1. The league will be played on Tuesday evenings at Gateway Golf Club, with the first tee at 4:15pm. Each week will alternate front and back nine according to direction by Gateway. Tee times will be every 8 minutes. 2. Our league is governed by USGA rules of Golf, except where modified in the following local rules. 3. All groups should work to get to the tee and be ready as if you have the 4:15 PM tee time. The tee time schedule will indicate priority of play if more than one foursome is ready to play at a scheduled tee time. a. If highest priority group is available and ready to play, proceed. b. If highest priority group is not available (all players present for their scheduled tee time), proceed to next group in priority and beyond until a foursome is found and ready to play. c. If no complete foursome is ready to play, the team that is scheduled for the tee time must proceed to play without all members of the foursome, and the missing player must catch up to his group when he arrives. All missed holes will be filled out according to the injured player rule. d. The foursome with the missing player should continue to wait for their player(s) as long as one of the lower priority foursomes has a complete foursome and can continue to fill complete tee times. This means that you can slip all the way to the end of the tee times before you tee off. The only way to avoid this is to contact the missing player(s) and confirm that they will not be there, so that the remaining players can tee off earlier. As soon as the missing player arrives, the foursome becomes the highest priority to play next. 4. We have incorporated the USGA handicap index to determine number of strokes given for each week. It is based on all nine hole rounds from the past seasons and current season. If there is a new player who does not have an established Handicap Index, 5 or more nine hole rounds from any golf course that has a known slope rating / course rating will be obtained from the player to determine their starting handicap index. If there are not five known rounds, the following method will be utilized to determine handicap: a. Week 1: Player's score after the round determines handicap. An additional 3 strokes will be added to the players actual score the first week to determine their starting handicap b. Week 2: Player's best week 1 or week 2 (+3 strokes) score (after the round) is used for week 2 handicap. c. Week 3 and beyond: Calculated handicap index score is now known before the week 3 round comparable to other league members. 5. There is an equitable strokes calculation within the USGA handicap index calculation. Your net score for the week is lowered to a net score based on your current 9 hole handicap index and your score on each hole. The following table shows what your maximum score may be on a hole based on your 9 hole handicap USGA Handicap Par 3 max Par 4 max Par 5 max Index (9 hole) 4 or less 5 6 7 5 through 9 7 7 7 10 through 14 8 8 8 15 or more 9 9 9 6. Scoring- Matches will be played according to team match play, where each hole is worth 2 points. The winner of the hole (lower of the net sum score) receives 2 points; if the hole is tied, each team receives 1 point. 2 points will be awarded for totals (net score with handicap). Scorecards must be checked for errors by each player. If there is a question that cannot be resolved immediately, play out two balls and get a ruling after the match (For example, the two teams disagree where a drop should be taken. The player should take a drop from both locations and get a ruling after the match). All rulings and disputes will be resolved by the league Secretary. 1 of 7
7. MAXIMUM STROKES ON A HOLE RULE The maximum strokes that each player may take on a hole is Double Par as shown in the table below. If you reach the maximum strokes for a hole pick up your ball and record the maximum strokes on your scorecard, (+1 stroke) and proceed to the next hole once all players hole out. Par 3 Par 4 Par 5 6 8 10 8. Players may roll the ball, no more than 6 inches using only the head of a club, but no nearer to the hole, without penalty. At no time may the ball be rolled from one surface to another (from rough to fairway, fringe to green, etc.) Ball cannot be rolled to improve a line of play from behind any natural obstacles (trees, shrubs, rocks, etc.) Players cannot roll a ball in a hazard, in a sand trap, or on the green. 9. Balls in the sand trap are to be played as they lie, except if a ball comes to rest in a wash out or a footprint, then it must be re-dropped in the sand no closer to the hole, at no penalty to the player. 10. Concession of putts in Match Play- The USGA rules allow for concession of putts in match play. An opponent and only an opponent may concede a putt to a player on the opposite team. Keep in mind that many players in our league are participating in Handicap skins, and concession of putts may affect that. A good guideline to use is if the remaining putt is within the leather of the putter (distance from sole of putter to where grip starts on normal length putter), a concession could be made. Please do not stick the putter head in the hole when measuring it. I would just ask that you be very careful in what you concede on the greens. 