Bridgton Highlands Ladies Golf Association

Local Rules of Play & Common USGA Rules

(Updated July 2021)

Play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf and its decisions and, where applicable, by the following Local Rules, Conditions and Definitions, subject to changes or amendments by Bridgton Highlands Golf Staff.

Local Rule - Preferred Lies:

1.      In your own fairway, you may lift, clean, and place ball within ONE club length AND no nearer the hole.

Local Rule - Free Lift:

1.      You may take a free lift of one-club length no nearer the hole and from the nearest point of relief from all drainage ditches that are not part of a defined penalty area hazard.  These defined ditches are:

Hole # 1: Drainage ditch on right beside road.

Hole # 2: Fairway and rough drainage ditches with stones and pipes.

Hole # 3: Left side of fairway near 150 marker.

Hole # 4: Ditch left side of green approach and not marked with stakes as penalty area.

Hole # 5: Fairway and rough drainage ditches not marked with stakes as penalty area.

Hole # 6: Right side of fairway through green (unless ball lies in penalty area defined by stakes).

Hole # 7: Ditch to left side of fairway beyond last ravine and right of cart path through green.

Hole # 8: Left side of fairway up to culvert.

Hole # 11: Culvert pipe areas in fairway and rough.

2.      You make take a free lift of one-club length no nearer the hole and from the nearest point of relief from   ground under repair.  These are areas outlined with white lines, or any newly seeded or sodded areas.

3.      You may take a free lift of one-club length no nearer the hole and from the nearest point of relief from immovable obstructions.  These include cart paths, service roads, flowerbeds, stakes and ropes used to direct cart traffic, yard markers, fences or masonry structures, stakes and ropes used to make tees or landscaping, all parts of the clubhouse, rain shelters, ball washers, water control systems, wooden walkway ramp structures, and netting.

4.      You may take relief from fixed sprinkler heads that are within two club lengths of the green if your ball is within two club lengths of the sprinkler head and it interferes with the line of your putt.

Local Rule - Embedded Ball:

1.      You may take relief for a ball embedded in any part of the golf course EXCEPT if in a penalty area. You may lift, clean, and drop the original ball as near as possible to the spot behind where the ball was embedded.  

Common Rule - Out of Bounds – White Stakes (two options):

1.      For one penalty stroke, you can drop a ball on the spot where you just hit (stroke & distance).

2.      For two penalty strokes, you can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball went out of bounds.

Local Rule - Holes Defined with Out of Bounds are:

Hole # 1: Inside edge of road pavement to right of fairway and white stakes behind green.

Hole # 9: Inside edge of rock wall at ground level and white stakes to right of fairway.

Hole # 11: Inside white stakes to right of fairway.

Hole # 18: Inside white stakes to right of fairway.

Local and/or Some Common Rules - Penalty Areas:

1.      Red Stakes – 4 options

a.      Hit ball where it lies, no penalty.

b.      Drop ball within two club lengths from where ball crossed penalty edge. Add one stroke penalty.

c.      Go back to where you last hit ball and play again. Add one stroke penalty.

d.      Identify where ball crossed into penalty area, and keeping that spot between you and the flag, go back as far as you want and drop the ball. Add one stroke penalty.

2.      Yellow Stakes – 3 options (options a, c, & d from red stakes list; option b is NOT available)

3.      Sand Traps – multiple options

a.      If ball in footprint, pick up ball, rake area, and drop ball close to its original position. No penalty.

b.      If ball in mud or water, pick up ball, drop ball in other area of bunker (no closer to hole). No penalty.

c.      Hit ball where it lies. No penalty.

d.      Drop ball in bunker within 2 club lengths but no closer to hole – one stroke penalty.

e.      Remove ball from bunker and place outside bunker side away from green (no closer to hole) – two stroke penalty.