SPIRIT OF OFFICIATING Participants in an event are keenly conscious of the spirit in which it is conducted. There is no more certain way to injure

Transcription

1 Tournament Rules Manual 1

2 SPIRIT OF OFFICIATING Participants in an event are keenly conscious of the spirit in which it is conducted. There is no more certain way to injure the reputation of a tournament than by lax management. It may be difficult and unpleasant to be thorough in enforcement of Rules, but it is a rare golfer who does not prefer to compete in a well-run event. Players are quick to recognize the official who makes use of the position to watch the play better or to inflate their own sense of importance. Authority should be exercised for the sole purpose of helping to ensure that an event will be fairly played under sporting conditions.

3 Table of Contents RULES 5 Section 1: Tournament Rules Chair 5 Before the Competition 6 During the Competition 6 Suspension of Play and Evacuation Planning 6 Suspension for a Non-Dangerous Situation 7 Suspension for a Dangerous Situation 7 Equipment Rulings 8 Queries Arising Before the Competition Begins 9 Queries Arising During a Stroke Play Competition 9 Queries Arising During a Match Play Competition 9 Queries Arising After Competition Closed 10 After the Competition 11 Section 2: Course Setup 11 Green Speed 11 Out of Bounds 12 In-Course Out of Bounds 12 Other Considerations 12 Marking Tees and Measuring Greens 13 Diagram 1 - Measuring Putting Greens 14 Diagram 2 - Close Edge 15 Diagram 3 - Par 4 versus Par 5 16 Hole Locations 16 Planning 17 Morning Setup 18 Diagram 4 - Hole Location Sheet 19 Diagram 5 Golf Canada Hole Location Sheet 20 Teeing Grounds 20 Water Hazards 21 Lateral Water Hazards 22 Obstructions 22 Temporary Immovable Obstructions 22 Dropping Zones 22 Ground Under Repair 23 Areas from Which Play is Prohibited 23 Environmentally Sensitive Areas 24 Course Summary 25 Figure 1 Course Summary 26 Figure 2 Course Summary 27 Section 3: Tournament Rules Officials 27 Rules Officials 27 Prior to a Competition 27 At the Tournament Site 27 On the Day of Competition 27 Radios 28 Getting in Position and Responding to a Call 28 Providing a Ruling 28 Doubt or Questions Regarding Rules 29 Second Opinions 29 Incident Reports 1

4 29 Pace of Play 30 Play-offs 31 Section 4: The Tournament Committees 31 Code of Conduct Violations 32 Rules of Golf Disputes 32 Committee Meeting Procedure 34 Section 5: Guidelines for Refereeing in Match Play 34 When Matches are Not Accompanied by a Referee 34 When a Match is Accompanied by a Referee 34 Before play has begun 34 On the Teeing Ground 35 Through the Green 35 In a Hazard 35 On the Putting Green 35 Second Opinions 36 Completion of Hole 36 Completion of the Match 36 In Case of a Tied Match 36 Determining the Order of Play 36 Pace of Play - Slow Play 37 Observers 38 Section 6: Local Rules and Conditions of Competition 38 General 38 Obstructions 38 Elevated Wires 38 Construction Integral to the Course 39 Stones in Bunkers 39 Areas Requiring Preservation 39 Environmentally Sensitive Areas 39 Out of Bounds 39 Dropping Zones 40 Preferred Lies 40 Provisional Ball for Ball in Water Hazard 40 Staked Trees 41 Immovable Obstructions Near Putting Greens 41 One Ball Condition 41 Golf Canada Transportation Policy 42 Part A: Use of Motorized Transportation by a Person with a Serious, Permanent Disability 42 Part B: Use of Motorized Transportation 43 Pace of Play 44 RCGA Pace of Play Policy 46 Clarification on Group Pace of Play 47 Final Determination Regarding Breach/Review Process - Clarification 48 Section 7: Form Samples & Templates 48 Notice to Competitors Canadian Women s Amateur Championship Canadian Mid Am Championship 50 Course Setup and Hole Selection Sheet 51 Golf Canada Hole Location Sheet 52 Player Timing Sheet 53 Incident Report 2

5 54 Rules Chair Report 55 Golf Canada Women s Division Championship Course Setup Guidelines 57 Match Play Bracket Sample 58 Final Round Draw University/College Championship (sample) 59 Final Round Draw CN Future Links (sample) 60 Evacuation Plan 3

