Current MTS Golf League Rules

 

Welcome to the MTS Golf League. As a member of the league, you are expected to familiarize yourself with the following rules. By learning these rules, and being familiar with basic good golfing etiquette, you will be doing your part to contribute to a smoother running and more enjoyable league for all members.

 

1.0 Rules

 

Except for the following league rules, and local course rules, the USGA winter rules will govern play. This allows improving the lie by movement of the ball with the clubhead not more than 6 on the close cropped fairway which you are playing ONLY. This means that if you are in the rough, or an adjacent fairway, you may NOT improve the lie.

 

1.1 League Rules

 

1.        New in 2019 you may leave the flag in when putting

2.        Maximum time limit of 3 minutes to search for a lost ball.

3.    Out of bounds Out of bounds (white stakes) will be treated as a lateral hazard (red stakes). This means that you may drop where the ball went out, somewhere on the line of flight, or where you hit from. One stroke penalty.

Example: A player hits tee shot O.B., whether the player drops where the ball went out, somewhere on the line of flight, or on the tee, his/her next shot will count as the third stroke.

4.        Rake sand traps you may drop your ball, in line with the hole, with no penalty, from any existing footprints or similar existing irregularities caused by someone not raking the trap, but not closer to the hole, or out of the trap.

 

1.2 Restatement of Some Common USGA Rules

 

1.        Ball in Water one stroke penalty. Drop a new ball on line of flight of lost ball, but not closer to the hole.
For example:

         Count one stroke for going into the water.

         Count another stroke to drop new ball out of the water.

         Players next shot will count as the third stroke.

 

2.        Ball may be cleaned but not changed before first stroke on green.

 

3.        Hitting another ball Any player who plays a stroke from the putting surface and hits his partners or either opponents ball shall incur a 2 stroke penalty. A stroke played from anywhere off the putting surface which hits another ball shall incur no penalty. In either case, the struck ball must be returned to its original position.

 

2.0 Etiquette

 

Please observe common golf etiquette when playing. This includes all of the following:

 

1.    Be on time to the first tee.

2.    Limit your practice swings.

3.    Replace all divots.

4.    Walk directly to your ball in the fairway and be prepared to hit when your turn comes. In order to speed play, you may hit your ball when ready, if doing so will not impede another player in your group.

5.     Keep up with the group ahead of you even though it may mean skipping a practice swing or walking a little faster.

6.    Ball marks on green repair yours and one other.

7.     Keep carts and bags off greens and tees.

8.      Avoid stepping in another players putting line.

9.     Line up your putt while others are holing out. This will keep your foursome from having to wait for you and speed play for those playing behind you.

10.     Clear the green as soon as your foursome has holed out. Do not stand around marking scores. 

11.    Select your club as soon as you arrive at the tee. Eliminate honor system on tees and encourage shorter hitters to hit first. This will put more foursomes on the course faster and eliminate gaps between groups.

12.    On par 3 holes, safety permitting, allow players behind you to hit to the green.

 

3.0 Play

 

1. All teams must be signed up at the course and be ready to tee off 10 minutes before their assigned tee times. Delaying the match to await late players must have the consent of the opposing team AND there must be another MTS foursome available and willing to fill your starting time. If BOTH of these conditions are not met, start the round on time with less than four players and hopefully the late player will catch up by going directly out on the course to join the group.

 

2. At least 6 holes must be played by an individual for the round to be considered official. Scores for the missed holes will be awarded based on the players handicap with the requirement that the player loses the individual match point and the team loses the team point.

 

3. Matches are nine holes, to be played on the basis of match play (by holes). Points will be scored as follows:

 

INDIVIDUAL MATCH: Nine points for each pair of opponents per 9-hole round. A tie is point.

 LOW TEAM NET: Nine points for each team low net per 9-hole round. A tie is point.

 

Since each weekly team match consists of two (2) individual matches, each weekly team match will award a total of 27 points. Team standings will be determined by the accumulative number of points won.

 

4.0 FORFEITURES

 

Individual Match Points:

If one player from a team does not show up for his/her scheduled tee time, the other player from that team will play the person from the opposing team with the lowest handicap for 9 points. The remaining player from the opposing team will play against an imaginary scratch golfer shooting three (3) over par. Scoring is as described above. No points are automatically awarded all points must be won. If both players from one team are absent, those players present from the opposing team each play against scratch plus three, as stated above.

 

Team Points:

In the case of a missing player, the team points are calculated using the same method as the individual match points. The team with the missing player cannot win any of the team points.