11. Players will use the gold tees on the front nine, and the white tees on the back nine. For female subs or female members, the forward tee can be used. 12. Once you address the ball, all swings at the ball are counted as a stroke, even if you miss the ball. 13. You are required to play or have a substitute ready to play each scheduled round, weather permitting. If you are absent for a week with no substitute, your score for the evening will be your current average plus 4 strokes. If there are extreme weather conditions on the night that you missed golf, the league secretary can add an additional two to four strokes to the computed missed scores to account for these conditions (ex. Rain, high winds, and extreme cold). Subs are allowed on any week except for the Championship week if the sub would be needed for a team member involved in the championship matches. If a sub is needed in week 18 (final week of the regular season), they have to have an established league handicap from the PARTAKERS league to count their score for the match. If they do not, the missing player will be scored as if they are absent for the night. 14. If one or both teammates are absent for a week without a substitute, the team will forfeit all totals bonus points (2 pts). The opposing teams still has to earn the bonus points. 15. Only 3 minutes are allowed when searching for a lost ball. Keep pace with the group in front of you. This is the USGA Standard for searching for a lost ball. Opponents should police this rule! If you spend the time looking for the ball, the group behind you should be permitted to play through. 16. Entry fee is forfeited after first regular season match, unless a replacement is found that agrees to pay the balance the remaining golf fees. 17. Any disputes over scoring or rules should be handled within the playing group. If they cannot be resolved that way, then the League Secretary, Allan Fisher will resolve the dispute. 18. All jackpots will be managed by (1) person, the League Secretary, Allan Fisher. Any discrepancies will be resolved by him. 2 of 7
a. SKINS - A handicap skins jackpot will run each week during play. Handicap skins entry is $3/week paid up front prior to week 1 and week 10 for each half of the season. Since payment is up front, you are entered in the handicap skins even if you miss the week of golf. Funds are NOT refundable. A handicap skin is won if only one player has the lowest NET score on any particular hole by all players that are participating. If the final hole of a round ends with no handicap skins won, it carries over to the following week. In the case of a carryover handicap skin jackpot for the following week, only players that have participated in the prior week are eligible for the handicap skins competition for that week, unless the player wanting to participate pays for the make-up of the missed week. There may be multiple handicap skins won for (1) week, because all holes can be a possible handicap skin. You must have an established handicap to participate in handicap skins. For new members wanting to participate, it is critical that you provide valid scores from other courses played at the end of the previous season to establish a good handicap up front. i. Regardless of a players handicap, the maximum number of handicap strokes the five easiest handicapped holes is one (1), and the four hardest handicap holes is two (2). This is only for handicap skins calculations. All Handicap strokes are utilized for the match play competition. The handicap for each hole has been adjusted based on league performance on the course cumulative for all seasons played at Gateway. For this season, the updated handicaps are as follows: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 8 7 3 2 17 16 13 6 14 15 11 1 12 18 9 5 4 10 b. CLOSEST-TO-THE-PIN (Ball must be on the green to count) - A closest to the pin jackpot will be run each week. Entry fee is $2, paid up front prior to week 1 and week 10 for each half of the season. Since payment is up front, you are entered in the closest to the pin even if you miss the week of golf. Funds are not refundable. Both par 3's will be eligible each week. The first participating group off will take the flag marker to the par 3 green. Only players participating in the Closest to the pin, should move the marker if their ball is deemed closer than the current marked position. The last participating group will bring the flag marker in, and give it to the League Secretary. If there are no participants that make the green on a par three, all jackpot money is awarded to the closest to the pin on the other par three. If neither par three has a closest to the pin winner for the week, all money transfers to the following week and split between the two holes. 19. The 19th week Championship matches work as follows: a. Two teams qualify based on taking 1 st place in each division for the 1 st half of the season b. Two teams qualify based on taking 1 st place in each division for the 2 nd half of the season c. Two teams qualify based on taking 1 st place in each division for the cumulative points of both halves. d. If there are ties to be broken, it will be done as follows: i. Head to head matches for teams in tie (points earned) ii. Total points earned in all division matches iii. Division record iv. Coin flip e. If a team qualifies via multiple titles of a, b, and c above, additional wildcards will fill out the total of 6 teams involved in the championship matches. Each wildcard, if needed is selected by division total points earned for the season. If there is a tie, it will be broken according to the same method for breaking ties in item d above. f. For each method that a team qualifies for in a, b, and c above, they shall receive an extra 0.5 strokes in all championship matches played. (example: if 1 team wins both halves and total season championships, they would receive 1.5 extra strokes in each championship match played.) g. All wildcards shall receive zero (0) extra strokes for each championship match. 3 of 7
