Play is governed by the most current USGA Rules of Golf; the following local rules are subject to amendments by the SCGA rules committee, and the Local Rules Addendum distributed at each site. The complete text of the rules and Appendix I may be found in the current Rules of Golf.
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a local rule or condition is loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.
List of Conforming Golf Balls: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
List of Conforming Driver Heads: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
Time of Starting: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
Pace of Play: The SCGA Pace of Play policy can be found at the starter's table.
Scorecards: A player is deemed to have returned their scorecard once they have left the scoring area.
Close of Competition: A competition is deemed to have closed when the result has been officially announced or, in stroke play qualifying followed by match play, when the player has teed off in their first match.
Distance-Measuring Devices: The use of distance-measuring devices is permitted in all SCGA/CGA competitions.
Embedded Ball through the Green: Local rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
Out of Bounds: A ball that crosses a public road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course (Decision 27/20).
Water and Lateral Water Hazard Stakes and Lines: When a water hazard or a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out-of-bounds line.
Ground Under Repair: Defined by white lines. French drains are deemed to be ground under repair.
White-Lined Areas Tying into Artificially Surfaced Roads and Paths: Such areas have the same status as the roads and paths, that of obstructions.
Sod Seams: The local rule for seams of cut turf as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
Wood Chips and Mulch: Such ground coverings are loose impediments, unless otherwise provided for in the Local Rules Addendum distributed at the site.
Integral Parts of the Course: Cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in the Local Rules Addendum.
Power Lines: If a ball strikes an elevated power line, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played, in accordance with Rule 20-5. See the Local Rules Addendum for locations of applicable power lines.
Edging Grooves: If a ball lies on an edging groove around a putting green, the player may, without penalty, lift the ball, clean it and place it out of the groove in the nearest position to where it lay, whether on or off the putting green, whichever is not nearer the hole.
Dress Attire and Footwear: Players must adhere to the dress code and footwear requirements as stated in the Player Information Sheet.
12-Stroke Policy: If a player fails to return a score within 12 strokes of the SCGA/USGA course rating in at least one round of an event, an entry filed by that player for future championship events may be declined.
Code of Conduct: By submitting an entry for any SCGA-administered competition, the player understands that their participation is at the sole discretion of the SCGA. A player may be removed from any competition at the discretion of the SCGA staff or rules and competitions committee at any time before or during the competition. Incidents of unbecoming conduct or actions deemed to be detrimental to the image of the SCGA or the spirit of the game are grounds for such removal and suspension from future SCGA-administered competitions. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Willful damage of the golf course or golf course property
• Club throwing or unnecessary club tossing
• Offensive or unbecoming language
• Public criticism of the golf course or verbal abuse of SCGA staff, officials, volunteers, host club staff or other players
• Potential endangerment of others
• Conduct deemed unbecoming
Prior to the Start of a Competition: To withdraw for any reason prior to the start of an SCGA competition, a player must notify the SCGA rules and competitions department at (818) 432-4169 or complete the tournament cancellation form here. Failure to notify the SCGA will subject the player to suspension from future SCGA competitions. A player who only contacts the course and not the SCGA will be subject to the suspension.
During An SCGA Competition: All players are expected to complete the competition they start. Acceptable reasons for withdrawal during a competition are physical injury, illness or an emergency. Poor play is not an acceptable reason for withdrawal. A player who withdraws without an acceptable reason or without notifying SCGA personnel will be subject to suspension from future SCGA competitions. If a player is aware of a possibility of withdrawal (e.g., injury), they should notify the SCGA as soon as possible and before pairings are announced for the next day. All players who start a round must return a scorecard personally to SCGA staff or an SCGA official, even if they are officially withdrawing. Players who do not follow this policy will be subject to suspension from future SCGA competitions. Players who withdraw also must sign and attest that the hole-by-hole scores they were keeping on their fellow-competitor’s scorecard are correct and return that card to the fellow competitor or another marker in the group.
Main telephone: (800) 554-7242
Tournament cancellations: (818) 432-4169
Fax: (818) 980-5093
Web site: www.scga.org
E-mail: rules@scga.org
Team Play e-mail: teamplay@scga.org
