Guidance for Play

Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Club Local Rules - March 2023

Starting on November 1st, the following local rules will be in operation.

DSHGC Local Winter Rules

1) Preferred lies on close-mown areas

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may prefer the lie within 6 inches, no nearer the hole.

2) Cleaning the ball (‘Mark and Replace’)

When a player’s ball lies in the general area, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty. The player must mark the spot of the ball before lifting it and the ball must be replaced on its original spot.

3) Ruts made by vehicles

Deep ruts made by vehicles in the general area are deemed ground under repair.  A player may take relief in accordance with Rule 16.1.

This applies only to deep ruts and not to shallow indentations. A rut is considered deep where if a ball is lying in it, the clubhead cannot connect with it or follow through without interference from an edge of the rut.

 

4) Bunker Filled with Temporary Water

Any bunker that is marked by a coloured stake is not treated as a bunker but as GUR and relief must be taken. All other bunkers on the course, whether they contain temporary water or not, are still bunkers for all purposes under the Rules.

5) Artificial tee mats

When mats are in use, the teeing area is restricted to the mat and, if breaching this rule, a player receives the general penalty.

Note- The ‘General Area’ covers all of the course except for: (1) the teeing area and putting green for the hole in play (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers

 

1. Out of Bounds- Rule 18

A ball is out of bounds when it is beyond any fence defining the boundary of the course, or beyond the lines of white stakes surrounding the practice putting green and behind the 18th green.

Any ball struck over a boundary fence must be reported to the Pro Shop.

 

2) Penalty areas- Rule 17

All areas of the course marked with red stakes are red penalty areas. Where only one side is marked with red stakes, the penalty area extends to infinity on the opposite side.

3) Immovable obstructions- Rule 16.1

Man-made structures (other than boundary objects), including all paths, fixed course furniture, wooden steps and pilings, netting and support posts, are immovable obstructions from which free relief may be taken, unless the ball is in a penalty area.

4) Ground under repair- Rule 16.1

On any marked GUR, a player must take complete free relief. Drainage lines and seams of cut turf are GUR, even if unmarked, and free relief may be taken.

5) Protection of young trees and reed bed- Rule 16.1

Young trees are identified by being staked. If a player's ball lies anywhere on the course and a staked tree interferes with the player's stance or area of intended swing, complete free relief must be taken.

The reed bed on the 8th hole is a no-play zone from which complete free relief must be taken.

6) Sprinkler heads close to the putting green- Rule 16.1

If a ball lies in the general area and a sprinkler head is on the line of play, free relief may be taken if the sprinkler head is within two club-lengths of the putting green, and within two club-lengths of the ball.

7) Aeration holes- Rule 16.1

If a player's ball lies in or touches an aeration hole in the general area, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and dropped under Rule 16.1b.

On the putting green, the ball may be placed under Rule 16.1d.

But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player's stance or, on the putting green, on the player's line of play.