DANFORTH SENIOR MEN'S GOLF LEAGUE RULES OF PLAY 2018 Membership Eligibility: Age 55 and older Reviewed and accepted by the Rules Committee and the League Officers April 29, 2018 1. Playing Rules: 1.1. Winter rules will be in effect everywhere on the course, except in hazards, but may not be used in such a way as to improve one's lie and shot to the green. For example, do not move from behind a tree which blocks shot to the green, never move closer to the green, never move closer to the hole, never move from rough to the fairway, and only move ball with the club head. 1.2. Players should have signed in and be on deck 15 min. before tee time. 1.3. All players will be using the forward tees (currently red). 1.4. Apply penalty strokes when moving ball from under, behind, or in bushes, or trees over two club lengths high. Move ball to give a clear swing, no nearer to the hole. PENALTY 1 STROKE 1.5. Move ball from under trees (less than two club lengths high), off bare ground, out of casual water, damaged fairway, away from distance markers and drinking fountains, off wrong green, and away from tree roots that are above ground. NO PENALTY. 1.6. Out of bounds will be marked by white stakes. Where no stakes are in place, use road as guide (#1, 2, 9 road and out of bounds on #6, 7 & 8). 1.7. For a ball hit out of bounds from tee, drop a ball no nearer to the hole but two club lengths from where it crossed the Out of Bounds line: PENALTY 1 STROKE. 1.8. For a ball hit out of bounds from fairway, drop a ball no nearer the hole but two club lengths from where it crossed the Out of Bounds line: PENALTY 1 STROKE. 1.9. For a ball hit but lost in the rough, drop a ball in the general area of where you lost it. PENALTY 1 STROKE. 1.10. If you hit a ball in the fairway and you are unable to find it due to inclement weather conditions, drop a ball approximately where you believe it landed. Inform your opponent of your intent. NO PENALTY 1.11. Putt out. There are no Gimmes. You may change balls any time without penalty.
1.12. Unless marked by mowing, a temporary green will be the area within three club lengths from the edge of the hole. TWO PUTTS MAXIMUM ON TEMPORARY GREEN. 1.13. Maximum of two putts for matches played on the day and the day after a green is aerated. The league director and/or league managers must declare this rule prior to start of play. 2. Score Cards: 2.1. Each team should check these often during the round. Each team should verify the scores for each hole played and attest to it by signing the card before handing it in to the Scorekeeper. The teams may calculate their scores and points on the card, but results will be computer calculated for accuracy. 2.2. Score and points posting errors must be brought to the attention of the Director or a League Manager within 14 days of the date the match was played. 3. Cancellation of Play: 3.1. Unless the course officials close the course, only the League Director and/or the League Managers can cancel league play. There will be no make-up date for a cancellation of the round the week before the final week of play. 3.2. The Golf Director and/or League Managers only can declare incomplete rounds. The round counts if all players, in their respective league, complete at least five holes. For the holes not played, they will be marked according to the "No-Show" scorecard based on their current handicap. The round will not count if any of the players in their respective leagues have yet to complete five holes. NOTE: POSITION ROUND is the last round before the banquet; therefore, it cannot be rained out. If, however, on the last week weather causes the course to be unplayable, the prior week s score will be the year-end results. 4. League Dues: Dues for league members should be paid by the first playing date of the season. For snowbirds, dues should be paid no later than the fourth week of the season.
5. Individual Handicap Calculation: 5.1. All league member handicaps will be based on the averaged equitable stroke controlled (ESC) low scores for approximately the lowest 50% of the matches played. Handicaps will be rounded to the nearest integer (single digit). Returning members will use the previous season s handicap for the current season s first round. Rounds Used for Handicap Rounds Used for Handicap Rounds Used for Handicap Rounds Used for Handicap Played Calculation Played Calculation Played Calculation Played Calculation 1 First round 6 Low 4 11 Low 6 15 Low 8 2 Second round but no more than two strokes diff for first round 7 Low 4 12 Low 7 17 Low 9 3 Low 2 8 Low 5 13 Low 7 18 Low 10 4 Low 3 9 Low 5 14 Low 8 19 Low 10 5 Low 3 10 Low 6 16 Low 9 20 Low 10 5.2. New players or subs will use their first score of the season to establish a handicap. Going forward, all players will use current year scores for handicap calculations. 6. Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) ESC is an adjustment of individual hole scores in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential ability. ESC is applied after the round and is only used when the actual score, or the most likely score, exceeds a player s maximum number. ESC sets a limit to the number of strokes a player can take on a hole depending on Course Handicap. ESC is applied to all scores, including tournament scores. Below is the maximum number a player can take: Course Handicap Maximum Number 9 or less Double Bogey 10-19 7 20-29 8 30-39 9 40 and above 10 Note: The highest course handicap on Genesee Valley North Course is 18. Please visit Section 4-3 of the USGA Handicap System manual for further reference.
