LVMC 2022 Local Rules and Conditions of Play

Each player shall be responsible for being acquainted with the rules and conditions of play. USGA rules shall govern all play and shall be supplemented by the LVMC Local Rules and Conditions of play.

  1. Out-of-Bounds is defined by the inside edges at ground level of:
    1. White stakes along the left side of holes #1 and #2 fairways
    2. All perimeter fence posts
    3. Driving range fence posts
  2. Declared Immovable Obstructions: White stakes defining the out-of-bounds on hole #1 are declared to be immovable obstructions while playing any hole other than hole #1, where they are considered out-of-bounds markers. The stakes must not be moved. The player gets relief without penalty for stance and swing only.
  3. Ground Under Repair: is designated by white lines, white stakes or roped stakes encircling the area. Relief may be taken under Rule 25-1, Abnormal Ground Conditions. Drop without penalty within one club length from the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole.
  4. Embedded Ball: Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch mark in the ground may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole.
  5. Edging Grooves: If a ball lies on an edging groove around a putting green, the player may without penalty, lift the ball, clean it, and place it out of the groove within 6 inches to where it lay, whether on or off the putting green, which is not nearer the hole.
  6. Immovable Obstruction Close to Putting Green: If a ball lies off the putting green and an immovable obstruction (i.e. sprinkler head) within two club lengths of the putting green and within two club lengths of the ball, not in a hazard, intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on the putting green.
  7. Aeration Holes: 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. 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.
  8. Stones in Bunkers: are movable obstructions. Rules 24-1 Movable obstruction applies.
  9. Staked Trees: If a staked tree interferes with a player's stance or swing the player must take relief without penalty to protect the young tree. Proceed under Rule 24-2b Relief from an Immovable Obstruction.
  10. Distance Measuring Devices: that measure distance only are allowed for all play at Los Verdes.0
  11. Winter Rules: Winter Rules shall be in effect when declared by the Greens Chairman. A ball may be lifted cleaned and placed within 6 inches no nearer the hole.
  12. Bunker Rule: In a bunker, a player whose ball lies in a disturbed area that should have been raked by another player, is allowed to place the ball elsewhere in the bunker within one club-length no closer to the hole of where the ball came to rest without penalty.
  13. Smut grass Rule: A player whose ball lies close to smut grass, in a position where the swing movement of the clubface to hit the ball is obstructed by the smut grass, is allowed to place the ball within one club-length of where the ball came to rest no nearer the hole without penalty. There is no relief for stance on smut grass, only the clubface obstruction.
  14. Exposed Tree Root Rule: If a playerŐs ball is in play and there is interference with the lie of the ball or the area of intended swing from exposed tree roots that are in a part of the general area of the course that covers all of the course except for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing, the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b. Find the nearest point of relief that is not closer to the hole and the ball must be dropped within 1 club length and come to rest in the relief area. Interference does not exist if the tree roots only interfere with the playerŐs stance.