Rules & Information
SENIOR GOLFERS PLEASE COME COMPETE!
18 HOLE INDIVIDUAL STROKE PLAY TOURNAMENTS.
PLAY AND EARN POINTS EACH TOURNAMENT TO WIN YOUR FLIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHO CAN PLAY? ALL GOLFERS ARE ELIGABLE TO PLAY ON THIS TOUR 50+!
THE MOST FUN YOU WILL EVER HAVE PLAYING GOLF IS TO PLAY ON A GOLF LEAGUE AND TEST YOUR GAME.
ALL AMATEUR PLAYERS WELCOME! THE MOST COMMON THING PLAYERS SAY IS "I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY ON A TOUR". BUT THEIR WRONG WE HAVE A FLIGHT FOR YOU. YOU CAN SHOOT OVER 100 OR UNDER 72. WE HAVE A FLIGHT FOR ALL ABILITIES. PLAY WITH US AND ESTABLISH A PSGL HANDICAP THEN COMPETE AGAINST PLAYERS WITH YOUR SAME ABILITY. ONCE YOU ACHIEVE A HANDICAP THEN THAT IS THE FLIGHT YOU WILL PLAY UNTIL YOU IMPROVE OR DECLINE IN YOUR GAME. WE HAVE A VERY FAIR HANDICAP SYSTEM TO KEEP YOU PLAYING AGAINST PLAYERS WITH YOUR SAME ABILITY.
WE PLAY BALL UNTIL IT IS IN THE HOLE.
NO PICK-UPS AFTER TRIPLE BOGIE OR DOUBLE PAR RULE!
THIS IS YOUR LEAGUE! THE SENIOR PLAYERS LEAGUE. WE JUST ORGANIZE THE LEAGUE FOR US ALL TO HAVE A PLACE TO COMPETE PLAYING 18 HOLE STROKE PLAY COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENTS FOR YOURSELF. WE ENJOY DOING THIS AS A HOBBY AND TO HAVE A PLACE TO COMPETE AND TEST OUR GAMES TO SEE HOW GOOD WE REALLY ARE. TRUE HANDICAPS WILL COME OUT USING ONLY THESE TOURNAMENTS, SO YOU WILL BE PLAYING AGAINST PLAYERS WITH YOUR SAME ABILITY.
COMPETITION WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PLAYER.
PALMETTO GOLF TOURS RULES
WE USE USGA AND ARE OWN SPECIAL PSGL RULES.
PLEASE READ THESE RULES SO YOU DON'T COST YOURSELF ANY PENALTY STROKES.
BALL OUT OF BOUNDS (WHITE STAKES)
IF YOU HIT A BALL OUT OF BOUNDS (WHITE STAKES). WE WILL HONOR THE STROKE AND DISTANCE RULE. YOU MAY DROP THE BALL STRAIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE YOU WENT OUT OF BOUNDS. TWO CLUB LENGTHS INTO THE FAIRWAY WITH A 2 SHOT PENALTY.
NEW PLAYER TO THE TOUR
ANY NEW PLAYER THAT PLAYS AND SHOOTS 5 SHOTS BETTER THAN THE LOWEST ALLOWED HANDICAP IN THE FLIGHT THEY START IN MUST MOVE UP IN FLIGHT THAT DAY AND ONLY GET THE POINTS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN THE CORRECT FLIGHT. IF THE PLAYER WOULD HAVE WON OR PLACED AND EARNED MONEY THE PLAYER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COLLECT, THEY GET ONLY THE POINTS THEY WOULD HAVE EARNED. SO PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO SANDBAG IT COULD COST YOU MONEY. PLAYERS KNOW HOW GOOD THEY PLAY AND KNOW WHERE THEY SHOULD START. NO EXCUSES!!
PACE OF PLAY! ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RULES! NO PLAYER IS ALLOWED TO ARRIVE TO WHERE THE BALL MY BE LOST WITHOUT THEIR SCOREKEEPER. THEN YOU CAN PROCEED TO LOOK FOR LOST BALL. THERE WILL BE A 2 STROKE PENALTY IF YOU GET PROTESTED BY GROUP.
Play "Ready Golf." Each group must strive to keep up with the group in front of them. If a player loses a ball, he has only three (3) minutes to find that ball. If the player thinks he has lost his ball after you have hit, you must hit a provisional ball to keep from going back to hit another ball. This saves lots of time. If after the 3 minutes the ball is not found then the player must use their provisional ball. Each group is responsible to finish within 15 minutes behind the group in front of them - 15 minutes usually means you are playing a full hole behind or two holes behind. If a group falls behind more than 15 minutes, your group will be put on the clock. The player who is taking more than 1 minute to hit his shot will be penalized for slow play - a 2-stroke penalty will go to the player who is taking more than 1 minute to hit in the group. It should not take over 4 1/2 hours to complete a round of golf. Play "Ready Golf" if you lose sight of the group in front of you, you should increase your speed until you get back on their heels. We will try to have a Marshall at each event to inform groups if they are behind and need to pick up the pace. Be ready on the green to make your putt also speeds play. Have your line picked out, as soon as you arrive to the green start looking your putt over especially if you like to look from both sides or all sides of the ball. YOU MAY NOW LEAVE THE FLAG IN THE HOLE WHEN YOU PUTT. Thanks For Your Cooperation to make everyones game more pleasant!
