Health & Safety
At Kibworth Golf Club, the safety and well-being of our members, guests, and staff is of the utmost importance.
It is the responsibility of all persons playing or practising to take all possible care for the health & safety of themselves and other persons on the course
To ensure a safe and enjoyable golfing experience for all, we kindly ask that all golfers adhere to the following code of safe conduct:
1. Respect the Course
• Repair ball marks on the greens and replace divots in the fairways to maintain the course's pristine condition.
• Rake bunkers after use to ensure a smooth playing surface for the next golfer.
• Avoid causing damage to the course through careless actions or the use of motorized carts.
2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
• Keep a watchful eye for other golfers, especially when teeing off or making approach shots.
• Shout "Fore!" loudly and clearly if your ball is heading towards another player or group.
• Be mindful of your position on the course and the potential risks to yourself and others.
3. Exercise Proper Golf Etiquette
• Allow faster groups to play through when appropriate to maintain the pace of play.
• Refrain from using mobile phones or engaging in distracting behaviour that could interfere with other players.
4. Adhere to Course Policies and Procedures
• Follow the instructions of the golf course staff, who are responsible for ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all players.
• Comply with any temporary course closures or other safety-related measures implemented by the club.
5. Report Unsafe Conditions or Incidents
• Immediately notify the golf course staff if you observe any hazardous conditions or unsafe behaviour on the course.
• Assist in the reporting of any accidents or injuries to ensure prompt and appropriate action is taken.
- Weather Awareness
• Stop play immediately in thunderstorms—lightning can be fatal.
• Seek proper shelter (not under trees or near metal structures).
• If the klaxon sounds, please stop playing immediately and leave the course due to risk of lightning.
By adhering to this code of safe conduct, you can help create a safe and enjoyable golfing environment for everyone at Kibworth Golf Club. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to the safety and well-being of our golf community.
Hole by hole Safety Guidelines – Playing Hole hazards
1. Be aware of golfers crossing from 9th green to the 10Th tee.
2. Be aware for errant shots from 1st tee and 8th tee shot and also fairway
3. No playing hazards
4. Be aware of errant tee shots from 16th tee.
5. Do not hit until players in group ahead have rang bell to alert you fairway is clear
6. No playing hazards
7. Be aware of errant tee shots from 6th tee.
8. Be aware of errant tee shots from 2nd tee.
9. Be aware of errant tee shots from 1st hole
10. Be aware of people teeing off 1st when crossing to 10th tee. Also, errant tee shots from 18th tee.
11. No playing hazards
12. Be aware of errant tee shots from 17th tee.
13. Give players on 17th tee right away to play and leave tee before teeing off
14. Be aware of errant tee shots for 16th hole
15. Give players right away on 16th tee before teeing off
16. Be aware of errant shots from 4th and 13th hole
17. Be aware of errant tee shots from 12th hole
18. Be aware of errant tee shots from 1st & 18th hole.
General Safety Hole Hazards.
1. No general hazards
2. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole. Only cross hole via the bridges.
3. No general hazards
4. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole.
5. The boundary of 5th hole has a stream on left hand side. It is strongly advised not to try and retrieve balls from this stream. The area is Out of Bounds, and the embankment could possibly be unstable in areas.
6. The 6th hole has a deep pond on left hand side of green. If retrieving balls, it is strongly advised to only use ball collectors.
7. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole. Only cross ditch via the bridges.
8. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole. Only cross ditch via the bridges
9. No general hazards
10. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole. Only cross ditch via the bridges
11. No general hazards
12. No general hazards
13. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole. Only cross ditch via the bridges
14. No general hazards
15. The boundary of 15th hole has a stream on left hand side. It is strongly advised not to try and retrieve balls from this stream. The area is Out of Bounds, and the embankment could possibly be unstable in areas. Do not enter areas where signage is in place due to risk of potential injury.
16. The 16th hole has a deep pond on left hand side of green. If retrieving balls, it is strongly advised to only use ball collectors also exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through the hole. Only cross ditch via the bridges
17. No general hazards
18. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to retrieve your ball from the ditch running through and to the left-hand side of the hole. Only cross ditch via the bridges
Review Date September 2026
LOCAL RULES - April 2024
OUT OF BOUNDS
Out of Bounds is defined as:
• Beyond the line between white posts.
Note: the white posts to the left of the 7th hole from the teeing area to the bridge near the green are only out of bounds when playing the 7th hole.
• On or over the practice putting green and flower beds surrounding it and the fenced seating area behind the 9th green.
• On or over the flower beds and artificially surfaced areas surrounding the Clubhouse and the Professional's shop.
• Beyond the centre line of boundary hedges. This includes hedges separating the practice ground and the 6th, 8th and 9th holes.
• Beyond the inside edge of boundary fences.
IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS
All roads, paths, and pylons on the course are treated as immovable obstructions. Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
All bridges are treated as immovable obstructions except when the ball lies on a bridge within a red or yellow penalty area. Free relief may not be taken and Rule 17.1 applies.
Fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions. Free relief under Rule 16.1 may be taken. In addition, free relief under Rule 16.1b may be taken if the fixed sprinkler head is on the line of play, and is:
• Within two club-lengths of the putting green and
• Within two club-lengths of the ball.
STAKED TREES
All trees attached to stakes are no play zones. Free relief under Rule 16.1f must be taken. RED AND YELLOW PENALTY AREAS
The edge of a penalty area is defined by the line between the outside points of the stakes at ground level. The stakes are inside the penalty area. Where the edge of the penalty area curves (for example the stream across the 8th hole) a ball lying below the level of the surrounding ground is inside the penalty area_ Relief may be taken under Rule 17.1d.
POWER CABLES/ PYLONS
If it is known or virtually certain that a player's ball hit a power line or pylon during the play of any hole, the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made under Rule 14.6.
MARKER POSTS
Marker posts indicating penalty areas, distance or direction should be treated as movable obstructions and Rule 15.2 applies. If these are not easily movable (for example distance markers set into fairways), they should be treated as immovable obstructions and Rule 16.1 applies. White stakes indicating out of bounds are boundary objects and cannot be moved nor relief obtained. Rule 8.1a applies.
TEMPORARY GREENS
If a temporary green is in play and a player's ball comes to rest on the normal green for that hole, it should be treated as a wrong green. Relief must be taken under Rule 13.1f.
TRACTOR AND GREEN-KEEPING EQUIPMENT MARKS
Such marks are treated as an abnormal course condition. Relief may be taken under Rule 16.1.
AERATION HOLES AND DRAINAGE WORKS
If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole or drainage works:
• Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
• Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
TREE REMOVAL
Where trees are being removed for course management and the stump is in the process of being unearthed or cut up for removal, the area affected (including wood shavings or chippings) is classed as ground under repair, whether or not it is marked. Relief must be taken under Rule 16.1. Tree stumps are not classified as GUR and the ball must be played as it lies.
PREFERRED LIES
When preferred lies are in operation, if a player's ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
• Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: Six inches, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area:
o Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
o Must be in the general area.
In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF THE LOCAL RULE
Match Play: Loss of Hole Stroke Play: Two Strokes
Any disputes should be referred to the Handicaps and Competitions committee, whose decision will be final. In case of any dispute on a hole, we suggest that you play a second ball for the remainder of the hole so that you have a counting score should we decide against your initial decision.