Fore Women Golf Association
Table of Contents
Welcome to FWGA!
Purpose of This Guide
Playing Golf with FWGA
League Play
Tournaments
Emerging Golfers Group (EGG)
Clinics
Recommended Minimum Play Guidelines
League Play Guidelines
General Responsibilities: Playing
General Responsibilities: Hosting
Tournaments
Who May Play
Types of Tournaments
Tournament Sign-ups
Tournament Play
NCGA Associate Club Qualifying Events
FWGA Annual Player Awards
Index and Handicap Guidelines
Establishing Your Handicap Index
Course Handicap and Equitable Stroke Control
Posting Guidelines
Post?When to Post
Resources
Welcome to FWGA!
FWGA began in early 1996. Our mission statement “To provide opportunity for women to play golf with other women and to have fun while engaging in quality experiences.” has been our guiding principle. We offer both educational and social opportunities in addition to great golf. You may choose to join our many league golf groups, play tournaments, take a clinic, or join the Emerging Golfers Group. There is something for everyone! Learn about our events by visiting our web site.
You have joined a large and diverse group of women who enjoy all aspects of golf. FWGA members play at all levels ranging from the beginner to the experienced player. We have high indexes, low indexes and no indexes. Whatever your ability, you will find a place in FWGA.
FWGA is an associate club of the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA), we are not affiliated with any particular golf course. We typically offer five or more opportunities to play at a wide range of courses during most weeks of the year.
FWGA is an all-volunteer organization. Through our many talented volunteers we are able to offer diverse activities. Please consider volunteering in an area that interests you. It is a great way to meet other members.
This Guide provides information on policies for participating in League Play and Tournaments. Our Membership Roster can be found at http://www.forewomenga.ghinclub.com. Use the Roster to contact other members to play golf or carpool to an event. For questions, call a Board member or Committee Chair…we are here to help you.
We look forward to seeing you on the course and, again… WELCOME TO FWGA!
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Purpose of This Guide
The FWGA Membership Guide is intended as a resource for both new and existing members. Its purpose is to provide guidelines for any member to successfully participate in FWGA activities. Specific information regarding tournaments, league play, and other activities is provided on the FWGA web site ( http://www.forewomengolf.org).
Tournaments:
- Tournaments are scheduled annually between March and October. Dates are published on the website.
- Tournaments are open to players of all abilities.
- Tournaments are scheduled at 18 hole and 9 hole courses.
- Each year there will be one tournament for the Emerging Golfers Group (EGG).
- Web site contains information and applications for upcoming tournaments, pricing and tournament director sign ups.
League Play Schedules and Tee Times
- All members are expected to participate in scheduling and hosting league play.
- League play dates are emailed to members at least one week prior to date of play.
- Schedules are posted in the Calendar section of the website.
Clinics and Events
- Clinics will be offered on a variety of topics and open to all members. The schedule will be listed in the online calendar and our news section on our website.
If after reading this Guide, you have additional questions, feel free to contact the appropriate Board Member or Committee Chair as listed in the latest newsletter and FWGA Member Directory.
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Playing Golf with FWGA
We are a fun and friendly group, ranging from very serious to new players. Some of us have gone to the NCGA amateur finals. At the same time, our group for new players (Emerging Golfers Group— EGG) has flourished. Whatever your play level, you have a home in FWGA.
Below is a description of our playing opportunities. Contact League Play Coordinators for information on participating. A GUEST is welcome to attend an activity with you ONE time before joining.
LEAGUE PLAY
This is non-tournament play with more emphasis on the social aspects of the game. Rules of Golf and Golf Etiquette are observed. Based on the principle of shared responsibility, members are each responsible for setting the tee times for one week. * see hostess duties description under GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: HOSTING, page 5
Sign up for the league play groups of your choice. E-mails are sent by the Chairs describing the week’s activity; you contact the person responsible for that week to sign up. League play is rarely scheduled on the same day as a tournament, clinic, or club event.
