RULES OF PLAY AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION FOR MGA CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. See applicable Championship or Qualifying round Notice to Players and Entry Application
for additional Local Rules and Conditions. Complete text of Rules and Appendix I may be found in the 2012-2015 Rules of Golf.
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is: Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes
RULES OF PLAY
OUT OF BOUNDS: Defined by inside points, at ground level, of white stakes, fence posts and white lines. Rule 27-1b.
WATER AND LATERAL WATER HAZARD STAKES AND LINES: When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is
deemed to extend to infinity. When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with
the out of bounds line.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR: Enclosed white lined areas define ground under repair offering relief without penalty. Other areas of ground under repair,
even though not so marked include: French drains (trenches filled with stones or the like).
CART PATHS: Cart paths are immovable obstructions. White-lined areas tying into cart paths have the same status as the paths, that of obstructions.
WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH: Are loose impediments, unless otherwise provided in Local Rules/Notice to Competitors.
EMBEDDED BALL: Anywhere "through the green," a ball which is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, except in loose sand, may be lifted
without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part
of the course through the green. EXCEPTION: A player may not obtain relief under this rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because
of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this rule.
INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE: Include cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; artificial walls and pilings when located
in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in Notice to Competitors/Local Rules.
SEAMS OF CUT TURF (SOD SEAMS): The Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
CONDITIONS
LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVER HEADS: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
MGA PACE OF PLAY POLICY: In effect unless otherwise indicated on Local Rules/Notice to Competitors. NOTE: See MGA Pace of Play Policy.
DISCONTINUANCE OF PLAY: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect. All practice areas are closed during suspension for a
dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to cease doing so; failure
to comply may result in revocation of entry.
SIGNALS:
DANGEROUS SITUATION: One prolonged air horn note.
ALL OTHER SITUATIONS: Three consecutive air horn notes, repeated.
RESUMPTION OF PLAY: Two short air horn notes, repeated.
UNBECOMING CONDUCT: Unbecoming conduct is, but not limited to: vulgarity, throwing equipment in anger, destruction of property, and verbal or
physical abuse to any person. A player who is in violation may be subject to disqualification.
NO SHOW POLICY: Those players who fail to appear for their assigned tee time without notifying the MGA may be suspended from play in future MGA
tournaments. NO SHOWS also include any players who fail to turn in score cards or who withdraw during play without notifying an official and personally
surrendering their score cards to that official.
PLAY-OFF: If a play-off for qualifying or alternate positions is required, the play-off will begin at the time and the hole designated by the Committee in
charge after all players have completed the stipulated round. If conditions do not allow a play-off to occur or continue, there will be a matching of score
cards as prescribed by the USGA method (Page 143 Section 10(c) of the USGA Rules of Golf). If this procedure does not produce a winner, the winner
will be determined by lot. Any player who fails to report for a play-off will be relegated to last place in the tied group.
CLOSE OF COMPETITION: The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize
ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee.
The result of a match is considered to have been “officially announced” when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.
These rules and any local rules distributed by the Committee supersede anything printed on the host club's scorecard. The Committee in
charge of this competition comprises those officials assigned by the MGA whose decisions are final.
Printed in 2015
MASSACHUSETTS GOLF ASSOCIATION - PACE OF PLAY POLICY
The MGA Executive Committee has established the following guidelines regarding Pace of Play for all events. Players will be provided with the
Pace of Play Policy on their 1st Tee, and are expected to adhere to the Time Limits as indicated on the Official Scorecard.
In general for most MGA competitions, the Time Limits will be determined based on the following time allowances:
It is Unreasonable for players to take more than:
TIME LIMITS: GROUPS OF 2 or MATCH PLAY
3 HOURS and 54 MINUTES – 13 minutes per hole
TIME LIMITS: GROUPS OF 3 OR 4
4 HOURS and 30 Minutes – 15 minute per hole
Time Limits may be adjusted based on factors specific to the golf course being played. Any adjustments will be reflected on the
Official Score Card.
Players are responsible for knowing their position on the course relative to their Time Limit. Players may ask that the group be monitored by an
Official without identifying an individual causing slow play. Information obtained by that Official will be considered in applying penalties under this
Rule.
USGA Rule 6-7 states that the player shall play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines which may be
established by the Committee. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player shall not unduly delay play.
DEFINITIONS
First Group – The first group scheduled to begin play. In a two-tee start this includes the first group off each tee used to begin play. In a two-tee
start with both morning and afternoon starting times, this also includes the first groups off each tee in the afternoon round.
Subsequent Groups – Any group other than the First Group.
Out of Position, First Groups Only – A group that has not completed play of a hole within their Time Limit. (Note: In a two-tee start, if the First
Group reaches a group ahead, the rules for Subsequent Groups apply.)
Out of Position, Subsequent Groups – A group that has not completed play of a hole within their Time Limit AND is more than 15 minutes
behind the preceding group.
Time Limit – The time indicated on the Official Scorecard for completion of each hole. The Time Limit is based on the scheduled Starting Time.
If the group is unable to begin play at its scheduled time, the Starter will advise the players of their new Official Starting Time and the Time Limit
will be adjusted accordingly. The Official Starting Time will be when the Starter announces the first competitor.
Completed Play – Groups have completed play when all players have holed out and the flagstick has been returned to the hole.
TIMING
If a group is OUT OF POSITION the players in that group may be monitored and timed. Each player in the group is expected to play a stroke
within 45 seconds. The timing of a players stoke will begin when they have had reasonable opportunity to reach their ball, it is their turn to play
and they can play without interference or distraction. Any time a player spends in determining yardage or club selection will count in the player’s
time for that stroke.
On the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin after the player has allowed a reasonable amount of time to: mark, lift, clean and
replace their ball; repair their ball mark and other ball marks that may be on their line of putt; and/or remove loose impediments from their line of
putt. Time spent looking at the line of putt from behind the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.
PENALTIES
Any player in a group that is OUT OF POSITION who exceeds the time limit (45 seconds) for making any stroke while being timed will be
notified as soon as practicable that they have exceeded the time limit for that stroke and that any subsequent “bad times” will result in a penalty.
STROKE PLAY
MATCH PLAY
1st Bad Time – Warning
2nd Bad Time – 1 stroke penalty
3rd Bad Time – 2 stroke penalty
4th Bad Time – Disqualification
1st Bad Time - Warning
2nd Bad Time – Loss of hole penalty
3rd Bad Time – Loss of hole penalty
4th Bad Time - Disqualification
Appeal Process: The Appeals Committee will consist of up to three officials, including the Official(s)-in-Charge. The player must appeal the
penalty at the Scoring Area before the scorecard is signed and returned. Lost balls, bad play, and time waiting for a ruling are not viable
excuses for slow play. In order for an appeal to be considered, there must have been circumstances or situations beyond the player’s control.
Information from other Rules Officials assigned to the event may be considered in reviewing the appeal and in determining penalties. The final
decision rests with the Official(s)-in-Charge.
Printed in 2015