You’ve identified an area you don’t want golfers playing from. So how do you tell them to steer clear?
Did you know golfers are allowed to play from ground under repair? It might seem counterintuitive – the clue is in the name ‘repair’ after all – but it is not compulsory for a golfer to take relief.
It might be a bunker that is being redeveloped, or an area of turf that has been relaid, but if it’s classed as ground under repair then golfers can take their chances if they wish.
If that’s come as a surprise to some of you, and you want to make it compulsory for players to take relief, then you need to declare the area a No Play Zone.
What is a No Play Zone?
It’s a part of the course where a competition Committee has prohibited play. The definition in the Rules of Golf says No Play Zones can be used for any reason – whether that’s protecting wildlife and environmentally sensitive areas or preventing damage to flower beds or planted areas.
How should a No Play Zone be marked?
Golf courses feature an array of different colours – white for boundaries, yellow or red for penalty areas – and you can also find posts or lines defining the edge.
What if a penalty area is within a No Play Zone? Can you put up a fence to keep players out if they might ignore the restrictions?
They’re big questions but, fortunately, guidance is available in The R&A’s Committee Procedures. These can be found in The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, in The R&A’s Rules App, and online. There is a section on marking a No Play Zone.
It says the edge of a No Play Zone should be defined with a line or stakes to “clarify whether the area is within an abnormal course condition or a penalty area”, with the line or stakes “or the tops of those stakes” identifying the area as a No Play Zone.
While the advice says there is “no specific colour of stakes and lines to be used for marking No Play Zones”, it recommends:
- Red or yellow stakes with green tops for a No Play Zone in a penalty area
- White or blue stakes with green tops for a No Play Zone in an abnormal course condition
Warning signs, a fence, “and the like” can be used to protect environmentally sensitive areas and deter players from entering the area, while the Committee Procedures add that a Code of Conduct could be used to specify “what the penalty is for a player who enters such an area to retrieve a ball or for other reasons”.
Key takeaways
- Ground under repair does not automatically prohibit play – if you want to compel players to take relief, consider designating an area a No Play Zone.
- Mark No Play Zones clearly – the recommended colour combinations will help golfers distinguish a No Play Zone from other designated stakes and lines on the course.
- Clear restrictions can protect vulnerable areas – warning signs or physical barriers can be employed, while measures in your club’s Code of Conduct can set out the consequences of transgression.
