Rules of Play

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Play will be governed by the U.S.G.A’s “THE RULES OF GOLF” as amended below by the Tri-County Senior Golfer’s Association and by special course rules as provided by the host professional on the course being played.

1. LOST BALL AND OUT OF BOUNDS PLAY: No player may hit a provisional ball or return to hit from the original position; instead, he will drop a ball in the fairway (no more than two club lengths) from the approximate spot where it was lost or at the point where the ball crossed the Out of Bounds boundary. Thus, if a tee shot is out of bounds or lost, the player will drop in the fairway as stated above, and will be laying two.
2. LIFT AND CLEAN: A player may lift and clean his ball and move it one club length no closer to the hole in his own fairway only (balls in rough are to be played where they lie).
3. BUNKER PLAY: A ball in water or mud in a bunker may be moved to a dry spot within the bunker. Unplayable bunkers will be announced prior to play.
4. ROOTS AND FIRE ANTS: A ball may be moved off a root or fire ant mound with foursome agreement. Do not improve your position.
5. HAZARDS AND UNPLAYABLE LIES: For balls lying in a Red Lateral Hazard, Yellow Water Hazard, or an Unplayable Lie, the option to replay the shot from the original position is not available in order to speed play. If necessary, drop ball in fairway (no more than two club lengths) without improving position and add one penalty stroke to your score. 
6. READY PLAY: A player ready to play may play ahead of an away player if the away player is not ready. This applies to rough, fairway, and greens play. It does not apply to the tee.
7. PRACTICE: Practice on regular greens is prohibited. No practice shots are allowed during tournament play. Every stroke counts.
8. GIMMIES AND BOGIE PLAY: All putts, through bogie, must be putted out. There are no gimmies. Do not continue play on any hole beyond a bogie.
9. SCORE CARD VERIFICATION: Signed and attested score cards will be turned in at the certification table only. Cards turned in elsewhere will be disregarded. Unsigned, inaccurate or incomplete score cards will be disqualified. It is the responsibility of each player to see that his card is turned in correctly and on time. 
10. PLAY OFFS: Tie scores will be broken by a score card play-off beginning on hole # 1.
11. OFFICIAL ROUND: Tournaments are official once all players have played 9 holes. If a tournament is terminated before 18 holes are completed, ties will be broken by scorecard play-off beginning on the initial hole played vice hole 1.
12. SLOW PLAY: Slow play is cause for disqualification.
13. TEE BOX: In all tournaments members will play one of the two forward tees.  55 to 69 year olds will play the second most forward tees and those 70 and older have the privilege of playing from the forward tees.

SCORING

     The tournament scoring system is based on the points earned on each hole of play. Points are determined by the actual stroke score on each hole as listed in the below paragraph. In order to speed up play, balls will be picked up following a bogie stroke since no points are awarded for a double bogie. Any side bets among foursomes must conform to this format, subject to disqualification!!.

     Points are awarded as follows:

• 0 Points - Double Bogie
• 1 Points - Bogie
• 2 Points - Par
• 4 Points - Birdie
• 8 Points - Eagle
• 16 Points - Double Eagle

     Awards are given for low gross score and the four best net scores in each flight. Net scores are determined by the number of points scored above or below the gross score from the previous tournament. The gross score from the previous tournament is referred to as your Target Score. For example, if you score 22 points and your Target score is 16, your Net score is +6. If you score 20 points and your Target score is 22, your Net score is -2.

     Calculation of the Target score for the next tournament is made based on the number of points above/below the Target score for the current tournament as follows:

• zero or one point above or below Target – no change
• two or three points above or below Target – plus or minus one point
• four or more points above or below Target – plus or minus two points.
• Adjustments are limited to a maximum of two points.

      There will be no penalty to Target scores for players moving to the forward tee upon reaching the age of 70.

      New members are required to play in three tournaments in order to establish a Target score and become eligible for Gross and Net point awards in their fourth tournament. New members, however, will be eligible for the “Closest to the Pin” and “Ace” awards in their first three tournaments.

      Points scored on each hole will be recorded on the tournament score card for each player. It is suggested that each player keep his own stroke score separately in order to double check the points written down on his official score card. Each golfer is responsible for the accuracy of his score card before it is turned in to the scorer’s table.

AWARDS

      Each flight will receive the following awards:

• $40.00 -- Low Gross (Player with most points)
• $35.00 -- Low Net (Player with most positive or least negative net points)
• $30.00 -- 2nd Low Net (Player with second most positive or least negative points)
• $25.00 -- 3rd Low Net (Player with third most positive or least negative points)
• $20.00 -- 4th Low Net (Player with fourth most positive or least negative points)

     These amounts are doubled for the two-day annual tournament.  It is important to note that no player may win more than one of the above flight awards. 

      Additional awards include:

• Closest to the pin (all par three holes; ball must clearly rest on the green) - $25.00
• Hole-in-one - $100.00 (separate from closest to the pin)

      AWARDS NOT PICKED UP BY THE THIRD TOURNAMENT FOLLOWING THE ONE IN WHICH THEY ARE WON WILL BE FORFEITED.

• If a member enters a tournament and later finds out that he is unable to play, he must notify the Tournament Chairman. If notification is received before the deadline date and time specified on the tournament notification, the entry fee will be returned or check destroyed.  Cancellations received after the deadline will be considered on a case by case basis.
• If a member does not play in at least four (4) tournaments each calendar year, he will be dropped from the Association roster. The Board will consider exceptions to this rule on a case by case basis. 
• A member who makes a timely application to play but is excluded by the limited field shall be credited with having played. 
• Checks returned to the Association for insufficient funds must be made good and penalty fees paid by the next tournament. Failure to do so will result in termination of membership and forfeiture of membership fees.
• Violations of the rules will be reported to the Board for action; First Violation: Player given “the benefit of doubt” and issued a warning. Second Violation: Player disqualified from that tournament and ineligible to enter the next tournament. Third Violation: Player’s membership will be terminated with no refund of membership fees.