Thursday, April 14, 2011

Application for Willow Brook, June 6

Men’s 2-Man Stableford, Willow Brook, Monday, June 6

(You may sign up without a partner, and I will keep you posted on my efforts to find one for you.)


Player: ________________________________
Home course: __________________________
Handicap Index: ___ . __

Partner: ________________________________
Home course: __________________________
Handicap Index: ___ . __



Circle preferred time:   9:00–9:50                    10:00 to 10:50             after 11:00

If you are age 70 or older with a Handicap Index 10.0 or higher and you wish to play from the senior tees and compete for net prizes only, please write your name below:

Name: _____________________________
Name: _____________________________

The total cost of the tournament, per player, is $45. You will pay $25 per player at the course and you will mail $20 per player to me in advance.  Please mail one check for $40, together with this application, payable to:


     Linda Miller
     48 Cherry Street
     Mount Holly, NJ 08060

Direct any questions to Linda:
     E-mail: LLMillerGolf@gmail.com
     Home phone: 609-267-8630
     Cell phone: 609-784-2550



Tournament opens April 23
Last date to mail application: May 23

Additional tournament information
Course fee: $25 per player
80% of Course Handicap for each player
Maximum number of strokes: 18


Monday, April 11, 2011

Plain Talk about Stablefords


The first JustGolf tournament, scheduled for June 6 at Willow Brook, will use the regular Stableford format. A Stableford is a stroke-play format in which the high total wins, not the low. That's because in Stableford, your final score is not your stroke total, but rather the total points you have earned for your scores on each individual hole.

The JustGolf Stableford tournament will be a net tournament and will award points as follows:
• Net double bogey or worse: 0
• Net bogey: 1 point
• Net par: 2 points
• Net birdie: 3 points
• Net eagle: 4 points
• Net double eagle (albatross): 5 points

There are no negative points. All players will be instructed to pick up their ball on any hole where their gross score will be 3 over par or worse.

Players will receive 80% of their Course Handicap. No player will receive more than 1 stroke per hole.

This is a two-man team tournament in which both players’ Stableford points will be added together; it is not a better ball tournament. If your partner has a bad hole, he will not drag down the team score.

You may be familiar with the Modified Stableford used by the pros. The Modified Stableford gives the pros higher points for birdies and eagles, and severely penalizes poor scores with negative points. Typical amateur golfers are not going to be scoring numerous birdies and eagles. Also, it is discouraging for amateurs to lose points on a bad hole. A regular Stableford is the recommended format for an amateur group.

Note: If you have not yet subscribed to this website, please check it weekly for new postings. The tournament application for the Stableford on June 6 at Willow Brook will be posted on April 14 and again in May. Registration will be open from April 23 to May 23. If you sign up without a partner, I will do my best to find one for you.



Thursday, April 7, 2011

JustGolf Local Rules

Please carry a copy with you to all tournaments. Please note highlighted changes to #2 and #6.

1. Relief for Embedded Ball
Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. (“Through the green” is the whole area of the course except the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course.)

2. Preferred Lies
If “preferred lies” are in effect (see the tournament rule sheet), then if a player’s ball lies on a closely-mown area through the green the player may mark, lift and clean his ball without penalty. The player must then place the ball on a spot within 6 inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard or on a putting green. (Note: “Closely-mown areas” include fairways, aprons around the green, and dew paths. The “first cut” of rough is NOT a “closely-mown area.”)

3. Aeration Holes
When a course has been aerated, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.

 4. Stones in Bunkers
Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions. As such (Rule 24–1) they may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the stones.

5. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green
If a ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and an immovable obstruction (such as a sprinkler head) within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may lift the ball and drop it at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

6. Cell Phones
Cell phone usage is prohibited on the golf course (except for emergencies or Rules questions). Please add my name and number to your list of contacts: Linda Miller, (609) 784-2550.

7. Hazard Boundaries
If the margins of water hazards and lateral water hazards are not marked by lines or stakes, then if there is a question as to whether your ball lies in a hazard, or as to where to begin marking your two club-lengths relief from a lateral hazard, you will have to make this decision with the concurrence of your fellow competitor. To help guide you in establishing these margins, here are the USGA guidelines for where to place lines or stakes defining the margin of a water hazard:
“Lines and stakes defining the margins of a water hazard should be placed as nearly as possible along the natural limits of the hazard, i.e., where the ground breaks down to form the depression containing the water.”
You may consider the cut line (where there is a mowed area adjacent to the high grasses in the lateral hazard) to be the hazard boundary line from which to measure your two club-lengths of relief.

