Tapps Island Men’s 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The rules outlined below will be the basic rules that will be followed in all tournaments unless otherwise superseded for that specific tournament.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: Kameron Trout (Club President) and the PGA Pro on staff for Tapps Island. 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 handicap index of 12.0 unless the committee sees fit to assign a lower handicap based on the skill level of the player. To protect the club from sandbaggers, guests of the men’s club must have an established handicap to play in any net games. Guests without a handicap will play as a 0 handicap.
  • 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. Players should post all 9-hole scores when the player plays more than 4 holes. As a rule, players in the men’s club 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.
• Drop Zones: Drop zones are not to be used in tournament play. Players may use drop zones in practice rounds and other non-tournament rounds.
• E-5 Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds: This rule can be used in tournament play.
• 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 men’s club events. All balls must be holed to record a score. In order to standardize posted rounds outside of tournament rounds, the guidance for given putts in the men’s club is “inside the leather”.
  • Definition of Inside the Leather: Inside the leather is defined as the length of the player’s putter grip.