1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18)
- Beyond any boundary and on or beyond any paths and roads around the clubhouse
- Greenkeepers’ compound located between the 9th and 10th holes
- On or over the white stakes to the left of the 13th hole
2. Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)
Roads and Tracks
All roads and paths on the course, even if not artificially surfaced (except those identifying Out of Bounds – see 1b), are treated as immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1. This also includes heavy wheel ruts.
Fixed Sprinkler Heads
Relief from sprinkler heads may be taken under Rule 16.1. The player may also take free relief under Rule 16.1b if a sprinkler head is on the line of play and is:
- Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and
- Within two club-lengths of the ball
Exception: There is no free relief if a player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
Exposed Tree Roots
If a player’s ball in the fairway has interference from tree roots, free relief is available under Rule 16.1b.
Plugged or Embedded Ball
Relief for a plugged or embedded ball is allowed under Rule 16.3.
A player may take relief when their ball is embedded in the general area (the area of the course outside the green, teeing area, penalty areas, and bunkers). The ball must be embedded in its own pitch mark, with part of it below the surface of the ground.
How to Take Relief
- The ball may be cleaned and the original ball or a new ball dropped within one club-length of the marked spot
- The ball must not be dropped closer to the hole than the marked spot
Bunkers
Partially Flooded Bunkers
Rule 16.1c covers interference from abnormal course conditions, in this case temporary water. If your ball lies in a flooded section of a bunker but there is an area of unflooded bunker not nearer the hole, you may take free relief.
The nearest point of relief and the relief area must be in the bunker, and the ball must be dropped in the bunker.
Additional information can be found under Model Local Rules MLR F-16.
Completely Flooded Bunker
If a bunker is completely flooded with no opportunity for free or maximum available relief, the player must take penalty relief outside the bunker.
The player may drop the original ball (or another ball if the original cannot be retrieved) on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the spot where the ball originally lay in the bunker. This is under a penalty of one stroke.
A committee may adopt a local rule under Model Local Rule F-16 to treat a completely flooded bunker as ground under repair in the general area, allowing free relief outside the bunker. This should only be applied on a case-by-case basis.
The committee may not make a blanket rule that all flooded bunkers are ground under repair.
3. No Play Zones
Young Trees
Young trees identified by stakes or protected by wire cages are No Play Zones.
If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area, and the ball lies on or touches such a tree, or the tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take free relief under Rule 16.1f.
Wild and Cultivated Flower Areas
All areas of wild and cultivated flowers marked with blue-topped stakes are No Play Zones.
Ground Under Repair
If a player’s ball lies within ground under repair, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
Temporary Greens Not in Play
Includes the planted area between the 1st and 10th tees.
4. Preferred Lies (Model Rule MLR E-3) / Cleaning Ball (Model Rule MLR E-2)
The management and committee deem that ground conditions may cause mud to adhere to the ball. These Model Local Rules replace any previously issued “Winter Rules.”
All members and visitors must be informed of the Local Rule prior to the commencement of play.
For scores to be acceptable for handicapping, the Local Rule may only allow preferred lies on grass cut to fairway height or less. The ball may be placed within 6 inches (150mm) of its original position.
The player must mark the spot of the ball before lifting it (see Rule 14.1).
Practice Grounds
The designated practice areas are:
- The mown area enclosed by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 11th fairways
- The mown area and practice bunker to the left of the 2nd fairway
- The area adjacent to and including the practice nets, practice chipping green, and practice putting green
- The professional’s teaching area adjacent to the 1st fairway, where separate restrictions apply
5. Handicaps / Scorecards
As of 2025, all scorecards (General Play and Competition) must be returned each time you play.
Applies To
- Roll-ups (including games where money is played under the Amateur Rules of Golf)
- General play (9 or 18 holes); all cards must be attested by a registered WHS player
- Competitions (e.g. Medal, Stableford, 4BBB where 42 points or more are returned)
Exclusions
- Match play
- Team competitions (Texas Scramble, Greensomes, Australian Rules, 4 Ball Alliance, Senior Waltz, 3 Tee Alliance, 3 Clubs and a Putter)
- Casual golf where gimmes are taken or no attester is present
England Golf requires all affiliated clubs to adopt this rule to ensure fair play and prevent handicap manipulation. The committee will monitor compliance, and penalties may apply for infringements.
6. Public Footpaths
Players must ensure that all persons using public footpaths have reached a place of safety before playing in their direction.
Public footpaths cross the course on the following holes: 1st, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 13th, and 17th.
Update (30/12/2025): No free relief is available from public footpaths crossing fairways on the 1st, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 13th, and 17th holes. These footpaths are an integral part of the course. The ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable with penalty.
R&A Notes (Please Read)
R&A Rules on Golf Courses and Footpaths
Artificially surfaced paths (e.g. stone, gravel, woodchips) are generally considered immovable obstructions, allowing free relief under Rule 16.1.
Grass or dirt paths not artificially surfaced are considered integral parts of the course. The ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable (Rule 16.1 does not apply).
Emergency Contact
The use of mobile telephones is restricted to outgoing calls only.
If you require advice or assistance at any time, please contact the Operations Team on 01628 527613.