GOLF COURSE RULES

The Game of Golf shall be played under the Rules approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and under such local Rules as may from time to time be stipulated by the Silver Lakes Golf Committee in conjunction with the Director of Golf.

1. Etiquette:
There are a number of aspects under etiquette that a member should remember:

a. Safety:
Prior to playing a stroke or making a practice swing, the player should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club or any debris that may be moved by the club.

b. Consideration for other players:
The player who has the honour should be allowed to play before his opponent or fellow competitor tees his ball. No one should move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke. No player should play until the players in front are out of range.

c. Pace of play:
In the interest of all, play without delay. If a player believes his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, to save time, he must play a provisional ball. Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them to pass as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not be easily found. They should not search for more than 5 minutes. They should not continue play until the players following them have passed and are out of range. When a hole has been completed players should immediately leave the putting green. If a match fails to keep its place in the field and loses more than one clear hole on the players in front, it should invite the match following to pass.

d. Holes in bunkers:
Before leaving a bunker, a player should fill up and smooth over all divots and footprints made by him.

e. Repair divots and pitch marks:
A player should ensure that any divot made by him on the fairway should be filled with sand. Likewise any pitch mark made by him on the green should be correctly repaired. The piece of green knocked out by the ball should be thrown away – do not replace it in the pitch mark.

f. Damage to greens:
Players must ensure that they or caddies do not damage the greens by dropping their bags or the flagsticks on the greens. They must further ensure that they do not damage the holes when replacing or removing the pins.

2. Slow play:
The golden rule is that you are to keep up with the fourball ahead of you or if you are leading the field take no more than 2 hours 15 minutes to complete nine holes. Halfway House not longer than 15 minutes, and a complete round 4 hours 45 minutes.
i. More than one hole behind – allocate two holes to catch up and receive warning.
ii. If after two holes you have not caught up – final warning
iii. If two holes later you have still not caught up – asked to leave the course.

3. Sandbags:
Sandbags are compulsory for all players on Silver Lakes Golf Course.

4. Local rules:
The local rules are printed on the back of the scorecard. Any additional rules will be displayed on the notice board. These are subject to change from time to time.

5. Pull carts:
Pull carts are not to be permitted between the bunkers and greens and on the greens.

6. Dress:
All members or visitors are required to adhere to the dress regulations of the Club. These are displayed at all entrances to the Club and are subject to change from time to time. Any member or visitor not adhering could be requested to leave the premises. A member is responsible to ensure that his or her guests conform to the regulations. . 

7. Suspension of play:
The Golf Director and the Greenkeeper will decide when the golf course becomes unplayable.  Notice to discontinue play immediately will be announced by a long continues blast of the siren. Two repeated short blasts will announce resumption of play.   Note: even in absence of sirens players are the sole judges to suspend play when lightning strikes are visible. If rain was the cause of course being closed, no carts will be allowed thereafter.

8. Children:
Children who are not junior members are not permitted unaccompanied on the course or putting green. Parents will be held responsible for children found playing on the course.   Children in the Clubhouse area must be supervised at all times and no persons under 18 are permitted in the bar.

9. Visitors:
Visitors are welcome at Silver Lakes Golf Club.  The Management, however, reserves the right to control visitor subject to conditions published in Golf Course Rules.

10. Juniors:
Junior members are permitted to play on times reserved for full members as determined by the golf representatives in consultation with management.

11. Sharing of clubs:
Sharing of clubs is not permitted at Silver Lakes Golf Club.

12. Practice:
No practising whatsoever is allowed on the Golf Course. At no stage may more than one ball be played except as provided under the rules of golf.

13. Caddies:
Caddy fees will be published on the noticeboards and can change from time to time. No caddies from outside will be allowed at Silver Lakes. Identification disks will be issued to registered caddies.

14. Handicaps:
Handicaps are being calculated as determined by SAGU. Queries can be directed to the golf representatives. Members not submitting a score after completion of 18 holes of golf will have a penalty score recorded at the next handicap provision. Handicaps are calculated on the morning of the first day of every month.

