R&A Rules of Golf 2012-2015
Rule 7-1 provides that a player may practise on the competition course before a round on any day of a match play competition, but a competitor in stroke play must not practise before a round or play-off on any day of a stroke play competition or test the surface of any putting green on the course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
However, the Note to Rule 7-1 states:
“The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), prohibit practice on the competition course on any day of a match play competition or permit practice on the competition course or part of the course (Rule 33-2c) on any day of or between rounds of a stroke play competition.”
Therefore, the Committee may introduce a condition that overrides Rule 7-1
NEW LOCAL RULE
The local rule only applies to the following types of competition.
ALTERNATE DAY COMPETITIONS
When players have a choice between Main Day or Alternate Day participation for a single stroke play competition, in terms of Rule7-1b of the Rules of Golf, any player who elects to play on the second day of the competition is permitted to play on the competition course on the first day of the said competition.
9 HOLE QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS
The Committee have agreed to permit play/practise on the competition course or part of the course (Rule 33-2c) on the day of a 9 Hole Qualifying stroke-play competition.
Competition Committee
24th March 2013