Syracuse University Golf League Rules
2010 Season
League Philosophy:
The SU Golf League was founded in 2001 as the CMS (Computing & Media Services) Golf League. It is a mixed League, men and women, for golfers of all skill levels. It is primarily a social League giving co-workers and affiliated members an opportunity to meet, socialize and enjoy a round of golf with others. However, there are members who have good golf skills, so there is a competitive component for scoring and handicap purposes that can be used as a comparative gauge of skill level among members.
This is a 9 hole per round League played on consecutive Thursday evenings.
The League size is limited to a maximum of 24 regular individual players. A list of substitute players will be established by the League.
Club Officers:
The club leadership will consist of four Officers; president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
Club Officers will be elected by a vote of the regular members between playing seasons.
Officers will serve for a period of two years.
In order to maintain consistency from season to season, only ½ of the Officers will run for election each year. The President and Secretary will run for office for the upcoming golf season played in even numbered years. The Vice-President and Treasurer will run for office for the upcoming golf season played in odd numbered years.
The Officers roles are:
President:
Call League and Officer Meetings.
Preside at all League and Officers Meetings.
Handle all dealings with Liverpool G&CC except payment of League fees.
Coordinate league membership and recruiting issues.
Vice-President:
Fill in for the president at all League and Officers meetings when the president is absent.
Arrange all details relating to the League banquet
Preside on all discussions on rule judgments.
Moderate the sub request list in the Secretary’s absence.
Treasurer:
Maintain all League financial records
Maintain the League checking account
Present financial reports at League and Officers meetings
Pay all league expenses including greens fee, banquet costs, year end prizes and any other expenses authorized by the League Officers.
Secretary:
Record minutes at all League and Officers meetings
Maintain the League scoring records
Moderate the sub list.
2010 Club Officers:
President – TBD
Vice-president – position vacant in 2009. We will elect a VP in 2010 to server 1 year to get term schedule back on track. Term will expire at the end of the 2010 season.
Treasurer – Michael Wunderlich, mrwunder@syr.edu (term expires after the 2010 season)
Secretary – TBD
League rule changes:
The League rules can be changed by agreement of the League Officers.
Proposed changes will be presented to the membership prior to the League Officers ratifying them.
All members may submit suggestions for changes by sending email to the club secretary.
The League rules must be reviewed by the League Officers after officer elections at the end of the season and prior to preparations for the new season in the Spring.
Member qualifications:
The League is open to all Syracuse University employees, their spouses, significant others and dependents.
The League is also open to friends and colleagues of SU employees if approved by League Officers.
The League is open to male and female players
The League is open to players of all skill levels
League fees:
Annual League dues are $19 per week, $304 per season. $16 per week for greens fees and 3$ per week for League expenses, League banquet and year end prizes.
There are two payment schedules
Payment in full prior to the first week of play on May 20, 2010.
½ due prior to the first week of play on May 20, 2010 and ½ due prior to 7th week of play on July 1, 2010.
The League can maintain a cumulative year end balance of up to $500. Any year end balance that exceeds that limit will be returned to the membership. This balance can be used for incidental costs like league software or food at lunch-time League meetings.
Golf carts are available for $8.00 per person, per 9 hole round.
2010 Season definition:
Play will be conducted at Liverpool Golf & Country Club.
The League begins play on May 20, 2010 and continues on 14 consecutive Thursdays through August 19, 2010. An 18 hole (two 9 hole rounds) tournament using a scramble (captain and crew) format will be played on Saturday, August 21, 2010. That will complete the 16 round season.
Play format:
Scoring will consist of a combination of both individual match and individual stroke play.
The weekly match play pairings will be set by the club Officers and will be done to give all members an opportunity to play a round with all other members. Players wishing to play regularly with spouses or a specific partner (one only) are required to make such arrangements themselves while still playing their match play opponent for that week.
Points will be awarded as follows: 1 point for the match play winner of each hole using net score, 1 point for the most match play holes won, and 1 point for the low net stokes per nine holes against your opponent.
League play:
Tee times will start at 5:00 PM and run through 5:32 PM, with 8 minutes intervals between groups.
The groups will be made up by the golfers as the individuals arrive, taking into consideration that they must play their scheduled match play opponent. Those who arrive early and want to tee off early can form a foursome. The next four who want to go out can form their own group and so on until everyone has teed off.
