Sterling Farms Rules & Regulations

The only people permitted on the golf course are Stamford Golf Authority employees or players who are carrying a golf bag with at least 4 clubs, 1 of which is a putter and have proper dated registration payment receipts. No more than 4 players are allowed per group.

In addition to U.S.G.A. rules, which are always in effect, each player is expected to comply with the following: All players must check in for their tee time a minimum of 15 minutes prior and purchase a ticket from the Cashier, unless weather does not permit at the the time of the reservation, this will be determined by calling the Starter's Office at (203) 461-9090 extension 3. Players who do not call, may be charged the appropriate no show fees according to their reservation.
Players who are found on the golf course who have not signed in and do not have a paid green fee receipt will be suspended for 30 days.
Tee off between the markers, no more than 2 club lengths behind.
No person without a valid driver's license may rent or drive a golf cart.
Players who are abusive and refuse to obey a Ranger, other designated personnel or Stamford Golf authority members requests will be suspended for a period of time to be determined by the Executive Director.
No alcoholic beverages are to be allowed on the course, except that which is purchased at the 10th tee snack bar or beverage cart. One beer per person from the 10th tee concession or beverage cart may be consumed per 9 holes of golf. A warning will be issued for the first violation with a 30-day suspension for the 2nd offense. Subsequent violations will result in longer suspensions as determined by The Stamford Golf Authority.
Players must replace divots, smooth sand traps and repair ball marks on greens.
Play shots only when the payers ahead are out of your range. Give the warning 'FORE' if you are in danger of hitting someone.
All players are expected to keep the pace of play on the golf course at 4 an one half hours or less, failure to do so may result in skipping of holes or being asked to leave the course.
Players must keep pace with the group ahead of them even if nobody is behind them. Allow faster players to play through if the pace of play cannot be maintained. This will be strictly enforced.
Appropriate golf shoes must be used while playing the course or putting on greens including the practice green. NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED ON THE COURSE.
Players using carts must follow 90-degree cart rule and keep carts on designated cart paths. Carts must carry no More than 2 riders and 2 golf bags. Carts must be kept at least 20 yards from all tees and greens (this includes pull carts). A warning will be issued for the first violation with a 30-day suspension for the 2nd offense. Subsequent violations will result in longer suspensions as determined by the Executive Director.
No person besides the Pro Shop Staff is allowed to use the nursery green and chipping area adjacent to the 15th tee. Violators will be suspended from play on the course for 30 days.
Practice on the course or greens, is prohibited; except for the practice chipping and putting areas in front & back of the pro shop.
Golfers are expected to wear proper attire, short shorts, tank tops, cut-offs or bathing suits are not considered acceptable and will not be allowed to play.
Players looking for lost balls MUST drop another after 3 minutes maximum or allow another group to play through.
Players are requested to 'wave on' the next group of players waiting on a par 3 hole.
Use of Sterling Farms Driving Range golf balls on the course will result in a 30 day suspension.
PLAYERS MUST ACCEPT WARNINGS PERTAINING TO RULE VIOLATIONS BY ALL STERLING FARMS (ESPECIALLY RANGERS) EMPLOYEES WITHOUT CHALLENGE. RULE VIOLATORS WILL BE GIVEN A WARNING NOTICE FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS WILL RESULT IN SUSPENSIONS RANGING FROM FIFTEEN DAYS TO THE ENTIRE SEASON. IF NECESSARY TO SUSPEND, A FORMAL SUSPENSION NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE VIOLATOR BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN WRITING. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SUPERINTENDENT AND SGA MEMBERS MAY GIVE IMMEDIATE SUSPENSIONS TO VIOLATORS WITHOUT NOTICE.
A suspended player may apply for a hearing by filing a request in writing with The Stamford Golf Authority withing 5 days after receipt of a formal suspension notice. The hearing will be held at the next scheduled Authority meeting and a majority vote of those Authority members making a quorum will decide on the appeal.