Weekend League Play
9-Hole Participants range from newer players to experienced players. Play is at 9-hole courses throughout the Bay Area. Play dates alternate between Saturday and Sunday.
18-Hole Play is at Bay Area 18-hole courses and alternates between Saturday and Sunday. This offers members the opportunity to meet other players and learn course strategy, develop pace of play, and enjoy different courses that you might not have experienced before!
Weekday League Play
9-Hole Twilight Starting in April, tee times are scheduled once a week for ~5:00 p.m. alternating between locations in the North Page 6 FWGA Member Guide and South areas of the East Bay.
9-Hole Daytime This group is for players of all levels who would enjoy playing nine holes. Play is scheduled weekly, switching between two weekdays. Play takes place at 9-hole courses through out the Bay Area.
18-Hole This venue is appropriate for more experienced players. Play is scheduled weekly at 18 hole courses throughout the Bay Area alternating between two weekdays.
TOURNAMENTS
Tournament schedules are set at the start of each year. Play at 18- hole tournaments is usually flighted, stroke play. The tournament year is capped off by the Annual tournament, which is a scramble format. Prizes are awarded to the top teams in each flight. FWGA would like all tournament participants to have an enjoyable experience. It is suggested that before signing up for a 9- or 18-hole tournament, you should feel confident in your knowledge of the Rules of Golf and Golf Etiquette, and be able to maintain Pace of Play. Participation in EGG (see below) and League Play (see above) builds this confidence.
9-Hole Nine-Hole Tournaments are enjoyed by new and experienced players; they afford new players an introduction to tournament play. Tournaments take place at various Bay Area courses allowing players a chance to build skills and confidence.
18-Hole We offer 18-hole tournaments for those who enjoy a more challenging opportunity to compete in golfing events. A prerequisite is knowledge of the Rules of Golf and Golf Etiquette and the ability to maintain Pace of Play. In addition there is an opportunity to play in NCGA qualifying tournaments where players attempting to qualify play on teams separate from other tournament players. Fore Women Golf Association Page 7
EMERGING GOLFERS GROUP (EGG)
The Emerging Golfers Group (EGG) encourages new players to learn and understand the game of golf in a relaxed environment.. EGG provides guidance on Rules of Golf, obtaining a handicap index, and pace of play. This is the first step in preparing for league and tournament play. Many lasting friendships are formed during the EGG experience.
CLINICS
FWGA provides learning opportunities with local PGA and LPGA professionals. Clinics focus on various skills and are offered at area courses at reduced rates.
RECOMMENDED MINIMUM PLAY LEVEL GUIDELINES
To facilitate the comfort level of participants, FWGA has adopted the following guidelines for the minimum play level for activities.
ActivityRecommended Minimum Play Level
| League Play | |
|---|---|
| 18-hole weekend | Level 1 (Typically score > 120) |
| 18-hole weekday | Level 1 (Typically score > 120) |
| 9-hole weekend | Basic knowledge of Rules of Golf, Etiquette, & Pace of Play |
| 9-hole weekday | Basic knowledge of Rules of Golf, Etiquette, & Pace of Play |
| 9-hole weekday twilight | Basic knowledge of Rules of Golf, Etiquette, & Pace of Play |
| Tournaments | |
| 18-hole | Level 2 (typical 18-hole score is 110) |
| 9-hole | Scramble format: Knowledge of Rules of Golf Etiquette, & Pace of PlayStroke play: Level 1 (typical 18-hole score greater than 120) |
| Other Play Opportunities | |
| Emerging Golfers Group (EGG) | Appropriate for those new to golf and high handicapped or occasional golfer |
| Clinics | Appropriate for all play levels |
League Play Guidelines
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: PLAYING Once you have signed up to play, your general responsibilities are the usual: • Arrive at least 20 minutes before tee off. • Wear proper attire. • Follow golf etiquette, the Rules of Golf and post your score. • Maintain pace of play.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: HOSTING The philosophy of league play is one of shared responsibility. Participation entails a commitment to coordinating the play for two tee times on one pre-scheduled date.