6 RULES 4

7 SECTION 1: TOURNAMENT RULES CHAIR The Golf Canada Rules Chair, in conjunction with the Golf Canada Director of Amateur Competitions and the Director of Rules, will appoint for each event a Tournament Rules Chair (TRC) and the other Governors, invited officials or staff members who will act as Rules Officials for each competition. The Tournament Rules Chair has responsibilities before, during and after completion of the competition. The Tournament Rules Chair will perform his/her duties in accordance with the procedures prescribed in this manual. Before the Competition With the assistance of Golf Canada staff, verify the availability of the rules certified Governors and other rules certified officials assigned to the tournament. Advise each official when they are expected to arrive at the competition. With the assistance of Golf Canada staff, prepare a list of work assignments indicating clearly to each official where and when he/she is expected to work. Make sure that the Starters and Scorers participate in meetings of the Tournament Rules Committee as referred to in Section 1, page 5, item #6. Conduct a pre-tournament site visit, if feasible The work assignments should be made available to the rules officials prior to the competition. Assignment sheets should be available at the Tournament Office before opening ceremonies or at the host hotel(s) the night before the competition. Staff will also prepare a brief information package for the officials indicating what transportation arrangements, if any; have been made, where the course is located, etc. The Tournament Rules Chair should arrive at least one full day prior to the competition. Upon arrival, the Chair should: 1. Verify and approve course markings; the preliminary work having been done by the Tournament Director; 2. Finalize and approve the Local Rules; 3. Determine the appropriate time par; 4. Ensure that the appropriate translation of the Local Rules is completed. (This can be done by or fax with the translator at Golf House or directly with someone identified prior to the competition by the Golf Canada Rules Chair); 5. In conjunction with the Tournament Director, determine who will do the daily course setup; 6. Meet with the Rules Officials and Tournament Starting/Scoring Chair prior to the tournament to review all Local Rules, course markings, any potentially controversial or difficult rulings and any Rules question which anyone may have. Special care should be given to Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) and Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIO), which may exist on the course to ensure that Rules Officials will treat these areas and obstructions in a consistent manner. If time permits, the Tournament Rules Chair should conduct a course survey with all Rules Officials to ensure familiarity with the course and consistency in providing rulings. 7. At junior competitions, conduct a meeting with all competitors on the eve of the practice round to review local rules and other matters of interest pertaining to the Rules of Golf. The Tournament Rules Chair will chair the meeting. If necessary or requested, a separate meeting should be held with the French-speaking competitors when the same presentation will be made; 8. Confirm what holes will be used in the event of a playoff; 9. At competitions that include a team event, assist the TD in a meeting with the team captains to review procedures for team play, including team impacts of individual disqualifications and how ties will be decided in the team event. This meeting is normally scheduled just prior to or subsequent to the flag-raising ceremony; 10. Ascertain that the appropriate equipment is available for all officials. The Tournament Director should have the 5

8 following supplies on-site and the appropriate documentation prepared: Rules clipboards/binders with: o Rules book (English and French) o Standard local rules o Evacuation Plan o Notice to Competitors o Pace of play policy including time par o Pace of play and timing sheets, o Incident report cards o Players draw Radios & ear attachment Stopwatches Decisions books Current list of approved golf balls Current list of conforming driver heads French copies of the local rules, standard local rules and additional copies of the French Rules book Measuring devices (strings) Air horns Umbrellas During the Competition During the competition the Tournament Rules Chair must: 1. Ensure all officials are aware of their assignments and that they are present when required; 2. Convene the Tournament Rules Committee should the need arise; 3. Determine when to suspend play should the need arise due to inclement weather or darkness; 4. Order the resumption of play after a suspension; 5. Bring any course maintenance issues to the attention of the Tournament Director or Green Superintendent, if appropriate. 6. Review Incident Reports at end of play each day Suspension of Play and Evacuation Planning Suspensions of play fall into two categories: those that require an immediate course evacuation, and those that allow the players to complete play of the hole being played. The latter is usually due to darkness or wet course conditions and the former due to the potential of dangerous weather. The Tournament Director is responsible for establishing the evacuation plan prior to the Tournament Rules Chair s arrival. (See page 60 for sample Evacuation Plan) Suspension for a Non-Dangerous Situation When the Committee determines that play must be discontinued for reasons other than dangerous conditions, players are permitted to complete play of the hole being played at the moment play is suspended. The Tournament Rules Chair and Tournament Director should coordinate a plan to transport players off the golf course. The most common reasons for suspending play in a non-dangerous situation are darkness or non-threatening inclement weather making the course unplayable. The Tournament Rules Chair and Tournament Director should agree on a precise time to discontinue play. Rules officials should be situated on the golf course with air horns and the Tournament Rules Chair should count down from three over the radio to coordinate their use. Non-dangerous suspensions must be indicated by three short blasts on the horn. 6

