Kuala Lumpur Loose Cannons (KLCC) - Rules

For reference here is the latest updated list of rules to be used for all Loose Cannons games :

Kuala Lumpur Loose Cannons (KLLC)

Rules

1. KLLC play strictly to the Rules of Golf as published by the R&A and the USGA except as allowed by KLLC Local Rules published below.

Handicap

1. Each new player to join KLLC will play his FIRST game off his official USGA Handicap or his DECLARED Handicap. The Convenor may, at his discretion, assign a handicap.

2. New players will have to play 5 games to qualify for a KLLC handicap. New players cannot ‘win’ until they have completed the 5 mandatory games.

3. The WINNER each week will have his h/c cut by 4 strokes. Should he win his next KLLC game his h/c will be cut 8 strokes.

4. All other players that week will have 1 stroke added to their h/c up to a maximum of 3 strokes above their current USGA h/c as published by the KLLC official Handicap Monitor.

5. Handicaps are calculated according to the USGA Handicapping Formula. {(Adjusted gross score – USGA Course Rating) x 113 / USGA Slope Rating} will be used with a cap of 36.

6. Handicaps will be maintained using USGA approved software held and operated by the Handicap Monitor. Adjusted handicaps will be published each week.

Competition

1. Each week’s competition will be played on a Tuesday morning with a 08:00 starting time. Play will normally be from the WHITE TEES and scored to the Stableford System. Each player is responsible for returning his correct (adjusted) GROSS score to the appointed scorer. The scorer is responsible for returning a legible and correct card recording each players Gross and Stableford Points.

2. The game on the last Tuesday of each month will be played for a Trophy. This will be referred to as the Trophy Game.

3. Flights will be randomly selected or assigned by the Convenor except for the Trophy Game when flights will be by ascending Handicap Order.

Fee, Pot & Kitty

1. Each player will pay the Fee consisting of the cost of the days golf (varies from club to club) plus RM30 for the Pot.
2. The WINNER will receive RM50 from the Pot.

3. RM5 will be transferred to the Kitty to cover administrative costs and the cost of the monthly Trophy. 

4. The balance of the Pot will go towards the Lunch.

5. At the end of the year the Kitty  Balance (less a min. of RM100) will be used to partly offset the cost of the Christmas Lunch.

KLLC Local Rules

1. BUNKERS. A ball lying in a footprint of other depression left by a preceding flight may be lifted and dropped within the Bunker, at the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole, without penalty. The player must notify his playing partners of his intent to implement this local rule BEFORE lifting his ball.

2. PLUGGED BALL in FAIRWAY. A ball which, in the opinion of the flight, cannot be found because it is judged to be PLUGGED in the FAIRWAY, can be replaced at the point at which the flight judges the ball to have struck the FAIRWAY, without penalty.

3. PREFERRED LIE. A ball coming to rest on a closely mown area through the green may be marked, lifted, cleaned and placed within one card length of the mark, on a closely mown area, not nearer the hole. Take Note that a player can only replace his ball ONCE. As soon as the ball is released and comes to rest it is then IN PLAY. Rule 20-4.

The USGA and R&A show some heart with changes to the Rules of Golf

The USGA and R&A have revised some golf rules commencing 1st January 2016 .... the key ones being :

1. Ban on the anchored putting stroke
2. Withdrawl of Rule on Ball Moving After Address (Rule 18-2b)
3. Limited Exception to Disqualification Penalty for Submission of Incorrect Score Card (Rule 6-6d)
4. Modification of Penalty for Single Impermissible use of Artificial Devices or Equipment (Rule 14-3)

Full details can be read here.

Rules of Golf - Loose Impediments

Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions (Rules 23-1 and 24-1)

It seems that many golfers are confused as to whether objects on the course are loose impediments or movable obstructions. This is an important distinction to make, as there are a number of relevant Rules where players could incur penalties if they get it wrong.

