General Rules
All tournaments should be played in accordance to USGA regulations and rules except where Local (Club) rules apply.
New rules and guidelines.
- All tournaments require a minimum of 8 players to be held.
- Some tournaments require you to sign up in advance. You may sign up at the club house, by email or on this website.
- Tournament entry fees will be $5 unless otherwise noted.
- Prizes will be awarded on the day of the tournament unless otherwise noted.
Local Rules
- Players must take a 1 stroke penalty for a ball that is unplayable, lost, out of bounds (white stakes), in the water, on or across the paved road. Players must play the next shot from the rough no more than two club lengths from the point of entry on the line of flight into the hazzard.
- If a ball lands on a green other than the one being played, the player must take a free lift to the fairway, two club lengths from the edge of green on line of flight.
- Preferred lies in fairway only.
- Plugged balls may be lifted, cleaned and replaced within one club length providing it does not improve your lie (must remain in rough or hazard).
- Union Country Club is a small course, please make sure other players are in a safe location before hitting your ball and watch for other players who are hitting theirs.
Robert Heald Memorial/Members Memorial
Members do not need to sign up in advance for these tournaments.
The tournaments are a 9 or 18 hole scramble format for teams of 3 or 4 players. An effort will be made to put an even number of men and women on each team while maintaining a similar total handicap.
Rules:
- A scramble means that all team members tee off on each hole and then decide which tee shot they like the best and mark the spot with a tee or ball marker.
- The other team members pick up their balls and place them within one club length (no closer to the hole) of the marked spot. Each team member hits their next shot from the chosen spot of the prior shot.
- If the ball you choose to play is in a hazard (sand, water, etc.), the rough, or out of bounds, you cannot drop the ball outside of the hazard or rough even if relief is within one club length away.
- This procedure is followed on every shot for the remainder of the hole, including putts. The ball should be marked on the putting green also.
- Putts need to be made within 3 inches of the marked spot (no closer to the hole). The first ball to go in the hole is counted for the team score. When putting, once any ball is holed out, no further strokes count. The team is cautioned not to make “tap” in putts until all team members have had the opportunity to attempt the team’s original putt.The tournament director may elect to add a rule requiring a certain number of tee shots to be used from each player.
President’s Cup/Club Handicap
Players must sign up by the posted date before the tournament to give the tournament director time to set up the first round of matches. If fewer than 8 players sign up the tournament will be cancelled or postponed at the director’s discretion.
Prizes will be awarded at the fall awards meeting.
These are match play format tournaments that can last several weeks depending on the number of players participating. It is the players’ responsibility to schedule their matches and complete them within the time allotted. The tournament director shall organize the bracket, post it in the clubhouse, and notify participants of their first match prior to the start of the tournament. Each round of the tournament should take no more than one week to complete. Players not completing their match within the time specified may be disqualified by the director.
Rules
- Player’s handicaps as of the first day of the tournament will be posted on the bracket and will remain in effect for the entire tournament.
- Each match is 18 holes.
- Play begins at the first hole and holes are played in order.
- Match play means that each hole is worth one point. A player wins a hole by having the lower score for the hole.
- Player’s handicaps are used in match play in the following way:
- The lower handicap is subtracted from the higher handicap. The result is the number of “strokes” the player with the higher handicap may use per 9 holes.
- The score card has a column marked “strokes” to indicate what order the strokes must be applied. Strokes are awarded one per hole starting at the hole marked “1” in the stroke column through “9”. Do this for the front and back nine. It is best to circle these in advance so it is obvious when they are to be used.
- So if player A has a 3 handicap and player B has a 7 handicap, the difference is 4 per nine holes. Player B would be able to deduct 1 stroke from their score on each of holes number 7, 2, 8, and 3 and also on holes 16, 11, 17, and 12 when playing 18 holes.
- If on hole number 2, player A has 3 strokes and player B has 3 strokes, player B wins the hole because he may deduct 1 stroke on hole 2.
- For more information on how to enter scores during match play, check out this website.
- Players are allowed to concede their opponent’s putt but are not required and may not be coerced to do so.
- The match is over as soon as one player has more points than there are holes remaining to be played.
- If the score is tied after 18 holes, the players must play 9 more holes. If they are still tied at 27 holes, players may mutually agree to play the holes in order 1 to 9 until the next point is won. However, if either player does not want to play “sudden death” then both must play an additional 9 holes.
- Players will record the results of their match on the bracket posted in the club house and leave the score card for the tournament director.
- It is the winner’s responsibility to contact the player indicated on the bracket as their next match.
1 Club & Putter
Players do not need to sign up for this tournament in advance.
This is an individual stroke play format and consists of 9 holes.
Rules
- Players may choose one club and their putter to play the entire round.
- Clubs may not be switched during the round.
- Only the putter may be used on the greens.
- Participants will play 9 holes of golf recording every stroke.
- Ladies may use the ladies tee
- Players’ handicaps will be deducted from their total score.
- The lowest score wins.
Flag Day
Players do not need to sign up for this tournament in advance.
This is an individual stroke play format and consists of 9 holes.
Rules
- Players will be awarded 29 strokes plus their handicap.
- All players will start at the first holes.
- Every player is given a flag with their name on it.
- Players count all strokes.
