Local Rule Quick Reference
Local Rules Hole-By-Hole
Nota Bene: the summarized versions of the EMGC's official Local Rules below are meant to act as a quick reference while out on the course. Should a rules question or infraction arise during competition, please refer to the Local Rules page for a full explanation and details of each rule.
HOLE #1
Internal Out of Bounds: During play of Hole #1, the Par 3 course as defined by white stakes along the right of Hole #1 is Out of Bounds.
Immovable Obstruction: The pump station on the south side of the near pond on the left side of hole #1 is an immovable obstruction. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #2
The area marked with BLUE STAKES on the right side of Hole #2 from outer edge of the first cut of rough to the out-of-bounds boundary is an environmentally sensitive area to be treated as a "No Play Zone". Players MUST NOT enter this area. Players MUST take free relief under USGA Rule 16.1f.
Internal Out of Bounds: During play of Hole #2, the Par 3 course as defined by white stakes along the right of Hole #2 is Out of Bounds.
HOLE #3
While playing Hole #3, the lake on Hole #4 should be treated as a Red Penalty Area.
Optional Drop Area for Balls in the Penalty Area: If a tee shot on hole #3 enters the Penalty Area immediately in front, or to the left of the teeing area (be it marked red or yellow), the player has the option of using any part of the teeing area on hole #3 marked with BLACK tee markers as a dropping zone at the cost of one stroke per USGA Rule 14.3. This relief option is only for “C” & “D” players in flighted tournaments.
Internal Out of Bounds: During play of Hole #3, the Par 3 course as defined by white stakes behind the putting green of Hole #3 is Out of Bounds.
HOLE #4
While playing Hole #4, the lake on Hole #3 should be treated as a Red Penalty Area.
Optional Drop Area for Balls in the Penalty Area: If a tee shot on hole #4 enters the Penalty Area immediately in front, or to the left of the teeing area (be it marked red or yellow), the player has the option of using any part of the teeing area on hole #4 marked with BLACK tee markers as a dropping zone at the cost of one stroke per USGA Rule 14.3. This relief option is only for “C” & “D” players in flighted tournaments.
HOLE #5
Immovable Obstruction: The pump station on the southwest side of the putting green on hole #5 is an immovable obstruction. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #6
Immovable Obstruction: A maintained gravel path exists on Hole #6 between the lightning shelter to the right of the teeing area(s) extending alongside the asphalt cart path up to the pedestrian/bike traffic circle right of the putting green. This gravel path is to be treated as an immovable obstruction. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
Immovable Obstruction: The pump station on the south side of the far pond on the left side of hole #6 is an immovable obstruction. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #8
Optional Drop for Penalty area: If a shot on #8 enters the Penalty Area to the left or in front of the tee boxes (be it marked red or yellow), the player has the option of using any part of the teeing area on hole #8 marked with BLACK tee markers as a dropping zone at the cost of one stroke per USGA Rule 14.3.
Provisional Ball for Ball in a Penalty Area: When playing Hole #8, if a player’s ball enters the penalty area left or in front of the teeing area(s) on Hole #8 and/or may reasonably have crossed into #9’s fairway, the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in USGA Rule 17.1d and local drop area mentioned above. If the original ball is found outside the penalty area the player must continue to play with it. If the original ball is found in the penalty area, the player may play the ball hit provisionally OR the original ball. In the case where the player chooses to play the original ball, they must play the ball as it lies.
HOLE #10
No Play Zone: The sacrificial/practice green on the left of the paved cart path to the southwest of Hole #10's green is a No Play Zone. Player's MUST take relief from this area under USGA Rule 16.1f.
Immovable Obstruction: The brick retaining wall(s) built to elevate the teeing areas on Hole #10 are to be treated as Immovable Obstructions. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #11
No Play Zone: The area marked by BLUE STAKES the left of Hole #11 from outer edge of the first cut of rough to the out-of-bounds boundary, but before the penalty area marked by RED STAKES is a an environmentally sensitive area to be treated as a "No Play Zone". Players MUST NOT enter this area. Players MUST take free relief under USGA Rule 16.1f.
Immovable Obstruction: The brick retaining wall(s) built to elevate the teeing areas on Holes #11 and #12 are to be treated as Immovable Obstructions. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #12
Immovable Obstruction: The brick retaining wall(s) built to elevate the teeing areas on Hole #12 are to be treated as Immovable Obstructions. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #13
The WHITE STAKES along the southern edge of the pond(s) that run between Hole #12 and Hole #13 define an internal Out of Bounds area that only applies while playing Hole #13.
HOLE #14
Immovable Obstruction: The shelter in the rough between Holes #14 and #15 is an immovable obstruction. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #15
Optional drop area for Unplayable balls: To facilitate the pace of play, an optional drop area for “unplayable” balls is available for any balls that are next to the marked section of the fence on the west side of the 15th green. The use of this drop area will cost you one stroke. This drop area is not for lost balls or out of bounds balls. It is only for those “unplayable” balls that are found next to the marked section of the fence on the west side of the 15th green.
Immovable Obstruction: The shelter in the rough between Holes #14 and #15 is an immovable obstruction. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
HOLE #16
Free relief from Immovable Obstruction: The area North of the #16 green, north of the cart path is an immovable obstruction, but only if the ball is found where there is less than 1 club-length between the paved surface of the cart path and the fence. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable. The white circle that may be painted here is not used for EMGC play.
HOLE #18
Provisional Ball for Ball in a Penalty Area: When Playing Hole #18, if there is doubt whether a ball is in a penalty area or may have crossed in to #9's fairway, the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in USGA Rule 17. If the original ball is found outside the penalty area the player must continue play with it. If the original ball is found in the penalty area, the player may play the ball hit provisionally OR the original ball.
