IHWGA Niners Member Rules Last revised: February 13, 2018

IHWGA Niners Member Rules Last revised: February 13, 2018 INTRODUCTION 2 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS 2 POSTING INDIVIDUAL SCORES IN GHIN 2 DUES, FEES, AND CHARGES 3 SIGNING UP FOR GOLF AND EVENTS 3 FRONT TEES 3 WALK UPS 3 CANCELING SIGN-UPS 3 CANCELING PLAY DAYS, TOURNAMENTS, AND COUPLES 4 DIRECTORY 4 GROUP MESSAGES 4 PRIZES AND AWARDS 4 PLAY DAYS 4 TOURNAMENTS AND COUPLES 5 NINERS CHAMPIONSHIP 5 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER 5 TEAM PLAYER 5 COUPLES TOURNAMENT RULES 5 MORNING TOURNAMENT RULES 6 NINERS CHAMPIONSHIP RULES 6 PLAY DAY RULES 7 KEEPING SCORE 7 USGA RULES OF GOLF AND QUICK GUIDE 7 LOCAL INDIAN HILLS RULES OF GOLF 7 LOCAL NINERS RULES OF PLAY 8

Introduction These rules are intended to better define member responsibilities and clarify areas of misunderstanding. They are subject to change. The most current rules are posted on the Niners Bulletin Board in the locker room and our website, www.ihwganiners.com, under Rules & Guidance. Membership Requirements As specified in our Constitution, membership is open to any woman with an adult golfing membership at Indian Hills, and a handicap of 39 or less. We have a long history of welcoming women who are new to the game or have not played in a while. A woman registered in GHIN with no handicap, or with a nine-hole Handicap Index (HI) greater than 39, can join as a provisional member who is: Expected to establish an appropriate handicap within two months. Not eligible for regular play day prizes, or to play in morning or Couples tournaments. Encouraged to play from the Front (Family Gold) Tees rather than the Ladies Silver Tees. Anyone can earn a nine-hole HI by posting five scores in the GHIN ( gin ) handicap system, a service of the United States Golf Association (USGA). Visit the Indian Hills Pro Shop to get set up in GHIN. Less experienced golfers should be sure to ask for a nine-hole (rather than 18-hole) handicap, which can be established more quickly and updates faster as a golfer improves. Handicaps are updated in GHIN on the 1 st and 15 th of each month. New members can sign up to play once we receive their information and dues, and verify they are set up in GHIN. Posting Individual Scores in GHIN Each player is responsible for posting her personal scores in GHIN using: The computer in the Women s Locker Room, Her GHIN number and last name at http://www.ghin.com, or The GHIN smartphone app available for free at the App Store. The Pro Shop can look up GHIN numbers needed for first-time use of the website and phone app. To maintain the integrity of handicaps and be consistent with USGA rules, Niners must post scores in GHIN for all rounds except those played: Alone, without playing partners. In scramble and other tournament formats that do not measure individual performance. As practice rounds, which should be declared at the beginning of play. On courses under construction/renovation. When the player withdraws. When more than two holes of a nine-hole round cannot be played. Scores should be posted within a week of play. 2

