In the event of a dispute arising as to the meaning of any Rule of Golf or TLPGA Tour Local Rule, the Rule will be interpreted according to the 2023 English Edition of the Rules of Golf or TLPGA Tour Local Rules Hard Card.
The following Local Rules and terms of the competition apply to all TLPGA Tour events. For the full text of any local rule referenced below, please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective from January 2023 as published by R&A Rules Limited.
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty.
Match Play – Loss of Hole
Stroke Play – Two strokes.
TLPGA TOUR LOCAL RULES
The following Local Rules, together with any additions published by the TLPGA Tour at each event, will apply until further notice to all tournaments under the auspices of the TLPGA Tour: 1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2).
(a) A ball is out of bounds when it is beyond any wall defining a boundary.
(b) A ball that is played from one side of a public road which is defined as Out of Bounds and comes to rest on the other side of that road is Out of Bounds, even if the ball comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes.
2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17).
(a) Opposite side equal distance relief for Red Penalty Areas.
The weekly local rules sheet will specify which (if any) red penalty areas have an equal distance option on the opposite side. Model local rule B-2.1 will apply only to the penalty areas that are listed.
(b) Opposite Side Relief Where Ball last Crossed Edge of Penalty Area Where the Edge and the Boundary of Course Coincide.
Model Local Rule B-2.2 is in effect. It amends the second paragraph of B-2.1. when a player’s ball is found in or it is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in any red penalty area where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area at a point that coincides with the boundary of the course.
(c) Dropping Zones for Penalty Areas.
Where a dropping zone is marked for a Penalty Area, it is an additional option under penalty of one stroke. The dropping zone is a relief area under rule 14.3, meaning a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.
3. Embedded Ball (Rule 16.3).
Model Local Rule F-2.2 is in effect and Rule 16.3 is modified in this way:
“No relief is allowed for a ball embedded in the stacked turf faces above a bunker”.
4. Abnormal Course Conditions (Rule 16.1). a. Ground Under Repair.
(1) Seams of Cut Turf:
Model Local Rule F-7 is in effect.
(2) Restriction on Relief from Stance in Animal Hole:
Rule 16.1a is modified in this way:
“Interference does not exist if the Animal hole interferes with only the player’s stance”.
(3) Yardage Spots or Lines:
Painted lines or dots in a part of the General Area cut to fairway height or less are to be treated as ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1c.
But, interference does not exist if painted lines or dots interfere with only the player’s stance.
b. Immovable Obstructions.
(1) White lined areas and the immovable obstruction they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
(2) Landscaped garden areas and everything growing in them that are completely surrounded by an immovable obstruction are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
(3) Mats that are secured and all ramps covering cables.
(4) Roads or paths surfaced with woodchip or the like, but individual pieces are loose impediments.
(5) Non-permanent bridges erected for players or spectators unless otherwise defined on the additional local rules sheet.
(6) Drainage channels adjacent and parallel to cart paths would be treated as part of the cart paths and all together as one obstruction.
NOTE: Any material (rock, brick, rail tie and the like ) build up aside cart paths or drainage channels for maintenance purpose are part of the cart paths. c. Temporary Water Squeegee Policy for Temporary Water removal.
If a player’s ball lies on the putting green and there is interference by temporary
water on the putting green, the player may take relief under Rule 16.1d or have
his line of play squeegeed.
The Committee may squeegee greens until players are nearby and if conditions
deteriorate, to keep play going, they may authorize a combination of all the above
measures.
5. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens.
Model Local Rule F-5 is in effect but is modified as follows:
Relief is only allowed when both the ball and the immovable obstruction lie in an area cut to fairway height or less.
6. Integral Objects.
(a) Bunker liners in their intended position.
(b) Wires, cables, wrapping or other objects when closely attached to trees or other permanent objects.
(c) Artificial retaining walls and pilings when adjacent to bunkers or located within Penalty Areas.
(d) Floating sponsor displays/signs when in penalty areas (no line of sight relief allowed). Wires or cables anchoring them are temporary cables (obstruction).
7. Permanent Elevated Power Cables.
Model Local Rule E-11 is in effect. (Stroke is cancelled and must be replayed.)
8. Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIO).
Model Local Rules F-22 regarding Temporary Power Lines and Cables and F-23 regarding TIO are in effect. Temporary Immovable Obstructions – Definitions
Examples include but are not limited to： Clocks, advertising boards fixed to other temporary immovable obstructions or advertising boards and hole number distance indicators that are situated around teeing areas. Movable Obstructions – Definitions
Examples include but are not limited to：Free-standing advertising boards situated away from teeing areas, drinks dispensers, all cameras and their tripods, TV microphones, free standing radio scoring masts and crossing point indicators
(a) Dropping Zone Policy. In the General Area, when a player’s ball lies in or on a TIO or so close to the TIO that it interferes with the stance or area of intended swing and relief is required, the player may proceed under any of the options allowed under the TIO local rule or Rule 16.1 or, if dropping zones have been marked, as an additional option, the player may drop the original ball or another ball, without penalty, in the nearest dropping zone, even if the nearest dropping zone is nearer the hole. The dropping zone is a relief area and a ball must come to rest in and be played from the relief area. (b)Either Side Relief. All TIOs have an either side relief option, but the option is restricted to line of sight relief only and is not available when the player chooses to proceed under Rule 16.1. (c)Connected with Painted Line. When two or more TIOs connected with painted line will be treated as one TIO.