9 Suspension for a Dangerous Situation All Golf Canada competitions must have a course evacuation plan in place prior to the beginning of the practice round. The Tournament Director is responsible for keeping the Tournament Rules Chair apprised of any potential dangerous weather that could affect the competition. The Tournament Director should ensure the Golf Canada lightening detection equipment is set up, and staff are available to operate it in the event that there is any potential of dangerous weather. The local telephone number or 900 number for Environment Canada should be displayed prominently in the Tournament Office and related web sites (weather warnings, Doppler radar) identified. Evacuation Plan considerations: Determine where vans (if available) will be stationed in the event of an evacuation. Determine which holes would require more than a 10 minute walk to reach the clubhouse. Determine how many golf carts are necessary to shuttle players from holes that are more than a 10 minute walk from the clubhouse. Identify any buildings on or near the golf course that can act as sanctuary in the event players cannot get back to the clubhouse. Establish gathering places for players to proceed to in order to meet transportation from the course and back onto the course. Establish a plan for each hole (tee, fairway, putting green) with instructions for players at each location. Working closely with the head professional or other local personnel will ensure an effective plan is in place. Local staff are generally familiar with what resources are required and available to evacuate the golf course. If volunteers are going to drive the shuttles, then creating labels to attach to each golf cart with the location that the golf cart is to proceed to will help ensure the volunteers know exactly where to go with the cart. Ensure sufficient numbers of volunteers are available to shuttle players in the event of an evacuation. In the event an evacuation is necessary, the Tournament Rules Chair is responsible for coordinating the suspension of play with all rules officials on the course. Rules officials with air horns should be located at positions on the course such that all players will be able to hear the signal. The Tournament Rules Chair should count down from three on the radio and all officials with air horns should sound them simultaneously as follows: Suspension for Non-Dangerous Situation (course unplayable, darkness, etc.) THREE SHORT BLASTS Suspension for a Dangerous Situation (lightning, etc.) ONE PROLONGED BLAST Equipment Rulings Occasionally the Tournament Rules Committee will be asked to make a ruling on a golf club or golf ball. The List of Conforming Balls should always be available in the Tournament Office and an additional copy on the first tee. If a ball does not appear on the List, it is not likely an approved golf ball. It is possible that a ball not appearing on the List has been approved, but has not made it on the published List. The List is updated once monthly and when a ball receives a ruling, it is not placed on the List available on the website until the first week of the following month. If a player insists that a ball is approved but not yet on the List, the Tournament Rules Committee may have to contact either the USGA or the Golf Canada Director of Rules to confirm a ruling. If a player insists on using a ball that is not on the published List, they must be advised that the 7

10 Tournament Rules Committee will determine whether the ball is conforming and that the player should not use the ball until a ruling is confirmed. If a ruling is not possible before the player commences his/her round and the player insists on using it, the player assumes the risk that the ball is not approved and risks disqualification. If it turns out that the ball is not approved and the player has commenced his/her round, the player is disqualified and must leave the course immediately. In either case the player should be advised of the ruling as soon as practicable. The same procedure is now in place for driver heads. As of January 1, 2006, the List of Conforming Driver Heads is available through a link on the Golf Canada website. The most common ruling for clubs, however, is whether a putter is conforming. Generally, the putters in question are long putters with two grips or those that are close to vertical. Reference to the Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls should be made when determining whether a club is conforming. A copy is available from the Tournament Director. A simple method of determining whether the shaft of the club is the mandatory minimum 10 degrees from vertical is to use a triangle diagram. A right triangle with a vertical of 20 inches and a horizontal of 3.5 inches creates a ten degree angle. Drawing this diagram on a large piece of paper or using the straight lines of flooring boards or tiles will quickly determine whether a putter is legal. (Diagram exaggerated for illustrative purpose) Queries Arising Before the Competition Begins (from R&A Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls) 1. Officials should always ascertain why the player, fellow-competitor, opponent or third party is querying the club. 2. A positive ruling should only be given at this stage if the Official is absolutely certain he/she is correct. As a precautionary measure, always refer to the Rules of Golf and any written guidance notes first, before giving the ruling. 3. If the Official is not certain of the ruling, and time permits, help and advice should be sought from the Golf Canada Director of Rules who will contact the USGA, if necessary. 4. If a USGA decision exists, and the Official finds out in time, the player should be informed accordingly. 5. If there is no USGA decision on record, the Official should provide the Golf Canada Director of Rules with a detailed description of the club. If time permits, a digital photograph or faxed drawing would also be of assistance. The Golf Canada Director of Rules will then offer as much advice as possible based on the information given - and in most cases, offer a recommended ruling. 6. The Official should make a ruling on the club based on the advice given by the Golf Canada Director of Rules. If there is even a small amount of uncertainty, the Official should only offer a Duration of Competition Answer. 7. If, due to the close proximity of a player s starting time, the Official cannot reasonably seek advice, or is unable to contact the Golf Canada Director of Rules, then he/she should advise the player not to carry the club for that 8

