Timberpoint Men's Club Rules


Timber Point Local Club Rules

Each player is responsible for knowing the rules. Please note that local rules are subject to change.

Penalty Area – Lateral Hazard Rule – Any red staked area is a “penalty area”. If taking a drop, drop the ball from the knee two club lengths from where it last crossed the penalty line no closer to the hole.

Important: Red stake areas should be 24 inches from the hazard line. Since the club cannot go out and draw a red or yellow line around all penalty areas, it is the golfers’ responsibility to make the determination keeping in mind that the line is 24 inches from the edge. Stakes are not used to enforce the penalty area. If you’re unsure or have to ask, play it as in the penalty area.

Out of Bounds (OB) or Lost Ball “Stroke and Distance” – Ball out of bounds is a “stroke and distance penalty”. For example, if hitting from the tee OB, your next shot will be your third stroke.

Local Rule Out of Bounds (OB) or Lost Ball: Take a drop where it crossed OB drop in Fairway no closer to the hole if no fairway “Nearest Point of Relief” and take a 2 stroke penalty. 

Club Rules: 

  1. Footprint or tire track in the sand trap, smooth and place
  2. Remove rocks from a trap
  3. Racks are allowed in a sand trap without disturbing lie or testing sand. This is to speed play. Rake all traps after shot(s)
  4. The speed of play is important. 4 – 4 1/2 hour rounds are reasonable during tournament play. Rules committee can determine a penalty for slow play during the round. Shaming is common or you may have to go have a hamburger from Mike
  5. The local provisional rule allows for a second ball to be played and stroke and distance rule applies for a provisional shot. 
  6. Lost Ball or OB – “Stroke and Distance: or “Local OB Rule” 

Hole #1 

  1. Ball landing in the lake on left or right, they are “penalty areas” lateral hazards. Lateral hazard rule applies. One stroke penalty.
  2. Ball hitting telephone pole or wires on a fly is a required do-over.
  3. Reeds on left thru #10 green is a “penalty area” lateral hazard

Hole #2

  1. Ball hitting net or supporting structure of net is a required do-over. No relief from the net if it obstructs your swing
  2. Ball landing in water in front of tee or side of green is a yellow hazard. Stoke and distance or drop on ladies tee area.
  3. Ball landing past the back edge of green in the water or reeds is a “penalty area” lateral hazard. One shot penalty.
  4. If the fence around water is affecting swing path, free drop nearest point of relief – no nearer hole

Hole #3

  1. Reeds on left side or in back of green are”penalty areas”  lateral hazards. “penalty areas” rule applies. One shot penalty

Hole # 4

  1. Water and reeds left and right of hole are “penalty areas” lateral hazards. Lateral hazard rule applies. One shot penalty.
  2. Dirt road on the right, Cart path rule, “nearest point of relief” no penalty
  3. Dirt on the right side of fairway bunker in play. Play it down.
  4. Bare areas on the left side outside of “penalty areas” from 1st sand trap to 150 marker is free drop to closest grass relief, not necessarily fairway grass

Hole # 5

  1. Water on left is OB. Ball over green white stakes OB. 
  2. Drainage ditch in front of tee is a “penalty areas”. Lateral hazard rules apply.
  3. Ball resting in rocks left touching water is in play. Either play as is, take an unplayable (two club lengths from the location of ball) with a one stroke penalty or hit from the previous spot.

Hole #6

  1. Ball in reeds or drainage ditch on right is in a “penalty areas” – lateral hazard.
  2. Wire holding stones and waters edge is OB. If up against black plastic retainer the ball is OB. Sandy area is in play regardless of stake location.
  3. Bay on left is OB
  4. Waste bunker runs along left side , smooth and place if in tire track or footprint . You are permitted to remove rocks.
  5. Sandy area on left of green is a free drop. Drop area usually marked with 2 blue stakes one located in the front and one in the back. Go to the nearest stake for the drop.