In fact, in most cases, the distinction should be easy enough. Loose Impediments are natural objects and movable obstructions are anything artificial that can be moved without unreasonable effort. Here is a sample list of some of the items that may be encountered on the golf course during a round;

Loose Impediments (natural)	Movable Obstruction (artificial)
stones	bunker rakes
leaves	other players’ golf clubs
branches and twigs	stakes (except out of bounds)
pine cones	signage and ropes
dung and droppings	bottles and cans
insects	score cards
worms and their casts	pens and pencils
spiders and their webs	paper, tissues
half-eaten fruit	plastic bags
fruit skins	packets and boxes
ant hills	toys
dead birds and animals	match sticks or cigarettes
aeration plugs	abandoned balls
clods of earth	loose stones from a wall
gravel	wood manufactured into planks
crushed shells	cables
wood chips	doors or windows

Be aware, that under the Rules sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere; snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player; and dew and frost are not loose impediments. 

Some loose impediments may be transformed into obstructions through processes of construction or manufacturing. For example, a log (loose impediment) that has been split and has legs attached has been changed by construction into a bench (obstruction), or a piece of wood (loose impediment) becomes an obstruction when manufactured into a charcoal briquette. Also, there may be loose impediments that when placed together make up an obstruction. An example of this would be a manufactured path (immovable obstruction) made of wood chips. If a player’s ball lies on such a path and he chooses not to take relief then he may move any of the wood chips before making his stroke, providing that he does not move his ball in doing so, 

Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in, or touch, the same bunker or water hazard, any loose impediment may be moved. But if the player causes their ball to move while removing the loose impediment, they are penalised one stroke and the ball must be replaced, unless the ball is on the putting green when there is no penalty. 

Movable obstructions can be removed anywhere on the course, including when the ball lies in a hazard, and there is no penalty if the ball moves during the removal, but again it must be replaced where it was before it was moved. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must then be dropped, or on the putting green placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, not nearer the hole. 

As already mentioned, if a player’s ball lies in a bunker they are not permitted to remove any loose impediment from that bunker. (The above photo illustrates this well - my ball was lying on a leaf in the bunker and had to be played as it lay.) However, very often there will be a Local Rule that says, “Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions”, because it is considered that the stones could represent a danger to players if they are hit during a stroke. This is a good illustration of why it is so important to read the Local Rules before commencing a round on an unfamiliar course. Whilst on the subject of bunkers, if a player cannot find their ball in a bunker because it is covered by sand, leaves or other loose impediments, they are permitted to probe or rake with a club or otherwise, as many loose impediments, or as much sand, as will enable them to see a part of their ball. When making a stroke out of a bunker, or water hazard, the player may not touch any loose impediment in that hazard before making their stroke, which commences with the downswing. So, for example, if a player brushes leaves in a bunker during their practice stroke or backswing they incur a penalty of two strokes in stroke play, or loss of hole in match play. 

Rules of Golf - Ball Unplayable

Continuing our series of golf rules here is a brief description of Ball Unplayable - prepared by our "Rules Man" Allan McNicoll

Ball Unplayable (Rule 28)

If your ball is in a water hazard and you do not wish to play it as it lies, you must proceed under the water hazard Rule - the unplayable ball Rule does not apply. Elsewhere on the course, if you believe your ball is unplayable, you may under penalty of one stroke:

• play a ball from where your last shot was played, or
• drop a ball any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is dropped, or
• drop a ball within two club-lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole.

If your ball is in a bunker you may proceed as above, except that if you are dropping back on a line or within two club-lengths, you must drop a ball in the bunker.

Spirit of The Game - Honesty, Integrity & Courtesy

Spirit of The Game

With some recent issues raised within the group it is perhaps a timely reminder for everyone to consider some of the fundamental philosophies of the game of golf as detailed by the R&A. 

Honesty, integrity, courtesy: three words that have come to represent the spirit in which the game of golf is played.

Part of that spirit sits beneath the term, ‘etiquette’ and part of it relates to the Rules of Golf. But the Spirit of the Game goes much deeper than just those two tangible terms.

It is something that every golfer should develop an innate sense of, something that is born of golf’s unparalleled history, and something which lifts golf, one could argue, above other sports.

Whether it’s through divot and pitch-mark repair, or simply through silence on the tee, the spirit of the game dictates that players make sure they give others on the course, often opponents, a fair chance to play the best shot they can.

