JWGA Local Rules and Terms

PROVISIONAL BALL FOR BALL IN A PENALTY AREA (Model Local Rule B-3)

If a player does not know whether his or her ball is in a penalty area, the player may play a provisional ball under Rule 18.3, which is modified in this way:

In playing the provisional ball, the player may use the stroke-and-distance relief option (see Rule 17.1d(1), the back-on-the-line relief option (see Rule 17.1d(2)) or, if it is a red penalty area, the lateral relief option (see Rule 17.1d(3)). If a dropping zone is available for this penalty area, the player may also use that relief option. Once the player has played a provisional ball under this Rule, he or she may not use any further options under Rule 17.1 in relation to the original ball. In deciding when that provisional ball becomes the player’s ball in play or if it must or may be abandoned, Rule 18.3c(2) and 18.3c(3) apply except that:

1. When Original Ball Is Found in Penalty Area Within Three-Minute Search Time . The player may choose either to:
   1. Continue to play the original ball as it lies in the penalty area, in which case the provisional ball must not be played. All strokes with that provisional ball before it was abandoned (including strokes made and any penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count, or
   2. Continue to play the provisional ball in which case the original ball must not be played.
2. When Original Ball Is Not Found Within Three-Minute Search Time or Is Known or Virtually Certain to Be in Penalty Area . The provisional ball becomes the player’s ball in play.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREEN (Model Local Rule F-5)

Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1. The player also has the extra option to take relief when such immovable obstructions are 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:

1. On the line of play, and is
2. Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and is
3. Within two club-lengths of the ball.

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.

SEAMS OF CUT TURF (Model Local Rule F-7)

If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:

1. Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.
2. Ball on Putting Green . The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance. All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.

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

PREFERRED LIES (Model Local Rule E-3) (Only in effect when course conditions warrant)

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:

1. Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.
2. Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: one club length from the reference point, but with these limits:
   1. Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
   2. Must be in the general area.

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

Whenever the golf course has deemed certain holes or the entire course to be “Cart Path Only”, the above rule is in effect only on those hole(s) identified by the Professional Staff.

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

DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE

Proceed under Rule 20.1.c(3) and report invoking this rule to the Committee. Failure to report the facts of the situation to the Committee will result in DISQUALIFICATION.

CONDITIONS OF JWGA COMPETITIONS

The use of a golf cart is mandatory for all JWGA competitions. A player is prohibited from using a caddie during any stipulated round.