LOCAL RULES
LOCAL RULES
It is important that you are aware of the local rules when playing at Brisbane River Golf Club.
Some additional rules change daily depending on course conditions and weather and are displayed near the Pro Shop.
All male social players must tee off from the yellow tees. Tuesday, Saturday, and Tedex Cup players only should use the black, blue or red veteran tees. Female players may use the red tees at all times.
Please read the Local Rules prior to beginning your round. Please check any Daily Rules on the Local Rules Board at the Pro Shop.
The following Local Rules are to be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf. These Local Rules override any others that may be posted.
Note: Rule 4.3a(1) permits the use of a distance measuring device to obtain information on distance but not elevation changes.
1. Out of Bounds
(i) Beyond any line of white stakes with black tops and/or white lines.
(ii) Beyond any fence bounding the course
(iii) Fence boundary lines from surrounding houses - no relief without penalty
2. Preferred Lies - 6th Hole ONLY
When a player's ball lies in the general area on the 6th hole only, the player may take free relief using a preferred lie by placing the original ball or another ball in the relief area of:
(i) Bare Patches (excluding divots) - nearest point of relief from the spot of the original ball, not nearer to the hole than the reference point (spot of the original ball)
(ii) Grassed Areas - nearest point of relief from the reference point, not nearer to the hole than the reference point and within one card length of that same point.
3. Power Lines - Compulsory Replay
When a player's ball makes contact with power lines, the player must replay the shot from the same position with no penalty.
4. QUU Pump Stations Hole 7, Hole 17 - Free Relief & Compulsory Replay
Free relief within one (1) club length at the closest point of relief and not nearer to the hole may be taken in the following instances:
(i) When a player's ball comes to rest within the area of the QUU Pump Station defined by the white lines/stakes; or
(ii) When a player's ball makes contact with an immovable object within the QUU Pump Station defined area and comes to rest within the same area.
When a player's ball makes contact with an immovable object within the QUU Pump Station defined area and comes to rest outside of that same area, the player must replay the shot from the original position with no penalty.
5. Code of Conduct: Residential Safety - Hole 4
The Committee has adopted the following Code of Conduct under Rule 1.2b.
On Hole 4, players must not deliberately attempt to play a stroke over the adjoining residential buildings or in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk to residents or property.
Players are expected to play the hole as designed and to select a line of play that avoids the residential area.
A player who deliberately breaches this Code of Conduct by intentionally attempting to play over the residential buildings may be subject to penalties under the Club's Code of Conduct as determined by the Committee.
Penalty for Breach of the Code of Conduct:
First breach: General Penalty (two penalty strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play).
Second breach: Disqualification.
The Committee's decision regarding whether a player has deliberately breached this Code of Conduct is final.
6. Code of Conduct: Mandatory Green Clearance – Hole 17
For the safety of all players, no player may play a stroke from the teeing area of Hole 17 until the group ahead has completely vacated the putting green.
Players must ensure the green is clear before any player in the group plays from the teeing area.
Failure to comply with this Local Rule may be treated as a breach of the Club's Code of Conduct under Rule 1.2b and may result in penalties as determined by the Committee.
7. Code of Conduct: Golf Carts and Protected Areas
The Committee has adopted the following Code of Conduct under Rule 1.2b.
To protect the course, environmentally sensitive areas, waterways, drainage infrastructure, regenerative areas and other designated areas, players must not drive or cause a golf cart to be driven into or through any protected area.
For the purpose of this Code of Conduct, a protected area includes:
- any marked penalty area containing or forming part of a creek, watercourse or natural waterway;
- any drain, drainage channel or drainage area;
- any environmentally sensitive area;
- any recycled water runoff area, channel or easement;
- any water, drainage or other infrastructure easement;
- any area roped off by greenkeeping staff for the purpose of protecting sensitive, damaged or regenerative areas of the course;
- or any other area specifically designated by the Committee or greenkeeping staff as an area in which golf carts are prohibited.
This prohibition applies whether an area is wet or dry and regardless of whether a player considers the area safe or suitable to drive through.
Players must use designated bridges, crossings, paths or other appropriate routes where provided and must not enter a protected area with a golf cart for the purpose of retrieving or playing a ball.
7.1 Greenkeeping Ropes and Protected Areas
Players must not remove, move, lower, disconnect or otherwise interfere with any rope, barrier or similar course-protection measure placed by greenkeeping staff to protect sensitive, damaged or regenerative areas of the course.
