Local Rules

Abnormal Course Condition - Rule 16

Preferred Lies

Mandatory Use of Fairway Mats – Model Local Rule E-12

When a player’s ball lies in the general area, the use of an artificial fairway mat is compulsory for any stroke not made with a putter. The player must lift the original ball and place it on a mat positioned at the spot where the ball lay. If the ball will not remain on the mat, the mat may be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat. Playing a stroke directly from the ground in these areas is not permitted. Playing from a wrong place in breach of this Local Rule results in the General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

Bunkers – Temporary Local Rule: Lift, Clean and Place (Lift and Rake)

When a player’s ball lies in a bunker, the player may take free relief once by marking, lifting and cleaning the ball before placing the original ball or another ball in the bunker within 6 inches of the original spot, no nearer the hole. The sand may be smoothed or raked before placing the ball. The ball must be placed using the procedures for replacing a ball under Rule 14.2.

Ground Under Repair

All Repaired / Re-Seeded Areas

In the general area, areas that have been repaired, sanded/soiled and reseeded are to be treated as Ground Under Repair from which free relief is allowed under rule 16.1

(This includes any new drainage lines that have been re-soiled) 

Removed Trees

Throughout the course any ground where a tree has been removed the damaged area is to be treated as ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1

Loose Impediments

 In The General area any ground with accumulation of

• Fallen Trees
• Logs cut from fallen trees
• Piled leaves twigs and bracken
• Wood chippings

In the general area is treated as ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1

Abnormal Ground Conditions    

Tractor Damage

In the general area, areas of damage caused by tractors and other similar traffic are treated as ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1

Bare Patches Caused by Water Damage

All bare patches caused by water damage through the green are to be treated as Ground Under Repair from which relief is allowed under rule 16.1

Chester Golf Club Local Rule - No Play Zone

1st Hole

If a ball is in the wild flower area to the rear of the 1st green that was once used as a tee for hole 2, including when it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found came to rest in this area, the player must take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the marked dropping zone.

The dropping zone is a relief area under rule 14.3

18th Hole

The flower bed to the right of the 18th green is a no play zone to be treated as an abnormal ground condition. Free relief must be taken from the drop zone.

The drop zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3

Diane Dare

Chair of Golf

21st October 2025