Golf Rules and Procedures
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General Golf Rules

  1. Play is under the direction of the Golf Professional or his designee. The Golf Professional is authorized to enforce all rules and take all actions necessary for the protection and safety of members, their families, and guests on the golf course or its environs. The Golf Professional may direct uncooperative or inappropriately dressed persons to leave the golf facilities.
  2. Players must obey the following warning signals:  
    • Short blasts of an air horn signals immediate cessation of play and seek shelter
    • Long blasts of an air horn signals complete the current hole and seek shelter
  3. Players must wear proper golf attire
    • Shoes with soft spikes or approved spike-free shoes
    • In season, men wear slacks or shorts and shirts with sleeves and collars, women wear skirts, slacks, or shorts and shirts with or without sleeves and collars
    • T-shirts, tank tops and short shorts are not allowed
    • In cold weather, sweaters, sweatshirts, wind shirts, jackets, etc. are appropriate
    • Denims are allowed only when Standard Time is in effect.
  4. Players must display proper golf etiquette and sportsmanship:
    • maintain a common pace of play
    • post scores in the handicap systems if applicable
    • protect the golf facilities and equipment from undue damage
  5. Formal play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf, except as modified by local rules. Informal play (e.g., play within private groups, golf associations, or special events) may invoke additional modifications to USGA Rules.

Operating Procedures for Golf Facilities

  1. Players check in with the Pro Shop staff prior to play. Play begins at Hole No. 1 unless permitted or directed otherwise by the Pro Shop staff.
  2. Tee times are reserved no more than seven (7) days in advance except for recurring organized play that involves foursomes requiring consecutive tee times. Tee times begin at the following times:
    • Under Daylight Savings Time - 7:30am on Saturday, 8:06 on other days
    • Under Standard Time - 8:33 am on weekends and holidays, 9am on weekdays
  3. The golf course is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. The Club recognizes the following holidays:
    • New Year's Day
    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
    • Good Friday
    • Independence Day
    • Companion to Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Thanksgiving Day
    • Companion to Thanksgiving Day
    • Christmas Eve
    • Christmas Day
  4. Foursomes are the standard grouping throughout the year. Fivesomes may play with the permission of the Pro Shop.
  5. Social and Inactive Members may play as guests of members, Associate Members, or the Golf Professional by paying current greens fees. Such play is limited to five (5) times per year.
  6. Nonmembers may play as a guest of members, Associate Members or the Golf Professional by paying current greens fees. Guests who are residents of Anderson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan or Roane counties are limited to five (5) times per year. Guests who are residents of other areas pay current greens fees but are not limited as to quantity of play.
  7. Participants in competitive matches, intra-club exchanges, and outside events are not limited as to quantity of play. Fees for such play is determined by the sponsoring organization.
  8. Grandchildren, under sixteens years of age, may play gratis after 2:30pm when accompanied by a responsible grandparent member or a responsible grandparent Associate member.
  9. The Annual Golf schedule is prepared by the Golf Committee with the assistance of the Golf Professional.

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Rules for Inactive or Medical Leave Memberships [short term (3 month minimum / <1 year maximum) and long-term (>1 year)]

  • The short-term membership inactive or medical leave, by definition, is a shorter period of time needed to accommodate issues normally requiring less than the normal one (1) year inactive or medical leave membership requirement.
  • Both of the inactive/medical leave memberships are available to all members except those holding a corporate, national or junior mentoring membership.
  • A member request for either of the inactive or medical leave memberships must be submitted in writing to the Business Office prior to the next billing date.
  • The member must notify, in writing, whether it is short term or long term and ther desired date to return to their original membership.
  • The Director Golf, Facility Manager or Membership Chairman shall discuss the terms and conditions for all requests for inactive or medical leave memberships.
  • A member may only request an inactive or medical leave short-term membership once every five (5) years with a maximum of three (3) short-term memberships in a lifetime.
  • A member must have been a member for at least ten (10) years to receive the third inactive short-term membership request.
  • A member with less than ten (10) years can be granted only two (2) inactive/medical requests.
  • A short-term or long-term inactive or medical leave membership may be granted under the following conditions with a written request to the Board of Directors explaining the circumstances.
    1. A medical restriction due to surgery or illness of the member and doctor certified
    2. A request of inactive status to attend to a family member (mother, father, spouse and children under the age of 24) who has been severely injured, requires continuous medical attention or cannot take care of themselves for a significant period of time. Must be documented by the attending physician.
    3. A request for inactive status in the event of a work reassignment for an extended period of time but not an indefinite assignment.
    4. A request for inactive status for a continued educational advancement or other educational opportunities. Must maintain a full-time student status.
    5. A request for inactive status in the event of involuntary loss of employment.
    6. A member may request an inactive status for other various reasons, which must be in writing, deemed justifiable and approved by the Board of Directors.
      • A member must have maintained a Familay, Individual, Junior Family, Junior Individual, or weekday membership for at least a period of three (3) years and be in good standing with all accounts current, in order to be eligible for either of the inactive or medical leave memberships.
      • If any member on inactive or medical leave status is found to have falsified a medical exemption or has created a situation in order to gain an inactive membership, the member will be suspended from all Club privileges for a period of one (1) year and will not be eligible for an inactive membership during the remainder of their memberships.
      A short-term or long-term inactive or medical leave membership may be granted under the following conditions with a written request to the Board of Directors explaining the circumstances.
  • An inactive or medical leave membership member may play golf a maximum of five (5) times per year. The member will pay special fees set forth by the Board of Directors in addition to their inactive/medical dues. The Facility Director, Director of Golf or the Board of Directors shall monitor all inactive play and Club usage. If abuse of said privilege is observed, privileges will be suspended until the completion of the inactive/medical leave time period.
  • Monthly charges for all other amenities (lockers, trail fee, cart storage, etc.) will continue uninterrupted unless the member requests in writing to cease these monthly charges. (Note: Removal of cart and stoppage of trail fee will constitute loss of storage and other amenities.)
  • During the inactive/medical leave membership a member and their family member and guest may continue with Clubhouse privileges such as pool, tennis and squash.
  • Under certain circumstances, golf privileges may be granted for the Associate or guests of the inactive/medical leave members with the approval of the Director of Golf, Facility Manager or the Membership Chairman. Special fees will apply if granted.
  • Inactive/Medical leave memberships are non-voting memberships during the course of their inactive/medical leave status.
  • An inactive/medical leave member is not exempt from paying any dues increases or assessments during their absence. At the member's request, they may be deferred until the member returns to active status. Reqeust must be in writing and submitted to the Business Office prior to the next billing date.
  • Members and guests must abide by all rules and regulations set forth by the Board of Directors.
  • All membership applications muts be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.
  • Inactive/medical leave membership fees will be established and periodically adjusted by the Board of Directors.