1. Confirm Your Date on the Schedule
The Coordinator sends out an advance schedule. If you are unable to carry out your commitment as scheduled, inform the Coordinator immediately. Contact others on the schedule to see if they will exchange dates with you if the Coordinator requests. If you are unable to play that day and can still fulfill your responsibilities, ask someone from the sign-up list to act as hostess in your absence.
2. Make the Tee Time
A week ahead of your scheduled date, call the course to make two back-to-back tee times. Tell them you are a booking for FWGA.
3. Notify the Coordinator
As soon as you make your tee times, send an e-mail to the Coordinator stating the date, times, location, green fees, and whether or not it is walking only or if carts are allowed. Also tell the Coordinator how you wish to be contacted (e-mail, phone, or both) and by what date. Many courses have a 24-hour cancellation policy, so a day before the tee times is a good rule-of-thumb for a deadline. It is also useful to include the phone number and location of the golf course. Fore Women Golf Association Page 9 The Coordinator then sends out an e-mail containing your information to the league play e-mail list.
4. Taking the Sign-ups
When people contact you to sign-up, send a confirmation to that person using the same method by which they contacted you. As a general rule, confirmations should be done within 24 hours of the sign-up so the person knows they are “on the list.” The day before the scheduled tee time, send an e-mail to everyone playing listing all players. This serves two purposes:
(1) Participants know who to look for when arriving at the course.
(2) People living close to one another can carpool.
If less than four people sign up, call the course to cancel one tee time at least 24 hours prior to play.
If more than eight people sign up, you have two options:
• Notify additional sign-ups that they are on a “wait list,” and if there is a cancellation, add a wait list person to a foursome.
• See if there is an additional tee time close to the existing tee times. If, for instance, you already have eight people, and one more wants to sign up, and there is another adjacent tee time available, the course will probably let you form three groups of three.
5. Performing the “Meet-and-Greet”
The “Meet-and-Greet” is an important aspect of league play. Greet each participant as she arrives and answer any questions. This also will allow you to put people in foursomes that seems appropriate. Here are the guidelines: • Arrive at the course 45 minutes before the first tee time and check in. Let them know you are the person from FWGA who made the tee times. Page 10 FWGA Member Guide • Ascertain player levels, including who is from EGG, who has a low index, etc. When pairing people, try to distribute EGG participants evenly. This will facilitate the pace of play.
6. Coordinate Weather-related Issues
If the weather looks “dicey” on the day of play, call the course to see what conditions are and if cancellations are being accepted. Then, using your FWGA directory, call the people who have signed up to play, and see what they think. If the consensus is to cancel play, call the course to let them know you will not be showing up to play.
7. Follow Up with the Coordinator
Report back to the Coordinator with the number of people who signed up and the names of those who actually attended, cancelled, and any other pertinent information. These details are helpful for future planning.
And that’s basically it. Now, go out and have fun!
Tournaments
WHO MAY PLAY
All members are welcome to play in tournaments. We recommend that anyone playing have an understanding of the USGA Rules of Golf, including pace of play and golf etiquette.
Members also may invite guests to play who might consider joining FWGA. For this purpose, a guest may attend no more than one FWGA event in that year as a guest, except for Away and Invitational Tournaments. (See “Types of Tournaments,” below.)
TYPES OF TOURNAMENTS
FWGA has several types of tournament venues:
Local: Local tournaments take place at courses within easy driving distance of the majority of our members in the East Bay. Nine-hole tournaments are always local. Eighteen-hole tournaments are mostly local, but may also be Invitational or Away. (See below.)
Invitational and Away: An “Invitational” Tournament is one in which members may invite their spouse, significant other, or a friend to participate. Some of these tournaments take place at a course far enough away to make an overnight stay desirable, and are referred to as “Away” Tournaments. Guests at these tournaments are not considered a GUEST for membership purposes, and, thus, may play in other Invitational or Away Tournaments during the year or any following year without having to become a member. Note: You do not have to invite a spouse, significant other, or friend to play.
