Out of bounds is ground on which play is prohibited and is defined by the inside edge at ground level of all boundary fence posts that surround the course. Fences are located to the left of holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 12 and to the right and behind the green on 16. Out of bounds is also defined by white stakes to the left of hole 3 and to the right of hole 9, and the greenside edge of the cart path behind the green on hole 9. The player shall play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, from as near as possible to the spot which the original ball was played, no nearer to the hole. (USGA Rule 27)
If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds, to save time, the player may play a provisional ball from as near as possible to the spot which the original ball was played, no nearer to the hole. The player must declare that the second ball is being played as “provisional”. (USGA Rule 27) This option most commonly comes into play for shots hit to the left or right on holes 1, 2, 3 and 12, to the left on holes 4 and 5 and to the right or over the green on holes 9 and 16.
Yellow stakes and paint define water hazards. Water hazards are located in front of the tees on holes 4, 11 and 12 and in front of the green on holes 5 and 12. Under penalty of one stroke, a player may play a ball from as near as possible to the spot which the original ball was played, no nearer to the hole. Alternately, a player may drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. (USGA Rule 26) HOLE 11: If a player’s ball enters the yellow water hazard in front of the forward tees, as an additional option, the player may use the drop area (gold tees) located in the area of the forward tees. (Local Rule) HOLE 12: If a player’s ball enters the yellow water hazard in front of the teeing ground, as an additional option, the area on the front of the forward tees may be used as a drop area. (Local Rule)
Red stakes and paint define lateral water hazards. The lateral water hazards that commonly come into play are to the right side of holes 2, 5, 6, 8, 14 and 15, the left side of holes 7 and 8 and behind the green on holes 3 and 6. In addition to the options above, if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, under penalty of one stroke, the player may drop a ball outside the hazard within two club-lengths of and no nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the hazard equidistant from the hole. (USGA Rule 26) HOLE 3: If a player’s ball enters the lateral water hazard behind the green, as an additional option, the player may drop a ball in the drop area marked to the back side of hole 3 green. (Local Rule)
White lines painted on the ground define ground under repair. The planted areas behind the greens on holes 9 and 13 are ground under repair. Visible gravel adjacent to cart paths and visible gravel and sand patches covering recent drainage improvements are ground under repair. Determine the point nearest to where the ball lies which is no nearer to the hole, avoids the condition and is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be lifted and dropped within one club length of the point determined, with no penalty. (USGA Rule 25)
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay, no nearer to the hole, without penalty. (USGA Rule 25-2)
A ball striking an overhead power line while in bounds (holes 2 and 3) must be replayed from as near as possible to the spot which the original ball was played, no nearer to the hole, with no penalty. (USGA Rule 20-5)
The fence between the fifth green and sixth tee is an immovable obstruction. If the obstruction interferes with a player’s swing or stance a drop is allowed within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer to the hole and not on the other side of the fence from where the ball lies, with no penalty. (USGA Rule 24-2)
The player may declare his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. Under penalty of one stroke, the player may (i) play a ball from as near as possible to the spot which the original ball was played, (ii) drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, or (iii) drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. (USGA Rule 28)
On any day of competition, a player shall not practice on the course or test the surface of any putting green on the course before a round. (Local Rule)