- The player is done when they run out of strokes.
- The player will place their flag where their ball landed when they ran out of strokes
- If the player has strokes left over after 9 holes they will continue to play starting over at hole # 1
- Flags will not be placed on the greens. Players must use an appropriate marker that will not impede other players.
- The winner(s) will be those closest to the next hole past their last completed hole.
3-Ball
Players do not need to sign up for this tournament in advance.
Traditionally this tournament was a best ball format however more recently it has been played as a scramble. For 2014 we are going to try the Money Ball format.
Rules
- Teams of three are selected based on total handicap.
- One player per hole on a rotating basis will be designated as playing the money ball
- Each player plays their ball all the way to the hole.
- The team score for the hole will be the money ball score plus the low ball (the lowest score of the other two players)
- The money ball player for each hole is designated before play begins based on the order in which they appear on the score card. The team will make this determination. Player 1 has the money ball for holes 1, 4, and 7. Player 2 has the money ball for holes 2, 5, and 8. Player 3 has the money ball on holes 3, 6, and 9.
- The team with the lowest total score (low ball plus money ball) wins.
- The money ball can not be used as the low ball.
The Open and Happy Hacker
Players do not need to sign up for this tournament in advance.
This is a two day 18 holes per day event.
This is a stroke play format. All strokes are counted.
Rules
- Players count all strokes
- Players must complete all 36 holes.
- The player with the lowest gross (total actual strokes) score wins The Open
- The player with the lowest net (total minus handicap) score wins The Happy Hacker
- A player can not win both The Open and The Happy Hacker
- Tie breaker will be determined by the lowest 18 hole round (gross or net depending on the tie).
- Second tie breaker will be the lowest total of all strokes over par per hole.
The Cup
Players must sign up in advance for this tournament.
This will be a two day event lasting all day including a cookout each day. We are hoping to have at least 12 players for this one. Depending on the number of players you may not have to play in every part of the tournament. We are modeling this after the Ryder Cup. Two captains will be selected and the remaining players will be assigned to their teams. There will be four different events and it will be up to the captains to determine who plays in each event.
We are still working on defining this tournament. Check back soon for an update.
Glow Ball
GUESTS ARE WELCOME
This is a scramble format. You may choose your own team of four.
Players who need to buy a glow ball must sign up two weeks before the tournament.
Players are encourage to sign up a week in advance so we can plan on how much food we need for the cookout.
This has become an annual favorite. If you’ve never played golf in the dark you should really give it a try.
Glow balls cost about $5 each and last for multiple tournaments.
This tournament is played on a Thursday night in September, early October right after twilight league. We will have a cookout with hot dogs and chips before hand. This is all about fun and friendly competition.
Flashlights are allowed but are not necessarily a benefit.
Here’s how it works:
Lights are attached to each of the flag sticks so you know what you’re aiming for. The balls have led lights in them that light up for 7 to 10 minutes when you hit them. Since this is a scramble format, everyone tees off then you select the best shot and everyone takes their second shot from that location. This continues al the way to the hole. Remember to resist the temptation to tap one in if you get close because you have to count that stroke and deprive your teammates from trying to make their put and save you a stroke!
Closing Words
Please feel free to participate in the Tournaments and Twilight League events. The more participants, the more fun everyone has. Join in and meet other members, learn tips on how to improve your game from other members or offer some advice that might help them. If you think you do not play well enough to participate in the club’s events, please think again. If you can swing a club and hit the ball most of the time, then you are good enough. None of us are “Pro Golfers” and probably never will be, but we still have fun.
“When I became a member at Union Country Club, I played the game very badly. My game was one that is affectionately called “Army Golf”. You know the drill, Left-Right-Left-Right. When I finally broke 47 (no more than double bogie on each hole), I felt pretty good.
I was afraid to play in any of the Clubs events, so my Father-in-Law and I would play when we could. On Oct. 30, 1993 (this was my first year membership), My Father-in-law and I were playing a round (probably the last one for that year), when on #9, I hit the best Tee shot I ever made. Solid contact, nice arc and it was headed right for the pin. We watched, as the ball hit the green and rolled out of sight. You guessed it, when we walked up to the #9 green, my ball was nowhere to be seen. I thought sure the ball must have rolled way off the green. My Father-in-law walked up to the pin and said, “Here’s your ball. You made a hole-n-one.”
I think the score I got for the round was something like 43 or 44. The next year I started playing in club events, Twilight League and other tournaments. I had a 12 handicap and played really bad golf but it was a lot of fun playing golf with the other members. Over the few years as a member I think I have won almost every tournament at least once and have trimmed my handicap down to a 6.
In 1996 I made my second hole in one on the #5 hole during Twilight League.
I have yet to shoot par for the course, but I have shot 31 a few times. My average round is 36-37 and sometimes I still get into the 40’s.
The game of golf is a game of consistency, my game is consistently inconsistent.”
David Gibbs – President
The Golfers Motto
A Bad Game of Golf is better than a Good Day at Work.
If you have a story about golf you would like to share with the rest of the members, send it to me and I will put it on the Clubs Website. My e-mail address is: dgibbs5@roadrunner.com
Remember to post your scores (all of them) in the book at the club house so your handicap can be calculated properly. If you only post the better scores, you will have a lower handicap than you should have.