Standing Rules

STANDING RULES
Changes to Standing Rules
Change made January 21, 2019
*Change made May 20, 2019
**Change made August 4, 2019/August 16, 2019

*The SBWGA-18 is an apolitical organization and as such does not support or endorse any candidate running for any kind of office, except the SBWGA-18 board positions, nor any proposition or proposed law or amendment or any law except those to the By-Laws and Standing Rules of the SBWGA-18 organization. Furthermore, in keeping with established precedent, candidates shall not be introduced or allowed to address the membership during association meetings.

MEMBERSHIP

The purpose of the SBWGA-18 is to provide events as designated by the Elected Board for amateur women golfers of SaddleBrooke HOA#1 or HOA#2, including renter members having a valid renter card of SaddleBrooke HOA#1 or HOA#2, including renter members having a valid renter card of SaddleBrooke HOA#1 or HOA#2..
Dues are paid on an annual basis and include SBWGA-18 Membership Dues, AGA Dues and the SBWGA-18 Handbook. The amount of the dues will be reviewed by the Elected Board annually and adjusted, if necessary. The amount will be posted on the SBWGA-18 website and the bulletin board. Dues for the following year are payable beginning October 1 and are considered delinquent if received after November 30. SBWGA-18 and AGA dues are NOT refundable after December 31. Failure to pay said dues will result in a member losing her handicap service and membership, thus becoming ineligible to play in any SBWGA-18 golf event.
Eligibility is based on amateur status and a prospective member must have an established index with the USGA . All players will play to an index of 36.6 or lower. If a prospective member does not have a CURRENT USGA INDEX, she must establish one by submitting FIVE (5) 18-hole scorecards, TEN (10) 9-hole scorecards, or any combination that would equal FIVE (5) 18-hole scorecards, properly attested and dated within the previous 12 months.
The Membership Chair will facilitate the connection between the Big Sister and New Member. The Big Sister Program is meant to create a positive mentor relationship, to give encouragement, and to provide support and information to help the New Member transition into the SBWGA-18.
Handicap only services will not be provided for a woman who has not been granted a SaddleBrooke HOA#1 or HOA#2 valid renter’s card.
In the event that any member of SBWGA-18 commits any act that causes discredit or disrepute to another member, and/or the Organization, or fails to comply with the rules and regulations of SBWGA-18, that member shall be subject to suspension or expulsion. After two (2) suspensions within a two (2) year period, the member will be expelled for at least one full year or permanently, depending on the severity of the behavior. These actions can be taken only after ten (10) days written notice from the current Elected Board, with the member’s right to be heard. These actions shall be decided by a 2/3 vote of the members of the current Elected Board at any regular meeting or special meeting called for such purpose.
An Honorary Membership will be offered to current or former members who are unable to participate in the SBWGA-18 golf events, but wish to maintain their social relationships within the organization. The member must make application to the SBWGA-18 prior to the annual renewal deadline. This is a social, non-voting membership with no annual fee, with the exception of the membership booklet. Honorary Members will be included and noted as such in the membership booklet.
An Associate Membership is offered to any current or former members of SBWGA-18. The annual fee, determined by the Elected Board, will be posted online and will include Membership Fee, AGA fee, and a Handbook. This is a less competitive option without prize money where ladies will be able to obtain a tee time on Tuesdays, Ladies League Day, and play with other Associate members. They are not eligible to vote hold office or play in weekly sweeps, Major tournaments or Inter-Club competitions. She will be expected to establish and maintain a USGA handicap and play by the rules of golf. An Associate Member is encouraged to attend luncheons, tournament receptions and volunteer in league activities and to play in Special Tournaments (entry fees and handicap restrictions apply). She will not be eligible to vote, hold office or play in the weekly sweeps, Major Tournaments or Inter-club competitions (Southern District, Catalina Cup , Kachina or Ryder Cup).
Application for Associate Membership must be made prior to the annual renewal deadline of November 30 in order to be included in the Handbook. Dues will be reviewed by the Elected Board and will be posted on the website and bulletin board. After June 30, membership dues will be pro-rated. Associates may be reinstated to full membership any time during the year with an additional payment. The Associate member is responsible for arranging her tee times through the Chelsea system or the phone system or through the Pro Shop.

