2010 Skunk Works GOLF LEAGUE

GENERAL INFORMATION AND RULES

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

                   WHERE:        Rancho Vista Golf Course (PALMDALE) - (661) 272-9903

                   WHEN:           Tuesday or Wednesday nights beginning March 30, 2010

                   LENGTH:       26 Weeks (20 weeks of actual league play due to holidays and mini tournaments)

                   TIME:             First Tee Time: 3:37 PM

 

LEAGUE RULES

 

1.  LEAGUE STRUCTURE

 

There will be one league consisting of up to 32 two-person teams.  The objective is to accumulate as many points as possible to receive the season’s top honors and to qualify for the League Championship Tournament.  The top 12 teams at the end of the season according to the standings qualify.

 

The League Championship Tournament will be an 18-hole stroke play event.  Exact details will be determined the week before the event.  The lowest handicap that each player achieved after the 5th week of the season will be used in the tournament.

 

Three mini tournaments are scheduled on the weeks after the 5th, 12th, and 16st week of league play to break the monotony.  The formats will be as follows:

·         May 4/5  –  Two-man Scramble

·         July 6/7  – Individual three-club 

·         August 10/11  – Two-man best ball

 

2.  LEAGUE SCHEDULE

 

League play will be weekly from March 30 through September 15.   Each team will play 20 different teams picked by our League Management Software. Each player is responsible for checking his/her schedule. Teams may be scheduled on either Tuesday or Wednesday.  The first group tees-off at 3:37 p.m., subsequent groups will tee-off at seven or eight -minute intervals. 

 

The League Championship is scheduled for Tuesday (front 9) and Wednesday (back 9), September 21/22. 

 

There will be no play during the weeks of  May 24, Memorial Day, and Sep 6, Labor Day.

 

3.  COMPETITION FORMAT

 

The competition format has stroke and match play components. Each team must designate an “A player” and a “B player” at the beginning of the season.  The lower-handicap player is the “A player.”  Players will not switch from “A” to “B” once season starts even though the “B” players handicap may become lower then the “A” Players during the season.  For Stroke Play purposes, a team’s score is the sum of each member’s Net Score.  

 

Awarded Points:

Match play:

Match Play Competition

Points

Team 1 overall low net vs Team 2 overall low net

4

Team 1 Player A net vs Team 2 Player A net

4

Team 1 Player B net vs Team 2 Player B net

4

 

 

Total Match Play Points Per Hole

12

Total Match Play Points Per 9 Holes

108

 

Stroke Play:

2 points per number of teams defeated during the week of play and 1 point per number of teams tied.
The maximum points possible for stroke play is 50 (2 points for each defeated teams).

 

The maximum points available per week is 50 + 108 (match)  = 158. 

 

It is imperative that each team gets a substitute for any missing player.  No-Shows will be handled as follows:

 

Every missing player is replaced by a “Ghost” zero-handicap substitute whose NET score is 1 over par on the 6 hardest holes and par on the 3 easiest holes (41).  The Ghost sub earns no points for the player being replaced; however, the Ghost sub does earn points for the team in both the Match Play and Stroke Play components. 

 

Awarded points will be tracked for the season and will determine the overall standing.

 

4.  HANDICAPPING

 

a)       Maximum handicap for 9 holes will be 20 for women and 18 for men. 

 

b)       For returning players, initial handicaps will be based on whatever the computer provides from last year’s league.  First time players' handicaps will be established in one of two ways:

 

·         By entering practice score(s) in the computer played by the new player(s).

·         By using the Modified Peoria System of handicapping described below:

Modified Peoria System
The League Committee secretly selects a par-3 hole, a par-5 hole and two par-4 holes on the first night of play.  The player’s handicap is the sum of the strokes-over-par on the secret holes multiplied by 2.8 (Note: the par-4 holes will be counted twice).  The maximum score is triple bogey on par-3s and par-4s, and quadruple bogey on par-5s.

 

c)       After the first week and everyone has established handicaps, handicaps will be maintained according to the USGA 9 hole Handicap System.  Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) will be used per the USGA as follows:

USGA/SCGA Equitable Stroke Control (2001)

9-Hole

Course Handicap

Max Score on

Par 3

Max Score on

Par 4

Max Score on

Par 5

4 or less

5

6

7

5 through 9

7

7

7

10 through 14

8

8

8

15 through 19

9

9

9

20 or more

10

10

10

 

5.  SCORING

 

a)          Custom-printed scorecards will be used.  Enter the gross (actual) score for the hole on the scorecard.

b)          Scorecards must be signed by all the players and dropped into the League Box.  The box will be found in the pro shop.

c)          For handicapping purposes, actual scores per hole should be entered on the scorecards.  The computer will automatically adjust for Equitable Stroke Control.

