RMC Tournament Rules of Play

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Objective

The Rockledge Men’s Club seeks to promote a positive golf experience at the Rockledge Golf Course, and to enjoy competitive golf among our members.  The RMC seeks to attract and foster golf-knowledgeable people who exemplify high standards for the use and maintenance of the course, interaction and support of all other players, adhere to the USGA Rules of Golf, and to enjoy casual and competitive play.

 

The Club’s tournament schedule provides a variety of individual and team competition levels.  Prizes provide both fun and competitive benefits for the members.  Our tournaments are greatly supported and coordinated by the Rockledge Golf Shop. 

 

As a condition of membership, each member of the Club accepts certain responsibilities.  These rules provide some specific definitions and reasonable methods of disciplinary action which, when administered fairly, can serve to assure all members that they will continue to enjoy the benefits of membership in the RMC.

 

Eligibility

A member may play in any tournament if he has paid his dues for the year, has a current USGA or CSGA handicap, has met all the tournament qualification requirements, and has not been disciplined in accordance with these rules. 

  1. Members with no handicap can participate in any tournament but will play with a zero handicap.

  2. A member may play in the Senior Championship (50 and over), Senior-Senior (60 and over), Legends (70 and over), Masters (80 and over) or regular Club Championships if he has a current state handicap, and has played in at least five (5) tournaments. There must be two current year RMC Scheduled events played. The remainder could be composed of Scheduled Events, the Tuesday/Thursday events, and/or non-scheduled "Pro Shop events" prior to the closing date for sign-up for the applicable championship and is otherwise eligible. 

  3. A member is eligible to play in an age-restricted tournament on the first day of the month in which he becomes the required age.

 

The tournament committee may from time to time, with approval of the RMC Board of Directors set tournament qualifications, application deadlines, and other rules that are in keeping with the stated purpose of the Rockledge Men’s Club.

 

Registration

  1. Tournaments requiring assigned teams and/or starting times will have a description and sign-up sheet posted in the Men’s locker room and/or Golf Shop.

  2. The sign-up deadline is 5:00 pm on the Thursday before the day one week prior to the tournament, unless delayed by the committee.

  3. A member signing up after the deadline will be placed on the alternate list.

 

Pairings (For Randomly Paired Tournaments)

  1. Members will be assigned to teams from the sign-up sheet in most RMC events.

  2. Members on the sign-up sheet in excess of those needed to fill teams will be placed at the top of the alternate list.  Alternates are assigned to vacancies based on handicap rather than the position on the alternates list.

  3. Members will be assigned to partners or teams by handicap using the USGA Tournament Pairings Program.

  4. A member who is assigned to a partner or team, and who subsequently determines that he will be unable to play, maintains responsibility for notifying the Golf Shop to arrange an alternate.

 

Starting Times

  1. Tournaments must be played only on the day(s) scheduled, and only at the assigned starting times.  Starting times may be changed only if a majority of the foursome agrees.

  2. A member playing at other than his assigned starting time without agreement of his group will be disqualified from the tournament.

  3. When playing non-shotgun or non-blocked tee time tournaments, each individual/team must secure their own tee time in coordination with eligible playing partners/attester(s).
    “Eligible Playing Partners/Attester(s)” are active RMC members, or others that the Tournament Committee has otherwise approved, playing or monitoring play as an individual or a separate team in or along with the group.

  4. Blocked tournament tee times will be set by Golf Shop in conjunction with the Tournament Committee, and per the specific tournament format. 

 

Play

  1. Tournaments will be played as scheduled unless adverse weather conditions prevail as determined by the Tournament Committee.

  2. In the event of adverse weather conditions:

    • A member who decided not to play must advise the Golf Shop of his decision before his starting time.

    • A committee representative will decide if disciplinary actions will be waived.  This will be done prior to the start of the tournament whenever possible.

  3. Blocked tee time tournaments start at the first or tenth tee at the discretion of the Golf Shop.

  4. Match play tournaments will be played from the White, Blue, or Black tees assigned to the players.

  5. Match play tournaments tied at the end of regulation play and requiring a play-off must continue to the hole assigned by the Golf Shop.

  6. All ties not requiring a play-off may be broken by matching cards, using gross or net scores as appropriate, following the rules posted for the specific tournament.   Not all ties will require this process.

  7. Handicaps used will be those in effect at the time of pairing, unless otherwise posted.

  8. Match play and medal play tournaments must follow the USGA rules for posting scores.

  9. Assigned Tees: 

    • Players must play from the tournament assigned tees, unless otherwise agreed and handicaps are adjusted according to the USGA rules.

    • Tournaments such as the Club Championships, Rambles, and others designated by the Tournament Committee or the Golf Shop, will have specifically set tees. 

    • Otherwise, a player may request, when registering, to play from a specific tee. 

    • The World Handicap System that is in use, will automatically adjust the player’s handicap to the tee.

    • Besides mixed tee team events, and age or handicap flighted events, Gross Score prizes will only be awarded to players/teams playing from the Blue or Black tees.

 

Slow Play

  1. Each group must:

    1. Keep up with the group ahead.

    2. Let a following group through, if one or more holes are open in front of your group.

    3. Request to be allowed to play through, if following a group with one or more open holes before it.

  2. All members of a group will be responsible for a group’s play.

 

Scorecard

  1. A member or groups’ score will not be posted unless a complete scorecard is returned.

  2. A complete card includes: each member’s full name, handicap, and tee played, signatures of the scorer and attestor, the date, and gross and/or net scores (as applicable).

  3. Each player is responsible for confirming their scores on the turned in scorecard.

  4. All players must sign and attest their scorecard for all RMC Board Tournaments.

  5. The Golf Shop will post all tournament scores in the GHIN system, except scores for scrambles, shambles, alternate shot tournaments.
     

Prizes

  1. The Tournament Committee will set specific prizes for each tournament.

  2.  Purse distributions will be determined by the size of the tournament field.

 

Rules of Golf

  1. Members are expected to be familiar and to enforce the current USGA Rules of Golf.
    USGA Rules of Golf Home for current and ongoing rules education and interpretation.

  2. Members are encouraged to carry a copy of the Rules of Golf with them at all times.
    USGA Rules of Golf Mobile App for Android and iOS phones/devices.

  3. Members are expected to be familiar and enforce the Rockledge Golf Local Rules.

  4. The designated tournament Chairman (generally the Pro Shop staff) or any member of the Tournament Committee who is present must decide rule disputes.

 

Disciplinary Action

  1. A member found in violation of the RMC rules or West Hartford Town Policy may lose eligibility to play for the two next sign-up tournaments.

  2. A second violation may result in a member losing eligibility to play in the next four sign-up tournaments. 

  3. Members found in violation will be notified in writing by the Tournament Committee.  RMC Board and the Rockledge Golf Pros will be informed of a member's change in status.

  4. Further violation may result in the filing of a complaint requesting the RMC Board to take disciplinary action in accordance with Article III, Section 5 of the Constitution of the Club.

  5. A member who violates Town Policy may be subject to separate action by the town, which can include loss of all playing privileges.

  6. The RMC Executive Board will deal with written complaints.