11 round. 8. If later advice confirms that the club probably does conform, then the player should be given a Duration of Competition Answer or formal ruling as soon as possible. This would mean that the player could carry the club in the next round. 9. Any player who ignores an Official s advice and carries a doubtful club would be subject to disqualification in the event of a subsequent non-conforming Duration of Competition or formal ruling. This would apply whether the competition was closed or not. 10. Duration of Competition Answers have no standing beyond the end of the competition, and therefore the player should be advised to submit the club to Golf Canada for a formal ruling as soon as the competition is over. The player should also be made aware that any subsequent ruling may be different from the Duration of Competition Answer which was given. Queries Arising During a Stroke Play Competition 1. Officials should only accept queries between rounds, or at the conclusion of play before the competition is closed. 2. The Official should ascertain why the player, fellow-competitor, or third party is querying the club. 3. If the Official is absolutely certain of the correct decision then the player should be informed (see 2 above). 4. If the Official is unsure of the ruling, the player should be advised that he/she will receive a formal ruling or Duration of Competition Answer before the close of the competition. The procedure is the same as for a query arising before the competition. 5. If later advice confirms that the club does not conform, then the player should be given a Duration of Competition Answer or formal ruling as soon as possible, and he/she should be disqualified. Queries Arising During a Match Play Competition 1. During a match play event the above procedure may need to be modified. 2. If the query arises between rounds, then it would be too late for a defeated opponent of a player with a suspect club to make a claim, but a query from the defeated opponent would be grounds for checking the club before the player starts their next round. 3. The procedure would be as for stroke play competitions, however, there may be more urgency in this case as it would be desirable to know whether the club is non-conforming before the player starts his next round, which might be the same day. 4. If a formal ruling is obtained or a Duration of Competition Answer reached, the player should be told as soon as possible. If the decision is that the club does not conform, the Official would warn the player that if he/she carries the club in the next round he/she would be immediately disqualified. 5. If the opponent makes a claim during his/her match that the player is carrying a non-conforming club, the Official will have to make a ruling under even greater time constraints. Ideally, a ruling should be made before the match is finished, In that event, he/she will almost always err towards ruling the club to conform, but that would be a Duration of Round Answer. 6. If the player wins, the procedure is the same as for a query arising between rounds. Queries Arising After Competition Closed Once a competition has closed, there is ample time to contact the Golf Canada Director of Rules to find out whether the club conforms, and/or to submit the club for a ruling. If it turns out that the club is non-conforming, the decision whether to disqualify the player or not depends on whether he/she knew the club was nonconforming, prior to or during the competition (see Rule 34-1). This is a question of fact, but in determining the facts, the Committee may wish to consider other evidence as well as the player s own statement. In conclusion, the vast majority of clubs are conforming to the Rules and queries of this nature are rare. However, queries do arise from time to time and Officials need to know how to deal with them. It is important to remember that it is the player s responsibility to play with conforming clubs. They cannot shift this responsibility to the 9

12 Officials. For their part, Officials should respond to such queries calmly and with due consideration to all parties involved. Appropriate consultations should be made and if it is not possible to give a definitive ruling straight away, a Duration of Competition Answer should be given. In giving Duration of Competition Answers, Officials in doubt should err towards deeming clubs to conform. Disqualifying a player for carrying a club that later turns out to be conforming is a more serious error than allowing use of a club which later turns out to be non-conforming. After the Competition The Tournament Rules Chair must report verbally to the Golf Canada Rules Chair and the Director of Rules any incident of a significant nature. The Tournament Rules Chair must complete a Tournament Rules Chair Report using the template provided and available online in the Board of Governors section of The report should be forwarded to the Golf Canada Rules Chair and Director of Rules as soon as practicable after the completion of the competition. 10

13 SECTION 2: COURSE SETUP Under Rule 33-2 the Tournament Committee is responsible for defining the golf course, as defined in Section 2 of this manual. This is one of the most important functions of the Tournament Committee and one that reflects directly on the quality of the competition. A systematic approach to marking the course will result in a high quality and thorough job. Course setup at Golf Canada championships is the joint responsibility of the Tournament Director and the Tournament Rules Chair. The Golf Canada Director of Rules is responsible for course setup at the Canadian Men s Amateur. Golf Canada tournament staff will generally arrive approximately one week in advance of the competition. The Tournament Rules Chair s responsibility is to check the course setup upon their arrival and finalize any course changes with the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director and the Rules Chair should agree on the final course setup. The Director of Rules should be consulted if there is any unsolvable issues of course setup. NOTE: Women s Division Championships - The Tournament Committee is responsible for ensuring that the championship course is set-up by the Golf Canada tournament staff as outlined in the Golf Canada Women s Division Championship Course Setup Guidelines. The Golf Canada Women s Division Championship Course Setup Guidelines can be found on page 59 of this manual in addition to the Championship Manual of each championship. It is important to be methodical when preparing a golf course for a competition. When an established procedure is employed to prepare a golf course, the likelihood of making a mistake is minimized. The Tournament Rules Chair (or designate) is responsible for issuing a hole-by-hole summary of the course. The summary has two uses: it is a reference for any events held at the same course in the future, and it is the basis for preparing the Tournament Rules Committee of any potential ruling concerns. The best way to familiarize oneself with the golf course is to play it well in advance of the tournament. This also helps to establish an appropriate pace of play for the competition. Meeting with the Head Professional and Green Superintendent will provide insight into any peculiarities of the golf course. Beware of setting a pace of play based on advice from the head professional or any other local personnel. Head professionals tend to underestimate the actual pace of play and are often not familiar with establishing a reasonable time under conditions of a national championship. Green Speed The speed of putting greens has grown into an international obsession. Caution should be used when determining green speeds with the superintendent. Green speeds will be largely determined by the slope of the greens, their size, the quality of the field and the expected weather conditions. Faster is not necessarily better and care should be taken to ensure green speeds do not become excessive for the conditions. It is not unusual for a green superintendent to try to maximize the speed of the greens in order to showcase their agronomic ability or to protect the course from good players. The two important keys are to ensure that green speeds are reasonable and that they remain consistent throughout the entire competitions beginning with the practice round. Out of Bounds The first task of marking the course is to define it. Out of bounds must be clear in order to remove any doubt that a ball is in play or out of bounds. White wooden or plastic stakes should be used to define the boundary. Perimeter fencing should be used when present, bearing in mind that the inside edge of the posts at ground level defines the boundary. Boundaries should be extended to the furthest possible point where there is even the most remote chance that a ball may cross it. If you have to think about it for even a moment, then mark it! Each white stake should have a white painted circle on the ground around the base so that in the event it is removed, the Tournament Rules Committee can easily identify where it must be replaced. Boundary stakes should be situated close enough to each other that the player (and official) can sight between two 11