All League play will be governed by the USGA Rules of Golf except as amended by the local rules. See appendix for local rules.
All matches will be played from the following tees:
Men will play from the white tees
Women have the option of playing from the forward tees but may opt to play from the white tees.
Substitute rule:
League members that will miss their scheduled round should request a sub as far in advance as possible. Last day/hour sub requests might not give enough time to fill a spot. Of course there may be last minute unforeseen situations that arise. That is why it is important to plan ahead for the times that we do know about.
Each member is responsible for getting their own sub. We have several people available to sub this year. The sub list is available on the web site.
Sub requests made within 24 hours of the tee time can be filled by non listed subs. If you know anyone who can sub on this short notice they are welcome to play. The normal sub fee of $10 still applies.
The Secretary, and in his absence the Vice President, will be the moderator of the list and have the final say on sub requests.
SU Golf League Sub procedure
League member are required to go to the sub list first. If no one on the sub list is available to fill your spot then you may find a sub not on the list.
An email must be sent to the League Secretary with the sub’s name as soon as possible after confirming who that sub is.
The League Secretary will update the pairings on our golf web site with the subs name after the confirmation email is received. Same day requests may not make the web site.
Replacement player shows up for the round of golf that they picked up and pays $10 (cash only) to the Treasurer or another officer at the start of the evening that the round is played.
Reporting your score:
At the end of the round each player is responsible for checking their score. The marker will give the players the opportunity to check their scores before he attests the card. It is the responsibility of the other members of the group that their score is recorded correctly prior to the card being submitted to the club secretary. Scores will not be changed after the cards have been turned in.
Rainouts and interrupted play:
Obviously, no one has to or should play golf in lightning conditions. If lightning is present, you are to immediately take the standard precautions prescribed for this condition. Rainouts will be determined by the club pro and/or the League Officers. If rain or bad weather comes during a round, you will be notified if the round is being postponed or canceled.
A 9 hole round will be considered complete if you have played 7 holes. In accordance with the USGA Handicap System unfinished holes will be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes your are entitled to receive.
The league has the option of making up rained out rounds on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon at a later date during the season. Make up rounds will be coordinated with Liverpool G&CC by the club president.
Players will receive a rain check for any rounds not played at the end of the season.
Weekly games:
There will be a voluntary weekly skins game. Players can participate by making a onetime lump sum payment of $14 for the 14 Thursday night games. Make payment to the League Treasurer prior the start of the season.
Payouts will be made at the end of the season at the league banquet.
Money will carry over from week to week if there are no skins.
Speed of play:
Slow play will not be tolerated. Slow play detracts from the enjoyment of everyone’s round. All complaints of slow play should be directed to the League Officers. The Officers will meet with the accused to determine the appropriate actions. Allowing for 15 minutes per hole, a 9 hole round could be completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes. That should allow our last scheduled tee time of 5:32 PM to finish by 7:47 PM. This would allow the last group to finish before dark even at this moderate pace of play.
Maximum number of strokes – the most strokes permitted on a single hole is a quadruple bogey. That is four strokes above par, for example a 7 on a par 3, an 8 on a par four and a 9 on a par five.
If you regularly get quadruple bogies you must pick up the ball if the group in front of you is out of range and your foursome is falling behind.
If a quadruple bogey is unusual for you, you may opt to continue if you will not unduly delay play.
Be prepared – think about club selection and other course management issues while walking to your ball and while waiting for others to hit.
Limit the number of practice swings you take.
Play ready golf – hit immediately when it is your turn, then proceed to your next shot after you have hit.
Going to your next shot without your golf bag – if you are going to your next shot without your bag you must take the 2 or 3 clubs you are most likely to need. Do not go to your ball to assess your shot and then return to your bag for the proper club.
Assisting others looking for a ball – players should not assist others in looking for their ball. Players are expected to proceed to their ball and prepare for their next shot.
Lost ball
You may only make one pass north and south, and one pass east and west searching for you ball. You must not take more that two minutes if there is a clear shot in front of your group.
If your ball is lost you must not return to the location of the previous shot to hit your next shot. Under penalty of one stroke you must drop at the spot you believe your ball to be lost.
Provisional shot – you should hit a provisional ball if you believe your 1st shot went out of bounds or entered a hazard.
