1 Welcome to Ladies Grand Niners! We are a Sun City Grand ladies nine-hole golf league. Our golf league of grand ladies strives to have fun, develop friendships and enjoy golf! The information that you will find here is for your reference and developed to help you become familiar with our procedures. In this packet you will find information about: Accessing the website Sign up for golf and, if necessary, how to cancel after sign up No Show Fee Where and when to find pairings each week Check- in Procedure on day of league play Range Balls, Frost Delays Membership Meeting that occurs before league play What to expect from your Buddy/ Mentor Scorecard Instructions Information about the USGA Handicap System Posting Scores on the Ladies Grand Niners Website www.ladiesgrandniners.com We encourage you to become familiar with our website. The website is where you will find out about upcoming events, sign up for golf and the schedule of where we will be playing each week, find out who you are paired with for league play, post your non league scores, find the roster and pictorial directory, learn about frost delays and much more.
2 Procedures and Processes Accessing the Website The address for the website is www.ladiesgrandniners.com The website is used to sign up for golf and to get forms for other events where registration is required. All dates and locations for league play and the event calendar are on the website. Email Email blasts are sent to alert members of time sensitive information and twice each month with your handicap.
Sign up for Golf Sign up for league play starts on Saturday at 7:00 AM (10 days prior to play) and is open until Tuesday at 9:00 PM (8 days prior to play) unless the full registration of 144 members for league play at 12:30pm is reached prior to close of sign up. Note: Some weeks and/or activities can reach full registration very quickly. On the left side of the web page in the menu, click on the tab Sign-Up Choose the time you want to play 12:30 or 3:00 Fill in your name exactly as you signed up for Ladies Grand Niners and as it appears on the roster (this is the only way the software system will recognize your sign up as a member) Enter your CAM number The system will automatically generate an email to you confirming your sign up. Canceling once you have signed up for league play If it becomes necessary to cancel after you have signed up for league play, in order to avoid a No Show Fee (see below), you must cancel within the window of time that you normally sign up, that is Saturday at 7:00AM (10 days prior to play) until Tuesday at 9:00 PM (8 days prior to play). If you are not able to cancel within the time frame listed above, in order to avoid a No Show Fee, you may call other members to find a substitute. The Sub List is active after league play for the next week. No Show Fee A No Show Fee ($6.00) is assessed when a player does not cancel within the time frame required or if a player does not find a substitute. A No Show Fee is due 10 days after the date missed and must be paid by noon of the due date. All fees must be paid prior to signing up for future play. Place your money/check in an envelope and put it in the LGN's box by the Desert Springs snack shop. Mark it "No Show Fee" and your name. Where and when to find the pairings each week Two league members do the pairings each week after sign up closes at 9:00 PM on Tuesday the preceding week of play. Pairings can be seen on the website on Monday morning after 7:30 AM the day before league play. There is a hole-by-hole listing and an alphabetical listing. The hole-by-hole listing will list everyone in the group, the hole where you tee off and the phone numbers of each person in the group (so you can arrange who is driving their golf cart ahead of time). The alpha list provides the names of everyone playing that week in alphabetical order and the hole where each person tees off. Click on the tab Pairings and select the time frame 12:30 or 3:00 to see the full list of groupings or Alpha to get the alphabetical list If your hole has an A or B that means there are two groups teeing off from that hole. The first (A) or second (B) group is the order you tee off. 3
The first name listed on the scorecard is considered the Captain of the foursome. If there are any questions re: rules or specific situations, the Captain will determine how to proceed. In some cases, a provisional ball may need to be played with the question put to the Pro when the round is over. Check- In Procedure on day of league play On the day of league play, check-in is between at 11:00 AM-12:00 PM for those playing at 12:30PM and 1:45PM 2:30PM for those playing at 3:00PM Please note that if you do not check-in within these time frames, your spot may be assigned to another player who is on the wait list. Bring your CAM card. If you are driving a golf cart to the course on league play day, when you arrive at the course, look for the numbered parking spots and back your golf car into the parking spot that corresponds with the hole where