FAQ

Laurel Canyon Men’s Golf Association

“LCMGA”

10th Revision September 9, 2017

RULES

Normal Laurel Canyon MGA “LCMGA” play shall be governed by USGA rules except as modified below and by “Special” rules announced prior to play. LCMGA normal member play day rules and tournament rules will be the same, including, all putts must be putted into the hole. There will no longer be any “GIMME PUTTS”.

 

THE FOLLOWING RULES AND EXCEPTIONS WILL ENHANCE OUR PACE OF PLAY, REDUCE QUESTIONS REGARDING RULES, AND MAKE OUR GAMES MORE COMPETITIVE AND FAIR.

 

Descriptive Terms, Rules and Conditions:

  1. Hazard: A natural or manmade course feature typically filled with water or sand. Hitting into water hazard, such as a pond or creek, results in a penalty stroke for the golfer if he is unable to locate and hit his ball from inside the hazard. Player must take a Line of Flight Drop. A sand filled hazard (bunker or trap), carries no such penalty and next shot must be played from hazard. In a HAZARD the Club “Can Not” be grounded, a Ball must be played as lies, NO IMPROVEMENT, in Ball, Stance or Swing Area. (see Sand Trap/Bunker exception)

 

  1. Lateral Water Hazard: A Lateral Water Hazard marked with Red Stakes and/or lines is treated as follows: The golfer may play from a lateral water hazard if possible; otherwise, he must take a Line of Flight Drop and incur a penalty stroke. NO LATERAL, AND / OR PERPENDICULAR DROP IS ACCEPTABLE FROM WHERE THE BALL LIES.

 

  1. Out of Bounds: White Stakes on the course indicate the boundaries of area that is “in play”. If a ball comes to rest outside the White Stakes, the ball is considered Out Of Bounds “O.B.” and the player must drop a ball inbounds for a one (1) stroke penalty. Ball must be dropped in bounds on Line of Flight where ball entered “O.B.”
  2. From Tee “IMPORANT”: On Holes 3, 8 & 16, drive MUST cross gully/ditch before going “O.B.” or “Lateral Hazard”. If drive does not cross gully/ditch ball must be Re-Teed from original play spot or dropped on Tee-Side just before gully/ditch. Player will incur a one (1) stroke penalty, thus hitting his 3rd If ball carries and clears gully/ditch on drive and crosses any fairway, then ball proceeds into a Lateral Hazard or “O.B.” ball must be dropped in Line of Flight fairway crossing. Player incurs a one (1) stroke penalty, thus hitting his 3rd shot. NOTE: Player may play ball from ditch if found. Ball, Stance or Swing Area can’t be improved ball MUST be played as it lies. (If ball on drive goes into ditch and you think you know where ball is and can be played, you are encouraged to still hit a Provisional Ball just in case 1st ball cannot be found or played as lies.)

 

  1. Additional information in regard to HOLE #3. If ball comes to rest “OB” on right hand side of fairway (tennis court side), ball may be played as a “Lateral Hazard”. You must bring ball back into play (Line of Flight) with a one (1) stroke penalty. Again, ball must have carried/cleared ditch and crossed part of fairway, otherwise; ball must be Re-Teed from original play spot or dropped on Tee-Side just before gully/ditch. FOC has not been maintaining DROP AREA, so Drop Area is no longer is applicable.

 

  1. Unplayable Lie: A lie or ball position from which the golfer cannot reasonably play a shot, but from which he is not allowed free relief. A player declaring an unplayable lie is assessed a one stroke penalty and is allowed to take a drop, Line of Flight.

 

  1. Hazard Area Play: A ball not in Fairway or Maintained Rough, but can be hit as lies, may be played. (YOU CAN NOT IMPROVE OR ALTER THE LIE OF THE BALL, THE STANCE AREA, SWING AREA OR THE LINE OF PLAY and you cannot, Ground Club.

