Rules and Competitions

2024 FRESNO CITY AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Play is governed by the Rules of Golf effective January 2024, the following Local Rules and Terms of the Competition and Code of Conduct, and the 2024 NCGA Hard Card (except as may be modified herein).

FORMAT AND SCHEDULE: Individual stroke play. Three rounds of 18 holes each. Low 40 and ties advance to third round.

TIES: Ties for first place only will be decided by sudden death playoff commencing at hole number 18, then hole numbers 17 and 18 looped as necessary. All other ties will split the prizes for the places they tie.

SERIOUS MISCONDUCT: All players are expected to play in the spirit of the game by acting with integrity, showing consideration to others and taking good care of the course. The Committee may disqualify a player for acting contrary to the spirit of the game if it finds that the player has committed serious misconduct. (Rule 1.2a). 

PLAYER CARTS AND SPECTATOR CARTS: A maximum of two carts are allowed per group. Absent advance approval by the Rules Chairman, spectator carts are not allowed. A spectator cart is defined as a cart which is not used to transport a player’s clubs, and the person(s) in the cart is (are) not a player or the player’s caddie. A player cart may be used by the player and/or their caddie to transport a player's clubs. A player may walk and their caddie may drive. A caddie may carry a player's bag and the player may ride. A non-player occupying the cart used to transport the player's clubs is a caddie. Only the player or caddie may ride in the cart. If a person other than the player or caddie moves the cart in a "casual act" the Rules of Golf do not consider this individual to be a caddie or the player to have two caddies. There is no breach of the Rules. 

OFFICIAL TIME/TIME OF STARTING: The clock at the tee where the player begins his round is the official time of starting. Players should arrive at their assigned tee after the group in front of them leaves the tee. 

PAINTED DOTS ON OR NEAR PUTTING GREENS: There is no free relief from such dots. If the back edge of the putting green on the 12th hole is defined by white dots, the dots are off the putting green.

SOD SEAMS: Model Local Rule F-7 is in effect. Interference relief only for lie of ball and area of intended swing, not player’s stance.

WHITE LINES AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY SURFACED PATHS are part of the obstruction.

PERMANENT ELEVATED POWER LINES (NOT TOWERS): In the play of holes 1, 4, 17 and 18, if a ball strikes a permanent elevated power line or cable on the course, the stroke must be cancelled and replayed, without penalty (see Rule 20-5).

OUT OF BOUNDS: Defined by white stakes or boundary fences to the right of hole numbers 1 and 3, to the left of hole numbers 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 and 17, and behind the putting greens of hole numbers 2, 3, 13 and 18.  

DIRT PATHS AND ROADS, unless designated as ground under repair, are integral objects (no free relief).

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREENS: Model Local Rule F-5 is in effect. For free relief, the ball and the immovable obstruction must both be in the general area cut to fairway height or less. 

DECORATIVE FLOWERS NEAR FIRST AND FIFTH TEES AND YOUNG TREES IDENTIFIED BY STAKES are no play zones. If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such flowers or such tree, or such flowers or such tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f. If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such flowers or such tree, the player must take relief either with penalty under Rule 17.1e or with free relief under Rule 17.1e(2). 

DROPPING ZONE: If a player is entitled to relief from the cart path near the 12th putting green, the player may proceed under Rule 16.1b or, as an additional option where interference is between the four green stakes adjacent to the cart path, drop the ball or another ball in the dropping zone behind the putting green. 

PACE OF PLAY POLICY:  A player shall be subject to penalty if he unduly delays play. For the purpose of preventing slow play, the Committee has established a maximum allowable time for groups to complete their round. Consult your scorecard for that maximum allowable time. Absent exceptional circumstances determined by the Committee, if a group completes their round later than its maximum allowable time and, in the case of groups other than the lead group in a wave, more than 14 minutes behind the group in front of them, every player in that group will be subject to penalty of two strokes on the final hole of the round.

CLOSE OF COMPETITION: The competition is deemed to be closed once Bill Finn or his designee begins making public remarks near the scoreboard.