Last Modified: March 30, 2023

Rules & Regulations

Play shall be in accordance with the rules of golf published by the United States Golf Association (USGA). However, to increase speed of play, a number of those rules have been modified for use in our league. (Note: References to “league officials” in this document typically means Mark Dugas, Greg Roy, or Eric Diem.)

1. Winter Rules. The course shall be played by what is commonly known as “winter rules.” This means that any ball that has come to rest within the fairway may be rolled over by using the blade of a club. Balls may be lifted and cleaned only on the green or when plugged in the fairway.

2. Looking for Balls. Once arriving at the general location where the ball is thought to be, please limit your search to two minutes maximum. Our liberal rules regarding lost balls eliminates the need to search any longer than that.

3. Hitting Your Ball Out of Bounds. If a ball goes out-of-bounds (designated by white stakes), the player shall take a one stroke penalty and lateral relief from where the ball landed (a ball is dropped in a position no closer to the hole, a maximum of 2 club lengths from the out-of-bounds line). DO NOT HIT A PROVISIONAL BALL. If the ball is subsequently found in-bounds, no penalty stroke is taken.

4. Hitting Your Ball into a Water Hazard. When a ball has landed in a water hazard (designated by red or yellow stakes), the player has the option of playing it out of the hazard with no penalty stroke taken. If the ball is lost or not playable, the player must take a one-stroke penalty and then exercise one of the following options:

  • Play a ball by dropping at the point where the player’s last stroke was played. Or you have the option to re-tee if the player was on the tee box.
  • Identify the line on which the ball was traveling when it last crossed the water hazard. Use that line for taking a drop behind/outside the water hazard. There is no limit on how far back a player can go and take a drop on the identified line. Note: A ball shall not be dropped closer to the hole than from the point of entry into the hazard. For example, a ball hit into a stream shall be dropped on the side nearer the previous lie, even if the ball landed on the opposite bank and rolled back into the hazard.

5. Hitting Your Ball Beyond the Fairway or Rough. If a ball goes beyond the fairway or rough (i.e., the woods, long grass, or other unmaintained area) the player has the option of playing his ball with no penalty stroke taken. If the ball is lost or not playable, the player must take a one-stroke penalty and then exercise one of the following options:

  • Re-tee, if the player was on the tee box.
  • Identify the line on which the ball was traveling when it entered the woods/ unmaintained area. Use that line for taking a drop outside the woods/unmaintained area. There is no limit on how far back a player can go and take a drop on the identified line.

6. Lost Ball in Fairway or Rough. If a ball is lost in the fairway or rough, a new ball shall be played from a location where the ball was assumed to have landed (and agreed upon by all members of the group) without incurring additional penalty strokes.

7. Dropping the Ball. When a ball must be dropped into play, the ball shall be dropped only by the player using the ball. The ball shall be dropped from knee height so that it falls through the air and does not touch any part of the player’s body or equipment before it hits the ground.

8. Playing Out of Turn (Encouraged!). To speed up play, no penalty is incurred for playing out of turn. If you are ready to hit before your partners are, you may play, even if you are not furthest away. Players are encouraged to putt-out short putts, rather than marking their balls.

9. If One Ball Hits Another Ball. If one player’s ball is at rest (in play) and is moved by an opponent’s ball, the ball that was at rest shall be returned to its original position and the second ball played from where it lands without penalties.

10. Two Balls Next to Each Other (Off the Green). If two balls are at rest and impede a player’s stance or ability to play a shot, one ball may be marked and lifted to allow play.

11. Don’t Break/Remove Permanent Material. A player may not break/remove any permanent material to improve ball lie or swing area. Temporary obstacles may be moved, and

12. Ground Under Repair. The ball can be dropped from ground-under-repair areas without penalty. Grassless areas (i.e., dirt) within the fairway and rough are considered ground under repair for the purposes of this rule.

13. Where Not to Ground Your Club. A club may not be grounded at address within bunkers or hazards, or the player is penalized one stroke.

