How To Conduct a Golf Competition

How to Conducta Competition

A Publication of the United States Golf Association

®

Cover Photo:The 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Clubin Southern Pines, N.C. (

©

USGA/John Mummert)

Contents

Lorena Ochoa plays the third hole during the fourth round of the 2007 U.S. Women’s OpenChampionship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

SectionPage

1. Introduction .............................................................................................52. Conditions ................................................................................................6

1. General ............................................................................................................................62. Eligibility .......................................................................................................................63. Format.............................................................................................................................7a. Match Play ................................................................................................................7b. Stroke Play ..............................................................................................................104. Schedule ......................................................................................................................115. Method of Entering Competition ..........................................................................116. Times of Starting and Groups.................................................................................117. How to Decide Ties .....................................................................................................148. Handicaps ...................................................................................................................16a. Handicap to Be Used in Competition ...............................................................16b. Handicap Allowances ...........................................................................................17c. Players Competing from Different Tees ...........................................................199. Prizes .............................................................................................................................1910. Motorized Carts and Caddies ................................................................................2011. List of Conforming Golf Balls ................................................................................2112. List of Conforming Driver Heads .........................................................................2113. One-Ball Condition .................................................................................................22

3. Preparing the Course ..............................................................................23

1. General ..........................................................................................................................232. Fairways .......................................................................................................................233. Putting Greens ............................................................................................................244. Rough ............................................................................................................................255. Teeing Grounds ......................................................................................................... 256. Bunkers .........................................................................................................................257. Trees ...............................................................................................................................26

4. Marking the Course ................................................................................27

1. General ..........................................................................................................................272. Out of Bounds .............................................................................................................273. Water Hazards............................................................................................................ 284. Ground Under Repair ..............................................................................................305. Obstructions and Integral Parts of the Course ..................................................31

5. Local Rules ............................................................................................32

1. General ..........................................................................................................................322. Embedded Ball ............................................................................................................323. Young Trees ................................................................................................................324. Out of Bounds .............................................................................................................335. Ground Under Repair ............................................................................................. 336. Dropping Zones ......................................................................................................... 347. Temporary Obstructions ..........................................................................................368. “Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules” .....................................................................369. Environmentally-Sensitive Areas ...........................................................................37

6. Notice to Players ...................................................................................387. Course Set-Up .......................................................................................39

1. General ..........................................................................................................................392. Teeing Grounds ..........................................................................................................393. Hole Locations ............................................................................................................41

Section 1

Introduction

How To Conduct a Competition

The USGA receives hundreds of requests each year for information on variousaspects of the game of golf. One of the most frequent requests is for informationon how to conduct a competition. A number of USGA publications deal with thesubject, but not extensively. This booklet covers in depth all aspects except forperipheral matters such as registration of players, transportation service, pro- viding locker facilities, arranging accommodations, securing adequate caddies,food service, sale of admission tickets, production of a program and arrangingfor spectator parking.Some of the information is elementary and will be of interest only to Commit-tees with no experience in conducting competitions. On the other hand, thesection on preparing the course probably will be of interest only to a Com-mittee conducting a competition, such as a state or sectional championship.However, this section does reect the USGA’s view on how a course should play,and hopefully it may be a factor in persuading clubs to adopt some of the main-tenance procedures recommended so that members can enjoy playing a courseunder championship conditions on a regular basis.Most of the sections are applicable at least in part to smaller club events. It isup to each Committee to decide which parts pertain to the competition beingconducted.

Fans watch Phil Mickelson putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the 2007 U.S. OpenChampionship at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

SectionPage

8. On-Course Administration .......................................................................44

1. The Rules of Golf ........................................................................................................442. The Starter ..................................................................................................................443. Reception of Score Cards .........................................................................................464. Observing Play; Decisions .......................................................................................465. Pace of Play ..................................................................................................................486. How to Referee ........................................................................................................... 49a. General ....................................................................................................................49b. Before Play Begins .................................................................................................50c. The Observer ...........................................................................................................50d. On the Tee ...............................................................................................................51e. Determining Who Is Away ..................................................................................52f. Being in Position to See Ball Played ...................................................................53g. Improving the Lie ..................................................................................................53h. In a Hazard..............................................................................................................54i. On the Putting Green ............................................................................................54 j. Handling Awkward Situations............................................................................54k. Stroke Play ...............................................................................................................557. Inclement Weather ....................................................................................................56

9. Course Maintenance During Competition .................................................6110. Miscellaneous Administrative Matters...................................................62

1. Accommodation of Early Start ...............................................................................622. Scoreboard ...................................................................................................................623. Use of 3-by-5 Cards .....................................................................................................624. Forecaddies and Marshals........................................................................................645. Press Facilities .............................................................................................................646. Other Services ............................................................................................................ 64

Appendix A .................................................................................................66

General Numerical Draw - 46th USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship

Appendix B ................................................................................................68

Starting Times for the First Two Days of a USGA Stroke Play Competition

Appendix C.................................................................................................70

Golf Hole on Which Ball Drop Established

Appendix D.................................................................................................72

Clarication of Temporary Obstruction Rule

Appendix E .................................................................................................82

Local Rules and Conditions of Competition for USGA Championships

Appendix F .................................................................................................83

Notice to Players