(page updated 8/7/2025)
GWGA members are expected to know and play by the rules.
Players must count all whiffs. Mulligans and “gimmies” are not allowed.
Lift, clean and Place rule: The League has adopted a local rule, (only if you are in your own fairway) that allows, throughout the season, players to lift, clean and place their ball no more than 6 inches from their original spot and no closer to the hole.
Model Local rule 8E-5
The League has adopted this rule to help with the pace of play. Below are 3 diagrams showing your options and how they should be applied. Three scenarios are covered. They are when your ball can not be found, when your ball goes out-of-bounds and when either of those two situations occur close to the green.
Unmarked Ground Under Repair (GUR) situations in Fairways: In fairways, where GUR is not marked with a white line, ask your playing partners if you may take relief. If all agree, you may take free relief. NOTE: All unmarked, non-fairway GUR situations are described in the hole-by-hole guidelines. All GUR situations are afforded free relief. With free relief, you drop a ball from knee-height into a relief area. The relief area is defined as an area, no closer to the hole, which is within one club length of your nearest point of relief using your longest non-putter club.
Specific hole situations and guidelines:
Hole 6
1. The rocky areas between the left edge of the left bunker and the right edge of the cart path and behind the green are GUR.
2. If your ball enters the red penalty area on the left (the creek) at a point beyond the front edge of the pump in the pond, find the closest point of relief and drop your ball no closer to the hole. 1 penalty stroke. If your ball enters the penalty area on the left further back of the green, drop in a grassy area no closer to the hole at the closest point of relief.
Hole 7 – The rocky area to the right, approximately 50 yards from the green, between the path and the woods is GUR.
Hole 9 – White stakes behind the green against the fence indicate out-of bounds. Hit again from the place from which your previous shot was made and take a 1 stroke penalty.
Hole 10
- When the ditch on the right side of the cart path has water in it, it is considered an “abnormal ground condition”. You may take free relief
- You may take free relief from the french drain (gravel ditch) on the right side of the cart path if it interferes with your stance or swing.
Hole 11 – If your ball goes into the spillway on the left, you may take free relief.
Hole 13
1. If your ball lands in the spillway to the right of the bridge, you may take free relief by finding the nearest point of relief from the point of entry and then taking one club length from that point and dropping your ball between that club length.
2. If your ball lands in the spillway to the left of the bridge, take a free drop in the marked drop area in front of the tee box.
3. If your ball lands in the penalty area to the right of the bridge and to the right of the spillway, you have two choices.
a. Hit again from the place from which your previous shot was made and take a 1 stroke penalty.
b. The second option depends on your ball’s point of entry into the penalty zone. If your ball goes directly into the penalty area without crossing the spillway, drop a ball to the left of the cart path just before the bridge no closer to the hole or hit from the spot from which your previous shot was made. Take a 1 stroke penalty. If your ball goes into the penalty area after crossing over the spillway (or after hitting the spillway concrete), drop into a two club relief area on the fairway side of the spillway no closer to the hole. Take a 1 stroke penalty.
Hole 14 – If your ball goes into the penalty area on the left and there is not enough room (2 club lengths) on the left of the cart path to take relief, you may take a drop on the right side of the path. Find your closest point of relief no closer to the hole for a one stroke penalty.
Hole 15 – The guidance for hole 14 applies to hole 15 if the same scenario occurs.
Hole 18
1. The rocky gully approximately 150 yards from the tee box to the right between the cart path and the woods is GUR.
2. White stakes behind the green indicate out-of-bounds. Hit again from the place from which your previous shot was made and take a 1 stroke penalty. If you did not hit a provisional ball, in the interest of the pace of play, use Rule MLR E-5. Take a drop equal distant from the pin to the OB stakes no closer to the hole for a 2-stroke penalty.
Greendale Women's Golf Association, Alexandria, Va 