The USGA Rules of Golf governs all golf play, except for the items noted here.
The ball may be moved up to six inches (6"), no nearer the hole, using the head of a club, when in the fairway or rough. This rule MAY NOT be used to obtain relief from hazards (traps, water, etc.) or natural obstacles (trees, shrubs, etc.).
A new ball may be dropped with a ONE STROKE penalty. The drop area should be as near as possible to where the ball was seen to go. If any question of placement arises, mutually agree with your opponent. This applies to all lost balls, including those in the fairway.
The player may elect to drop a new ball within two club lengths of the POINT OF EXIT, no nearer the hole, with a ONE STROKE penalty.
When the ball lands in a water hazard, drop a ball on the tee side of the hazard along the original ball's line of flight and take a ONE STROKE penalty.
When in a sand trap and there are holes that naturally should not be there, you are allowed to pick up the ball, smooth the area and roll the ball back into the trap. You are NOT allowed to remove the ball from the hazard. But you MUST notify your opponent BEFORE you pick up your ball and both of you should agree on the move.
If the ball lands in tall grass you can either play it where it lies or you can drop a ball two-club lengths from the point of entry into the tall grass with one stroke penalty (no closer to the hole).
In the interest of fun and fair play, anyone who feels that his/her opponent has done something to merit stroke(s) penalty or disqualification, must call his/her opponent on that BEFORE they tee off on the next tee or before they leave the green on the last hole. This is to prevent someone from calling his/her opponent on a penalty after they find out they had lost the match or team points.
H. Maximum Strokes per hole
Please note that the maximum stroke on any hole is 10. When you reach this total and you still have not completed the hole, pick up your ball and record a 10 on your scorecard.
I. Casual Water
Casual water is a temporary accumulation of water on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his/her stance and is not in a water hazard. You may take relief from this abnormal ground condition without a stroke penalty as long as you drop no closer to the hole at the nearest point of relief.
J. Pace of Play
Each week the nine-hole competition should take no longer than 2 hours and fifteen minutes. Please play ready golf. Ready Golf: whenever it is clear and safe to play your next shot, please play your next shot. Don’t always worry about who is further out, etc. Carry extra clubs when walking to your ball. After one shot, if it is safe, walk right up to your next shot and be ready to hit again. When putting it is recommended that each golfer continue to putt until they are through when possible. Marking and replacing the ball wastes time especially on tap ins. Concede putts inside of the leather (generally around 2ft and in) whenever possible. Keep an eye on yours and your opponents shots at all times.
K. Rain Outs
The Pro shop will make decisions about the weather. If you are unsure about the weather you can call the pro shop directly at 713-413-3400 ext. 3 and/or check our website at www.sportsmonkey.com. Light or isolated showers (unless there is lightning) will not cancel play.
L. Tee Boxes
Women tee off from the green tee markers. Men tee off from the blue tee markers.
M. Dress Code
Proper golf attire is required at all times. No sweatpants, cutoffs, gym shorts, tank tops, ripen jeans, boots heels or non-golf style cleats.
II. Make-up Policy
You are allowed to make up your round if you can’t make the league-scheduled time. A team has to make up any missed rounds prior to the Wednesday before week 7. You can also make it up prior to the league-scheduled time. If you can’t make the final week (week 7) then you must make up the round prior to the final league scheduled time in order to be eligible for the final standings and prizes. Email Matt Flory…….mflory@wildcatgolfclub.com
to set up a make-up tee time. Please remember to turn in your scorecard to an attendee at the pro shop. You can also bring out a sub for a missing player. If so please report the subs handicap to me before teeing off.
III. League Formats & Scoring
A. Formats
The league will be using various formats from week to week. The formats that will be used are as follows: scramble, shamble, Chapman and Switch.
Definition: A Scramble is a competition format that is exactly what it sounds like: a scramble in which the teams consist of two players each. After each shot, the best of the two shots is selected and both players play from that spot, until the ball is holed. One team score is recorded.
Definition: A shamble is a type of golf tournament that combines elements of a scramble with elements of stroke play. Like in a scramble, all members of a team tee off and the best ball of the two tee shots is selected. All players move their balls to the spot of the best ball. From this point, the hole is played out at stroke play, with all members of the team playing their own ball into the hole. So: select the best shot off the tee, move all balls to that spot, then play individual stroke play until each member of the group has holed out.
Definition: A Chapman is a 2-person team competition format is named after Dick Chapman, a great amateur golfer who played The Masters 17 consecutive years. He "invented" the game at Pinehurst Resort, hence it is alternately called Chapman or Pinehurst. In the Chapman System, both players on a side tee off, then they switch balls. Player A plays Player B's drive, and vice-versa. Each player hits his or her second shot. They then select the best of the second shots, and from that point until the ball is holed they play only one ball in an alternate shot format. Got it? Switch balls after the drive, select the one best ball after the second shot, play alternate shot until the ball is holed. The player whose second ball was not chosen gets to play the third shot (so teams might sometimes choose the best ball after two shots based on who will get to hit the third).
Definition: A Switch involves 2-person teams on which the players switch balls following the tee shots, then play out the hole using those balls. For example, Players A and B tee off. Player A now switches to B's ball and vice-versa. Player A continues playing that ball he's switched to until it is holed, as does B. Switch can be played as stroke play or match play; the total strokes for both players can be used, or just the better ball of the two. In our league we will use the better score of the two.
B. Handicaps
Every golfer is to give an accurate handicap before starting league play (36 is the max handicap you can take). 90% of this will be your starting handicap. To insure fairness, we will also use the first 3 weeks to reestablish the handicap given. The handicaps will be adjusted up or down (using percentages) based on the first 3 weeks scoring average of the team performance.
C. Scoring
Each week a team will be paired up with another team, but you will be competing against all of the other teams for the best weekly score (net). Each week a team score will be turned in and overall standings will be kept (gross and net). In week seven, everyone will be ranked 1 – 14 based on the overall net standings and matched up accordingly (1 v 2, 3 v 4, etc.) to determine an overall champ. For those of you unfamiliar with the terms…”gross” is the team score without your handicap added in and “net” is your score team score including the handicap.
D. Prizes
Champ shirts will be given to all of the participants. 1st place (gross and net) will also get a complimentary round of golf at Wildcat Golf Club for each team member. The gross and net winner cannot be the same team. In the tradition of our golf tournaments there will also be a prize for the “Dead Ass Last” team (net only)! There will also be a prize for the winning team each week (net only).