| Groton CC Ladies League |
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Monday Night Ladies League
Rules of Golf
There is a saying…. “Play the ball as it lies and the course as you find it”. That can really be challenging at times!
The following set of rules attempts to combine enjoyment with the need to follow some basic rules in order to be considered a respectable, competitive, golf league. Fairness can only be achieved if everyone is playing by the same set of rules.
Our League’s Rules are as follows:
THE STROKE
A stroke is the forward movement of the club, intending to hit the ball. If you stop the club halfway down your forward motion, it is not considered a stroke because you no longer intended to hit the ball (just like a checked swing in baseball). However, if you swing through, you must count the stroke even if you miss the ball.
***There is no penalty if the ball is nudged off or falls off a tee before the stroke begins.
HAZARDS
Any area, or ditch, even if there is no water in it, marked by YELLOW or RED stakes or lines is considered a hazard. Examples include the pond on 4, the swamps on 1, 7 and 8, the area on 5, and the stream on 9.
There are three kinds of hazards and they are now referred to as "penalty areas" in the official rules:
OUT OF BOUNDS (OOB) -
White stakes indicate the areas that are out of bounds (Holes 6 & 7). The entire ball must lie out of bounds to be considered as such. If part of it is in bounds, you can play it if possible, but you must not move stakes, walls or fences to hit the ball, even if they interfere with your swing. If your ball is in bounds, you may stand out of bounds to hit the ball.
***NEW IN 2025: If your ball goes out of bounds you have 2 choices, both taking into consideration pace-of-play:
PROVISIONAL BALL: If you think you will be unable you locate your ball, for whatever reason, you may hit a provisional ball. As a general rule-of-thumb, you must announce that you are going to hit a provisional ball. Technically, if you don't announce it, then the provisional ball is supposed to become the ball in play, even if the first ball is found and playable, with the same penalty of stroke and distance.
*** The Provisional Penalty Count = 1st Ball (lost) + The Penalty Stroke + The Provisional Ball = 3 strokes (the next shot is the 4th one)
When you hit a provisional ball and the first ball is out of bounds or can't be found, you play the provisional with the stroke and distance penalty. If you find that the first ball is actually in play, then pick up the provisional and play the first ball with no penalty.
LOST BALL
There will be times when you simply cannot locate your ball. You must limit your search to no more than three minutes to keep a reasonable pace of play (USGA rule).
It is important, and courteous, to spot the other player's ball and watch it until it stops rolling. You will appreciate this when someone else does it for you.
If you absolutely can't find your ball, please choose one of the following options (League/Local Rules applied):
NOTE #2: The lost ball rule does not apply to areas designated as HAZARDS. See the HAZARDS section for more information.
NOTE #3: When in doubt, play a Provisional Ball to ensure an adequate pace of play. (See notes on Provisional Balls above)
UNPLAYABLE LIE
If you hit the ball into an inaccessible place NOT considered a HAZARD or OOB (like bushes or poison ivy), you may considered it an “unplayable lie”.
***THE PLAYER IS THE SOLE JUDGE*** of whether or not it's unplayable and has 3 choices:
Areas that are under repair are usually roped off or have some sign indicating that it is such. Club management tends to make areas that are "off-limits" very obvious so that players do not cause further damage by playing out of them. If you hit into an area considered "ground under repair", it is a free lift to the NEAREST point of relief plus 1 club-length outside of the G.U.R area, but no closer to the hole, without penalty.
CART PATHS, FENCES, AND OTHER IMMOVABLE, MAN-MADE OBSTRUCTIONS:
If your ball lands on a cart path OR if the obstruction interferes with your stance, ability to take a full swing, or blocks the line of your shot, you may move it to within a club length of the NEAREST point of FULL relief, but no closer to the hole, without penalty. For the purposes of our league, stone walls from colonial days are not considered man-made obstructions, please choose another appropriate rule for that situation.
PREFERRED LIES: We do allow for "preferred lies" in the FAIRWAY ONLY. This means that if you are in the fairway and don't like how your ball is lying (for example, in someone else's divot) you can move your ball up to one club length to achieve a better lie so long as you do not advance your position (Groton CC rule).
NOTE: This does not apply to the rough or sand traps.
***NEW IN 2025: Due to several complaints about interference caused by the tree roots between holes 6 & 8, we are allowing for the ability to take relief similar to the Preferred Lie above. You may move the ball up to 1 club- length, but no closer to the hole, to find a safe location to hit the ball. This is a big deal because this location is not considered the Fairway. Please, do not use this rule in any other non-Fairway location. There are other rules where a penalty might apply that can offer relief in many other situations. Be sure to announce that you are on, or very close to, a root and are taking the free relief option to your group so that everyone is clear about what you are doing.
