Playing Rules

The USGA Rules of Golf govern all MCGA play, except where modified by the MCGA Local Rules shown below. It is the player's responsibility to know the rules.

During play, if there is a question about the rules consult with the members of your playing group immediately, before playing the next shot. If the rule is still unclear, play a second ball through the hole from the same spot and keep the scores of both balls. As a very last option, suspected rules breaches can be brought to the Board for determination, but it is preferred to resolve rules issues during play among the members of the group. 

MCGA Local Rules

• Native Areas within the course, not marked out of bounds and not adjacent to out of bounds, will be played as a Red Penalty Area. (Drop within two club lengths of point of entry and take a one stroke penalty.)

• Lift Clean and Place decisions will be made at the course by the MCGA Board.

• Aeration holes in the green:

  • Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

  • On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.

• Seams of Turf:

  • Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are deemed to be ground under repair.

  • If the ball lies in or touches the seam or the seam interferes with the area of intended swing, relief is available under Rule 16.1.

  • All seams within the cut turf area are considered the same seam.

• Penalty Areas Playing Ball Provisionally Under Rule 17.1:

  • If there is doubt whether a ball is in or is lost in a penalty area, the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in Rule 17.1.

  • If the original ball is found outside the penalty area, the player must continue play with it. If the original ball is found in the penalty area, the player may either play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally under Rule 17.1.

  • If the original ball is not found or identified within the three-minute search period, the player must continue with the ball played provisionally.

Rules of Golf Resources

Link to 2023 USGA Rules of Golf