Dues, Fees, and Charges Annual dues, tournament entry fees and payment methods are set and announced by the Board at the beginning of the season. IHCC golf and cart fees apply when we play; carts are required for all tournaments and later tee times (as noted in SignUpGenius). On regular play days, members should sign a ticket in the Pro Shop like any other round. Tickets are not needed for tournaments or Couples as the Club charges from the players list. Formal lunches following monthly tournaments and Couples dinners are charged to member accounts. The Board sets a maximum budget for these meals each year. Charges apply for late cancelations; see Canceling Sign-Ups and Canceling Play Days, Tournaments, and Couples below. Signing Up for Golf and Events The Niners use www.signupgenius.com to register for all formal events. A Niners name and email address are required to set up an account. On regular play days, members can sign up in any open foursome. Those who sign up for morning or Couples tournaments are assigned to foursomes by an IHCC Golf Professional based on handicaps, so groups are reasonably evenly matched. Front Tees Members play from the Ladies Silver Tees unless they sign up for the Front (Family Gold) Tees (by indicating FT in the SignUpGenius Comments field). Members must play from the tees they signed up for so correct Course Handicaps are applied. Walk Ups Members can walk up on regular play days if this is an occasional occurrence. Before arriving at the Club, walk ups should call the Starter to ensure open tee times and playing partners are available. Members must sign up for tournaments, lunches, and all other events; walk ups are not allowed. Canceling Sign-Ups Sign-ups must be canceled through SignUpGenius before they lock at deadlines communicated in instructions at the top of each sign-up and in confirmation and reminder emails. IHCC meal charges apply after deadlines; please do not call the Club or Niners to cancel tournament lunches or Couples dinners. To cancel golf after sign-ups lock, contact the appropriate person/group as described in confirmation and reminder emails. This courtesy facilitates matching remaining players with other partners. 3

Canceling Play Days, Tournaments, and Couples Play days and tournaments, including Couples, are canceled if the course is closed or at the discretion of the President or her delegates. Cancelations are communicated as soon as possible by email. If golf is canceled after deadlines because of weather, we typically still have tournament lunches and Couples dinners together; no-shows are charged in these circumstances. Directory Our Directory contains contact and other information for all Niners. Members should treat this with care, as they would their own personal and confidential information. Directory information should never be shared with others outside the Niners or used for business solicitations. As new versions are published, we expect members to shred existing paper copies and erase old electronic ones. Group Messages The President considers occasional requests to send information to the group at large if they relate to our members, charitable endeavors, and events at Indian Hills. Such messages may be included in the President s regular communications at her discretion. Messages from Club management and regarding the Fore the Cure tournament may be forwarded directly to members. Prizes and Awards To encourage friendly competition, Niners typically play for (a little) money. Types and sizes of awards vary based on tournament formats and at the discretion of the Board. Except for the Niners Championship, at least 12 players must finish a round for play day or tournament prizes to be awarded. Play Days Based on Course Handicaps, the designated Play Day Hostess separates Front Tee and Silver Tee players with similar handicaps into flights when she prepares the day s Score Sheet. At the end of the round, she determines flight winners based on net scores and the following criteria: Flights with only 1 player have no winner. Flights with 6+ players have a 2 nd winner. In case of a tie, the player with the best gross score on the most difficult hole wins. If still tied, scores on the 2 nd, then 3 rd etc. hardest holes are used to break the tie. At the end of the year, cash prizes are distributed to flight winners and players scoring gross birdies and pars. 4

Tournaments and Couples Prizes are typically given to members of the Low Gross, Low Net, and 2 nd Net foursomes, and to individuals winning proximity challenges such as Most Accurate Drive and Longest Putt. Prizes are described in tournament-specific instructions and distributed at meals following tournaments. Niners Championship The Champion is the Low Net winner and the Medalist is the Low Gross winner. They and flight winners (who are not Champion or Medalist) receive cash prizes. There must be at least 2 players in a flight for a winner to be named. Most Improved Player This award is given at year end to the player with the most improved handicap from March 1 through November 15. This is determined per USGA formulas and Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) guidelines with the following modification: A player must participate in 10 or more regular play days to be eligible. Team Player This award is given at year end to the member who, in the Board s view, has contributed significantly to the organization through participation in events, fostering new member development, volunteering formally or informally, and sharing her enthusiasm for golf with her fellow Niners. Officers and Committee Chairs are not eligible. Couples Tournament Rules The following rules are specific to Couples, though all previous sections of this document are relevant. Following sections do not apply to Couples. Couples Nine & Dine tournaments begin with a shotgun start and end with dinner after golf. We assume all players stay to eat unless they note No Dinner in the Comments field on SignUpGenius. Members can also sign up for Dinner Only, No Golf if they cannot play. If the sign-up is full, members wanting to play should check SignUpGenius periodically as we almost always have cancelations. They should contact the Couples Chair about adding after sign-ups lock. We ask members to be thoughtful and cancel golf as soon as possible if they cannot play. Each couple must include a Niners member; she can play with a partner who is not a member of Indian Hills. All women play from the Silver Tees; men play from the Gold Tees. If there is an uneven number of couples, the last one to sign up plays alone; the IHCC Golf Professional will assign a proxy handicap for the missing couple. 5

