Rules Committee

Updated 08-01-2019

Purpose of the Rules Committee: The purpose of the rule committee is to address all golf-related rules issues that may occur within the Silverbell Golf Club (SGC) and maintain cognizance of all USGA rules of golf.

Chairman: Chosen by the members of the rules committee

Chairman Duties: Provide liasion with the SGC Board of Directors. Preside over any Rules Committee meetings.

Members: Three to five members appointed by the SGC Board of Directors.

Current members of the SGC Rules Committee include:

Member's Duties:

1. Review the SGC local rules at least once a year and recommend changes if needed.
2. Adjudicate any actual or potential rules violations, intentional or accidental.
3. Coordinate with the SGC Board for all rules-related activities and adjudications.

Qualifications: Be willing to serve and be reasonably well versed in the USGA rules of golf. Also, be capable of researching the USGA rules of golf as needed in order to resolve rules-related issues.

Rules Committee Procedures:

All players are expected to play in the spirit of the game.

• Acting with integrity — for example, by following all the rules, applying all penalties and being honest in all aspects of play.

SGC follows USGA rules, and serious rules infractions that could result in disqualification will be thoroughly investigated.

1. All rule infractions are the responsibility of the individual player to discuss any situation he/she is not sure of with the other players in his/her group.
2. Amy member who unknowingly breaks a USGA or SGC rule, and is noticed by an individual of the group, that infraction should be brought up immediatly and dealt with at that point. If the group is not certain whether there was an infraction or what penalty to enforce, see the note below.
3. Rule infractions noticed by a member from another group should be reported to a Rules committee member, or if no committee member is available, then report it to a board member when they turn in their scorecard at the end of their round. If an infraction is not reported to the rules committee member at the appropriate time, then there is no rules infraction.

Note: During SGC play there may be occasions where a player is uncertain as to what his/her options are. If this occurs and there is no agreement among the players in the group as to what the USGA golf rules are for the situation, then the player should play a second ball into the hole from the spot at which the uncertainty occurs, per USGA rule 20.1c. For example, if the player is uncertain as to whether he/she can take relief from an obstacle then he/she can play the original ball "as is" and play a second ball wherein he/she takes relief. Both balls are played until each ball is holed-out. If the scores for the two balls are the same then the player should just record the score (since it makes no difference which ball score is used) and inform a member of the Rules Committee. The rules committee member can then discuss with the player the options and choices that were available, so that if the player is confronted with the same situation in the future they will know how to play it. If the two balls played result in different scores then after the round the player must inform one or more of the Rules Committee members. That rules committee member will then consult with one or more other rules committee members to make a determination of which ball was played correctly and use that score. (Note that if both balls were played according to USGA rules, the first ball played from that spot is then used for the hole score). If necessary and possible a determination of the Rules can be made by searching the USGA Rules of Golf on line at the pro shop computer for a final determination. Note that this process must take place shortly after completion of the round so that scores can be entered to finalize the game results for that round. Rules questions should be addressed to rules committee members AFTER the round, as rule decisions require two or more committee members to be in unanimous agreement before a decision is made.