15. Scorecards:
Participants in club competitions are required, as a condition of entry, to complete the scorecard correctly. Should any information not be on the card, the player can be disqualified.

16. Condition of entry into competitions:
The Director of Golf, with the assistance of golf representatives, reserves the right to stipulate conditions for any entry and if any member does not comply he/she is liable for disqualification.

17. Count out rule:
The count out rule: out procedure for 18 hole competitions at the Club is as follow:
a. Lowest handicap.
b. Last 9 holes
c. Stroke 1 upwards.

If there is any uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the Rule the decision of the Director of Golf or any Golf Representative Member present, will be final.

18. Club competitions:
a. Club Championships will be held annually as prescribed by the governing provincial golf bodies under condition of final approval by management. The draw will be seeded, according to handicaps in the respective divisions. The tournament will include an A, B, C Division as well as a Veterans Section. Persons have a choice of whether they wish to play in the Veterans or Regular Championship. If there is a tie for the Championship a play off will take place. For other places the count out rule of the Club will apply. The member must be handicapped at Silver Lakes to enter.

b. Monthly sponsored competitions are restricted to members only.

c. Monthly medal – will take place on the first Saturday of the month and is also restricted to members only. The divisions are: A (0-9), B (10-17) and C (18-24).

d. Club knockout – singles, doubles and mixed knockouts are restricted to members only. The rules and conditions will be stipulated on the entry form. The member must be handicapped at Silver Lakes to enter.

e. Mixed competitions – are arranged and coordinated by the Ladies Section. The rules and conditions will be stipulated on the entry form.

f. Club competitions – these take place as determined from time to time by the Director of Golf in consultation with the General Manager and are compulsory for all players who wish to use the course on these occasions.

19. Control of persons on the course:
All players who want to use the course must register in the Pro Shop.

20. Cellular phones:
Cellular phones may not be used except for Emergency services. All cell phones on the course must be switched off or be on discreet mode only.

21. Suggestions and recommendations:
Can be made in writing to either the Director of Golf or the General Manager.

22. Guests of members: A member is responsible for his guest’s dress and behaviour at all times.

23. Golf Carts:

Whilst using motorised carts, the rules displayed in the cart and on the lease agreement are to be adhered to at all times. No person under the age of 18 years may drive a club cart and the Director of Golf will control this. Golf carts are utilised at the renter’s own risk. Owners of their own carts will adhere to the same rules.

24. Course Marshall:
The Course Marshall has been employed to see to the flow of the field. He/she is the spokesperson of the Director of Golf and has a set of tasks that must be performed. As a representative he/she has the right to implement the rules pertaining to slow play. It is a breach of these rules to verbally abuse or rebuff the Course Marshall.

25. Driving range and practice facilities:
The driving range and practice facilities are the responsibility of the Director of Golf and are provided for all persons on the Estate, visitors and members. Any person using these facilities will abide by instructions issued by the official on duty.

26. Pedestrians, dogs, bicycles, off-road vehicles etc:
These are not permitted on the course or cart paths during golf-playing hours.

27. Golf Club times:
The course is open Tuesday to Sunday with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The course opens at times as determined by the Director of Golf in consultation with management.

28. Private property:
Under no circumstances may any member or visitor enter any private property (golf course) to collect golf balls. Any breach of this rule shall result in disciplinary action.

29. Payment of playing fees:
No person is entitled to commence playing golf before they have paid the applicable fees at the Pro Shop.

30. Exception of rules:
The management reserves the right to make exceptions to these rules under certain circumstances. These exceptions will be placed on the noticeboards whenever possible.

31. Disclaimer of Liability:
All persons entering the Club’s premises or using the Club’s facilities do so at their own risk and all such persons must be responsible for their own safety and for the care of their belongings. Neither the Club or Management, employees, agents or contractors shall be liable for any injuries (including loss of life incurred by such persons or loss or damage to their belongings, whatever the cause.