Club Rules

Rules

Tournament Specifics

Slow Play

Rules

  1. Members shall observe the requirements of Section 1 of the Rules of Golf. All members shall conduct themselves in a courteous and dignified manner and avoid disturbing the play of other competitors. Winners and losers shall behave as gentlemen and exhibit good sportsmanship at all times.
  2. The Rules of Golf apply in all SGC events except as modified by these or other allowable local rules.
  3. No winter rules may be used unless expressly declared by the Tournament Committee prior to start of competition. Winter rules are defined as “lift, clean and place” within 6 inches, no closer to the hole when in your own fairway. The ball may not be “bumped.”
  4. When an in-bounds staked tree or shrub or its basin or support wires, interferes with player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball must be dropped within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole. No penalty.
  5. Paved cart paths, dirt service roads (decomposed granite/dirt), cement drainage ditches and permanent yardage stakes are immovable obstructions. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, or so close that the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball may be dropped one club length from the nearest point of relief. No penalty.
  6. Ball embedded in its own pitch mark in the ground (except in a hazard), through the green, may be lifted, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay, no closer to the hole. No penalty.
  7. All putts must be holed out except in match play competitions. Rule 16 applies in regard to touching the line of putts, repairing ball marks, etc. on the putting green. If a ball lies on an edging groove around a putting green, it may be lifted, cleaned and placed out of the groove in the nearest position to where it lies, whether on or off the green, which is not nearer the hole. No penalty.
  8. If a ball comes to rest in an aerification hole through the green, the player may lift the ball and clean it. The player shall drop the ball as near as possible to where it lay, no nearer the hole. On the putting green, the player shall place the ball at the nearest spot not nearer the hole which avoids the hole. No penalty.
  9. Bunker rakes are to be placed inside bunkers in a way that will not divert a ball into or away from the bunker.
  10. All scores must be adjusted in accordance with the equitable stroke control (ESC) and the adjusted score returned. If a player plays 13 or more holes, he shall post a score by adding to the number of strokes played the total of par for the unplayed holes plus any handicap strokes to which he is entitled on the unplayed holes. When a putt is conceded or picked up on a green, the score for handicap purposes shall be the number of strokes taken plus one. (ESC applies). In competitions, score cards must be completed, signed and attested. All players are responsible for their individual hole scores.
  11. Major Club competitions will be played to the lowest index (LI) of the last twelve months. Exceptions must be announced prior to the competition. Other tournaments shall be played to current index unless the Tournament Committee declares otherwise.
  12. Slow play is not to be tolerated. A tournament official, or a course marshal at the request of a tournament official, shall issue warnings to groups that are behind. The Committee may penalize the slow players(s) two strokes after two warnings. If the slow play continues after the slow player(s) have been assessed penalty strokes, the Committee may disqualify such player(s). Other members of the slow players’ group shall not be penalized.
  13. On temporary or alternate greens, there is no “two putt rule”. All putts shall be holed out.
  14. Before participating in a Club tournament each player must put an identification mark on his ball.
  15. Players must promptly present rules questions to the committee. If a representative of the committee is not immediately available, the player should follow the Rules of Golf to preserve the issue, e.g., by playing a second ball. Review of a rules decision of the committee in a competition may be presented to the Greens and Rules Committee but only if a review is requested prior to the close of the competition. The decision of the Greens and Rules Committee is final.
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Tournament Specifics:

 All Tournaments:
  1. Players must be paid up Club members in good standing and have a current and valid USGA handicap index.
  2. Players shall abide by the Rules of Golf, the local rules of the course being played and SMGC Club rules.
  3. Fees must be paid in advance, preferably at the time of signing up. Payment may be accepted on the day of the event at the tournament committee’s discretion. No refunds for cancellations less than 3 full days in advance if player can’t be replaced.
  4. Tournament scorecards must be properly signed and attested and turned over to the tournament committee for review. Failure to do this results in disqualification from the competition and side games.
  5. Events will be played at current index unless otherwise indicated.
  6. All prizes for the tournaments winners will be in the form of scrip.
  7. Maximum index of 26.4 will apply in all competitions. Any player with a higher index can play, but must play to 26.4.
  8. Scorecards are to be turned in after a round to the tournament committee within 20 minutesof the group in front.  After 20 minutes there will be a 2-stroke penalty to all golfers in the group for a late scorecard.
 Monthly Weekday Tournament: 
  1. Format varies from tournament to tournament and is publicized prior to the tournament in a manner best calculated to reach the membership. The format can be changed at any time before the commencement of the event provided the details are communicated to the players.
  2. Play to current index unless indicated otherwise and publicized in advance of play.
Monthly Sunday Away Tournaments:
  1. Format varies from tournament to tournament and is publicized prior to the tournament in a manner best calculated to reach the membership. The format can be changed at any time before the commencement of the event provided the details are communicated to the players.
  2. Play to current index unless indicated otherwise and publicized in advance of play.
Dick Goeckner Classic: A SMGC Major
  1. One day, two man-team best ball competition.
  2. Players play to their 12-month low index, as in all club majors.
  3. Each player must have been a member of the Club for at least three months, must have posted at least eight (8) scores in the previous 6 months and participated in two or more Club competitions in the previous 12 months not including the previous Goeckner Classic.
  John C. Palumbo Memorial:   A SMGC Major
  1. Played as an away tournament.
  2. This is an individual low gross and low net stroke play tournament.
  3. Play to the lowest index of the previous year as provided by the GHIN system.
  4. Each player must have been a member of the Club for at least three months, must have posted at least eight (8) scores in the previous 6 months and participated in two or more Club competitions in the previous 12 months not including the previous Palumbo Memorial.
MGA Team Play
  1. Composed of 12 man teams.
  2. Will play according to rules established by MGA.
  3. Team captains will attend meetings relative to this event as necessary.
President’s Cup
  1. Individual match play competition which may be organized into separate flights in the discretion of the committee.
  2. Players will calculate course handicaps using 12 month low index as of the start of the competition (provided by Tournament Manager).
  3. In accordance with USGA rules, players will play off the low handicapper’s ball.
  4. Each player must have been a member of the Club for at least three months, must have posted at least eight (8) scores in the previous 6 months and participated in two or more Club competitions in the previous 12 months notincluding the previous President’s Cup.
  5. Players schedule their own matches at any agreed course and from any agreed tees within deadlines established by the Committee. In case of disagreement, Encino is the default course and the blue tees are the default tees.
  6. Competition scorecards shall be turned over to the tournament committee for review.
 Club Championship: A SMGC Major
  1. Individual gross (scratch) and net stroke play competition.
  2. Play to the lowest index of the previous 12 months as provided by the GHIN system.
  3. Each player must have been a member of the Club for at least three months, must have posted at least eight (8) scores in the previous 6 months and participated in two or more Club competitions in the previous 12 months not including the previous Club championship.
  4. This is a 54-hole tournament with all participants playing the first 36 holes. The best half of each flight plus ties will play the final 18 holes.
  5. Winners will be named in the scratch flight and in each handicap flight. Low Net of the handicap flights will be Club Handicap Champion.
  6. In case of ties, first place in each flight shall be determined by a sudden death playoff.  In case of Low Net tie between the two handicap flights, the Club Handicap Champion shall be determined by a sudden death playoff.  Sudden death playoff will start on the first hole on the course played on the final day.
  7. Standbys shall be used only at the end of the field. Members starting times shall be moved up to fill vacancies.
  8. On the final day, pair players according to their qualifying scores. Exceptions are not favored but may be made for good cause in the committee’s discretion.
 Senior Championship: A SMGC Major 
  1. 36 hole individual gross and net stroke play from the white tees.
  2. Play to the lowest index of the previous 12 months as provided by the GHIN system.
  3. Limited to members who have reached the age of 50.
  4. The field may be organized into flights in the discretion of the Committee.
  5. Each player must have been a member of the Club for at least three months, must have posted at least eight (8) scores in the previous 6 months and participated in two or more Club competitions in the previous 12 months not including the previous Senior Championship.
  6. Standbys shall be assigned to vacancies by the Committee as needed. The first to sign up shall be first to play.
The Memorial: A SMGC Major in memory of our departed members
  1. This is an individual low gross and low net stroke play tournament.
  2. Play to the lowest index of the previous year as provided by the GHIN system.
  3. Each player must have been a member of the Club for at least three months, must have posted at least eight (8) scores in the previous 6 months and participated in two or more Club competitions in the previous 12 months not including the previous Memorial.
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Slow Play Policy

Pursuant to the Sepulveda Golf Club Operations Manual, there are specific penalties for Slow Play.  The club has specific remedies for slow players during tournaments:

Rule 12.

Slow play is not to be tolerated.  A tournament official, or a course marshal at the request of a tournament official, shall issue warnings to groups that are behind.  The Committee may penalize the slow players(s) two strokes after two warnings. If the slow play continues after the slow player(s) have been assessed penalty strokes, the Committee may disqualify such player(s).  Other members of the slow players’ group shall not be penalized.

The club has made official recommendations for speeding up play. Some of the recommendations are counter to what we learned as rules of etiquette. So some players will have difficultly adopting these measures. The club needs to take a leadership position and state that the slow play measures supersede the traditional rules of etiquette.

Tips for Speeding-Up Play

•         If there is a chance a ball could be lost or out of bounds.  Hit a provisional.

•         The maximum amount of time to search for a ball is now 3 minutes.  If after 3 minutes you are unable to locate your ball and you did not hit a provisional proceed to the area where the ball was believed to have entered the out of bounds or the area it landed in.  Find the nearest drop point of relief in the fairway or near the green (but not on), drop a ball and take a two stroke penalty.

•         Help each other out.  Pay attention to what the other people are doing and try to watch where their balls lands.

•         When using a cart, drop off one player at their ball and the other player should drive to their ball and get ready. Take 3 clubs, one more and one less than the one you think you are going to use in case you change your mind.

•         When searching for a ball, the search party should only be 3 players.

•         SGC plays ready golf, not honors golf.  Be at your ball and ready to hit as soon as it is your turn. That means all decisions, as much green reading possible, etc. is done prior to your turn.

•         Pace of play begins at first hole.  Keep pace at the start, golf courses get most upset when the tee times after tournaments get pushed back.

•         Don’t be nervous about etiquette or playing with someone you don’t know. Introduce yourselves on the first tee and discuss that everyone is aware they are playing ready golf.

•         If you can take a shot without distracting another player, even if it isn’t your turn go ahead and hit.

•         Players riding in carts along with walking players can drive ahead and locate balls for everyone in the group.

•         Conversations should be on the move and second in importance to playing the round. It is not impolite to put a conversation on hold and go to your ball and hit a shot.

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