RULES OF GOLF

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.

OUT OF BOUNDS (White Stakes)

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.

Options

“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.

PENALTY AREAS (Yellow Stakes)

Yellow stakes and lines indicate water hazards only.

Options

1. A ball in a water hazard can be played as it lies without penalty, although this is often impractical.
2. “Stroke and distance” relief. Return to where you originally hit your shot, add a penalty stroke, and attempt the shot again.
3. “Back on the line” relief. Drop a ball BEHIND the hazard on a straight line extending from the flagstick through the point where the ball entered the hazard. You may drop anywhere on this reference line, ensuring the penalty area remains between you and the hole.

Hole 16

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.

Drop Zone

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.

PENALTY AREAS (Red Stakes)

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 (no-mow) and wildflower areas are designated as red penalty areas on Holes 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, and 16.

Options

1. You can play a ball in a red penalty area as it lies without penalty, although this may not always be feasible or practical.
2. “Stroke and distance” relief. Return to where you hit your original shot, add a penalty stroke, and make another attempt.
3. “Back on the line” relief. Drop a ball behind the hazard anywhere on a straight line drawn from the flagstick through the point where the ball crossed over the hazard. You may drop the ball as far back on this line as desired, always keeping the penalty area between you and the hole.
4. “Lateral” relief. Drop your ball within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed into the red penalty area, adding a penalty stroke. You must not drop the ball closer to the hole than the point of entry into the penalty area.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR

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.

Options

1. You can play a ball lying in GUR without penalty if it's feasible and practical. However, if the lie is challenging or if the area is designated as a No Play Zone (NPZ), you must take relief.
2. To take relief, identify the nearest point where you can take complete relief from the GUR. Drop your ball within one club-length of this point, ensuring you are not closer to the hole. If an area is designated as an NPZ, you do not have the option to play the ball as it lies and must take relief according to the rules.

LOST BALL

A ball is considered lost if it cannot be found within three minutes of the player beginning to search for it.

Options

1. “Stroke and distance” relief. Return to where you hit your original shot, add a penalty stroke, and take another shot.
2. “Provisional ball”. To maintain pace of play, if you suspect your ball is lost or out of bounds, you have the option to play a provisional ball. Before playing the provisional ball, inform your playing partners of your intention. The provisional ball is used only if the original ball cannot be found.
   
   Your original ball remains technically in play, and anyone, including your playing partner, may continue to search for it within the three-minute window. If the original ball is found within this time, you must continue play with it.
   
   If you hit a provisional ball and subsequently find your original ball in bounds, you must disregard the provisional ball and continue play with the original ball.
   
   However, if you make a stroke with the provisional ball, the original ball is considered lost, and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play. If you later find your original ball, you cannot play it as it has been deemed lost.

UNPLAYABLE

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.

Options

1. “Stroke and distance” relief. Return to where you hit your original shot, add a penalty stroke, and replay the shot.
2. “Back on the line” relief. Drop a ball on the line extending from the hole through the spot where your ball was lying, adding a penalty stroke. You can drop the ball anywhere along that line.
3. “Lateral” relief. Drop your ball within two club-lengths of where the ball is lying, but never closer to the hole than the original position, adding a penalty stroke.

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

"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.

When Golf Balls Collide

ON THE FAIRWAY

If your ball hits a stationary ball on the fairway, play your ball from where it comes to rest. The other player should place their ball back where they think it was originally.

PLAYING ONTO THE GREEN

If your approach shot hits your partner's ball on the green, play your ball from where it lies. Your partner should return their ball to its original position. No penalty is incurred, regardless of whether it's stroke play or match play.

ON THE GREEN

If you putt and your ball strikes another ball on the green, you incur a 2-shot penalty in stroke play. The other player's ball is returned to its original position, and you must replay your shot from the previous spot.

In match play, there is no penalty, but the struck ball should be replaced to its original position.

Playing the Wrong Ball

IN MATCH PLAY

You incur a loss of hole penalty.

WHEN OPPONENTS IN MATCH PLAY HIT EACH OTHER'S BALLS

Assess the loss-of-hole penalty to the player who hit the wrong ball first. If you and your opponent aren't sure who hit first, there is no penalty, and you should play out the hole with each other's balls.

IN STROKE PLAY

Return to where your original ball lies. If found, complete the hole with that ball, adding two penalty strokes to your score. If you can't find your original ball, return to where you last hit, add a stroke for the lost ball, and add two penalty strokes for playing the wrong ball.

IF YOU COMPLETE THE HOLE WITH THE WRONG BALL IN STROKE PLAY

You are disqualified from the competition.