 

  1. Winter Rules (lift clean and place) and LCMGA exception rule: In Fairways or Maintained Rough, ball may be rolled/moved to improve ball lie or stance, but no more than “12 Inches or 1 Foot” no closer to the hole, due to divot, rocks, roots, dirt, etc. (NOTE: On Hole #2; left slope adjacent to green, and On Hole #4; area right of bunkers and cart path, and Hole #11; area down- hill and right of cart path is considered maintained rough.) Under the exception, a player may not move a ball from rough to fairway, fringe to green or bunker/trap to fairway. In unmaintained rough (woods) ball may not be moved, if player can-not play ball as lies, he must deem shot unplayable and take a Line of Flight Drop with a one (1) stroke penalty.

 

  1. Sand Traps. When a ball lands in a footprint or similar disruption in the sand you are allowed to: a) drop or place the ball at the point of nearest relief in the sand trap, no nearer to the hole, or b) lift, rake, and replace the ball in its original location. Please remember to rake the sand as you exit. If ball has come to rest against lip of bunker/trap, ball must be played as lies. NO Grounding Clubs in Sand Trap or Bunker.

 

  1. HOLE #5 and #13: If a ball comes to rest against or inside one (1) club length of Boulders/Rocks in Hole # 5 and #13 fairway, player may take a free drop/place within one (1) club length from rock, no closer to the hole, without a penalty.

 

  1. HOLE #14: Any Tee Shot that lands anywhere left of cart path is considered In-Bounds for LCMGA play.

 

  1. HOLE #15: If a Tee Shot goes into the woods/creek on the right side of the fairway, player may take a Line of Flight Drop with a one (1) stroke penalty if ball crossed fairway before entering woods or creek, Lateral Hazard. If Tee Shot did not cross any fairway, player must Re-Tee with a one (1) stroke penalty, thus hitting his 3rd

 

Down left side of fairway on hill up to crest (maintained rough), player may play ball as lies or move ball to avoid rocks or roots to avoid club damage, with no penalty to player. If player does not want to play ball from hill, he must take a Line of Flight Drop with a one (1) stroke penalty.

 

If ball goes into woods above hill crest, player may play ball as lies (NO Ball, Stance or Swing Relief) with no penalty, or they may opt to take a Line of Flight Drop, and incur a one (1) stroke penalty.

You are encouraged to hit a Provisional Ball, if 1st ball stroked goes into woods above hill, just in case you cannot play or find ball.

 

  1. If ball comes to rest on a cart path, the following is applicable: Player may play ball as lies or take a free drop. The free drop can be to left or right of cart path, player’s choice. A player may take a free drop / place within one (1) club length, allowing for stance, no closer to the hole, without a penalty. On Hole #15, this drop may allow you to move from hazard to fairway, due to the short area of rough adjacent to cart path. (All free drops should be made in this manner to get relief from cart path, water drains, sprinkler/irrigation boxes.)

 

 

  • Lost Ball: Provisional balls should be played when in doubt about where ball landed and whether or not it can be played. Under penalty of one (1) stroke, place the ball on the nearest playable surface no nearer to the hole on the Line of Flight where the ball last crossed the fairway or playable surface. Or you can play the Provisional Ball with a one (1) stroke penalty.

 

  1. HOLE #7: If Tee Shot crosses fairway and proceeds “O.B.” either under or over NET PROTECTION AREA of Model Homes, ball will be played as a Lateral Hazard. A Line of Flight Drop will be required with a one (1) stroke penalty.

 

  1. Any and all disputes on rule application or scoring should be decided by the ponderous of the group playing, if still not agreeable, group should see Director of Golf or Course Pro at the end of play.

 

 

SCORING POLICIES

 

The LCMGA Handicap System, will be used to determine member handicaps.  All organized LCMGA matches both home and away will be used in creating handicaps. Members with USGA handicaps will be integrated into the system with those handicaps, but after that, only scores recorded on the LCMGA Handicap Report will be used for LCMGA competitions.

Members without a LCMGA handicap can participate in games, but cannot participate into wagering, until they have completed a minimum of five (5) rounds to establish a valid handicap. They may contribute an amount determined by the golf coordinator to participate in the “closest” to the pin (CTTP) competition however.

 

MAXIMUM HANDICAP (36):

The USGA Maximum Handicap Index for men is 36.4. The Course Handicap (FOC) could be converted to a number much higher than the Maximum Handicap due to Slope Rating of the course. The LCMGA has decided to CAP the MAXIMUM HANDICAP for competition play at 36, due to more relaxed rules of play.

