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2023-2024 KHSAA Golf Hard Card

July 31, 2023 Golf Blog Updates

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2023-2024 KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Local Rules and Conditions of Competition for KHSAA Events

Play is governed by the Rules of Golf effective January 2019, and where applicable, by the following Local Rules and Terms of the Competition. Committee Procedures refers to the Committee Procedures section in the current Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. The Committee refers to the Tournament Committee assigned to each event. The Committee is the KHSAA staff through the manager at all KHSAA postseason competitions. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty (2-strokes in Stroke Play / Loss of Hole in Match Play)

Abnormal Course Conditions
Ground Under Repair is any area encircled by a white line, including gallery crosswalks (except dropping zones or out of bounds), newly trenched areas, including grass-covered cables, and french drains, which are trenches filled with rocks or stones.
If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing in the general area, the player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance. All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c (2) even when the ball is within one club length of the reference point.
Immovable Obstructions: Asphalt and artificially surfaced roads and paths. White-lined areas of ground under repair tying into such roads or paths are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1. Railroad ties, curbing or other similar artificial edges adjoining cart paths are part of the same obstruction.

 Coaching Advice Rule
a) The Committee may, in the conditions of a team competition (Model Local Rule H-2), permit each team to appoint a coach, who has met all KHSAA coaching requirements and who is appointed by the school and is listed within the school information on file with the KHSAA, who may give advice (including pointing out a line for putting) to members of that team. A team may have no more than five (5) designated coaches, that have been hired by the local school district and meet all KHSAA coaching requirements within Bylaw 25. Only one coach may provide advice to a golfer at any given time.
b) The Committee may establish conditions relating to the appointment and permitted conduct of that person, who must be identified to the Committee before giving advice.
c) There are no conditions on conduct of a coach in this regard, other than requiring advice to be given in a private manner and requiring that the advice does not unduly delay play. Only one coach may provide advice to a golfer at any given time.
d) Coaches are prohibited from being on the putting greens and in the bunkers. A coach may enter a penalty area to help search for golf balls, offer advice and then leave the penalty area before the player’s shot. Upon a player successfully exiting a bunker, a coach may rake the area to help speed up pace of play.
e) A breach of this advice rule by any coach will result in a 2-stroke penalty for the player. For each additional breach by a coach, a 2-stroke penalty will be assessed to the player.
f) A player may have the line indicated to him by a coach, but he/she may not be deliberately positioned on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the player’s ball when the player begins taking their stance for the stroke that is made.
g) Further rules regarding the Advice Rule may be developed for KHSAA Region and State Tournaments and shall be distributed to the competing teams.
Integral Objects 
(Free relief not allowed): Artificial retaining walls and/or pilings when located in penalty areas, wires, cables, wrappings, signs and lightning rods closely attached to trees or objects and bunker liners in their intended position.
Note: The Committee may treat an exposed liner, not in its intended position, to be ground under repair, but interference does not exist if a liner only interferes with the player’s stance.		 Automotive Transportation
a) Unless otherwise permitted by the Committee, players shall not use automotive transportation during a stipulated round.
b) Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: The player gets the general penalty for each hole during which there is a breach of this Local Rule. If the breach occurs between the play of two holes, it applies to the next hole.
c) If a player accepts a ride without the permission of the Committee, the Committee can waive the penalty if it would have authorized the player to ride in that situation had the request been made. For example, if a player who had lost a ball and needed to return to the teeing area accepted a ride from a volunteer when there was no Committee member available, the Committee could waive the penalty if members of the Committee would have given the player the ride if asked.
d) When motorized transportation is not allowed by Local Rule, it is a principle of the Local Rule that players should walk the entire course, so authorization should not be given if a player has been given a ride forwards when he or she has not already walked that distance. For example, if a player stops to buy a refreshment after playing his or her tee shot, and then accepts a ride forward to his or her ball from a volunteer, the penalty under the Local Rule should not be waived.
Out of Bounds and Course Boundaries
Out of Bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points at ground level of white stakes and fence posts. When a line is not in use, the stakes or posts define the Out of Bounds.		 Distance-Measuring Devices
a) For all KHSAA postseason competitions, a player may obtain distance information by using a device measuring distance only.
b) If, during a stipulated round, a player uses any other function that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect play (e.g., gradient/slope, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 4.3, for which the penalty is 2 strokes for the first offense, and disqualification for any subsequent offense.
NOTE: The restriction on the use of distance-measuring devices that are capable of measuring anything but distance will be reiterated in the published instructions and KHSAA hard card, and golfers are directed to not use any restricted function of the device while they are on the course.
c) Helpful information concerning the use of these devices can be found on the KHSAA website at http://khsaa.org/golf/ under General Information.
d) For all regular season competition involving KHSAA member schools, host facilities are permitted to address the permissive or restrictive use of distance measuring devices, but are not permitted to allow any function of a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect play (e.g., gradient/slope, wind-speed, temperature, etc.).
NOTE: Tournament directors are encouraged to take all preventive steps possible including notification to coaches and players to prevent violation, but failure to issue such notice shall not constitute a waiver of the restriction.
Procedures for Bad Weather and Suspensions of Play 
Methods for Stopping and Resuming Play: A suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged note of a siren or horn. All other suspensions will be signaled by three consecutive notes of a siren or horn. In either case, resumption of play will be signaled by two short notes of a siren or horn.
Note: All practice areas are closed during an immediate suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open.