Tournament rules are provided and reviewed before starting. The first couple in each foursome is responsible for keeping score for the team. Each person is responsible for tracking their mulligans and drives as applicable per tournament instructions. Morning Tournament Rules Tournaments begin with a shotgun start and end with a group lunch after golf. We assume all players stay to eat unless they note No Lunch in the Comments field on SignUpGenius. Members can also sign up for Lunch Only, No Golf if they cannot play. Tournament-specific rules are provided and reviewed before starting. Cart drivers are responsible for keeping score for the team and resolving differences between Score Cards. Each player is responsible for tracking her strokes, mulligans and drives as applicable per tournament instructions. Unless otherwise addressed in the day s rules: Groups are expected to play in 2:10 (2 hours and 10 minutes) to 2:20 per Club standards. Niners who regularly play from the Front Tees can play from them during tournaments. They should follow Play Day Rules if they cannot readily find a Front Tee marker. Givens or gimmies are not allowed when putting. Niners Championship Rules This tournament is played under USGA rules; Local Niners Rules do not apply. It is every player s responsibility to protect other players in the tournament. If a player is in doubt about a rule, she should play a second ball, score both, and get a ruling from the IHCC Golf Professional when the round is finished. If a player is in doubt about another s score or her application of a rule, she should immediately ask questions on the course, giving the other golfer the opportunity to discuss the relevant rule, correct a mistake or play a second ball. Participants should immediately raise issues or concerns to the IHCC Golf Professional at the end of the round, before they sign Score Cards. Anyone who participates on 10 regular play days is eligible to play in the Championship. Days played as a provisional member count, as do days when a member withdraws or plays a practice round. Eligible members must sign up to participate and pay the applicable entry fee. An IHCC Golf Professional assigns players to foursomes/groups. The tournament s rules sheet will address procedures for resolving ties. The Championship is typically a two-day tournament. In case of rain or other unforeseen circumstances, the Championship will be a one-day event. 6

Play Day Rules We generally follow USGA and local Indian Hills (IHCC) rules. Local Niners Rules are designed to speed play and clarify areas of frequent misunderstanding. We think it is important for members to appreciate and follow the rules, but we recognize that some of us are new to golf or play just for fun. We encourage members to ask questions if unsure how to proceed. And we expect members to help others learn the rules by proactively giving guidance, gently pointing out mistakes, and conveying appropriate courses of action. Keeping Score On play days, we golf for (a little) money; a member posting a score must be diligent about playing her ball as it lies, counting all strokes, and taking relief per the rules. A member can play a practice round or withdraw and not record a score. She should note practice or withdrawn on her Score Card and is not eligible for prizes. Each foursome/group is responsible for: Designating two people to keep score for everyone using last names (not Nancy or me ). Calculating gross scores, reconciling differences, and designating one official Score Card. Having at least two players date and sign the official Score Card attesting to its correctness. Recording gross and calculating net scores on the Score Sheet on the Niners Bulletin Board and noting practice or withdrawn for players not posting a score. Documenting birdies and pars on the Winners, Birdies, & Pars (WB&P) form. Leaving their signed Score Card by the Bulletin Board and disposing of any duplicates. Players should be courteous and post scores immediately after a round, before socializing and eating. When all players are in, the responsible Play Day Hostess has the authority to finalize results after a reasonable time, even if scores, birdies, and pars are missing. Flight winners, birdies, and pars are announced following play. Any player with concerns (wrong winner announced, forgotten pars) should raise them within one week. While each foursome/group is responsible for posting Niners scores, each player is responsible for posting her personal score in GHIN. USGA Rules of Golf and Quick Guide Rules of Golf is a joint publication of the USGA and Royal & Ancient (R&A) based in St. Andrews, Scotland. The Quick Guide, starting on page 18, is a concise 8 pages. It covers, in relatively plain English and a few pictures, the vast majority of situations we encounter on the course. We expect all Niners to read the Quick Guide, available on our website under Rules & Guidance. Local Indian Hills Rules of Golf These rules, posted on our website, briefly address topics such as out-of-bounds areas not marked by white stakes; embedded balls; winter (cart path only) rules; how to play certain holes; greenside fans; and accidental movement of a ball on a putting green. 7

