By Richard Todd
I was at my local club and noticed a sign on the counter,
“Please excuse the state of our bunkers. We are currently reshaping and refilling these hazards for better future play. You may take free relief during this process.”
Under normal playing conditions, there is no current rule to allow free relief from a hazard. So how can an individual course allow such an action?
The answer: ‘local rule’.
A local rule is the permissible change to the standard rules of golf by the course committee in order to protect the course or the player due to local and abnormal playing conditions. 
In this case, if a ball lands in a hazard, the golfer can pick it up and drop the ball into play outside the bunker within a club length of the nearest point of relief, but not nearer the hole.
The most common ‘local rule’ is ‘winter rules’, known as preferred lies. This permits a golfer to lift, clean, and place his ball due to playing conditions that could damage the course if the ball is played as it lies.
Other local changes by a course include attire, such as no metal spiked shoes or the requirement of colored shirts or pants.
How about stones in bunkers? Again, normally not allowed to be moved but if the course is having trouble maintaining the conditions this can be permitted.
Golf fans recently saw this rule being used at Shinnecock for the U.S. Open. A local rule in place for the tournament allowed players to pick up pebbles from the sand trap before they hit their shot.
If the course you’re playing has unique, or rare ornamental flowers and bushes throughout the playing area, a local rule may grant free relief, should you or your stance threaten damage to them. If trees have a large number of roots protruding above the ground, a free drop is good for the course, as well as, the golfer.
When checking in with the starter or clubhouse, check to see if there are any special local rules that may help your game.
What’s the most unique local rule you’ve seen while playing? Let me know!
