Rules and regulations

New customer registration

GENERAL

  • Violation of the House Rules of the golf club can be penalized by a fine, permanent expulsion from the club and other necessary official or legal actions.

  • Violation of the House Rules will be documented by the Highland staff via an official written report, photos or video recording.

  • Highland staff, Highland golf instructors and other golfers can draw the attention of any golfer to observing the House rules and to act accordingly.

  • On the premises of Budapest Highland Golf Club members and guest stay and play at their own risk.

  • Attire: collared polo shirts and slacks (or skirts for ladies), sport shoes, golf shoes (no metal spikes). Absolutely no jeans, track suits, crew-neck or sleeveless T-shirt, tank tops and sandals. Dress etiquette is mandatory beyond the barrier i.e. on the practice area, on the PAR3 course and the 9-hole course. Observing the attire etiquette on the driving range is not required but highly recommended.

  • For guests in the restaurant and its terrace following the dress code is only optional.

  • On the driving range it is prohibited to block any practice mat (with golf clubs, bags or other objects) in order to be able to temporarily leave the site, reserving the mat for future use.

  • Range golf balls are the property of Budapest Highland Golf Club.

  • Playing with the range golf balls (either on the 9-hole course or the 3-hole course) or appropriating them entails the sanctions detailed above.

  • All golfers and non-golfing companions may enter only on their own risk and by acknowledging the hazards of golf.

  • Crossing the gate to the practice area, the PAR3 course and the 9-hole course is forbidden with bikes, baby buggies and other objects not necessary for golfing. Pets, baby buggies and small children are not allowed to enter beyond the gate.

  • Golf carts may only be driven by adults (over 18 years) and carry at most two persons with two golf bags. The key for the cart is available at the reception. The driver accepts and assumes all responsibility for liability connected with operation of the golf cart.

  • As a general rule, nonplaying guests are not allowed beyond the gate for safety reasons. Exceptionally, after notifying the reception, at most one person per flight may accompany the golfers provided that he/she keeps the safety rules.

  • Beyond the barrier, playing or practicing without authority (lacking a yearly membership or a green fee) or playing with range balls entail a fine of HUF 30,000 to be paid on site and banning from the golf club. In addition, the fee for the service used and not paid for (green fee or daily ticket) must also be paid. If a golfer with a proper authorization is opening the barrier and knowingly lets in another unauthorized person/persons to the area beyond the barrier, then this otherwise authorized golfer can also be penalized with the above sanctions.

  • The grass driving practice area is accessible only to golfers with valid HCP.

  • On the PAR3 course and the practice areas special rules apply in addition to the general rules:

    • On the PAR3 course no tee time reservation is required, players may start continuously availability of free slots permitting. Time limit per hole is 10 minutes. Players not able to keep this pace must pick up the ball and proceed to the next hole thereby avoiding holding up the golfers behind.

    • The maximum allowable distance from the flag for approaching the chipping green is 20 meters.

    • On the pitching practice area the maximum allowable distance from the flag is 60 meters (last distance marker).

  • For each round on the 9-hole course club members and also green fee golfers are required to make a tee time reservation.

  • Tee time reservation:

    • For a tee time reservation you have to register on the Chronogolf website where — after getting access — both reservations and cancellations can be made on-line.

    • Tee time reservations can also be made with the help of the Highland Club receptionists in person, by phone or through e-mail.

    • In any case, the name of all players should be given even if a player makes the reservation in the name of other players.

  • Golfers must arrive to the first tee on the 9-hole course at least 5 minutes prior to their tee-time. Being late entails losing the tee-time slot.

  • If a golfer — for whatever reason — cannot show up at the reserved tee time, then he/she should cancel the tee time maximum 2 hours prior to the tee time. Non-compliance with this rule entails:

    • Instant fine which is HUF 5.000 for club members, HUF 15.000 for non-members. The golfer cannot start another round on the Highland course until paying the fine.

    • For a second-time violation — in addition to the fine — exclusion from Chronogolf ensues and the golfer can only make reservation through the reception personally, by phone or email.

    • After a third-time violation — in addition to the fine — the golfer may only make a reservation only in person and may choose from the available slots but only for those beginning maximum 60 minutes later.

  • It is strictly forbidden to give players’ name fictitiously for a tee time slot with the intention to prevent other golfers from making a reservation. The golfer making the reservation for others bears responsibility if the golfer(s) does not show up and had not cancelled the reservation irrespective of the cause of having been absent. Sanctions are the same as specified before.

