The Rules of Ready Golf

“Ready Golf” means thinking ahead so that you are ready to play when it is your turn.

 “Ready Golf” applies everywhere – on tees, fairways and on the greens.

Teeing Off: The player with the honors should be ready to hit first. If the player with the honors is not ready, then someone else should hit first.

On the Fairway: “Ready Golf” means all golfers should go to their balls as soon as possible and get ready to play their shots. While waiting to hit, players should survey their shot, select their club, and stand at their ball ready to go when it is their turn. Hint: walk down the sides of the fairway to reach your ball and determine your club selection while walking.

On the Green: “Ready Golf” means getting ready to putt before it is your turn. Players should line up their putts while other players are putting, so they are ready to putt when it’s their turn. “Ready Golf” also means putting continuously if the ball is not in someone else’s line and if the player does not have to spend a lot of time surveying the putt. For example: If you miss a putt by one or two feet then you should make the putt instead of marking the ball and waiting for another turn (unless you will be standing in someone else’s line – then mark your ball and wait your turn). Farthest from the Hole: There is no reason “Ready Golfers” can’t play in the order of who is farthest from the hole. The person farthest from the hole should be ready to play first. When someone hits a shot, but is still farthest from the hole, the next player should hit to keep continuous play.

In summary: “Ready Golf” means being ready to play, not playing when you’re ready.

1) Walk to your ball as soon as possible, so that you can choose your club and think about the shot in advance.

 2) When a ball is lost, hit your shot first and then help look for the lost ball.

3) Walk down the sides of the fairway to reach your ball and then approach it from the center.

4) Never play in a caravan, moving in a group from ball to ball. 5) When on the green, line up your putt before it is your turn.

Opportunities for Junior Golfers

Until further notice, we will be implementing the following protocols and procedural changes at each event:

-Maintain a minimum social distance of 6 feet at all times

-Limit all range and/or practice facility time to minimize close contact

-Hand sanitizer and/or disinfectant wipes, will be provided at the starting tee and scoring area based on availability

-Tees and pencils will not be given out at the starting tee, please bring your own

-Rules sheets will not be given out; rules will be read at the starting tee, and rules will be sent via email to participants before each tournament

-Players are not to shake hands at the beginning or completion of a round.

-The leaving of the flag stick in the hole will be on an event by event basis depending on the course policies; information on this will be given at the first tee

-Bunker situations will also be addressed at the first tee; most courses are now allowing rakes, and the raking of the bunkers

-Water coolers may not be set up throughout the course, please bring your own water in case none is available through the course

-Spectator cart rental and number of riders will be at the discretion of the course

-Players are not to be shuttled unless authorized by the tournament director; if players ride in carts, they should ride only with family members living in the same household

-Caddies will be allowed provided they live in the same house as player, or upon your own discretion

-Players will be given another players scorecard at the first tee so that the physical exchanging of scorecards doesn’t happen; players must record their own scores on their playing partners scorecard on the line noted “marker”

-All scores will be verified verbally in the scoring area and no signatures are required so that again, no scorecards are physically exchanged

-Scorecards will be returned to a collection box at the final hole

-We will not have a scoreboard or awards presentations in an effort to discourage large gatherings

-All scores will be posted online; awards can be picked up at a subsequent tournament

-Tour gifts provided for players at their first event of the year will be available to pick up after the round; all items will have been sanitized and not touched until picked up by the player or caddy

-Players/Caddies/Spectators are not to congregate at any time in any area; 6 feet of social distancing will be enforced

Effective immediately, and until further notice, we will be implementing the following protocols and procedural changes at each event:

-Maintain a minimum social distance of 6 feet at all times

-Limit all range and/or practice facility time to minimize close contact

-Hand sanitizer, disinfectant Wipes, and gloves will be provided at the starting tee based on availability

-Tees and pencils will not be given out at the starting tee, please bring your own

-Rules sheets will not be given out; one rules sheet will be available to read at the starting tee, and rules will be sent via email to participants before each tournament

-Players are not to shake hands at the beginning or completion of a round.

