Rules

The Links Golf Club – 2016 Season Men’s Tournament and Handicap Rules

Tournament – Handicap

The Links Golf Club – 2016 Season Men’s Tournament Rules and Schedule

Welcome to the 2016 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 from Saturday, April 2nd through Sunday, October 30.

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 2016 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 2016 Season
Date Format
Sunday, April 3 2 Person Better Ball (Net)
Memorial Day Tournament May 28, 29, and 30 3 day tournament – individual tournament each day. stableford, two man better ball, stableford
Independence Day Tournamet July 2, 3, and 4 3 day tournament – individual tournament each day. stableford, two man better ball, stableford
Labor Day Tournament September 3, 4, and 5

Other tournaments

 3 day tournament – individual tournament each day, stableford, two man better ball, stableford

To be Determined

 

Stableford Formats
Net Score Stableford Points   Modified Stableford

Points

Double Eagle 5 6
Eagle 4 4
Birdie 3 2
Par 2 1
Bogey 1 0
Double Bogey or Worse 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 held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 (also End of Month Major Tournament).

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 the #4/BLUE,  and 2 strokes ( course rating differential between #3/WHITE and #2/GOLD course ratings)
  • #3 tees (White) = Course handicap for the tee be played minus 2 strokes (differential between #4 BLUE and #3 WHITE course ratings.
  • #4 tees (Blue) = Course handicap
  • #5 tees (Black) = Course handicap for the tee being played Plus 1 strokes (differential between #5/BLACK and #4/ course ratings).
  • 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, 2015 – March 31, 2016) their USGA Handicap Index will be modified downward upon initial entry into 2016 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
1st Place 40%
2nd Place 20%
3rd Place 15%
Low Gross 15%
Closest to the Pin 5%
Long Drive (Sunday only) 5%

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.

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, 2015 Revision).  Qualifying Rounds for all Annual Championships will be played during the first six weekends of paid tournaments from Saturday, April 2 to Sunday, May 8. To qualify you must be in a paid tournament for these six weeks, and have a qualifying score. The player’s best round submitted from these six 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 8. 

Club Championship Divisions (Club, ‘A’ Division, ‘B’ Division, ‘C’ Division, ‘D’ Divisiosn ) – 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 2016 season.  All Club Championship Division matches are played off ‘Scratch’ (no strokes given or received)

  • Championship matches (0 – 9 course handicap) will be played from the #5 BLACK tees.
  • ‘A’ Division matches (10 – 14 course handicap) will be played from the #4 BLUE tees.
  • ‘B’ Division matches (15 – 19 course handicap) will be played from the #4 BLUE tee unless both players agree to play from another tee.
  • ‘C’ Division matches (20 – 23 course handicap) will be played from the #4 BLUE tee unless both players agree to play from another tee.
  • ‘D’ Division matches (24 or greater course handicap) will be played from the #4 BLUE tee unless both players agree to play from another tee.

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 2016 season.

Handicap Championship matches will be played from the tee the player has designated as his tournament tee for the 2016 season.

Senior Handicap Championship (age 60 and over as of May 1, 2016) matches will be played from the tee the player has designated as his tournament tee for the 2016 season.

2016 Annual Club Championship Match Deadlines:

Handicap and Senior Handicap Divisions:

  • 1st round played by Sunday, June 19
  • 2nd round played by Sunday, July 17
  • 3rd round played by Sunday, August 14
  • 4th round played by Sunday, September 11
  • Final round played by Sunday, October 16 (Finals are 36 hole matches)

Club Championship Divisions (Club, ‘A’ Division, ‘B’ Division, ‘C’ Division, ‘D’ Division)

  • 1st round played by Sunday, June 26
  • 2nd round played by Sunday, August 7
  • 3rd round played by Sunday, September 11
  • Final round played by Sunday, October 16 (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 1st place, 5 points for 2nd Place, 3 points for 3rd place, 2 points for Low Gross and 1 point for participation in a tournament.  The top eight point getters and ties (as of October 16) will play in a one day tournament on Saturday, October 22 to determine the Player of the Year.

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: Pat McMorrow (Chair), Austin Fox, Jim McDonnell