WE PLAY THE BALL DOWN WHENEVER POSSIBLE
We play the ball down at all times. With a few exceptions. Exception #1: If a ball comes to rest in a divot in your fairway you may move the ball one club head behind the divot. Exception #2: If your ball comes to rest in a footprint in a bunker from it not being raked properly. Then you can place the ball one club head behind the footprint. IN BOTH THESE CIRCUMSTANCES YOU MUST HAVE YOUR SCOREKEEPER AND OTHER PLAYER AGREE THAT YOU ARE IN THIS POSITION. YOU WILL BE PENALIZED IF YOU MOVE THE BALL WITH OUT THEIR APPROVAL 1 SHOT.
WE ARE SORRY IF YOU HIT THE BALL IN A WOODED AREA OR OUT OF YOUR FAIRWAY AND IT COMES TO REST AGAINST A TREE ROOT OR A ROCK. YOU MUST TAKE AN UNPLAYABLE LIE WITH A 1 STROKE PENALTY IF YOU DON'T OR CAN'T HIT YOUR BALL. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE HIT YOUR BALL IN THIS AREA AND NOT ON THE FAIRWAY.
UNPLAYABLE LIE OPTIONS
When a player takes an unplayable lie he has 3 options. Option #1: You may go back to same spot you hit from and re-hit your shot. Option #2: You can move your ball 2 club lengths no closer to the hole, sideways either way or back. Option #3: You can go straight back as far as you want keeping a straight line to the flag. All these options you must take a 1 stroke penalty.
LOST BALL & Putting Provisional Ball In Play
If a player thinks they have lost a ball, they must hit a provisional ball right away. Then the player and his scorekeeper can proceed to the area where they think ball is lost. This will keep the pace of play going. The player then only gets 3 minutes to find their ball, another player should keep the time and let them know when the time is up, not one second longer. Because slow play is one of the most frustrating parts of a golf tournament. Not hitting a provisional ball creates slow play. Its better to be safe than sorry, and you can always pick up your provisional ball a lot faster than going back to hit one again. SO PLEASE PLAY PROVISIONAL BALLS.
WHAT YOU MUST DO BEFORE HITTING PROVISIONAL BALL
IF A PLAYER IN YOUR GROUP THINKS THEY MAY HAVE HIT A BALL IN WOODS OR LOST THE BALL OR HIT ONE OUT OF BOUNDS. THEY MUST HIT A PROVISIONAL BALL. IF PLAYER HAS TO USE THE PROVISIONAL BALL THEN HE MUST TAKE A 1 SHOT PENALTY. BEFORE THE PLAYER HITS THE PROVISIONAL BALL, HE MUST SHOW HIS SCORE KEEPER THE BALL MARKINGS THAT SHOULD BE MARKED DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST BALL. IF PLAYER DOES NOT SHOW THE BALL AND HITS HE WILL GET A 1 SHOT PENALTY. IF PLAYER HITS THE PROVISIONAL BALL OUT OF PLAY AGAIN THEY MUST MARK THE NEXT BALL DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST TWO AND SHOW THE BALL BEFORE HITTING OR RECIEVE ANOTHER 1 SHOT PENALTY AGAIN FOR NOT SHOWING THE BALL. THEY MUST ALSO TAKE 1 MORE SHOT PENALTY FOR HITTING THE THIRD BALL AND SO ON AND SO ON UNTIL ONE IS IN PLAY. PLAYER IS ONLY ALLOWED TO LOOK FOR EACH BALL FOR 5 MINUTES AND ONE OF THE PLAYERS SHOULD KEEP TIME WHILE LOOKING. NO PLAYER IS ALLOWED TO GO TO THAT AREA WITHOUT THEIR SCOREKEEPER WHICH IS IN THE OTHER CART!! SO BOTH CARTS MUST RIDE DOWN TO THE AREA TOGETHER! IF A BALL IS FOUND THE PLAYER CAN NOT TOUCH OR HIT THE BALL UNTIL THE SCOREKEEPER HAS LOOKED AT THE BALL , THEY NEED TO INDENTIFY THE BALL THEN REPLACE IN EXACT SPOT AND AGREE THAT THE BALL IS THE CORRECT BALL! IF THERE IS A PROBLEM ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BECAUSE MORE THAN PROVISIONAL BALL WAS HIT THEN THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE DIRECTOR FOR FINAL RULING. OTHER TWO PLAYERS SHOULD HIT IF COURSE IS CLEAR THEN COME BACK TO HELP FOR THE REST OF THE 5 MINUTES. OUT OF COURTESY TO THE PLAYER THAT LOST BALL
MOVING UP IN FLIGHT
EACH FLIGHT HAS A BREAK OUT HANDICAP LISTED ON EACH FLIGHTS POINTS STANDINGS PAGE. IF PLAYER REACHES THE HANDICAP LISTED IN THEIR FLIGHT THEY MUST MOVE UP IN FLIGHT AND BE RESCORED IN THEIR NEW FLIGHT. DIRECTOR HAS FINAL APPROVAL.