Communication Devices
a) For all KHSAA postseason competitions, voice communication devices (including all types of cell phones, two-way radios, and other devices) may not be used by a player, his side or caddie as a communication device between coaches and players or players and spectators. Cell phones are permitted but may only be used as instructed.
b) If used during a round or match, for anything other than at the direction of tournament management i.e live scoring or a life or health and safety threatening emergency, the player is in breach of Rule 1-2, for which the penalty is: 1st Offense, Warning, 2nd Offense, Disqualification for serious breach of etiquette.
NOTE: The restriction on the use of voice communication devices will be reiterated in the published instructions and KHSAA hard card, and golfers directed to ensure that if the device is in the bag of the golfer for use at the direction of tournament management or in an emergency, it remain in an off position and available solely for use in the case of an actual emergency.
c) For all regular season competition involving KHSAA member schools, host facilities are encouraged to address the permissive or restrictive use of communication devices, i.e for live scoring purposes or a life or health and safety threatening emergency.
NOTE: Tournament directors are encouraged to take all preventive steps possible including notification to coaches and players to prevent violation, but failure to issue such notice shall not constitute a waiver of the restriction.
Restrictions on Practice
Rule 5.5b is modified in this way: A player must not practice on the competition course between the play of two holes during Stroke Play and must not test the surface of the putting green of the hole being played by rolling a ball.
Penalty for breach of Rule: General Penalty applied to the next hole
A player must not practice on the competition course before or between rounds. Penalty for Breach of this Local Rule: Penalty for first breach: General Penalty (applied to the player’s first hole). Penalty for second breach: Disqualification.		  

Restrictions on Use of Specific Equipment
List of Conforming Driver Heads: Any driver the player uses to make a stroke must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, which is on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA.
Penalty for Making a Stroke with Club in Breach of this Local Rule:
Disqualification.
There is no penalty under this Local Rule for carrying, but not making a stroke with a driver that is not on the List of Conforming Driver Heads.
List of Conforming Golf Balls: Any ball used in making a stroke must be on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the USGA.
Penalty for Making a Stroke at a Ball Not on Current List in Breach of this Local Rule: Disqualification.

  
Returning Scorecard
For the purpose of applying Rule 3.3b (2), a player’s scorecard is treated as returned when the player has first left the scoring area with both feet. When the Result of the Competition is Final: When all scores have been posted on the official scoreboard and approved by the Committee, the competition is closed.		  
Replacement of Broken Club
 If a player’s club is “broken or significantly damaged” during the round by the player or caddie, except in cases of abuse, the player may replace the club with any club under Rule 4.1b(4). When replacing a club, the player must immediately take the broken or significantly damaged club out of play, using the procedure in Rule 4.1c(1).
For the purposes of this Local Rule:
A club is “broken or significantly damaged” when:
• the shaft breaks into pieces, splinters or is bent (but not when the shaft is only dented)
• the club face impact area is visibly deformed (but not when the club face is only scratched)
• the clubhead is visibly and significantly deformed
• the clubhead is detached or loose from the shaft, or the grip is loose.
Exception: A club face or clubhead is not “broken or significantly damaged” solely because it is cracked.
Penalty for Breach of Local Rule – See Rule 4.1b.” (Added 4/2019)		  

GHK Rules Help Line (502-243-8295)		 For more specific information on the coaching advice rule in regard to penalties, please refer to the competition rules.
   
   
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