14 adjacent stakes. There should be no interference from trees, bushes or obstructions for the rare event when an official must stretch a string between two boundary markers to determine whether a ball is out of bounds. When the boundary line is to be continued by an existing fence, wall or the like, a white stake should be placed next to the first post or corner of the structure that defines the boundary. Tying the fence or wall into the boundary line with a white stake in this manner clarifies where the structure begins its role as a boundary and where it ends. Other means of identifying the boundary include walls, roads or painted lines. When using walls or roads, it is important to define what part of the structure defines the boundary. For walls, normally the inside edge of the wall at ground level would be used. It is not generally recommended that roads are used to define the boundary of the course unless the edges can be clearly defined. For example, if the road has a curb that is well-defined, the Tournament Rules Committee could state that the curb defines the boundary and that a ball is out of bounds when it is over the curbing and on or beyond the road. Lines should be used as rarely as possible. It may be necessary to use a painted line near the clubhouse or along a curved path, trees or bushes. Paint should never be used on permanent structures such as pavement, bridges or other obstructions without the authority of the golf course staff; usually the superintendent or director of golf. In-Course Out of Bounds In-course out of bounds should be used when safety or property damage is a consideration. Consideration should be given to parking lots, club houses, maintenance areas and practice facilities. If practice facilities are not marked out of bounds, but are part of the course, the Tournament Rules Committee must clearly define where the competitors are permitted to practice. In this situation, it is highly recommended that ropes or temporary fencing be erected to clearly define the practice area, including practice putting greens, short game areas and driving ranges. This should also be clearly stated on the Notice to Competitors to avoid a competitor being disqualified for practicing on the competition course. Other Considerations When an artificially-surfaced path runs adjacent to a boundary fence, consideration should be given to deeming that part of the path an integral part of the course. A ball that comes to rest next to the boundary fence may require the player to stand on the path to play the stroke. If the stroke is reasonable, the player would then be entitled to relief from the path which could incidentally provide relief from the boundary fence. The Tournament Rules Committee should decide whether this is reasonable and make the decision accordingly. If only part of the path runs adjacent to the boundary and the Tournament Rules Committee wishes to deem only that part of the path as integral to the course, green or blue stakes should be used to indicate where the path begins and ends being integral to the course. This must also be clearly described in the local rules on the Notice to Competitors. Marking Tees and Measuring Greens Part of preparing the course is determining the maximum length the course will be played. Using the course score card is not always accurate as many new courses measure the length of the course from the back of every tee deck. Bearing in mind that we must, if at all possible, provide enough space for the teeing ground and for the player to have an adequate area for the backswing, the maximum length of course could be shorter than the course score card. There are several reasons for determining in advance the maximum length of course. First, the competitors should be aware of how long each hole can potentially be played during the competition. This provides them with enough information during their practice round that they can play shots from appropriate distances in preparation for the competition. It also ensures that the officials who are doing the morning setup know how far back the tees can be set. To ensure everyone is aware of the maximum yardages, it is customary to spray a small white dot (loonie size) on the side of the tee deck next to the rough and on the opposite side of where the players will normally walk on. This should be done in advance of the practice round so that all players are aware of the maximum length of each hole. Measuring green depths by pacing is required prior to the start of the competition. When using an electronic 12

15 measuring device, measurements must be converted to paces to be consistent with hole location sheets. Small yellow dots should be painted at the front and back of the greens to indicate where the pacing is measured. This information is provided to the players on the hole location sheet each day. This helps the players determine how much room they have around the flagstick when making their approach shots. Diagram 1 Measuring Putting Greens To correctly measure a putting green you must first determine the direction of a typical approach shot. Once determined, as indicated by the direction of play arrow, the green is measured in yards from the leading edge as indicated by line X-X. The depth of the putting green is determined by measuring to the farthest back edge of the putting green as indicated by line Y-Y, in this case 29 yards along line Z-Z. Measuring can be done either by using a distance measuring device or by pacing the green using paces that approximate one yard. It is often easier to actually pace from back to front, because you can easily spot where the typical approach shot would come from, ensuring that you are accurately measuring in the direction of play. When determining the location of the hole the most effective method is to stand next to the hole location and pace to the front of the putting green along the line of play. That is, pace back toward where the ideal approach shot would come from. If obstacles such as bunkers or water hazards prevent pacing along this line, you will have to approximate the line by pacing along a parallel line that allows you to measure to the front of the green. In this diagram, the hole is 19 paces from the front of the putting green and 5 from the right. Note that the 5 is measured from the nearest right edge of the putting green unlike measuring from the front which is done from the absolute front. In this diagram the nearest edge happens to coincide with the absolute right edge. 13

