RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR CITY GOLF LEAGUE
1.
Teams are comprised of employees of the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County or other
persons approved by the team captains. Each week, 2 players shall be designated by
each team to play.
2.
Players from opposing teams will be paired based on handicap, low handicap plays
against the opposing low handicap, etc.
3.
When a golfer is playing for the first time, pairings will be made after his handicap is
established. Handicaps for all players are calculated as defined in item #15.
4.
Points are awarded 3 ways: (1) match play on 9 holes for 2 points each, (2) stroke play
(net score) for 8 points and (3) total team net score for 8 points. In case of a tie, points
will be split.
5.
The stroke difference in handicaps between opposing players will be distributed
according to the handicap assignments for each hole on the score card. Player handicaps
will also be used in determining total net score.
6.
If a team has a no show, both players on the opposing team will play against the one
player that showed. The team with the no show will only be awarded points for the
player that actually showed.
7.
President of the league will rule on any protests made. If necessary, a rules committee
comprised of the team captains may be called by the president.
8.
USGA Stroke play rules apply with the following exceptions;
a. Out of Bounds - stroke and distance (USGA), or drop where the ball crossed the
boundary with a 2 stroke penalty (plus stroke which put ball OB).
b. Lost ball - stroke and distance (USGA), or drop in vicinity where ball was lost plus a
1 Stroke penalty (plus stroke which lost the ball). If the ball is lost in the rough, it
MUST BE DROPPED IN THE ROUGH. If after a drop, if is unplayable, it may be
dropped out of the rough with an additional penalty stroke.
c. All penalties will be added to the score for the hole to be included in the figuring for
the points for that hole. (The match play rule for losing the hole based on a penalty will
not be in effect.
d. Practice rounds on the course before league or tournament play will be allowed.
e. Lateral hazard - A ball in a hazard may be played as it lies (no grounding of club prior
to contact). If lost or unplayable, you may drop laterally from the hazard boundary with
2 penalty strokes, or play the USGA ruling and drop within 2 club lengths at the point of
entry into the hazard with 1 stroke penalty. (See Diagram 1 below)
9.
Groups which do not have all 4 players at their designated tee time will start at their
assigned time with the players present. Tardy players will tee off with the next group off
after they arrive and may be allowed to play through groups until they catch up with
their group. A player will not be considered tardy if arriving by the assigned time even if
the group has already started early. Tardy players will be allowed to join their group
until the last group has teed off for the first hole.
10.
Teams will be allowed to make substitutions at the course before teeing off.
11.
To be eligible to play in the tournament at the end of the season, a player must have
played at least 5 times in the last 2 years.
12.
The league entry fee will be determined each year by the members present at the annual
organizational meeting.
13.
SLOW PLAY
Definition of slow play - Taking more than 2 hours and 15 minutes for the time of actual
tee off from hole no. 1 or
Failure of the first player of a group, teeing off on the 9th hole prior to the last player
putting out in the succeeding group.
A. Each team will be allowed one slow play warning prior to penalty assessment. Both
teams in the group will receive the warning.
B. After a team is warned, any subsequent slow play shall cause to disqualify that team
from team point considerations.
SUGGESTIONS TO AVOID SLOW PLAY
A. Allow faster groups to play through.
B. Be prepared to play when it is your turn. Have your club selected, have your putt
lined up, etc. Suspend honors if necessary.
C. After putting out, proceed to the next tee and hit when safe. Do not wait for the rest of
your group to finish putting.
14.
Handicap Establishment
The best 50 percent of all differential scores will be used to calculate handicaps until 8
scores have been attained. At this point, the best 4 of the last 8 will be used. If a player
has only 1 score, that score will be used. If a player has only 2 scores, the best 1 of the 2
will be used. If a player has 3 scores, the best 2 will be used etc. Differential scores are
calculated as follows: Diff = (Gross Score - Rating x (113 / Slope). The handicap is
calculated as follows;
Of the best differentials used, they are then averaged and 90% of this average is then
used to calculate the handicap. This handicap is then converted to a course handicap as
follows:
Handicap = Handicap x (slope /113). The fraction is then dropped for league play.
15.
A $12.00 fine will be assessed to a team for each player of that team who fails to show
each week.
16.
