RULES

C.M.G.A. Rules

HANDICAPS

A new CMGA member playing for the first time will play with his established handicap. If he does not have a current handicap, once the new member has played three rounds he will have an established a USGA handicap.

Established members will use their current USGA handicaps. All scores will be audited for accuracy and posted to GHIN on the member’s behalf.

LOCAL RULES OF PLAY

USGA rules will apply at all times with the following exceptions/additions:

Lift, Clean, and Place: You may choose to lift clean and place your ball thru the green, (within one scorecard length; approx. 1 ft.) no closer to the hole during all seasons.

Ground under Repair: Areas of the course that have NO grass may be played as “ground under repair” whether marked as such or not.

Sand Trap: Any player, whose ball comes to rest in a footprint or other previously existing irregularity, may without penalty, lift his ball and rake the area. The ball must then be replaced as near to the spot from which it was lifted as possible. If the ball had indented the sand originally, i.e. fried egg, plugged, etc., it must be pushed into the sand approximately the same amount as before it was lifted. The ball may not be cleaned in the process of lifting and replacing. Members of the player’s group shall be advised of the need for the above action and will serve as the final authority for approving or disapproving.  

Out of Bounds/Lost Ball/Provisional: This USGA local rule is in effect for all CMGA Wednesday events. For two penalty strokes you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot. You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds. Once a ball is dropped, that ball is in play.

If you think your ball might be out of bounds or that you might not find it, you can play a provisional ball to save time. You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball before doing so. If you are then unable to find your original ball, or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play.

No Relief: Boundary Fences (local rules per CGC scorecard)

Relief Areas: Surfaced Drainage Ditches, Cart Paths, Roads, Shelters, Staked Trees (local rules per CGC Scorecard)

PACE OF PLAY

To ensure timely Pace of Play, the Board has designated a Marshall during CMGA tournaments. The Marshall will be a volunteer from the CMGA Board.

The following action will be enforced by the Marshall during CMGA tournaments effective immediately:

The Marshall will give a verbal warning to a foursome for slow play. If the foursome has not closed up its shortfall as directed by the Marshall upon his return, the Marshall will instruct them to skip the hole and record double bogeys for all players. If a foursome is slowed by one player it is the foursome's responsibility to encourage that player to speed up.

Below are suggestions to improve pace of play:

  • Ready play always – don’t take turns

  • Tee it forward – If you can’t hit the green consistently in regulation

  • Minimize time on tee box – hit when ready

  • Plan your shot before getting to your ball – think ahead

  • Keep your pre-shot routine short – club selection to execution, strive for 20 seconds

  • Rules permit players to exchange yardages without penalty

  • Sharing cart – don’t wait while your cart mate hits his ball, go to your ball and be ready to hit your shot once your cart mate has hit his

  • Follow the flight of all balls – 3-minute max for searching for a lost ball

  • Correct position on the course – Immediately behind the group in front

  • Greens – get ready while others are putting, leave green promptly

  • Scoring – record score card at the next tee box

  • PLAY READY GOLF ALWAYS

SCRAMBLES

The second ball played by a member of a three-man team in this format will not be eligible for a hole in one prize.

GUEST PLAYERS

A guest player will be added to the roster and scores tallied, but will not be eligible to participate in the purse or Hole-In-One. However, if the player joins CMGA preceding the round, he may immediately begin participating in the purse/games, provided a GHIN handicap is already established.