HAMPTON COVE GOLF LEAGUE RULES ~ 2018 ~

A. The HCGL and Hampton Cove. General Rules & Guidelines 1. Robert Trent Jones @ Hampton Cove is the venue for all HCGL matches, but HCGL events are not sponsored or run by the Hampton Cove Golf Course. 2. Brian Bourque is the Commissioner of the HCGL. 3. Bill Collins is the Treasurer of the HCGL. 4. The official USGA rules of golf shall apply, except for the HCGL rules outlined herein, as well as all Hampton Cove golf course rules as posted. 5. Each competitor must have a Hampton Cove Trail Card. The annual cost of a Card is $40 (plus sales tax). a) Green Fees: $22.00 plus tax with cart for 2018 Trail Card Holders, $11.00 plus tax (cart fee) for 2018 Annual Pass Members. b) Pro Shop Purchases: Cardholders receive a 15% discount on the purchase of all items in the Pro Shop, with the exception of golf clubs and golf shoes. c) Range Balls: A $3.00 token gives a golfer roughly 35 range balls. B. Membership in the HCGL and Match Guidelines. 1. The HCGL is the Best Damn Golf League Period. The cost per team to participate in the HCGL is $1,650. The cost per player is based on the number of members on the team. (Example: If there are 10 team members, the cost per member is $165 [$1,650 10]). The team members shall each make their checks payable to HCGL, and shall give them directly to their team captain. The deadline for team members to get their payments to their team captain is April 15th. Each team captain is responsible for getting the $1,650 to HCGL Treasurer, Bill Collins. NOTE: Players will not be allowed to participate in any HCGL matches if their membership dues have not been paid on time. In cases like this, at the captains discretion, he may replace any member who had not paid his membership dues with another team member. 2. The matches shall be held on Tuesdays, however, some matches shall be held on Thursdays. All matches shall be 9 hole matches, and shall be played on both the Highlands and the River Courses. Beginning March 20th, shotgun start 4:30 pm and throughout the remainder of the season, shotgun start 4:30 pm. 3. The dates teams are scheduled to play, their tee times, the courses and holes teams are assigned to, shall be provided to all players via email. 4. Players may choose either the teal, silver, white or orange tees no matter of age. Regardless, whatever tee a player chooses to play from in his first match, according to the HCGL rules, he must play from that tee throughout the 2018 HGCL season. EXAMPLES: a) In a player s first match, if the player plays from the white tees, he must continue playing from the white tees throughout the HCGL season, and his handicap will be based on his scores playing from the white tees. Page 1 of 8

b) If in his first match the player chooses to play from the orange tees, he must continue playing from the orange tees throughout the HCGL season, and his handicap will be based on his scores playing from the orange tees. NOTE: This is a new rule that was voted on by all team captains and put into effect as of the 2016 HCGL season. The reason behind the new rule is to insure that each player establishes his handicap from the same tees throughout the HCGL season. This will also insure the consistency and accuracy of all players handicaps. Page 2 of 8

A. Practice. HAMPTON COVE GOLF LEAGUE RULES ~ 2018 ~ Match Rules & General Guidelines 1. On the day a player competes in an HCGL match, he is allowed to hit balls on the practice range and/or play a practice round. B. Players Sign In. 1. All players must: a) Sign in at the Hampton Cove Pro Shop. b) Receive a cash register receipt. c) Have the receipt validated by the starter. 2. First time violators of the Sign In rules shall forfeit their matches that day. 3. Second time violators of the Sign In rules shall forfeit their matches, and shall be suspended for further play for the HCGL season. C. Out of Bounds. 1. No out of bounds on either course. 2. Please do not play out of homeowner s yards. You get a free drop back on the course, two clublengths no closer to the hole. NOTE: The loss of distance penalty is waived. D. Lost Golf Balls. 1. A player shall drop a second ball within two 2 club lengths from the suspected point of loss or point of entry into the area of loss, but no nearer the hole. 2. The player shall be assessed a 1 stroke penalty. 3. The player shall be allowed a maximum of 3 minutes to look for his lost ball, after he has reached the area where his ball was lost. 4. The other players in the group shall first hit their balls, and then shall help look for the player s lost ball. 5. If the player s original ball is found after he has played his 2 nd ball, he must continue to play his second (2 nd )ball. The player s original ball cannot be put back into play. The player may not play a provisional ball under the lost ball rule. NOTE: The loss of distance penalty is waived. E. Unplayable Lies. 1. A player may drop his ball within 2 club lengths from an unplayable lie, but no nearer the hole. 2. The player shall be assessed a 1 stroke penalty. 3. The player shall play his ball any distance behind the point where his ball lies after he has dropped his ball. 4. Balls dropped as unplayable lies in traps or bunkers, must be in a trap or bunker. NOTE: This rule does not apply while the improved lie rule is in effect. Page 3 of 8