Appeals: Pat Lynch (Chair), Jim Fleming, Ambrose O’Connell

top

Links Golf Club – Handicap Committee Notice

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System™ is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The System provides a fair Course Handicap™ for each player regardless of ability, and adjusts a player’s USGA Handicap Index® up or down as the player’s game changes. At the same time, the System disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential ability and promotes continuity by making a Handicap Index continuous from one playing season or year to the next. A USGA Handicap Index® is useful for all forms of play, and is issued only to individuals who are members of a golf club.
Two basic premises underlie the USGA Handicap System:
• each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played,
• each player will post every acceptable round for peer review.
The responsibility rests on all members and tournament players to keep each other honest. The Links Golf Club members and the Handicap Committee are jointly responsible for adhering to these premises.” (Section 1-1, USGA Handicap System Manual).
The following Handicapping and Score Posting Procedures are in effect for all Links Golf Club golfers desiring to compete in Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) Net contests and holding a USGA Handicap Index. These procedures must be adhered to as part of “Requirements for Compliance” with the USGA Handicap System and for the MGA’s requirements as licensed by the USGA to oversee and administer the USGA Handicap System in New York.
Links Golf Club meets the USGA “Definition of a Golf Club”, a Handicap Chair has been officially certified by the USGA through their Handicap Certification Program, and Links Golf Club has been licensed by the USGA to issue its members USGA Handicap Indexes. (Section 2, Section 8 Club Compliance Checklist).
Links Golf Club firmly believes that “A player must earn a USGA Handicap Index. No player has an inherent right to a USGA Handicap Index without providing full evidence of ability to the golf club’s Handicap Committee.” (Section 8-4, USGA Handicap System Manual).
Links Golf Club administers events and is guided by policies set forth and approved by the Links Golf Club Competition Committee.
1. A Handicap Committee, comprised of members of the Club has been appointed to ensure that the full intent of the USGA Handicap System is followed. (Section 8)
2. All rounds are to be played in accordance with the principles of the Rules of Golf.
3. Consistent with MGA guidelines, the official Links Golf Club season is April 1 through October 31. All rounds played in the Met Area between Nov. 1 and March 31, are ineligible to be posted for handicap purposes. However, scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes even when the Links Golf Club is observing an inactive season.
4. If a player fails to post an acceptable score within these guidelines, the Committee has the option to post the actual score (if known) or a penalty score.
a. All eligible scores from Links Golf Club administered events shall be posted in the Pro Shop.
b. All eligible scores, including nine hole scores, must be posted to a player’s score history.
c. Home scores are to be turned in to the Pro Shop as soon as possible after the round.
d. Every golfer is responsible for adjusting their own scores for Equitable Stroke Control and for knowing how to adjust scores for not finishing either a hole or a round.
5. Peer review is an essential part of the USGA Handicap System and will be in place at all times. Members’ scores must freely be viewed by any other member at any time.
a. Peers will notify fellow players when they are believed to not be observing either the Rules of Golf or the Handicap System.
b. If the player refuses to abide by the proper procedures, a peer should contact the Handicap and/or Tournament Committee. We are determined to keep our games fair and can only do so if everyone follows the same code.
6. The Handicap Committee is responsible for ensuring a player has a USGA Handicap Index that reflects their potential ability. Under certain circumstances, it will be necessary for the Handicap Committee to adjust the player’s Handicap Index. The following list is not all-inclusive, and a Handicap Committee has the authority to adjust a Handicap Index under any circumstance that it feels necessary and appropriate to do so.
a. Improving faster than the Handicap System can react.
b. Numerous Away or Internet scores significantly change Index.
c. Temporary Disability
d. Failure to Post.
e. Player Manipulation: including deliberately taking extra strokes to inflate a score, posting erroneous scores, deliberately reporting more or fewer strokes than actually scored, stopping play after 6 holes to avoid posting scores, repeatedly playing more than one ball to avoid posting scores or not adjusting hole scores under Section 4.
f. When a player’s USGA Handicap Index increases by more than two (2) strokes during the Links Golf Club’s inactive season their USGA Handicap Index will be modified downward effective upon first entry into the following season’s Links Golf Club tournaments.
g. Continued violations of Section 5-1f (“Unacceptable Scores”).
If it is necessary to attach a penalty score, it will be denoted as a “P” score on a members’ score history and the member will be notified. If a modification (adjustment) is due, the member will be informed of the infraction and what the adjustment to his Handicap Index will be. The member will be invited to respond to the Committee prior to the official adjustment. If a member continues to violate score posting procedures and thereby does not observe the spirit of the USGA Handicap System, the Handicap Committee is authorized and encouraged to consider withdrawal of the player’s Handicap Index. (Section 8).
If there are questions regarding these procedures, please contact a member of the Handicap Committee for clarification and assistance or send an email to linksgolfclub1@gmail.com. We ask that all Links Golf Club members assist us in providing equitable and accurate handicaps by complying with all of these policies. Your role is essential in helping to make the game of golf, especially in Links Golf Club events, both fair and enjoyable.
Links Golf Club Competition Committee Members (Tim Dunnigan, Chair):
Tournament Committee: Tim Dunnigan (Chair), John Marren Austin Fox, Jim McDonnell
Handicap Committee: Pat McMorrow (Chair), Austin Fox, Jim McDonnell,
Appeals Committee: Pat Lynch (Chair), Jim Fleming, Ambrose O’Connell

top