 

  1. For non-tournament play, the maximum score on any hole is three (3) over par (triple bogey) for all players. To maintain pace of play a golfer who is two strokes over par and not in the cup should pick up his ball and proceed to the next hole. Tournament Play, all strokes Tee to in the Hole will be recorded.

 

  1. Record all scores Tee thru Green except when playing a scramble. There will no longer be any “Gimme Putts” allowed.

 

  1. All score cards shall be checked for accuracy by at least two (2) players and signed before being turned in to the Golf Coordinator. They should have legible first and last names to facilitate their posting by the LCMGA Handicap Coordinator.

 

  1. TIE BREAKERS: At the end of normal play, if a player or players are tied; the following holes will be used to break the ties and to determine a winner for payouts. In this order, HOLES 3, 15, 4 & 11 will be used to decide Tie Breakers. This means of Breaking Ties for games or tournaments may be altered, changed or eliminated at the discretion of the LCMGA Board.

 

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MOVING FORWARD TO GOLD TEES

 

  1. A Player may move forward, at his discretion, from White Tees to Gold Tees when he reaches the age of 72. A new player 72 or older that joins LCMGA must play 5 rounds from the Gold Tees to establish a valid handicap.

 

  1. A Player that is not 72 may move forward to the Gold Tees, if he has a valid LCMGA Handicap of 30 or greater. A new player, not 72, that joins LCMGA must play 5 rounds from White Tees to establish a valid handicap. If established handicap is 30 or greater, he may move forward.

 

Handicaps are fully established with the 10 best scores of the last 20 rounds.

 

USGA (Section #3-5/1)

Players Competing from A Different Course Rating or Tees

 

A Course Handicap represents the number of strokes needed from a specific set of tees to play to the level of a scratch golfer; i.e., to the USGA Course Rating. The calculation of a Course Handicap only includes a player’s Handicap Index® and the Slope Rating® of the tees being played.

When a USGA Course Rating difference exists among competitors, they are playing to different benchmarks, and an adjustment equal to the full difference in USGA Course Rating must be made in order for the competition to be equitable.

 

The FOC Golf Course has now been re-rated. We have been furnished the final numbers for the Course Rating/Slope Rating.

White: was 67.01/121 and now 68.1/123

Gold is 64.4/114

COURSE RATING DIFFICULTY DIFFERENCE:

White 68.1 vs Gold 64.4 is:  68.1 – 64.4 = 3.7 strokes, we will use as a modifier 4 strokes.

Players playing from the GOLD TEES will have a 4 stroke reduction adjustment to their handicap. This adjustment will be automatically calculated by the Handicap System software.


 

 

SIGNIFICANT RULES REGARDING

 

VALID HANDICAPS 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN ONE OF THE THREE DIVISIONS

AND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Handicap Adjustment:

 

On June 1st of the calendar year, all recorded scores that are one year or older will be deleted from the LCMGA handicap system. If an existing member does not have a total of 5 scores after this adjustment, they must fulfill the requirement of 5 scores to establish a handicap just like a new member. (This will go into effect June 1, 2015.)

 

 

Handicap Adjustments

 

To address the concerns of many of our members regarding exceptionally Low Net winning scores, the Issues & Resolution Committee of the LCMGA is recommending that a handicap adjustment be implemented. In keeping with the goal of the Association to promote good fellowship and sportsmanship among its members and to encourage active participation of its members in weekly golf events, handicap adjustments will promote fairer play. Based on a player’s exceptionally low net score, the following chart will be used to adjust the player’s handicap to more accurately reflect their “Playing Potential” in accordance with USGA Rules. When any player records a net score reflected in the left column, based on the Exceptionally Low Score provision, a second score (reflected in the 3rd column) will also be assessed for handicap purposes.

It is urged that all members read the USGA Manual, Section 8.4c, with regards to adjusting handicap indices.

Exceptional Score Adjustment Chart

 

Net Score Actual Gross Score Second Adjustment Score
64 – 65 Gross Score Gross Score
61 – 63 Gross Score Gross Score – 5 strokes
60 and below Gross Score Gross Score – 10 strokes

 

 

 

Requirement for Player of the Year in one of the Three Divisions (Gold, Silver, Bronze)

 

After the Club Championship Tournament of the prior year, all members must have a total of 5 scores posted prior to the First Major Tournament of that year in order to qualify for awards of the First Major. They must also have a total of 5 scores prior to the Second Major Tournament in order to qualify for Player of the Year.