16 Diagram 2 Close Edge Using the same putting green with a different hole location, we can see that whether the hole is on the left or right side of the putting green is not relevant for the hole location sheet. The player needs to know where the closest edge to the hole is. In this case, although the hole may actually be cut to the right of the centre line of the putting green, it is a left hole location on the hole location sheet. This diagram also illustrates that when there is an edge that is 6 paces or less from the flagstick, we also need to provide this information to the Tournament Director. With proper input, the hole location sheet will provide the additional information by placing a small 6 on the hole location sheet as illustrated in the diagram. The +11 in the top right corner indicates that the hole is 11 yards past the centre of the putting green. Again, the software will automatically generate this information. 14

17 Diagram 3 Par 4 versus Par 5 In Diagram 3 we can see how measuring the same hole and putting green can result in different numbers depending on where the typical approach shot is coming from. The hole played as a par 5 will have a short approach shot from Point B and the green would be measured by pacing from line F-F to line G-G making the green depth 20 paces. The same hole played as a par 4 will have a long approach shot from point A and the green would be measured by pacing from line H-H to line J-J with a green depth of

18 Hole Locations Selecting hole locations is the responsibility of the Tournament Rules Committee. The responsibility may be delegated to one or two experienced officials or staff members at the discretion of the Tournament Rules Committee. The Tournament Director should advise the course superintendent to avoid using the areas of the putting green where competition holes are normally placed for a period of at least one week before the event. This will give old hole plugs enough time to heal properly and make the areas usable during the championship. It is not necessary to select hole placements for the practice round, however, the superintendent should be advised to cut holes generally in the centre of every putting green for this round. If at all possible, hole locations should be selected well in advance of the competition and made available to the superintendent. Many factors affect selection of hole locations. The most important is good judgment in determining fair locations that will test the players, without being tricky and an awareness of the ability of the field for each specific championship. The following guidelines should be used in determining hole locations: 1. Study the design of the hole as it is intended to be played. Know the length of the approach shot and the probable club selection of the majority of the field. There must be enough surface of the putting green to accommodate the type and length of shot required. For example, if the hole demands a long iron or wood approach shot, the hole could be located deeper on the green and further from its sides than would be the case if a short pitch shot was required; 2. Take into consideration expected conditions including wind, rain, firmness of green and any other condition affecting the approach shot; 3. Generally, holes should be located no less than four paces from the edge of the putting green and in an area where there is a two to three foot radius around the hole that is as nearly flat as possible and of uniform grade. Never locate a hole in a tricky spot or on a slope where the ball can gather speed as it approaches. A properly executed putt from above the hole should be able to stop near the hole; 4. Avoid areas of poor turf or where old hole plugs have not properly healed; 5. Consider the foot traffic on the putting green. For example, saving a back right hole location for the last day when the player walk-off to the next tee is also located back right may result in a poor putting surface during the final round. On the other hand, saving a front location may result in an area damaged by many pitch marks as players land their ball near the front to get to a middle hole location. Planning Prior to the commencement of the competition the official(s) or Golf Canada staff member selecting hole placements should select the general area of each putting green that holes will be cut for each day. The official should then rate the potential hole locations of each green based on its relative difficulty; 1 being the most difficult, 2 the next most difficult and so on. Convention is to rate from 1 to 4 (depending on championship rounds) and aim for an average difficulty of 2 prior to the cut and 3 for any rounds following the cut. The procedure should produce a good distribution of difficult and moderate hole locations each day. While saving some favourite hole locations for the final round is important, it is also important not to use all the difficult hole locations on the final day. It is a good idea to save the best hole location on the 18 th hole for the final round, but a selection of difficult hole locations should be used each day providing a balance of difficulty over the entire competition. In match play competitions, remember that few matches ever reach the 18 th hole. Saving the best hole locations rather than using them, for example, in stroke-play qualifying, may not be the best strategy. If the competition has a 36 or 54 hole cut, the most difficult hole locations should be minimized prior to the cut while the full field is playing. This should help improve the pace of play while the bottom half of the field is still playing and avoid suspending play due to darkness. Location is also important when the official selects the exact location each morning for the next day. They must generate an even distribution of front, middle, back, left and right hole locations over each stipulated round in addition to balancing the number of difficult holes each day. This will help avoid favouring the player who fades the ball over one who draws the ball or vice versa. Without such a plan it is easy to get caught with too many holes 16

