The Links Golf Club – 2017 Season Men’s Tournament Rules and Schedule
Welcome to the 2017 golf season. Following is important information for our weekend tournaments, Club
Championship competitions and other important Annual Competitions. Our official men’s tournament
season will be held weather permitting from Saturday, April 8, 2017 through Sunday, October 29, 2017.
Weekend Tournaments:
The formats for the weekend tournaments will alternate between: Stableford and Low Net; Stableford
Scoring goes as follows: (e.g. Net Eagle = 4 Points, Net Birdie = 3 Points, Net Par = 2 Points, Net Bogie =
1 Point, Net Double Bogie or worse = 0 Points). However, three (3) tournaments each month will be
played using the ​LOW NET​ format: the ​first Saturday and the second and third Sunday of each
month AND one (1) tournament each month, the fourth Sunday of each month, will be the LINKS
OPEN TOURNAMENT which will alternate each month using Low Net andStableford formats. ​Four
(4) additional alternate format dates have been selected for the 2017 season (see below), and others may
be added during the season.Tournament rules for alternate formats will be provided prior to the scheduled
date of the tournament.
Alternate Tournament Format Dates for 2017 Season
Date
Sunday, April 23
Memorial Day Tournament May 27,
28, and 29
Format
2 Person Better Ball (Net)
3 day tournament – individual tournament each day. stableford,
two man better ball, stableford
3 day tournament – individual tournament each day. stableford,
two man better ball, stableford
3 day tournament – individual tournament each day, stableford,
two man better ball, stableford
Other TournamentsTo be Determined
Independence Day Tournament
July 1, 2, and 4
Labor Day Tournament September
2, 3, and 4.
Stableford Formats
Net Score
Double Eagle
Eagle
Birdie
Par
Bogey
Double Bogey or
Worse
Stableford Points
5
4
3
2
1
0
Modified
Stableford
Points
6
4
2
1
0
-1
Other Important Tournament Competitions:
End of the Month “Major” tournaments​ will be held on the 4th Saturday of each month from April
through October. The Links at Union Vale will provide additional prizes for these Major Tournaments.
The ​President’s Prize​ competition will be tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 17.
Tournament Rules​:
All Equity and Associate Members ​maintaining their Handicap at the Links are eligible to participate in the
weekend tournaments.
Entry Fee for all one day Weekend Tournaments is $10, payable prior to the beginning of play.
Only Equity members may participate in the annual club championship competitions.​
The ​Official tee for weekend tournaments are the #4 / BLUE​ tees; players wanting to play from other tees
will be adjusted as required by USGA Handicap Rule 3-5 (Players Competing from Different Tees) as
follows**:
●
#2 tees (GOLD) = Course handicap for the tee being played minus 4 strokes (Course
Rating differential between #4 BLUE and #2 GOLD)
●
#3 tees (WHITE) = Course handicap for the tee be played minus 2 strokes (Course Rating
differential between #4 BLUE and #3 WHITE)
●
#4 tees (BLUE) = Course handicap
●
#5 tees (BLACK) = Course handicap for the tee being played Plus 1 strokes (Course Rating
differential between #4 BLUE and #5 BLACK)
●
All players will notify Pat Sullivan and designate a tee box for tournaments that they will
be playing from when the season begins. The handicap from that tee box will be entered
into Event Man. Once the tee box is designated, that player must play from that tee box for
the remainder of the season for all tournaments. If a player wishes to change the tee box
after the season has begun, they must get approval from the Competitions Committee.
Any player posting a score from the wrong designated tee box without the approval of the
Competitions Committee will be disqualified from that day’s tournament.
**Consistent with the USGA Handicap Rule 3.5, when playing from different tees, players determine their
course handicaps based on the tees they are playing​ AND then make an ​additional adjustment to account
for the difference in course ratings for the tees being played​. So, since the #4 tee (official tournament tee)
course rating is 72.1 and the #3 tee course rating is 70.1, a player’s handicap playing from the #3 tees is
reduced by 2 strokes due to the lower rating.
Every member is responsible for knowing the rules of the Golf Course. All of us need to continue to focus
on improving our pace of play; we expect a round of golf to take 4.5 hours or less. Please keep up with
the group ahead of you; don’t worry about the group behind you. Please respect the instructions of our
Rangers – pick up your pace when asked and move up a hole if told to do so.
NOTE:​ All tournament scorecards must be legible, include player’s first initial and Last Name, 2 member
signatures (one card only), and the date played. The score must be posted into the ​Event Man
Tournament Scoring Computer​ and scorecard submitted on the same day of play. No exceptions!!
Handicap Adjustments:
Tournament Winners with a winning score of 40 points (68 Net) or more will be cut 1 stroke; the cut will
remain in effect for 2 paid tournaments. Tournament Winners with a winning score of 45 points (65 Net) or
more will be cut 2 strokes; the cut will remain in effect for 2 paid tournaments.
If a player's USGA Handicap Index increases by more than two (2) strokes during the Links Golf Club
Inactive season (e.g. November 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017) their USGA Handicap Index will be modified
downward upon initial entry into 2017 Links Golf Club tournaments. Details about the Links Golf Club
Handicap administrative procedures are contained in the ​Handicap Committee Notice​ that has sent been
to all Links Golf Club members and is also posted in the Pro Shop and Men’s Locker Room.