 

Requirement for Club Champion of the LCMGA

 

After the Club Championship Tournament of the prior year, all members must have a total of 15 scores posted prior to the Club Championship Tournament of said calendar year in order to qualify as the Club Champion of the LCMGA in one of the two divisions.

 

 

PACE OF PLAY POLICY

All of us are aware that traditional golf rules and etiquette have always specified a strict order of play. Many of us are therefore uncomfortable violating the traditional golf modus operandi, with the result that time is often wasted and rounds needlessly lengthened.

 

Our objective is not to make any golfer feel rushed, but rather, within the bounds of safety, competition and reasonable courtesy, to use our time on the golf course as enjoyably and productively as possible to keep the game moving and avoid making other golfers wait unnecessarily. To ensure a good pace of play, LCMGA members are required to observe the following:

 

  1. Ready golf is mandatory for LCMGA events. Within the bounds of courtesy, safety and consideration of your fellow golfers do not stand around while they are playing. Take actions to prepare so that you are ready to play as soon as you have the opportunity.

 

  1. Ball Hawking is prohibited. If a golfer loses a ball, the search time is limited to three (3) minutes.

 

  1. Golf carts are mandatory for all LCMGA Play Days. Players desiring to walk between shots must be sure they are not interfering with the pace of play of their group.

 

  1. Groups must be aware of their position on the golf course. If you can’t see group in front of you and the group behind you is waiting, then you need to pick up the pace of play.

 

  1. Golfers should be aware of their own routines and personal “rituals”, many of which consume a good deal of time and serve to slow pace of play, particularly when multiplied by the number of strokes taken in a given round. Do not rush but also do not let your routines slow play unnecessarily.

 

  1. On cart path only rounds, take several clubs to your ball. If you don’t think you have the right club, do the best you can with what you have. Do not waste time making another round trip to your cart to get another club.

 

  1. When a hole is finished, clear the green area and mark your scorecard at the next tee box so the group behind you can hit.

 

  1. Turn scorecards in to the Golf Coordinator as soon as possible after completing play. (Remember, check scores, sign cards and have both first and last names of golfers on score card).

SIGN UPS FOR GOLF, CANCELLATIONS AND HOST SYSTEM

 

  1. Members wishing to play on Tuesday, Thursday or other scheduled day/date must use LCMGA Website to sign up for play or event.

 

  1. To be able to participate in a scheduled play day/date, you MUST be registered on site prior to event being posted as CLOSED.

 

  1. If you register for a scheduled play day/date or event, and your plans change that you can’t participate, please go onto website and You must “click on” the cancel button twice to ensure that you have canceled from the event.

 

  1. If you have waited too late to cancel on Website (Event Closed), please send Director of Golf or scheduled Host(s) an Email that you must cancel or call Pro Shop and give message. Cancellations in this manner should be an exception to the rule not normal accepted method.

 

 

  1. The golf Host(s) has a small amount of time on play days to check in participates, collect the monies and divide/separate winnings in appropriate envelopes. These guys volunteer their time to help the Director of Golf with this task and duties.

 

  1. The golf Host(s), just like you, want to finish this task in a timely manner and get to the range to hit a few balls and putting green to hit a few putts prior to scheduled play.

 

  1. Please be considerate of these guys time, by checking in with Host(s) as early as possible. The Host(s) should be at the check in area 1 hour before scheduled play “Tee Time”.

 

  1. If you have not checked in and paid before 15 minutes prior to Tee Time, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK IN AND PLAY WITH GROUP ON THAT DAY (SORRY).

 

 

 

It is recommended that you print a copy of these LCMGA golf rules and keep a copy in your golf bag for reference.

 

Note:

Please help take care of the golf course; fill divots in fairways with sand from carts, repair all ball marks on the green (yours and one more), rake traps when exiting, keep carts a reasonable distance, “or as posted” from greens. Observe and comply with keeping carts off all posted or marked holes with Cart Path Only. Avoid standing water and wet spots with carts.