RULES
Chattahoochee Combined Men’s Group (CCMG) Rules
Revised April 25, 2026
These rules apply to the combined Monday/Friday and CMGA (Wednesday) Men’s golf play during the time Chattahoochee Golf Course is under construction, and we are playing at other golf courses.
PLAYERS & HANDICAPS
All members are required to pay annual membership fees to participate in the Chattahoochee Men’s Golf Association.
Handicap: Members must maintain a current United States Golf Association/Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN) handicap. Each round will access the handicap and assign a Stableford point value to the player based on the golf course and the tee selection. The points earned during the round will be used to determine the players final position and prizes. Established members will use their current USGA handicaps. All scores will be audited for accuracy and posted to GHIN on the member’s behalf.
A new member in the process of establishing his handicap (any 3 rounds), will be exempt from the weekly tournament fee and is not eligible to participate in the purse/games or Hole-In-One. Once the GHIN handicap is established, the player is immediately eligible to participate in the purse/games.
A guest player will be added to the roster and scores tallied, but will not be eligible to participate in the purse/games or Hole-In-One. if the player joins CMGA preceding the round, he may immediately begin participating in the purse/games, provided a GHIN handicap is already established.
LOCAL RULES OF PLAY
USGA rules will apply at all times with the following exceptions/additions:
Mulligans: Players will have the option of hitting a second ball off the first tee. If a player elects to do so the second ball automatically becomes the ball in play regardless of the result of the first shot. The original ball is abandoned, no longer in play and may not be chosen. This option is only available on hole 1. This option is not available for scramble/shotgun starts.
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. Ball can be moved to an area with grass no closer to the hole with no penalty.
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/Non-Playable: All balls hit out of bounds (white stakes) or lost in unmarked areas will be treated as a lateral hazard (red stakes). For one penalty stroke, you may drop your ball within 2 club lengths from point of entry, no closer to the hole. Once a ball is dropped, that ball is in play.
No Relief: Boundary Fences (local rules per CGC scorecard)
Relief Areas: Surfaced Drainage Ditches, Cart Paths, Roads, Shelters, Staked Trees, Ground Under Repair (local rules per CGC Scorecard)
Other Rules: There are no “gimmie” putts. Putt it out! Use of range Finders (with slope) are allowed. Advice (good or bad) from playing partners is allowed.
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.
PACE OF PLAY
To ensure timely Pace of Play, the Board has the option to designated a Marshal during CMGA tournaments. The Marshal will be a volunteer from the CMGA Board.
The Marshal will give a verbal warning to a foursome for slow play. If the foursome has not closed up its shortfall as directed by the Marshal upon his return, the Marshal 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 – read your putt while others are putting, leave green promptly
· Scoring – record score card at the next tee box