Course Care
Players are required to adopt good etiquette practices in accordance with the highest traditions of the game.
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Where and how to leave bunker rakes
The Club By-Laws require that every player shall carry a sand bucket or like equipment to facilitate the filling of divots and require that all divots be repaired.
This includes repairing pitch marks, raking bunkers and granting priority on the course to Club employees engaged in course works.
Not more than two balls may be used when practising on the course. Use of the Club’s practice driving range requires players to play from the white markers displayed on the practice tee.
Restrictions apply to the use of practice balls on the practice tee to ensure the safety of golfers and staff. Check with the Professionals on these requirements.
The lowest handicapped player in the group is asked to assume responsibility for keeping the group in its position within the field and completing play within reasonable time and for other matters of etiquette. Slow play is viewed as selfish play and must be discouraged.
Provision is made for the suspension of playing rights and the suspension of membership or exclusion from membership in the case of repeated failures to comply with the Club’s course protection, care and etiquette by-law.
Bunkers
Enter the bunker from the lowest edge. If there is more than one low edge, enter at the one closest to your ball.
After you play your shot from the bunker, put your club down outside the bunker before picking up the rake and using two hands to begin raking over every disrupted spot in the sand. This includes your footprints, impact zone(s), etc. The proper procedure is to push and pull sand evenly, using both the tines of the rake and the flat top.
Walking backwards, rake along your path as you exit the bunker. Be careful not to pull too much sand toward you – if this happens, then simply push some sand away from you. The goal is to leave a completely even surface, in better condition than when you entered. Leave the face of the bunker smooth so a ball landing on it is likely to roll down.
Where to Leave the Bunker Rake
The preferred bunker rake position is shown in photo A. The rake should be left at the point of exit from the bunker, with the handle only left out as shown in photo B.
Photo A
Photo B
By leaving the rake this way there are several advantages.
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It will allow the bunker to be raked up to the exit point. (You are encouraged to smooth the exit face, as this encourages the ball to roll to the bottom of the bunker).
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There will be no “divot” in the sand as can happen when the rake is thrown back into the bunker.
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There is only the slightest of chances the rake handle will stop the ball rolling into the bunker. As the head of the rake is well in the bunker, the ball will not be stopped on the down slope of the bunker.
The other photos show positions that are NOT to be used. The rake should not be thrown back in to the bunker, it should not be left completely out of the bunker, and definitely shouldn’t be left lying on the near face of a bunker.
Pitch Marks
Did you know the average number of ball marks made on greens per round is eight per golfer? Assuming only 130 rounds are played each day a course, the greens receive 1040 impressions daily. That’s 31,000 per month or more than 374,400 per year. Please repair them. Watch the how-to video from the USGA below.
Cart Use
To help cart users, please read the PDF to assist with the interpretation of the Club Rules.