For most of us, the game of golf is self-regulating. There is seldom a referee present so we are reliant upon our own honest adherence to the Rules in order to enjoy the game. As a result we are all occasionally forced to call a penalty on ourselves for infringements which, often, will go unnoticed by everyone else.

It is this dependency upon honesty and courtesy that has elevated ‘integrity’ to sacrosanct status. Without them, we may as well hang up our clubs.

Everyone, no matter how well they think they know the rules, makes numerical mistakes or rules infringements in the game of golf and it is up to each individual to question any situation or indeed confer with their playing partners should there be a questionable situation. Additionally if a player has been seen to make an infringement then this should be raised by the playing partners at that time. If a resolution cannot be reached then the infringement or question should subsequently be raised to the rest of the Loose Cannons group for a ruling.

For more information on practical aspects of on-course behaviour, visit the R&A Etiquette section by clicking here.

Rules of Golf - Immovable Obstructions and Abnormal Ground Conditions

An immovable obstruction is an artificial object on the course that cannot be moved (e.g. a building) or cannot readily be moved (e.g. a firmly embedded direction post). Objects defining out of bounds are not treated as obstructions.

An abnormal ground condition is casual water, ground under repair or a hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.

Except when the ball is in a water hazard, relief without penalty is available from immovable obstructions and abnormal ground conditions when the condition physically interferes with the lie of the ball, your stance or your swing. You may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, but not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief (see diagram below). If the ball is on the putting green, it is placed at the nearest point of relief, which may be off the putting green.

There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless both your ball and the condition are on the putting green.

As an additional option when the ball is in a bunker, you may take relief from the condition by dropping the ball outside and behind the bunker under penalty of one stroke.

The following diagram illustrates the term “nearest point of relief” in Rules 24-2 and 25-1 in the case of a right-handed player.

Rules of Golf - Ball Lost or Out of Bounds

BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS Provisional Ball Rule 27 ( From R&A quick guide to the rules)

If your ball is lost (outside a water hazard) or is out of bounds you must play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played, under penalty of one stroke, i.e. stroke and distance.

You are allowed 5 minutes to search for a ball. If it is not found within 5 minutes, it is lost.

If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost (outside a water hazard) or out of bounds you should play a provisional ball. You must state that it is a provisional ball and play it before you go forward to search for the original ball.

If the original ball is lost (other than in a water hazard) or is out of bounds, you must continue with the provisional ball, under penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is found in bounds, you must continue play of the hole with it, and must stop playing the provisional ball. 

NOTE

A player does not have to search for their ball if it is not visible and they choose not to play it. However, if someone finds a ball that is believed to be the player’s original ball before they have played their provisional ball from a point nearer to the hole than where it is thought that the original ball may be, then the player must identify it and if it is their original ball must continue play with it. In stroke play, it is considered good etiquette for a fellow competitor NOT to search for a ball that the player wishes to abandon, but in match play an opponent may choose to search for it if they consider that it is to their advantage to find it."

Rules of Golf - Hazards & The Difference Between Yellow Stakes and Red Stakes

This new section, prepared by our unofficial "Rules Secretary" Mr Allan McNicoll, highlights some specific rules of golf with some simple explanations to those new to the game or to those that have perhaps forgotten.

This week we will focus on hazards and the difference between red and yellow stakes ….

Hazards Marked with Yellow Stakes

If you do choose to take relief, the first option that you have is to play your next shot from as close as possible to the point from which you hit your original shot. So, if you were in the middle of the fairway at 150 yards and you hit it in the drink, you can go back to that spot and try to hit the shot again, plus a one-stroke penalty. Thus, if you hit your second shot in the water, you would be hitting your fourth shot from that same spot. This is the less commonly selected choice of the two because it is essentially a stroke and distance penalty The second option for relief from a yellow hazard is usually your best option, but is also the most misunderstood choice as well. The other way to take relief from a yellow hazard is to mark the point that the ball crossed the hazard and then draw a line between that point and the flag. You may drop your ball at any point on that line. Essentially, you can go back, keeping the point where your ball crossed the hazard in line with the pin, as far as you choose to go. Please note that you cannot go back on the line of flight that your ball took as it flew into the hazard! That is the most common mistake in this type of relief situation. How your ball got there doesn’t matter. What matters is the point where it crossed the hazard. Those are the two different forms of relief that you may take for a water hazard or any other hazard marked by a yellow stake. 

