Handicap Committee

2009 Handicap Program

2009 KMGA HANDICAP PROGRAM

Handicap Committee

Chairman, Robert Hain

Committee Members, Sam Daniel, Hal Seamon & David Stanley

Two basic premises underlie the USGA Handicap System, namely that each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review. The player and the player’s Handicap Committee have joint responsibility for adhering to these premises. The following is an outline of the basic policies of the USGA Handicap System Manual, dated 2008-2011 and our KMGA Handicap Committee policies.

A. PURPOSE:

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The System provides a fair Course Handicap for each player regardless of ability, and adjusts a player’s Handicap Index up or down as the player’s game changes. At the same time, the system disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential ability and promotes continuity by making a handicap index continuous from one playing season or year to the next.

B. HOW TO ESTABLISH A USGA HANDICAP:

KMGA is a member of the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) and beginning in 2009 will receive all handicap related services from the United States Golf Association’s Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN). This is a nationally networked system providing both internet score posting and handicap verification services. Each member has been assigned a unique golfer number that enables score posting at our home courses, at other nationally networked courses and via the internet. Each KMGA members GHIN number is available in the men’s lounge or pro shop.

Members that would like to establish a USGA Handicap should submit a minimum of five score cards with adjusted gross scores (see table in Section C, Equitable Stroke Control), tees played, the dates played, and the player’s name, address, and phone number. These rounds must have been played during the "active" golf season for the courses played. This information should be placed in the KMGA lock box in the men's lounge. The Handicap Committee will post the scores and notify you of your GHIN number and temporary handicap. You are then responsible for posting all future scores.

New members transferring from another club should place their handicap record sheets from their previous club or GHIN number in the KMGA lock box and provide a telephone number and mailing address. The Handicap Committee will transfer the scores and notify you when this has been completed. NOTE: Those members who did not post at least five scores during the previous season have been categorized as inactive. Please advise the Handicap Committee if resumption of active status is desired.

C. HOW. WHERE AND WHICH SCORES TO POST:

Posting scores in person immediately following the round at the course where the round was played is the preferred way to expose scores to peer review. At Kingsmill the scores may be posted at the Woods or the River/Plantation posting stations. Postings can also be made on the internet using the VSGA website (www.vsga.org). Scores should be posted within seven calendar days of the date the round was played. If necessary, scores must be adjusted down in accordance with the USGA Equitable Stroke Control system (ESC).

EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL (ESC)

Your Course Handicap Maximum Score on Any Hole

9 or less Double Bogey

10 through 19 7

20 through 29 8

30 through 39 9

40 or more 10

Scores to post - If 13 or more holes are played, the player shall post an 18-hole score. If 7 to 12 holes are played, the player shall post a nine-hole score. In either case scores for unplayed holes shall be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes that the player is entitled to receive on the unplayed holes. When a nine-hole score is entered into the system, it will be saved and combined with the next nine-hole score posted.

Scores made in match and stroke play competition shall be posted, even for those holes when the player picks up and is out of contention. Record the score you most likely would have made. This score cannot exceed the player's ESC limit.

A tournament score will be recorded for those rounds played in competition when the committee in charge of the tournament indicates it is a tournament round. At Kingsmill, the, Williamsburg Cup Senior Four Ball Matches are considered tournament rounds. The Interclub Home and Home matches, "Odd Lot" competition, "Sunday Mixers" and qualifying rounds for the Williamsburg Cup matches are not considered tournament rounds for handicap posting purposes.

D. ACTIVE GOLF SEASON AND HANDICAP REVISION SCHEDULE:

The Virginia State Golf Association has established the active season, during which scores made in Virginia will be acceptable for handicap purposes. The active season runs from March 1 through November 30 each year. Handicaps are revised on the first (1^st) and fifteenth (15th) of each month during this season. Also, a handicap label printer is located at the River/Plantation Course posting station. Directions for printing a label are located at the printer.