14. Use the Same Ball from Tee to Green. A player must hole out with the same ball played from the tee. Another ball may be substituted as the ball in play only if the original ball is lost or deemed unplayable as per USGA rules. If a competitor plays one or more strokes with a ball belonging to another player, a two stroke penalty shall be assigned, and the ball shall be placed at the spot where the wrong ball was first played (if possible). If the only stroke was made within a hazard, no penalty is incurred, and the strokes do not count on the player’s score.

15. Marking Your Ball on the Green. Whenever your ball must be marked on the green, the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin, or other similar object immediately behind the ball.

16. Holing Out. A player must hole out their ball on every hole and record their actual score.

17. Make-up Rounds. Although league members are strongly encouraged to play on Wednesday nights against their designated opponent, we understand that is not always possible. Rather than force people with schedule conflicts to forfeit their rounds, we have established the following make-up policy.

To be valid, a make-up round must be played on the same nine holes as your scheduled match, and must be played following all other league rules (putt out on every hole, etc.).

Pre-Match Make-up Rounds

  • A pre-match make-up round can be played at any time before your scheduled match.
  • Rounds played during the two pre-season “practice” weeks can be used as pre-match make-up rounds.
  • Rounds played during a team’s bye week cannot be used as make-up rounds, as this would give teams with early-season bye weeks an unfair advantage.
  • Hole-by-hole scores shall be submitted to league officials as soon as possible after the round is played, but no later than one week after the round was played.
  • A player can “bank” multiple pre-match make-up rounds. In fact, players are encouraged to do so if they know they have upcoming schedule conflicts.

Post-Match Make-up Rounds

  • A post-match make-up round can be played at any time after your scheduled match, up until the following Monday.
  • Hole-by-hole scores shall be submitted to league officials as soon as possible after the round is played, but no later than the following Tuesday at 9:00 am.

Using a Score from a Make-up Round

  • Please alert league officials as soon as you are aware that you will not be able to play one of your regularly scheduled Wednesday matches.
  • As soon as possible, but no later than noon on the day of your scheduled match, you must inform league officials of the make-up option that you intend to exercise. Options include (1) use a pre-match make-up round, and (2) play a post-match make-up round. [Note: If you do not make your intentions known to a league officer within this timeframe, then the scores from any valid pre-match make-up round will automatically be used, even if you do go out and play a post-match make-up round.]
  • If you opt to play a post-match make-up round, then you must use the score from that round, regardless of whether or not you have any pre-match make-up rounds in the “bank.”
  • If you opt to use a pre-match make-up round, and you have multiple pre-match make-up rounds in the “bank,” then league officials will automatically use the pre-match make-up round with the lowest total score.

18. Forfeiting Your Round. If a player cannot make one of their regularly scheduled Wednesday matches, and if that player has no valid pre-match make-up rounds and no ability/desire to play a post-match make-up round, then that player must forfeit. Please inform league officials as soon as possible if you intend to forfeit a round. Players who forfeit rounds will receive zero points for the week.

19. Handicaps and Strokes. The scoring for each round shall be calculated based upon the handicaps of the players in the match. The difference between player handicaps shall be the stroke quantity allotted to the player with the higher handicap. The strokes shall be assigned to holes according to the hole handicap ranking listed by the golf course. Player handicaps will be continually adjusted throughout the year.

20. How the Points Work. The following point system is used to tally scoring between individual matches:

  • 2 points for winning a hole with the lowest net score (1 point to each player if the hole is tied).
  • 1 bonus point for winning the match (most holes won) (1/2 point to each player if the match is tied).
  • 1 bonus point for low net score for the match (1/2 point to each player for a tie).
  • A maximum of 20 points can be won per match (40 total points per team).

Partners will combine their individual match points to arrive at an overall “team score.” It is this “team score” that will be used to determine the league standings.

Scoring and handicapping calculations are automatically generated by our league software.

21. Playing Against Your Handicap. The opponent of a player who forfeits will “play against his handicap.” The way this works is as follows: if the individual scores a net par or better on any given hole he wins the points for that hole. The individual is automatically awarded the two bonus points for just showing up. In short, having your opponent forfeit a week doesn’t automatically mean you get 20 points; you still need to earn your points by scoring a net par or better on each hole.