9. Clubs and Balls. (a) List of Conforming Driver Heads. Model Local Rule G-1 is in effect.
Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of this local rule: Disqualification. (b) Groove and Punch Mark Specifications. Model Local Rule G-2 is in effect.
Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of this local rule: Disqualification. (c) Conforming Balls List. Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect.
Penalty for breach of this local rule: Disqualification. (d) The One Ball Rule. Model Local Rule G-4 is in effect. (Exception: This local rule does not apply to Professional or Amateur players in any Pro-Am event.)
Penalty for making a stroke at a ball in breach of this local rule: One Stroke Penalty for each hole during which the player is in breach. (e)Club Replacement. Model Local Rule G-9 for replacement of a club that is
Broken or significantly damaged, which does not include a club that is cracked, is in effect.
10. Pace of Play Policy. Rule 5.6b(3) Out of Position– Definitions
The first group and any group after a starter’s gap will be “Out of Position” if, at any time during the round, the group’s cumulative time exceeds the time allowed for the number of holes completed. Any following group will be “Out of Position” as well if it is more than the starting interval behind the group in front and has exceeded the time allowed for the number of holes completed.
(a) In the absence of mitigating circumstances, a group is liable to be timed if it is Out of Position. From the commencement of timing, if any player exceeds 50 seconds on a ‘first to play approach shot (including Par 3 tee shot), chip or putt’, or 40 seconds if it is a tee shot or ‘second or third to play shot’, she is deemed to have had a ‘bad time’.
(b) The time allowed will be determined by the Committee, and will be published on the official notice board. Timings will be taken from the moment it is deemed by the Referee that it is the player’s turn to play.
(c) A player whose group is timed will have the bad time counting carried forward in the round even if the group subsequently back in position or within time.
(d) Monitoring may happen before Timing but it does not have to.
Penalty for Breach of Pace of Play Policy: Stroke Play and Match Play:
1st bad time - Verbal warning from Referee.
2nd bad times - 1 stroke penalty and NT$5000 fine.
3rd bad times - 2 strokes penalty or loss of hole in Match Play and NT$10,000 fine.
4th bad times - Disqualification and NT$20,000 fine.
Notes:
(1) Players will be advised that they are being timed. (2) A bad time record will stand throughout the whole tournament until the competition is closed.
(3) In some circumstances, an individual player or two players within a group of three, may be timed rather than the entire group.
(4) Random Timing: In some circumstances, a group or an individual player may be timed, including when a group is not out of position. She or they will have a bad time if exceeds 60 seconds to play a shot.
11. Play Suspensions (Rule 5.7).
A suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signalled by
1 prolonged note of the siren.
All other suspensions will be signalled by
3 consecutive short notes of the siren.
In either case, resumption of play will be signalled by
2 short notes of siren.
12. Practice. (Rule 5)
(a) Practice before or between rounds in Stroke Play. (Rule 5.2b)
Rule 5.2b is modified in this way:
Before or between rounds a player must not practice on the competition course.
Penalty for breach of Rule 5.2: See penalty statement in Rule 5.2.
(b) Practice on or Near Previous Putting Green Prohibited. (Rule 5.5b)
Rule 5.5b is modified in this way:
Between the play of two holes, a player must not:
● make any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just completed or
● test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball.
13. Transportation Policy.
Rule 4.3a is modified in this way:
During a round a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized by the rules committee. (A player taking a stroke and distance penalty is always authorized).
(Exception: This Local Rule does not apply to Professional or Amateur players in any Pro-Am event.)
Terms of the Competition 14. Deciding Ties.
If there is a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole play-off on hole 18, as soon as possible after all players return their scorecards, to determine the winner, except otherwise authorized by the committee.
15. Recording Area and Scorecard Returned.
The location of the Recording Area will be detailed each week on the weekly Local Rules sheet. The scorecard is returned when the player leaves the recording area with both feet.
16. Results of Competition - Competition Closed
The result of the tournament is officially announced when the final results sheet is placed on the official notice board at the tournament venue.
17. Anti-Doping
Players are required to comply with and be bound by the Anti-Doping Policy.
Note: Players should be aware that, under the Anti-Doping Policy, if a player is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation, she may face disqualification both from the tournament at which she was tested (or otherwise committed the violation) and from any subsequent tournament in which she participated until provisionally suspended or rendered ineligible under the Policy. Furthermore, player might be subject of criminal investigation under the local law where the tournament takes place. Disqualification in such cases includes the loss of all results, ranking points and prize money.
