JLAB Golf League (JGL) Rules

2023 League Officers

President Mike Spata

Vice President Wesley Moore

League Scheduler/Scorer Whit Seay

Treasurer Phillip Adderley

Rules Committee Mark Wiseman (chair), Chris Dreyfuss, Earl Mosby

Web Administrator Whit Seay, Wesley Moore

Sections:

1. General Provisions

2. Handicaps

3. Regular Season Match Play Format

4. Playing Rules

5. Team Championships

6. Prizes

7. Team Captain's Responsibilities

Rules:

1. General Provisions

1. Rules Committee (RC)

i. The JGL will form an RC composed of three volunteers from the league.

ii. Responsibilities:

1. The RC must nominate a spokesperson.

2. The RC must update and provide the rules to the JGL prior to the start of each season.

a. The updated rules will be voted on and adopted by the league officers each season.

3. The RC will resolve disputable issues and policies.

a. The RC encourages players to resolve the dispute during the match, if possible.

b. If players cannot reach agreement, captains for each team shall attempt to resolve the dispute.

c. If captains cannot reach agreement, the RC shall resolve the dispute by vote amongst members, if necessary.

d. Any interpretations that shall be settled by vote of the RC, whose decision on any matter is final.

2. League Planning

i. Weekly matches are set by the League Scheduler.

ii. Website link can be found at the Jefferson Activities Group Home Page.

1. The schedule shall be maintained and updated on the website.

2. All handicaps and statistics are posted on the website.

3. Eligibility

i. The League is open to all JLab full time, users, retired, and contracted employees.

ii. In addition, “significant others” and children 16 years and older of JLab employees are eligible to join the league.

2. Handicaps

a. The League uses a modified USGA handicap system - an explanation will be appended at the end of the rules.

b. Rounds played while subbing will count as a normal round in all ways including calculating a player’s handicap.

c. New League Members

i. Initially established by playing two nine-hole practice rounds on any league-play nine at the course selected for the season’s matches.

ii. In some circumstances, recent scores from other courses will be accepted.

iii. Since there is no score from last year, the handicap from the practice rounds count as one score and is carried along for the rest of the year.

iv. Example: Danny had two scores in practice rounds: 53 and 57. His handicap for his first match would be:

0.8*((53+57)/2 – 36) = 0.8*(55-36) = 0.8*(19) = 15.2 or 15.

3. Regular Season Match Play Format

1. All matches are played on the night and course chosen for that season.
2. The order of which the foursomes go off the first tee is determined by readiness.

i. If the tee box is open, the next foursome in line should claim the tee box. Players cannot hold the tee box if their entire foursome is not there.   

ii. As your twosome is there, find another twosome that is ready to go and claim your order in line.

3. Regular Season Matches

i. All regular season matches are four vs. four.

ii. It is the team captain's responsibility to schedule the four players from match to match.

iii. Captains must make every effort to field a team of his/her own players, but may substitute JGL players from other teams, if necessary.

iv. There are no restrictions regarding which four players a captain may field.

4. Line-Up Arrangement

i. The four players chosen for the match are arranged by the exact handicap from lowest to highest.

ii. If two players in the line-up for a team have the same handicap, the seed order will be determined by the order submitted by the captain.

iii. Final line-ups shall be submitted for posting by the deadline of 5pm on Friday preceding the match.

1. Every effort should be made by captains to meet this deadline.

2. Changes to line-ups after Noon the day of the matches will not require reshuffling to match handicaps.

5. Scoring

i. Match Play

1. Individual Matches

a. Two points available per hole. Low net score wins the hole. If tied, each player receives one point for the hole.

b. Four points available for low net. If tied, each player receives two points for the individual match.

c. Total available points per individual match: 18 + 4 = 22.

2. Team Scoring

a. Points earned by each of the four players count toward the team’s total score.

b. The team with total low net receives twelve points. If tied, each team receives six points.

ii. Scoring Example

1. Team A is playing Team B. The captains chose their four players, numbered 1 thru 4 in order of handicap. If two or more players on the same team have the same handicap, their order is determined by their exact unrounded handicap, and then by the order submitted by the captain. Once the Team A’s captain determined which player would play as #2, and which would play as #3, the pairing of the foursomes was defined.

2. From the example below, G. Bush (hcp 4) and P. Buchanan (hcp 6) could play a 22-point match. Mr. Bush would give Mr. Buchanan two strokes, one each on the two hardest holes by handicap on the scorecard. They would play for two points a hole (9 x 2 = 18), and four points for low net totaling twenty-two points. The two points per hole goes to the lower net score, or each player gets one point when the hole is tied. The individual's net score is the actual nine-hole score minus their handicap. The lower net gets 4 points, or each player gets 2 points if the net scores tie. At the end of the matches, the four net scores are added together to make the Team Net Score. The team with the lower team net wins 12 points, or each team gets 6 points if the net scores tie.