Hole # 7

  1. Reeds and lake on right are “penalty areas” – lateral hazard. A protected area, so searching is restricted. please avoid any damage to the area.
  2. Over green in reeds is a “penalty areas”- lateral hazard.
  3. Ball over fence in back of green is way too much club. OB “Out of Bounds”.
  4. Bay on the left is OB.
  5. Wire holding stones and waters edge is OB. If up against black plastic retainer the ball is OB. Sandy area is in play and should be played as a waste bunker.

Hole #8

  1. Ball in water in front of tee – play as a frontal hazard and you should retee. If ball crosses land before going water, you drop where it crosses the hazard –  “penalty area” 

Hole # 9

  1. Ball in lakes are “penalty areas” – lateral hazards
  2. Ball in bushes around patio – play it down where it lies or take unplayable with a one-stroke penalty. 



Hole #1 

  1. Always Tee from Blue Tee Area. The driving range is OB, “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 
  2. No relief from fence or supporting wires. Hit from the ball location or take unplayable, dropping within two club lengths no closer to the hole.
  3. Ball of Fence Back of Green – Ball over the fence or lost over the road in back of the green is deemed OB. “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 
  4. Ball found over the road is deemed in play.

Hole #2

  1. Ball over the fence is Out-of-Bounds (OB). “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 
  2. Driving range is Out-of-Bounds (OB). “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 

Hole # 3

  1. Ball over the fence on left is OB “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 
  2. No relief from the fence or supporting wires. Ball to close to the fence to hit, play as unplayable and take one stroke penalty, dropping two club lengths no closer to the hole. You always have the option of stroke and distance.
  3. “Penalty Area” on the right side off the tee in the Reeds/High grass.
  4. Sand trap area on right in the high grass is in play. If not found, it’s a lost ball. “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 

Hole #4

  1. Ball over fence on left is OB, “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 
  2. No relief from fence or supporting wires. Ball to close to fence to hit, play as unplayable and take one stroke penalty, dropping two club lengths no closer to the hole.
  3. Sand trap area on right in the high grass is in play. If not found, it’s a lost ball.
  4. High grass on right is in play. If not found, it’s a lost ball. Stroke and distance or Local OB Rule applies.

Hole #5

  1. Ball over the road in the back of green is “Safety OB”. Drop inside of road with a one-stroke penalty.
  2. Ball resting on the road is in play; free drop inside of road no closer to the hole.

Hole #6

  1. White stakes on left near house or over fence is OB “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” . Netting on left free drop, two club lengths no closer to hole. One shot penalty. If no stakes, the fence is OB and everything else is in play.

Hole # 7

  1. Sump (malaria pit) in front of the tee is a “penalty area”. Options:
    1. play the ball in the hazard
    2. stroke and distance
    3. penalty area relief – one stroke penalty
  2. If your ball is in the woods on the right side of the hole you must play it as it lies or rehit from the previous spot, with a one shot penalty. Lost ball is played from previous spot or nearest point with 2 stroke penalty. This is not a lateral hazard.
  3. Woods left side of hole, tee to green, is a “penalty area” lateral hazard.

Hole # 8- 

  1. Ball hit from tee over lake that lands on Hole # 7 on right is OB. “Stroke and Distance: or “New OB Local Rule” 
  2. Ball hit in water is a penalty area and needs to be dropped where it crossed the hazard, not where it lands in the water.
  3. Ball in the parking lot, no penalty, drop at nearest relief, one club length from point of entry.
  4. If your ball is in the woods on the right side past the water, you must play it as it lies or it’s a lost ball played from previous spot or 2 club lengths with 2 stroke penalty. This is not a lateral hazard.

Hole # 9

  1. Ball over the road in back of green is “Saftey OB”. One stroke penalty.
  2. Ball resting on road is in play; no penalty – drop on green side of hole no closer to the hole.
  3. Tennis court, remove ball at the point of entry two club lengths. No penalty.
  4. Ball in the parking lot, no penalty, drop at nearest relief, one club length from point of entry.