Local Niners Rules of Play Except where noted and intended to clarify USGA and IHCC rules, the following apply to Niners play days only. Referenced website materials are at www.ihwganiners.com under Rules & Guidance. 1. Ten-Stroke Maximum Score: Regardless of handicap, a player should hit until her ball is in the hole or she has taken nine strokes (when she should pick up and score 10). Players with nine-hole Course Handicaps < 20 (per the Niners Score Sheet) should consult USGA Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) rules to determine the score to record in GHIN. ESC information is posted on the Niners bulletin board and website. 2. Pace of Play: Foursomes are expected to play in 2:10 to 2:20 per IHCC standards. All members are encouraged to read Pace of Play Suggestions on our website. Those with higher handicaps, shorter hitting distances, or who like to take more time are encouraged to play from the Front Tees. 3. Playing Alone: Per USGA rules, members must play with at least one partner to post a score. 4. Lift and Clean: Per IHCC rules, if the course is designated cart path only, a player in a fairway or closely mown area can lift, clean, and replace her ball within 1 club-length, without penalty. 5. Ball Lost in the Fairway: If a ball is lost in the fairway in weather-created debris or fallen leaves, a player may drop at the assumed location of the lost ball without penalty. 6. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds: If her ball is likely lost (outside a hazard) or out of bounds, a player should hit a provisional ball and follow USGA Rule 27. If a player cannot find her ball where it should be, or unexpectedly finds it out of bounds, with a 1-stroke penalty she can drop within 2 club-lengths of where the ball was lost/out of bounds, no closer to the hole and in the same course conditions (i.e., a ball in the woods stays in the woods, one in the rough stays in the rough). 7. Lost Ball Searches are limited to 3 minutes. 8. Cherokee #7: If her ball lands in the water hazard while crossing it, a player can drop (not tee) her ball in the Niners drop zone. It is on the knoll across the creek, on the right side of the cart path. As with other relief under USGA rules, a one-stroke penalty applies. 9. Mulligans (second chances to hit without counting strokes) are not allowed per USGA rules. 10. Whiffs: Per the USGA definition of stroke, if a player intentionally attempts to hit her ball, it counts as a stroke even if she fails to make contact. 11. Givens or gimmies should be taken if a player is not putting for par or better; the ball is in the leather measured from the putter head to the bottom of the grip; and other players give the stroke. Players must count a given as a stroke. Givens cannot be taken retrospectively if a player putts her ball, even for practice. 12. Holes Skipped or Not Finished: A player may take a break, pick up to speed play, leave early for an appointment, bypass a hole to pass slow groups, or move on due to slow play as directed by a marshal. In such circumstances, a player should score 10 on a hole and consider ESC rules. This applies to all players when a marshal directs a group to move on. 13. Holes Not Played Due to Weather or Course Conditions: A member may be unable to play a hole because of lightning, course or hole closures, construction, etc. In such circumstances, score the hole per USGA rules using Par Plus Handicap Tables posted on the Niners Bulletin Board and website. Golfers must finish at least 7 of 9 holes to post a score for the round using these tables. 14. Front Tees: From the gold circle on the cart path, players should turn 90 into the fairway and tee within 2 club-lengths of the Family Gold marker. If the marker is not quickly found, tee anywhere on the 90 line. On Cherokee #8, tee on the right side of the path as it crosses the fairway. 15. Putting: Without penalty, a player on the green can choose to putt with the flagstick in the hole if all other players are not on the green and it speeds play. 8