Fermilab Golf League 
Rules
 
2002 
(Version B)

I. Rules of Play

A. USGA Rules: The Rules of Golf as published by the United States Golf Association will apply to all league play, except when superseded by rules specifically approved by the individual sub-leagues.

B. Local course rules: All local rules listed on the scorecard will apply.

C. All rules of a sub-league must be in written form. Any rules that conflict with the USGA Rules of Golf or that were not in the 1998 Fermilab Golf League Rules must be approved by at least two-thirds of the captains in a sub-league.

D. A player may opt to follow the USGA rule in any and all situations, even if a local rule or a specific sub-league rule applies.

E. The Golf League Committee may overturn any rule adopted by the individual sub-leagues, but only if that rule is unfair, inequitable or impossible to enforce. If the Committee makes this judgment by three-fourths vote of all Committee members, then this rule is rescinded. This is a last resort measure and should never need to be exercised among cooperative golfers.

F. The Golf League Reps, see below, will arbitrate rules disputes. Their ruling may be contested, and the Golf League Committee will arbitrate this dispute. The Committee’s ruling is final

G. Etiquette to promote faster play

1. Please call your opponent if you will be late/absent.

2. Limit your practice swings to a maximum of three (3).

3. Be ready to play your shot as soon as possible, especially around the green.

4. If you can play your shot out of turn without interfering with the play of your opponent, then you may proceed after announcing your intention and gaining approval from you opponent.

II. League Play Format, Scoring and Substitutes

A. The individual sub-leagues determine the rules governing the format of play, scoring and substitutes. These rules must be written and approved by the sub-league captains each year before league play begins.

B. These rules are carried over within each sub-league from season to season unless specifically changed by the procedures outlined here.

C. Changes in these rules may occur before the season by a majority vote of the team captains, but must gain a two-thirds vote of the captains during the season for adoption.

D. Captains’ votes on these changes must reflect the majority opinion of their teams. If a team is evenly split on an issue, the captain may cast the team’s vote however he/she sees fit.

E. The outings sponsored by this League will use a handicapping calculation as close to the USGA handicapping system as is practical.

F. Signed scorecards will be turned into the sub-league scorekeeper. Each scorekeeper will designate a place for collection. NO SCORE = NO POINTS.

G. The following general guidelines shall apply to all league play.

1. The format of play in each league follow a pre-established handicapping system as specified in the sub-league’s scoring procedures. It is suggested that the low handicap player of one team will play the low handicap player from the opposing team. The second low handicap player will play the second low handicap player, etc. for all four players on each team.

2. Each player must wait for his/her opponent before teeing off. (See No Shows, below.)

3. The course management encourages foursomes, but they need not be from the same team.

III. No Shows

A. A player must wait until the last group has teed off for his/her opponent to arrive unless the opponent has notified the player that he/she will not be present.

B. If the opponent shows up, after saying he/she would be absent and after the player Tees off, he/she is still considered to be absent.

C. If the opponent does not appear (for any reason):

1. Play the match and add two (2) strokes to the handicap of the present golfer when computing the scores for the medal-play component of the scoring.

2. Use the opponent’s average as his/her score.

a) A new player who does not have an established average will receive the league average for that night, to determine position and team net.

3. The absent player automatically looses any match-play component

4. Note that the opponent was absent on the score sheet.

D. To encourage player matches, if your opponent is on the course before the last group has teed off without prior approval when you arrive, you will treat your opponent as a no show. His/her score will be disallowed.

E. Any player not completing his/her round for any reason, other than for a bona fide emergency, shall forfeit player match and team points to the opposing team. This includes the USGA Rule about a player who does not putt out on a hole. The three remaining players can only win player match points. Note: The players of the forfeited team who play, their individual points will count towards their team’s total points for that week.

F. If FEWER THAN TWO (2) players from the opposing team are present, that team forfeits all team points and the team that plays will receive half the allowed points automatically and must earn the other half of the team points. Players whose opponents are present compete for player match points. Players whose opponents are absent compete for player match points using the usual No Show Rules. Note: The players of the forfeited team who play, their individual points will count towards their team’s total points for that week.

G. This League policy on “No Shows” may be superceded by the individual sub-leagues, but that change must be approved by a majority of the captains before the season begins.

IV. Rain Outs / Delay

A. No player shall play in the presence of lightning.

B. Golf course closed: Play is canceled.

C. Golf course open:

1. Before 70% of the players have completed play:

a) Go to the clubhouse.

b) Team captains or their representatives shall decide by majority vote of those making up a quorum whether to start, resume or cancel play.

c) A quorum shall exist when 70% of the teams not yet finished are represented, and 20 minutes has passed since the rain began if play has started, whenever 70% of the teams are represented prior to 5:20 P.M. when play has not yet started.

2. After 70% of the players have completed play:

a) Go to the clubhouse.

b) Scores of those who have completed play will count.

c) Those players who wish, may resume play whenever able.

d) If only one of the two opponents resume play, the other forfeits.

e) If it is not possible to resume play, unfinished player matches are forfeited.

f) Note forfeits on score sheet.

V. Membership

A. The members and substitute members of the Fermilab Golf League must meet at least one of the following requirements.

1. A full or part time employee of Fermilab.

2. A student working at Fermilab for his/her home institution.

3. A summer student working at Fermilab.

4. A visiting associate or a User stationed at Fermilab.

5. A worker for a contractor or sub contractor presently contracted by Fermilab.

6. A worker retired from Fermilab.

7. A member of the Fermilab Golf League on or before April 1, 1990.

8. A member of the “immediate family” of a Golf League Member who qualifies through one of the requirements listed above. “Immediate family” is defined as a spouse, child, parent, foster parent, brother, sister, parent-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild of a Golf League Member.

VI. Golf League Committee

A. Purpose

1. To provide a format to handle disputes not fully satisfied on the night of play by the opponents and/or team captains.

2. To arbitrate otherwise irresolvable disputes. The committee’s decision is final.

3. To organize the league’s tournaments, outings, banquets and special events.

4. To provide a list of replacement golfers for a ream that has lost a member. Teams need not use the replacement list.

5. To provide the schedule of play for the season’s competition.

6. To provide a format to handle rule changes.

B. Members

1. The Golf League Committee is made up of league golfers.

2. Each sub-league will have two (2) Committee representatives.

3. The term is for two (2) years, such that only one new member per league is elected each year.

4. Elections are held at the final outing.

5. Nominations shall be submitted prior to the final outing.

6. These members are commonly called the “League Reps.”

VII. Amending the Rules

A. The rules may be amended in the following ways

1. By calling a meeting of the Committee and gaining a majority vote of all the Committee members.

a) The vote of each League Reps should reflect the majority opinion of their league captains.

b) In the case of a tie vote, the Committee Chair will cast the deciding vote if the vote is to amend the Rules. If the vote is tied to change an existing Rule, then the old Rule stands.

2. By calling a vote of the captains of all the sub-leagues and gaining a two-thirds vote of all captains.

VIII. Awards

A. Players who miss more than four rounds of play will be ineligible for Low Average or most individual points won by a golfer awards.