Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club: Homestead, FL
Club Charter
What is the Sunday Groundhogs? The Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club is a golf club in
which its members play a modified Stableford format each Sunday morning. The season culminates
with a three day tournament played over three Sundays and usually ends on Ground Hog day. This
tournament is known as the Groundhogs Masters. The Masters event is optional and any member or
new member may play each day as normal without enrolling in this Masters tournament.
PURPOSE: Our sole purpose is to have fun in respecting each other and the game of golf. Our goal is to
maintain a format and enforce rules in a manner that yields the largest fields of play while having the
complete confidence of all members.
ADMINISTRATION: The Sunday Groundhogs is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of five
members. Membership is free and described within.
CONDUCT: The board & members will conduct themselves in a manner conducive to gaining and
maintaining membership. No board member will act unilaterally in dealing with membership matters or
denying play (except as described within).
Table of Contents
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Format
Membership
Play & Scoring
The Board & Financials
Sunday Groundhogs Masters
Sunday Ground Hogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
Keys Gate Golf Club
31 July 2011
Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club: Homestead, FL
Club Charter
I.
FORMAT: The format is a modified Stableford system played individually and paid by players’
standings in regards to Point Total. We also pay Closest to the Pins on all four par three holes. We also
pay gross skins for any given hole. Costs are currently as follows:
Individual Play: $15.00 (mandatory)
Closest to Pins: $5.00 (mandatory)
Gross Skins: $5.00 (optional)
Ground Hog administration: $1.00 (mandatory)
a. Points: Points are awarded as follows:
Double Bogey or worse: 0 points (Player should pick up and score double bogey)
Bogey: 1 point.
Par: 2 points
Birdie: 4 points
Eagle: 8 points
Double Eagle: 16 points
A players aggregate point total per day is calculated as Points Earned – Point Quota = Points Total
A player’s finishing place in each Sunday event is determined by the Points Total for that day.
b. Point Quota: A player’s Point Quota is calculated as follows:
Points Quota is an average of a player’s last four previously posted and corrected Points Earned.
A player whose Points Total is less than minus five for any given Sunday Points Earned will be adjusted
to the equivalent of minus five. Example: Points Earned = 20. Points Total = -7. Corrected Points
Earned = 22. This corrected Points Earned will be identified with the letter “P” as a matter of record and
recorded; and will be available for viewing on the Internet. This is only corrected in the Handicap
System and not for the Sunday Results in question. Any member posting two consecutive -6 Points
Totals may be questioned by the board and necessary adjustments may be made as agreed between the
member and the board i.e. changes in tees played or resetting their point quota.
Sunday Ground Hogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
Keys Gate Golf Club
31 July 2011
Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club: Homestead, FL
Club Charter
II.
MEMBERSHIP: The Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate is open to anyone who enjoys and
respects the game of golf and accepts our Club Charter. You are deemed to have accepted our Charter
by entering only one event. Once a member always a member; however, we must have a least four
rounds on record within the year played. The year played for this purpose is strictly counted within 365
days of the current day. In the case that a member does not have four rounds within the 365 days of
the date of play, this member will enter under the terms of a new member as described within.
a. NEW MEMBER: A new member must either present a USGA handicap index (verified by the
GHIN) or offer verbally an average score and agree to our Club Charter. A point quota will be calculated
as follows using the players presented handicap (as determined from the index) or the presented
average score:
36 – Handicap or average score + 2 = Point Quota. i.e. 36-10 handicap = 26 + 2 = 28 Points Quota.
New members will be limited to 50% of all monies earned for individual play through the first four
events played. All monies earned for Closest to Pins and Skins will be paid at full value always.
NOTE: These withholdings will be deposited into the Groundhogs administration fund.
b. TEE SELECTION: The new member must also declare an appropriate tee to play from for the
remainder of the Ground Hog Masters tournament year as described within. Normally, a member will
declare their appropriate tee after the Ground Hog Masters as follows:
Women play the Women’s tee or any other tee of their choosing for the periods indicated above.
Men generally play the blues tees. However, it is the intent that all golfers have the possibility of hitting
greens in regulations. Once you select your tees for the season (after the Groundhogs Masters) you
must play that tee for the remainder of the year through the Masters Tournament. Exceptions may be
considered on a case by case basis and must be approved unanimously by the board. Members granted
exceptions will have to play under the rules of “new member” through four rounds (50% earnings).
The following guidelines are given for selecting tees:
Driving Distance: 250 yards + blue tees.
Driving Distance: 200 -249 yards white tees.
Driving Distance less than 200 yards green tees (usually reserved for members 75 + years of age)
All members have the right to vote for the board of directors and to advocate for change to the Club
Charter through their board of directors. See “The Board & Financials”.
Sunday Ground Hogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
Keys Gate Golf Club
31 July 2011
Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club: Homestead, FL
Club Charter
III.
