their stance, the caddie may back away, and the player must re-take their stance. There is no penalty if this occurs before the player takes a stroke.

All players and caddies must walk the golf course. Participants and their equipment cannot be transported in motorized carts, except when going to their first hole, when returning from their last hole, or on a designated shuttle hole.

If a caddie commits a penalty under the Rules of Golf, the golfer is responsible for the caddies’ action.

Caddies are on the golf course to assist in pace of play during the tournament. Please make sure players take no more than two practice swings prior to hitting their shot.

All Caddies must follow the code of conduct policy in the STPGA Policy and Procedure Manual or they are subject to removal from the program or other penalties the STPGA sees fit if they do not follow this policy.