Club Rules and Bylaws

FGA Rules of Golf – Rules and Practices 

Rules and Practices for FGC play are based on USGA rules. 

USGA Overall Guidelines

All players are expected to play in the spirit of the game by …

• Acting with integrity. Examples … following the rules, applying all penalties, and being honest in all aspects of play.

• Showing consideration to others. Examples … playing at a prompt pace, looking out for the safety of others, and not distracting the play of another player.

• Taking good care of the course. Examples … replacing divots, smoothing bunkers, repairing ball-marks, and not causing unnecessary damage to the course.

USGA Rules Modified by the FGC

Lost or Out of Bounds Balls

If it appears a ball is hit out of bounds, the player may hit a provisional ball or go to the site of the first shot to determine whether it is out of bounds.  If the ball is out of bounds, the player may drop a ball in-bounds at the spot where it exited and take a one stroke penalty (if the lost ball was a drive, the next shot would then be number three).  If a provisional is played it is with the same on3 stroke penalty and becomes the 3rd shot (if a drive). Once a provisional ball is struck from a point, it then becomes the ball in play even if the original is found later.

Dropped Balls

The relief area is measured by one or two club lengths with the option for the player to choose any club. When dropping a ball, it must come to rest in the relief area where it was dropped. If the ball comes to rest outside of the relief area, the player will drop a second time in the relief area. If the ball again comes to rest outside the relief area, the player will place it where the ball first touched the ground on the second drop.

Search for Lost Ball

To avoid slow play the search time for a lost ball should not exceed three minutes.  If a ball is lost in leaves on a fairway or 1st/2nd cut rough areas where it would fully expect to be found, the player (with the agreement of all golfers in the group) may drop a ball with no penalty where it was deemed lost.  This does not include deep rough or woods. This applies year around.

Taking Relief from an Embedded Lie (frequently a problem on a wet course)

Players may free the ball if it is on the fairway, fringe or green.

Water Hazards (Yellow Stakes)

If a player has hit a ball into the water hazard on a hole with no drop area and feels he/she will not be able to carry it with the next shot, they may elect to drop the ball on the other side of the hazard with a two stroke penalty.

Since we play so many different courses, if a player shoots as though there is no drop area (example: hitting one ball into the water, then hitting the next over), and later discovers a drop area on the other side of the water, they may elect to play the drop area as though they only hit one ball in the water with no second shot.

If a ball crosses the water hazard, hits on the other side, and then rolls back into the hazard, it is ruled to have not crossed.

Lateral Water Hazards (Red Stakes) 

If a ball lands in a lateral water hazard (whether wet or dry), there is a one stroke penalty and the player has three options:

1.  Play it as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played.

2.  Drop it behind the water hazard in the direct line of the original shot with no limit to how far behind it may be dropped. 

1. If the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the hazard within two club lengths but not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard. This USGA detail is included to be complete. Option c is almost always used. Note: The player drops within 2 club lengths of the red stakes margin, whether or not that provides a shot to the green. Of course, if a ball sitting in either a yellow or red stake hazard is playable, a golfer may choose to hit it.

Since we play so many different courses, if a player assumes a ball is lost or OB and plays a provisional ball and then discovers the original ball is in a lateral water hazard, they may ignore the provisional ball.

Winter Rules

We play in a variety of conditions so “Winter Rules” apply all the time; that is, a  player on the fairway may, with no penalty, roll the ball over. If the ball is plugged or muddy, it may be lifted, cleaned, and placed without penalty. Where there are patches without grass on the fairway, the ball may be moved to grass that is not closer to the hole.

Play from the Rough

Play ball “as is” in the rough unless hitting the ball in any direction poses a danger to equipment or self.  This would include a ball resting on stones, gravel, or tree roots, lying in casual water, or embedded. The player may move his/her ball the minimum distance necessary to eliminate the problem with no penalty. This allowance is not to be used to eliminate an unplayable lie such as directly behind a tree trunk or thick bush which fully impedes a shot.  Moving a ball in this instance incurs a 1 stroke penalty.

Play from the Sand

If a ball lies in a footprint, the player can lift ball, rake sand, and replace the   ball in its original position. There is no penalty for a player moving or touching a loose impediment in the bunker. 

There is a one stroke penalty for a deliberate effort to improve the lie in any manner with hand or club.     

There is a one stroke penalty for touching the sand with the club before taking a shot.

In the event of any unplayable lie, a player may take relief outside the bunker back on the line from the hole through where ball was at rest for a two stroke penalty.

On the Green

Continuous putting is encouraged to speed play (at the discretion of each player).  The flag may be kept in while putting. The rule is all putts must be putted out.

The ball must always be replaced on its original spot if it was blown by the wind 

or moved for no clear reason.

A player may touch the line of a putt or the putting green in pointing out a target without 

penalty when nothing is done to improve conditions for the player’s stroke (leaves and other debris on the green may be moved).

Local Rules, Conditions and Guidelines

 Range finders, GPS and other distance measuring tools are fully permissible.

It is generally useful to read the scorecard of each course to be able to respect (and sometimes benefit from) local rules. Examples would include free drops from certain positions, environmentally sensitive areas to avoid, or what defines out of bounds.  Note that area courses vary on the use of white lot markers.  Check the scorecard to verify if they also mark out of bounds.

Always check the scorecard and listen to course starters for any rules or guidelines to be followed on the day in play.  Unless equipped with a handicap flag, please comply with cart path only directions.

Avoiding Slow Play

We do our best to avoid slow play and not hold up our members and/or home club members and guests on the courses we play.  The FGC defines slow play when either a course official issues a warning, there is a one or two hole gap ahead of the group, or the following group has been held up on two consecutive holes.

• Be on time to start the round.

• Don’t take excessive practice swings before hitting the ball.

• Keep an extra ball and tee in your pocket in the event you need to hit another shot from the same spot.

• On Cart Path Only days take your GPS or rangefinder with several clubs when you walk to your ball.

• Play Ready Golf on fairways and approaching the green (keeping in mind player safety when there are people both in front and behind you)

• Limit lost ball searches to no more than three minutes and spend time searching only for balls your group hit (watch balls hit by other group members and help them spot ball landings).

• Pick up your ball if you stand no chance of making a double bogey (our scores are capped at no more than par plus three strokes).

• If your group is falling behind or the following one is waiting for yours to leave the green, move on before bagging clubs and scoring.

These rules apply to all league outings and tournaments.  Please submit in writing your suggestions on rules and guidelines to the FGC Board for possible future inclusion.

To view our bylaws, click here