1) USGA Rules Govern All Play: The rules of golf are published in the USGA The Rules of Golf book. It is suggested that all players carry a rulebook in their bag.

2) Lift, Clean and Place: RLGA utilizes this rule during the entire season and it is in effect on your fairway only. Your ball may be marked, lifted, cleaned and placed within 12 inches in any direction, but no nearer the hole. Once placed, the ball is now considered in play. Use this option only when necessary, as it can slow play.

3) Out of Bounds: If a ball is hit out of bounds, a player must replay the last stroke under a penalty of one shot. For example if a player hits a ball out of bounds from the tee, the next stroke must be played again from the teeing ground and will be the third stroke. This is a ‘stroke and distance’ penalty.

4) Lost Ball: If a ball is lost, a player must replay the last stroke under a penalty of one shot. A player has 5 minutes to search for his/her ball. If play is delayed while searching please allow players from behind to play through. If the original ball is found within the five minutes, it must be played.

5) Provisional Ball: If a player thinks their ball is either lost or out of bounds they should play a provisional ball. Announce your intention beforehand and play the ball until you reach the point where the original ball is likely to be. If the original ball is found (within 5 minutes) continue play with that ball. If not found, continue play with the provisional ball with a penalty of one stroke.

6) Ball Comes To Rest On The Wrong Green: A player must not play a ball resting on a putting green other than that of the hole being played. The ball must be dropped, without penalty, within one club-length of the nearest point that is not on a putting green or in a hazard or closer to the hole. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

7) Water Hazards: We encourage all players to become familiar with the difference between:
     • Water Hazards (Yellow stakes and lines).
     • Lateral Water Hazards (Red stakes and lines).
     • Rule 26 in The Rules of Golf book.
     • If you are in a water hazard and cannot play the ball, your options, with a penalty of one stroke are as follows:

8) Relief from Water Hazards: (Yellow or Red)
     • Option 1: Drop a ball as near as possible from where the last shot was played.
     • Option 2: Drop a ball from behind the hazard keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the point at which the new ball is to be dropped. There is no limit as to how far behind the hazard you may drop.

9) Lateral Water Hazards Options: (Red)
     •Option 3: Drop a ball within two club-lengths and no nearer to the hole of the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.
     •Option 4: Drop a ball on the opposite (lateral) margin of the hazard equidistant from the hole.

10) Water Hazard Hints:
     •If you are getting relief from a Water Hazard (Yellow) and are not hitting the next shot over at least a small portion of the hazard, you are probably dropping incorrectly.
     •You may only take a lateral drop from a Lateral Water Hazard (Red).

11) Stones in Bunkers: Stones are, by definition, loose impediment. Stones in bunkers may represent a danger to players. Our local rule states stones in bunkers are movable obstructions. If the ball moves as a direct result of removing the stone, there is no penalty and the ball is replaced in the original spot. However, when a player’s ball is in a hazard other than a bunker, a stone lying in or touching the hazard my not be touched or moved.

12) Relief from Obstructions: A player obtaining relief from an obstruction, ground under repair, casual water, cart path or burrowing animal hole must drop her ball with no penalty, within one club length of the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole. Players do not get line of sight relief from an obstruction, which is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice.

13) Unplayable Lie: When claiming relief from an unplayable lie, with a penalty of one stroke, players have three options:
      a. Option 1: Drop a ball within two club lengths of where the ball lies, no nearer the hole.
      b. Option 2: Drop a ball keeping the point of the original lie between the ball to be dropped and the hole. There is no limit as to how far back you can go.
      c. Option 3: Drop a ball at the point where the original ball was played.

14) Slow Play: “A player’s position on the golf course is immediately behind the group in front not immediately in front of the group behind!” Please be aware of your position on the golf course and allow faster players to play through. Be ready to play when it is your turn. Do not leave carts and clubs in the front of the green so players behind can play up as soon as the pin has been replaced

15) Inclement Weather: If the golf course is open, league play should proceed. When weather is questionable, do not assume play is cancelled. Check with pro shop to see if course is open.

16) Lightning: If the siren sounds for an approaching storm, players must cease play immediately and seek shelter. Play may not begin again until an all clear is given. For your safety, you do not have the option of completing the hole. If, in a player’s judgment, they are in danger from an electrical storm and no siren has sounded, they may discontinue play and seek shelter. Play may continue once the danger has passed. The rules of golf provide for this option and no penalty may be imposed on the player.