Gosford Golf Club

Be a part of where golf began on the Coast

Gosford Golf Club Course

Local Rules

Out of Bounds

  • Those areas beyond the course-side points at ground level of the club’s boundary fence posts except on the second hole where the bike path extends under the fence. The inside edge of the path is the boundary.
  • Those areas beyond the course-side edges of white stakes with black tops and/or connecting white lines.
  • The course-side edge of the high-water marks of Narara Creek.

Roads And Paths

All artificially formed/graded roads and paths on the course including the worn areas on the opening and to the sides of the roads and paths, are treated as immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.

Hoops, Ropes, and Stakes

All hoops and ropes are moveable obstructions; however, they must be replaced.

All stakes are immovable obstructions, except stakes indicating out of bounds which are Boundary Objects (see Definitions).

Fixed Sprinkler Heads

All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions. Rule 16.1b applies. In addition, to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, interference also exists if an immovable obstruction is: on the player’s line of play and is within two club-lengths of the putting green and is within two club-lengths of the ball. (Exception – There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.)

Bunkers

All bunkers marked by white stakes or designated as GUR are to be treated as abnormal course conditions.  The player may take relief under Rule 14.3 or may elect to play the ball from its current position.

Exposed bunker matting impacting on the player’s ball, swing or stance is to be treated as Interference by an Abnormal Course Condition and free relief can be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1c.

Casual water in bunkers is to be treated as interference by an abnormal course condition with free relief available in the bunker under Rule 16.1c

After raking bunkers, please return rakes to the middle of the bunker with the handle laying in the direction of play.

Ground Under Repair

  1. All areas encircled by white lines and/or white stakes.
  2. Wheel Marks – Clearly defined indentations or ruts made by a mower, tractor, or motor vehicle.
  3. All formed garden beds and garden beds identified by white stakes with green tops.
  4. Bare patches on all fairways not including divots.

Damage on green 

If your line of putt is affected by damage to the greens by birds, you may take free relief under Rule 16.1d.

10th, 11th and 18th Fairway

When a local rule is “preferred lie on the general area cut to fairway height or less” or “play the ball as it lies,” a preferred lie may be taken on the unmown portion of the drain across the 10th, 11th, and 18th fairways. 

3rd and 11th Hole

A provisional ball must be played on the 3rd and 11th  holes if the ball is struck from the teeing ground toward, and may be lost in or near, the Red Penalty Areas which are hidden from view from the tee as you will not have virtual certainty that the ball will have finished in the Penalty Area.  If the original ball is found in the Penalty Area, then rule 17.1 applies and the provisional ball is abandoned.

If your ball enters the red hazard on the 3rd hole you may play your next shot from the drop zone on the left hand side of the hazard with a one-shot penalty.

Garden between 6th Fairway and 7th Tee

If your ball lies in this garden, you may elect to take relief by dropping your ball within one club length of nearest point of relief or in the drop zone identified by the green stake at the rear of the garden.

Penalty Areas

Red penalty areas are defined by red stakes/lines.

Aeration Holes

If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:

  • Ball in General Area – The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.
  • Ball on Putting Green – The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1d.

Tree Roots

If a player’s ball is in the general area cut to fairway height or less and there is interference from exposed tree roots, or in the rough within one of club-length of the edge of the ground cut to fairway height or less, the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

Paths With Mesh Netting

The grass-protection mesh that lies under and protects the grass at the end of the cart paths on the 1st and 10th tees, as well as the cart path near the green on the 18th are treated as immovable obstructions in the general area and are part of the cart path. A player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

Call up on Par 3’s

Once all your players are on the green your group should call up the group behind you if they are on the tee and ready to hit.

The exception here is if your group has fallen behind the group in front of you. If this is the case your group should not call up, but putt out quickly and move on. Ready Golf allows your first two players to move to the next tee and hit while the other two players complete their putts. This is an effective way to make up lost time. When calling up please stand behind the green and watch for the players hitting.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones to be kept on silent/vibrate at all times while on the course.

Motorised Golf Carts

The following rules apply when using a motorised golf cart at Gosford Golf Club

  • A maximum of two people in the golf cart at all times
  • You must remain in the seated area of the golf carts when the cart is in operation (hanging off the back or sides of the cart is strictly prohibited)
  • Golf carts are to be driven in a safe and orderly manner.
  • You are liable for any damage caused to the golf cart (cost of damages are located on the windscreen of the cart.
  • Golf carts are not to be driven within 10m of the teeing grounds unless on a designated path.
  • Golf carts are not to be driven within 10m of a green, unless on a designated path
  • When the course is wet, you must stick to fairways and avoid low areas that have resting water. The golf cart must stick to car paths or the blue line when in operation during wet periods (check with Proshop or check noticeboard)
  • All golfers using a golf cart must adhere and adapt to the daily course conditions presented (avoiding wet spots, G.U.R or any other directions posted by the Pro shop on the day).
  • If there are multiple golf carts in your group a safe distance between each cart must be kept
  • Golf carts are not allowed in the top or bottom car park of the golf club.

Penalty for breach of local and temporary local rules

Unless otherwise noted the penalty for a breach of a local rule will be is the general penalty

Stoke Play – two strokes.         Match play – loss of hole.