JustGolf Local Rules

Please carry a copy with you at all tournaments

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 one club-length 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.

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.

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 2011. 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 this blog: www.JustGolfTournaments.blogspot.com. If you subscribe to the blog (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 e-mailed to competitors 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 25% of the field will receive a prize.

d. 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 and whose Handicap Index is 10.0 or higher. 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 Reductions: Players or teams that win first place prize money will have their Course Handicap reduced by two points in all subsequent tournaments. Second and third place prize winners will lose one point. These points are cumulative for two years on a rolling basis.

13. Maximum Course Handicap: Depending on the difficulty of the par 3’s at Better Ball events only, players whose Course Handicap (CH) is over 14 will receive between 14 and 18 handicap strokes.

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.

JustGolf Membership Application

Name: ______________________ _________________________

Home Club: ____________________________

Handicap service (circle): GHIN Golf Services Group

Handicap number (fill in one):

GHIN: __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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

Current Handicap Index (must not exceed 22.0): ____

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

Date of birth: ________________ _____ ______

Home address:

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

E-mail address: ______________________________________________

Home phone number: (_____) _____ – ______________________

Cell phone number: (_____) _____ – ______________________

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

______________________________________________________

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

Linda Miller

48 Cherry Street

Mount Holly, NJ 08060

Membership Criteria

1. Male golfers whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 22.0 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 2011 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.