8. Ground Under Repair
If a player suspects that his ball may lie in ground under repair that is unmarked, he should play his ball as it lies. He is entitled to play a second ball under Rule 3-3, in which case he must report the situation to the tournament director prior to signing his scorecard.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

JustGolf Membership Application, 2012

Name: ___________________           _____________________________

Handicap number (fill in one):

            GHIN: __ __ __ __ __ __ __

            GSG: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

            Other: Name _____________________        Number: _____________________

Current Handicap Index (must not exceed 22.0 for men, 28.0 for women): ____

Home Club: _______________________

Approximate number of rounds played in the past 12 months: ____

Cell phone number:     (_____) _____ – ______________________

Home phone number: (_____) _____ – ______________________

E-mail address: ______________________________________________

Date of birth:  ________________    _____     _______
                        Month                         Date       Year

Home address:

            _____________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________


My signature below certifies that I post scores correctly, following all acceptable rounds:

______________________________________________________
Signature

Mail this form with a check for the $10 membership fee to:

            Linda Miller
            48 Cherry Street
            Mount Holly, NJ 08060

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Tournament Policies

1. Registration: Each tournament will have an open registration period. Applications must be postmarked no later than the final day of registration. Participation in some tournaments may be limited. Players will be notified via e-mail or phone (for those without e-mail) if they are on a waiting list, and may choose to remain on the list or withdraw at that time. If the deadline for registration has passed, and you wish to play, please call to find out if there are openings.

2. Volunteers: This will be an all-volunteer organization in 2012. Please make volunteers’ jobs easier by being on time with applications, requests, questions, etc. Volunteers do not need to pay membership dues unless they are competing. Volunteers are needed and welcome to serve as starters, registrars, spotters, rangers, phone callers, etc. All expenses incurred by volunteers will be reimbursed.

3. Communication:
     a. Members with Internet Access: All information will be posted on the website: www.JustGolfTournaments.blogspot.com. If you subscribe to the website (free subscription), all information will go straight to your e-mail.
     b. Members without Internet Access: You will receive rules, tournament applications, schedules, and all other important information via regular mail. If you have a friend in the organization who can print these items for you, please let me know so that I can save the time and expense. If information is important and time-sensitive, you will receive a phone call.
     c. If you need to reach the tournament director, please contact Linda Miller:
     E-mail: LLMillerGolf@gmail.com
     Home: 609-267-8630
     Cell: 609-784-2550 (emergencies only, please)

4. USGA Rules: All tournaments will be governed by USGA rules.

5. Local Rules: Local rules and course information for each tournament will be posted on the website prior to each tournament. A number of hard copies will be available at the registrar’s table, but it is hoped that individuals with access to a printer will make their own copy of the rules to help save printing costs for the organization.

6. Players Needing Partners: Players may submit single applications for team events. The tournament director will pair singles together, and will notify players as soon as a partner is found.

7. Withdrawal:
     a. Notification: Players who must withdraw from tournaments should notify the tournament director as soon as possible. In a team competition, if a single player withdraws and his partner finds or needs a substitute, that information needs to be communicated immediately to the tournament director.
     b. Refunds: Application fees will be refunded until 10 days before a tournament. Application fees will be refunded for medical reasons or other unforeseen emergencies until three days before a tournament.

8. Tournament Cancellations: Call the golf course for possible weather-related cancellations on the day of a tournament. Call Linda’s cell phone if you withdraw or are running late on the day of a tournament:
609-784-2550

9. Tournament Prizes:
     a. $10 of the registration fee per competitor will be used for prize money.
     b. Prizes will be in the form of gift certificates to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
     c. A minimum of 30% of the field will receive a prize.
     d. All tournaments except the Stableford and Ryder Cup will award gross and net prizes.
     e. Prize distribution will be approximately 30% gross and 70% net.

10. Tie-Breakers:  The recommended USGA tie-breaker will be used to break ties for first place (compare back nine total; if still tied, then back 6, back 3, front 9, last 6 on front, last 3 on front, and finally hole by hole beginning with the #1 handicap hole). The same method will be used if more than two teams are tied for the last prize. All other ties will remain as ties and receive equal prize money.