-All flag sticks are to remain in the hole at all times. If you absolutely must remove a flagstick, use a glove or towel

-If a bunker rake must be moved, please do so with a glove or towel

-Water coolers will not be set up throughout the course, please bring your own water

-We ask that spectators be limited to 1 per player

-Spectator cart rental and number of riders will be at the discretion of the course

-Players are not to be shuttled or ride in any carts

-Caddies will be allowed provided they live in the same house as player, or upon your own discretion

-Players will not exchange scorecards or sign each other’s scorecards upon agreeing on scores; one official scorecard will be provided per group; please confirm and record scores for each hole at the next tee box

-Scorecards will be returned to a collection box at the final hole

-We will not have a scoring area or awards presentations

-All scores will be posted online and awards can be picked up at a subsequent tournament or mailed

-Tour gifts provided for players at their first event of the year will be available to pick up after the round; all items will have been sanitized and not touched until picked up by the player or caddy

-Players/Spectators are not to congregate at any time in any area; 6 feet of social distancing will be enforced.

HARD CARD

Effective July 1, 2019

 

The current Rules of the USGA govern play.  Disregard Local Rules printed on club scorecards or posted at the course.  Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is two strokes.

LOCAL RULES:

CADDIE ASSISTANCE: Caddies WILL be permitted to assist with alignment through the green without penalty

 OUT OF BOUNDS:  Defined by the line between the course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes and fence posts.  A ball, which crosses a public 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.

In addition to going back to original location and replaying the shot (stroke & distance penalty) a player has the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is out of bounds with a 2 stroke penalty.

 LOST BALL:  In addition to the option of going back to original location and replaying the shot (stroke & distance penalty) a player has the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is out of bounds with a 2 stroke penalty.

 BUNKERS- a player may declare a ball in a bunker unplayable and may take a drop WITHIN the bunker within two club lengths no closer to the hole with a 1 stroke penalty, or take a drop OUTSIDE the bunker within two club lengths with a 2 stroke penalty.

 PENALTY AREA/OVERGROWN PENALTY AREA–  Players may choose to play from the drop circle (when  provided) on the green side of a hazard if their previous shot comes to rest within penalty area. A one shot penalty is accessed. This local rule is intended for penalty areas which cross any given fairway.

 DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES – Measuring device may only show distance and not slope or wind.

 EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH THE GREEN – Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I will be in effect.

 GROUND UNDER REPAIR: Defined by white lines/stakes. French drains are deemed to be ground under repair.

 WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY-SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS– have the same status as the roads and paths, that of obstructions.

  WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH/ROCKS IN BUNKERS – are loose impediments

 INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE – include cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards

 POWER LINES – If a ball strikes an elevated power line, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule E-11.

 LANDSCAPE EDGING GROOVES – If a ball lies on an edging groove around a putting green, the player may, without penalty, lift the ball, clean it and place it out of the groove in the nearest position to where it lay, whether on or off the putting green, which is not nearer the hole.

 PRACTICE PUTTING PROHIBITED:  Practice on or near the putting green, or rolling a ball on the putting green  is prohibited.

 CODE OF CONDUCT:  Rule 1.2 Standards of Player Conduct outlines expectations and penalties, as well as the Code of Conduct outlined on our website.

 UNAUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION: A breach of a local rule that allows shuttles between only specified holes will result in a 2 stroke penalty.

 PACE OF PLAY: CJGT encourages ready golf and strives for rounds under 2-hours & 15 min.

REPAIR ALL BALL MARKS AND DIVOTS

SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO DANGEROUS SITUATION:  Once horn has sounded or official has announced suspension of play, any participant who continues to play, or practice on course or any practice area will incur an 8 stroke penalty.

 EIGHT STROKE LIMIT:  The maximum score on any hole is 8. 

