Rules When Playing
When playing in a Society Competition players must, at all times, abide by the general rules of golf and those specific to the course being played. The following society rules are specific to Kingswinford Golf Society and supersede any other rules:

1. During Society Stableford competitions, a player MUST pick up if they cannot score on a hole. For most players this means that 3 over par on a hole is your maximum score.

2. If you wish to play a provisional ball you must declare it as a provisional ball.

3. From the tee: If a ball is thought to have gone in the trees and might be lost, a provisional ball MUST be played. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a two (2) shot penalty, referred to as stroke and distance.

4. Lost ball – If a ball is believed to be lost, then from the point that you played that shot you are asked to play a provisional. If a provisional ball was not played and you approach where you believed your ball to be, and have looked for up to a limit of three (3) minutes you must take a drop from an agreed position where you believe the ball to have been, this will be met with a TWO shot penalty! One for stroke and one for distance.

5. If you believe that your ball has gone out of bounds, or you are uncertain about where your ball went, you must play a provisional ball and declare it as in rule 2.

6. Finding a penalty area (formerly called water hazard): If a penalty area is encountered, the ball may be dropped in line with its entry into the area no nearer the hole, with a one (1) shot penalty.

7. A ball may be searched for, for a maximum of three (3) minutes. After the allotted period of time, the provisional ball (if the first was lost off the tee) or a drop ball must be played.

8. If playing from the fairway or rough and you hit your ball out of bounds, or close to the boundary but are not sure whether in bounds or not you must declare and play a provisional ball otherwise you will be penalised stroke and distance. That is you will be penalised a shot for stroke and a shot for the distance.

9. If a ball is lost a maximum of three (3) minutes can be spent looking for your ball. After that period you must play your provisional ball.

10. Slow play – If a group is holding up the society group behind then they are asked to invite the group behind to play through. The group behind should indicate to the group in front a willingness to play through.

General

1. The minimum number of people in a group at events should be three (3) persons.

2. Buggies are accepted at Society events. Players in buggies will be generally be put into 4 balls so as not to cause lone walkers.

3. Any objections or complaints about the event in which you partake should be raised with the organizer on the day of the event. The organizer will then investigate and collectively decide on what action, if any, needs to be taken.

4.Gimme putt etiquette. A giveme shot must be agreed in your group that it is an unmissable shot, NO giveme shots if playing for a par or under.