Annual Tournament: Our tournament year is capped off by the Annual tournament, usually in October, which is a scramble format and always a fun event where we raise funds for charities. The Club Champion is announced at what is primarily a social event.
TOURNAMENT SIGN-UPS
Sign-up Logistics
Tournament sign-up periods usually begin approximately four weeks prior to the tournament date and end approximately two weeks prior to the tournament date. Check the tournament schedule for specific dates. You may sign up for tournaments as soon as the schedule is posted on the web site. Please make note of the cut off dates as you may not be able to sign up if the date has passed. Tournaments may be added throughout the year if needed, so check the site for changes.
We usually cannot extend the sign-up period because golf courses set deadlines for us to tell them the number of players and to prepay the fees. If you wish to sign up after the deadline has passed, contact the Tournament Director to be put on a waiting list for cancellations.
Complete the sign-up sheet on the website, including your GHIN number. Non-FWGA members are charged a small additional fee to help defray costs. The entry fees are listed in the Tournament Schedule and on the sign-up form. Please follow the directions on the web site for your payment options and instructions. You have the option to pay with credit card via PayPal or send a check.
If you are signing-up for more than one tournament in one envelope, please write a separate check for each tournament and mail it with the sign-up form. Paying for more than one tournament with the same check makes record-keeping difficult for both the Tournament Committee and the Treasurer.
Once your payment is received, or you have paid with a credit card, you are signed up for that tournament! If for some reason you can’t play, please call the Tournament Director to allow those on a waiting list the opportunity to play. Your entry fee will be forfeited if you do not play and a replacement is not found.
If you find you are unable to participate on the day of tournament, call the golf pro shop and let them know so they can inform the Tournament Director. Refunds are given if a tournament is cancelled (subject to golf course policies) or if replacement players are found to take your confirmed place.
Partner Requests
Please recognize that we have a need to balance the teams for handicaps. Thus, playing partner requests are honored only for NCGA qualifying team events, Invitational Tournaments, our Annual Tournament and first time tournament players and guests of members. This policy is to encourage meeting and playing with new people, as well as facilitating the pace of play.
No Index?
FWGA encourages all members to establish a USGA Handicap Index. Whenever a guest or player does not have an established index, the Tournament Committee uses the USGA “Second Best Score System” to estimate an individual’s handicap.
TOURNAMENT PLAY
Sign in for the tournament 45 minutes prior to your tee time. Registration closes 45 minutes prior to the final tee time to enable the registration volunteers the opportunity to warm up and be prepared to play at their scheduled tee times. If you arrive late, you will have to find your group.
When you sign in, you will receive a sheet describing the format for the tournament, including information on closest to the hole competitions and other contests.
Players must be properly attired in accordance with golf course requirements where the tournament is being held.
The Tournament Director determines whether winter rules of golf or other local rules are in effect on the day of the tournament. You will be told of their ruling when you sign in.
Pace of play is 15 minutes per hole. Keep up with the group in front of you.
Tournament participants must pick up at 10 strokes, and will continue to be eligible for prizes. The only exception is for participants in an NCGA Qualifier, in which case the player must play out her ball.
Scorecards should be turned in to the scorers as soon as you have completed your round of golf.
In case of a tie in scores, the method of matching score cards will be used.
For 18-hole tournaments, post your adjusted gross score on the yellow tournament posting sheet. DO NOT post 18-hole tournament scores on the posting computers!
Nine-hole tournaments are not recognized in the GHIN posting system. Any score from a 9-hole stroke play tournament is posted on the posting computers as you would in league play.
