USGA RULES & CLARIFICATIONS

 
Observing the USGA (United States Golf Association) golf rules is paramount for maintaining fairness, integrity, and sportsmanship on the golf course. These rules serve as a universal standard, ensuring a level playing field for all golfers. From tee to green, adherence to USGA rules governs aspects such as tee box usage, fairway play, hazards, and putting.  

USGA Rules and Clarifications

• Max Score = Triple Bogey 
• White Stakes
  • Required Lateral Hazard = 1 stroke penalty (no provisional).
• Searching for a ball
  • 90 second max search time
  • If deemed lost, ball to be played as lateral hazard = 1 penalty stroke
• One ball rule - NOT in effect

Major Change: Encouraging Prompt Pace of Play

• When play is in groups of four, groups will be required to play at a 4 hour and 30 minute pace for the 18 hole round. All groups will be expected to play at a reasonably fast pace, i.e., groups of four 15 minutes per hole, groups of three 14 minutes per hole.  

• Any following group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and (b) reaches the tee on a par 3 and the preceding group has cleared the next tee, fails to clear the tee of a par 4 hole before the preceding group clears the putting green, or arrives at the teeing ground of par 5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green. Both a) and b) must apply for a group to be out of position. A group out of position will be notified that they are out of position and will be subject to individual timing.