*RENTERS' GUIDELINES
As addressed in the SBWGA By-Laws under Article III - Membership; renters are eligible to join the SBWGA-18. Renters will pay the full dues.

HANDICAPPING BASICS

A player is responsible for knowing her current USGA Handicap Index. A player must convert her current USGA Handicap Index to a course handicap. Course handicaps will differ according to different slopes and ratings of the courses played.
To determine the course handicap for a particular course, check the course rating, slope and conversion tables provided on the SBWGA-18 bulletin board, Handicap Essentials Notebook or the SBWGA-18 Website. These tables are available for all tees. Course and slope ratings are also available in the handicap computer system.
Unless there are special rules posted for the event being played, convert the Handicap Index to the course handicap and determine on which holes handicap strokes are given. A player with a handicap of 18 would receive one stroke per hole. A player with a course handicap of 11 would receive one stroke on each of the first 11 lowest stroke allocated holes (6 strokes on the front nine and 5 strokes on the back nine). In match play, if one golfer is a fifteen (15) handicap and the other golfer is a twenty-five (25) handicap, the higher handicap golfer will receive one (1) stroke on each of the first ten (10) lowest allocated holes.
A player must properly apply Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) to her score for handicap and posting purposes. Players are expected to play “in accordance with the principles of the Rules of Golf.”
After prolonged illness or injury, upon player’s request and approval by the Elected Board, handicap modification is available locally.

POST THESE SCORES

Posting “T” Scores: The Handicap Committee will post all Tournament scores and all Tuesday Play Day scores. Post all scores whenever you play, including: Best Ball, Match Play, Team Play, couples events, Kachina and all away scores. Neither the USGA Handicap System nor the Rules of Golf provide for practice rounds. SBWGA-18 policy allows INTERNET posting.
Incomplete or Nine-Hole Rounds: If 7 holes are played on the same nine-hole course, a 9-hole ESC score must be posted. If 13 or more holes are played, an 18-hole ESC score must be posted. In either case, post par plus handicap strokes for holes not played. The computer system combines any two 9-hole scores in the scoring record into one 18-hole score, even if there are intervening 18-hole scores. A “C” on the scoring record will indicate this combined score. A 9-hole score will be retained until it is older than the oldest 18-hole score in your score history.
Incomplete Holes: If a player picks up on a hole, record the score she most likely would have made. That score, however, must not exceed her Equitable Stroke Control Limit. Incomplete hole scores and scores for those holes not played should be marked with an “X”.
Holes Not Played: When a hole is not played, the score for the hole is par, plus any entitled handicap strokes based on the full course handicap.
Use of Mulligans: No “T” scores will be posted when Mulligans are used.
A “R” handicap index reduction results when two (2) or more “T” scores are three (3) or more strokes lower than handicap index. The USGA Handicap System automatically assigns this “R”.

DO NOT POST THESE SCORES
…..when a majority of the holes are not played under the Rules of Golf, such as a Scramble or a Scotch.

ADJUSTING SCORES

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) keeps an exceptionally bad hole from changing the player’s handicap. ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player’s course handicap as shown below:

Handicap..................................Max Strokes Per Hole
9 or less....................................Double Bogie
10-19..........................................7
20-29..........................................8
30-39..........................................9
40 and above...........................10
2. For handicap purposes, a player must adjust the hole score (actual or probable) when it is higher than the maximum number that can be posted. There is no limit to the number of holes on which scores may be adjusted. When
conditions of competition require adjustments for a player's course handicap, she uses her actual USGA Course Handicap
for ESC and posting purposes.

