BPWGC Local Rules & Situations
**USGA rules govern play in all situations EXCEPT as modified by local rules.
HOLE #2: The maintenance area on the right side where the cart path crosses the fairway (leading to the bottom of the driving range) is a non-playable area. Players receive a free drop out of this area.
HOLE #3: If it is known or virtually certain that your ball is in the boulders, you get free relief by dropping a ball one club length from where you believe it entered, no closer to the hole.
HOLE #5: Tee balls striking the power lines must be re-teed with no penalty.
HOLE #6: If you hit your tee shot into the canyon, it is a Red Penalty Area. You may also use the drop zone on the green side of the canyon up by the cart path on the right. If using the drop zone, you will be hitting three.
HOLE #7: The wooden fence near the putting green to the right side is considered Out of Bounds.
HOLE #9: If the maintenance building between the #9 putting green and #10 tee area is on your line of play or in your backstroke or swing, you may take free relief by dropping in a proper relief area.
HOLE #11: If the maintenance building between the #11 putting green and #10 tee area is in your line of play or in your backstroke or swing, you may take free relief by dropping in a proper relief area.
HOLE #12: There are canyons on the right side of the fairway and to the left, right, and behind the green. The boundaries of these red penalty areas, if no red stakes are present, are where the playable area meets the bushes or where the elevation drops off dramatically. Players may take a penalty by dropping two club lengths from the point where the ball crossed in, no closer to the pin. In addition, if a player’s ball appears to have rolled down the cart path towards #13, the player would take a one stroke penalty and drop their ball in the grass area between the bench and the cart path above where the #13 white tee box is normally located.
HOLE #13: The canyons, short of and on either side of the fairway are Red Penalty Areas. In addition to the usual options for Red Penalty Areas, players may use the drop zone at the bottom of the hill to the left of the cart path. If using the drop zone, you will be hitting three.
HOLE #14: The left side of the hole is a Red Penalty Area from tee to green.
HOLE #15: The area on the left side of the hole is a maintenance area, but it is a playable area. If a piece of equipment or the shed is between your ball and the hole, or your swing is impeded, you may take free relief. There is a fairway bunker on the right side that is currently considered Ground Under Repair. Take free relief if your ball comes to rest in this bunker.
HOLE #16: The chain link fence on the right side of the fairway is Out of Bounds. The chain link fence is supposed to continue down to the tall white OB pole. There is a portion of the fence missing. Any ball traveling between the end of the chain link fence and the white OB pole is considered OB. The tall OB pole then leads from that spot, down to the lower fence that has a white pole to identify the OB line.
Beyond the white OB pole: The area to the right of the cart path has been designated by BPWGC as a Red Penalty Area. As is true of other Red Penalty Areas on the course, a ball may be legally played from where it lies without penalty; however we urge you use caution as the terrain can be quite difficult to navigate. Under no circumstances should a motorized cart be taken into any of these canyon areas. With a one stroke penalty, the player may bring their ball up to the fairway side of the cart path and take a drop within two club lengths, where the ball entered the penalty area and no closer to the hole.
The canyon on the left side of the fairway is a Red Penalty Area. Take a drop within two club lengths for a one stroke penalty.
LOCAL RULES APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE:
RED PENALTY AREAS: All canyons and hillsides are to be played as Red Penalty Areas. The edge of the Penalty Area is where the canyon first meets the grass or where it is indicated by a red line or stake. If you choose to take Lateral Relief, you can drop your ball 2 club lengths from where it last crossed the edge of the Penalty Area. (One stroke penalty.)
BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS (ALTERNATIVE TO STROKE AND DISTANCE): You may bring your ball to the nearest fairway edge where your ball was likely to be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds, no closer to the hole for a 2 stroke penalty. You cannot use this Local Rule if your ball is lost in a Red Penalty Area or if you hit a provisional ball.
BARE PATCHES ON PUTTING SURFACES: If your ball is sitting on a bare patch or a bare patch lies between your ball and the hole, you may place your ball at the nearest point of relief, not closer to the hole.
BARE AREAS IN THE FAIRWAY: You may move your ball from a bare area of the fairway (actually bare, not just short grass or a divot) to the nearest point of relief not closer to the hole.
SPRINKLER HEADS IN GENERAL AREA: If a sprinkler head interferes with your stance or swing, you may take free relief by dropping the ball at the nearest point of relief.
SPRINKLER HEADS NEAR PUTTING GREENS: If a sprinkler head is within 2 club lengths of the putting green and within 2 club lengths of the ball and interferes with your line of play, swing, or stance you may take free relief by dropping the ball at the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. You may choose to chip or putt and the ball may be cleaned.
TREE ROOTS: If your ball comes to rest against a tree root or the tree root interferes with your swing, you may play it as it lies or take an unplayable lie with a penalty stroke.
ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS: In the absence of white lines, these include: bare ground (not divots) in the fairway, bare ground at the edges of cart paths, utility boxes, and deep ruts made by vehicles or golf carts. Free relief may be taken if the ball is located on an abnormal course condition or interferes with the stance or swing; drop the ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole. No relief is provided for an obstruction to the line of flight unless addressed specifically in these Local Rules.
BALL IS SITTING IN A HOLE (Not the Bare spot) ON THE GREEN: Mark your ball and repair the damage as best as you can.
BALL IS LIKELY STUCK IN A TREE: If your ball lands in a tree and you do not see it come down, hit a provisional ball from the spot of your previous stroke. If you are then able to identify your ball in the tree, you may declare it as “unplayable” and drop a ball within two club lengths from the spot on the ground directly where the ball rests in the tree. Either of these options is for a one stroke penalty.
Updated July 16,2023
