Spearfish Canyon Golf Club Ladies League adheres to the Rules of Golf set forth by the USGA. For the purpose of pace of play Spearfish Canyon Golf Club Ladies League will adopt the alternative to stoke and distance rule for a lost ball and ball out of bounds.
See the descriptions of comon rules situations that can arise during your round of golf.
Local Rule: Alternative to Stroke & Distance
With this local rule in effect, you can still take traditional stroke & distance relief for a 1 stroke penalty. However, you also have the following option that comes with a 2 stroke penalty.
- Determine the spot where you ball went out of bounds or is likely to be lost.
- Find the nearest fairway edge, no closer to the hole.
- Drop your ball within 2 club lengths of the fairway edge no closer to the hole.
**This rule will be in effect on hole #7 & hole #11. With the option to drop closer to the hole on the other side of the tall grass, within 2 club lengths of the fairway edge.
Relief from Penalty Area
Penalty areas are defined as either red or yellow. Your ball is considered in the penalty area when any part of it lies on or touches the ground or anything else inside the edge of the penalty area, or is above the edge or any other part of the penalty area.
Penalty area options:
- Play the ball as it lies within the penalty area.
- The player may take stroke-and-distance relief by playing the ball or another ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
- The player may take back-on-the-line relief by dropping a ball in the relief area based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through where the ball crossed the penalty area.
- The player may take lateral relief (lateral penalty area only). The reference point for taking lateral relief is where the ball crossed the penalty area and measuring 2 club lengths no nearer the hole. The ball must be dropped within these 2 club lengths for a penalty of 1 stroke.
Unplayable Ball in General Area
A player may decide their ball is unplayable at any time. If a ball is deemed unplayable the player has 3 options with a penalty of 1 stroke.
- The player may take stroke-and-distance relief by playing the original ball or another ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
- The player may take back-on-the-line relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in a relief area based on a reference lien going straight back from the hole through the spot of the original ball.
- The player may take lateral relief by taking 2 club-lengths from where the ball came to rest in either direction no closer to the hole.
Unplayable Ball in Bunker
If a player decides their ball is unplayable in a bunker they have 4 options:
- For 1 penalty stroke, the player may take stroke-and distance relief by playing their original ball or another ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
- For 1 penalty stroke, the player may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker.
- For 1 penalty stroke, the player may take lateral relief in the bunker.
- For 2 penalty strokes, the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the spot of the original ball.