2012 SFPGA JUNIOR TOUR RULES OF PLAY
Play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf & Decisions and where applicable, by the following Local Rules and Definitions subject to changes or amendments by the SOUTH FLORIDA PGA JUNIOR TOUR Organizing Staff. Appendix I refers to the Appendix of Local rules of the USGA Rules of Golf.
Unless otherwise specified, penalty for breach of a Local Rule in Stroke Play is two strokes (maximum four strokes).
1) GOLF BALLS: Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls may be used. Penalty: Disqualification. See Appendix I, Page 106.
2) LIMITATION ON GOLF BALLS USED DURING ROUND: The one ball rule is not in effect for any South Florida PGA Junior Tour events.
3) WEATHER CONDITIONS WARRANTING LIFT, CLEAN & PLACE: When weather conditions warrant and South Florida PGA Junior Tour Officials announce that lift, clean and place relief is in effect, the following procedure will apply unless otherwise posted: A ball lying in your own fairway may, without penalty, may be lifted, cleaned and placed within one SFPGA Junior Tour scorecard’s length of where it originally lay, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard or on a putting green. Before lifting, the player must mark the position of the ball. A player may place his ball only once and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply. If a player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
4) TIME OF STARTING: See Note under Rule 6-3, Page 27 and Appendix I, Page 107. This applies to tee time, not according to honor.
5) PACE OF PLAY: (Rule 6-7, Page 29) A player shall be subject to penalty if he/she unduly delays play. Refer to items #24 & #25 of this card.
6) PRACTICE:
- On or near the putting green of a hole last played, practice is prohibited.
See Appendix I, Pages 109.
- During suspension of play, practice is strictly prohibited unless the SFPGA Junior Tour staff has specified a time of resumption.
- Practice putting on a designated practice area while waiting to make the turn is acceptable.
7) ADVICE: See Section II, Page 5 and Rule 8-1, Page 33.
8) DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE OR RULING: See Rule 3-3, Pages 20-21.
9) EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH THE GREEN: See Appendix I, Page 98.
10) MARKING A POSITION OF LIFTED BALL: A player should place a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. See Rule 20-1, Page 56.
11) TURF PLUGS ON PUTTING GREENS: Turf plugs of any size on putting greens have the same status as old hole plugs and may be repaired as prescribed in Rule 16-1c, page 48. (Aerification holes must not be repaired).
12) OUT OF BOUNDS – Rule 27.
- Defined by inside points of white stakes at ground level.
- When out of bounds is defined by a white line on the ground, clearly labeled OB, the line itself is out of bounds.
- Defined by the inside edge of all vehicular roadways. A ball that crosses the road and comes to rest on another part of the course is still considered out of bounds.
- Defined by all perimeter fencing.
13) DANGEROUS SITUATIONS: Rattlesnakes, bees or fire ants: Proceed under Decision 1-4/10, page 22 of the 2010 – 2011 USGA Rules of Golf and Decisions Book.
14) STAKED TREES: If the lie of the ball, stance and/or area of intended swing is affected by a stake on a tree, treat the stake as an immovable obstruction. (Relief is not from the tree, only the stake.)
15) ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS (Ground Under Repair) – Rule 25, page 68. Enclosed white lined areas define ground under repair. Other areas considered GUR even though unmarked:
- Areas encircled by white lines.
- French drains are exposed trenches filled with rock or stone.
16) INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE:
- Wrappings, wires, cables, and other objects when closely attached to trees.
- Artificial walls and/or pilings when located within water hazards and used to define the margin of bunkers.
17) ARTIFICIALLY SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS; WHITE LINES: White lined areas tying to artificially surfaced roads and paths are part of the obstruction and thus not Ground Under Repair.
18) WATER HAZARDS and LATERAL WATER HAZARDS – (Rule 26, Page 72.)
Water hazards are defined by yellow lines; Lateral water hazards are defined by red lines.
19) PERMANENT ELEVATED POWER LINES OR CABLES: If a ball strikes
such a line or cable, the stroke shall be canceled and MUST be replayed without penalty (See Rule 20-5, page 60). If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
20) SCORE CARDS MUST BE SIGNED AND ATTESTED: Scorecards are turned in to the scoreboard immediately following the completion of the player’s or team’s round. Player’s will be allowed to correct scorecards even after cards have been signed and attested provided that they have not left the scoring area and prior to their score being posted.
21) CONDUCT: Entries are subject to rejection at any time including during the competition by the SFPGA Junior Tour. The reason of rejection may be unbecoming conduct (club throwing, use of abusive language, etc.).
22) COMMITTEE’S DECISION TO SUSPEND PLAY: When play is suspended due to a non- dangerous situation (heavy rain, darkness) players in the process of playing a hole may continue until completion of that hole and must discontinue play immediately thereafter. All players between the play of two holes must discontinue play immediately. When play is suspended for a DANGEROUS SITUATION (lightning, tornado) all players must stop play immediately and not resume until the tournament staff has ordered. Unauthorized play will result in a penalty of disqualification. In case of suspension of play and/or cancellation of a round, the tournament staff may step down a tournament to as few as 18 holes.
23) SIGNALS FOR SUSPENDING AND RESUMING PLAY: Suspension of play
due to a DANGEROUS SITUATION is signaled by ONE long note on the siren.
THREE consecutive notes on the siren will signal all other types of suspension.
TWO consecutive notes, repeated immediately thereafter, will signal
RESUMPTION OF PLAY.
24) SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO DARKNESS: SFPGA Junior Tour officials will determine when there is a disadvantage to continue play due to darkness and will suspend play at that time. Please refer to item #22 above for suspension procedures.
25) SLOW PLAY MONITORING PROCEDURES: A standard rate of time of 14 minutes/hole for groups of three (4:12/round) and 15 minutes/hole for groups of four (4:30/round) will be set to play all South Florida Section PGA tournaments. This rate of time will be listed as part of the SFPGA Section permanent rules sheet. Should Section staff determine that a different rate of time is needed due to unusual playing conditions, a new time will be posted as part of the Local Rules Addendum.
Lead groups will be considered out of position at any time when they exceed the standard rate of play. All additional groups will be considered out of position when falling at least one hole behind the group immediately in front of them, while at the same time exceeding the standard rate of play. A group out of position is automatically subject to individual timing without pre-notification.
26) SLOW PLAY TIMING PROCEDURES: Please note the new Pace of Policy
Found in the Policies & Procedures, will incorporate a checkpoint system at #1 & #10.
Note: Timing of individuals will discontinue when the group is no longer out of position.
27) CADDIES/MOTORIZED CARTS: Caddies/Motorized carts are NOT permitted for any SFPGA Junior Tour event. Pull Carts ARE permitted based on host club approval. SFPGA will respect the host club’s pull cart policy for each event.
28) DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES: In this competition, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, page 44, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.
Policy Updated March 2011
