The USGA Rules of Golf will govern tournament play on the Indiana/Western Kentucky Golfweek Amateur Tour. Listed below are the Permanent Local Rules that supersede the USGA rules for all Indiana/Western Kentucky Golfweek Amateur Tour events.
Triple Bogey Max Rule
The maximum score that a player in A, B, C and D flights can score on a hole is triple bogey (Champ flight does not apply this local rule). If you are sitting at double bogey, and are not in the hole, pick up your ball and score a triple bogey. Do not continue to play the hole as the whole reason for this rule is to speed up pace of play. If you continue to play past double bogey, you are defeating the purpose.
All Heavily Wooded Areas, Heather or Extreme Long Grass will be considered a Red Penalty Area
All Heavily Wooded areas, Heather or Extreme Long Grass areas will be considered a Red Penalty Area (only if known, or virtually certain that the ball has entered one of these areas, otherwise is considered a LOST BALL), but does NOT apply to first cut or second cut rough (normal rough). You may take relief from heavily wooded areas, heather and/or extremely long grass according to the Red Penalty Area rules. The proper drop location is determined just as it would be had the ball gone into a marked Red Penalty Area (think of the whole area of trees or heather as if it were a Penalty Area). The drop is where the ball first crossed into this area and is subject to the same regulations as a Red Penalty Area. The drop location is NOT perpendicular to where the ball lies or expected to be. This rule will be used for all flights, including Champ Flight.
Out of Bounds Rule
If you hit your ball Out of Bounds, and did not hit a provisional ball, you MUST go back to the spot of your previous shot and rehit. This rule will apply to all flights, including Champ Flight. National did not adopt the OB rule changes in 2019.
One Ball Rule is NOT in Effect but DO mark your ball
The Indiana/Western Kentucky will NOT use the one ball rule. You may use any ball on the USGA Approved Ball List, but it can not be x’ed out or marked as a range ball. You must identify the ball you are playing and the special markings on the first tee to your partners. Once it is put into play you must finish the hole or have lost it before you can put a different ball into play. If you do put a different ball into play (normally on the tee) then you must announce it to your playing partners.
Our National Championships and other Tours may use the One Ball Rule which is that each player must play the same make AND model ball for the duration of the whole round. Each player must uniquely mark each ball so that it can be certain of ownership. This includes that they must play the same color ball as well even if it is the same make and model. The USGA Approved Ball List lists each color as a separate line item in the list which means it is technically a different ball. The number on the ball may be different as long as it is the same make and model and color.
If a player does not mark their ball and it is lost during play, even if a ball is found that could presumably be theirs, they must still take penalty strokes for a lost ball. They have no way to positively identify their ball.
Embedded Ball Rule Anywhere in General Area
A ball embedded in its own pitch mark, anywhere in the General Area (this is the whole area of the course except: the teeing ground, putting green of the hole being played, out of bounds and all penalty areas-including sand traps), may be lifted, cleaned and dropped as close to the original spot, no nearer the hole, without penalty. This is a USGA rule.
No Drop Zones Used for Any Event
No drop zones will be used by any player during any Indiana/Western Kentucky Golfweek Amateur Tour event.
Because no drop zones are allowed at Nationals and because the Triple Bogey Max Rule is in effect then we will not use any drop zones during our events as well.
Guest Policies for Placing in Tournaments
To be sure that we keep the full integrity of our flights in all of our tournaments, we are implementing a set of policies revolving around guests playing in our tournaments.
As a guest, guests will not be allowed to place any higher than 3rd Place in any event for all flights with the exception of the Champ Flight. If a guest posts a score that is higher than 3rd place, they will be moved to 3rd place and those that were in 2nd and 3rd place will be moved up to 1st and 2nd place provided that they are not guests.
Also, any prize money awarded to any guest for placing must be used towards the purchase of a membership or future event. Cash games are not included in this and cash games will be paid to the guest.
Play Ready Golf!
Ready Golf will be played at all of our events, and at all times, tee to green and on the green as well! If you are waiting on the group in front of you, then you may observe turn etiquette, otherwise there should be NO ONE waiting to hit - not on the tee, fairway, rough, hazards or greens. If you are ready, and it's clear, then go ahead and hit! Keep the play moving forward. Play should never be at a standstill. Even if waiting for the group ahead, there are things you can be doing to ensure you will be ready to hit when it is clear such as getting yardage, making club selection, etc...
Honors is exactly that, an honor and there is no rule about hitting rotation in Stroke Play. If the player with honors is not ready, and you are, please announce to that player that you are ready and you are going to hit. If you have the honors and are not ready, you must not get upset if someone wants to hit first if they are ready. If you are not ready, announce that you are not ready and invite anyone that is ready to hit to go ahead and hit. Do NOT use this rule as an excuse to make yourself 'not ready' so that you don't have to go first!