Competitions Reminder
All competitions in 2022 will be played in fourballs, due to the maximum number of tee
times available to GCdT. Maximum number of entrants will be 60 players.
Competitions & Handicaps 2022
Please note GCdT competition handicap limits are 28 (men) and 36 (women) this does not exclude higher handicap golfers taking part in club competitions, but the handicaps will be reduced to the competition limit.
Local Rules
Official Rules of Golf, R &A, USGA, as adopted by Portuguese Golf Federation Apply (Available free on iPhone, iPad and Android) except as modified by local rules, below,
Out of bounds – A “ball is out of bounds” when it is beyond any white fence marked OB, wall or boundary stake defining the boundary of the specific hole being played or the course. (E.G. on the 10th the area to the left and also the right are both out of bounds). See Rule 18.
Penalty areas are defined as either red or yellow.
The player may either:
- Play the ball as it lies without penalty, there are no specific rules defining how a ball may be played from a penalty area (see below re Loose Impediments) or Play a ball from outside the penalty area by taking penalty relief under Rule 17.1d or 17.2. The player has these relief options, each for one penalty stroke.
- In a red or a yellow penalty area (1) The player may take stroke-and-distance or (2) The player may take back-on-the-line relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in a relief area based on a reference line going straight back from the hole. (3) In addition in a red penalty area only, the player may take lateral relief; the reference point for taking lateral relief is the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the red penalty area. The relief area is two club-lengths from the reference point, not nearer the hole than the reference point , in any area of the course, except the same penalty area.
Abnormal Course Conditions – An animal hole, ground under repair, an immovable obstruction, or temporary water. – Rule 16 free relief is allowed except in a penalty area in accordance with Rule 16.1.b and Rule 14
- Immoveable obstructions:- Concrete buggy paths and unmade paths and tracks defined by wooden posts, the concrete drainage channel on hole 14, irrigation satellite boxes, sprinklers and valve boxes, the irrigation pump house (hole 4 & 5), all concrete posts and monuments, drainage grills and manhole covers, stone tee markers, ball washers, waste bins and grass collection bins. The fences marked OB, on holes 13 and 14.* (see below) Young staked trees or those protected by plastic surround.
White Boundary Stakes are not immoveable obstructions, (see Rule 8.1.a).
- Moveable obstructions: – An obstructionthat can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course. (Rule 15.2) You may remove a movable obstruction without penalty anywhere on or off the course and may do so in any way. If your ball moves while you are removing a movable obstruction, there is no penalty and your ball must be replaced on its original spot (or estimated spot). When Your Ball Is in or on Movable Obstruction Anywhere on Course Except on Putting Green, (see Rule13.1) You may take free relief by lifting your ball, removing the movable obstruction and dropping your original ball or another ball in accordance with Rule 14.3.
- Overhead Power cables – A ball deflected by overhead power cables must be replayed without penalty
Removal of Loose Impediment:- without penalty anywhere you may use your hand or foot or a club or equipment. If in moving a loose impediment your ball moves, it must be replaced on its original or estimated spot and you get one penalty stroke except on the putting green or in the teeing area. Sand & loose soil is not “loose impediments” except on the putting green,
Ground under repair, as identified by Blue Stakes, is always a no play zone. The un-grassed, reservoir area around any newly planted olive trees is GUR, until the tree and grasses are visibly established.
Distance markers, in metres, are measured to the centre of the green
