Local Rules

For the purposes of Rule 1.3a, the Terms of the Competition shall include the Competition Conditions on the entry form for the relevant competition, the last published General Competition Conditions of Kent Golf Union (KGU), KGU’s Code of Conduct and Pace of Play Policy each which are deemed to be incorporated into these Local Rules.

Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2);
a) The course-side edge of any wall, fence, hedge or line of white stakes defines the boundary of the course;
b) On or beyond any white line defining the boundary of the course including, in either case, the edge of any internal out of bounds.
c) When playing the 8th / 17th holes, the 5th / 14th holes are out of bounds as indicated by the white stakes to the left of and beyond the end of the lower 5th / 14th fairways

Penalty Areas (Rule 17.3);
All penalty areas are Red Penalty Areas from which relief may be taken under rule 17.3. The edges of the penalty areas are defined as follows:
a) where stakes are used, the edge of the penalty area is defined by the line between the course side edge of the stakes at ground level and the stakes themselves are in the penalty area;
b) where there are no stakes or lines, the edge of the penalty area is, on both sides, the natural margin of the ditch concerned

Ground Under Repair (Rule 16.1) – PLAYERS MUST TAKE RELIEF FROM GUR: Any area encircled by a white line and marked GUR.

Immovable Obstructions (Rule 16.1) include: All artificially surfaced roads, paths and winter tees on the course, including those covered with wood chips and areas where the artificial surfacing material has been transferred. All other paths and tracks are integral parts of the course.
5.1. Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
5.2. The player also has the option to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play as follows:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is on the line of play, and within two club-lengths of the putting green, and within two club-lengths of the ball.
Exception – No Relief if Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule 5.2 if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.

Young Trees identified by being staked (whether attached or not) are no play zones:
If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f. If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief either with penalty under Rule 17.1e or with free relief under Rule 17.1e(2).

Areas Requiring Preservation.
Tees: When playing the 1st / 10th holes a ball coming to rest on the 2nd / 11th tee and the adjacent path must be lifted and dropped without penalty in the dropping zone behind the 1st / 10th green.

Suspension of Play: Players must comply with KGU’s Suspension of Play Policy.

THE PENALTY FOR BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE SHALL, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, BE THE GENERAL PENALTY (namely loss of hole in match-play and two strokes in stroke-play)