The Christian Fellowship Golf League is intended to provide fun, enjoyment of the game, fellowship, and friendly competition while exhibiting Christian character and sportsmanship. As with any team competition, there are certain rules of play that we should all follow. Although we say that the USGA rules apply, they have been modified to suit the course and our friendly type of play.

The USGA rules were used to provide guidance and clarification for the following rules that will apply to our league play at the Falls Golf Links. Other issues may arise in the future and will be addressed by the rules committee as needed.

Rules:
1.0 Mulligans and Maximum scores per hole.

1.1 - You are allowed one mulligan per round from your first tee of play only. You must declare to the foursome your decision to use your mulligan. Once you have HIT your mulligan you must play the mulligan as your shot. You cannot decide to hit the first shot after you have hit the mulligan.

1.2 - A provisional mulligan may not be used for any reason.

1.3 - Players are allowed a maximum number of shots per hole. The maximum for a par 3 is 8, a par 4 is 10, and a par 5 is 12. When a player has hit the maximum allowed shots, he is to pickup his ball, let the remaining players in the flight play out their balls, and then proceed to the next hole.

2.0 Out of Bounds

2.1 - At The Falls, OB are designated by white stakes.

2.2 - If your ball is deemed out of bounds (OB), you must place the ball two club lengths from where the ball went OB, not closer to the hole and hit your next shot from that point.

2.3 - There is a mandatory one-stroke penalty for any ball hit OB except when you use your mulligan.

2.4 - If there is a question as to where the ball went OB, you should get concurrence from the foursome on where it went OB.

3.0 Hazards

3.1 - At The Falls, water hazards are defined by yellow stakes or lines, lateral water hazards are defined by red stakes or lines.

3.2 - If your ball lands in a hazard, you must drop a ball outside of the hazard within two club lengths of and not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. Dropping the ball anywhere along the line of flight of the ball entering the hazard is not permitted! There is a ONE-stroke penalty for dropping your ball out of the hazard.

3.3 - If the ball enters the hazard on the fly, the point of entry is estimated based on the flight of the ball as it first enters any part of the hazard. (If a ball enters the hazard, then crosses a non-hazard area and re-enters the hazard on the fly, the point of entry is considered the first point the ball entered the hazard for the last time.

3.4 - If there is a question as to where the ball entered the hazard you should get concurrence from the foursome on where it should be played.

4.0 Ground Under Repair/Casual Water

4.1 - If your shot landed in an area that is a temporary "ground under repair" or "casual water," i.e. recent rains or sprinkling that causes standing water, you may move your ball out of the repair or water one club length out of the area but not closer to the green. This rule also applies to casual water in a sand trap; however, the drop must be made within the confines of the sand trap if at all possible. The ball is permitted to be cleaned before the drop. In addition, a ball in a trap, under any condition, may be picked up and cleaned, have the area under where the ball lies racked, and the ball dropped in the racked area. The racked area is not to exceed one-half club length square.

4.2 - Permanent obstructions on the course are not governed by this rule.

5.0 Improving Your Lie

5.1 - Your are permitted to "improve your lie" without a penalty stroke by moving your ball with your club only, (DO NOT SET THE BALL BY HAND!) no more than ONE club HEAD length with out advancing the ball to the green or pin. This rule does NOT apply to the hazard areas (e.g. wooded/tall grass areas, ravines, sand traps, and etc).  

6.0 Lost Balls

6.1 - If you have lost a ball you can spend a max of 2 minutes finding it. If you do not find your ball within 2 minutes, it is treated as an OUT OF BOUNDS ball. See para. 3.3. If you loss your ball, you must take a (1) stroke penalty.

6.2 - Each player needs to announce to his group the ball markings prior to play and inform his group of any changes made during the round.

7.0 Slow Play, Darkness, Schedule, and Weather

7.1 - Groups must keep pace with the group in front of them at all times. If a hole opens, the whole group will be asked to pick up their ball and go to the next tee or as many tees as necessary to bring them up to pace. If a player arrives late, he is to join the group on the course. Any holes he misses are to be indicated by an 'I' on the scorecard. The player is not allowed to complete the missed holes.

7.2 - The score for any skipped or incomplete hole will be determined as follows. Use your individual league average at the beginning of play that night to determine your score for that hole.

7.3 - Each team will receive 1/2 a point for each hole not completed

7.4 - If darkness prevents a foursome from completing a hole(s), the method of individual and team scoring will follow 7.2 & .3 above.

7.5 - Schedule changes at the course will only be made by the League Coordinator. Do not assume that a change of schedule has been made without direction from the League Coordinator or his designate.

