LOCAL RULES & TERMS OF THE COMPETITION – IMG JUNIOR GOLF TOUR
Effective January 1, 2019

The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and The R&A govern play. See applicable tournament or qualifying round Notice to Players and IMG Junior Golf Tour Code of Conduct and Pace of Play Policies for additions and/or modifications to these Local Rules and Terms of the Competition. Disregard Local Rules printed on course scorecards and/or posted at the course. Complete text of Rules may be found in the Rules of Golf and Committee Procedures, effective January 2019. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty.

LOCAL RULES

OUT OF BOUNDS: 

a)        Out of bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes and/or fence posts. When defined by a white line, the line itself is out of bounds. 

b)       The course-side edge of a paved road or curb defines out of bounds. A ball coming to rest on or beyond the road or curb is out of bounds, even if it comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes

PENALTY AREAS: When a penalty area is defined on only one side, it extends to infinity. When a penalty area is connected to the out-of-bounds edge, the penalty area extends to and coincides with out of bounds.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR: Defined by white lines. French drains are ground under repair. Ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage, including areas where spectators or other traffic has combined with wet conditions to affect materially the ground surface, but only when so declared by an authorized member of the Committee.

WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY SURACED ROADS AND PATHS: White-lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced roads, paths or other identified obstructions that they are connected to are a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1.

RELIEF FROM SEAMS OF CUT TURF: 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. 

WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH: Are loose impediments.

INTEGRAL OBJECTS: Include cables, rods, wires and wrappings when closely attached to trees, and artificial walls and pilings when located in penalty areas and bunkers.

TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS: Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-22.

LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVER HEADS: Any driver the player uses to make a stroke must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, which is on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA. Model Local Rule G-1.Penalty for making a stroke with a driver in breach of this rule is disqualification.

GROOVE AND PUNCH MARK SPECIFICATIONS: In making a stroke, the player must use clubs that conform to the groove and punch mark specifications in the Equipment Rules that took effect on 1 January 2010. Model Local Rule G-2. Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of this rule is disqualification.

LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS: Any ball used in making a stroke must be on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the USGA.  Model Local Rule G-3. Penalty for breach of this condition is disqualification.

ONE BALL RULE: Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is NOT in effect. Model Local Rule G-4.

PACE OF PLAY: See IMG Junior Golf Tour Pace of Play Policy.

CODE OF CONDUCT: See IMG Junior Golf Tour Code of Conduct.

STOPPING AND RESUMING PLAY: Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule J-1.

·       Suspension for a dangerous situation: One long prolonged siren or airhorn note.

·       All other types of suspensions: Three consecutive airhorn notes.

·       Resumption of play: Two airhorn notes.

·       When play has been suspended for a dangerous situation, all practice facilities are deemed to be closed until declared open by the Committee. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to stop practicing; failure to stop practicing may result in disqualification.

PRACTICE: Prior to and after a round in stroke play, a player may practice on the designated practice areas. Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is modified in this way: A player may not practice on the competition course before or between rounds. Model Local Rule I-1.2 Penalty for first breach of this rule is the general penalty. Penalty for second breach of this rule is disqualification.

PRACTICE BETWEEN HOLES: Between the play of two holes, a player must not make any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just completed or test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball. Model Local Rule I-2. Penalty for breach of this rule is the general penalty.

CADDIES: Except when permitted by Notice to Players, a player must not have a caddie during the round. Model Local Rule H-1.1.

PROHIBITING USE OF MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION: Model Local Rule G-6 as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Players are responsible for carrying their own bag during the competitive round or may utilize a non-motorized push cart or trolley.

·       Exception: a player may ride in designated shuttles and may accept transportation from a Rules Official

·       Prior written approval must be obtained from IMG Junior Golf Tour Headquarters for use of a golf car for medical reasons

BALL PLAYED FROM OUTSIDE RELIEF AREA - BACK-ON-THE-LINE RELIEF: Model Local Rule E-12 is in effect. 

TERMS OF THE COMPETITION

RESULTS OF COMPETITION: The competition is final when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of an awards ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee. The result of a match is final when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.