F. Improving a Lie. 1. A player may improve his lie the length of a SCORECARD anywhere except when his ball has come to rest in a hazard or on the green. 2. Water Hazard, since the courses are not mark the league plays the submerged rule, if ball is touching the water then it is considered to be in the hazard, otherwise it can be moved one scorecard length no nearer the hole. 3. A player may improve his lie no nearer the hole. 4. If a player s ball comes to rest in the rough, he may improve his lie the length of a SCORECARD, no nearer the hole, but his ball must remain in the in the rough. 5. If a player s ball comes to rest in the long rough, he may improve his lie the length of a SCORECARD, no nearer the hole, even if improving his lie results in his ball being moved from the long rough to the short rough. 6. If a player s ball comes to rest on the fringe of the green, he may improve his lie the length of a SCORECARD, no nearer the hole, but his ball must remain on the fringe. G. Gimmie Putt. 1. If a player s ball is on the green, it is determined to be a gimmie putt if the ball is within the leather of a standard size putter. No opponent can give a putt it must be inside the leather to be a gimmie. 2. If a player s putt is determined to be a gimmie putt, the player is not required to putt his ball. He may pick up his ball and add 1 stroke to his score to that point. 3. When a player s ball is on the green, he may substitute his original ball with a different ball, if the original ball he put in play from the teeing ground has become damaged to the extent that it is unplayable. 4. A player may substitute his original ball only if the damage to his ball occurred in the presence of the player s opponent. 5. To speed up play, players are asked to continue to putt out whenever possible, instead of marking their balls each time. H. Rain outs. 1. Rain outs will be made up one of three ways: a) The captains may meet and schedule a match within the next 2 weeks of the rain out. b) The captains may match scorecards in the matches the next week. c) The league may schedule another date in the future for the makeup. NOTE: All rain outs shall be determined by the matches the 3 rd week after the rain out in order to keep the schedule running successfully. Page 4 of 8

A. Players Points. HCGL Scoring System 1. In each match, the two competitors compete for a maximum of 20 points. 2. A player is awarded 2 points for each hole he wins 3. Players are awarded 1 point for a tie. 4. A player is awarded 2 points for winning the low net, 1 point for a tie. B. Team Points. SUMMARY: 18 Maximum hole points (9 holes X 2 points) 2 Maximum points for winning the low net. 20 Maximum number of total player points per match. 1. Each team competes for a maximum of 100 points per match. 2. Each team is made up of 4 players. Each player competes for a maximum of 20 points for a team total of 80 points (4 players X 20 maximum points each = 80 maximum team points). 3. The team that wins the team low net is awarded 10 points. 4. The team competes for additional points, which are awarded on the basis of the number of strokes which a team wins by, up to a maximum of 10 points additional points. EXAMPLE 1: 150 Total team low net. (Team A) 145 Total team low net. (Team B) 5 Team B wins 15 points (10 for low net, 5 additional points for difference, Team A receives the remaining 5 points) EXAMPLE 2: 150 Total team low net (Team A) 138 Total team low net (Team B) 12 Team B wins 20 points (10 for low net, 10 additional for the difference, Team A receives 0 ) MAXIMUM POTENTIAL TEAM POINT SUMMARY: A team competes for a maximum of 100 points. 80 Maximum points players compete for. 10 Maximum points awarded to the team low net. 10 Maximum points difference in team low net. 100 Maximum TOTAL points each team competes for per match. C. Maximum Number of Strokes per Hole (the Quad Rule). 1. The maximum score a player can take on any given hole is known as Quad (par plus 4 strokes. 2. Examples of Quad scores: a) Par 3 s: 7 (3 + 4). b) Par 4 s: 8 (4 + 4). c) Par 5 s: 9 (5 + 4). Page 5 of 8