STANDING/CASUAL WATER: Very wet (and mushy) areas, usually in the spring or after heavy rain, that are in the fairway or otherwise playable areas, are referred to as "casual" water. This occurs often on holes 7 and 8. This situation allows for a free lift, dropping within a club length of the NEAREST point of relief, plus 1 club-length, but no closer to the hole.
Please recognize that there are USGA Rules, Local (Groton CC) Club Rules, AND our Ladies League Rules and this may result in slight differences from professional golf rules. If a situation arises, not covered by our league rules, then USGA or Groton CC rules apply. Please feel free to bring any questions, or match disagreements, you may have to Nancy or a fellow Board Member. We are not Golf Professionals, however, and may need to seek clarification with Shawn.
- updated 4/6/2025 - NR
The following set of rules attempts to combine enjoyment with the need to follow some basic rules in order to be considered a respectable, competitive, golf league. Fairness can only be achieved if everyone is playing by the same set of rules.
Our League’s Rules are as follows:
THE STROKE
A stroke is the forward movement of the club, intending to hit the ball. If you stop the club halfway down your forward motion, it is not considered a stroke because you no longer intended to hit the ball (just like a checked swing in baseball). However, if you swing through, you must count the stroke even if you miss the ball.
***There is no penalty if the ball is nudged off or falls off a tee before the stroke begins.
HAZARDS
Any area, or ditch, even if there is no water in it, marked by YELLOW or RED stakes or lines is considered a hazard. Examples include the pond on 4, the swamps on 1, 7 and 8, the area on 5, and the stream on 9.
There are three kinds of hazards and they are now referred to as "penalty areas" in the official rules:
- Water hazard: A lake, pond, or stream, lying between you and your path to the green. You have to hit your ball over it. If your ball goes into the hazard, you can pull it out and drop it as far back as you want, but you must keep the hazard between you and the hole, taking one penalty stroke (Example: RED stakes on holes 5 and 9).
NOTE ON HOLE 4: (League Rule) – If your ball lands in the water, we have defined a DROP ZONE area at the bottom of the hill, measuring two-club lengths beyond the unplayable edge of the water hazard AND in an approximate line between the tee box and the green. You will not be required to hit over the water twice unless you choose to hit a provisional ball (see notes below). One drop stroke or provisional penalties apply. - Lateral water hazard: One that generally runs parallel to the hole (Holes 1, 7 and 8). Since you can't drop behind it, you must drop within 2 club-lengths outside the point where your ball last crossed the hazard, or you can drop in the same way on the opposite side of the hazard, as long as it is no closer to the hole. Either way, you must tack on an extra stroke as a penalty. Again, this hazard is marked with RED stakes. If your ball is within the confines of a hazard and you are able to play it, you may choose to do so without penalty. This rule changed a few years ago to say that you may ground your club, that is, let it rest on the ground. You may even remove loose debris, like branches, and things that might impede your swing, as long as the ball is not moved.
- Sand Trap (or bunker): You can't drop out of it. You are required to play out of it. However, unlike penalty areas - you may NOT touch the sand with your club before hitting the ball.
***NEW RULE IN 2025: If your ball lands in an un-raked footprint, you may pick up the ball, rake the area, and place the ball back in the spot where it landed before hitting the ball.
- Please be aware of the other player's balls on the green and conscious of the "lines" as it is inconsiderate to step on another player's line.
- You have the option of leaving the pin in the hole, or removing it, when you are putting. It is your choice.
- THERE ARE NO "GIMMIES" IN OUR LEAGUE. You must sink the ball each time.
- Please NOTE that, in “Match Play”, there are no penalties for hitting another person’s ball on the putting green. The player whose ball was hit simply places the ball back in the original location. This differs from traditional “Stroke Play” rules.
OUT OF BOUNDS (OOB) -
White stakes indicate the areas that are out of bounds (Holes 6 & 7). The entire ball must lie out of bounds to be considered as such. If part of it is in bounds, you can play it if possible, but you must not move stakes, walls or fences to hit the ball, even if they interfere with your swing. If your ball is in bounds, you may stand out of bounds to hit the ball.
***NEW IN 2025: If your ball goes out of bounds you have 2 choices, both taking into consideration pace-of-play:
- Hit a PROVISIONAL BALL, stroke and penalties apply. (See note below)
- Drop within 2-club lengths of where the ball crossed into OOB territory and add 2 PENALTY STROKES.