6.  RULES OF PLAY

     

a.       Rules of play will be in accordance with the USGA Rules of Golf as augmented by the Rancho Vista Golf Course Local Rules. The Rules Committee will handle all disputes.  Any rule deviations applicable to the league will be noted on the pre-printed scorecards.

b.       Reschedule:

It is the team’s responsibility to re-schedule. Teams are allowed to re-schedule their play anytime before Friday of the scheduled week of play.  Because of Match Play scoring, each team must re-schedule together with their opponents for the week.  Failure to turn in a scorecard will result in zero points for the week.

c.        Substitutes:

1.       Substitute players are welcome and encouraged to fill in to make foursomes.  Substitutes must be registered in the league through LERC, and are not required to pay the entry fee.  Arranging for a substitute will be the responsibility of the player needing a sub.  A substitute list will be distributed with the league roster.

2.       New substitute players will not be allowed during the last three weeks of play.  A substitute player can become a permanent replacement member of a team prior to the last three weeks of league play.  The team is required to notify the league administrator of the change.

3.       A player on one team cannot substitute on any other team.

d.       Additional Skunk Works Golf League Local Rules

·         Lost Ball Rule:
A “Lost Ball” will incur a two-stroke penalty.  Rather than returning to the previous spot, the teams will mutually decide approximately where the ball was lost and the player will drop at the approximate “lost ball” point.  If the teams cannot agree as to the approximate location of the ball, the player must return to the original spot and re-hit. 

·         Ball Thought to be In-Bounds but Found Out-Of-Bounds Rule:
Follow the same procedures as in the Lost Ball Rule.

·         The maximum score for any player on any given hole is 5 over par.  In order to speed up play, a player may “pick up” when it is obvious his/her score on a hole will be at least 5 over par.  Anytime a player picks up or quits playing a hole, his/her score is 5 over par for that hole.

·         Sanded or Punched Greens:
Play aerated greens as normal greens:  putt out or accept opponent’s concession of putt.

·         Late Arrivals and Injuries: If a player is unable to start and play a hole due to late arrival or injury, enter a score of par plus hole handicap plus two additional strokes.  Example; if a players handicap is 9, first hole score will be 7, [par (4) plus handicap for hole (1) plus two (2)]

 

·         Tournament-approved Rangefinders and GPS Caddies are allowed.  Distance determined from these devices is considered simple factual information; therefore, sharing of the information with anyone is allowed.

·          Men will play from the White tees, and women will play from the Red tees.

·         Equipment:

                                                             i.      Only USGA-approved clubs are permitted

                                                           ii.      The 14-club rule is in effect. Warm-up and/or  training devices such as heavy clubs don’t count towards the 14-club limit provided they are not used to strike a ball during the round.

                                                          iii.      Balls: any brand (even X-outs) is permitted, no range balls.

7.  PRIZE FUND DISTRIBUTION

Prizes will be distributed at the Awards Banquet on October , XX, 20108 (after the championship round).  The following are the prizes that will be given out:

1)       2010 League Tournament Champions

2)       2010 League Tournament Runner Up

3)       Regular Season 1st Place

4)       Regular Season 2nd Place

5)       Regular Season 3rd Place

6)       Regular Season 4th Place

7)       Low Handicap

8)       Most Improved

9)       Super Sub

10)   Others – as funds permit.

 

Teams that drop out during the season or who fail to compete during the last three weeks of play are not eligible for prizes.

 

The League Tournament Champions and the Regular Season 1st Place Team are automatically signed up for the following season – they need not fall in line, they need only pay the League fees.

 

8.  OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

 

a)       The camaraderie and competition in a golf league can be a rewarding experience if each player honorably abides by the rules of golf, exhibits course etiquette, and respects and shares the joy of a "great golf shot" with teammate and opponents.  In this way we can all become better players.

 

b)       It is extremely important to keep up the pace of play.  Our goal for this league is rounds of 2 hours and 15 minutes or less.  The following are ways to help speed up play:

 

·         Putt out – do not mark 3-footers

·         Leave bags or carts on the side of the green closest to the next tee

·         Line up putts while others are putting out

·         Cart riders drop off one player at his/her ball, while the driver goes to his/hers.

c)       Not all situations that will arise can be addressed here.  Working together, we will address unknowns at the appropriate time.