E. HANDICAP INDEX ADJUSTMENTS AND PENALTIES:

The Handicap Committee has the responsibility of making certain that each player has a Handicap Index reflecting potential ability. Under the following circumstances, it will be necessary for the Committee to adjust the player's Handicap Index. However, before an adjustment becomes effective, the Committee will give the player the opportunity to explain any mitigating circumstance.

a. A player who has just taken up the game may improve too rapidly for his index,

calculated by the standard method, to reflect his potential ability.

b. If a player's index increases by three or more strokes because of the posting of numerous away scores, and subsequent scores at home indicate that his index is too high, the Committee will adjust it.

c. An increased handicap may be given for a temporary disability.

d. A player's index may be adjusted up or down if he does not turn in all acceptable scores in a timely manner or otherwise does not observe the spirit of the Handicap System.

e. If a player has a minimum of two (2) eligible tournament score differentials that are at least 3.0 better than his current index the handicap Committee must conduct a review to determine if a reduction in the handicap should be applied.

f. If a player manipulates his scores to influence his index, the Committee will adjust or withdraw his index, depending on the circumstances. Examples of manipulation include:

· Posting erroneous scores or no scores for qualifying rounds.

· Stopping play after six holes to avoid posting scores.

· Repeatedly playing more than one ball to avoid posting scores.

· Not adjusting individual hole scores under Equitable Stroke Control.

· Deliberately reporting more or fewer strokes than actually scored.

· Deliberately taking extra strokes to inflate a score.

F. PEER REVIEW:

This is a process of providing a reasonable and regular opportunity for members of a golf club who play with each other in informal matches and in organized tournaments to have access to scoring records and USGA Handicap Indexes of all of the players of the club. At Kingsmill, this information is provided in the Men's Lounge. It is updated on the first (1^st) and fifteenth (15^th) of each month during the active handicap season and is kept in a folder that lists each member's last 20 rounds.

SUMMARY: It is not necessary to have a USGA Handicap to play and enjoy the game of golf. However, if a player frequently plays in competition at home or away, it is expected that he will have a current USGA Index. This Index depends upon full, accurate information regarding a player's potential scoring ability as reflected by a complete scoring record. Every golfer who maintains a USGA Handicap is responsible for following the USGA Handicap Rules, posting all acceptable scores with any applicable adjustments and being aware of his Handicap Index.

Local Rules

KINGMILL MEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION LOCAL RULES 2009

1. Out of bounds is defined by white stakes, and/or fences, and/or public roads. A ball that crosses a public road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course.

2. Relief may be taken from young trees. These are the trees that are newly planted with stakes, and/or wrapped for protection, and/or have ropes supporting the trunk. Relief may be taken if they interfere with stance or intended area of your swing.

3. Relief may be taken from greenside fans. Take relief if your stance, intended area of swing, or line of sight to the hole is interfered with. Electrical trenches associated with these fans, whether filled or not, may be treated as ground under repair.

4. Relief from newly sodded areas and flower beds. A player must take relief from all newly seeded areas, flower beds, and any area that has been recently sodded or that still has seams in a sodded area.

5. Embedded ball rule: Through the green, a ball 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.

6. French drains: Considered ground under repair. Proceed according to the rules.

7. Fixed sprinkler heads: All fixed sprinkler heads and associated control boxes are immovable obstructions and relief from interference by them may be obtained under Rule 24-2. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and such an obstruction lies on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball, and there could be interference on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows: The ball shall be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which (A) is not nearer the hole, (B) avoids such interference, and (C) is not in a hazard or on the putting green.

8. Aeration holes: If a ball comes to rest in an aeration hole through the green, the ball may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to where it lay, not nearer the hole. On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in an aeration hole may be placed as near as possible to where it lay, not nearer the hole.

9. Shared putting surface: The putting green for holes Number 12 and 15 on the

Woods Course is one continuous putting surface with no definition for either specific hole. Therefore, the Rules of Golf apply for the entire putting surface without regard for the hole to which the player may be putting.

10. Ditches around mulch beds: If a ball comes to rest in a ditch surrounding a mulch bed, it

may be lifted and dropped without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.

11. Inclement weather: If a tournament is interrupted or stopped by inclement weather, the

process for determining whether to continue the event and/or scoring it as complete is explained in the Inclement Weather Policy.

12. Distance measuring devices: A device that measures only distance may be used.

KMGOLF.ORG

Posting Tournament Scores

2009 Handicap Program

Local Rules