Rules & Regulations

WGGC READY GOLF (Please respect the courses we play, we are their guests and you are representing WGGC Golf Society)

Ready Golf refers to a method for golfers to speed up play. Simply put, "ready golf" means that each golfer within a group hits when ready. But ready golf allows the golfers within a group to take their swings when each member of the group is ready to play. If you reach your ball and are ready to hit, while other members of your group are not yet prepared, then go ahead and hit - even if you are not away. Keep in mind that while there are no penalties under the Rules for violating order of play. Common sense should prevail. Play in turn where possible, but if playing out of turn helps the flow of play it should be viewed as good rather than bad etiquette.
On The Fairway Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to do so. All players should walk to their ball as soon as possible. Walk down the sides of the fairway to reach your ball, determine your club selection while waiting, and then move towards your ball. You can usually get close enough to your ball and get ready to play the shot, while players behind you can still make their shots. While waiting, players can survey the shot, select the club and if necessary, take required practice swings.
Entering and Leaving the Greens ALWAYS, leave your clubs at the back or side of the Green closest to the next tee. If a shot is played in front of the Green first, the player should move his or her clubs to the back or side of the Green before playing the next shot. Playing Ready Golf around the Greens means getting READY to putt BEFORE it is your turn! Players should line up their putts WHILE other players are putting, so they're ready to putt when it's their turn.
Ready Golf also means putting continuously if the ball is not in someone else's line, and if the player does not have to spend a lot of time surveying the putt. If you miss a putt by one or two feet, for example, and have an open stance to make the next putt, you should go ahead and putt out instead of marking the ball and waiting for another turn. Of course, if it’s a tricky putt and you want extra time to survey it, mark the ball but survey your next putt while someone else takes his or her turn.

COURTESY ON THE COURSE

Behaviour All society members should behave in a courteous and convivial manner to all members of host clubs whilst on the course and within their clubhouse. Never should we loose sight of the fact that we are their guests.

Dress Regulations All members must be mindful of the standard of dress required by the society whilst on the premises of a golf day venue. This will usually entail wearing smart casual golf wear prior to playing in the morning and correct golf shoes, no jeans, T-shirts, or collarless shirts, whilst on the course. Once returning to the clubhouse for the evening, a suit, or a jacket and tie and smart trousers are required. Members persistently breaking this society dress code will be considered for expulsion from the society by the committee.
Safety Prior to playing a stroke or making a practice swing, the player should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like which may be moved by the stroke or swing.
Consideration for Other Players The player who has the honour should be allowed to play before his opponent or fellow-competitor tees his ball.
No one should move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke. In the interest of all, players should play without delay. No player should play until the players in front are out of range.
Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them to pass as soon as it comes apparent that the ball will not easily be found. The should not search for three minutes before doing so. They should not continue play until the players following them have passed and are out of range. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.
Priority on the Course In the absence of special rules, two-ball matches should have precedence over and be entitled to pass any three or four-ball match, which should invite them through. A single player has no standing and should give way to a match of any kind. Any match playing a whole round is entitled to pass a match playing a shorter round. If a match fails to keep its place on the course and loses more than one clear hole on the players in front, it should invite the match following to pass.

CARE OF THE COURSE

Damage to Greens - Flagsticks, Bags, etc. Players should ensure that, when putting down bags or the flagstick, no damage is done to the putting green and that neither they nor their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it, in handling the flagstick or in removing the ball from the hole. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green. Players should not damage the putting green by leaning on their putters, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.
Golf Carts Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed.
Holes in Bunkers Before leaving a bunker, a player should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by him.
Replace Divots; Repair Ball-Marks and Damage by Spikes Through the green, a player should ensure that any turf cut or displaced by him is replaced at once and pressed down and that any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired. Damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes should be repaired on completion of the hole.