A Local Rule needs to be in place
8
E-4 Relief from Aeration Holes
Purpose. Aeration holes do not fall within the meaning of holes made by the maintenance staff. Therefore players are not permitted to repair them on the putting green (see
Rule 13.1c) or take free relief from them in the general area, but such holes can interfere with the proper playing of the game. If the Committee declares aeration holes to be ground under repair, a player may find it impractical or impossible to obtain complete relief.
Therefore, when recent aeration holes may significantly interfere with the lie of the ball or area of intended swing, the Committee can choose to give relief as it would for ground under repair but exclude relief for interference to the player’s stance. This Local Rule should be withdrawn when the aeration holes have healed enough to avoid significant interference.
Model Local Rule E-4
“If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under
Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under
Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or, on the
putting green, on the player’s
line of play.
F-7 Relief from Seams of Cut Turf
Purpose. A portion of the course that has been repaired with cut turf is often marked as ground under repair until it is stable enough for play.
But when the area of turf itself no longer needs to be marked as ground under repair, the Committee may still choose to allow relief when:
- A ball lies in one of the cut turf seams (also known as sod seams).
- A seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing.
When such seams only interfere with the player’s stance, there is no need to allow relief.
Model Local Rule F-7
“If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:
(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under
Rule 16.1b.
(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under
Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s
stance.
All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after
dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under
Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a
Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule:
General Penalty Under
Rule 14.7a.”
F-8 Relief from Cracks in Ground
Purpose. In hot and dry conditions, the fairways of a course may suffer due to cracks in the ground. The lie of a ball could be seriously affected if it comes to rest in such a crack, but a player’s stance may not be hindered by the condition, in which case a Local Rule that gives relief for the lie of ball and area of intended swing only is recommended.
Model Local Rule F-8
“Cracks in the ground in parts of the
general area cut to fairway height or less are
ground under repair. The player may take relief under
Rule 16.1b.
[But interference does not exist if the crack only interferes with the player’s
stance.]”