19 on one side of the green or with an excess number of difficult hole locations for the final round. If heavy rain is expected, it is recommended that the plan be abandoned in favour of hole locations where water is least likely to accumulate. This may save the day in a stroke play competition since Rule 33-2b prohibits the Committee from moving a hole location during a stipulated round except in the exceptional case when a damaged hole cannot be repaired. Morning Setup If a crossover is to be used (play starting from both the 1st and 10th tees), then two people are required each morning to prepare the course by setting the tees, checking that the hole locations are correct as selected, and selecting holes for the next day. Selecting hole placements is the responsibility of the Tournament Committee. The responsibility may be delegated to one or two experienced officials or staff members at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. Holes for the first day of competition should be selected either the evening before or prior to the first group playing their practice round. If first day holes are selected during the practice round, no paint dot should be used to indicate their position. Painting the dots while the practice round is taking place gives an advantage to those players who practice later in the day over those who play early. Another solution is to select the holes for the first day and dot the greens two days in advance so that all players have an equal opportunity to find the first days hole location during the practice round. If hole locations for the first day are being selected during the practice round, instead of using paint to indicate the first day s hole locations, using a tee to make a hole in the green will help guide the official the next day, but is nearly impossible to spot without knowing its exact location. Hole location sheets for the next day s play should be prepared and provided to the course superintendent by noon each day. Course maintenance staff start early and leave early so it is important that the sheet get into the hands of the superintendent early enough so that he/she has it first thing each morning and does not have to wait for the Golf Canada officials to show up to begin cutting holes. After selecting the hole location the official must pace from the front of the green to the hole location and from the hole to either the left or right edge of the green based on which side of the green is closer. Occasionally, the opposite edge of the green may also be close to the hole. This is referred as a close edge and should also be indicated on the hole location sheet. (see example in Diagram 4 and on the hole location sheet). If the opposite side is 6 paces or less from the hole, this should be included on the Hole Location Sheet. The official needs to record this information so that the Tournament Director can correctly prepare the Hole Location Sheet. Note: It is advisable to use red paint when dotting a putting green. The dot should be no larger than the width of the paint can nozzle. There is no need to use large dots in order for the hole cutter to find it. Remember, the hole cutter has a hole location sheet to find the dot. Once standing near it, even a small dot is easy to see. Paint kills grass; the larger the dot, the more time it takes to heal. If the hole locations for the first day are not painted, it is important that the setup official accompany the hole cutter and direct him/her to the correct location. Each day when paint dots are made the previous day and the holes have been cut, the official should check the location by pacing it off according to the hole location sheet. If the hole is not in the location indicated by the sheet, the Tournament Rules Chair should be notified immediately by radio. A decision must be made whether to correct the location by cutting a new hole (if time permits) or changing the hole location sheet to indicate the new location. In the event there is not time to correct the hole location or it is decided to keep the hole location and change the hole location sheets, the starters should be immediately advised to make the change on all sheets subsequently given to players. On-course officials also need to speak with all groups on the course to advise them of the change before they reach the hole in question. As an additional option, a small sign may be placed on the teeing ground advising players of the change. Officials responsible for course setup each morning should check bunkers and rake placements in addition to their responsibilities on the greens. It is recommended that two officials be responsible for morning setup. The official(s) are responsible for checking the previous day s hole location and repairing the hole plug if necessary, checking the current day s hole location and that it was cut properly and selecting the hole location for the following day. If time permits, the official may wish to cut the old dot (once cut and now located in the hole plug of the previous day s hole) out of the putting green using a small pen knife and repairing the hole in the same fashion a pitch mark is 17

20 repaired. This takes a degree of skill and should only be done after receiving proper instruction from an experienced official. Diagram 4 - Hole Location Sheet From the green above, the hole location sheet for the first hole would look like the following: 18

21 Diagram 5 Golf Canada Hole Location Sheet 19

22 Teeing Grounds Additional duties of the setup official include setting the teeing ground for each hole. The tee markers should be set six paces apart and pointed in the direction where a good shot is expected to come to rest. On par 3 s the tee markers should be pointed toward the middle of the putting green, not toward the flagstick. The best method to determine if the markers are perpendicular to the target is: 1. Stand in the middle of the markers towards the target, always looking straight down. 2. Spread your arms to both sides pointing to each marker. 3. Then slowly bring both arms together in front of you until they meet. 4. Then look in the direction your arms are pointing. If they are pointing at the target line then the markers are set correctly, 5. If not, then adjust the markers accordingly and follow steps 1 through 4 again. Once the tee markers have been set, paint dots should be used to mark their position. This is done by placing a small dot of paint at the outside leading edge of each tee marker. On the first day of competition one dot should be painted; on day 2, 2 dots, etc. This is done for two reasons; first to mark the position of the tee markers in case they are moved during the stipulated round and second, so that the setup official can see where the tee markers have been set on previous days. Always remove the tee marker from the ground before painting the dot to avoid painting on the tee marker. Some forethought should be given to tee placement, taking into consideration the number of players and the hole locations for each day. On holes where an iron is likely to be used from the tee, the tee markers should be placed slightly further apart (seven to eight paces) to ensure all players have undamaged turf from which to play. Remember, after the cut, only half the players are on the course. In match play, the number of players is quickly reduced to just two so the tee decks will suffer less and less damage as the competition progresses. The areas used on the par 3 s before the cut will not likely be in any condition to be used again during the competition. Save the best areas for after the cut. A good practice on the par 3 s is to attempt to get the players to select different clubs from day to day. The theory of placing the tees forward when the hole is back, or back when the hole is forward, is a fallacy. Forcing the player to carefully consider club selection each day, rather than being able to hit the same shot each round should be the goal when setting the tees. Obviously, this is less important on par 4 s and par 5 s, unless the design of the hole is such that a carry over a hazard is required or there is a possibility to drive the green on a short par 4. Shortening the hole by moving the tees forward will often make it more difficult as it brings hazards and other obstacles into play that would otherwise not affect a shot from the back of the tee deck. As a general goal of setting up the course, an attempt should be made to force players to use as many different clubs during the round as possible. The best compliments from players often come after a round where they had to use every club in their bag. Water Hazards At Golf Canada championships all water hazards on the course must be defined by painted lines. Stakes should be used only to indicate the position of the hazard. Since most courses use stakes to define water hazards for daily play, this usually means that many stakes must be removed. A player should be able to see one stake from another, but, unlike a boundary, it is not necessary to be able to sight a line between the stakes since the actual margin is defined by the painted line on the ground. In some cases, stakes may be as far apart as 50 yards or more, only to indicate the position of the hazard. When both stakes and lines are used, the stakes should always be placed outside the hazard to avoid any possibility that a player s ball may have interference from an immovable object in a water hazard (a stake not easily movable) or a hole from where a stake has been removed in a hazard. The definition clarifies that the stakes are only for identification purposes and the line defines the hazard. Lines should be placed where the ground breaks down to form the depression containing water and should include not only the water, but any rough banks or natural growth related to the hazard. Any large bushes or trees that are outside the natural margin of the hazard, but close enough to interfere with the area that a player taking relief from 20

