Club Rules

Out of Bounds

1. All areas beyond the course side of fences and by the course side of white stakes. The white stakes are Boundary Objects and are Immovable Obstructions from which no free relief is available.
2. White stakes are situated to the right of Grange 5, to the right of Tamaki 5 (Turf Nursery) and along the left boundary of Middlemore 3
3. Where Out of Bounds adjoins a cart path, the margin is the edge of the cart path closest to the Out of Bounds.
4. Internal Out of Bounds. There are internal Out of Bounds white stakes between holes Tamaki 7 and Tamaki 9. Out of Bounds applies only when playing Tamaki 9. During play of Tamaki 7 the stakes are Immovable Obstructions from which free relief is available.
5. The clubhouse and the paved area in front of the clubhouse are Out of Bounds.

Penalty Areas

All Penalty Areas are indicated by RED stakes. The margin of the Penalty Area is a straight line between stakes. Where red lines are marked on the ground these take precedence over the lines between stakes.

Where a Penalty Area adjoins a cart path, the margin is the edge of the cart path closest to the Penalty Area.

Paths through the Penalty Areas

All paths, whether artificial construction or grass that run through a Penalty Area are in the Penalty Area. The ball may be played as it lies or proceed using a penalty relief option under Rule 17.1.

Course Maintenance Works and Ground Under Repair

In the General Area, the following are considered No Play Zones:

• all course maintenance works, including seeding work and spot turf replacement
• deep vehicle ruts
• areas of Ground Under Repair marked by white lines

If a No Play Zone interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, complete relief MUST be taken. Relief without penalty is available under Rule 16.1

Bare Area on the Fairway

On the fairway all bare areas are Ground Under Repair (GUR), even if not marked by white lines. Bare areas are defined as area where grass has not grown. It does not include areas of dormant grass or small spot areas. Relief without penalty under Rule 16.1 MAY be taken from these areas. The ball may be lifted to determine if it lies in such an area. Prior to lifting the ball must be marked.

Immovable Obstructions close to Putting Green

In addition to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, when a ball lies in the General Area, interference also exists if an Immovable Obstruction is:

• on the player’s line of play, and
• is within two club-lengths of the Putting Green, and
• is within two club-lengths of the ball.

The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. (Exception – There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.)

The Perimeter of the Putting Greens

Around the perimeter of all greens is a slightly elevated mowing strip. This is part of the green. The outer edge of the green is the clearly defined cut line.

Stakes are Immovable Obstructions

All white and red stakes on the course are Immovable Obstructions. Free relief under Rule 16 is available for interference by a white or red stake to the player’s stance or area of intended swing except where the ball lies in a Penalty Area, or the stake is defining Out of Bounds.

Tamaki 2 and Grange 2 Penalty Areas

If a ball hit from either of these tees is known or virtually certain to be in the Penalty Area before the fairway, in addition to normal relief options under Rule 17.1, the player may take relief, adding 1 penalty stroke, by dropping a ball on the Silver tee block within a strip 1 club length deep from the front of the tee block for Tamaki 2 and Grange 2 respectively.

Grange 4 Penalty Area

When a ball is known or virtually certain to be in the Penalty Area in addition to the normal relief options under Rule 17.1 the player may drop the original ball or another ball on the Silver tee block within a strip 1 club length deep from the front of the tee, adding one penalty stroke

Abnormal Ground Conditions Adjacent to Immovable Obstruction

If an Abnormal Ground Condition (eg GUR) is adjacent to an Immovable Obstruction (eg path) then this is considered as part of a single Obstruction and a ball may be dropped at the nearest point of complete relief in the General Area.

Protection of Young Trees

A tree which is staked or under two club lengths in height is a No Play Zone. If it interferes with a player’s stance or area of the intended swing, the ball MUST be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 16.1 (Abnormal Course Conditions).

If the ball lies in a Penalty Area, relief applies as in Rule 16.1a, except the ball must be dropped in the Penalty Area.

Preferred Lies (If in Operation)

When a player’s ball lies in the General Area, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball within 15cms of the spot where the original ball lay, not nearer the hole. The ball must be placed in the General Area. The ball is in play when set down and released.

If the ball does not stay on the spot, the player must try a second time and then if it again fails to stay on the spot place it on the nearest spot where the ball will stay at rest. Refer to Rule 14.2e.

Pace of Play (Rule 5.6b)

Slow play is unacceptable. A player should make a stroke no more than 40 seconds after it is the player’s turn to play and is able to play without interference. A Provisional Ball should be played whenever a ball may be lost outside a Penalty Area or Out of Bounds.