h. The championship matches shall have six (6) total teams participating. i. Each team will physically play against one other team, and virtually against the other four teams in the championship matches, for a total of 5 matches. j. The matches will be played exactly the same as matches during the regular season. k. The total points from each match will be added together, and the sum will be the total points earned by each team in the matches. Highest point total wins. l. There are no gimmies (conceded putts) allowed in the playoff matches, NO EXCEPTIONS! m. Prize payout is for 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd places. n. Any ties will be broken by the individual match that the team had with the other team or teams in the ties. If tie still exists, $$ will be split amongst team or teams still in the tie. o. If a team member(s) that is involved in the championship matches is absent, their score will be derived by using the absent player without sub rule 14 above, and the team is not eligible to win the totals bonus of 2 points for each match played. A substitute player can still join the group to play, but their score will NOT count towards the championship match. 20. Inclement Weather Conditions / Closing of the Golf Course a. Decision to Play Gateway course management will decide if the weather is permissible for league play. This decision will be made AT THE GOLF COURSE unless the golf course has been closed prior to the official league starting time. b. Cancellation of play- If the Gateway course management rules that the weather is not permissible for league play, all matches scheduled for that night are canceled. If play is started and all teams are not able to play at least seven (7) holes because adverse weather conditions cause cancellation of play during the match, then all matches are canceled and scores for completed matches are not counted. c. Partakers self-imposed cancellation of play Gateway has allowed the league to be able to cancel the night if we deem the weather conditions to be adverse. We shall do this by member vote prior to going to the course, or if the secretary directs, at the course prior to the start of the round. d. Seven (7) hole matches- If Gateway course management rules that weather is permissible for league play, all matches must play at least seven (7) holes. Darkness or severe weather may cause ALL members of a match to agree to terminate play. In the event that less than seven holes were completed prior to the agreement to terminate play, the match must be replayed by the SAME opponents on the SAME course prior to the following TUESDAY at THAT FOURSOMES OWN EXPENSE. Scorecards must be delivered to the League Secretary prior to the following week's matches. In the event the match cannot be rescheduled, the scoring for the unfinished holes will be prorated in accordance with the USGA system of handicap calculations. e. Scoring of seven (7) holes matches Seven (7) hole matches will constitute a complete round for the purpose of calculating points and the scoring for the remaining two (2) holes will be prorated in accordance with the USGA system of handicap calculations. 21. LOCAL RULE (Out of Bounds or Lost Ball) a. If a ball is Out of Bounds (OB) or lost (this includes if you don't know that your ball went into a hazard), proceed as follows: b. Drop your ball near where you think it was lost, and incur a ONE (1) stroke penalty. c. For a ball that is OB, determine the point at which the ball crossed into OB, and drop within two club lengths of that point not closer to the hole, with a ONE (1) stroke penalty. d. For balls that are lost within a tree line, very tall grass line, etc. proceed as if that line is a lateral hazard and follow USGA Rule 26-1. For example, you hit your tee shot into the tall grass, and it is lost. Proceed to where you believe it crossed into the tall grass; drop it outside of the tall grass at that point within two club lengths not closer to the hole. All tree lines, very tall grass, etc. should be treated as lateral hazard in this case. The actual margin of the hazard should be the beginning of the very tall grass, trees, etc. e. If your ball is lost behind the green, drop the ball back in play nearest to where the ball was lost even though it is closer to the hole, and take a ONE (1) stroke penalty. 4 of 7
22. If the ball was thought to be lost in the fairway, or very near the fairway (Lost in leaves, maybe someone took your ball, etc.), drop in the nearest first cut of rough off of the fairway, with a ONE (1) stroke penalty. If you happen to find your ball after you have taken a drop with penalty, you cannot resume play on the original ball. You must continue playing the dropped ball. 23. Player Injury / Departure prior to finishing a round a. If a player does not finish at least seven (7) holes of golf during a round due to injury or some unforeseen circumstances, the following method will be used to determine his score and match results: b. The players handicap for that match + 4 strokes is to be pro-rated to the number of holes remaining in their round. This determines hole by hole results of the unfinished holes. i. Example Player's handicap for the evening is 8 strokes. ii. Penalty for not playing at least seven (7) holes is 4 strokes. iii. Player finishes 3 holes, and leaves injured. iv. Proration of strokes = (8+4) * (6/9 holes still to be played) = 8 strokes c. For this example, 8 strokes would be distributed over the 6 holes that were not played according to the handicap difficulty of those holes, 2 strokes added to par on the toughest two holes. In this example, the player finished the first three holes on the front nine at Gateway, with bogies on all three holes. The scorecard is filled out as shown, and the team would not get credit for winning totals, because the player did not finish at least 7 holes. The player is also eligible for any skins or closest to the pin prizes on holes actually played. Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Handicap 9 7 5 1 17 15 11 3 11 Strokes added 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 2 1 Score 6 5 5 6 4 7 5 4 5 d. If the player finishes at least seven (7) holes, the remaining 1-2 holes is filled out based on their handicap for the evening without using the 4 stroke penalty, and they are eligible for winning totals. Also, the score is entered into their official league handicap calculation. 24. Local Drop areas for Partakers Golf League at Gateway a. Hole Number 8 (Par 3) Two drops zones (OPTIONAL)- 1 st as defined by Gateway for all balls hit into the large lake surrounding the green as shown in red below. If the golf course does not have it painted, drop nearest to this point and take one stroke penalty. Second drop zone as defined by Partakers is circle shown in black. This drop is to be used ONLY when your ball goes into the small hazard behind the drop area. Again, take a one stroke penalty and hit your next shot. If your ball goes OB by the homes on the right, proceed according to the lateral hazard rule, USGA 26-1. If your tee shot carries the green and go into the water behind the green, you can drop within 1 club length of the hazard line, even if it s closer to the hole, with a ONE (1) stroke penalty. 5 of 7
b. Hole Number 11 (Par 3) Use the course defined drop zone for all balls hit into the large lake on the right hand side of the hole. Take a one stroke penalty. If the golf course does not have it painted, drop nearest to this point and take one stroke penalty. For all balls OB to the left of the red line below (houses), play this as a lateral hazard as defined by USGA rule 26-1. c. For hole 11, regardless of where the white tee box is located, Partakers Golf League will play the leftmost tee box on the left hand side of the cart paths. If there is not a white marker on this tee box, play your tee shot within 1 club length from the front of the tee box. This rule is intended to increase the speed of play on this hole going forward. 25. Slow Play- Each team shall enter their starting time and ending time for the round on the scorecard. Start time shall be the current time as the 1 st player in the foursome is ready to tee off on the 1 st hole. At the end of the round, the end time shall be entered after all putts are holed out, and all participants have returned to their bags/cart. a. The league secretary will record all start / finish times and post the data on the league website. b. Criteria for slow play will be as follows: i. Foursome that plays 8 minutes or more above 2 hour and15 minutes if previous group plays in 2 hours 15 minutes or less ii. Any foursome that plays a round in over 2 hours and 15 minutes, and is greater than 8 minutes behind the foursome immediately ahead of them on the course. c. The league secretary will track the number of occurrences of these two criteria, the average time above the standard when slow, and the number of rounds each team completes in 2 hour 15 minutes or less. d. Based on the results of the first nine weeks data, the league secretary will base ALL 2 nd half tee times according to the fastest teams (Fastest teams will get the beginning tee times), so each team now has incentive to increase your speed of play in order to get better tee times in the 2 nd half of the season. e. The sort criteria is # of slow rounds (smallest number), then by Average time above Standard (smallest number), and finally # of rounds under 2h15m (largest number) 6 of 7
26. 3-man teams (2 players splitting ½ of the teams matches evenly and the 3 rd player playing a full season) a. This is only configuration of 3-man team that is allowed. b. The full season participant has to play in Championship matches at the end of the season if team qualifies. If full season participant is not available to play in Championship match, absence is treated according to missing sub rule above. The team is also not eligible to win bonus match points for totals. c. If the full season participant is absent for any matches during the season, one of the ½ season participants can sub, but they have to pay the league sub fee of $8.00. This sub match does not count towards their already paid season matches. d. After a ½ season participant completes 9 matches played for the season, all other matches that they play in for the team will be considered a sub match, and subject to the league sub fee of $8.00. e. Both ½ season participants are NOT allowed to sub for any of the other teams in the league when they are not scheduled to play for their own team. f. After the 1 st half of the season is completed, each 3-man team has to declare who will participate in the end of season championship matches amongst the ½ team members if the team qualifies. If that team member is not available to play in the Championship matches, the missing sub rule above is invoked again, and any totals points are forfeited. g. Table below shows example of how a 3-man team could work for the season. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Champ Full Season Player P P P A P P P A P P P P A P P P P P P Half Season Player A P P P P O P P S O P P P S S O O O O P Half Season Player B O O O S P O O P P O O O P A P P P P O P- Played in scheduled match A- Absent from scheduled match S- Sub for other player's scheduled match O- 1/2 season player not scheduled 7 of 7