Below are common golf infractions and their associated penalties according to the Rules of Golf. These are general guidelines, and it's important to consult the complete Rules of Golf for detailed information and specific rulings on various situations encountered on the course.
If your ball lands in an area marked by white stakes, property boundaries, fences, or any roadways bordering the golf course, it is considered out of bounds.
Designated out of bounds areas are identified on Holes 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, and 18.
“Stroke and distance” relief. Your only recourse is to return to where you originally hit your shot, add a penalty stroke, and attempt the shot again.
Yellow stakes and lines indicate water hazards only.
If your ball crosses the water on the green side but rolls back into the water, you generally need to return to the tee side of the water and replay the shot. This is because standing in the water to maintain the line for dropping the ball would be necessary in most cases.
There might be some exceptions near the corners of the water where there is a bit of land behind the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the water and the flagstick, allowing for a "back on the line" drop.
A designated drop zone may be provided by the Thunder Hills Golf Committee for a water hazard. If your ball lands in a water hazard, you can drop a ball at the designated drop zone with a penalty of one stroke and continue play from there.
The red stakes indicate lateral hazards, marking areas where it's often impractical to take relief by going behind the hazard due to their parallel alignment with the hole.
To determine if your ball is in a penalty area, you must know or be virtually certain of its location within the marked boundaries. Otherwise, treat it as a lost ball, resulting in a "stroke and distance" penalty, requiring you to replay the shot from the previous spot.
All tall grass and wildflower areas are designated as red penalty areas on Holes 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, and 16.
If your ball lies in an area designated as Ground Under Repair (GUR) or if it interferes with your intended stance or swing, you are entitled to free relief. This means you can drop your ball within one club-length of the nearest point where you can take complete relief, ensuring you are not nearer the hole than your original position. You must take full relief, meaning you cannot remain in or on the GUR after making your drop.
All tree stumps, areas around removed stumps, seeded areas, sodded areas, and landscape areas are considered Ground Under Repair.
A ball is considered lost if it cannot be found within three minutes of the player beginning to search for it.
If you find your ball in a position where you cannot play it, such as under a bush or stuck in a tree, you can declare it unplayable. This option is available anywhere on the course except in penalty areas.
If your ball is declared unplayable in a bunker, you may drop it within the bunker or outside the bunker with a penalty of two strokes.
"Gimme putts" are often used in casual rounds of golf among friends. A gimme putt is a short putt that your playing partners concede, allowing you to pick up the ball without actually putting it into the hole.
Gimmes are permitted during match play events like Member/Guest and Thunder Cup. However, outside of match play events, gimmes are NOT allowed during official Thunder Hills events and competitions. All putts must be holed.