7. Subs: 7.1. If a member cannot participate in a scheduled match, it is his or his partner s responsibility to secure a substitute from the list of subs available on the league website. Please provide the name of the sub to the league scorekeeper by phone or email. Be sure to write the name of the sub on the scorecard below the name of the scheduled person unless the name of the sub has already been noted on the card by the league scorekeeper. The sub will play for the absent player only regardless of handicap. Please do not attempt to rearrange the scorecard. Subs handicaps are calculated using the same method as regular league members. 8. Position Week: 8.1. If there is an absent player, substitutes will only be permitted if they are established subs, on the sub list, who have played 3 or more rounds in the Danforth League. Otherwise, the absent player will be considered a No-Show and his score will be determined based on the scoring method in place for the league. 9. Rules and Grievance Committee: The Director and the League Managers are the members of this committee. All grievances or questions about rules of play should be submitted, in writing, to the Director. He will then bring it to the attention of the League Managers within one week of receiving it. If a resolution is cannot be reached after a review by the committee, a three-man player committee, comprised of one representative from each league, will be asked to respond. The decision of the assigned committee will be final. 10. Points Scoring: Leagues will use the Modified Stableford method. In the Stableford method, members of a team play against the par for a hole. A player s handicap is factored in at a hole-by-hole level to adjust his stroke count for each hole. Points are awarded to a team member (and to the team) based on his net strokes (strokes used minus handicap) vs. the course par. There is no defined point total to be split between the teams for a match. The subsection below detail how the scoring will work. 10.1. Stableford Method 10.1.1. Each individual will score points per hole based on their net score (strokes used minus assigned handicap strokes) for the hole vs. the course par for the hole. Points will be awarded as follows:
Double eagle or better Eagle Birdie Par Bogie Double bogie or worse 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point 0 points 10.1.2. Team scores will be the sum of the total points earned by each team member plus: 6 points if a team s total points is greater than their opponent s 3 points if a team s total points is equal to their opponent s 0 points if a team s total points is less than their opponent s In the event that there is no opponent (e.g., in the case where a league has an odd number of teams), the opponent team score will be assumed to be 18 for the purpose of awarding team points. 10.1.3. The league will use 90% of the handicap of a player to award handicap strokes for the match. All players start each season fresh and the USGA handicapping method (including ESC) levels the playing field. 10.1.4. In the event that either or both players of a team do not show, and there is no substitute(s), each absent player will be given a net bogie for each hole of the match. When possible, notify the scorekeeper of No-Shows at least one day in advance via phone or email, so that the league scorekeeper can fill in the correct information in time for the match. 10.1.5. If a player arrives late and his group has already teed off and one player has hit their second shot, the late player will be scored according to the No-Show rules for each hole missed (see section 10.2.4).
11. Season Long Singles Skins Tournament Entry Fee: $ 10.00 11.1. This optional tournament, open to all league members, begins with the first week of play. Each league will have its own tournament, 11.2. Each team will play its scheduled matches for regular team play. 11.3. Each player will play his match for the singles tournament. 11.4. Individual points received will be determined by the player s performance under the scoring method in place for the league. For 2018, the Stableford method will be used. 11.5. All handicaps as applied in league play will prevail. 11.6. Total score (medal) will have no bearing on an individual s points. 11.7. If a substitute plays for a player, the sub s score will count toward the team total but will not count for the player in the Singles skins competition. 11.8. Season total points will be based on the highest 70% of league matches played. For example, if league matches are played on 18 weeks, the 13 highest scores for the player will be used. If league matches are played on 17 weeks, the 12 highest scores for the player will be used. 11.9. If the occasion arises where a player(s) do not show up, then No-Show rules apply. A player wins no singles points for a No-Show. 11.10. Total points won at the end of the season will determine the standings of participating members for a league. Cash payments will be made to at least half of the members participating from their league. 11.11. Amounts awarded for each league will be dependent upon the total amount collected from participating members for that league.
12. Season Long Birdie Skins Tournament Entry Fee: $10.00 12.1. This optional tournament, open to all league members, begins with the first week of play. 12.2. Each league will have an individual fund pool to pay for natural birdies achieved. The size of the pool will be determined by the number of entry fees received for that league. 12.3. Each week, a portion of the pool will be placed in a prize pot. The amount allocated will be calculated as the total size of the pool divided by the number of weeks in the season (e.g., $100 pool for 20 week season equals $5 per week). 12.4. Members achieving a natural birdie on a hole will qualify for a share of the pot. The pot will be divided equally among all qualifying scores. Scores of eagle and better will pay double the weekly pot amount. 12.5. In the event of a rain out or if no natural birdies or better are made during a week of play, funds in the pot will carry over to the following week. These carry-overs increase the pot for the following week. 12.6. If a Sub plays in your place, his score will not count for the skins contest on your behalf.
13. League-Coordinated Tournaments 13.1. The league tournament director will select the type of play. 13.2. When playing a handicap scramble (Ambrose), calculate team handicaps by summing up the players individual handicaps and then dividing that total by twice the number of players on the team. Number of Players Player A Player B Player C Player D Sum Total Number of Players x 2 Team Handicap = Sum Total divided by 2x number of players (Rounded down) 4-Man Scramble 14 15 16 22 67 8 8 3 Man Scramble 14 15 16 45 6 7 2-Man Scramble 14 15 29 4 7 Number of Players Player A Player B Player C Player D Sum Total Number of Players x 2 Team Handicap = Sum Total divided by 2x number of players (Rounded down) 4-Man Scramble 22 22 28 33 105 8 13 3 Man Scramble 22 22 28 72 6 12 2-Man Scramble 22 22 44 4 11