NCGA ASSOCIATE CLUB QUALIFYING EVENTS
NCGA conducts tournaments for all NCGA associate clubs. As an Associate Club with the NCGA, all NCGA individual and Associate Club tournaments are available for participation by our members. FWGA will hold qualifying tournaments for those who wish to participate in these NCGA events. Our qualifying tournaments are not limited to those who wish to try to qualify for the NCGA events. You may participate in these tournaments even if you do not want to try to qualify for the NCGA event. Detailed information about these tournaments can be found on the NCGA website http://www.ncga.org. These events and registration information can also be found on our website
FWGA ANNUAL PLAYER AWARDS
Each year, FWGA recognizes tournament players for their excellence. Throughout the season, we track both gross and net tournament scores, and at the Annual Tournament, we announce the Club Championship, the Net Match Play and the Tournament Player of the Year awards.
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Index & Handicap Guidelines
ESTABLISHING YOUR HANDICAP INDEX
Why do we have indexes, and how are they determined? We convert our index to a handicap to:
• Enable players of different skill levels to compete on an equal playing field. Because of the handicap system, golf is one of the few sports where players have the opportunity to play in competitive situations with players of a different skill level.
• Judge our own improvement over time.
A benefit of joining FWGA is automatic membership in the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA). One benefit of NCGA membership is being issued a Handicap Index based on your posted scores.
The NCGA subscribes to the GHIN handicap computational service (operated by the USGA). GHIN is an acronym for Golf Handicapping and Information Network, a handicapping service of the USGA that allows clubs and golfers to post and retrieve their scoring information electronically.
On the 1st and 15th of each month, GHIN provides you with a number that is your updated handicap index that reflects the scores you have posted throughout that month.
How Does the GHIN System Arrive at Your Handicap Index?
After each round of golf, you “post” your score at the course computer. (See Posting Guidelines later in this booklet for when to post and not post.) If you are a new player with no index, after GHIN receives scores from a minimum of five 18-hole rounds (or ten nine-hole rounds combined to form five 18s), GHIN can FWGA Member Guide As you play more golf, GHIN looks back over your last 20 rounds and uses your ten best scores to arrive at your index. The index itself is computed as a composite of your scores combined with the difficulty of the courses you played. Difficulty is determined by the Course Rating and Slope Rating of the course as set by the NCGA.
Your index, when converted to a Course Handicap (See next section.) will reflect how you play on your very best outings and will usually be about 3 – 4 strokes lower than how you usually play. Until you have posted five scores, your index will show as “NH” for No Handicap. After that, your index will vary from month to month, showing your present rating and that of the previous month. The maximum index for women is 40.4, while for men it is 36.4.
What Does this Mean to Me?
Your index reflects your skill as a golfer and converts to a course handicap when you go out to play. There are “slope tables” at every golf course or on the NCGA web site with information that allows you to convert your personal index to a course handicap. Courses are rated by USGA to determine their level of difficulty, and your handicap will vary depending on the difficulty of the course you’re playing.
Your handicap tells you how many strokes away you are, on your best days, from being a “scratch” or even par golfer. If you play on a course of average difficulty, you’re likely to have a better score than if you go out to play Pebble Beach. Your handicap will be lower at the easier course, or closer to par. For specifics on how to determine your course handicap, see the next section.
How to Start
You may receive your GHIN/index information directly from NCGA by registering on-line at their web site, http://www.ncga.org. Just look for the easy instructions to register. You will need to supply your GHIN number and name from your NCGA membership card and e-mail address. They will e-mail your index information to you, complete with your scoring record, on the 1st and 15th of each month.
COURSE HANDICAP AND EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL
Determining your Course Handicap
How do we figure out what our Course Handicap is when we go out to play? And how do we use our Index to figure this out? Or is our Index the same thing as our Handicap?
Good questions! No, your Index and a Course Handicap are not the same thing, but you use your Index to determine your Handicap on any given course.
Your Index, which is computed by GHIN at the end of every month, is a number always taken to one decimal place that represents your potential scoring ability. It can change each month depending on how well you are playing.
When you get to the golf course, find the Course Slope Table for the set of tees you’re going to play. These charts are usually located by the computer in the clubhouse. Be sure you locate the table for the proper tees, and the figures for men or women. The tables use your index, combined with the slope (playing difficulty) of the course, to come up with a Handicap for your level of play. The harder the course, the higher your Handicap will be on that course.
