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Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club Policies and Procedures Guide

General Club Policies

1. Membership Qualification

Meadow Hills Men’s Club is a State of Colorado not for profit corporation and tax exempt as described in IRC 501(c)(7). Membership in The Club is open to any adult male golfer with amateur status. Before competing for prize money, members must enter a minimum of 54 holes of scores in 9 or 18 hole increments into their respective GHIN accounts, or have a verifiable USGA® Handicap Index® issued by GHIN.

2. Membership Fees

The cost of an annual membership for the Meadow Hills Men’s Club is $300. Members can sign up for The Club in the Men’s Club Portal within the USGA Tournament Management System, also known as Golf Genius. Membership fees include a new or renewed GHIN account number and eligibility to participate in our summer tournament series. Memberships expire December 31 each year, regardless of the date of registration.

3. Membership Cancellation/Refund

Once membership has been approved, membership dues are generally non-refundable, except for special individual circumstances that are approved by the Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club Board.

4. Assumption of Risk and Release from Liability

By signing or electronically submitting a member application and entering and playing in a Meadow Hills Men’s Club tournament, the participant understands and agrees that there are certain dangers involved with the participation in a golf tournament, including but not limited to being struck by lightning, getting hit by a golf club, suffering from heat exhaustion, heart attack or injury from uneven terrain, all of which risks participant assumes and solely accepts, and waives all claims of injury to body or property against the Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club. Further, the participant agrees that while on the premises of a Meadow Hills Men’s Club tournament, the participant, and any guest, relative or anyone else affiliated with participant, shall be present at their own risk and that Meadow Hills Men’s Club shall not be liable for any claims for injuries or damages whatsoever to person or property of the participant or related person arising out of or in connection with the participation in the tournament or presence at the tournament. Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Meadow Hills Men’s Club from all claims by or liability to the participant or affiliated person.

5. Tournament Formats

The majority of tournaments are stroke play, although other team and individual formats may be included. Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club play will be governed by the current Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association (USGA®.) Other specialized formats, such as match play or best ball, will be played in accordance with USGA® Rules of Golf. When Net/goss is being played, players will only be allowed to win in one or the other.

The Meadow Hills Men’s Club Board is responsible for determining dates and tournament formats prior to the season.

6. Tournament Flights

Many Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club events are flighted based on the size of the field, and the most reasonable handicap distributions for each tournament. Final decisions on flighting are solely at the discretion of the Meadow Hills Tournament Director.

Players are flighted initially based upon their most current USGA® Handicap Index® or a modified tournament index assigned to individual participants by the Handicap Committee of the Men’s Club Board. Players without established handicaps can play in Men’s Club tournaments, however, they may not compete for prize money until five 9-hole scores have been posted in the GHIN system.

7. On Course Rules

All play will be governed by the current USGA® Rules of Golf as set forth by the USGA®. The Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club or Course Management provides information containing local rules and any special rules that will govern play before each tournament.

8. Dress Code

Men’s Club Participants are expected to comply with the golf course dress policy. Golfers are encouraged to wear golf appropriate attire. Men should wear a collared golf shirt. T-shirts, tank tops, cut off shorts, beach wear, or gym wear are not proper attire. The decision regarding golf appropriate attire is left up to the golf shop staff and/or the Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club Board.

9. Player Conduct

Meadow Hills Men’s Club Players shall conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times. Any excessive display of anger, vulgar language, club throwing, alcohol abuse, illegal drug use, lack of golfing etiquette or disrespect to a fellow player, golf course staff member, or any other individual may be grounds for disqualification from any tournament and expulsion from the Men’s Club. The Medow Hills Men's Club Board reserves the right to revoke the membership, without a refund, of any individual at any time for conduct deemed inappropriate or damaging.

10. Prize Money

For each tournament, a portion of each player’s entry fee is used to populate each flight’s prize pool. The value of the prize pool at each tournament will be established prior to the tournament and is based on participation. The prize pool is typically formulated to pay approximately 25% of the field. In the event of a tie, all ties are broken as determined by a scorecard playoff using the USGA® Card Match Method. Prize money determined for each place will be paid in full to the winner of the scorecard playoff. In order to adhere to the USGA® Rules of Amateur Status, no single prize awarded will exceed $750 in value.