HARD CARD

Effective January 1,  2019

 

The current Rules of the USGA govern play.  Disregard Local Rules printed on club scorecards or posted at the course.  Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is two strokes.

LOCAL RULES:

CADDIE ASSISTANCE: Caddies WILL be permitted to assist with alignment through the green without penalty

PENALTY AREA/OVERGROWN PENALTY AREA-  Players may choose to play from the drop circle (when  provided) on the green side of a hazard if their previous shot comes to rest within penalty area. A one shot penalty is accessed. This local rule is intended for penalty areas which cross any given fairway.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES – Measuring device may only show distance and not slope or wind.

EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH THE GREEN – Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I will be in effect.

OUT OF BOUNDS – A ball which crosses a public road defined as OB and comes to rest beyond that road is OB, even if is on another part of the course. When a water hazard or a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side ,it is deemed to extend to infinity. When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is bounded by OB, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR: Defined by white lines/stakes. French drains are deemed to be ground under repair.

WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY-SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS– have the same status as the roads and paths, that of obstructions.

WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH – are loose impediments

INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE – include cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards

POWER LINES – If a ball strikes an elevated power line, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule 20-5. LANDSCAPE EDGING GROOVES – If a ball lies on an edging groove around a putting green, the player may, without penalty, lift the ball, clean it and place it out of the groove in the nearest position to where it lay, whether on or off the putting green, which is not nearer the hole.

PRACTICE PUTTING PROHIBITED:  Practice on or near the putting green, or rolling a ball on the putting green  is prohibited.

UNAUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION: A breach of a local rule that allows shuttles between only specified holes will result in a 2 stroke penalty.

PACE OF PLAY: CJGT encourages ready golf and strives for rounds under 2-hours & 15 min.

REPAIR ALL BALL MARKS AND DIVOTS

STONES IN BUNKERS:  Stones in bunkers are deemed movable obstructions.

SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO DANGEROUS SITUATION:  Once horn has sounded or official has announced suspension of play, any participant who continues to play, or practice on course or any practice area will incur an 8 stroke penalty.

EIGHT STROKE LIMIT:  The maximum score on any hole is 8.

Maggie Will is a three-time LPGA Tour winner and longtime Tour veteran, experienced golf instructor and innovator, former college golfer and college golf coach, and founder of Will2Golf, the most comprehensive online golf tournament search and schedule-building site for junior golfers. Leaning on her more than 40 years in the golf world and her experiences as a player, teaching professional and coach, Maggie has built the premier web resource that guides junior golfers of all ages and all skill levels as they create their path to playing opportunities. Maggie has been a member of the LPGA Tour since 1989, the PGA of America since 2000 and the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals since 2009. Maggie, a native of Whiteville, North Carolina, was inducted into the Greater Wilmington (N.C.) Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

During her more than 20-year LPGA Tour career, Maggie won the 1990 Desert Inn International, the 1992 Sara Lee Classic and the 1994 Children’s Medical Center Classic. Following her competitive playing days, Maggie served as the head women’s golf coach at University of Richmond, where she was named CAA Coach of the Year, and also served as an assistant coach for the women’s golf programs at UNC Wilmington (2012 CAA Championship Team) and North Carolina State, the men’s golf program at Virginia Commonwealth and as a teaching professional at The Creek Club.

Along with many junior titles, Maggie was the Carolinas Golf Association Junior of the Year, North Carolina Women’s Amateur Champion and a member of the NCAANational Championship runner-up team at Furman University under Hall of Fame Coach, Mic Potter.

In addition to her playing and coaching careers, Maggie has published many articles on golf techniques, tips and course management as well as contributing to Golf Magazine’s: The Best Putting Instruction Book Ever! She also is the founder and owner of Get Fit For Putting, a lesson-based and putter-fitting business.

Visit her website!

Click here to learn more about the rules changes for tournament golf in 2019.

 

 

Follow this link to review all the new Rules of Golf for 2019.