New Tournament Policy

The following rule has been added to the JustGolf Tournament Policies:

Players who do not post their JustGolf tournament scores immediately after their round or as soon as practicable will not be eligible to receive net prizes in JustGolf tournaments. They may compete for gross prizes only. If you need assistance posting your score, please contact the tournament director or your club’s handicap chairman.

What Scores to Post

I am concerned that some players are not following the USGA guidelines for posting scores. Your Handicap Index will not accurately reflect your true potential if all acceptable scores are not posted. And if you are playing in a tournament with an inaccurate Handicap Index, then the competition is not fair. Above all else, it is important to me that the JustGolf tournaments be as fair as I can possibly make them.

Any competitor in a JustGolf tournament who has a good round in relation to his handicap should have an excellent chance of winning a net prize. This opportunity will only present itself if all competitors are posting all their acceptable scores. I am reprinting below a column I wrote for my rules blog (Ask Linda: Golf Rules You Can Understand) in 2009 about posting scores. Please read it, and please get into the habit of posting all acceptable scores right after your round.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Ask Linda #142-To post or not to post

http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.com/

Dear Linda,

I have been having some arguments with my buddies over which scores to post and which you cannot post. Rather than bore you (and embarrass ourselves) with our disagreements, would you please review what types of scores we are required to post, and which scores we may not post?

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

Everything you ever wanted to know about posting scores can be found in “Section 5-Scores” in The USGA Handicap System manual, which can be accessed online via the following link:

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Handicap-System-Manual/Handicap-Manual

For your convenience, I will summarize the parts of Section 5 that explain which scores are acceptable to post and which are not.

Post these scores

1. If you play 13 or more holes, post an 18-hole score. For the holes that are not played, count par plus any handicap strokes you would be entitled to on those holes.

2. If you play between 7 and 12 holes, post a 9-hole score.

3. Post all scores from every course that has a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating®, both home and away, during the active season (see Ask Linda #15-post winter scores). Don’t forget to record the course and slope rating for the course you played when you post away scores.

4. Scores made in match play must be posted, even though you pick up when a putt or a hole is conceded. Record your most likely score in those situations. For example, if you are left with a 30-foot putt, add two strokes to your score; if you are within reach of the green, add three strokes to your score (one pitch and two putts).

5. Scores in stroke play competitions must be posted, even though you may have picked up on several holes because your partner had a better score.

6. Record all scores when you are playing under the Rules of Golf.

7. If you have been disqualified from a tournament, but you have an acceptable score, you must post it. An example would be a player who has been disqualified for not signing a scorecard.

Do not post these scores

1. You play less than 7 holes.

2. You play during the inactive season (see Ask Linda #15-post winter scores).

3. You don’t play your own ball (e.g., scramble, alternate shot, Scotch Chapman).

4. You don’t play according to the Rules of Golf (e.g., you play a practice round with two balls). Note that if you are playing preferred lies, you are playing by the Rules and you must post that score.

5. You play in a tournament where the number of clubs permitted is less than 14, or the type of club is limited (e.g., irons only).

Lou, please remember to apply Equitable Stroke Control (ESC)® to your score before you post. If your Course Handicap (CH) is 9 or less, the maximum score you are permitted to record for any given hole is double bogey; if your CH is 10-19, your max is 7; 20-29, max is 8; 30-39, max is 9; 40 or more, max is 10.

The USGA has provided golfers with a handicap system that allows golfers of varying abilities to have an even competition. What golfers must do to insure that this system works properly is post every acceptable score immediately after the round or as soon thereafter as possible.

Linda

Copyright © 2009 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Application for Vineyard, July 26

Men’s Better Ball, Vineyard Golf at Renault, Tuesday, July 26

(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:             11:10–12:00                        12:10–1:00                        after 1:00

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 $50. You will pay $30 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 June 15

Last date to mail application: July 12

Additional tournament information

Course fee: $30 per player

90% of Course Handicap for each player

Maximum number of strokes: 16

10% reduction of Course Handicap for each player on teams where handicap spread is greater than 8

