Sterling Farms Men’s Club Policy on Weather
When playing in any of our tournaments, keep the following weather rules in mind:
Note: Bad weather, in itself, is not a good reason to suspend play.
Nevertheless, if the course signals a lightning alert, or if you on your own feel that there is danger from lighting, immediately suspend play, mark your ball’s position and seek shelter. If the course management temporarily closes the course due to excessive rain, similarly immediately suspend play and seek shelter.
In Match Play
Per Rule 5.7a, in addition to the above automatic suspension-of-play events, opponents may agree that the course is unplayable and suspend play. Mark your ball’s position and seek shelter.
In Stroke Play
In addition to the above automatic suspension of play events, competitors may only agree to suspend play on their own authority if the hole on the green they are playing is completely surrounded by temporary water — so that no matter where they might take temporary water relief they would still be forced to putt through temporary water. (The cup being filled with water is irrelevant.) This suspension is optional — the competitors may also decide to play on. If suspending play, mark your ball’s position and seek shelter.
How to deal with a suspension
Match Play opponents may agree to resume play at their discretion, though they are still required to complete their match by the date required for their tournament. If course management will allow you to go directly to the hole you were playing after the suspension, do that: replace your ball where it was marked and play on. If course management requires you to buy a new round, you may casually play up to the hole on which play was suspended, then replace your ball on that hole and continue your formal match. If the players fail to complete their match before the end of the required completion date in the schedule, the Committee will decide who won by lot. (Schedule your round early to avoid such an issue.)
Stroke Play competitors are required to wait a minimum of one hour after suspension of play to see if the danger of lighting ends, course management reopens the course, or if the temporary water surrounding a hole has dissipated. If such positive events occur, immediately resume play. Replace your ball where it was marked and play on. If these issues have not been cleared up after one hour, you are free to wait longer if you wish (and if a fellow competitor will join you) or leave and resume play on another day later approved by the Club President or Tournament Director. (Inform them immediately that your round could not be competed.) Note that the President/Tournament Director may find it impossible to reschedule a round, or may insist that the round be resumed on the very next day, or may on occasion provide you with more latitude in terms of timing depending on the circumstances. If course management will allow you to return to your previous hole on the subsequent day, do that. If course management requires you to buy a new round, you may casually play up to the hole on which play was suspended, then replace your ball on that hole and continue your formal play.
In both Match Play and Stroke play, If the mark identifying your ball’s position is missing, estimate the spot and replace there.