you are assigned to tee off. If you have an A or B on your tee off hole, look for the parking spot with the hole and the A or B. For example, if you are assigned hole 10B you park in the parking spot labeled 10B. If there are already two carts in the parking spots for your hole, after you validate that they are members in your group, load your golf clubs on to one of the carts that corresponds with the grouping of your tee off hole. Then move your golf cart to an area for golf carts but not in a numbered parking spot. If you or your partner does not have a golf cart, some are available for a rental fee from the pro shop. After you have parked your golf cart, o Check-in at the table outside the pro shop first o Proceed to the pro shop to pay your green fee and rent a golf cart, if needed On days when the Pro is conducting a clinic, arrive and check in prior to the clinic to make sure that you are checked in prior to 12:00 PM. Range Balls When you pay your green fee at the pro shop, you will be given a piece of paper with a number on it. Take this to the range ball dispenser where you put a basket under the opening, & enter the number on the keypad. The dispenser will dispense range balls into the basket. These are for your use to practice at the driving range prior to start of play. There is no cost for these range balls on the days of league play. Membership Meeting before Play There is a brief 10-15 minute membership meeting prior to play. This meeting is usually by the practice green. Gather there 15 minutes prior to tee time When to proceed to your assigned hole for tee off Proceed to your hole ONLY when released by the Pro Shop to do so. The Pro Shop staff will make an announcement over the loud speaker. Golf carts parked in A parking spots leave first after being released. 4
Roster The roster is for league use only. It is not to be used to solicit business or other uses and is not to be provided to any non-member. You will be provided the password during orientation or from your buddy. Improving your game There are many opportunities if you are looking to improve your game. Private lessons are provided by the Sun City Grand Golf Pros. For more information, ask at any of the Pro Shops. Group lessons are through Cactus Practice, which occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 AM. The Cactus Practice schedule can be viewed by clicking on the tab Cactus Practice on the ladiesgrandniners.com website. In addition to the opportunities in Sun City Grand, the AWGA holds lessons through their Lesson Program Golf 101/201 (www.awga.org) and you can find lessons in Sun City West through Reid West Golf Academies (www.reidwestgolfacademies.com). Frost Delays In the winter months there may be a frost delay. After 7:00 AM on the day of play, check the website, click on the tab in the menu Frost Delay. This will take you to the message, communicating if there is a frost delay for that day. A frost delay will move the shotgun time to 2:00 PM and the 3:00 PM Shotgun will be cancelled. If you cannot play at the rescheduled 2:00 PM shotgun, you must find a substitute or the No Show Fee will apply. Call a player from the 3:00 PM shotgun as they may be willing to be a substitute for you. 5
6 As a New Member, you can expect the following from your Buddy /Mentor. Ø Contact you personally either by a phone call or e-mail and give you their contact information. Ø Provide you with basic information about how to sign up for play, time of play & check-in. Remind you to bring CAM card to check-in for league play and all Ladies Grand Niners events and luncheons. Ø Encourage you to attend the Fall Kickoff Coffee & Meeting and the New Member Orientation and attend with you if possible. Ø Inform you that your picture will be taken for the Photo Gallery on the website. Ø Plan to play with you during league play for two weeks. Ø (Your Buddy/Mentor will e-mail May Davig, may9ers@centurylink.net and Betty Ponto betdone@aol.com when both of you will be signed up for golf and request that you would like to be paired together). Phone numbers on the pairings sheet are to make arrangements with playing partners to ride in their cart if the member does not have a cart. Ø Arrange a time and place to meet on the first day of play to familiarize you with procedures for check-in, paying at pro shop, where to get practice balls, golf cart parking, etc. Ø Assist you in picking up your new LGN nametag from the Buddy/Mentor Chairperson at the check-in table. Ø Review scorecard instructions and answer any questions on Rules of Golf (or direct the question to the Pro).
7 Ø Invite you to join the group for refreshments after play and introduce you to other members. Ø Discuss No Show fees, including cost of fines and where to pay fines. Fees are due 10 days after date missed. (Place your money/check in an envelope, and put it in the LGN s box by the Desert Springs snack shop. Mark it No Show Fee and your name). Ø Remind you to regularly check the website for events and forms to sign up for events and luncheons..
