OUT OF BOUNDS

Defined as the area beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee. 

When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a fence or as being beyond stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points of the stakes or fence posts at ground level excluding angled supports.

A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.

Paraphrase of Rules 27: No relief without penalty may be taken from any boundary fence or marker.

At Rancho Park, RPGC tournament local rules define several OB perimeters that may not be obvious. Our competitors must be aware of these definitions. These are listed here:

• The fences left of hole #2 and surrounding the driving range are defined as perimeter fences.
• The exterior wall of the maintenance yard left of hole #6
• The fencing around the storage areas on holes #15 and #17
• The small nursery fence to the left of hole #18 fairway, and the fence behind the 18th green.
• To the left of hole #5, OB is defined as the edge of the utility road. A ball is out of bounds if is entirely on the concrete roadway. If the ball is still touching the edge of the grass, it may be played as it lies. The OB area ends at the line of the roadway that is an extension of the beginning of the #6 tee box.

PROTECTIVE FENCES

Free drop is permitted within one club length of the nearest point of relief. No line of sight relief is allowed. There are three protective fences: 1) to the left of hole #1 fairway; 2) to the right of hole #1 fairway; and 3) behind hole #4 tee box.

Special drop area left of hole #1 fairway. Should your ball come to rest between the boundary perimeter fence and protective fence not having crossed out of bounds, the ball is deemed unplayable and must be dropped, with one stroke penalty at the designated ball drop area.

Special drop area right of hole #1 fairway. Should your ball comes to rest between the cart path and the protective fence to the right protecting the #4 green, AND if the nearest point of relief is on the cart path, you may drop without penalty one club length from the nearest point of relief that is left of the cart path. Do not drop to the right of the protective fence.

Special drop area left of #13 green. When the nearest point of relief from the cart path is the steep slope left of this path, relief may be taken within one club length from the nearest point of relief at the crest of the slope.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage Otherwise, it is an immovable obstruction.

At Rancho Park, this category includes drainage swales, all artificially surfaced roads and paths, including sides, any flower beds contiguous to any cart paths, the protective fences behind hole #4 green and tee box, snack shop, benches, sprinkler heads, "Kirby Marker System" yardage markers, drinking fountains, irrigation control boxes, a pipe embedded in the ground to the left of hole #13 near to the boundary fence but separate from it, the fence to the right of hole #14 fairway, the wood pilings to the right of hole #16, and the metal railing mounted in concrete at the end of the lateral hazard to the left of hole #17.

Note: If any of the above conditions interferes with your stance or swing, the ball may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped without penalty within one club length from the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. The nearest point of relief must be determined on the same side of the obstruction where the ball lies without crossing over, through or under the obstruction. However, there is no relief without penalty for a ball in a hazard. Line of sight relief may not be taken from any location during relief from an immovable obstruction.

WRONG PUTTING GREEN, APRON, TEE BOX AND FLOWER BOXES

In accordance with Rule 25-3, the term "putting green other than that being played" includes all practice pitching – putting greens, temporary and alternate greens including the apron and collar surrounding the green. If a ball comes to rest on any of the described or any defined tee box, other than that of the hole being played, all flower beds, stance or swing, the ball MUST be lifted and dropped without penalty, within one club length from the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole being played.

LATERAL WATER HAZARD

The only Lateral Water Hazard at Rancho Park is marked by the red stakes left of the hole #17 fairway approaching the left green. No relief is permitted without penalty.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR

"GUR" is any portion of the golf course so designated by the clubs representatives. GUR includes organic material piled for removal even if not marked. Play is prohibited from any area marked GUR. Nearest point of relief must be taken, including the stance, outside the area marked by paint or roped off, without penalty, and dropped one club length from relief not nearer the hole.