HANDICAP RECORDS & PENALTIES

In order for us to enjoy playing the game of golf in a spirit of fair and friendly competition, members must post correct scores of every 9 or 18-hole game played. The computer system keeps track of these records and computes handicaps based on the scores entered.
The Handicap Committee monitors and corrects postings, but its work is only effective if members conscientiously input all scores, including non-league and away play.
To maintain open communication and to extend every possible courtesy, the Handicap Committee will contact members by email before assessing penalties. For those who do not have email, they will be contacted by phone.
Penalty for Not Posting: The Handicap Committee will conduct bi-monthly audits on random dates. A member is given two (2) days to post their game score. The Handicap Committee will contact the member, by email or phone, to ascertain the score and will then do a courtesy posting of the score and assess a penalty score if warranted. In the determination of a penalty, the Handicap Committee will follow the USGA Handicap System Section 8B to be applied at the discretion of the Handicap Committee. The penalty score will be equal to the lowest/highest Handicap Differential in the player’s scoring record.
Penalty for Posting Incorrectly: If you discover that you have made an error in posting, such as wrong score, wrong date, incorrect tee ground or have not played according to the usual rules of play, send a Correction Form via the website (sbwga.com). Include as much information as needed to assist the Handicap Committee in deciphering the issues. Penalties are not assessed when this is done.
Appeals: The Handicap Committee will make every effort to resolve posting issues with the members. A penalty score may be appealed to the Handicap Committee within ten (10) days of the assessment.

TUESDAY TOURNAMENT PLAY

USGA procedures will govern rules of play and handicaps.
A player must be a paid member of SBWGA-18 in good standing with an established USGA 18-hole handicap to be eligible for official play day competition. Maximum playing index for weekly tournaments is 36.6. The Course Handicap will be determined using the corresponding Course rating. ACE Day will play to a maximum course handicap of 36.
For all Tuesday Tournaments, including Shotgun Days, all players should check in with the Starter or Golf Shop area, whichever is designated by the committee chairs running the event, fifteen (15) minutes prior to tee times.

Weekly Sign Up
  Scheduled Tuesday play days are for SBWGA-18 members only. A member will sign up with the intention of participating in the game of the day. The Chair and her Committee will control pairings.

  A minimum of eight (8) players must complete play in order to constitute a field in which sweeps will be paid on a
scheduled Tuesday. The field of play may be divided into flights according to handicaps. The Chair and her Committee will set the range for each flight.

In stroke play, throughout the round, players are to remain in the group paired by the Committee whenever possible. Any player who does not complete 18-holes will write "WD" (withdraw) on her scorecard. In all circumstances, common sense should prevail.

The procedures for Tuesday Play Day are as follows:

Notice of the Tuesday games to be played will be posted on the bulletin board and website three months at a time. Sign up will be through the phone computer system (PSU) or Chelsea INTERNET System (CSU), allowing thirty (30) days advance.
Sign up deadline is Wednesday at 2:00 PM, prior to the desired Play day. Entries after the deadline may have the opportunity to play if space becomes available.
After Wednesday at 2:00 PM, all late entries, as well as cancellations, will be made by email to tuesday-play@sbwga.com.
Once you receive your second Chelsea notification on Monday, all cancellations will be reported to the Pro Shop either by phone or email to proshop@saddlebrooke.org.
For special tournaments, such as Pick Your Partners, Major Tournaments, Guest Days, etc., sign up will be by form sign up (FSU) with normal sign up deadline unless otherwise stated.
There will be a Follow the Field (FTF) signup for a Tuesday play day under the following conditions: when there is a Special Tournament with an entry fee with the exceptions of Lagos and Home & Home and when there is a tournament with a multiple day commitment, which includes all Major Tournaments.
Members may opt to play from any SBWGA-18 approved tee on Tuesday Play Days and ACE Day, with the exception of Major and Special Tournaments. Each player will select two (2) tee options: one (1) for Tuesday Play Day and one (1) for ACE Day. If a player wishes to change her Tee selection, she must notify the Tuesday Play Day Chair in writing. A player may change her Tee option only once during the year.
The preliminary pairings will be posted on Chelsea and outside the Pro Shop no later than Saturday prior to play.
Tuesday Play Day games will mostly be individual formats suitable for posting. All players must putt out or be disqualified. A few games, such as "3 Clubs and a Putter" and team scrambles do not comply with the USGA rules and cannot be posted. Instructions for the weekly game will be posted on the bulletin board and SBWGA.com. When the game is a team format or Stableford game, a player who is"out of the hole" or cannot improve her standing in the game of the day, should pick up her ball to maintain pace of play. She will apply the USGA Handicap System Manual, section 4-1, Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes rule. This rule states the score is a judgment that each player must make based on the player's own game. It consists of the number of strokes already taken plus in the player's best judgment, the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that position more than half the time. This may not exceed the player's ESC score. In picking up her ball, that player's score is preceded with a 'X' on that hole but is not DQ'd.
If the Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, it may impose a penalty of
disqualification under Rule 33-7.

