LOCAL RULES

LOCAL RULES OF CROW CANYON COUNTRY CLUB

AERATION HOLES:

If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole in The General Area, the player may take (free) relief by dropping a ball or the original ball within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief.  If the ball is on the Putting Green, the player may place the ball at the Nearest Point of Complete Relief. Rule 16.1b 

BRIDGES ON HOLES #10 AND #18

The bridge crossing the water is an obstruction within the penalty area. If the ball lies outside the penalty area AND the bridge abutment interferes with your stance or swing, the player may determine nearest point of complete relief and drop within one club length, no nearer the hole – No penalty (USGA Rule 16.1b). If a ball comes to rest on the bridge, it may be played as it lies. Grounding the club in this situation is permitted – No penalty. The ball may also be played in accordance with USGA Rule 17.1 – One stroke penalty.

EARTH CRACKS

Earth cracks are cracks in the ground caused by drought conditions. Cracks in the ground in parts of The General Area cut to fairway height or less are ground under repair.  The player may take (free) relief under Rule 16.1b.  But interference does not exist if the crack only interferes with the player’s stance.

EXPOSED DRAINS IN BUNKERS

Treat as an immovable obstruction (USGA Rule 16.1).

FLOWERBEDS

Flowerbeds and maintained landscapes are No Play Zones that are to be treated as Abnormal Course Conditions.  Free relief must be taken from interference by the No Play Zone under Rule 16.1f.  Hole #3 Flowerbed is considered part of cart path. 

HOLE #6

The iron fence, brick wall and fence to the left of the hole surrounding the pumping equipment indicate out of bounds - NO FREE RELIEF IS GRANTED (USGA 18.2).  Until the fence surrounding the pumping equipment is complete, out of bounds is defined by the line connecting the brick wall to the left edge of the cart path.  The left edge of the cart path defines out of bounds up to the street. **UNTIL A PERMANANT FENCE IS IN PLACE, THE PUMP STATION AREA IS MANDATORY “FREE RELIEF”. A DROP CIRCLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED RIGHT OF THE CART PATH. IF THERE IS NOT A DROP CIRLCE, PLAYER MUST FIND THE NEAR POINT OF RELIEF NO NEARER THE HOLE. 

The edge of the Penalty Area on #6 is defined as the TOP of the brick wall surrounding the water.  A ball that comes to rest against the brick wall is NOT in the penalty area.  Free relief (USGA Rule 16.1).

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION

Cart paths, cement drains, masonry walls, exposed French drains, rock-filled trenches, culverts, course irrigation boxes, footbridges, and signs.  Relief may be taken by finding the nearest point of complete relief and dropping within the 1 club-length relief area- No penalty (USGA Rule 16.1).

PENALTY AREAS

Defined by red or yellow stakes or line (USGA Rule 17.1).  Hole #1, #6, #10, #11, #12, #15 and #18.

OUT OF BOUNDS

Defined by property fences and areas between property fences, white stakes and inner margins of curbs marked by OB stakes.  A ball which crosses a private road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course (USGA Rule 18-2).   Gates in property fences are NOT immovable obstructions.  Gates may not be opened.  No free relief. 

PRACTICE

On any day of a multiple day stroke play competition; a competitor may play the course after the competitive round.  Playing the course before the competitive round is prohibited.

STAKED TREES

If a tree with a stake interferes with your stance or swing, the ball MUST be lifted, and dropped in accordance with the procedure described in USGA Rule 16.1.

ALTERNATIVE TO STROKE AND DISTANCE FOR LOST BALL OR BALL OUT OF BOUNDS

When a player’s ball cannot be found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.

For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or a substituted ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

Two Estimated Reference Points:

a. Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball:

• Is estimated to have come to rest on the course, or

• Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds.

b. Fairway Reference Point: The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

For purposes of this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less.

Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between:

• A line from the hole through the ball reference point (or within two club-lengths to the outside of that line), and

• A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (or within two club-lengths to the outside of that line).           
      

But with these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area:

• Must be in the general area, and

• Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

But, the player may not use this option when:

• The ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or

• The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 18.3).”

WINTER RULES (Preferred Lies): 

When player’s ball lies in a part of the general area the relief is 1-Club Length 

• Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.

• Must not be nearer the hole than where the ball currently lies, and you cannot change the cut of grass. For example moving from the rough to the fairway. 

• Once placed the ball is in play and may not be moved again.  

GOOSE DUNG

“Goose Dung” rule. Goose dung that interferes with stance or swing is considered GROUND UNDER REPAIR (GUR). Relief without penalty may be taken. 

Last Revised 1/18/24