Once you know your Handicap for that course, you then know how many strokes above “par” you might expect to score on that course. If you like to bet, it determines how many strokes you will have to give to or get from your playing partners on that day of play. These “strokes” will be used at the end of the round to determine who has won the bet.
Your Course Handicap will usually be used in Tournament competitions to “level” the field so that all players have an even chance of winning.
What is Equitable Stroke Control?
Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is used to keep an exceptionally bad hole from unduly changing your Index by setting a maximum number of strokes you can post on any hole, depending on your Course Handicap. Below are the guidelines that are followed once you have determined your Course Handicap based on your index.
| Course Handicap | Maximum Strokes Per Hole |
|---|---|
| 9 or Less | Double Bogey |
| 10 through 19 | 7 |
| 20 through 29 | 8 |
| 30 through 39 | 9 |
| 40 and above | 10 |
Effect of Course Handicap on Equitable Stroke Control
You need to determine your Course Handicap so you know how many strokes you are allowed for posting purposes only using Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). On the Course Handicap Table, you will notice that if your Index is, for instance, 28 or 29, if you’re playing a difficult course your Course Handicap could be pushed into the 30’s. So—you might find yourself taking 9s on holes when you’re used to posting not more than an 8! If your Index hovers in the high 30s, your Course Handicap can go into the 40s and you should be taking 10s instead of 9s. Remember, for playing purposes in competition, you count every stroke.
When it’s time to post, be sure that the score you submit is adjusted to reflect the maximum strokes allowed per hole based on the above table.
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Posting Guidelines
Paraphrasing that old Shakespearean line, “To post or not to post— that is the question….” In general, you should post for every 9- and 18-hole score. There are some exceptions, however, and these will be discussed later in this section.
WHY POST?
Note: The material in this section came from a 2005 article on the USGA web site by Teresa Saponaro entitled, “Among her Peers.” See http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/understanding_handicap/articles/ peers.html.
Handicap indexes reflect a player’s potential ability. Although we might like to regulate which scores are used to determine an index, the only valid reflection of a player’s potential comes from the posting of all scores. According to the USGA Handicap System, acceptable rounds for posting include those of 13 or more holes, nonconsecutive or consecutive nine-hole rounds, scores away from a home club, those from match play and other forms of competition, and rounds played using preferred lies.
A handicap index is issued to a player by a club, be it a course or a “club without real estate,” such as a league or social organization. A key component of every club is peer review, which is the reasonable and regular opportunity to play with fellow members and the ability of fellow members and a handicap committee to review posted scores and handicap indexes.
Think for a moment of a handicap index as a letter of introduction presented by a stranger you meet at the first tee. In essence, the club that person belongs to vouches for the accuracy of the index. We know this person’s ability because we play with her on a regular basis. Some people may snicker at that analogy, but it is one of the tenets by which strangers accept each other’s index in good faith and play a friendly match.
The “Vanity” Index
How often have you heard someone say this? “I didn’t play well today, so I’m not going to post.”
Whether it comes from feelings of shame for not being a better player, or from an inflated sense of ego, not posting the higher scores results in an in artificially low index. So, you say, what does that matter to anyone? Why would anyone else care? It’s HER index and she wants everyone to think she is GOOD!
Well, that’s OK until she plays in a tournament where she cannot play up to her course handicap, and her team loses because she was not assigned the proper number of strokes (“pops”) on each hole for her actual play level.
“Sandbagging”
“Sandbagging” occurs when someone posts only her high scores, or purposefully posts scores higher than the ones she got on the course. The result is an artificially high index. This can be advantageous when that person plays in a tournament and is assigned a higher course handicap than would be appropriate for her real play level, and she “wins” the tournament.
