Temporary Changes to the Course

Those of you who have played the course since Saturday will know there are a number of lakes varying in size from quite small to extremely large. It is interesting that despite having no rain for two days the amount of water is increasing. It is very unlikely this water will disappear in the near future. 
James Newell has been talking to Ross Watson and they believe the water table is probably at around RL 4 which means 4 metres above the Australian average sea level. When you ask your AI friends how long since the water level was this high it mentions things like the melting of the glaciers and end of the ice age etc.  You can assume this is has been a rare event we are witnessing!  James and his team are using pumps to try to solve some of the problems.
There are a couple of areas which are such that it is necessary to make changes to the course. With immediate effect Hole 19 will be in play and Hole 13 is out. Hole 14 will be a Par 3. We will let you know when this changes and we can revert to the full course. We are indeed lucky that we can still play 18 holes and that almost all the course is dry and firm. 
There is some confusion about the Rules relating to "Temporary Water" (formerly "Casual Water"). Temporary Water is an "Abnormal Course Condition". A recent circular to all Members covered Rules relating to taking relief from an Abnormal Course Condition in a Bunker. Please find it and read it again.
Below is what relief you have if in Temporary Water in the General Area. The General Area is everywhere other than Greens, Bunkers, Hazards and Tees - so fairways and rough. If you are certain or virtually certain your ball is in Temporary Water you are entitled to relief. If you hit the ball toward one of our temporary new lakes on the fairway and you cannot find the ball you can be virtually certain it is in the water if your marker agrees. In 99% of cases the decision should be clear even if you cannot see your ball. The following rule and diagram clearly state your options:
 
16 Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball
 
16.1 Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)
This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water: 
•	These are collectively called abnormal course conditions, but each has a separate definition.
•	This Rule does not give relief from movable obstructions (a different type of free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2a) or boundary objects or integral objects (no free relief is allowed).
 
16.1a When Relief Is Allowed
(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. Interference exists when any one of these is true: 
•	The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition,
•	An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or
•	Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.
If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule. See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-6 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule denying relief from an abnormal course condition that only interferes with the area of intended stance). 
 
DIAGRAM 16.1a: WHEN RELIEF IS ALLOWED FOR ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION

•	The diagram assumes the player is right-handed.
•	Free relief is allowed for interference by an abnormal course condition (ACC), including an immovable obstruction, when the ball touches or lies in or on the condition (B1), or the condition interferes with the area of intended stance (B2) or swing.
•	The nearest point of complete relief for B1 is P1, and is very close to the condition.
•	For B2, the nearest point of complete relief is P2, and is farther from the condition as the stance has to be clear of the ACC.
(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area. Relief from interference by an abnormal course condition is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both: 
•	The abnormal course condition is on the course (not out of bounds), and
•	The ball is anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).
(3) No Relief When Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under Rule 16.1: 
•	When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush), or
•	When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.
See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-23 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing free relief from interference by temporary immovable obstructions on or off the course).
 
16.1b Relief for Ball in General Area
If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3): 
•	Reference Point: The nearest point of complete relief in the general area.
•	Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
•	Limits on Location of Relief Area: 
o	Must be in the general area,
o	Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
o	There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.
 
DIAGRAM 16.1b: FREE RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION IN GENERAL AREA

•	Free relief is allowed when the ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition.
•	The nearest point of complete relief should be identified and a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.
•	The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.
•	When taking relief, the player must take complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.
If you cannot be certain or virtually certain you must return to the place you played the previous shot, drop a ball and take stroke and distance penalty. 
 
Good golfing!
Kerri Cook and John Wylie
Captains