23 the hazard would be required to drop, should be included in the hazard. This will allow a player to drop in an area where they could reasonably play a stroke. Generally, bodies of water should be defined as water hazards unless it is necessary to define it as a lateral water hazard. As per the definition, a lateral water hazard is a water hazard or part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or practicable to drop a ball behind in accordance with Rule 26-1b. The principle of relief from a water hazard is that the player should always have an option other than 26-1a; playing from where the original ball was last played. This means that the player should either be able to drop behind the hazard in accordance with 26-1b, drop a ball in accordance with 26-1c or, in rare circumstances, use a designated dropping zone (see Dropping Zones section). At least one of these options should be available. In some circumstances, it may be necessary or desirable to designate part of a hazard as a water hazard and another part of the same hazard as a lateral water hazard. When this is done, a yellow stake and a red stake should be placed together at the spot where the change takes place and the colour of the paint changed to clearly indicate the type of hazard. This will assist the player in determining whether their ball crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral water hazard and, therefore, be able to proceed under the appropriate rule. When a cart path runs adjacent to a water hazard, depending on how close the path is to the edge of the hazard, consideration should be given to defining the hazard very close to the edge of the path. Leaving a narrow strip of grass between the hazard line and the path can lead to a player having to drop on the path when taking relief from the hazard. Subsequent relief from the path could then put the player in a narrow space between the hazard and the path, and perhaps even end up having the player stand in the hazard to make a stroke after taking relief from the path. It is good practice to physically go through potential relief procedures in order to determine the best manner in which to mark the hazard. Under the rules, bridges that cross water hazards are part of the hazard. When considering whether to include a bridge or part of a bridge, first consider how you would mark the hazard if the bridge was not there. If the natural margin of the hazard would be uninterrupted, then that is how the hazard should be marked. In some cases, part of the bridge may be in the hazard and part out. To indicate where the hazard line transverses the bridge or a road leading to the bridge, paint the line up to the edge of the path or road and place a stake on either side of the path. Do not paint pavement or other permanent construction as the host club may mark the course differently for regular play after the Golf Canada competition is over. Occasionally the margin of a water hazard will run through an adjacent bunker. When painting the line through the sand of the bunker, the Tournament Rules Committee must take into consideration the potential change in water level due to rainy weather or other drainage issues. Consulting with the course superintendent should provide information about the maximum level of the water hazard. The line should be painted with enough distance between the water and the line to ensure that the water hazard level does not overflow the painted margin. Any margins painted in areas such as a bunker should be checked regularly and repainted to ensure the margin is clearly defined throughout the competition. Lateral Water Hazards It is important to understand the definition of lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is a water hazard that is so situated that it is impossible, or the Committee deems it impractical, to drop a ball behind in accordance with Rule 26-1b. For example, a lateral water hazard would include a creek that runs parallel to the hole if the ground on the far side would make it impossible for the player to drop a ball, e.g. if the far side of the hazard was wooded, rocky or impossible to get to. However, contrary to popular belief, a lateral water hazard is not necessarily a water hazard that runs laterally to the hole being played. Using the same example, if a creek running parallel to the hole is maintained on both sides and the far margin is easily accessible; there is no need to mark it as a LWH. It is important to always provide a player with an alternative to the stroke and distance penalty prescribed in Rule 26-1a. Occasionally, a water hazard conforms to the definition of lateral water hazard, but the Tournament Rules Committee will define it as a water hazard to preserve the integrity or character of the golf hole. That is, the Tournament Rules Committee believes it is important to make the player negotiate the water with a stroke rather 21