HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE 2022 LOCAL RULE SHEET
1. Please refer to the Rules of Golf book effective January 2022 concerning any rules questions. These Local Rules supersede Local Rules on the scorecard.
2. Penalty Areas will be defined by yellow or red stakes, lines or physical features (See #3 of Local Rules). Where marked, lines will define the penalty area and stakes identify the penalty area. In the absence of lines, stakes define the area. As an additional option for a red penalty area, where possible, a player may have the additional option of using the opposite margin equal distance to the point the ball entered the penalty area as the reference point.
3. Ground under repair will include:
a) Areas on the course marked with white lines.
b) Newly planted sod not marked as ground under repair should be played as it lies, although, if your ball lies in a SOD SEAM, relief will be granted if the sod seam interferes with the lie of the ball or your area of intended swing
c) French Drains (stone filled drainage ditches)
d) Staked trees… Any young tree on the course designated by ropes and stakes is considered a no play zone in which mandatory relief required for lie of ball, stance and area of intended swing…the tree itself along with the ropes and stakes are considered as one.
e) Large, exposed rocks and tree roots in areas cut to fairway height or less.
f) All ornamental flower beds defined by an exterior border around the bed throughout the course are No Play Zones. Relief is mandatory. The outside edge of the flower bed is the edge of the no play zone. If a curb is present, it is in the no play zone. If the flower bed is in the general area free relief must be taken under Rule 16.1b. If the flower bed is in a penalty area, the player must take relief under Rule 17.1e.
g) Any worn down or bare area within a club of any cart path will be considered GUR.
4. Out of bounds will be defined by white stakes, property fences, inside edges of any city road and where applicable, white dots adjacent to the city road. A ball which comes to rest on or over a city road is considered out of bounds. OB is determined by the nearest inside points of the fence, stake or road at ground level.
5. Fire ants and their mounds are considered a dangerous situation and relief is granted under Rule 16.2a & 16.2b.
6. Animal hoof damage: In the general area or in a bunker, damage that is clearly identifiable as having been caused by animal hoofs is ground under repair and Rule 16.1 applies (Abnormal Course Conditions). Such damage on the putting green may be repaired and Rule13.1c (2) applies.
7. Animal dung in any area except a penalty area is considered as either loose impediments or as ground under repair at the option of the player. An accumulation of dung will be considered as one area of ground under repair.
8. Damage by animals: Damage in the “general area” caused by animals such as armadillos or skunks will be considered ground under repair. Interference does not exist if the damage only interferes with the player’s stance.
9. Integral parts of the course:
1) Wires, cables or electric boxes closely attached to trees or other permanent objects
2) Retaining artificial walls when located within the penalty area.
3) Landscaping stones placed in areas to prevent erosion.
10. Drop Zones: As an additional option for a ball in a penalty area, drop zones may be provided as part of an individual rules sheet for an event.
Rules Committee: Tom Heffer, PGA, Director of Golf HSV, Mike Socha, PGA, Assistant Director of Golf
March 9, 2019