Highlands Local Rules - These apply to MGA and Club Play
Updated January 5, 2026
The Golf Club at The Highlands
Local Golf Rules
Embedded ball in the general area. Free relief is available in the general area for a ball embedded in its own pitch mark. Drop within one clublength, in the specific relief area, no penalty.
Ground Under Repair and Abnormal Ground Conditions. All ground under repair is marked accordingly. In addition, a local rule allows free relief from interference with stance and swing by exposed rocks and tree roots in the general area as well as boards located in bunkers. Drop within one club length, no nearer the hole, with no penalty in the specific relief area. Players must drop in bunker when ball is located in bunker.
Mulch Area Grooves and Seams of Cut Turf. If a ball comes to rest in grooves at the perimeter of flower and mulch beds, it is deemed to be ground under repair only when the BALL lies in a groove or seam. Relief is also available when the BALL lies in the seams in cut turf (such as in a recently sodded area). Note that the mulch bed, in and of itself, is not considered ground under repair. The ball may be dropped without penalty within one club length from the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
Mandatory Free Relief. There are three areas on the course where a player must take relief from ornamental plantings. These areas are the (1) Chuck Tester/Jack Olsen ornamental plantings in the turn around on hole #14, (2) the Linda Eastwood memorial garden to the left of the green on hole #15, and (3) the ornamental planting areas near the restrooms on hole #4. Relief is mandatory if the ball comes to rest inside the mulched zones that define these areas. Drop within one club length, no nearer the hole, with no penalty in the specific relief area.
Streets Defined as Out of Bounds. All public streets are defined as out of bounds. If a ball crosses a public street and comes to rest on another part of the course, the ball is considered out of bounds on the hole being played. For example: the street along the left side of hole #6 defines out of bounds. In addition, when playing hole #18, a ball that comes to rest on the resident side of the cart path that leads to hole #1 (left of #18 green) will be considered out of bounds.
Designated Drop Zones. Numerous holes on the course have designated drop zones. These provide an additional relief option for balls in a penalty area. Under a penalty of one stroke, drop within the zone. There are designated drop zones on Holes 2, 3, 9, 14, and 16. The Green tee box is now designated as the Drop Zone on #3. The Optional Drop zone on #9 is for the red penalty area only left of the cart path after the bend and is located in the left rough near the Silver tee box.
Provisional Ball for Ball Presumed in Penalty Area. If a ball is thought to be or likely to be in a penalty area, a provisional ball may be played. The player declares and plays a provisional ball before looking for the original ball. If the original ball is found outside the penalty area, it is the ball in play and the provisional is abandoned. If the original ball is found in the penalty area, the player may play the original ball as it lies or play the provisional ball.