COURSE AND HOUSE RULES

St. Michael’s Golf Club is proud to be classed as a Group One golf course amongst Sydney’s best courses. The Club values the great condition of the Golf Course and Clubhouse facilities and require all members and guests to maintain a high standard of behaviour and etiquette whilst visiting the club.

This page sets out the Club’s certain rules for maintenance of the Course, and dress requirements on the Course and in the Clubhouse.

Visitors who are inappropriately dressed shall not be allowed to play on the course or enter the premises.

We strongly suggest that you advise your guests of the dress code before they attend the club to avoid embarrassment.

 

CARE OF THE COURSE

• Sand buckets are available on both the 1st and 10th tees and are to be used for repairs to all divots. It is compulsory for all golfers to carry and use sand buckets.
• Bunkers are to be raked and pitch marks on greens repaired.
• Buggies and Electric Carts are not to be taken across or within 4 metres of greens or on tees.

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DRESS ON THE COURSE

Dress regulations April 2024 On the course, Members and visitors are to be neatly dressed. It is the responsibility of the player to ensure they wear the correct attire.

Acceptable Attire – Men

• Short socks must be either a single plain colour or with a golf club logo. Ankle socks are permissible and should be predominately single colour.
• Shorts and trousers must be of a tailored style. Shorts must be of a reasonable length but not extending below the knee (3/4 style shorts are not acceptable).
• Shirts must have a collar and must be worn tucked into trousers or shorts at all times, unless designed to be worn out, no longer then a few inches below the waist.
  Mock collar golf shirts are permitted as long as they are designed for golf wear.
• Headgear, if worn, must be appropriate and if it has a logo, must only be a golfing logo.
• Regulation non steel spike golf shoes must be worn on the course.

 

Acceptable Attire – Women

• Short socks must be either a single plain colour or with a golf club logo. Ankle socks are permissible and should be predominately single colour.
• Tailored shorts, tailored slacks, tailored ¾ length slacks (mid calf) and skirts.
• Shirts must have collars, or any golf apparel designed without a traditional collar.
• Shirts may be worn out but must be no longer than 14cm below the waist.
• Headgear, if worn, must be appropriate and if it has a logo, must only be a golfing logo.
• Regulation non steel spike golf shoes must be worn on the course.

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Unacceptable

• Denim pants/jeans with holes or raggedy looking, shirts and skirts or other similar clothing advertising a non golfing logo.
• Hawaiian style shirts and other beach type garments.
• The wearing of any other type of casual or sporting shoes such as sandals, jogging or tennis type shoes or thongs is not permitted.
• Metal-spiked golf shoes.
• Cargo type shorts, elastic or drawstring waist trousers or shorts.

 

ETIQUETTE & DRESS IN THE CLUBHOUSE

In the clubhouse, all members and guests are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that:

Creates an environment and culture that is reflective of the personal integrity and respect taught in the rules of golf where honesty, integrity and good sportsmanship are paramount.  This same integrity honesty and good will are expected whether on the golf course, in the clubhouse, or representing the club.

Does not represent or denigrate the Club in any way shape or form either in person through the media or through any form of social media.
   
Golfing attire or appropriate casual wear and footwear with socks may be worn. Denim jeans of any colour or those types of jeans bearing brand names or other similar motifs are not permitted. The above guidelines also apply for Dress in the Clubhouse. Boat shoes are permitted inside the clubhouse with or without socks.

 

If lightning is in the area a player may stop play if he or she reasonably believes there is danger from lightning.

Bad weather is not of itself a good reason to discontinue play.

If the player discontinues play without specific permission from the Match Committee (Committee), the player must report to the Committee as soon as practicable. If the player does so and the Committee considers the player’s reasons satisfactory, there is no penalty, otherwise the player is disqualified.

Please find below the Recommendation for Lighting Protection from the Medical Journal of Australia.

Recommendations for Lighting Protection
The “30/30” rule is recommended for lighting safety as a guide for the suspension and subsequent resumption of activity.

The first part of the rule (a flash-to-bang count of 30 seconds) is a guide to the suspension of activity. The flash-to-bang count is one the of most practical techniques for estimating the distance to lightning activity. Given that sound travels at a speed of about one kilometre every three seconds, the time that elapses between the flash of lightning and clap of thunder can be divided by three to give a measurement of how far away the storm is in kilometres.

For example, if the time elapsed between the flash of lightning and clap of thunder is 6 seconds then the lightning is approximately 2 km away.

The second part of the “30/30” rule provides the criteria for resumption of play, here it is recommended that people wait 30 minutes after the last sight of lighting or sound of thunder. The figure is based on the observation that a typical storm moves about 40 km/h. Thus, waiting 30 minutes allows the thunderstorm to be about 20km away, minimizing the probability of a nearby strike. It is important to emphasise that blue skies and lack of rainfall are not adequate reasons to breach the 30
minute return-to-play rule.

The Committee is confident that understanding the relevant Rules of Golf and proximity of lighting will help provide direction to
Members should lightning be in the area.

The Rules of Golf state
Lightning is one case where players may stop play on their own accord if they believe there is danger from lightning (Rule 5.7). However, if a player does so, he or she must report to the Committee / Golf Shop as soon as possible.

Therefore, the Club encourages all members and visitors to monitor the weather and act accordingly.

On members and public social round days, visitors can report to the golf shop for a rain check; however, if play is expected to resume soon then it would be expected those players to also return to their hole of play.

Lightning
Any time there is lightning activity, there is a significant risk of being struck by lightning on a golf course. It is an individual’s responsibility to check weather forecasts and to ensure your own safety with regard to lightning before you use the golf course. It is a condition of entry to this course that you acknowledge that you do not rely on the club or pro shop to ensure your safety from lightning.

The Club will only sound a siren to indicate play has been suspended, due to unplayable course conditions (eg: flooding of greens). Once the Siren sounds all players must mark their golf ball and walk off the golf course. Whether or not the siren is sounded, everyone should be vigilant about changing weather conditions to determine their own safety and whether or not it remains safe to play.