LEAGUE INFORMATION
The Candler Hills Men’s Golf Association (CHMGA) fiscal year shall be from January 1st to December 31st. To be a member of the CHMGA, you must be a male member of the Candler Hills Golf Club, a male resident of Candler Hills Community or any male resident of an OTOW Community to include Indigo East, Indigo West and Weybourne Landing. CHMGA annual dues are currently $30.00 and are due and payable by December 31st for the following year. Member will pay the annual GHIN handicap fee through the Pro Shop.
Weekly Events: League day is on Tuesday.
Eligibility: Only those players who have an established GHIN handicap index of 40.0 or less and are paid members of the CHMGA are eligible to play. A player must post at least one score in the GHIN system in the past 30 days.
Sign-Up: Members must sign up either in the Pro Shop or at home using the Golf Genius website. This must be done no later than 10:00 PM on Sunday prior to Tuesday’s league day to be eligible for play. If a member signs up and decides not to play, he must email or call the Pro Shop no later than 7:15 AM on Tuesday morning. If a player does not call in to cancel, the Tournament Committee will determine if the incident warrants some type of disciplinary action.
Start Times: There will be a shotgun start at 9:00 AM. However, there may be variations by season and commitments by the golf course. All players should be in front of the Pro Shop ready to play at 8:45 am.
Scorecards: Each team will keep two scorecards, one paper copy and one on Golf Genius to verify the score prior to turning in the official card. Signed, witnessed and dated scorecards must be turned into the Pro Shop following play. Only gross scores should be recorded on the scorecard. The Pro Shop will calculate the appropriate final score for each team based on the game being played that day. Incomplete scorecards will be grounds for disqualification. Event results are posted on the bulletin board outside the Pro Shop and via Golf Genius. Do not enter your individual event scores in the GHIN system unless directed by the Pro Staff.
Fees: Each player will pay $7.00 to play in the weekly events. Payouts will be in the form of shop credit in the Pro Shop. $1.00 of the weekly fee will be placed into the CHMGA General Fund to cover the cost of the Semi-Annual Members’ Meeting luncheons and other CHMGA functions and expenses.
Captains’ Duties: Captains are the first name listed on the scorecard. They are responsible for paying for all members of their assigned group in the Pro Shop before play begins. He will also pick up the team scorecard at this time and ensure the game requirements. Captain will then collect payment from his teammates. During play, captains are responsible for clarifying rules, enforcing speed of play, and keeping the official scorecard for their team. He is to ensure a completed signed scorecard matches the posted Golf Genius score prior to turning it into the Pro Shop.
Errors In Announced Winners: If any error is made in determining winners on league day, the golfer must notify a member of the tournament committee by 4:00 PM on that day.
RULES OF PLAY
All play will be conducted under USGA Rules of Golf except as otherwise stated in the GENERAL and LOCAL RULES and/or unless otherwise modified by the Tournament Committee and/or Tournament Director (see exception).
Any questions pertaining to a rules interpretation or rules violation shall be addressed to a CHMGA Board of Directors Member. If a rules question arises during play, the golfers should play the original ball as it lies and take the relief to which he feels entitled with a provisional ball. Play both balls to the completion of the hole and record both scores. All rulings will be final.
GENERAL and LOCAL RULES
The following pages offer some comments on the game of golf and general rules as developed by the CHMGA Board of Directors. These rules, along with USGA rules, govern the game of golf to assure fair and honest competition regardless of age, individual ability or physical condition. Please become familiar with these rules and incorporate them into your game of golf.
CHMGA Championship Event
A player must play a minimum of 6 rounds of golf in CHMGA events in the calendar year prior to the start of the tournament in order to qualify to play in the championship. Players must play the tees in which they are normally assigned to player during regular CHMGA events, with the following exceptions: a player may move to a longer set of tees,but cannot move to a shorter set of tees for this event.
RAIN and LIGHTNING POLICY
Rain: Prior to playing, the president and vice president of CHMGA Board will make a decision on whether to play or cancel the event. Players may call the Pro Shop to see if the weekly event has been canceled. During play, the policy shall be that players remain on the course for 15 minutes. If the storm does not pass, players shall come back to the assembly area. A decision will be rendered by the tournament on whether to continue to play or cancel the event. If a player does not stay, it is incumbent on them to contact the Pro Shop to see if play will continue. If play does continue and the player does not return, the player forfeits his entry fee for that week.