Willow Brook Stableford Winners

First Place

Nick Russo (left) and Ken Metzger

Pitman

Second Place

Jack Sharkey (left) and Kirby "Bones" Carter

Springfield

Third Place

Al Buksar (left) and Ron Amey 

RiverWinds

Willow Brook Stableford Results

			Stableford
Place	Name	Home Club	Points	Prize*
1	Metzger, Ken	Pitman	72	$50.00
	Russo, Nick	Pitman		$50.00
2	Carter, Kirby	Springfield	71	$45.00
	Sharkey, Jack	Springfield		$45.00
3	Amey, Ron	RiverWinds	69	$40.00
	Buksar, Al	RiverWinds		$40.00
4	Huda, John	Fountain Green	66	$35.00
	Walsh, Ed	Fountain Green		$35.00
5	Lyons, Jack	Running Deer	65	$30.00
	Perkins, Homie	Running Deer		$30.00
T-6	Stewart, Dick	White Oaks	64**	$30.00
	Williams, Paul	Buena Vista		$30.00
T-6	Burdick, Bruce	RiverWinds	64
	Hicks, Chuck	Blue Heron
T-6	Baruzzi, Bob	Pitman	64
	Quinn, Jim	Wedgwood
9	Galati, Al	Links	60
	Rowand, Bruce	Links
10	Behnke, Paul	Pitman	59
	Hensel, Charlie	Pitman
11	Lentini, Joe	Atlantis	58
	Pergola, Joe	Atlantis
T-12	Borek, John	Mercer Oaks	57
	Miller, Al	Springfield
T-12	Mack, Tony	Atlantis	57
	Millichap, Matt	Atlantis
T-12	Omura, Kaz	Centerton	57
	Snook, Bill	Centerton
15	Little, Al	Sand Barrens	56
	Rumer, George	Harbor Pines
T-16	Nelson, Glenn	Hanover	55
	Partin, Derek	White Oaks
T-16	Baldwin, Jim	Atlantis	55
	Rodgers, Chris	Atlantis
T-16	Lentini, Joe***	Atlantis	55
	Schaffer, Bruce	Valleybrook
19	Gallo, Rob	White Oaks	53
	Hackbarth, Bill	White Oaks
20	Irons, Wayne	Peddie	52
	Kelly, Jim	Springfield
21	Baingo, John	Springfield	49
	Willard, Joe	Springfield
22	Cain, Ken	Golden Pheasant	45
	Barlow, Bill	Golden Pheasant
23	Collins, Jack	Galloway	44
	Flocco, Ted	Galloway
	* Gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods
	** Match of cards–Total Stableford points on back 9
	*** Blind draw for absent partner

Willow Brook Handicap Report

• Handicap Index (H.I.) is as of the revision on June 1
• Course Handicap (C.H.) based on 124 slope (White), 107 (Gold)
• Stableford Strokes from White tees are 80% of C.H., with a max of 18
• Stableford Strokes from the Gold tees: Subtract 4 strokes from 80% of the C.H. due to the difference in Course Rating between the Whites and the Golds (69.5-65.3=4.2)
• Blue fill=Senior playing White tees; Yellow fill=Senior playing Gold tees
				Stableford
Competitor	Home Club	H.I.	C.H.	Strokes
Amey, Ron	RiverWinds	15.2	17	14
Bada, John	Town & Country	18.5	18	14-4=10
Baingo, John	Springfield	10.2	11	9
Baldwin, Jim	Atlantis	11.7	13	10
Barlow, Bill	Golden Pheasant	20.7	23	18
Baruzzi, Bob	Pitman	11.9	13	10
Behnke, Paul	Pitman	9.8	11	9
Borek, John	Mercer Oaks	21.9	24	18
Buksar, Al	RiverWinds	15.7	17	14
Burdick, Bruce	RiverWinds	10.6	12	10
Cain, Ken	Golden Pheasant	22.0	24	18
Carter, Kirby	Springfield	14.8	16	13
Collins, Jack	Galloway	12.2	13	10
DeBlasio, Charles	Springfield	10.4	11	9
Flocco, Ted	Galloway	12.7	14	11
Galati, Al	Links	16.4	18	14
Gallo, Rob	White Oaks	9.0	10	8
Hackbarth, Bill	White Oaks	10.0	9	7-4=3
Hensel, Charles	Pitman	17.9	20	16
Hicks, Chuck	Blue Heron	11.3	12	10
Huda, John	Fountain Green	5.1	6	5
Irons, Wayne	Peddie	17.1	19	15
Kelly, Jim	Springfield	19.5	21	17
Lentini, Joe	Atlantis	21.8	21	17-4=13
Little, Al	Sand Barrens	17.2	19	15
Lyons, Jack	Running Deer	10.2	11	9
Mack, Tony	Atlantis	12.6	12	10-4=6
Metzger, Ken	Pitman	7.2	8	6
Miller, Al	Springfield	10.3	11	9
Millichap, Matt	Atlantis	21.8	24	18
Omura, Kaz	Centerton	11.9	13	10
Partin, Derek	White Oaks	8.1	9	7
Pergola, Joe	Atlantis	15.6	17	14
Perkins, Homie	Running Deer	8.2	9	7
Quinn, Jim	Wedgwood	15.1	17	14
Rodgers, Chris	Atlantis	13.8	15	12
Rowand, Bruce	Links	19.8	22	18
Rumer, George	Harbor Pines	18.2	20	16
Russo, Nick	Pitman	9.6	11	9
Schaffer, Bruce	Valleybrook	13.8	15	12
Sharkey, Jack	Springfield	12.3	12	10-4=6
Snook, Bill	Centerton	13.7	15	12
Stewart, Dick	White Oaks	6.0	7	6
Walsh, Ed	Fountain Green	8.1	9	7
Willard, Joe	Springfield	21.4	23	18
Williams, Paul	Buena Vista	8.1	9	7

