The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo
USGA Rules & the following Local Conditions govern play at CCRB
Out-of-Bounds: Defined by inside edges at ground level of white stakes, perimeter fence posts and retaining walls, including ground levels boarders, course-side edges of concrete drain right of hole #15 & left of hole #7, and course-side edge of curb left of #6 tee, the tree area on the right side of #10. Ball crossing out-of-bounds and adjoining roads and coming to rest on another portion of the golf course is deemed to be out-of-bounds.
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 golf course.
Penalty Areas: Designated by red stakes or lines. Optional Drop Zones have been established. E1.1 and incur a one stroke penalty. These Areas include Hole’s #3 and #13.
Sprinkler Heads/Irrigation Covers Near Greens: If your ball comes to rest within two club lengths of a sprinkler head or irrigation cover, and that sprinkler head is within two club lengths of the green, you may get “Line of Sight” relief from the sprinkler head in question. But you may ONLY take relief in the same ground condition, i.e., if your ball lies in the rough, relief must be taken in the rough.
Immovable Obstructions: Are obstructions such as artificially surfaced cart paths (no relief from dirt paths/roads), concrete ditches not marked as hazards, drain covers, rest rooms, sprinkler control boxes, etc. Additionally, the protective fence near #5 tee is deemed to be an immovable obstruction. Relief for interference with stance or swing but not line of play may be taken under Rule 16.1.
Exceptions – Objects defining Out of Bounds, walls, fences, stakes and railings are Not free relief.
Ground Under Repair (GUR): Designated by white lines encircling the area (the lines are in the GUR). Relief from a ball or intended stance in such areas is optional. The ball may be played, or the player may take relief (Rule 16.1, nearest point of relief plus one club length, not nearer the hole: no penalty).
Staked Trees and Shrubs: Relief, without penalty, is provided from stakes or ropes supporting trees if the stakes or ropes interfere with stance or swing. No relief for line of sight.
Tree Wells: No relief is given to balls lying within the confines of a tree well unless the tree well is artificially constructed or marked as GUR.
Embedded Ball: When a player’s ball is embedded in the General Area and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (See Rule 14.3)
Aeration Holes: If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
-
Ball in General Area: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
-
Ball on Putting Green: The player may take relief under 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.
Blue Tees: No relief taken.
Hole #3: The procedure for a ball hit into the Penalty Area, when taking relief, is to take two club lengths from the point of entry and take a drop, even if on the cart path. At the point at which the ball stops will be the point at which the player can take the relief from the obstruction. If the ball when dropped goes nearer to the hole or rolls more outside of the relief area the player must re-drop. If the same thing occurs again the player must take the point at which the ball first struck and place the ball at this spot, and then take the granted relief. If a ball comes to rest up against the OBJECT that keeps balls from rolling into the pond on the far side of the pond, the player may use the provided drop area, and take a one stroke penalty.
Hole #16: The drop area on the right side near, the forward tees, is ONLY to be used for any ball that comes to rest against the grate leading to the pond, incur one stroke penalty.
Cart Paths/Storm Drains: The paths on Hole’s 3, 10 and 16 are technically “Storm Drains” but have been treated as “Cart Paths” for our membership and for rulings. As our local rule, we treat those as cart paths and take drops accordingly.
Red Flag Policy: You may lift, clean and place your ball on ANY hole that is deemed “Red Flag” in the General Area and ONLY that specific hole. Holes that are NOT deemed “Red Flag” the ball must be played as it lies.
Lost Ball/Ball Out of Bounds: the player can take a drop in the nearest spot of the fairway (within two club-lengths of the edge of the fairway), no nearer the hole, from where the ball is deemed lost. THIS RULE DOES NOT APPLY DURING ANY CCRB COMPETITIONS OR CLUB EVENTS.