  • A flight consists of 4 players at the maximum. The players understand that the club management is entitled to assign players to a flight up to reaching the 4 person limit.

  • Highland can rebook a previously booked tee time by maximum one tee time slot (10 minutes) in the case when this is needed to accommodate additional golfers (i.e. merging one or two golfers per tee time slot into one tee time slot in order to free up an entire four person slot for a larger (3-4 person) group of golfers). The affected golfer is notified about the tee time change via e-mail sent by the booking site automatically.

  • Maximum one guest not participating in the game may join the flight and allowed to walk on the course. He/she must not endanger the safety of him(her)self and others.

  • Every non-member golfer must report at the reception and buy a green fee.

  • Every golfer has to show his/her Highland club card upon request at the check-point, on the course and on the practice field.

  • Tee time must be kept. In case of failing to do so implies the loss of the slot and is sanctioned as specified above.

  • The players must start at Hole 1. Before tee-off the Highland club card should be touched to the reader of the card-reading post. At the marshal’s booth everybody can check the tee time slots with names of the players as recorded in Chronogolf. Play can only be started with a valid tee time.

  • During the entire round the members of a given flight must stay together, it is strictly prohibited to split into several smaller groups, thus endangering the time limit and the smooth flow of play.

  • All players must use their own (or rented) golf clubs. Sharing clubs within a flight is not allowed.

  • In order to secure the prompt pace of play the provisional and unplayable ball rules apply. Searching for balls should not last for more than 3 minutes.

  • The time available for a whole round on the 9-hole course is 2 hours and 14 minutes (134 minutes). This breaks down to individual holes as is shown in the following table:

    Number of Hole Maximum time available (minute) Cumulative time from start
    1 17 17
    2 14 31
    3 15 46
    4 15 61
    5 15 76
    6 12 88
    7 15 103
    8 18 121
    9 13 134

  • In case of a “traffic jam” on the course, when flights catch up with each other, the following rules apply. Apart from the marshal, other golfers, Highland staff and Highland golf instructors also have the right to remind any golfer to follow these rules.

  • In case a player proceeds slower than the maximum time available he/she has to pick up the ball and go to the next hole thereby avoiding obstruction of the movement of the following player(s).

  • If a golfer catches up with the players of the flight ahead of him/her who are within the time limit given for the particular hole (i.e. they are not „too slow” but the player(s) behind is „too fast”), then the faster player(s) has no privilege, cannot force the player(s) before to move faster.

  • The player(s) in front, however, out of courtesy, may give way to those behind provided the hole ahead is not occupied. Otherwise congestion is not eliminated only put forward to the next hole.

  • The entire golf course is protected by an electric fence controller against wild animals (such as boar, deer etc.). Jumping this fence, reaching to the other side by a golf club and touching, damaging or disabling the fence in any way is strictly forbidden. The area beyond the fence should be considered Out of Bounds and thus the corresponding rules apply. For balls inside the fence but being so close to it that completing a stroke is not possible safely, the rule of „free drop” applies.

  • Players definitely must go through the Holes only in the specified order, any other order is strictly forbidden.

  • Playing with more than one ball and/or range balls is also strictly forbidden. Upon the request by the marshal the ball in use must be shown.

  • On the PAR 3 and the 9-hole course practicing is not allowed.

  • Beyond the barrier, playing or practicing without authority (lacking a yearly membership or a green fee) or playing with range balls entails a fine of HUF 30,000 to be paid on site and banning from the golf club.

  • All golfers are expected to preserve the condition of the Golf Course, to repair pitch marks on greens, replace divots, rake sand traps, put the rake back to its place and place trash in containers provided on the Golf Course. Violation of these rules entail a fine of HUF 30,000 and/or exclusion from the Highland Golf Club.

  • Passing between the bunker and the green with a trolley or golf cart is prohibited.

  • Please protect our ball picking car: aiming a golf shot at the ball picking car is strictly prohibited and entails a penalty of HUF 30,000 and banning from the golf club.

  • During play please follow the rules printed on your score card.

  • Guests of the Club are obliged to show a respectful behaviour towards other golfers and the employees of the club both on the club premises and at other venues, forums. In the case a golfer is behaving, communicating in a way that is contrary to the customs and traditions of golf, a definitive ban from the club premises can come into force.