PROVISIONAL BALL: If you think you will be unable you locate your ball, for whatever reason, you may hit a provisional ball. As a general rule-of-thumb, you must announce that you are going to hit a provisional ball. Technically, if you don't announce it, then the provisional ball is supposed to become the ball in play, even if the first ball is found and playable, with the same penalty of stroke and distance.
*** The Provisional Penalty Count = 1st Ball (lost) + The Penalty Stroke + The Provisional Ball = 3 strokes (the next shot is the 4th one)
When you hit a provisional ball and the first ball is out of bounds or can't be found, you play the provisional with the stroke and distance penalty. If you find that the first ball is actually in play, then pick up the provisional and play the first ball with no penalty.
LOST BALL
There will be times when you simply cannot locate your ball. You must limit your search to no more than three minutes to keep a reasonable pace of play (USGA rule).
It is important, and courteous, to spot the other player's ball and watch it until it stops rolling. You will appreciate this when someone else does it for you.
If you absolutely can't find your ball, please choose one of the following options (League/Local Rules applied):
- Replay the shot again, from the original location, stroke and distance penalties apply
- Drop in the nearest vicinity in the ROUGH and take one penalty stroke
- Drop in the nearest vicinity in the FAIRWAY with a two-stroke penalty
NOTE #2: The lost ball rule does not apply to areas designated as HAZARDS. See the HAZARDS section for more information.
NOTE #3: When in doubt, play a Provisional Ball to ensure an adequate pace of play. (See notes on Provisional Balls above)
UNPLAYABLE LIE
If you hit the ball into an inaccessible place NOT considered a HAZARD or OOB (like bushes or poison ivy), you may considered it an “unplayable lie”.
***THE PLAYER IS THE SOLE JUDGE*** of whether or not it's unplayable and has 3 choices:
- Drop the ball, up to 2 club-lengths beyond the edge of the unplayable area, but no closer to the hole.
- Try again from the original location.
- Drop the ball as far back as you want from the point where the ball lay, keeping that point between you and the hole, if possible.
PENALTY: In each case, you have to count the original stroke and add a penalty stroke.
Areas that are under repair are usually roped off or have some sign indicating that it is such. Club management tends to make areas that are "off-limits" very obvious so that players do not cause further damage by playing out of them. If you hit into an area considered "ground under repair", it is a free lift to the NEAREST point of relief plus 1 club-length outside of the G.U.R area, but no closer to the hole, without penalty.
CART PATHS, FENCES, AND OTHER IMMOVABLE, MAN-MADE OBSTRUCTIONS:
If your ball lands on a cart path OR if the obstruction interferes with your stance, ability to take a full swing, or blocks the line of your shot, you may move it to within a club length of the NEAREST point of FULL relief, but no closer to the hole, without penalty. For the purposes of our league, stone walls from colonial days are not considered man-made obstructions, please choose another appropriate rule for that situation.
PREFERRED LIES: We do allow for "preferred lies" in the FAIRWAY ONLY. This means that if you are in the fairway and don't like how your ball is lying (for example, in someone else's divot) you can move your ball up to one club length to achieve a better lie so long as you do not advance your position (Groton CC rule).
NOTE: This does not apply to the rough or sand traps.
***NEW IN 2025: Due to several complaints about interference caused by the tree roots between holes 6 & 8, we are allowing for the ability to take relief similar to the Preferred Lie above. You may move the ball up to 1 club- length, but no closer to the hole, to find a safe location to hit the ball. This is a big deal because this location is not considered the Fairway. Please, do not use this rule in any other non-Fairway location. There are other rules where a penalty might apply that can offer relief in many other situations. Be sure to announce that you are on, or very close to, a root and are taking the free relief option to your group so that everyone is clear about what you are doing.
STANDING/CASUAL WATER: Very wet (and mushy) areas, usually in the spring or after heavy rain, that are in the fairway or otherwise playable areas, are referred to as "casual" water. This occurs often on holes 7 and 8. This situation allows for a free lift, dropping within a club length of the NEAREST point of relief, plus 1 club-length, but no closer to the hole.
Please recognize that there are USGA Rules, Local (Groton CC) Club Rules, AND our Ladies League Rules and this may result in slight differences from professional golf rules. If a situation arises, not covered by our league rules, then USGA or Groton CC rules apply. Please feel free to bring any questions, or match disagreements, you may have to Nancy or a fellow Board Member. We are not Golf Professionals, however, and may need to seek clarification with Shawn.
- updated 4/6/2025 - NR