8 Ladies Grand Niners Scorecard Instructions Ø In the Ladies Grand Niners league play we use two scorecards per nine-hole round, an original and a backup, marked as such. The original scorecard is the official scorecard. It is used for purposes of entering scores in our software, calculating each member s handicap and paying out awards for chip-ins, birdies, and eagles. The backup scorecard is used for administrative purposes or determining winners on Play of the Day games. On occasion, the backup scorecard will be used to validate a score on the original scorecard. Ø In order for the handicap system to be a true representation of the handicap and to accurately determine who should receive payout for awards, it is important that scorecards are accurate and that the original and backup scorecards match. Ø The first person listed on the scorecard is considered the captain of the foursome and is responsible for entering scores on the original scorecard. The twosome in the second golf car is responsible to do the same with the backup scorecard. Ø Each scorecard must be dated and signed by two players. Ø In Ladies Grand Niners, the league pays for chip-ins, birdies and eagles via a credit in the pro shop. In addition, if you have a hole-in-one, you may win money if you have paid to enter the hole-in-one pot. Ø A hole-in-one, birdie, chip-in, or eagle must be noted on the scorecard by drawing a circle around the score on the hole where it occurred, drawing a line to the top or bottom of the scorecard, and noting C for Chip-In, B for Birdie, E for Eagle, or H or #1 for hole-in-one. Make sure this is reflected on both scorecards. Ø Ultimately, it is each player s responsibility to assure that your score is accurately marked on the scorecard. It is recommended that you validate the scorecard for each hole before teeing off on the next hole (but please proceed to the next hole first!) This includes marking chip-ins, birdies, eagles, and holes-in-one. Ø If you choose to play from the Executive Women s tees (Orange) for the league s season, make sure the word orange is entered next to your name on the scorecard.
Ø Each player has an ESC (Equitable Stroke Control) number. This is the maximum number of strokes that a player should take on a given hole. (A chart will be found on the back of the scorecard.) It is used to manage the speed of play; it decreases the chance that players will need to wait to tee off on each hole. o If you do not yet have a handicap established, the maximum number of strokes you may take on any hole is 10. This may change once you establish your handicap. o If you are not slowing down play, you may play out the hole. However, if the speed of play is slowing, you are to pick up your ball once you have reached your maximum and mark the scorecard with your maximum. o If you play out the hole, write your actual strokes first, then a slash and your ESC number behind the slash, e.g., 12/10. If you pick up your ball and do not finish the hole you mark your ESC for that hole with a slash and your ESC, e.g., /10. o Note that there are times during league play when you must finish the hole (some Play of the Game days and tournaments). You will be informed of this prior to playing on that day. Ø The score must be added accurately. The final score you note on the scorecard is the sum of the scores for each hole. Your total score may have two numbers, due to using the ESC. If you scored above your ESC on any hole, both the actual and ESC score is counted in the total score. For example, if you actually took 12 strokes on a hole but your ESC is 10, when entering the score for that hole you use both 12 and 10 (12/10). When adding the total score for the round, the actual strokes and ESC strokes will be taken into account, such as: 63/58 (actual total score/esc total score). Ø It is suggested that you use a calculator or the calculator app on your smart phone to double-check your total for accuracy before signing and turning in the scorecard. Ø The members of the Handicap Committee thank you for taking the time to turn in a complete and accurate scorecard! 9
10 Posting Scores on the Ladies Grand Niners Website Many of you would like to post your scores that are outside of league play and have asked for instructions on how to do so. This is a step-by-step instruction sheet on posting a score on the Ladies Grand Niners website. Before you enter your score, answer this question: Did I play by USGA Golf Rules? If the answer is Yes, proceed to enter your score. Note: If you played 18 holes, the score must be posted as two separate 9-hole scores. Open the www.ladiesgrandniners.com website. Click on Post Scores on the menu on the left hand side of the home page. Click on Sign In in the upper right corner Click on Sign In as Golfer Enter the GSID and your password GSID is 18521-XXXX where XXXX represents the digits of your CAM number you use when you sign-up for golf (we do not enter the 001 or 000 that follow the first digits of your CAM number) Your password is the password you were originally assigned or one that you have selected if you changed it from the original password NOTE: If you do not remember the password you were assigned, contact Marilyn Book by email at mbookpeo@frontier.com Click on Handicap next to your name in the right upper corner of the screen.