3. A player who has scored a Quad, shall pick up his ball and cease from further playing the hole, even if he has not holed out. 4. A player who has scored a Quad, shall enter his score (par plus 4 strokes) on his scorecard for low net purposes. 101 Scoring Under the Quad Rule. 1. A player who has scored a Quad cannot win the hole, and therefore cannot win a point. 2. A player who has scored a Quad shall lose the hole to his competitor, provided his competitor has scored a natural score (up to and including par plus 3 strokes), regardless of the number of handicap strokes the player is entitled to on the hole. 3. In the event that a player and his opponent each score a Quad, they have tied the hole. There shall be no consideration given to the player who was closer to the hole at the time each player picked up his ball or if receiving stroke on the hole. 4. A player s full handicap shall still be used for scorecard purposes. (This is for the determination of the 2 point match winners and team score differentials.) 102 Forfeit Rule 1. Minimum of 2 players required to play. 2. The team playing against a forfeit will be playing a blind at the discretion of that team. The Blind will shoot gross 43 net 43. 3. The forfeiting team will have a 20 point deduction for each forfeit from its total in the match. (This rule waived for the 2018 season) 4. The first two forfeits for a team will be a 20 point deduction, the third forfeit will be a 30 point deduction, the fourth a 40 point deduction, after that the committee will decide the fate of that team. (This rule waived for the 2018 season) Page 6 of 8

A. Disputes, Doubts and Penalties. Disputes, Doubts & Penalties for Violations 1. If a dispute or doubt arises between players regarding any matter, for a dispute to be ruled on by the Rules Committee, the player in doubt or disputing a matter must announce his doubt or dispute to his competitor before any of players in the match play from the next teeing ground. 2. In the event that the dispute occurs on the last hole of the match, the player in doubt or disputing a matter must advise his opponent of his dispute or doubt before any the players in the foursome leave the golf course for the dispute to be ruled on by the Rules Committee. 3. If a dispute cannot be settled between the competitors amicably, the player being challenged may play out the hole using a 2 nd ball. However, before playing a stroke with either ball, the player being challenged must announce his intentions to his opponent. Separate scores will be recorded for each ball and the Rules Committed will make a final ruling. 4. Upon completion of the round, the doubt or dispute must be factually reported to the Rules Committee, which will rule on the dispute and determine the official score. B. Penalties for a Breach of the Rules. 1. The penalty for a breach of the rules shall be based on stroke play not match play. 2. Playing partners and their caddies may give each other advice, but coaches are not allowed. A caddie is defined as one who carries the golf clubs of a player. Golf clubs carried on a motorized golf cart are not considered as being carried by a caddie. C. Breach of Etiquette. 1. In the event that a group is holding up the group immediately behind them due to a lost ball, hazards, slow play, or for whatsoever reason, if the hole immediately in front of the group is open, the group holding up play shall be allowed to play through. 2. The personnel of Hampton Cove who serves as marshals shall assist in determining the basis for allowing a group to play through. D. General. 1. The rules and procedures contained herein have been modified to keep play moving at a reasonable pace and are not intended to take the place of the players responsibility to familiarize themselves with all USGA rules, as well as the Hampton Cove rules as posted. CAUTION: Relaxing the rules can lead to bad habits, and can lead to players to making mistakes in future matches. 2. Golfers are advised that their HCGL handicaps are valid in the HCGL only. Handicaps are not USGA sanctioned handicaps. 3. All suggestions on improvements to the rules and procedures contained herein must be submitted in writing to the Rules Committee for consideration. 4. The HCGL was designed to promote good golf and fellowship. Players are asked to help the HCGL to continue to make the league an environment for FUN golf. Page 7 of 8

Ruling: Questions and Answers Q: If your ball is up against the barn on #5 Highlands is it a free drop. A: The barn is just like a tree you get a scorecard relief. Q: What happens if a player is late to the tee box or for that matter cannot finish a round. A: That player is given quad on all holes that are missed. Now remember we all are responsible to show up for a 4:30 tee time, but things do and will continue to happen that causes players to be late. But if we know they are running late (phone call, text, etc.) but will be there, that player will be able to catch up with the group and receive a quad on any holes missed. If a player has to leave the course early for some reason, the player will receive quad on the holes not finished. Page 8 of 8