Weekend Tournament Prizes:
A total of six prizes will be provided each weekend tournament: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Low Gross, In addition
Saturday tournaments will have a two Closest to the Pin prizes and Sunday tournaments will have one
Closest to the Pin and one Long Drive prize.
The weekend tournament prize ‘purse’ will vary depending upon the number of Entry Fees collected each
weekend. The total Entry Fees gathered each weekend will be split equally between Saturday and
Sunday Tournament winners (e.g. if $400 is collected on Saturday and $200 is collected on Sunday, there
is $600 total prize money for that weekend – $300 will be allocated to Saturday’s winners and $300 to
Sunday’s winners). The Winners share of the purse will be determined on a percentage basis.
Prize
% of
Purse
40%
20%
15%
15%
5%
5%
1​ Place
2​ Place
3​ Place
Low Gross
Closest to the Pin
Long Drive (Sunday
only)
NOTE: The Competition Committee will cancel a tournament if there is insufficient participation. If a
tournament is cancelled, all entry fees will be returned to participants.
st​
nd​
rd​
Appeals:
Disagreements or issues relating to tournament play (e.g. winning scores, disqualifications, handicap
adjustments, etc.) should be brought to the attention of the appropriate Committee Chairperson (e.g.
Tournament, Handicap, etc.) for resolution.
Any issues or concerns relating to tournament play (e.g. winning scores, rules infractions,
disqualifications, handicap adjustments, etc.) should be brought to the attention of the Committee
Chairperson for resolution. If the issue cannot be resolved with the Committee Chair, a three person
Appeals Committee (Chaired by Pat Lynch) will review the facts of the issue and communicate their
decision to the people involved in the appeal. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. Appeals
should be submitted to the Appeals Committee Chairperson in writing, clearly documenting the issue to
be reviewed.
Annual Club Championship Competitions (for Equity members):
Qualifying for Annual Competitions:
The Division that a Player is eligible to Qualify for will be determined by their Year End Handicap (i.e.
October 31, 2016 Revision). ​ ​Qualifying Rounds for all Annual Championships will be played during the
first six weekends of paid tournaments from Saturday, April 1 to Sunday, May 21. ​To qualify you must
participate in​ ​a paid tournament, and have a qualifying score​ ​by May 21​. The player’s best round
submitted from these weekend tournaments will serve as their Qualifying Score. ​Players intending to
participate in any of the Annual Club Championship Competitions must sign up in the Pro Shop
NO LATER THAN Sunday, May 14.
Club Championship Divisions (Club, ‘A’ Division, ‘B’ Division, ‘C’ Division, ‘D’ Divisio​s​n )​ – 16 low
gross scores for each division will qualify. All qualifying rounds are played from the tee a player
designates as his tournament tee for the 2017 season. All Club Championship Division matches are
played off ‘Scratch’ (no strokes given or received)
●
Championship matches (0 – 10 course handicap) will be played from the #5 tees
●
‘A’ Division matches (11 – 15 course handicap) will be played from the tee the player has
designated as his tournament tee for the 2017 season.
●
‘B’ Division matches (16 – 21 course handicap) will be played from the tee the player has
designated as his tournament tee for the 2017 season.
●
‘C’ Division matches (22 or greater course handicap) will be played from the tee the player has
designated as his tournament tee for the 2017 season.
Handicap and Senior Handicap Championships​ ​– 32 best net scores for each division will qualify. All
qualifying rounds​ will be played from the tee the player has designated as his tournament tee for the 2017
season.
Handicap Championship​ matches will be played from the tee the player has designated as his
tournament tee for the 2017 season.
Senior Handicap Championship​ (age 60 and over as of May 1, 2017) matches will be played from the
tee the player has designated as his tournament tee for the 2017 season.
2017 Annual Club Championship Match Deadlines:
Handicap and Senior Handicap Divisions:
●
1st round played by Sunday, June 18
●
2nd round played by Sunday, July 16
●
3rd round played by Sunday, August 13
●
4th round played by Sunday, September 10
●
Final round played by Sunday, October 15 (Finals are 36 hole matches)
Club Championship Divisions (Club, ‘A’ Division, ‘B’ Division, ‘C’ Division, ‘D’ Division)
●
1st round played by Sunday, June 25
●
2nd round played by Sunday, August 6
●
3rd round played by Sunday, September 10
●
Final round played by Sunday, October 15 (Finals are 36 hole matches)
The person at the top of each bracket should contact their opponent to schedule the match ​as a
courtesy​. However, both players share responsibility for getting their match played by the posted
deadline. Matches must be played by dates posted – no extensions, exceptions or excuses accepted.
Other Important Annual Prizes
Player of the Year​ – eligibility will be determined using a point system approach. Points will be allocated
as follows: 7 points for 1​ place, 5 points for 2​ Place, 3 points for 3​ place, 2 points for Low Gross and 1
point for participation in a tournament. The top eight point getters and ties (as of October 15) will play in a
one day tournament on Saturday, October 21 to determine the Player of the Year.
st ​
nd​
rd​
Most Improved Player​ – selected by the MGA; must have 20 scores played at the Links.
Links Golf Club Committee Members:
●
●
Competitions: ​Tim Dunnigan​ ​(Chair), Austin Fox, John Marren, Jim McDonnell,
Handicap:​ ??????
Appeals​: Pat Lynch (Chair), Jim Fleming, Ambrose O’Connell