Any advice on formalizing local rules at our club?  I know the USGA has some good specimin rules, but I'm looking to see if anybody has advice that wouldn't be found there.

One of our features that affects some higher-handicapers is a long carry over wetlands.  We'll probably be using the Rule 26/provisional allowed local rule, but is there anything that can be done in the way of a drop area?  It's about a 190 yard carry, and some folks have trouble makng it.

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On another rules/course set-up question..  Is there a mininum distance the tee markers should be place from the back of a teeing area?  I think it should be 2 club lengths - at least.

Thanks.

Dan,

Decision 33-8/2 prohibits putting a ball drop on the far side of a water hazard for a ball which fails to clear the hazard.  Even thought it isn't allowed, many clubs do it.

The Teeing Ground is an area that is the width of the tee markers and goes back two club lengths from them.  But, there is nothing in the rules that says that area has to be on flat, mown grass.  It is common courtesy to provide that much room, but, just as the rules don't specify that the hole must be a certain distance from the edge of a green, they don't say you have to give that much room.  Again, I certainly would make sure that at least part of the teeing ground had two club lengths behind the markers on a par 3.  On other holes I don't believe it matters that much, but I wouldn't want anything that interfered with a player's backswing to be in reach.

Dan,

I do not mean to be a jerk, but how come the members do not play from a forward tee on that particular hole?  I know there could be some ego bruising or something along those lines but in that case I do not see why playing a forward tee would hurt anyone.  

In any case, Seattle Golf Club has a hole similar to that, with a drop area to the side.  There is not a problem with that either.  I just say play the tees that match a person's ability.

Jordan, you're absolutely correct, of course.  Smartly, we changed our 2nd longest teels from green to white, and the emotional baggage seems to have disappeared.