Local Rules

Chester Golf Club Local Rule – Preferred Lies

When a player’s ball lies in the general area, the player may take relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:

Reference Point: Spot of original ball
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches from the reference point but with these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area

Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point
Must be in the general area

In proceeding under this local rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing the ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

Chester Golf Club Local Rule – Cleaning Ball

When a player’s ball lies in the general area in the rough the ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty. The player must mark the spot before lifting the ball (see rule 14.1) and the ball must be replaced in its original spot (see rule 14.2)

Abnormal Course Condition – Rule 16

Ground Under Repair

In the general area, the following are treated as ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1b.

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

• Areas of damage caused by badgers
• Areas with grass seeded topsoil
• Tractor tracks

General Area - Grass cut to Fairway Height

In the general areas where grass is cut to fairway height the following are treated as ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1b.

• Bare patches of soil
• Surfaces above drainage pipes where the grass has died back.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

Accumulation of loose Impediments

Throughout the course any ground with accumulation of:

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

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

• Seeded areas (Seeded ground NOT seeded divots) - in particular the areas where tree stumps have been ground out.

Play is prohibited & the player MUST take relief 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 16.1b.

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 dropping zone marked to the rear of the first green

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

Dave Wells

Chair of Golf

30th May 2023