Do not linger on the greens – after putting out, leave the green quickly and proceed to the next tee box. Record your score after you have cleared the green enough for the group behind you to hit. Place your bag between the green and the next tee box before putting.
Assist members of your group by raking a sand trap, moving their bag, getting their putter, etc., any little things that will keep the group moving.
Honors – on holes when a woman has the tee honors she will defer to those playing the white tees. This will prevent the delays associated with the white tee players having to wait until the forward tee player has cleared the line of the white tee players.
Quitting the League:
Any member who quits the League during the season cannot be reinstated in the League for that season. The player can play as a substitute after quitting but not as a member. Thus, he is not eligible for League championship, prize money, or games money. The member who quits has no status for the following season, and can be reinstated only if an opening is available.
The League has no obligation to refund any League fees paid by a member who quits the League, however, the balance of fees paid can be refunded from such time that a permanent replacement is found. If no permanent replacement is found, the player will receive no refund. A permanent replacement is defined as someone who replaces a member who quits the League, and pays the prorated League fees for the number of rounds he plays. The replacement then becomes a full League member with all the rights and obligations of the member he replaced.
League expulsion:
A team or individual can only be expelled from the League after a majority vote of the League membership. A team or individual expelled from the League will be refunded their unused golf fees (prorated). Expelled teams'/individuals matches never existed and thus all points from those matches are subtracted from the League records.
Disputes and rules decisions:
All League disputes, violations, and penalties, are subject to review by the League Officers. The Officers may consult any outside party including the parties involved, any witnesses, and/or the head course professional. Decisions made by the League Officers are final.
Appendix
Local rules
1st hole – The driving range on the left side of fairway one is OB. This is not staked as OB so consider the top of the berm that runs between the fairway and the range as the OB line. If your ball goes on to the range do not attempt to retrieve it. Going on to a driving range is a dangerous situation. Proceed according to the local OB rule (See local rule 4).
2nd hole – because hole 2 is surrounded by water it can be a challenging hole for any golfer. For less skilled golfers it could be very expensive. If you choose to you can elect to drop on the green side of the water hazard after you have hit two shots into the water. The drop area is just past the water hazard to the left side of the green. Remember the maximum stroke rule may also apply here. You’ll be hitting 5 on a hole where the quadruple bogey rule only lets you take 7 strokes.
Holes not competed due to darkness – if slow play prevents you from finishing before darkness you must record a score of par plus any handicap strokes you are entitled to receive. This scoring method is in compliance with the USGA Handicap System guidelines.
OB – in order to speed play, if you hit a shot you believe may be OB you should hit a provisional ball according the USGA rule. If you did not hit a provisional ball and discover that your ball is OB you must not return to the tee or the location of the previous shot. You must proceed under penalty of two strokes and drop the ball outside the OB line within two club lengths of and not nearer the hole than the point where it crossed the margin of the OB line.
USGA definitions that you should know
The definitions that appear here are common golf terms that you should be familiar with. They are summaries of the actual definitions that appear in the USGA Rules of Golf. You must refer to the Rules of Golf when making decisions.
Stroke – is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.
Ball falling off tee – if a ball falls off a tee or is knocked off a tee by the player in addressing it, it may be re-teed without penalty. See Rule 11.3 for a full explanation of a ball falling of tee.
Loose impediments – are natural objects including stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like. Dew and frost are not loose impediments. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. In general, loose impediments may be removed without penalty. See Rule 23 for a full explanation of relief from loose impediments.
Obstructions – are anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths. A movable obstruction is one that can be moved without unreasonable effort, otherwise it is an immovable obstruction. See Rule 24 for a full explanation of relief from obstructions.
Out of bounds – is beyond the boundaries of the course. Out of bounds can be marked in several ways. The scorecard will generally explain where out of bounds occurs and how it is marked.
Water hazard – is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage or other open water course (whether or not containing water). Stakes and lines used to define a water hazard are yellow.
Lateral water hazard – is a water hazard so situated that it is not possible to drop a ball behind the water hazard keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. Stakes or lines used to define a lateral water hazard are red.
Wrong ball – is any ball other than the players and includes another player’s ball, an abandoned ball, and the player’s original ball when it is now longer the ball in play. If a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball he incurs a penalty of two strokes. Players are encouraged to put an identification mark on their ball. Players should also check the ball they are preparing to hit to insure it is their ball.