PLAY & SCORING: Play begins each Sunday Morning 0800-0900. Registration is 0730-0800 at
the club house. A player running late may call the clubhouse prior to 0800 to enter. However, the
player is then committed to $21.00 and must not unduly delay play (if at least two members are willing
to wait for you and you can begin play prior to 0900 or as conditions warrant). In this case, the player
will preferably have his group (threesome or foursome) pay his monies due or the player must deposit
monies with either the Pro Shop or a Board Member to hold until the completion of play. If a member is
committed and does not pay, the member may not be allowed to play again until the committed money
is paid. Again, our goal is to promote play and not discourage it.
a. Each group playing must have at least three current members in the group committed to the
Groundhogs that day. The fourth player does not need to me a member or a member committed for
that day. Fivesomes are not allowed by Keys Gate on the weekend. However, in extreme circumstances
Keys Gate may allow them. If allowed, the fivesomes should be the last group of the day and will not
delay play.
b. Rules of play are USGA and local rules. There are certain Ground Hog exceptions and notes
posted on the Announcement Page of our website: Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
c. Play shall start and continue as directed by the Keys Gate Golf Club in regards to tee times,
weather and other safety considerations. The board of directors will decide if tournament play will
begin or continue given the Keys Gate Golf Club’s decision. If the board decides to discontinue play at
any time all Groundhogs monies collected that day will be refunded and or credited as the members are
available (preferably refunded).
d. Groups will turn in one score card verified by all group members to indicate their score and
Point Total for each hole and will Total and Verify the Point Total. Please be clear. Disputes to scores
must be settled the day of the event and prior to any payout. A correction after the payout is at the sole
discretion of the board.
e. Individual Payouts are paid in order of finish as follows:
Field less than 10: 1st 60% of take. 2nd 40% of take.
Field greater than 10: 1st 50% of take. 2nd 30$ of take and 3rd 20% of take.
Field greater than 25: 1st 40%, 2nd 30%, 3rd 20% and 4th 10%.
f. Closest to the Pins are paid by the total take divided by the number of holes won. Members are
responsible for correctly recording results on the provided markers and obtaining verification by their
group. After payout, results will not be corrected.
Skins are paid by the total take divided by the number of holes won.
Sunday Ground Hogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
Keys Gate Golf Club
31 July 2011
Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club: Homestead, FL
Club Charter
g. The first Hole in One for each Sunday will be paid currently in the amount of $200 by the Ground
Hog’s administrative fund as available. The board will ensure at least monies are available for two Holes
in One at any given time. The Hole in One must be verified by the Group and recorded on the marker.
Please take the marker with you.
h. Members who do not finish play except as described within will not have their points
considered, be refunded nor be rewarded for any other eligible payouts for that day.
IV.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FINANCIALS:
There are five boards of directors to perform operations and administration functions for the Sunday
Groundhogs. The boards of directors are elected by any members available for voting at the time a
vote is called. A vote may be called at any time 15 members petition to do so. The petitioner will define
when and how the vote will be held. At least 15 votes must be collected and board members are
allowed to vote. In the case that a board member resigns or other condition which results in losing a
board member, the remaining members will call for a vote the following Sunday. The nominations and
vote will happen that Sunday notwithstanding the number of members available.
The board of directors will decide amongst themselves on how to perform these listed responsibilities.
1. Maintain a bank account that has three signatures. Two signatures are required for withdrawals
after approval of all board members.
2. Maintain a website that includes:
a. Club Charter
b. Announcements
c. Community Forum
d. Sunday Results:
i. Overall Standings
ii. Skins
iii. Sunday’s Payout
iv. Groundhogs Points View (Points Totals and Point Quota for next week)
v. Simple Ledger (deposits and withdrawals and balance forward)
3. Protect Integrity and Property: The Computer, Money Bags and Markers will be reasonably
secured at the Keys Gate Pro Shop as provided for by the Keys Gate Golf Course. The money
bag shall be locked at all times and deposits shall be made as frequently as possible. Monies
earned will be paid by in person by a board member. Monies not claimed within a year will be
deposited in the Groundhogs administration fund. The computer and money will not leave the
premises of Keys Gate Golf Club without the express consent of at least three members.
Sunday Ground Hogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
Keys Gate Golf Club
31 July 2011
Sunday Groundhogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club: Homestead, FL
Club Charter
V.
SUNDAY GROUNDHOGS MASTERS: The Masters Event is played over three consecutive
Sundays and generally culminates on Groundhogs Day and is overlaid with our regularly scheduled daily
events (tournament within a tournament). Financially, the Masters is a separately funded event and
will not use any administration monies. The highest aggregate Points Total of three consecutive rounds
wins. The event will be announced at least one month before the first round so that members can
schedule for the dates. Remember, if you know you cannot play one of the rounds please do not enter
as the fees are not refundable, but DO please continue to play the regular Ground Hog daily event
…..The pot will be LARGER. A forecast will be given of the pot, places paid and entry fees. This is subject
to the number of entries. All monies collected for the Masters will be paid. For the first round routine
groupings are allowed. For the last two rounds groupings will be matched based on standings. Tee
times will be posted on the website.
Qualifications:
1. A member must have played at least 10 rounds since the end of the previous
Masters event.
2. Six of those rounds must have been played after 15 Oct preceding the event.
All other rules of play apply.
Sunday Ground Hogs @ Keys Gate Golf Club
Keys Gate Golf Club
31 July 2011