11. Skins

In most tournaments, Meadow Hills Men’s Club offers a skins competition. Buy-in is voluntary, and is typically $10 per round.

12. Proxies

Most Meadow Hills Men’s Club tournaments include a “closest to the pin” competition, included in each player’s entry fee. Proxies are awarded on each of the par 3 holes, and payouts are in shop credit.

13. Hole-in-One Policy

Each year, Meadow Hills Men’s Club funds a cash pool funded by membership dues to be divided between members who achieve a hole-in-one during the course of the season. Only holes in one made by Club members during full field one or two day events will be considered. Holes in one made during season long events or during casual non-event play are not considered. In the event that multiple holes-in-one significantly deplete the prize pool, the board may modify the funding calculation. Currently we fund $5 from each member’s dues annually. In the event no member makes a hole in one during the year, the fund is carried over to future years.

14. Pace of Play Policy

Pace of play policy is determined by course management on an event by event basis and is published ahead of time with the tournament rules and formats for the event.

15. Inclement Weather

Severe weather-related conditions may prevent, delay or suspend play when the course is rendered unplayable, or the safety of players is at risk, as determined by golf course staff.

The Meadow Hills Men’s Club will do everything possible to complete the full number of holes in a tournament.

Tournaments, especially in the spring, can be delayed due to frost. Participants should remain on the premises and wait for the tournament to resume. No refunds/rollovers will be issued for weather delays.

In the event a tournament is played but the player chooses not to play in less-than-perfect weather, the player must check in on site for the event, and a rain check for golf only will be issued by golf course staff in accordance with Meadow Hills Golf Course rain check policies. Greens fees and tournament fees will not be refunded.

16. Failure to post scores

Members are required to post all postable rounds immediately at the conclusion of the round played. In the event a round is not posted within 48 hours, the Handicap Committee may post a penalty score to the member’s scoring record.

17. Knowledge of the Rules of Golf

Each member is required to attend a seminar on the Rules of Golf once during each 4 year cycle for which the Rules of Golf is published. The Club provides such seminars on occasion, or you may attend a rules seminar hosted by another club, the Colorado Golf Association or the USGA

18. Music

From Rule 4.3.a.4 – “Listening to audio or watching video on matters unrelated to the competition being played (such as a news report or background music). But in doing so, consideration should be shown to others (see Rule 1.2). Not Allowed - Listening to music or other audio to eliminate distractions or to help with swing tempo, or viewing video showing play of the player or other players during the competition that helps the player in choosing a club, making a stroke, or deciding how to play during the round.”

Players wishing to play music over a speaker during the round should ask permission from the group. If anyone objects then music should not be played. If the group approves the playing of music, the volume should be set to be heard by the golfer or group when near the speaker, but should not be loud enough to be heard by other groups on other holes on the course."

Playing music over a speaker is allowed. Using headphones, either in-ear or over-ear, is prohibited.

19. Miscellaneous

The policies and regulations of the Meadow Hills Men’s Club are subject to revision.

All players in Meadow Hills Men’s Club tournaments are deemed to be familiar with these policies and regulations, as well as the USGA® Rules of Golf and agree to abide by them. Failure to comply with the aforementioned policies and regulations could result in tournament penalties, tournament disqualification, suspension or expulsion from the Meadow Hills Men’s Club.

Tournament Policies

1. Tournament Registration

Only Meadow Hills Men’s Golf Club members may participate in Meadow Hills Men’s Club tournaments.

Members register online at the Meadow Hills Golf Club Tournament Portal within Golf Genius. Events have a limitation on the number of entries, and each event will be filled on a first- come, first-served basis. Members are encouraged not to wait until the entry deadline, which is typically on Tuesday the week of the tournament, as any event may sell-out well in advance.

2. Payment Policy

Tournament entry fees includung greens fees will be made by credit card at the time of tournament registration. Skins buy-in, when applicable, is paid in by credit card.