You will see a page with your name and a list of scores that have been posted. Click on the Scores tab at the top of the page. Click on Add Score. Fill in the blanks Click on 9 hole if not already selected. (Note: Only enter 9 hole rounds of golf. If you played 18 holes, enter this as two separate 9 hole rounds of golf.) Select the date that you played the round of golf by clicking on the calendar and choosing the appropriate date. Click on the drop down menu to select the course where you played. (Note: If course is not on the menu, click on More Courses to determine if course is listed there and select appropriate course. If the course you played is not listed, you will not be able to enter your score. Go to step 10.) Select the course and the appropriate holes (front or Back 9). Select the appropriate tees (Orange/Executive women or Red/ Forward) Enter your adjusted gross score (The adjusted gross score is the score where you used the Equitable Score Control ESC) Select Regular for score type. (This may already be selected). Click on Save at the top of the page. Follow steps a h to post additional scores. Click on Close at the top of the page. Go to the icon of the silhouette at the top right hand corner of the page and click on the silhouette. A drop down will appear, click on Sign out. You will be directed back to the Log in screen. Click Close on the Log in screen. You will be directed back to the Ladies Grand Niners website. If you did not find the course listed, place your scorecard in the red folder in the Ladies Grand Niners drawer by the snack shop at Desert Springs and a member of the Handicap Committee will enter your score for you. If you need assistance as you enter your score, you can call a handicap committee member, who can walk you through the process! Names and contact information are listed on the website at the bottom of the Officers page. 11
12 Information about the USGA Handicap System Ø Two assumptions make the handicap system work. 1. Each player will try to make the best score on every hole in every round. 2. Each player will post every acceptable round for peer review. Ø You may have an 18-hole handicap. However this cannot be used for our 9-hole league. You will need to establish a separate 9-hole handicap. (Since each 9 holes of a golf course have a separate slope and rating, dividing your 18-hole handicap by 2 to get 9-hole handicap would not provide a valid or accurate 9-hole handicap). Ø As a member, it is helpful that you have a handicap or a handicap trend. You can acquire a 9-hole handicap by playing and posting just 5 (9 hole) rounds. After completing 5 (9-hole) rounds of golf, your handicap is calculated by using the 1 score with the lowest differential. (The differential is calculated based on the slope and rating of the course you played and your score for that round. As you play more 9-hole rounds of golf, more scores/differentials are used to recalculate your handicap). Ø The system recalculates your handicap on the 1 st and 15 th of each month and generates an e-mail to you to update you on your handicap. Ø It is expected our members have golfed and are able to play nine (9) holes of golf in 2 ½ hours or less. Our members should have knowledge of the USGA Rules of Golf. Ø All play for the Ladies Grand Niners is from the Red or Forward tees. Ø There is a provision for playing from the Orange tees. If a member elects to play from the Orange tees, the handicap chairperson must be notified and the member must establish a new handicap from the Orange tees. All play after that time must be from the Orange tees.
Ø We use the USGA s Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) system. The ESC is the adjustment of individual hole scores that makes a handicap more representative of a player s potential ability. The back of our scorecards has the ESC table. Ø The Handicap Committee posts all league/tournament scores that are played using USGA rules. If we are playing a game that does not follow the USGA Rules of Golf, that score is not posted. Example: when we play three clubs and a putter. Ø The Ladies Grand Niners uses a USGA approved handicap program for calculating handicaps. Ø Instructions on how to post scores for non league or casual play can be found in this booklet and on the website under the tab Post Scores. Note: When posting your own scores, you must post only scores that have been from the Red or Forward tees and must have followed the USGA Rules of Golf. Ø We require a handicap to play in many of the team events and win prizes. 13