Local Rules

These rules have been adopted for Lea Lea for play in our events. They are not applicable to play outside of Lea Lea events.

Local Rules Suggested by USGA

Out of Bounds or Lost Ball:
2019 USGA suggested Local Rule Rule for OB and Lost Ball was adopted by Lea Lea 1/10/19. This rule applies to a ball hit Out of Bounds (white stakes) or Lost in the General Area. It does not apply to a ball lost in a Penalty Area. This Local Rule allows you to EITHER rehit from the spot where you hit your original ball taking the stroke and distance penalty (2 strokes). OR determine a drop area by determining a line from where the ball was lost or crossed ‘the edge of the out of bounds to the edge of the fairway plus 2 club lengths’. Drop within that area and add 2 strokes. Please click the link above for details.

Greenside Sprinkler Head:

When a greenside sprinkler head is between your ball and the hole and you would like to putt. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b if a greenside sprinkler head is:

• On the line of play, and is
• Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and is
• Within two club-lengths of the ball.

Maximum Score Per Hole.  See USGA suggested procedure.

• The purpose of this procedure is to speed up Regular Club Play. 
• It will not be in effect for Tournament Play, ie Eclectic, Pick-A-Partner, Lea Lea Cup, Club Championship, Ace of Aces.
• A player should pick up on any hole where they have exceeded a score of ‘net double bogey’.  This is ‘par + 2 + your handicap strokes’ on the hole.  Handicap strokes are determined by the Handicap ranking numbers at the bottom of the score card.
• Players picking up under the Maximum Score Per Hole procedure are eligible for all daily prizes. 
• Click here for Maximum Score example

General Lea Lea Local Rules

Drop Areas

• Hole #11 – If your tee shot does not carry over the bushes you may drop 2 club lengths in front of the bushes.  This does not apply to balls OB left or right.  Only shots going directly into the bushes in front of the tee.
• Hole #17 – Kona Country Club provides a drop area for balls hit into the lava in front of the tee.

Protruding Tree Roots. This is not recognized by USGA but for our own safety: You may play protruding tree roots which interfere with your swing as Ground Under Repair. Consult your fellow competitors before using this relief. It is not meant to get you out from behind a tree or to keep your ball from hitting the tree or root. It is intended to let you move your ball away from a root that you will hit with your club while swinging.

Bunkers

• Unmaintained areas of bunkers. With the agreement of all other players in your group you may lift, rake and place your ball in a bunker with wash outs, footprints, etc which have not been maintained. Uneven raking is not included as ‘unmaintained’.
• Protruding or exposed liners in bunkers.  These should be played as an immovable obstruction.  Free relief:  drop in the bunker, not closer to the hole.

Putting

• All putts for individual play must be holed.  In team events if you are ‘out of the hole’ you should pick up.  Also if you have reached your ‘Maximum Score Per Hole’ you should pick up.
• For counting putts we will use the continuous putting system.  That is, once you make your first putt all subsequent strokes are counted as putts.  Your ‘first putt’ is any stroke made when your ball is on the green.  Example:  Your first putt goes past the hole and off the front of the green.  Your next stroke you chip back onto the green.  You then putt it in.  You would count 3 putts on that hole which is the number of continuous strokes starting with the first putt.