• In Stroke Play players may play ready golf in a safe and responsible way
• In Match Play players may agree on a case-by-case basis that one of them will play out of turn to save time.

Penalty for Breaching Pace of Play Local Rule

• Penalty for first breach: Verbal Warning
• Penalty for second breach: One Stroke penalty
• Penalty for third breach: General Penalty in addition to the penalty for the second breach
• Penalty for fourth breach: Disqualification

Distance Measurements

Distance measurements on sprinkler heads are to the centre of the green.

Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds

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:

Two Estimated Reference Points:

1. Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball is estimated to
   1. Come to rest on the course, or
   2. Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go Out of Bounds.
2. Fairway Reference Point: The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: 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).

But with these limits: Limits on Location of Relief Area:

• Must be in the General Area, and
• Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

The player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:

• That ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a Penalty Area, or
• The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance.

Visitor Information

• It is the aim of the Committee for a four ball group to complete a round in 4 hours and 5 minutes.
• Players should play at all times without delay.
• It is the duty of the lowest marker to ensure that his/her group is keeping up with the players ahead. If there are no players ahead, the group should ensure they do not delay players behind.
• Players should leave the green immediately they have holed out. Cards should not be marked on the green.
• If there is a possibility that a ball has been lost or is out of bounds, a provisional ball should be played immediately.
• Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not be easily found; they should not search for more than five minutes before doing so.
• Should a group of players fall a hole behind the players ahead, the following group has the right to be called through and also a duty to the rest of the field to request to be called through.
• Players who call through a following group should not resume playing until the players called through are out of range.
• Players should leave the green immediately they have holed out. Cared should be marked while waiting to tee off at the next hole and not on the green.
• To find out more about “Ready Golf” and the “Rules of Golf” select the link below.

Players should enter and leave the bunker on the low side. At no time should a player walk up the face of a bunker. Rakes should be left in the centre of bunkers.

No mobile phones are to be used on the course or in the Clubhouse with the exception of a medical emergency or doctors on duty. If it is imperative to use a mobile phone, please do so in the car park, so that you do not disturb others.

Members are required to keep all golf carts on the cart paths provided beside all tees and greens. Golf carts are not permitted to be driven in the fescue rough and must always stay on the fairway at all times.

Players may take sand buckets to fill divots. All divots taken from the fairways must be filled with sand to the height of the surrounding grass. Divots taken from all other places must be replaced.

Practice should only take place in areas designated for that purpose. Practice on course is only permitted if the member is not delaying play or using more then two balls.

Trundlers must not be taken within two metres of the green. Where there is less than two metres between the bunker and the green, the trundler must be kept outside the bunker.

Members and visitors to the Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club are required to conform to standards of dress both on the course and in the Clubhouse. The standard of dress and general appearance will, at all times, determine the privilege of members and their guests to use the Clubhouse and course facilities, and shall be consistent with the high standards set by the Club. The Club’s dress and etiquette code exists so that members and guests respect the values of other members of the Club.

CLUB Dress Code (on course, Clubhouse, and all practice facilities)

All members and their guests are required to maintain a standard of dress in keeping with the character and standing of the Club.

Men

Tailored trousers and tailored shorts. Shirts must be collared, of neat appearance and always tucked in. All outerwear that is designed specifically for golf. Golf shoes with soft spikes (no metal spikes) with short socks that are either predominantly white or complement the colour of other clothing permitted. All hats must be removed when in the Clubhouse.

Women

Neat slacks, tailored golf shirts, skorts and dresses. Shirts must be collared, of neat appearance and may
be either tucked in or untucked if designed to be so.

All outerwear that is designed specifically for golf. Golf shoes with soft spikes (no metal spikes) with short socks that are either predominantly white or complement the colour of other clothing permitted. All hats must be removed when in the Clubhouse.

Not Permitted (On Course, Clubhouse, And All Practice Facilities)

Denim jeans, track suits, football or rugby jumpers, sweatshirts, trousers tucked into socks, jandals, workout gear, basketball boots, cargo trousers or shorts, draw string trousers or shorts, clothing bearing writing or advertising material other than small badges or logos, leggings (unless worn under a skirt or shorts) and open toed golf shoes.

Any member of the Committee or employee of the Club has the authority to call to task any member, or visitor who is not suitably attired.

It is the duty of members to ensure that any guests they invite to the Club comply with the dress rules both on the course and within the Clubhouse.

RAGGC – Rules