Willow Brook Pairings

Time	Competitors	Home Club
9:00	Huda, John	Fountain Green
	Walsh, Ed	Fountain Green
	Borek, John	Mercer Oaks
	Miller, Al	Springfield
9:10	Baingo, John	Springfield
	Willard, Joe	Springfield
	Behnke, Paul	Pitman
	Hensel, Charles	Pitman
9:20	Metzger, Ken	Pitman
	Russo, Nick	Pitman
	Stewart, Dick	White Oaks
	Williams, Paul	Buena Vista
9:30	DeBlasio, Charles	Springfield
	Partin, Derek	White Oaks
	Baruzzi, Bob	Pitman
	Quinn, Jim	Wedgwood
9:40	Amey, Ron	RiverWinds
	Buksar, Al	RiverWinds
	Mack, Tony	Atlantis
	Millichap, Matt	Atlantis
9:50	Lentini, Joe	Atlantis
	Pergola, Joe	Atlantis
	Little, Al	Sand Barrens
	Rumer, George	Harbor Pines
10:10	Lyons, Jack	Running Deer
	Perkins, Homie	Running Deer
	Baldwin, Jim	Atlantis
	Rodgers, Chris	Atlantis
10:20	Omura, Kaz	Centerton
	Snook, Bill	Centerton
	Bada, John	Town & Country
	Schaffer, Bruce	Valleybrook
10:30	Gallo, Rob	White Oaks
	Hackbarth, Bill	White Oaks
	Carter, Kirby	Springfield
	Sharkey, Jack	Springfield
10:40	Galati, Al	Links
	Rowand, Bruce	Links
	Irons, Wayne	Peddie
	Kelly, Jim	Springfield
10:50	Collins, Jack	Galloway
	Flocco, Ted	Galloway
	Burdick, Bruce	RiverWinds
	Hicks, Chuck	Blue Heron
11:00	Cain, Ken	Golden Pheasant
	Barlow, Bill	Golden Pheasant

Willow Brook Course Information

Please print and bring to the tournament.

• Yardage markers: 150 and 100, printed on white disks in middle of fairway.

• Hole location: no chart or color scheme. You’re on your own.

1- 250 yards to water hazard from White tees; 190 from Gold tees.

2- Par 3: large rocks to right of green are immovable obstructions.

3- 150 yards to water hazard from White tees, 170 yards to clear hazard. 100 yards to hazard from Gold.

4- 150 yards to water hazard from White tees.

5- 160 yards from White tees to bunker on right. Creek on right side of bunker (lateral hazard). Creek on left at dogleg. No creek on fairway.

6- New hole. Par 4. 330 yards from White tees, 255 from Gold tees.

8- Right bunker 188 yards from White tees, 212 to carry. Left bunker 216 yards from White tees.

• There is a ditch behind the trees lining th far right of the fairway. Play this as a lateral hazard.

• At the far end of the line of trees there is a split rail fence. A sign on the fence states that balls on the other side of the fence are OB. Ignore the sign; such balls are not OB. They may, however, be unplayable, in which case you will follow the rules for taking relief for an unplayable ball (Rule 28).

