Guidance on Running a Competition Updated 1 January 2016 Contents SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 4 SECTION 2 - CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION ................................................................................................... 4 1. GENERAL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 2. ELIGIBILITY .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 3. ENTRY ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 4. FORMAT ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 5. TIMES OF STARTING AND GROUPS ................................................................................................................. 7 6. HANDICAPS ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 7. DECISION OF TIES ................................................................................................................................................... 9 8. PRIZES ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 9. PRACTICE .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 10. LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVING CLUBS ................................................................................................. 12 11. LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS ......................................................................................................... 12 12. The “ONE BALL” CONDITION ...................................................................................................................... 13 13. CADDIES .................................................................................................................................................................. 13 14. GOLF CARTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 15. ADVICE IN TEAM COMPETITIONS ................................................................................................................ 14 SECTION 3 - LOCAL RULES ......................................................................................................................................... 14 1. GENERAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 14 2. OUT OF BOUNDS .................................................................................................................................................. 15 3. GROUND UNDER REPAIR ................................................................................................................................. 16 4. ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE AREAS ........................................................................................................ 18 5. PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES .................................................................................................................... 18 6. EMBEDDED BALL .................................................................................................................................................... 18 7. PREFERRED LIES/WINTER RULES ..................................................................................................................... 19 8. STONES IN BUNKERS .......................................................................................................................................... 19 9. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREEN .............................................................. 19 10. ROADS AND PATHS ........................................................................................................................................... 19 11. INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE ............................................................................................................. 20 12. TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS ............................................................................................ 20 13. DROPPING ZONES .............................................................................................................................................. 21 14. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES ................................................................................................................. 21 SECTION 4 - MARKING THE COURSE..................................................................................................................... 21 1. GENERAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 21 1 2. OUT OF BOUNDS .................................................................................................................................................. 22 3. WATER HAZARDS ................................................................................................................................................ 23 4. GROUND UNDER REPAIR .................................................................................................................................. 24 5. OBSTRUCTIONS .................................................................................................................................................... 25 6. ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE AREAS ....................................................................................................... 25 7. DROPPING ZONES (SEE ALSO SECTION 3) ................................................................................................. 25 SECTION 5 - COURSE SET-UP .................................................................................................................................... 26 1. GENERAL .................................................................................................................................................................. 26 2. TEEING GROUNDS ................................................................................................................................................ 26 3. HOLE POSITIONS ................................................................................................................................................... 27 SECTION 6 - COMPETITION ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................ 30 1. THE RULES OF GOLF ............................................................................................................................................ 30 2. REGISTRATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 3. STARTING ................................................................................................................................................................. 31 4. ISSUING SCORE CARDS AND RECORDING SCORES .............................................................................. 32 5. REFEREES .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 6. FORECADDIES AND MARSHALS ...................................................................................................................... 34 7. PACE OF PLAY ........................................................................................................................................................ 34 8. INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SUSPENSIONS OF PLAY ............................................................................ 36 SECTION 7 - DUTIES OF A REFEREE ......................................................................................................................... 38 1. GENERAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 38 2. REFEREES .................................................................................................................................................................... 39 3. OBSERVERS ............................................................................................................................................................... 41 4. REFEREEING AN AREA OR ZONE ON COURSE ........................................................................................ 42 SECTION 8 - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS .............................................................................................................. 42 1. ENTRY FORMS ........................................................................................................................................................