MOVING BACK IN FLIGHT
To be allowed to move back in Flight. We keep each players past 16 rounds, played with us, when they play 16 we drop the oldest round off each tournament. Example: If a player is a B Flight player with 7 B scores, but the player starts struggling and can not shoot B scores any longer, when the player has dropped all their B Flight scores from his past 16 rounds and has 7 C Flight scores, he will be eligable to move back to C Flight. The player does not have to move if he does not want to. They may realize they are just in a slump and can play out of it.
RE-SCORING PLAYERS THAT MOVE FLIGHTS DURING SEASON
Players that are moved to a new flight will recieve the points they would have gotten if playing in their new flight in the past rounds they played. If the player would have had a third place in the new flight in the past tournament then they would get third place points. Although, If a new player with less than 7 rounds would have won his new flight after being re-scored in their new flight he can only get 90 points, So it benifits the player to make sure they start in the correct flight so they don't have to move up and possibly not get 100 points for winning. Established players who have been playing in a flight for over 8 rounds will get 100 points if they would have won the tournament if they get bumped up because they are just improving their game.
Balls & Clubs
Each player must mark two (2) golfballs at the start of every tournament, the ball you intend to start with and a provisional ball. Your two golfballs must have different markings or numbers. You must show the players in your group both of these marked balls and show which one you will tee off with before you tee off. If you lose or think you have lost the first ball that you started with, you need to hit your second ball as a provisional immediatly so that you don't have to go back and hit from that spot, after not finding the first ball. If you have to go to woods or water to look for your ball you must take your scorekeeper to look for your ball. The other 2 players can play their ball, then come help in the search until the 5 minutes is up. This saves valuable time. If a player rushes to the spot where their ball was hit without scorekeeper they will be given a 1 stroke penalty.
Each player is also responsible for counting his or her clubs, players must have only 14 clubs at the start. Any player who gets caught with more than 14 clubs will recieve a 2-stroke penalty for each hole they start with over 14 clubs.
Shot Maximum
Play Each Hole Out Until Ball Goes In Hole. No Max. Limit!
Event Day Weather
If it is raining before a tournament, we may postpone to another day. If play has already started, then play will only be stopped if there is lightning seen in the area. The golf course will sound a horn to halt play. You must be prepared to play in the light or coming and going rain. Have with you a rain jacket, umbrella, etc., or anything you deem necessary to continue playing. If the rain becomes too intense to continue play were the course gets to wet, the horn will also be sounded to halt play. Take cover or return to club house and wait for the horn to sound again to resume play.
If lightning is sighted, or the horn sounds for lightning, return to the clubhouse immediately. If the tournament cannot be continued, it can be scored official if all players have completed nine-holes. We will always try to play tee times, if the weather is forcasted to be an issue, so all of the players will get to play the same nine holes. The tournament will be scored as complete if all players get to play the front nine before the tournament is stopped due to weather. Therefore, if the tournament is scheduled to be a Shotgun Start, it could be changed to Tee Times due to the weather forecast. With the likelyhood of inclement weather, check our web site to see if Tee Times are posted as a change from a scheduled Shotgun. Thank you.
On Course Rulings Play Two Balls
If there is ever any doubt about what a player should do, and no one in the group can fully answer the question, then the player must play two balls and finish the hole playing and scoring both balls. Then all of the players in that group must come to the scoring table and talk with the director to decide which ball should be used before signing the score card. The player and the director may go out to the spot to make the correct ruling.
Dress Code & Respect
All courses require that you wear a collared shirt and no denim. Shorts are allowed (not denim). Please use proper golf etiquette while competeing at all times you are on the course. No throwing clubs or cussing is allowed. If a player complains about this behavior you may be kicked off the Tour. If you decide you want to Withdraw from playing in a tourney you must ride without hitting shots until you finish the nine you are on and continue to keep your players score. You may also be banned from playing on the tour if you leave the course before you group finishes the nine. Emergency will be understandably such as injury or Emergency at home and you must leave immediatly. If the player wanting to Withdraw is on the first nine then when the group gets to the turn the remaining two players are two players that requested to play together must wait for group behind them and one player must switch with one of the three behind and the two players can proceed to play the remaining 9 holes. This again is so the players have no doubt what so ever that the scoring is correct.
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING AND REMEMBER THIS IS A GENTLEMENS GAME AND WE EXPECT NO LESS!!