Sterling Farms Local Rules of Play

General Rules

U.S.G.A. rules govern all play except as modified by these local rules.
Play is from blue tees for all tournaments (Except for single player, weekend events specified for white tees on the bulletin board).
When in doubt about a rule in stroke play only, a provisional ball may be played. Finish the hole with both balls and consult the committee.
WATER HAZARD – Yellow stakes and lines.
LATERAL HAZARD – Red stakes and lines.
OUT OF BOUNDS - As defined by white stakes, white markings on fences and trees, and fences and rock walls defining property boundaries.

Winter Rules

Through the green only (in the fairway or the fringe of the hole being played), after marking your ball, you are permitted to lift, clean, and place the ball within 1-club length of it's original position, no nearer the hole
- This is allowed once per stroke. Once the ball is placed it may not be re-lifted and re-placed.
- Failure to mark the original position before lifting it, such as rolling it with a club, is a 2-stroke penalty or loss of hole in match play.

Relief for Embedded Ball

Cleaning Ball Rule 25-2 provides relief without penalty for a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely mown area through the green.
On the putting green, a ball may be lifted and damage caused by the impact of a ball may be repaired (Rules 16-1b and c).

When permission to take relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green would be warranted, the following Local Rule is recommended: “Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

Exception: A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule.

Alternatively, conditions may be such that permission to lift, clean and replace the ball will suffice. In these circumstances, the following Local Rule is recommended: “(Specify area) a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty. Note: The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under this Local Rule — see Rule 20-1.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule

Stroke Play = 2 strokes / breach
Match Play = Loss of hole

Use of Distance Measuring Devices

For play in Sterling Farms Men's Club events, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only.

However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.

Immovable Obstructions

A player may obtain relief (nearest point of relief) from obstructions only if obstruction interferes with lie, stance, or area of intended swing.

Buildings (except buildings that define out of bounds)
bridges (outside of hazard)
cart paths
all flower gardens
newly planted (staked) trees
ball washers, drinking fountains
tree wells
trap rock drainage areas
maintenance equipment

Hole-by-Hole Rules

Hole	Rules
1	Ditch on left after sand trap is a LATERAL HAZARD.
2	Ditch on left side is a LATERAL HAZARD. No relief from swale in rough.
3	Pond on right is a LATERAL HAZARD.
4	Out of bounds to left of pond and as defined by white stakes and white markings on trees. There are drop areas for each pond if ball goes in water. Drop ball then place.
5	Pond on left and behind green is a LATERAL HAZARD.
7	Ditch on right and left of green is a LATERAL HAZARD.
8	Ditch on left is a LATERAL HAZARD.
9	Relief from lines supporting driving range fence. Out of bounds on left as defined by driving range and parking lot and behind green.
10	Out of bounds on left as defined by white stakes, walls of buildings, and white markings on trees.
11	Left side is a LATERAL HAZARD as defined by red stakes and lines. Drop is permitted two club-lengths to the right side of the cart path. Ditch in front of green is a WATER HAZARD as defined by yellow stakes and lines.
12	Left side is a LATERAL HAZARD as defined by red stakes and lines.
13	Left side is a LATERAL HAZARD as defined by red stakes and lines. Out of bounds on right as defined by white stakes and white markings on trees.
14	No out of bounds. Stakes on right apply to 13th hole only.
16	Cemetery and walls of cemetery are out of bounds. White stakes on right define out of bounds. Relief from drainage ditch in front of cemetery.
18	Left fence and stone wall out of bounds as marked. Stone wall behind green is out of bounds.

Tie Breakers

Occasionally during our weekend events, tournaments or qualifiers we come accross a tie. The following is the standard we always follow in determining the winner. Please note that ties during the Club Championship have their own procedure which you can find here. We use step 1. If there is still a tie we then use step 2. We keep going until there is a winner. The steps are as follows:

Score from back nine (holes 10 to 18)
Score from last six holes (holes 13 to 18)
Score from last 3 holes (holes 16 to 18)
Score from front nine (holes 1 to 9)
Score from last six holes on the front (holes 4 to 9)
Score from last 3 holes on the front (holes 7 to 9)
Score from the 18th hole
Coin Toss