The USGA’s Rules of Golf govern play. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or condition of competition is loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.
Water and Lateral Water Hazards – When a water hazard or a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, the hazard is deemed to extend to infinity.
Ground under repair is defined by white lines.
Seams of Cut Turf (Sod Seams) – Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are deemed to be ground under repair. However, interference by a seam with the player’s stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under Rule 25-1. If the ball lies in or touches the seam or the seam interferes with the area of intended swing, relief is available under Rule 25-1. All seams within the cut turf area are considered the same seam.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
Embedded Ball Through the Green – Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground 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.
Exceptions:
- A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely mown.
- A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule makes the stroke clearly impracticable.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
Distance-Measuring Devices – For general play at Erin Hills (if playing in a competition, check with the Committee), a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. 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, windspeed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.
Discontinuance of Play – When play is suspended by the Committee for a dangerous situation, if the players in a match or group are between the play of two holes, they must not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If they are in the process of playing a hole, they must discontinue play immediately and not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he is disqualified, unless circumstances warrant waiving the penalty as provided in Rule 33-7. The signal for suspending play due to a dangerous situation will be a prolonged note of the siren. All practice areas are closed during a suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open.
Footwear – Shoes with traditionally-designed spikes (regardless of composition (i.e., ceramic, plastic, etc.) or spikes, regardless of design, comprised entirely or partially of metal (if such metal may come into contact with the course) are prohibited during the stipulated round. Penalty for breach of this condition: Disqualification.