Tournament scores that are significantly better than the person’s index are “flagged” by the NCGA/GHIN system with an “R” beside the index number, e.g., 10.3R, and a notice is sent to the association’s handicap chair. This occurs when two tournament scores are deemed statistically improbable based on the player’s handicap index. (Visit Section 10-3 of the USGA Handicap System manual for further information on how this is determined.) This means that the player is eligible for an automatic reduction in handicap index by the GHIN system. The club Handicap Committee has the authority to increase, decrease, or even remove the “R” if it feels the reduced handicap index does not accurately reflect the player’s potential ability.
WHEN TO POST
Here are some general guidelines on when to post and when not to. If this list does not cover your situation, contact the FWGA handicap chair for further guidance.
YES. Post these scores
Scores from home and away courses.
Scores in all forms of play; match play, stroke play, even team competitions in which you are requested to pick up. Your score when you play at least 13 holes out of 18-holes or at least seven (7) out of nine (9) holes. On the holes you didn’t play, record a par plus any handicap strokes you would have received.
A score from two nines even if it’s the same nine, or nines from different days. Simply combine the nines into an 18-hole score. Add the nine-hole Course Ratings together and average the Slope Ratings.
Score from a single nine. In the posting computer, scroll to the nine -hole posting for the correct tee set for that course. Each nine holes on a golf course has its own Course Rating and Slope Rating. Make sure to post the nine-hole score with the appropriate nine-hole Course Rating and Slope Rating. Two nine-hole scores will eventually be combined to create an 18-hole score and be designated with the letter “C.” Please visit Section 5-2d of the USGA Handicap System manual for further information.
DO NOT Post these scores
If you played fewer than 13 holes. (Remember you still have an acceptable 9-hole score.)
When you play in a competition limiting the types of clubs used, such as a one-club or irons-only tournament.
When an 18-hole course is less than 3,000 yards long.
When a majority of the holes aren’t played under the Rules of Golf, as in a “scramble.”
“Inactive season” scores. Caveat: If a round is played on a course that is observing an inactive season, that score is unacceptable for handicap purposes. However, if a member whose golf club is currently observing an inactive season plays at a course observing an active season, that score must be posted. Please visit Sections 6-2, 8-3c, and Decision 6-2/1 of the USGA Handicap System manual for further information.
Playing two or more balls as practice at a small, local 9-hole course in lieu of going to the driving range. This is practice play and should be treated the same as practice at the driving range. (Note: If you make a hole-in-one during such practice, it will not be counted as a hole-in-one due to the fact that it occurred in a practice round. Rule Misc.: Validity of Hole in One.)
Internet Posting
All courses have a posting machine located on the premises. Depending on what time you finish your round you may or may not have access to this machine. If you don’t have access to post on the day of play, you have the ability to post your score using the internet. FWGA recommends that when possible, you should post your adjusted score on the day of play at the course posting machine. Before 2006, not all scores could be posted on the internet, but beginning in 2006 the USGA has changed it’s policy so that if a club’s handicap committee approves, all scores may be posted via the internet. Our policy at this time favors posting at the course.
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Resources
Here are resources that some members have found useful:
The USGA web site. http://www.usga.org
The NCGA web site. http://www.ncga.org
The GHIN web site. http://www.ghin.com
The Rules of Golf by the USGA. Available on the USGA web site at https://usgapubs.usga.org/store2/. May also be purchased at many golf shops.
Golf Rules in Brief by the USGA is available for purchase. This eight -page card is a player reference on the Rules of Golf designed for convenient access during play.
Golf Road Map for the San Francisco/Sacramento areas. A number of FWGA members keep this in their cars to locate league play or tournament locations. Check out the golf maps link at http://www.forebettergolf.com. This map is also available at some golf pro shops.
Video Rules on Golf. Reviewed and approved by the USGA, this video addresses 34 of the most commonly questioned rules of golf. The index on the back of the video correlates with a running counter visible throughout the video making it easy to locate the rule you desire to study. In addition to the 34 rules covered, etiquette, general procedures, misused terminology and handicapping are also discussed. Find this video at a discount at http://www.golfcow.com
The Rules of Golf in Plain English (Paperback), by Jeffrey S. Kuhn and Bryan A. Garner. Available at http://www.amazon.com.
