BLACK BUTTE RANCH LOCAL RULES 

The Golf Club at Black Butte Ranch has adopted three local rules which become effective May 1, 2006. The first two are taken verbatim from the USGA suggestion if a local rule is adopted pertaining to relief from aeration holes and the use of distance-measuring devices, and the third, while following general language recommended by the USGA, is more tailored to what is seen as a specific problem on hole #4 at Glaze Meadow.

1.  Aeration
“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.”

 2.    Distance-Measuring Devices
”For all play at Black Butte Ranch, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.” (Distance-measuring devices were approved for use this year, but only if a local rule has been adopted. Such devices will be for sale in the Big Meadow Pro Shop.)  

..........................................................................................................................................

GLAZE MEADOW HOLE #4 LOCAL RULE                   

Normally it is impermissible to play a provisional ball when you believe that your ball may be lost in a water hazard. However, in some cases, the USGA allows for the adoption of a local rule to speed play. The Board received a suggestion that a local rule be adopted for shots at the 4^th hole at Glaze Meadow. It is often difficult to tell whether a tee shot, particularly one that clears the island in the pond, is in the hazard or not. After researching the idea, the following rule has been adopted: 

“You may play a provisional ball on the 4^th hole under the following conditions: If there is reasonable evidence that a shot is lost in the water hazard, rather than first looking for your ball, you may play a provisional ball as provided in Rule 26 (1)
Following the provisional shot, you may then proceed to look for your original ball. If the original ball is found outside the hazard, the provisional ball must be abandoned and the original ball played without penalty.

If the original ball is found in the hazard, you may play that ball as it lies and abandon the provisional ball without penalty.

If the original ball is not found, you must continue to play the provisional ball, adding a penalty stroke.

If the ball is found in the water hazard, you may not take a drop in accordance with Rule 26 based on the location of the found ball. You must either play the original ball from the water hazard without penalty or abandon that ball and continue with the provisional, adding the penalty stroke.”