N.Y.S.D.O.T.

MEN’S GOLF LEAGUE

League Rules and Regulations

1. U.S.G.A. Rules govern all play unless amended by the course and league rules.

2. Course Rules - See score card for course rules.

3. League rules

A. All players must hole out with the ball driven from the tee unless the ball is lost or
so damaged as to be unfit for play. All players must hole out every hole (unless
the double par rule is encountered) and turn in a complete 9 hole score for every
match.

B. Winter rules shall apply throughout the season. Winter rules mean that the ball
may be moved 6" on the fairway, no closer to the hole, without penalty. Winter
rules only apply when the ball is in your own fairway.

C. Continuous putting rule is optional. No marking of your ball on the green is

required unless it is in another player’s line. If you must stand in another’s
player’s line then continuous putting shall not be allowed.

D. Players are encouraged to play ready golf. Ready golf means playing your shot
as soon as it can be safely accomplished (i.e. not necessarily going in order based
on distance to the pin).

E. A lost ball is defined as a ball not found and identified by a player within 3
minutes after the player has begun to search for it. A player may not take more
than 3 minutes to look for the ball.

1) If a ball is lost in the rough or the woods, in bounds, a player must hit
another ball 2 club lengths from where the ball appeared to be lost, as
agreed upon by his opponent. A one stroke penalty shall be levied. The
provisional ball is then played out.

2) If a ball is obviously lost on the fairway, a ball may be dropped, without

penalty, within two club lengths of the point where the ball appeared to be
lost, as agreed upon by a member of the other team.

F. If a ball is deemed unplayable see U.S.G.A. Rule No. 28. This includes tree
obstructions (See the scorecard for special course rules pertaining to tree
obstructions).

G. A player may lift a ball from construction or man made obstacles without penalty,
as per U.S.G.A. rules and score card.

H. Score cards must be signed by both players and submitted to the league Secretary.
I. There is no penalty for hitting a ball laying on the green with a chip shot from off
the green. Player whose ball was hit must replace it to its original spot.

J. Players must use the drop area on hole number 5 when the first shot is hit out of
bounds. A 1 stroke penalty is assessed.

Local Rules:

1. OUT OF BOUNDS - all white stakes, fence on the right side of holes 1, 2, 4 and
all paved roads.
2. WATER HAZARDS - all streams ponds and ditches
3. FREE DROP NO CLOSER TO THE HOLE - small tagged trees, cart paths and
ground under repair.
4. All stones larger than 12” in diameter “THROUGH THE GREEN” are considered
immovable obstructions (free drop)
5. HOLE #2 – Any bare ground between the tree lines shall be considered to be
ground under repair. Players can take the nearest point of relief (stance) and one
club length. Make sure you drop the ball no closer to the hole.
6. If a ball is lost, due to either going into a hazard, out of bounds, or simply can’t be
found, the player may under penalty of one stroke:
a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was
last played (go back to where the original shot was taken).
b. Drop a ball behind the hazard, the out of bounds stakes, or nearest where the
group agrees the ball was most likely lost, keeping the point at which the
original ball last crossed the margin of where the ball was deemed to have
crossed into the hazard, out bounds area, or where it was deemed lost directly
between the hole and spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how
far behind the drop area the ball may be dropped: or,
c. Drop a ball within two club lengths of and not nearer the hole than the point
where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, out of bounds, or
where the ball was deemed to be lost.