This past season I had two “heated” discussions with two different members of two different golf clubs, about their local committee’s right to make local rules. They were under the impression that their local committee could change any rule of golf, to suit a condition they felt needed alteration.

Examples: I believe that on Arnprior’s #9, relief is permitted (immovable obstruction) if your ball comes to rest on the “bridge” over a ditch which is marked as a water hazard(Yellow stakes). On the new 9 at Outaouais some of the holes have red lateral water hazard stakes on the sides of the fairway when it is clear that the area is just thick bush and not an obvious hazard. The Marshes has similarly marked holes. At our club we have some drainage ditches, which should be marked as hazards, but are not, so if your ball lands in the water in this area, it is played as casual water. From my understanding of the rules, none of these are permissible.

Is there any recourse if the local “powers at be” just say, “ Screw the rules; we’re doing it?” What if I am playing in an OVGA tournament where the host club’s local rules are in effect, can I “call” someone for breaking a Rule of Golf, when the infraction is permitted by the incorrect local rule? How would a REAL rules official rule?

Just for interest sake, here are some of the conditions under which a local rule may be made:
-Abnormal ground conditions, i.e., preferred lies
-making all non out of bounds stakes, immovable obstructions
-insect/ant, non burrowing animal damage = GUR
-GUR adjacent to cart path (immovable obstruction) = immovable obstruction
-repair of turf plugs
-temporary accumulation of leaves, through the green = GUR
-making apron part of the green for dropping purposes
-declaring some materials to have the same status as sand.

From this list it is obvious that NO Rule Of golf was changed.