11. Senior Tees: These will be optional for those players who are aged 70 or older. Men whose Handicap Index is 20.0 or higher will be required to play from the senior tees. Those whose Handicap Index falls between 17.0 and 19.9 have the option to move up. Competitors who choose to play from the senior tees will be competing for net prizes only. The only exception will occur during the Club Championship tournament, in which all men 70 and older will be competing from the senior tees in a Super Senior flight for gross and net prizes.

12. Handicap Adjustments: Players or teams that place first overall net will have their full Course Handicap reduced by two strokes in all subsequent tournaments. Second and third place overall net finishers will have a one-stroke reduction. Stroke adjustments are cumulative for two years on a rolling basis. Players do not lose strokes if they have not won prize money.

13. Maximum Course Handicap: 18 for men; 24 for women. This means that no man will receive more than 18 strokes in a tournament, and no woman will receive more than 24.

14. Eligibility for Club Championship: Players must compete in at least one JustGolf tournament to be eligible to compete for the Club Championship.

15. Pairings: Individual players or teams will not be paired with members of their same club or members whom they customarily choose as partners. The reason for this policy is twofold:        
     a. to provide opportunities for players to meet new people; and
     b. to provide for uniformly fair competition.

16. Tipping: This is at the discretion of the player. It is expected that the minimum tip to an employee handling your bag will be $1 per occurrence.

17. Distance-Measuring Devices: Players may use devices that measure distance only. Use of devices designed to measure other conditions that might affect play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.)
 will result in disqualification under Rule 14-3, regardless of whether those additional functions are used.

18. Cell Phones: Cell phone usage is prohibited on the golf course.

19. Caddies: Players are not permitted to use caddies.




Monday, April 4, 2011

Membership Criteria

1. Male golfers whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 22.0 may apply for membership.
    Female golfers whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 28.0 may apply for membership.
2. Members must have a minimum of ten scores in their handicap record for the 12 months before participating.
3. Members must follow the USGA rules regarding posting scores. All acceptable scores must be posted following each round, and Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) must be correctly applied prior to posting scores.
4. The cost of membership for 2012 is $10. This money will be used to cover operating expenses such as copies, ink cartridges, paper, postage, printing, transportation for volunteers, etc. Any surplus will be used in the final tournament to pay for trophies and/or additional prizes.
5. Membership applications may be mailed prior to entry in the first tournament, or may be sent together with the application for the player’s first tournament.
6. Players must be at least 21 years old.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

JustGolf Tournament Schedule - 2011

Willow Brook Country Club – Monday, June 6
Format: Men’s Team Stableford (2-man teams)
Cost: $45 (includes cart, green fee, and prizes)

Vineyard Golf at Renault – Tuesday, July 26
Format: Men’s Better Ball
Cost: $50 (includes cart, green fee, and prizes)

Rancocas Golf Club – Monday, August 8
Format: Men’s Modified Scramble
Cost: $40 (includes cart, green fee, and prizes)

Blue Heron Pines Golf Club – Thursday, September 1
Format: Men’s Better Ball
Cost: $55 (includes cart, green fee, range balls, and prizes)

Town & Country Golf Links – Monday, September 26
Format: Mixed Modified Scramble
Cost: $48 for seniors over 60
$46 with the Victory Golf Pass or Tee Time Golf Pass
$55 for all others (includes cart, green fee, and prizes)

RiverWinds Golf Club – Tuesday, October 4
Format: JustGolf Men’s Club Championship
Cost: $50 (includes cart, green fee, and prizes)





Friday, April 1, 2011

How to find JustGolf documents

Website navigation tip: If you are looking for information or a particular document and you do not see the link for it on the right side under “Previous Posts,” click on the arrowhead to the left of another month. This will open the links to all the documents posted during that month.

In the meantime, I am going to try to make things easier by re-posting all of the essential documents every month (Membership Criteria, Membership Application, Tournament Policies, Local Rules, and an application for the upcoming tournament). Look for these documents starting on Monday, April 4.

Posting schedule for April:
April 3 – Tournament Schedule
April 4 ­– Membership Criteria
April 5 – Tournament Policies
April 6 – JustGolf Membership Application
April 7 – Local Rules in effect at all tournaments
April 11 – Explanation of Stableford format
April 14 – Tournament application for June 6 Stableford at Willow Brook