The maximum handicap which any player may acquire is 27 for 9 holes.
17.
If a member has gone 2 or more consecutive years without playing at least once in the
regular season will be required to re-establish a new handicap as though he/she is a new
player.
18.
Rain Outs
Definition of Terms:
“Carded Match” shall mean that the two opposing teams in question use scores
from the most recent date where both teams played the same course to determine
points earned from their match. In the event they have not yet played the same
night at the same course, then the next time they do play the same course and
night, those scores shall be used to determine point values for the two teams in
question.
“Majority” decision shall mean more than 50% of the players who are a party to
the decision.
“Make Up” match shall be any match between two teams which have not played
on the same night as originally scheduled. The make up match must be
completed before the following regularly scheduled Tuesday League Night or the
match will be automatically ‘carded’ as described above.
Rain/Inclement weather procedure:
If the course is open for play, all players must report to the course to be involved
in any decision pertaining to start of play.
When the first match is called to report to the first tee and the hole is open for
play; (1) the first group shall poll their foursome and if a majority agrees, then
they shall begin play. (2) if a majority cannot be reached, they will defer to the
next foursome who shall have the same option to begin play with a majority
agreement or defer to the next group and so on. (3) if no one has teed off 15
minutes after the first group was scheduled to tee off, then all players scheduled
to play that night shall vote (each player must be present and shall be counted as
one vote) to cancel play for the evening. After a majority vote to cancel play,
players are released from any further responsibility. Opposing teams may agree
by majority decision among the foursome to schedule a make up match at the
time or the match will be ‘carded’. If the vote is to delay the start of play (with
concurrence from course management), any team which has not teed off within
45 minutes of their originally scheduled time may elect to either card the match
or with a majority vote, schedule a make up match.
If you decide to card the match or reschedule your match, elect someone from
one of the teams to notify the League Secretary what you have decided.
19.
Tee Markers
Female golfers shall use the white set of tee markers closest to the hole. Male golfers
shall use the blue set of tee markers immediately behind those.
20.
Penalty Strokes
If you hit your ball into a hazard, you have two options, you may place your ball within
two club lengths of where the ball crossed into the hazard (or re-tee if this was your tee
shot) with a 1 stroke penalty. , or you may place your ball laterally within 2 club lengths
with a 2 stroke penalty. If you hit your ball out of bounds, you may play your ball from
where it was originally hit with a 1 stroke penalty, or you may place your ball laterally
within 2 club lengths of the boundary with a 2 stroke penalty.
21 .
22.
Winter Rules
You may improve your lie with the club head in your fairway only but no closer to the
hole. You may not touch your ball in any way if you are not in your fairway. The only
exception to this is if it is marked as ground under repair or casual water. You may then
lift your ball and drop it no closer to the hole with no penalty. If you cannot play your
ball, you may declare an unplayable lie and drop no closer to the hole with a one stroke
penalty.
Ghost Team
In case the league is not able have an equal number of teams, the league will have a ghost
team to make the league even. When a real team plays the ghost team, the real team will
be playing against the team with the next tee time. The real team will then be playing
another real team and the teams will be paired by closest in current standings.
Any league player can be a substitute for the ghost team. If the ghost team has at least
one substitute player, then the real team with be playing against the substitute player
using handicaps.
Highlands #5 Marked Hazard on left.
If ball is lost or unplayable, there are two options
1. USGA Rule: Drop ball within 2
Club lengths where ball crossed
the hazard with 1 stroke penalty.
This would be area A. You will
Hitting 3 from there.
2.
League Alternative: Drop within
2 club lengths of the hazard boundary
laterally with 2 stroke penalty. This
would be area B. You will be hitting
4 from there.
Highlands #9 Ball hit into Water
Ball Flight A
USGA Rule:
League Alternative
Ball Flight B
USGA Rule
League Alternative
Pioneers Lake Hole
USGA Rules for hitting into Lake
League alternative
1. USGA Rules: Drop at area A
with 1 penalty stroke.
2. League Alternative: Drop in
in area B with 2 stroke penalty.
1. USGA Rule: Hit from spot where last
ball was played with 1 stroke penalty.
2. League alternative: Drop 2
club lengths inside boundary
with 2 stroke penalty (area A)