2019 RULES OF GOLF
-ADOPTION OF MODEL LOCAL RULES-
The Match Committee recently considered whether the Club should adopt two
Model Local Rules under the updated Rules of Golf. These Model Local Rules
relate to Lost Balls or Balls out of Bounds and the Maximum Score in Stroke Rounds.
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Lost Ball or Ball out of Bounds
This Local Rule gives each club a discretion to introduce an additional option when a player’s ball is lost, or it is virtually certain that the ball is out of bounds. If adopted, the Local Rule allows a ball to be dropped between two estimated Reference Points, with a two-shot penalty.
The Local Rule, which runs to 416 words, is quite complicated and requires the player to estimate two reference points. The first reference point is where the lost ball might have come to rest on the course, or where the ball crossed the boundary (Ball Reference Point). The second reference point is the point on the fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to, but not nearer to the hole, than the Ball Reference Point (Fairway Reference Point).
As the Local Rule is overly complicated, is open to wide interpretation and can allow a ball to be legitimately dropped in a large area, the Match Committee felt that it was not appropriate to adopt this Local Rule.
Stroke Round Maximum Score
The Match Committee has decided to adopt the Model Local Rule that allows a maximum score in stroke rounds. The maximum score in a stroke round will be the (10) shots on any hole. This Local Rule will apply to all stroke rounds except the Club Championships.
Under this Local Rule, a player who has 10 strokes does not have to complete the hole, but can “pick up” without being disqualified and will receive a score of 10 for the hole.