2024 Tapps Island Ladies Club Rules

 

The rules outlined below will be the basic rules that will be followed in all tournaments unless otherwise superseded for that specific tournament. Please utilize these rules for the oddities that happen at Tapps, specifically ones that happen because we are a 9-hole course. The USGA Rules of Golf will be the rules followed for all rounds. The rules outlined below are alterations to the Rules of Golf and supersede the rule book or are guidance for the club’s membership.   

 

  • Committee: Tournament committees will include:  Beth Mayovsky (Club Vice President) and others may be assigned on a tournament by tournament basis.
  • Handicaps: Players are encouraged to establish a handicap before playing in tournaments. If not possible, players will receive a 9-hole handicap index of 20.0 and the handicap limit for all 18 holes competitions will be 40.
    • Exception: An exception may be made for special tournaments such as the Member Guest (known as the invitational) or other informal tournaments.
  • Posting Rounds for Handicaps: All rounds played after March 1st should be posted to GHIN. Players should post all 9-hole scores when the player plays more than 4 holes. As a rule, players are directed to post their scores utilizing the hole-by-hole method, not cumulative scores. Follow all GHIN rules for posting scores. Reminder: 9-hole scores may be entered. You do not need to play 18 holes to post scores.  All Club Competitions will be automatically, electronically posted via the tee scheduling tool, currently using Golf Genius.  Rounds played outside of Club Competitions and on other courses need to be posted to GHIN by the member.
  • E-5 Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds: This rule is not to be used in tournament play. Players are welcome to use this rule in practice rounds or other non-tournament rounds.
  • Playing from Divots: All divots (defined as a hole in the ground caused by swings taken by other players, including those that have been sanded ) in the closely mown areas (fairways, fringe around the greens, tee boxes, etc.) should be played as ground under repair. Balls must be resting inside the perimeter of the divot. No relief is given for stances on a divot. Fellow competitors must agree that the hole is caused by a previous golfer. Relive will not be given in the rough or in penalty areas.
    • Relief: Take relief from divots in the same way you would take relief from ground under repair. Players will find their nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole, and drop the ball within one club length of that point.
  • Footprints in Bunkers: Players may take relief from footprints in bunkers.
    • Relief: Find the nearest point of relief within the bunker and drop within one club length.
  • Planted Areas: Planted areas with beauty bark around the pond near the hole 8/17 tee and the 9/18 green shall be played as ground under repair. A drop must be taken from these areas.
    • Relief: Find the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. Drop within 1 club length of the identified relief point.
  • Opposite Nine Flag Stick: If the opposite nine’s flagstick (i.e. if you’re playing blues and the white flag) is in your intended line of play, you may take relief when playing from on the green. Players may move up to one club length from their original spot to obtain relief.
    • Relief: Mark your ball on the green. Place your ball up to one club length from the original location, no closer to the hole. Players must state to their fellow competitors they are taking this type of relief.
  • Gimme Putt Guidance for non-tournament rounds: “Gimme” putts are not allowed in Club Tournaments. All balls must be holed to record a score. In order to standardize posted rounds outside of tournament rounds, the guidance for given putts is “inside the leather”.
    • Definition of Inside the Leather: Inside the leather is defined as the length of the player’s putter grip.
  • Payouts for Tournaments: All tournament payouts, unless otherwise stated, will be divided evenly between gross and net. Players should expect to have 40% of the field split evenly between gross and net, paid in each tournament. If the tournament is flighted, payoffs will be for 40% of each flight.
  • Determining a Tie: For weekday events we will retain the tie. If there is a tie on a Tournament, the tie break will be done by using the best score on the most to the least difficult hole.
  • Championship Eligibility: Players must have a handicap and have golfed in 54 holes of ladies club events to golf in the championship. Handicap limit will be 40.