Team A		Team B
Player	Hcp.	Player	Hcp.
#1 G. Bush	4	#1 P. Buchanan	6
#2 B. Clinton	6	#2 J. Brow	8
#3 T. Watson	6	#3 N. Lopez	13
#4 N. Faldo	24	#4 G. Norman	19

3. At the end of the match players should review their score for accuracy and agree on who is responsible for returning the official card to the scorekeeper. Prompt return is appreciated, as handicapping and scoring cannot be completed until all scores are in. All players should review their scores once posted and inform the league scorer and opponent if they think there is an error.

6. Rainouts/Lightning/Tornado/Hurricane/Injury

i. On rainy days the league will attempt to cancel by 3pm the afternoon of the match. If possible, cancellations will be posted on the website. A notification by email will be sent as soon as practically possible.

ii. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE, DO NOT CALL THE LEAGUE ORGANIZERS - ASSUME THE MATCH PLAY IS ON!

iii. If rain prohibits the completion of play, partial scores will not be counted, only match play that does complete will count. Eight holes must be played to be considered a complete match (see provision below). A player cannot play just the remaining holes (even if the course allows it), you must start at the first tee. Incomplete matches may be rescheduled to be played on the scheduled rain dates depending upon the number of incomplete matches. A player cannot play twice in the same match (this needed to be stipulated because individual matches can occur on separate nights). Any scenarios that do not meet these guidelines will be resolved by the RC.

1. Provision: At least ¾ of all matches and ½ of each team’s matches must be completed for the match to be considered official. Incomplete matches may be rescheduled and must be completed prior to the next weeks match, or the Friday before the end of season tournament matches. Each team captain must indicate his team’s intent to do so within 24 hours of being notified and both teams involved must agree to do so. Incomplete matches will be scored as if CARD vs CARD.

iv. Provision for darkness and rain. If a player completes 8 holes and it is too dark (or too wet) to finish the 9th hole, the foursome can option not to play the 9th hole. Upon doing so, one of the other holes with the same par will be randomly selected and the scores of that hole will be used. A different hole would be selected each night of play. The hole selection will be picked out of a hat the next day by the President of the league.

v. If a player cannot complete a round due to injury, illness, etc.  and the match hasn’t reached the minimum number of holes required for a match, that match shall be scored against the card.

7. Scoring for short-handed matches (Playing the CARD)

i. All players play for the normal 22-point match.

ii. Both teams (regardless of the number of their players) will assign all of their players playing numbers 1 thru 4, or 1 thru the number of players, in order of handicap. If team A has four players and their opponent, Team B, only has three players, one of Team A's players must play the CARD, and it is the Team A captain's choice as to which of his players plays the CARD. Beyond that, pairings are dictated by handicap.

iii. Unpaired players

1. All unpaired players will play the CARD.

2. A player playing the CARD plays with a handicap of 1.25 times their existing handicap. This would ensure handicap equality against the card at 100% instead of the normal 80%.

3. Scoring is the same as regular match play (i.e. two points for lower net score per hole, one point when hole is tied, four points lower net overall, two points lower net tie overall).

4. Points are not automatically awarded – players must play against the card in order to score points for their team.

5. Points won by the card are not added to the short team’s total.

6. Scores posted while playing the CARD count toward the player’s handicap.

iv. Team Low Net – Playing against the CARD

1. All paired and unpaired matches play for their share of the team low net 12 points.

2. For example, if Team A has four players, and Team B has two players; Team A will play for the full 12 points, Team B will play for 6 points. No points are automatically awarded. The paired matches play for 6 points. The other two players from Team A will play against the card for 3 points each just as they do for the individual low net.     

8. Tardiness and “No-Shows”

i. Players are encouraged to contact their opponents prior to the match to arrange a meeting time or a tentative tee time.

ii. A player must wait for their opponent up to the last available scheduled tee time, 4:45pm, before teeing off.

iii. If a player and his opponent know beforehand that they will both be teeing off together after or before the scheduled tee times but upon the same day,  then their match is valid provided they can obtain a tee time and complete the minimum number of holes. These players should make every effort to notify their captains ahead of time, if possible.

9. Playing the Wrong Course

i. In addition to identifying the opponent for a given match, players must determine which course to play according to the schedule listed on the website before arriving at the course.

ii. Members must play the course that they are assigned to play unless directed to do otherwise by JGL officers or the golf course management.

iii. A match played on a course other than that identified by the schedule, JGL officers, or the golf course management will be void.

iv. If either of the two players appeal a voided match to the RC, the committee can decide to allow the scores to stand, have the players replay the match, or keep the match voided depending on the circumstances involved.