Lightning: All players clear the course as soon and as safely as possible. The Board in concert with the Pro Shop will decide whether to suspend play and/or cancel the event.
PACE OF PLAY
Each group is responsible for pace of play. Each group must strive to maintain contact with the group ahead of them, if a group loses contact, they will need to speed up play in order to regain their proper position (allowances are made for foursomes following threesomes). To help pace of play, play ready golf. You should always play a provisional ball if you suspect your ball may be lost or out of bounds.
HANDICAPS
A valid handicap is required to participate in league events. Accurate handicaps are vital to the integrity and fair play of golf. All members must post accurate scores to ensure fair play for all. During non-league play, members are expected to post all scores allowed by the USGA using the GHIN System. Any violators will be contacted by the OTOW Handicap Committee and disciplinary action may be taken.
TEES PLAYED
CHMGA events are played from the Blue, Tournament, White, Orange/White, and Orange tees. The CHMGA uses a formula developed to determine the appropriate set of tees each player should be playing from based on age and handicap index. This is to promote fair and equitable competition across all age and skill levels.
The Pro shop will ensure all scorecards are adjusted accordingly. If you are currently playing tees further back than what the formula calls for, there is no need for you to change. (Example – presently playing Blue tees & formula shows you can play Tournament tees, you can stay on Blue tees) If you are currently playing tees further up than what the formula calls for, you will need to move back a set of tees. (Example – presently playing White tees & formula shows you should be playing Tournament tees, you will be assigned Tournament tees).
All members Handicap Index will be updated on January 1 and July 1 each year. If after review, you index and/or age changes, you will be allowed to request a change in tees being played.
If anyone has a specific reason to change the tee they are assigned, a request form, which you can get from the Pro Shop, needs to be filled out and then get approval from the Board of Directors at their next monthly meeting.
The formula is as follows:
If age + handicap index is less than 73, Play Blue Tees
If age + handicap index equals 73 or higher, may play Tournament Tees
If age + handicap index equals 83 or higher, may play White Tees
If age + handicap index equals 93 or higher, may play Orange/White Tees
If age + handicap index equals 98 or higher, may play Orange Tees
LOCAL PLAYING RULES
At their discretion, the tournament Committee and or the Tournament Director, may establish permanent or temporary Local Rules when necessary and where applicable. Some examples that may warrant such rules are course conditions, adverse weather conditions, the protection of the course, temporary course maintenance and ground under repair.
CART RULE
Anyone who violates the Candler Golf Cart rule pertaining to leaving a golf cart unattended on the course during CHMGA events without permission from the Pro Shop will be suspended from playing in the next two CHMGA events. A second and subsequent violations will be a 4 week suspension.
BALL PLAYED DOWN – EXCEPTIONS
The ball will be played down unless USGA and/or Local Rules warrant exception. At their discretion, the Tournament Director or Committee may declare that lift, clean and place will be in effect. Exceptions may be in effect when the course has been aerified or a treatment applied that may impede the players lies, or when conditions are judged by the Tournament Director or Committee to warrant an exception to the ball being played down.
When an exception occurs, other than a USGA exception, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and placed back into play. When a USGA exception occurs, the player will take one club length relief, no nearer to the hole. The ball may be lifted, cleaned and must be dropped. Some USGA exceptions include burrowing animal holes or mounds, fire ant mounds, sprinkler heads and water control units
AWARDS
The CHMGA provides to its membership, at no extra cost, the following awards for performance during regularly scheduled weekly events:
*Members who shoot their age are awarded $25 in shop credit (paid once during each golf season). Shoot your age award will only be awarded when playing in an individual or team event using the individual’s total gross score.
*Members who shoot a gross eagle on any hole are awarded $15 in shop credit (paid twice during each golf season).
*Candler Cup points are awarded to all members playing in a weekly event as follows, according to their finishing position each week. Points are cumulative from January 1 through November 30 yearly.
Position Points
1st 10
2nd 9
3rd 8
4th 7
5th 6
6th through last place 5
On November 30, the top 15 players will be awarded complimentary CHMGA dues for the following golf season.
OTHER RULES
- LOVE THE GAME
- RESPECT THE COURSE
- MAINTAIN PROPER COURSE ETIQUETTE AT ALL TIMES
- REPAIR ALL BALL MARKS AND FILL ALL DIVOT HOLES