League Rules
Revised
09/05/2010
Summary of the MABGA Golf League
Author: Mario Tobia
Revised: 9/5/2010
Section One – Golf Committee: There will be a 3-person golf
league committee to mediate any league disputes and all committee decisions are
final
Section 2 – Qualification: Any current or prospective MABGA
members who meet the requirements by shooting an unadjusted 70 or less for 9-holes shot from the forward tees during
the April and May outings are eligible to participate in the golf league.
Anyone who does not qualify at the beginning of the season will have an
opportunity to qualify and play at the mid point of the season.
Section 3 – League Structure: There is only one division
in the MABGA Golf League. Golfers will not be separated by blind, visually
impaired, or by men or women. The handicapping System provides a means for two
players to have a fair match, regardless of skill levels, and adjusts a player's
Handicap up or down as the player's game changes
Section 4 – League Pairings: The league will coordinate
with the MABGA starter for all league matches for that outing and the starter
will align the groups accordingly.
Section 5 – Handicapping: All golfers will receive a
nine-hole handicaps based on their previous rounds of golf. For the First
match of the season, we will use either your last year's handicap or if one
is not available, your adjusted gross score from your qualifying
rounds to establish a beginning nine-hole handicap. Your
qualifying round will be adjusted by reducing any blow-up holes to a maximum
of double-par.
The Golf League uses a golf handicapping program to
determine and maintain golfers handicaps. The program uses the official USGA Handicaps
formula which is explained below:
Steps1Obtain your score, course rating and course slope for
the top half of all rounds shot up to the last 10 of 20 rounds played.
2Subtract the course rating from your score.
3Multiply this amount by 113.
4Divide this amount by the slope number of the course to
get the differential.
5Repeat for each of your scores.
6Multiply the lowest differential by .96 to get your
handicap.
Section 6 - Playing Format and Match Play Rules: We will
play a 9-hole match and the match is to begin on the back nine of that
course or the 9-hole agreed upon by both players. The golfer and their coach should play the front 9 using the standard
alternate shot-format. If the outing is using a shotgun start that day,
you and your opponent will decide which 9 you will play for your match as long
as it is a complete 9, meaning either it be the whole front 9 or back 9.
Section 7 – Allocating Strokes: Before playing your match,
the golfer with the lower handicap will have to give strokes to the golfer with
the higher handicap. This is done by subtracting the difference in the two
handicaps and assigning those strokes to the most difficult holes on that nine
as indicated on the scorecard.
Section 8 – Match Play Format: Unlike stroke play, where
your total score for the round determines a winner, match play format is a
contest between two golfers where you can win or lose each hole played.
Once a golfer reaches a maximum score of double-par for
a hole, he must pick up his ball and mark his scorecard with his adjusted score
of double-par followed by an X. The double-par is the adjusted score for
the hole and the X indicating that he picked up his ball. If you pick up your
ball, you cannot win that hole. If both golfers pick up their ball on that
hole, the hole is automatically tied/ halved, regardless of when or where either
golfer picked up their ball.
Section nine – Scoring: The golfer who wins the hole gets
a point. If the hole is tied, neither golfer receives any points for that
hole.
After the nine holes, the golfer with the most points wins
the match. If there is a tie after nine holes, then the match will end in a tie.
The winner of the match will receive 2 points in the
standings and the loser will receive 0 points. If the match ends up in a tie,
both golfers will receive 1 point in the standings.
Both players in a match are responsible for submitting the
final scores and the match outcome to the league official. Keep the scorecard
for verification in case of a discrepancy.
Section 10 – Forfeiting Rules: If your opponent is not
available for your match, is forfeiting or you are scheduled to play alone that
week due to an odd number of players in the league, then the golfer will need
to play nine holes against the scorecard to receive points for that particular
match. If you beat the scorecard after applying your handicap plus three bonus
strokes, you will receive 2 points in the standings for winning the match,
otherwise, you will receive 1 point in the standings and the forfeiting opponent
will receive 0 points.
Players who cannot attend the course on league day need to
complete their match or play the scorecard prior to the next league match
or they will recieve 0 points in the standings.
Section 11 – Golf Rules: All matches will be played under
USGA RULES, which means the ball will be played down and as it lies at all
times. USGA RULES will govern except where a local or league rule takes
precedence.
All matches shall be played from the forward tees
If the course dictates “Cart Path Only”, then players can
LIFT, CLEAN, AND PLACE the ball in your own fairway only, no closer to the hole.
Golfers are permitted to ground their club in a hazard,
such as a sand trap or bunker.
IMPROVE LIE RULE: If your ball is in your own fairway and
rests in a divot or in ground which may be considered under repair, even if it
is not properly marked, or in an “unfair” lie in a bunker, you may take a drop,
nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole, without penalty, only after
notifying and receiving permission from your opponent. A bunkered ball must be
dropped in the bunker. If permission is not granted then the ball must be played
as it lies. This is a judgment call by your opponent and cannot be appealed.
Any opponent can concede / give a putt to you at any point,
as long as it is for bogey or more.
excluding the qualifying rounds, The MAXIMUM score on any
given hole is double-par. A player may pick up on any hole and take an adjusted
score of double-par followed by an X to indicate that he picked up.
“The 4 Options Rule”: Lost Ball / Unplayable Lie / Out of
Bounds / Wooded Areas /Any Hazard PENALTY: ADD 1 STROKE and use one of the
following 4 options listed
Option one: Drop within 2 club lengths from the ball or
point of entry, no closer to the hole. Consider a lateral drop if applicable.
Option two: Keep the point of entry between yourself and
the Flag and drop on this line, no closer to the hole, back as far as you want.
Option Three: Keep yourself between the point of entry and
Your Previous Shot and drop on this line, no closer to the hole, back as far as
you want.
Option Four: As a last resort, drop and re-hit from the
same place as your previous shot.
Unplayable Lie - League Exception: A player at any time can declare their ball
unplayable, whether it is lost, in the woods, or in a difficult position and
take a lateral drop, no closer to the hole, on the edge of the fairway with one
penalty stroke and play the ball from that spot.
If there are any RULES DISPUTES during a match, you can
play a provisional ball and the rules committee will make a decision. All
Committee decisions are final.
Pace of play is critical for the success of the league and
you must play accordingly. Golfers should play ready golf to accelerate the
pace of the round and wait on the green for your opponent to putt.
If you fall more than one hole behind the group in front of
you, pick up your ball and mark your scorecard with your handicap score. Mark the
hole as tied and proceed to the next tee.
Section 12 – Standings: Standings are kept based on your
wins and losses and not your handicap.
Section 13 – Weekly Prizes and Playoff: A small weekly
award will be given to the golfer who shoots the lowest net score and is
presented at the following league outing.
On the last day of competition, we would have a one-day
playoff. The number 1-seated golfer would play the number 2 golfer. The number
3 golfer would play the number 4 golfer and so on. See the detailed proposal
for the tiebreaker rules.
The league winner will get a $50.00 gift certificate to the
clubhouse pro shop on the last day of competition.
Section 14 – Web Site: There will be a web page with all
golfers in the league, their league handicaps, league rules, the standings, and
the league schedule. There will also be a link on the league web page to
email the golf committee with any questions, submit scores or to sign up to
join.
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MIDDLE ATLANTIC BLIND GOLF
ASSOCIATION