4. Playing Rules

1. Only JLab League members with established handicaps may compete in League events.
1. At the beginning of the season, players may choose which tees (blue, white or green) they want to play, but must stick to their choice throughout the season including playoffs and events dependent upon handicaps. Players with handicaps greater than 20 are encouraged, but not required to play from the forward tee’s. This is an effort to speed up the overall League play and should provide more enjoyment for the player.
2. Players playing from the back tees will have their handicaps set as if they were on the white tees.
3. Players who change tees between seasons will have their handicaps adjusted accordingly at the start of the season.
2. There is a maximum score of twice par plus 1 per hole. Once a player lies 2 times par for that hole without holing out, they must pick up and score the maximum strokes: twice par +1 stroke. This will simplify the scoring process and help speed up play.
3. A whiff (missing the ball completely when you intended to hit it!) counts as a stroke. As long as the intent was to hit the ball, you must count it as a stroke.
4. Maximum time to look for a lost ball is five minutes. Players are encouraged to keep up with the group in front of them to speed play. All such drops should be approved by your opposition.
5. FIX BALL MARKS, REPLACE DIVOTS, AND KEEP UP THE PACE OF PLAY!
6. Unless otherwise stated in Section 4.h. below, the USGA Rules of Golf will be used for League play. Modifications or additions to this may also be set by the course and are typically listed on the course scorecard or posted in the clubhouse.
7. The following are modifications to the USGA rules to be used for league play that are intended to improve the player’s enjoyment of league play and to speed up the overall pace of play.
1. “Winter rules” will be in effect through-out the entire season. This is in recognition that we play on public courses that are not always in the best of shape.
1. Winter Rules:  A ball lying on a closely mowed area through the green may, without penalty, be moved or may be lifted, cleaned and placed within six inches of where it originally lay, but not nearer the hole and not in a hazard or on a putting green. A player may move or place his ball once and after the ball has been so moved or placed, it is in play.
2. For any lost ball or ball hit out of bounds, you must drop a ball no more than two club lengths from the out of bounds spot or location the ball is determined lost. You must take a 1-stroke penalty. DO NOT go back to the original spot to hit again and DO NOT go back as far as you want to choose a nice spot to drop.
3. For balls hit into the woods, you may choose to play it where it lies. Alternatively, you may go back to the point where the ball entered the woods, drop within two club lengths and take a 1-stroke penalty. This alternate method applies to balls lost in the woods.
4. Outside of a hazard, if your ball comes to rest on or near rocks or tree roots that you feel might cause injury or damage your club, you may drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest safe spot, no closer to the hole, for no penalty, if your opponent agrees. Otherwise, use the unplayable lie rule: 

1. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5 of USGA rules); OR

2. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; OR

3. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

5. Players MAY use devices that measure distance. Other measurement devices that may affect play (e.g. wind or gradient) are not allowed.
6. The ‘gimmie’ as described in the USGA rules under Match Play is part of League play. Players are encouraged to let their opponent know that the next shot is good in a timely fashion in order to speed up play. Do not assume the shot is given until done so.

5. Team Championships

1. Regular Season Champion
1. A regular season champion will be determined based on the team’s win/match percentage records.  
2. Ties will be broken by (a) head to head matches, then (b) total average points per match scored, and finally (c) lowest average team score. 
3. A regular season champion will be determined based on the team’s won/loss records.
4. Ties will be broken by (a) head to head matches, then (b) total points scored, and finally (c) lowest average team score.
2. End-of-Season Tournament Champion
1. At the beginning of the year the league will vote on either a single or double elimination tournament. This must be done prior to setting the league schedule for the year.
2. Teams will be seeded based on their regular season position at the end of the year. Ties determined as per Section 5.a.ii.
3. The tournament bracket will be announced prior to the start of the tourney.
4. No substitution of players from other teams is allowed during the playoffs. Captains may request that the league provide their team a sub for the nights round. The league will choose a sub from a pool of players via a blind draw. Should more than one team request a sub, the order of the draw will be by the order of the request until the sub pool is exhausted. Once the sub pool is exhausted the match will be scored against the card.
5. All participating players must have played a minimum of three (3) regular season matches in order to be eligible during the playoffs.
6. Handicaps will be updated after each round of the playoffs.
7. Match tie breakers for the tournament champion shall be (1) If the teams have played more than once during the playoffs then the total score of both matches shall be used, (2) Combined team score by hardest men’s handicap hole, starting with #1 and proceeding through #9 until a winner is determined (3) tie breakers for determining the seed order for the championship tourney (5.b.ii).
8. All other league rules are maintained.

6. Prizes

1. Post Season Championship
1. Trophies for 1^st place in the Tournament.
2. An awards banquet will be held at the end of the season to present trophies.

7. Team Captains’ Responsibilities

1. The team captain is responsible for defining his team's schedule. To best accommodate all players, the captain needs to find out the following type of information from all of his players:

i. Level of commitment.  How often can you play?

ii. Vacation schedule

2. Captains should make every attempt to see that all players get equal playing time throughout the year. Likewise, during the playoffs, attempts to see each player participate are also encouraged.
3. Captains should also schedule a standby 5th (& 6^th) player for each match in the event a scheduled player cannot make it.
4. If the captain is unable to fulfill his responsibility due to absence, etc. they should designate a responsible person from the team to perform these responsibilities as needed.
5. Captains must make every effort to field a team of his/her own players, but may substitute JGL players from other teams if necessary.
6. It is the team captain's responsibility to schedule the four players from match to match. The captain should send the four players and order to the League Scheduler by 5pm the Friday before the match.
7. On the day of the match the captain should help coordinate subs and notify the League Scheduler of all substitutions in a timely fashion so the playing order can be adjusted as needed.

2024 Rules Review

- Player dropped out and opponent escorted them to the clubhouse. We decided to count opponents accumulated points, but didn’t count the points for the player that dropped out.