10- No free relief from the fescue in front of the green. Hit a provisional if your ball lands in the fescue.

12- Slight dogleg left. Water hazard (yellow stakes) in front of green.

15- Note OB stakes on the left. 200 yards to end of dogleg from White tees.

16- Par 3. If your tee shot lands in the water, under penalty of one stroke you must re-tee or drop a ball behind the hazard on the line of sight to the hole (Rule 26).

• If the tee markers are in the middle of the tee box, then the distance to the middle of the green is 150 yards from the White tees and 110 yards from the Gold tees.

17- From the White tees: 160 yards to hazard, 185 yards to carry hazard

18- There is a lateral hazard beyond the woods on the right side of the fairway.

• Creek in front of green is a water hazard. Pond near green is a lateral hazard.

Willow Brook will be grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken outside the pro shop for your convenience.

Posting Tournament Score

All competitors in JustGolf tournaments are expected to post their own scores. Here is the information you will need to post your Willow Brook score:

Date: June 6

Type: Tournament

Course: Willow Brook

Slope and rating: White tees–69.5/124; Gold tees–65.3/107

Score: The scorer will tell you what number to post after your card has been reviewed at the scorer’s table.

For those holes on which you pick up, you will record your Most Likely Score, which may not exceed your Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) score. If these terms are unfamiliar to you, please read the explanations below.

Most Likely Score

You have been instructed to pick up on any hole where your score will be higher than a double bogey. For all such holes, you will record an X, followed by your Most Likely Score (e.g., X-6). At the time you pick up, if you are in range of the green, add 3 strokes to your score for the hole (1 to reach the green plus 2 putts). If you are on the green facing a long putt, add 2 strokes to your score. If you are left with a short putt that you customarily make, add 1 stroke to your score.

ESC Score

Your Most Likely Score may not be higher than your ESC score. Before you post any score, tournament or otherwise, you must review your scorecard and lower any scores that exceed your ESC limit. If your Course Handicap is 9 or less, the maximum number you are permitted to post on any hole is Double Bogey. Between 10 and 19, your maximum is 7. Between 20 and 29, your maximum is 8.

Willow Brook Local Rules

In addition to the JustGolf Local Rules that are in effect at all JustGolf tournaments (posted this morning on the website), the following are in effect at Willow Brook:

Stableford scoring: Record each player’s gross score on each hole, and total the score for each nine. A Committee member will convert your score into a net score and then into Stableford points.

Net bogey=1 point

Net par=2 points

Net birdie=3 points

Net eagle=4 points

Net albatross=5 points

Picking up: Players will receive no points for any score higher than a net bogey. Accordingly, players are expected to pick up if their gross total on a hole will be higher than a double bogey. Record an X with the Most Likely Score, e.g., X-7. Your Most Likely Score may not be higher than your ESC maximum.

Unless you are picking up, every ball must be holed.

Turning in scorecard: Players must personally return their scorecards and must remain at the scorer’s table until the card has been reviewed and accepted. The competitor should verify the score after each hole and settle any doubtful points with the tournament director prior to signing the scorecard.

Drainage ditches:  Several holes have narrow, shallow drainage ditches filled with rocks. Free relief if rocks interfere with your stance or swing. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.

Bare spots on green: Free relief if your ball is lying on a bare spot on the green. Place at the nearest relief no closer to the hole. No relief if a bare spot is on your line of putt.

Cell phones: Please add my name and cell number to your list of contacts: 609-784-2550. Your cell phone should be turned off during the tournament. You may turn it on to call me with a question on the Rules of Golf or for an emergency.

Cart rules: You may drive carts everywhere (subject to change). Keep carts away from tees, greens, and any wet areas on the course.

Cart paths: Cart paths are deemed to be immovable obstructions. Free relief. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.

Ground Under Repair: Not marked. If fellow competitors concur that your ball is in GUR, you may drop your ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. If there is no agreement, call me for a ruling. In the meantime, don’t delay play – play two balls under Rule 3-3.

Preferred lies: On closely mown areas (fairways and collars) you may mark, lift, clean, and place your ball within 6 inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay. You may not move the ball with your club. Play the ball down everywhere else.

Rule 3-3: If you are doubtful of the correct procedure, and you can’t reach me on your cell phone, you may complete the hole playing two balls. 

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.