The following Local Rules and Terms of Competition, together with any additions or amendments published by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) at the golf course, will apply to all 2024 SGA Competitions.
For the full text of any Local Rule referenced below, please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective January 2023.
This set of local rules shall supersede those that are printed on the back of the scorecards.
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty (loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play).
1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)
a. A ball is out of bounds when it is beyond any wall defining a boundary.
b. A ball that is played from one side of a road which is defined as out of bounds and comes to rest on the other side of that road is out of bounds. This is true even if the ball comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes.
2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17)
a. When a penalty area adjoins a boundary, the penalty area edge extends to and coincides with the boundary.
Dropping Zones for Penalty Areas
Where a dropping zone is marked for a penalty area, it is an additional option for relief under penalty of one stroke. The dropping zone is a relief area. A ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.
3. Abnormal Course Conditions (including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)
a. Ground Under Repair.
i. Any area bounded by a white line, including spectator crossing points, was marked.
ii. Any area of damaged ground (e.g. caused by crowd or vehicle movement) that is considered by a referee to be abnormal.
iii. Grass covered cable trenches.
iv. French drains (stone-filled drainage ditches).
v. Seams of cut turf; Model Local Rule F-7 is in effect.
vi. Yardage painted lines or dots on the putting green or in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less are to be treated as ground under repair from which relief is available under Rule 16.1. Interference does not exist if yardage painted lines or dots only interfere with the player’s stance.
b. Immovable Obstructions
i. White-lined areas and the immovable obstruction they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
ii. Landscaped garden areas and everything growing in them that are surrounded by an immovable obstruction are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
iii. Mats that are secured and all ramps covering cables.
iv. Roads or paths surfaced with woodchip or mulch. Individual pieces of woodchip are loose impediments.
c. Embedded Ball
Rule 16.3 is modified in this way: No free relief is allowed for a ball embedded in the stacked turf face above a bunker.
4. Integral Objects
The following are integral objects from which free relief is not allowed:
a. Bunker liners in their intended position.
b. Wires, cables, wrappings or other objects where they are closely attached to trees or other permanent objects.
c. Artificial retaining walls and pilings when located in penalty areas.
5. Clubs and Balls
List of Conforming Driver Heads: Model Local Rule G-1 is in effect.
Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of Local Rule: Disqualification.
a. Groove and Punch Mark Local Rule G-2 is in effect.
Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of Local Rule: Disqualification.
b. List of Conforming Golf Balls: Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect.
Penalty for breach of the Local Rule: Disqualification.
Note: An updated List of Conforming Clubs and Balls is available on www.randa.org.
6. The Pace of Play (Rule 5.6)
Each hole has been given a maximum completion time based upon the length and difficulty of the hole. The maximum time allotted for the completion of 18 holes will be available prior to a play from the Championship Office. Please ensure you obtain a copy of the Pace of Play Policy and read it carefully before playing. The Pace of Play Policy will be strictly enforced.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF POLICY
7. Suspension of Play (Rule 5.7)
The club’s siren will be used to suspend and resume play. All competitors are to follow the siren accordingly.
Note: When play is stopped for imminent danger, all practice areas will be immediately closed.
8. Practice (Rule 5.2)
a. In match play, Rule 5.2a is modified in this way: A player must not practice on the competition course before or between rounds.
Exception: All recognized practice areas within the bounds of the course may be used by players for practice on any day of the competition.