3. Cancellations and No Shows

If a player registers for a tournament and withdraws at any point prior to the end of the tournament, the member may be subject to forfeiture of greens fees and entry fees. A refund or credit for a future event in the same season may be offered if cancellation is received before tee times are published. If cancellation is received after tee times are published, a refund or credit is typically not offered, except in unusual circumstances or medical emergencies. If a refund is issued, a fee will be deducted to cover transaction and time costs. For most events the fee is $5.

4. Tournament Handicaps

Rule 7 of the USGA Handicap Manual enables the handicap committee to reduce a player’s handicap for Men’s Club tournament events if it deems a player’s performance continues to exceed his potential ability. Several methodologies exist for this purpose. The member will be notified of any adjustments made by the Board.

5. Starting Times

Tournaments will typically use sequential starting times with rare shotgun starts. Pairings will be emailed to all participants and are available on the Meadow Hills Men’s Club Tournament Portal website prior to the event. Pairings are subject to change prior to the event. If an individual starting time has been changed, the Tournament Director will notify individuals impacted by the change in advance.

6. Check-In and Starting

Players should check in on site at least 30 minutes prior to the assigned starting times and be at the starting tee box at least 10 minutes prior to their assigned starting time. If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Otherwise, the penalty is disqualification.

7. Tees

Tee boxes are subject to change from event to event. A recent change allowing “hybrid” set of tees for the last flight.

8. Scorekeeping and Scorecards

Players must exchange their scorecards with another player in the group. A separate area (tear-off strip at the top of card) is sometimes provided to allow each player to keep his own score. Each player and marker must sign the scorecard in the designated area on the card attesting that each hole gross score is correct. Each player must sign his card and each “marker” must sign his card as well. In a team event, only one member is required to sign for the team

Immediately upon conclusion of the tournament round, all players from each group should proceed to the pro shop, or other designated collection area, to submit the signed scorecards. At that time, players may bring up any rulings to the tournament committee.

Each player is responsible for the accuracy of his gross score on each hole of his scorecard even though a fellow competitor will be marking the scores on each hole. Players, though, are only responsible for the score on each hole and not the total score. If a player signs for an incorrect scorecard with a lower score on a hole than they actually shot, that player will be disqualified per rule 3-3b.

If there are scoring disputes in a round, protest should be lodged when turning in scorecard. Each player should be available for a reasonable amount of time afterward to answer questions by the Tournament Committee in the event that a ruling is required. Competition in each flight is deemed to have closed, and results finalized, when winners are announced by email following conclusion of each event.

Posting of scores to GHIN: For handicap purposes, the MHMC will post all applicable tournament scores to the GHIN Handicap service. In match play events, players are required to return a scorecard with actual or most likely scores for holes played when a stroke or hole is conceded, or when a player picks up. Men’s Club members are responsible for posting their own match play scores.

9. Distance Measuring Devices

Distance measuring devices are allowed at all tournaments as long as the device does not measure slope, grade or wind.

10. Cell Phones and Electronic Devices

Cell Phones may be used only if doing so does not delay or disrupt play. Cell phones must be on silent at all times. In the spirit of competition, cell phone usage during competition is discouraged. A player should be respectful of fellow competitors. The device should only be used to make phone calls in emergency situations.

11. Club Championship

The Meadow Hills Men’s Club Annual Club Championship is a two-day event held in August. The format is 36 holes of individual stroke play. Players may opt-in to the Championship Flight. This flight is played at scratch with results determined by gross scores. The winner of the Championship Flight is recognized as Club Champion. Results of all other flights are determined by gross scores except the 4th flight. 4th flight is scored on the results of net.

12. Other items:

Unless otherwise notified, the 14-Club rule is in effect for all of our events.

Unless otherwise notified, the one-ball rule is NOT in effect for any of our events.

Unless otherwise notified, a closest to the pin contest and Hole In One on a Par 3 hole is for a player’s first tee shots ending up on the surface of green. Strokes made provisionally or after a penalty has been imposed are not eligible.

13. Drop Zones (DZ)

We use Dropping Zones as an additional alternative to the normal relief procedures for a ball in a penalty area in four specific areas. You will find these on holes 8,11,12, and 17.