Water Hazards
If you hit into a water hazard, you then drop a ball approximately where the ball entered the water (lateral to or behind the point it entered the water and no closer to the hole), then add a 1 stroke penalty.
Sand Traps
When hitting out of a sand trap, you must *not* ground your club before hitting out of the trap. It will be a 1 stroke penalty if the club is grounded prior to hitting the ball out of the trap.
Plugged Balls
If the ball is embedded in the fairway, then you may remove it and drop it as close as possible to where it embedded, but no closer to the hole. A ball that is embedded in the rough has to be played as it lies.
Unplayable Lies
A one stroke penalty is awarded for an unplayable lie as long it is not a man made object. Take a drop laterally (no closer to the hole) and not in the fairway. Taking an unplayable lie is at the discretion of the player, not his opponent.
Lost Ball in Fairway
If your opponent agrees the ball should be in the fairway but you can't find it due to darkness, sun, mud, or whatever, you may drop a ball wherever you and your opponent agree upon with no penalty stroke.
20. Etiquette
We have to do everything we can to speed up play so that the last foursome to tee off won't have to finish in the dark... The following section has been provided as "tips to speed up play". The intention is to help us become more considerate of the golfers behind us. If most of us do most of these suggestions, it will make a huge difference. Let me emphasize that point: these are suggestions for speedier play -- these are not league rules. We recognize this is a *fun* league and we all want to have fun playing. These recommendations are provided for your enrichment and enlightenment -- especially if you are relatively new to the game.
Remember -- all slow play is cumulative to the last foursome and one day YOU will be in the last foursome.
The two areas where most golfers typically waste the most time are on the tee and around the green -- please read those two sections twice and try real hard to take them to heart. Thanks!!
At the Tee
If whoever has the 'honors' is not ready to tee off when the party ahead of you is out of the way, please don't stand on ceremony -- just go ahead and tee off. If you have the 'honors' and want to hit first, be ready when you get to the tee.
Have your ball on the tee and address it as the preceding foursome is moving out of range.
Please be ready to tee off as soon as it is your turn -- don't stand 30 or 40 feet behind the person teeing off watching -- stand 10 to 15 feet away and move in to tee up your ball as soon as the ball is struck.
It is the responsibility of the other members in the party to watch the ball for the person hitting to cut down on time spent looking for lost balls. Please be considerate of your partner and opponents and pay attention when they are hitting.
On par 3s, have your ball teed, lined-up, and ready to go! Watch the party in front of you on the green so you can hit up as soon as they are out of the way or if they wave you on. If you are on the green of a par 3, look to see where the party ahead of you is. If they are still on the next tee, it is optional for you to wave on the following party; if they have moved off the next tee, you should hole out as quickly as possible and get out of the way of the next group.
Please carry a spare ball in your pocket, ready in the event you need to drop a new ball -- this will save you the time it takes to go back to your bag.
From the Fairway
The biggest waste of time between tee and green is the player looking for a lost ball in the rough or woods. Please watch your ball when you hit it until it stops -- and everyone should watch their partner's ball (especially on the tee) until it stops as well. This will help them keep their head down as well as find their ball if they miss hit it.
Again, to speed play, please don't stand on ceremony -- if someone in your group is looking for a ball on the other side of the fairway and you can safely hit your next shot, go ahead and hit before the person who may be farther away from the hole. Similarly, if you can safely move up to your ball while one of the others is hitting his shot on the other side of the fairway -- do it. The sooner you can get up to your ball and hit it, the quicker your whole group will be out of the way of the following players. No precedence (or "honors") should be given to the farthest from the hole while in the fairway -- who hits next should be based on safety and consideration. As long as you can hit your ball without getting in the way of someone else in your group or distracting them from making the best shot they can, go ahead and do it. If you're not sure if it will bother an opponent, ask. (Of course, if someone asks you and it *does* bother you, say so!)
While it is important in the fairway to watch your playing partner's approach shots (to cut down on the time it takes to find them), don't do it at the expense of standing still -- watch it while you walk up to your ball.
The same rules as listed under "On the Tee" apply to the fairway: anticipate your playing partner's next move and stay close behind when you have to wait for their shot before moving up. You should be moving up immediately upon his contact with the ball.
When you move up to your ball, drop your bag a few feet to the side of your ball rather than 15-20 feet behind the ball -- even if it only saves you a few seconds, at least you'll be out of the way that much sooner. If we all do this, it will make a big difference over the entire evening.
In a Bunker
Do not allow your club to touch the sand before you take your actual swing -- this is a 1 stroke penalty! When you're out of the sand, rake the area smooth for the next golfer. To speed this up, make sure there's a rake nearby when you enter the trap.
Around and On the Green
Firstly, as soon as your ball is on the green or apron, move your bag to the side of the green closest to the next tee -- never drop your bag in front of the green! Just make sure you don't leave it in the line of someone who hasn't shot yet.
Obviously, putting out as quickly as possible is beneficial to those behind you and therefore, you should go ahead and chip/putt if you're ready and the guy who's farther away isn't -- especially if you're ready to putt and someone who's off the green is not even close to their ball (say someone who is moving their bag to the back of the green). Everyone doesn't have to be on the green before anyone putts.
Very important: Please line up your putt while someone else is putting and be ready to putt as soon as they are finished. We know this is not always possible but it usually is and if you don't do it, it costs everyone behind you. The one recognized time when this is not possible is when your ball lies along the intended path of the person putting.
Try not to step on the grass between someone's ball and the cup. Mark your ball if it might bother someone else's concentration.
Unless you have open space in front of your group (the group ahead of you is already off the tee), wave on the following party on par 3s -- as soon as everyone is on the green or apron.
Write down your scores on the way to, or at, the next tee -- never stand behind the green and write them down. As soon as the last person holes out, replace the pin and clear out of the green area as quickly as possible.