Each player is responsible for:

Verifying her correct handicap and attesting her own score (both subject to disqualification if in error) per USGA Rule 6.
Following the weekly game instructions is a requirement making a player eligible for Tuesday sweeps.
Adhering to 5a and 5b. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the event.

Scorecards:
For all events, two scorecards must be kept. One scorecard will be turned in to the Scoring Committee. Scores should be checked hole by hole before the scorecard is returned. Every scorecard must have at least two signatures. For individual play, all competitors must sign the scorecard. Any player attesting to an incorrect score or failing to sign a scorecard when required will be disqualified per USGA Rule 6-6b.

Ties on Tuesday Play Days: The Tuesday Play Day Chair will combine winnings for tied scores and divide the winnings among the tied players, rather than use the card-off method except for Ace Day.
Blind Draws: For team events on Tuesday Play Days, should there be a “blind draw” required to create a foursome, the person who is designated as the “blind draw” for a team shall NOT be eligible to win Sweeps payouts as a member of that team.
Cancellation of Tournaments: Cancellation of any tournament is at the discretion of the Tournament Chair and/or the Golf Shop in conjunction with the Special Event Chair, where applicable.

ACE DAYS
The Tuesday Play Day Chair schedules this monthly event. On ACE Day, all players must putt out or be disqualified. Overall Low Gross and Overall Low Net winners over the field will determine the ACES of the Month. Monthly Ace Winners are limited to one win in low gross OR one win in low net per calendar year.

Only those players opting to play from the Red/Yellow tees are eligible forGross ACE of the Month and Gross AGA State Medallion. Those players are also eligible for Net ACE of the Month and Net AGA State Medallion. Those opting to play from any other SBWGA-18 approved tee will compete for Net ACE of the Month and Net AGA State Medallion. The Net ACE of the Month and Net State Medallion winner will be determined using USGA Section 3-5 for mixed tees.

All players that qualified throughout the calendar year are eligible to play in the ACE of ACES playoff. ACE of ACES qualifiers will only compete in the category (i.e. Gross or Net) and from the tees from which they won.

All players will play to a maximum course handicap of 36 on ACE Day. The Handicap Committee will post all players' scores with a "T" (Tournament Score) within 48 hours.

Ace Day Pairings will be based upon handicap index. ACE Day Gross flights will be based on tee played. ACE Day Net flights will be based on course handicap using USGA section 3-5 for mixed tees.

A minimum of three (3) players playing from a particular tee is required for ACE Day Gross payout. Payout will be between 24-33% of the field members for Net Flights.

On ACE DAY, ties for Aces of the Month and flight winners will be broken using the USGA recommended Card-Off Procedures.
The acceptable method of matching the cards is to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last nine (9) holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last nine (9), determine the winner on the basis of the last six (6) holes, last three (3) holes and finally the 18th hole. Regardless of where a player begins on the rotation of courses, on the SaddleBrooke/Tucson course, Tucson is the back nine; on the Tucson/Catalina course, Catalina is the back nine; on the Catalina/SaddleBrooke course, SaddleBrooke is the back nine.