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Golf Cart Rules and Procedures

Rules for All Riding Golf Carts
(effective 07/25/2011)

  1. Operators of riding golf carts on ORCC property must be 16 years of age or older.
  2. ORCC encourages the utilization of the correct number of riding carts per group.  Two riding golf carts per foursome, three per fivesome.
  3. Operators of riding golf carts must obey posted daily instructions, which are established by the Golf Course Superintendent.  The Golf Course Superintendent or designee may restrict the use of riding carts to cart path when conditions warrant in order to prevent turf and/or grounds damage.
  4. All riding golf carts must remain on cart paths on all Par Three holes: Nos. 3, 8, 15, and 17.
  5. All riding golf carts must remain on cart path from bridge on number 18 to clubhouse.
  6. All riding golf carts must remain on path from greens complexes to tee complexes.  No driving to tee boxes (except hole number 6 when Golf Course Superintendent allows)
  7. All riding golf carts must remain on path traveling to and from the golf driving range.
  8. Riding golf carts must be driven primarily on cart paths.  If riding golf carts are allowed off the cart paths, you may leave the path after the designated entry sign and return to the path on or prior to the exit sign.  No riding carts are allowed to enter prior to the entry sign or exit past the designated exit signs.  No riding carts are allowed in the opposite rough areas.  Please return to the cart path as soon as possible.
  9. Observe all signs or staked off areas.  All riding golf carts are to avoid all wet and bare areas.
  10. Riding cart operators are responsible for damage inflicted on leased riding carts and are responsible for damage inflicted on the golf course or other club property resulting from use of either leased or privately owned carts.

Operating Procedures for Riding Golf Carts

  • The cart barn is for storage of golf carts and pull carts. Golf clubs, gas cans or related items must not be stored in the barn.
  • The cart barn is closed at dusk each day. Riding golf carts must not be left overnight on the Clubhouse apron near the Pro Shop.
  • Approval to operate or store a privately owned cart at ORCC is granted to individual members by the Board of Directors and is certified by a properly executed Private Golf Cart Agreement form.
  • Owners of privately owned golf carts must submit to the Business Office written evidence of insurance that provides coverage for golf cart usage with at least $100,000 per person and $300,00 per accident for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage.
  • Privately owned golf carts must be in good condition for operation at ORCC or for storage in the ORCC cart barn. At time of application for operation at ORCC, privately owned carts should be no more than five (5) years of age or otherwise in excellent condition. Privately owned carts are monitored for continued acceptable, safe condition by the golf staff and/or the course mechanic. Operation and storage of privately owned carts at ORCC requires Board approval.
  • Cart storage space for privately owned carts in the cart barn is allocated to the owner named at the top of a waiting list maintained by the Golf Pro. New applications are added to the bottom of the waiting list. Applicants who decline an offered space move to the bottom of the waiting list or are removed from the list.
  • Trail fees for privately owned carts are billed monthly, storage fees are billed quarterly.
  • A passenger in a privately owned car incurs a normal cart rental fee if he'she is not a private cart owner or the associate member of a private cart owner.
  • A credit equivalent to an individual cart rental fee is applied to the cart owner's account whenever a privately owned golf cart is borrowed by the Club.

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