Hazards Marked with Red Stakes

 Red stakes are used to mark lateral hazards. Because these hazards run parallel to the hole, it is often times impractical to take relief by going behind the hazard as described in the second option of the yellow stakes. So, the rules of golf allow for an additional option for relief if your ball is in a red hazard. That third option is to take relief within two club lengths of where the ball crossed the hazard, no nearer to the pin. This may be down from either side of the red hazard. Just because your ball crossed the hazard on the right side doesn’t mean that you can’t take relief, within two club lengths and equidistant from the hole, on the left side of the same hazard. That third option is the only difference between a hazard marked by red stakes and a hazard marked by yellow stakes.

Loose Cannon Rules

Just as a reminder for everyone here are the latest Loose Cannons Rules as updated on 6th February 2011.

RULES

Handicap

1. Each new player to join the Loose Cannons plays his FIRST round off his CLUB H/Cap or DECLARED H/Cap.

2. The WINNER each week will have his h/c CUT by a minimum of 4 strokes or the number of strokes his Stableford points exceeds his h/c in use on that day, whichever is higher. Should he win again the following week his h/c will be further cut by 8 strokes.

3. The RUNNER UP each week will have his h/c cut by 1 stroke. 

4. The REST will have 1 stroke added to their h/c to a ceiling of 3 strokes above their current USGA handicap as calculated by Loose Cannons USGA software.

5. FIRST TIME OUT WINNERS will have their h/c adjusted in accordance with the USGA handicapping formula using his winning card and then have his re-calculated h/c cut by 4 strokes. Thereafter Rules 2,3 & 4 will be applied.

6. USGA Handicapping Formula ((Adjusted Gross Score - USGA Course Rating) x 113 / USGA Slope Rating) will be used with a cap at 28. 

7. Handicaps will be calculated using the Loose Cannons "Handicap Manager" software and published at the end of each month.

Competition

1. Each weeks competition will be played from the WHITE tees and scored to the Stableford system using the players adjusted handicap.

2. The game on the last Tuesday of each month will be played for a Trophy in addition to the Pot. This will be referred to as the Trophy Game. One Bonus Point will be awarded to each player for games played during the month. The Bonus Points will be added to the Trophy Game points to decide the winner.

3. Flights will be randomly selected or assigned by the convener.

Fees & Pot

1. Each player will pay the cost for the days golf (varies from club to club) plus c RM30 for the  "POT". This will be referred to as the "FEE".

2. The Winner will receive RM50 from the POT. The remainder of the "POT" will go towards the 19th Hole refreshments.

3. A deduction of RM5 per player will be made to cover administrative costs and the cost of the monthly "Trophy".

19th Hole Refreshment

1. The "POT" will be used to provide each player with a "light meal" and "beverage" to the cost equivalent of 2 mugs of beer (or one large bottle if eating outside the club). 

2. Beverage consumed above this cost equivalent will be to the individuals own account.

Local Rules

1. BUNKERS. Ball lying in a footprint or other depression left by a preceding flight can be lifted and placed within the Bunker at the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole without penalty.

2. OUT OF BOUNDS. Out of Bounds as defined by White Stakes will be treated as Lateral Water Hazards. Rule 26 applies.

3. LOST BALL. If you are unable to find your ball you may drop a ball at the nearest point of relief from the area adjudged by other members of your flight to be the place where most likely the ball is lost, not nearer the hole, at a penalty of 2 strokes. Alternatively Rule 27 applies.

4. PLUGGED BALL. A ball which, in the opinion of the members of the flight, cannot be found by being PLUGGED in the FAIRWAY can be replaced at the point where it is judged by the flight to have struck the fairway, without penalty.

5. BUGGY TRACK DRAINS. A ball lying in a buggy track drain ( drain that is immediately adjacent to and/or parallel with a buggy track) can be lifted and dropped at the point of entry and on the side of entry, within 2 club lengths, not nearer the hole without penalty.

6. A ball lying in a DIVOT on the FAIRWAY may be lifted and placed at the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole without penalty.