Players must not drive a golf cart over, under, around or through such a rope or barrier for the purpose of entering the protected area.
The fact that a player is able to physically access an area without moving a rope or barrier does not permit a golf cart to enter the protected area.
Where a greenkeeping rope or associated support interferes with a player's ball, stance or area of intended swing, the player may take free relief in accordance with the applicable Rules of Golf. The rope or barrier must not be removed or moved for the purpose of taking such relief.
The prohibition applies to a player who drives the cart or directs, instructs or knowingly permits another person to drive a cart being used by that player into or through a protected area.
Penalty for breach of this Code of Conduct: One penalty stroke.
8. Abnormal Course Conditions (including Obstructions and GUR)
Free relief within one (1) club length and not nearer to the hole may be taken in the following instances:
(i) All artificially surfaced roads and/or pathways
(ii) Staked trees and tree guards
(iii) Includes all areas bounded by white lines and/or white stakes (GUR)
(iv) All marked and unmarked irrigation and construction works
(v) All clearly defined wheel tracks
(vi) Relief must be taken from defined garden beds on Hole 1
(vii) Bare patches - a ball which comes to rest on a bare patch (area devoid of grass - a divot is not a bare patch) in the area cut to Fairway height or less
(viii) Bare patches on the green (including newly turfed areas) - a ball which comes to rest on the green and on a bare patch (area devoid of grass), or such area is on a player's intended line of putt. NOTE: The nearest point of relief may be off the green and in such case the ball shall be placed
(ix) Seams of cut turf and seams around the green. If a player's ball lies on a seam, or if a seam interferes with the player's area of intended swing the player MAY take relief. Interference does not exist for interference with the player's stance
(x) Solar stations are immovable obstructions. Line of sight relief may be taken
(xi) Gullies marked with red stakes/hazards are in play (Hole 1, 2, 16, 17, 18)
(xii) Hole 14 - when ball rests near rocks or drain outside of the bunker and natural swing is impeded.
9. Scorecards
Scorecards must be submitted within thirty (30) minutes of the completion of the round.
When you act as a Marker, you must also record your own score on the Player's card you are marking.
If there is a discrepancy between the numerical score on either the Player's card or the Marker's card, or the dotted (scanned) score, the larger number will apply.
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
The course is surrounded by houses and roads. If you hit a wayward ball, you may be responsible for any damage. Please take this into account when taking your shot and take reasonable care. If you do accidentally hit a house or car, you must advise the Pro Shop prior to your departure and provide contact details as requested.
GOLF CART USE - SOCIAL AND COMPETITION
The Club's golf cart rules and all restrictions relating to protected areas, penalty areas, greenkeeping ropes, designated cart exclusion areas and course protection apply to all players using a golf cart, including players participating in competition and social play.
All persons operating a golf cart at Brisbane River Golf Club, whether a Club hire cart or a privately owned cart, must comply with all cart signage, directions, course restrictions and instructions issued by Club staff and greenkeeping staff.
Golf carts must not be driven into or through any area identified as prohibited under the Club's Golf Cart and Protected Areas rules. Players must not remove, move, lower, disconnect or otherwise interfere with greenkeeping ropes, barriers or other measures installed to restrict cart access or protect the course.
These requirements apply at all times, regardless of whether the player is participating in a competition or playing socially.
Withdrawal of Golf Cart Privileges
Use of a golf cart on the Brisbane River Golf Club course is conditional upon compliance with the Club's golf cart rules.
A player who fails to comply with these rules, including during social play, may have their right to use a golf cart on the course suspended or withdrawn by Club Management.
For a Club hire cart, serious, deliberate or repeated breaches may result in the immediate withdrawal of the cart and/or suspension or withdrawal of the player's ability to hire a Brisbane River Golf Club golf cart for future rounds.
For a privately owned or personal golf cart, serious, deliberate or repeated breaches may result in the cart being prohibited from further use on the Brisbane River Golf Club course. Club Management may refuse permission for that cart to be brought onto or used on the course for future rounds.
Serious breaches include, but are not limited to, driving into or through protected or prohibited areas, driving into prohibited penalty areas, entering sensitive or regenerative areas, interfering with or removing greenkeeping ropes or barriers, or failing to comply with a reasonable direction from Club or greenkeeping staff.
The period of any suspension or prohibition will be determined by Club Management having regard to the nature and circumstances of the breach.
Withdrawal or suspension of golf cart privileges is a Club management measure and is separate from any penalty that may apply under the Rules of Golf or the Club's Code of Conduct during competition play.