One can be forgiven for being bad at golf, but not for having bad golf etiquette. Avoid these faux pas and unwritten rules of golf to make sure you get invited back for another round.
When it comes to golf, there are the official rules and then there’s etiquette, and both of them need to be adhered to if you want your day on the green to be a hole-in-one.
These unspoken rules extend from the course to the clubhouse, read on to find out some of the rules and etiquette at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.
Temporary Local Rules
Additional Out of Bounds
Due to the construction works taking place around the Course Maintenance Facility, in addition to current Out of Bounds area (marked by white posts with black tops), the area within the temporary fencing will be Out of Bounds with no entry permitted to the area.
What to do
If a ball is out of bounds or virtually certain to be out of bounds a player may take stroke and distance relief by adding one penalty stroke, as no entry is permitted into the area, the ball must be substituted.
Alternatively, under Model Local Rule E-5 for a two-stroke penalty, the player may take relief by dropping the substituted ball in the estimated relief point of where the original ball crossed the edge on the out of bounds area.
Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Scarified Fairways)
Fairways on the course have been scarified which may affect play.
When Relief Is Allowed
Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition (Scarified Fairway). Interference exists when any one of these is true:
- The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition,
If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.
Relief for Ball in Affected Area
- If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by placing the original ball in this relief area:
Reference Point: The nearest point of complete relief in the general area. - Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 15cm (6 inches), but with these limits:
- Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must be in the general area,
- Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
- There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.
Local Rules
Updated February 2024
Unless otherwise note, the penalty for a breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty (loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play).
1. OUT OF BOUNDS
- Beyond any fence and/or white posts with black tops bounding the golf course, and any white line marked OB on pathway surrounding the clubhouse
- Within any area enclosed by white posts with black tops surrounding the machinery shed and the nursery
2. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION (E.G. SPRINKLER HEADS) CLOSE TO PUTTING GREEN – LINE OF PLAY INTERFERENCE
Rule 16.1b applies to immovable obstructions close to putting greens. In addition to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, interference also exists with an immovable obstruction if all of the following is true:
- It is on the player’s line of play, AND
- It is within two club-lengths of the putting green, AND
- It is within two club-lengths of the ball.
(Exception – There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable).
3. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS, INCL. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS (RULE 16)
- Ground Under Repair
- Any area bounded by a continuous or dotted white line.
- Washaways in bunkers and at the margins of bunkers.
- Restrictions on Relief from Stance on Animal Hole. Rule 16.1 is modified in this way: Interference does not exist if the animal hole interferes with only the player’s stance.
- Dog prints and their scratching’s together, both in bunkers and in the general area, and interference restriction is as per in (vii) above.
- Immovable Obstructions
- The artificial surfaces and artificial edges or borders of roads and paths (includes gravel paths, wood- chipped paths, etc.).
- Distance Indicators – indicating 100m (yellow), 150m (white) and 200m (red) distances to the middle of greens must not be removed.
- No Play Zones – Staked Tees and / or Staked Shrubs / Turf Nursery
- Staked trees and staked shrubs (including the stake and any wrappings) together with the garden beds on the 10th and 12th holes are no play zones. If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing or lies within the two garden beds noted, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
- No Play Zone – Turf Nursery @ 6th Hole
The nursery located to the right of the 6th fairway is a no play zone and is identified by white stakes and the margins defined by a white line. A ball is in a no play zone when it is at rest within the margin or any part of it touches the line defining the margin. The stakes identifying the no play zone are movable obstructions that may be moved at any time. When a player’s ball is in the no play zone, the player must take free relief under rule 16.1b with the extra relief option of using the nearest dropping zone on the fairway side of the nursery under Rule 14.3
Flags on Greens: Yellow – Front / Middle, Red – Back / Middle
Dress Code
As per the Club By-Laws, members and guests must maintain a high standard of dress at all times. Attire should be commensurate with that expected of a prestigious private golf club. The General Manager maintains the flexibility to alter these rules for special occasions.
Members inviting Guests to the Club are responsible to ensure that their Guests are informed and adhere to these regulations. Other Guests and those participating in Corporate events will be advised of the dress requirements by the General Manager or the staff and are expected to comply. Anyone not properly attired will be asked to change or will not be permitted to remain on the course or in the Clubhouse.
Course and Practice Areas
Players are expected to be suitably dressed.
Men: A collared or turtleneck shirt, tucked inside tailored slacks or shorts that are worn with a belt. Tailored shorts, worn not below the knee, may not have external pockets and must be worn with visible predominately white socks. Long walk socks are allowed, however any socks with excessive logos or colours are NOT permitted.
Women: Acceptable clothing is a skirt worn at a fair length, tailored shorts, mid-calf pants or tailored pants/ trousers. Shirts must have a collar or be turtle, crew or roll necked. Fitted shirts (mid-hip) may be worn outside of shorts, trousers/pants or skirts.
All players must wear non-metal spike, or ripple/moulded sole golf shoes. Hats, caps or visors may be worn: cap peak to the front.
Clubhouse
In accordance with our traditions as a Royal Club, members are encouraged to shower and change before attending post golf events and presentations.
Smart casual attire, consisting of a collared shirt, either long sleeved, short sleeved or polo shirt and tailored long trousers worn with a belt, is always preferred.
Smart denim trousers are permitted (not work jeans, ripped or worn jeans). Collared smart casual shirts can be worn tucked in or out if designed to do so.
Women are to wear smart casual attire.
Golf attire is permitted in the clubhouse prior to and following golf. No hats or caps are to be worn in the Clubhouse.
Code of Conduct
At Royal Fremantle Golf Club, the Board of Directors and Club Management take Member and Guest behaviour seriously. The Member Code of Conduct has been developed to establish clear and acceptable expectations for Members, their Guests and all employees of the Club. The Code is not designed to restrict the rights of anyone but rather to ensure that all Club Members, Guests and employees can expect to be treated with dignity and respect while playing, working, socialising or volunteering at the Club.