22. Qualifying for the Playoffs: #1 through #5 Seeds. The top five teams (highest overall team points) will automatically make the playoffs. If two or more teams finish the season with the same number of overall team points, then the following tiebreakers will be used:

  • Tiebreaker #1: The winner of the head-to-head regular season match(es) involving the other team(s).
  • Tiebreaker #2: In the head-to-head regular season match(es) involving the other team(s), determine the low combined net score on the #1 handicap hole; then, if necessary, the low combined net score on the #2 handicap hole, and so on.

23. Qualifying for the Playoffs: #6 Seed (Wild Card Wednesday). The sixth playoff spot will be determined by the team that wins the wild card round (“Wild Card Wednesday”). Depending on the number of rained-out events during the year, Wild Card Wednesday will either be held the Wednesday following the last week of the regular season, or it will be held concurrently with the last week of the regular season.

To qualify for the sixth playoff spot, teams must make every effort to compete on Wild Card Wednesday. In the event a player cannot play on Wild Card Wednesday, a make-up round may be allowed, as long as the following conditions are met:

  • The player informs the League President of their intention to play a make-up round ahead of time.
  • The make-up round is played after the previous week’s matches, and before Wild Card Wednesday (i.e., a “banked” score from earlier in the season will not be allowed).
  • The make-up round must be played on the same nine holes as Wild Card Wednesday.

The winner of Wild Card Wednesday is determined by the team with the lowest combined net score. In the event a tiebreaker is needed, the winner will be determined by the low combined net score on the #1 handicap hole; then, if necessary, the low combined net score on the #2 handicap hole, and so on.

24. Playoff Format. Our league’s playoffs are formatted as follows:

  • In the first round of the playoffs, the #1 and #2 seeds will receive byes, while the #3 seed will play the #6 seed and the #4 seed will play the #5 seed.
  • In the second round of the playoffs (the Semi-Finals), the #1 seed will play the lowest remaining seed, and the #2 seed will play the other team that advanced through the first round.
  • The winners of the Semi-Finals matches will compete in an 18-hole match to determine the league champion (the holders of the Nick Scairtelli Cup). This Championship Match will take place at Saratoga Spa State Park, unless the two playoff teams agree to alternative arrangements.

25. Playoff Scoring and Tiebreakers. For all playoff matches, including the Championship Match, the same hole-by-hole point system will be used as during the regular season (2 points for winning a hole with the lowest net score; 1 point to each player if the hole is tied). No “bonus points” will be awarded. Partners will combine their individual match points to arrive at an overall “team score”; this score will be used to determine the winner of the match.

In the event of a tie, the following tiebreakers will be used:

  • Tiebreaker #1: Low combined net score.
  • Tiebreaker #2: Determine the low combined net score on the #1 handicap hole; then, if necessary, the low combined net score on the #2 handicap hole, etc.

26. Scheduled Matches. Matches and tee times for the entire season are emailed to league members before the beginning of the season. Weekly reminders will also be sent out via e-mail by a league official. It will be up to the individual player to make arrangements with your opponent to switch, cancel, or reschedule tee times/matches.

27. Scorecards. When you arrive at the course each week, make sure you pick up the league scorecard for your match; someone will either be handing them out or they may be located on the starter stand. These cards will show handicaps and strokes. If printed scorecards are not available, record your scores on a regular scorecard. After your round, hand your scorecard to the League Statistician or one of the league officers. If for some reason no one is available, please keep your scorecard and e-mail your scores to the League Statistician.

28. Weekly Prizes. Part of the league members’ annual dues goes towards weekly prizes. These can be sleeves of balls, or something of comparable value. These prizes will be awarded as follows.

  • A prize will be awarded to the player who posts the lowest net score for the day. You must play the day and time of your scheduled match to be eligible for this prize.
  • “Closest to the pin” or “longest drive.” A prize will be awarded to the player who wins the weekly special contest. This contest will change from week to week. You must play the day and time of your scheduled match to be eligible for this prize.
  • Prizes will typically be handed out the following week. If you believe you have won a weekly prize and have not yet received your prize, please notify a league official.
  • Substitute players will qualify for the weekly special contest (closest to pin / longest drive). “Low Net Score” is reserved for league members only.