Immovable Obstruction: The brick retaining wall(s) built to elevate the teeing areas on Holes #10 and #18 are to be treated as Immovable Obstructions. Players may take relief under USGA Rule 16.1 if applicable.
Local Rules in Effect for holes 1-6
Preferred Lies
As of the start of the 2025 Season, the EMGC Board of Directors has adopted a modified version of Model Local Rule E-3 due to poor turf conditions at Broken Tee. This rule will be in effect on the FRONT 9 during the 2025 Season for all events unless otherwise specified.
If a player's ball lies in the general area cut to fairway height or less on the hole currently being played on holes 1-9, players may place the original ball or another ball in and playing it from a relief area measuring 1 club-length from the nearest point of relief. In taking relief using this rule, players must not change their lie to a different cut of grass, e.g. you may not use this rule to move your lie from the fairway to the rough, or from the fringe to the green.
Local Rules in Effect for All holes
Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens
Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction (sprinkler head or drain) may be taken under Rule 16.1b if the immovable obstruction is on the line of play, and is on or within 2 club-lengths of the putting green, and within 2 club-lengths of the ball.
Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds
As of the start of the 2025 Season, the EMGC Board of Directors has adopted Model Local Rule E-5. This rule provides an extra relief option that allows a player to play on without returning to the location of the previous stroke in the event of a Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds. Please see the Local Rules page or USGA Rules of Golf for the full explanation on Model Local Rule E-5
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. The use of X-Out or Refurbished Golf Balls is not permitted. Penalty: Disqualification
Prohibiting Use of Certain Types of Shoes
Shoes with metal spikes are prohibited by Broken Tee and thus prohibited in EMGC Events. Penalty: Disqualification
Pace of Play Policy
If a group finishes an 18-hole round in more than 4 hours and 30 minutes and is more than 15 minutes behind the preceding group, a penalty of 2 strokes will be assessed.
For tie-breaker purposes, the two strokes are applied to the first hole played.
If the 18-hole round is completed in less than 4 hours and 30 minutes, there will be no penalty.
Pace of Play is a prominent issue for the EMGC. IF YOU FALL BEHIND, CATCH UP! All members are encouraged to read and adhere to the following suggestions to speed up the pace of play in tournaments.
- Always play “READY” golf.
- Be ready to hit/putt and do so when you can.
- Continuous putting, when possible, is encouraged.
- Do not mark your ball unnecessarily; if it bothers another player, the player will ask you to mark.
- Help other players; watch their balls and help them find their balls.
- By USGA Rule 18.2, there is a three (3) minute TIME LIMIT for searching for a lost ball; all members are expected to abide by this rule.
- Hit a provisional ball (USGA Rule 18.3) when your ball may be Out of bounds or lost not in a penalty area.
- Par 3s: Allow the next group to tee off before putting if the tee is backed up.
- If behind, have players putt out and go tee off – you do not have to watch everyone putt.
Ground Under Repair
The following areas are to be treated as Ground Under Repair:
- Any area marked clearly with ropes, white paint, or straw. This excludes areas marked as Dropping Zones.
- French drains: trenches filled with stones that are exposed or discovered by probing, whether or not marked.
- Newly trenched or sodded areas: If not marked, relief is for the lie of the ball only when the ball lies in the trench or on sod seam.
Immovable Obstructions
The following objects and/or areas are to be treated as Immovable Obstructions:
- Buildings, pumping stations, irrigation heads, irrigation controllers, retaining walls built to elevate teeing areas, and power lines and towers.
- The paved cart paths on the course.
- Note: other objects or areas treated as immovable obstructions on specific holes are listed in the section above titled: Local Rules Hole-By-Hole
Ball Deflected by Power Line
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line, or any part of a tower supporting a power line during the play of any hole, the player MUST replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).
Internal Out of Bounds
The white stakes between holes #12 and #13 apply only during play of hole #13.
The white stakes between the Par 3 course and the 18-hole course denote out-of-bounds for both the Par 3 course and the 18-hole course.
Local Rule FAQ's
FAQ for Preferred Lies (Model Local Rule E-3)
Q: What does "general area cut to fairway height" mean?
A: The "general area" is any area of the course except the other four defined areas:
- The teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing
- All penalty areas
- All bunkers
- The putting green of the hole the player is playing
"Cut to fairway height" includes any part of the general area where the grass is cut to the same height as the fairways on the golf course. This includes but is not limited to the fairway and green surrounds/fringes.
Q: If my ball lies on the fringe near the green of the hole I'm currently playing, can I use this local rule to change my lie from the fringe to the green?
A: NO. The Green of the hole you're currently playing is not considered part of the "general area" of the course, thus it is against the rule to move your ball onto the green from the fringe even if there is a spot on the green within the designated relief area.
Q: While playing hole 3, I hit my tee shot into the fairway of hole 2, can I utilize this local rule to take relief from poor turf conditions?
A: NO. This rule may only be utilized in the general area of the course of the hole you're currently playing.
Q: What does "nearest point of relief where there is grass still in the fairway" mean in the context of this rule?
A: "Nearest point of relief" can be defined as the estimated point where the ball would lie that is nearest to the ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole than that spot, in the general area of the course, and where there is no interference from poor turf conditions. This means that "nearest point of relief" may be 1 inch, 1 yard, or 10 yards from the original spot of your ball, but is ultimately at the discretion of the player, and must be agreed upon by the group.
Q: Can I use this local rule on holes 7-18?
A: NO. This rule is only in effect for holes 1 through 6.