  • Only golf instructors recognized by and under contract with the Club can give golf lessons in the area of the Budapest Highland Golf Club. For everyone else, golf instruction (the provision of golf lessons) is prohibited, including unpaid (for free) lessons. The penalty for training without a license is HUF 30,000 fine and the exclusion of the person providing the training from the Club.

  • Compliance with all policies and local regulations is mandatory.

  • The golfer who violates the House Rules of the Golf Club can be penalized by a fine, expulsion from the club and other sanctions. The golfer is obliged to pay the fine.

  • If necessary, Budapest Highland Golf Club will take official and legal measures against non-complying guests.

Special rules of Budapest Highland Golf Club

Made in accordance with R&A and USGA Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (2018 R&A Rules Limited) using the same notation and classification.

[A] Boundaries of the Course and Out of Bounds

A-1 Boundaries

The course is defined as the area bounded by the white poles and the fence.

In particular

  • On the left side of Holes 1,2 and 8 the area beyond the white poles is out of bounds.
  • The area beyond the ridge of the hill situated behind the road running on the edge of the green of Hole 9 is out of bounds.
  • The driving range is not part of the course. It is forbidden to enter this area even for retrieving lost balls.
A-4 In Bounds areas excluded from play
  • Comprises the maintenance area and buildings between Holes 1 and 6. Entering is allowed for retrieving balls but no ball can be put back in play from this area. Rule 16.1 applies in this case.

[B] Penalty areas

B-1 Definition of penalty area
  • Penalty areas are marked by red and yellow posts.
  • Posts within the penalty area are immovable obstacles. Relief can be taken according to rule 16.1.

[C] Bunkers

  • The rake must be placed within the bunker

[E] Special Reliefs

E-10 Saving young trees
  • Immediate neighborhood of young trees supported by poles is considered out-of-play area.

If in the out-of-penalty area a ball lands on such a tree, touches its trunk or is in a position hindering picking up proper stance or intended swing, then it is mandatory to take relief according to 16.1f.

If the ball is in the penalty area in a position hindering picking up proper stance or intended swing, then it is mandatory to take relief either in the form of a penalty shot according to 17.1e from the out-of-penalty area or without any penalty from the penalty area according to 17.1e(2).

[F] Abnormal course conditions

F-1 Definition of abnormality
  • Sprinklers, water taps and rising shafts (covered or uncovered) on the premises are considered immovable objects and taking relief specified in 16.1 applies.
  • Poles marking distances (100-150-200 meters) are also immovable objects and should be treated similarly.
  • Pebble beds, mulch beds around some tree-trunks are also considered immovable objects and taking relief according to 16.1 applies. Allowances according to 15.2, however, do not apply.
F-18 Reclassification of movable objects to immovables.
  • Movable distance marking poles are considered immovable and allowances according to 16.1 apply. Allowances by 15.2 do not apply.
  • Movable benches, garbage bins classify as immovable and are treated as such by rule 16.1.

[G] Restrictions on equipment

G-3 Standard golf balls
  • On the 9-hole and the PAR3 course, use of range balls is absolutely FORBIDDEN.

Penalty for breaching rule G-3: exclusion from competition and/or a fine.

G-6 Restriction on golf carts
  • During competition the player and his/her caddy must walk through the whole course. Exceptions are specified in the Rules and Regulations of Competitive Golf issued by MGSZ (Hungarian Golf Association).
G-7 Ban on golf shoes
  • Only shoes with soft spikes are allowed (no metal spikes!)

[I] Regulation of practice

I-2 Prohibition of practice on or around greens

Practice is forbidden on the green after finishing the Hole even if it does not delay the resumption of play. Thus rule 5.5b changes: Between two Holes the player is not allowed to make practice shots on the green or in its vicinity of the Hole just finished.

Penalty for violation: general measures.

[J] Suspension of play

I-1 Suspension and resumption of play
  • Signals used for suspension and resumption of play

1 prolonged horn sound: immediate suspension due to emergency

3 subsequent horn sounds repeatedly: normal suspension

2 short horn sounds repeatedly: resumption of play.

  • In emergency, the nearest shelter when being on Holes 1-9: clubhouse

[K] Pace of play

K-1 Time limit of a round

The time limit for covering all 9 Holes is 2 hours and 14 minutes. In a Stroke Play Stableford competition when a player cannot score more points (generally after reaching double par) he/she must pick up the ball.