Sunset LGA9 2025 - ByLaws, Rules, FAQs

Clarification: Hole 5 (Par 3) Dirt Cart Path South of the Green

As discussed and voted on at the April 25, 2024 member's luncheon meeting, the dirt/gravel path located immediately south of the Hole 5 Green has been deemed a cart path for SLGA9 play. The area is defined from where the hard-pan dirt starts (where no grass grows) and connects to the cart path that encompasses the shelter to Hole 6's tee box.

Players can play the ball as it lies -or- take a free drop, no closer to the hole either within 1 club-length in the grass south of where the ball came to rest on the hard-pan cart path or to the nearest relief side (no closer to the hole). Players choosing to take a free drop must drop the ball following normal USGA drop procedures.

Questions, contact Carol C - SLGA9 Rules Handicap Chairperson.

SLGA9 Local Rules implemented:

The USGA 2019 local rule on lost ball and out of bounds:

Balls Lost or Out of Bounds: Alternative to Stroke and Distance: The SGLA 9 adopted the local rule in 2019 - permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty.

The lilac bushes at the end of #3 hole local relief rule:

FREE RELIEF - The fence and lilac bushes between #4 and #8 tee (to the east of the #3 green). If your ball lands in this area you must take relief to the south of the fence, no closer to the hole. NO PENALTY - woohoo! (and for those of you who are directionally challenged like Carol C is, it's 1 club length towards 3rd Ave from the end of the fence.)

Ball on dirt spot in fairway that is not marked as GUR (Ground Under Repair):

There is no free relief option for this condition. Golfer either needs to hit it as is or declare an unplayable lie and follow drop options per USGA rules (Rules 19.2a, b or c) for 1 penalty stroke

And two really good USGA rules to know to take advantage of :)

Relief from a sprinkler head near the green

Rule 24-2. The rule is as follows: Sprinkler heads close to putting greens (interference exists if an obstruction is on the player's line of play, and is within two club-lengths of the putting green, and is within two club-lengths of the ball).

I hate hitting out of the sand traps. Do I have to?

If you don't want to or decide you can't play your ball as it lies when your ball is in a bunker, you may decide it is unplayable. If you do this, you have four options, two of these options will require you to take relief inside the bunker but two others will enable you to take relief outside of the bunker.

Rule 19.2.a - Relief Option when players ball is in bunker. 1 stroke penalty but ball must be dropped in sand
Rule 19.2.b - Extra Relief Option when players ball is in bunker. 2 stroke penalty . Player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker
And don't forget, you can always take a stroke & distance penalty for unplayable lie and go back and try again from the original spot. But if you go in the sandtrap again, you're back to the original problem. (and now you've added two more strokes to your score!)