7.6 - Only a Course representative may suspend play due to weather (lightning or storms). However, if lighting is in the area you should find shelter as soon as possible. Leave the course only after the course representative has called off play.

7.7 - If play is ended due to darkness, weather, etc., and all flights have completed at least 5 holes, then the round will be considered complete. Individual and team scores will be calculated using rules 7.2 and 7.3 above.

8.0 Individual League Averages and Handicaps

8.1 - Individual league averages and handicaps will be cumulative and will start with your first league night play. Note: Averages and handicaps from the previous year will be used to determine the scoring for the first night of league play for the new season.

8.2 - Each 9 hole score played will be used to determine your average and handicap for the next league play.
8.3 - A separate average and handicap will not be used for different "9's".

8.4 - Your league average will be listed as both raw score and your handicap. The handicap will be used to determine the number of points to be given to the higher handicap team score.

8.5 - The number of strokes to be given will be determined by adding your team's handicaps together and taking the difference between the two teams handicaps.

8.6 - Your handicap will be determined using USGA rules which include a 5 week "moving" handicap average. Weeks 1 through 5 will be averaged as normal. After week "5" is played the 1st week will be dropped for handicap purposes. After each subsequent week of play, one weeks score will be dropped from the average so that your handicap will be determined by the last 5 weeks played.

8.7 - Based on your handicap, you will be assigned an Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). This will effect the calculation of handicap only! ESC determines the maximum number of strokes a player can take on a hole for handicap calculation. For example, if a player has a handicap from 5 through 9, he may take a maximum of 7 strokes on any hole regardless of par. If he scores a 9 on a par 3, the 9 will be used to calculate his average, the team score for the hole, and the head to head point calculation for the match. However, for his handicap calculation, 7 will be used. Therefore, all players must complete the hole and their rounds.

8.8 - The maximum handicap will be 20.

8.9 - Handicap formula is your handicap average - 33 / (118/113)

8.10 - ESC table is:
0-4 Double bogey
5-9 7
10-14 8
15-19 9
20 or more 10

8.11 - Each match is worth 13 points, one point for each hole and two points for each head to head match. Score calculation is as follows:

   a) Take the difference between your team's total handicap and your opponent's total team handicap. This will determine how many strokes will be given to the higher handicap team.

   b) The difference calculated in step #1 is to spread to the holes you are playing based on the course handicap assigned to each hole. For example, if the difference is 9 strokes, the lower handicap team must add one stroke per hole to their total team score. Refer to point #3 below. If the difference is 5 and you are playing the front nine, the lower handicap team must add one stroke on holes 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8, the five highest handicapped holes for the front nine, #1 being the hardest hole. The holes where handicaps apply should be noted on the scorecard in some way such as circling the hole number. This process should be completed before the match begins and both teams should be in agreement.

   c) To determine who wins each hole played, compare the total team score against the total team score of your opponents. Whoever has the lower score wins the hole and is awarded one point. If a handicap stroke is involved, the amount of the handicap strokes must be added to the total team score of the lower handicap team. Then the comparison of scores is made and the point awarded. In the event the scores are the same, each team is awarded point. The points should be noted on the scorecard under each hole. This will account for 9 of the 13 points awarded for each match.

   d) Each team is to keep the scorecard for the opposing team and both teams should agree on the individual and team scores before continuing to the next hole. At the end of the match, both teams are to sign the score cards and submit them to the league coordinator or his designate.

   e) At the end of the match, each team should calculate their scores and agree on them. The individual matches are based on the handicap. The low handicap player on one team verses the low handicap player on the opposing team. Likewise, the high handicap player of one team will play the high handicap player of the opposing team. Each match is worth two points each. To determine the winners, first determine the difference in handicap between the low handicap players on each team and also the difference in handicap between the high handicap players on each team. Now determine who has the lowest handicap between the low handicap players and also who has the lowest handicap between the high handicap players. Take the difference in handicap between the low handicap players and add it to the actual score of the player who has the lowest handicap between the low handicap players. Compare the sum to the score of the other low handicap player. Whoever has the lowest score is awarded the two points. In the event the scores are equal, each player is awarded one point. Repeat the above process to determine the winner between the high handicap players.

Reminder
As a reminder, please ensure that all players in the foursome agree upon all scores before you play the next hole. More importantly, let the spirit of Christ guide our play. Don't let the spirit of competition rob us of the joy of brotherly fellowship. Also, as a favor to fellow players and in the interest of fellowship, cell phones are to be off during play.

We trust that this helps to clarify some of the questions that have come to the rules committee attention. If you have any other questions, please contact one of the rules committee members.

Members of the Rules Committee: 
Greig Gladen and Vince Galati