Local Play Rules

MORENO VALLEY GOLF CLUB

Local & Match Play Rules

Local Rules

The Moreno Valley Golf Club follows the rules established by the United States Golf Association (USGA), except as amended or clarified by the following local rules.

1. COURSE BOUNDARIES - The course boundary is determined by the fences: chain link, wooden, or protective netting. In a case where there is more than one fence (i.e. hole #2, where there is a chain link fence and the homeowner's wooden fence right next to each other), the boundary shall be determined by the inner fence. So if the ball comes to rest between the two fences, it is deemed out of bounds.

2. WINTER RULES - You may take a six (6) inch bump (with your club head) anywhere on the course (including fringe) except in a hazard or on the green. The ball may be picked up and cleaned at any time. This relief is during daylight saving.

3. FREE RELIEF - When a ball stops in excessive water, mud, or patches of dirt on the fairways or greens, the ball can be moved to the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. Two club lengths, no closer to the hole, can be taken from all man made objects like benches, sprinkler control boxes, fences, trash cans, drainage covers, cement planters, flower beds, and staked trees. The ball may be moved far enough, but no closer to the hole, from the equipment shed on #9 to allow a clear shot to the green. The ball may be moved from the protective fence guarding the #4 tee box far enough to allow a clear shot to the #3 or #5 green, in a straight line from where the ball was and the pin.

4. REPAIRING THE GREEN - A player may repair ANY marks on the green, such as ball marks, spike marks, or any other repairable damage. If the damage is not easily repairable (holes or club marks), that damage should be considered ground under repair, and the ball may be moved far enough to clear the damage, but no closer to the hole.

5. WATER HAZARD - The water hazard on holes #8 and #9 is defined by the water level (i.e. you cannot take a 6 inch bump out of the water, but you may take a 6 inch bump and improve the lie in the thick grass around the lake). If a tee shot enters the hazard the player may move back as far as desired, in a straight line from where the ball entered the hazard, keeping the point of entry between you and the pin (e.g. even if the ball hits on the other side of the hazard and comes back into the hazard, the ball must be placed on the tee side of the hazard). If a player returns to the tee to hit, the ball may be teed.

6. NO GIMMES - In tournament play, each hole must be completed. If the ball is picked up, without marking, before finishing the hole, it should be replaced as near as possible to the spot, and putted out.

7. RULES INFRACTIONS - If there are any disagreements about a possible rules infractions, scoring, penalties, or free relief, discuss the matter within your group, make a decision, and then contact the tournament chairman, when convenient, before your score card is signed and turned in, but do NOT hold up play to contact the Tournament Chairman.

Match Play Rules

Open to All Club Members

Costs are $20.00 this includes tournament fees and green fees for each Match.

The number of flights will be determined by the number of signups

Participants will be randomly seeded and placed on the chart

You will have two weeks to schedule a match against your next opponent.

Matches can played at any time you and your opponent can get together, including Tournament Days, Skins Days, or week days. If you play your Match on a Tournament or Skins Day you must also follow those rules, i.e. on tournament days you can not take or give any gimmees.

The tournament is double elimination.

The winner of each hole will be the best net score on that hole. The handicap strokes will be awarded on a handicap differential basis. The adjusted handicap of each player will equal the difference between their handicap and the lower handicap. The lower handicap will get no strokes. The strokes will then be awarded on the handicap difficulty of each hole. For example if the handicaps in a group are a 3 and 7, the 7 handicap’s handicap is adjusted to a 7-3 or 4. He will then get one stroke on the four most difficult holes. The winner of each match will be the golfer that win the most holes.

Both Players play normally and finishes each hole; although, a player may pick up and take himself out of the hole if he sees fit. You may concede putts or holes to your opponents, but keep in mind you must also follow the rules or other conditions you are playing (like tournaments or skins games). If you fail to finish a hole place an X on the scorecard. You should list both player’s gross scores on the scorecard, so the results can be verified later.

If the match is closed out before the last hole, you can stop golfing, unless you are playing in a tournament or skins game, then you will probably want to finish.

The Tournament Chairman will settle all disputes about rules or scheduling conflicts.

Posting and Adjusting Score

In order for the club to maintain an accurate and fair handicap for each member all completed (9 or 18) rounds must be posted. It is the member's responsibility to post and adjust all non-tournament scores, with the Handicap Chairperson (HC) posting and adjusting tournament scores. The following procedures should be used when posting your score:

1. In accordance with USGA guidelines only the adjusted gross score should be posted. USGA "Equitable Stroke Control" Policy should be used as follows:

a. In order to adjust a score the golfer must have an established handicap (either permanent or temporary in our case). If you are still establishing a handicap, please finish all holes and post your raw score.

b. The number of allowed triple bogeys is your handicap minus 18 (i.e.. a handicap of 20 is allowed 2 triple bogeys per round, while a handicap of 18 or less is allowed none).

c. The number of allowed doubles bogeys is your handicap (i.e.. a handicap of 12 is allowed 12 double bogeys, while a handicap of 0 or less is allowed none).

d. For all non-tournament rounds the golfer may choose to pick up after his maximum number of allowed strokes and record that score on their card. During Tournament play each hole must be finished.

2. Failure to post a completed round can result in a score equal to the course rating being posted (Based on the discretion of the HC). If a golfer signs in but does not complete the round (for reasons beyond his control) and NC should be posted, and no penalty will be incurred.

3. Please include your last name and date on all score cards.

4. Have the scorer and attestor sign the card.

5. Post your adjusted score by date in the folder.

6. Deposit the score card in the score box located at the club house.

7. Only rounds played at the Cottonwood Golf Course are to be posted and used when computing handicaps.