Rules — ECPGA Championship

1. Tournament Format

36-hole individual stroke play. Lowest total score after two rounds wins the ECPGA Championship.

18 holes per day
All players use the designated tournament tees
Tie after 36 holes: sudden-death playoff beginning on Hole 18

2. Scoring

Every stroke counts. Every putt must be holed. No gimmies.

Record every stroke
Verify scores after each round
Scores become official once accepted by the group

Penalty: Disqualification for knowingly signing a lower score or failing to hole out

3. Out of Bounds

Out of Bounds is marked by white stakes, boundary fences, or course-designated OB areas.

USGA Rule: If a ball is OB, the player must take stroke-and-distance relief.

Add 1 penalty stroke
Return to the spot of the previous stroke
Play again from there

Example: Tee shot OB → add 1 stroke → re-tee → next shot is Stroke 3.

Penalty: 1 Stroke + Replay From Previous Spot

4. Lost Ball

Maximum search time is 3 minutes.

If the ball is not found within 3 minutes, it is lost and stroke-and-distance applies.

Add 1 penalty stroke
Return to the previous spot
Play again from there

Penalty: 1 Stroke + Replay From Previous Spot

5. Provisional Ball

If a ball may be lost or OB, the player should announce and hit a provisional ball.

If the original ball is lost or OB, the provisional becomes the ball in play under stroke-and-distance.

Penalty: 1 Stroke if provisional becomes ball in play

6. Red Penalty Areas

Red penalty areas are marked by red stakes or red lines.

Player may:

Play the ball as it lies with no penalty
Replay from previous spot
Take back-on-the-line relief
Take lateral relief within two club lengths of entry point, no closer to the hole

Penalty: 1 Stroke if taking relief

7. Grounding Club in Penalty Area

Players may ground the club in a penalty area, but may not improve the lie, stance, swing area, or line of play.

Penalty: 2 Strokes for improving conditions

8. Unplayable Ball

A player may declare a ball unplayable anywhere except inside a penalty area.

Relief options:

Stroke-and-distance: replay previous shot
Back-on-the-line relief
Lateral relief within two club lengths, no closer to the hole

Penalty: 1 Stroke

9. Cart Paths & Immovable Obstructions

Free relief is available from cart paths, sprinkler heads, yardage markers, and other immovable obstructions.

Procedure:

Find the nearest point of complete relief
No closer to the hole
Drop within one club length

Nearest point of relief does not mean nicest point of relief, because golf enjoys watching people suffer accurately.

Penalty: None if taken correctly

Penalty: 2 Strokes for playing from wrong place

10. Dangerous Tree Roots / Rocks

ECPGA Local Rule: Free relief is allowed from exposed tree roots, dangerous rocks, or conditions that create a reasonable risk of injury.

Nearest safe point of complete relief
No closer to the hole
Drop within one club length

Penalty: None if taken correctly

Penalty: 2 Strokes for abusing this rule

11. Embedded Ball

If a ball is embedded in its own pitch mark in the general area, the player may take free relief.

Mark the ball
Lift and clean it
Drop within one club length, no closer to the hole

Penalty: None if taken correctly

12. Bunkers

Players must play the ball as it lies in bunkers.

Do not touch sand directly in front of or behind the ball
Do not improve the lie
Rake bunker after use

Penalty: 2 Strokes for breach

13. Improving a Lie

Players may not improve the lie, stance, swing area, or line of play.

No pressing grass down
No moving the ball
No bending or breaking branches to improve swing
No creating a better stance or path

Penalty: 2 Strokes

14. Loose Impediments

Players may remove loose leaves, twigs, pine needles, and loose stones.

If the ball moves while removing a loose impediment, replace it and add one penalty stroke.

Penalty: 1 Stroke if ball moves

15. Preferred Lies

Not in effect unless announced before the round.

If adopted as an ECPGA Local Rule, preferred lies apply in fairways only:

Mark the ball
Lift and clean
Place within one scorecard length
Ball must remain in fairway
No closer to the hole

Penalty: None if local rule is active and used correctly

Penalty: 2 Strokes if used when not authorized or used incorrectly

16. Wrong Ball

A player must play their own ball. If a wrong ball is played, the mistake must be corrected.

Penalty: 2 Strokes

17. Playing From Wrong Place

This includes improper drops, taking relief incorrectly, or playing from the wrong location after relief.

Penalty: 2 Strokes

18. Teeing Area

Players must tee off from within the designated teeing area.

If played from outside the teeing area, the player must correct the mistake by replaying from the proper location.

Penalty: 2 Strokes

19. Rules Disputes

If players disagree on a ruling:

Play a second ball if practical
Finish the hole
Resolve before finalizing scorecards
Majority vote decides the ECPGA ruling

Quick Reference Penalty Guide

Situation	Penalty
Out of Bounds	1 stroke + replay from previous spot
Lost Ball	1 stroke + replay from previous spot
Provisional Becomes Ball in Play	1 stroke
Red Penalty Area Relief	1 stroke
Unplayable Ball	1 stroke
Ball Moved While Removing Loose Impediment	1 stroke and replace ball
Cart Path Relief	No penalty if taken correctly
Embedded Ball Relief	No penalty if taken correctly
Dangerous Root/Rock Relief	No penalty under ECPGA Local Rule
Improving Lie	2 strokes
Wrong Ball	2 strokes
Playing From Wrong Place	2 strokes
Improper Relief	2 strokes
Bunker Rule Breach	2 strokes
Preferred Lie Violation	2 strokes
Deliberate Cheating	Disqualification
Signing Lower Score Than Made	Disqualification
Failing to Hole Out	Disqualification

The ECPGA Championship Rule

If a situation is not specifically covered by these rules, competitors shall apply the closest USGA rule and determine a fair resolution by majority vote.

Play honest. Play fast. Earn every stroke.