IHSMGA GOLF RULES

  1. Captains:

    2.     For play days, the team will have had a captain appointed by the play day organizer.  The captain will be responsible for keeping and posting the scores, speed of play, rule observance and the fact that the team score is reflective of the rules.  Other team members are responsible for making sure that the captain has an accurate record of the scores on any hole.  It is recommended that both carts keep a scorecard for verification purposes...  When a team member is “out of the hole” the captain shall ask the player to pick up in order to speed up play and that player shall record a “probable score for that hole but within the equitable handicap rules.

    Equitable Stroke Control

    Course Handicap

    Maximum Number on any Hole

    9 or less

    Double Bogey

    10 through 19

    7

    20 through 29

    8

    30 through 39

    9

    40 or more

    See Handicap Limits - note 15 below

  2. Putting:

    3. During playdays, if a players ball is "in the leather" the next stroke is conceded to be holed. "Within the leather" is defined as any part of the players ball that is inside the distance of the nearest part of the putter grip to the head when the putter in laying flat on the ground with the head inside of the hole.

  3. Ball movement:

    4. The Play Day organizer will determine if course conditions indicate we should play the balll as it lies or move it.  If we play “lift clean and place (L,C&P)” this means that the ball may be lifted cleaned and placed (once in your own fairway) within one club length no nearer the hole. The first cut of rough is considered to be rough and ball cannot be moved.

  4. Cart Paths:

    5. Bare ground within two feet of the cart path is to be considered to be an extension of the cart path and played under the rules relating to cart paths (and other obstructions).  Relief is as follows- take a stance at the nearest point which gives complete relief, take one club length from where the clubhead at that point touches the ground and drop the ball within that clublength no nearer the hole.  No penalty

  5. Casual water:

    6. Casual water is water visible when a normal stance is taken.  Relief is taken at the nearest point of relief plus one club length no nearer the hole. No penalty.

  6. Bunker:

    7. Wash areas in the bunker are considered GUR and the ball may be lifted and dropped without raking the bunker.  Wash area is defined as an area where water has caused erosion of the sand creating gullies/troughs.  An absence of sand due to rain does not constitute a wash area.  In the case of water in the bunker the ball may be dropped in a dry area behind the water in the bunker. If no such place exists it may be dropped in the bunker where the maximum available relief is available, no closer to the hole.  If no dry area in the bunker exists the ball may be dropped outside the bunker no nearer the hole with a one stroke penalty

  7. Hazards:

    8. When taking relief from water hazards (yellow stakes) options are to replay the shot from original position or to play the ball from a position as far back as you choose but in a direct line from the point where the ball actually entered the hazard and the hole (keeping the hazard between you and the hole).  It is not the line in which the ball was traveling entering the hazard.  One stroke penalty.  For lateral water hazards (red stakes) the same two options apply plus (a) drop the ball within two club lengths of where the ball entered the hazard or (b) on the other side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.  One stroke penalty. 

    When a ball is in a hazard but playable (e.g. Cherokee 4) you may not ground your club or touch or move loose impediments in the hazard such as twigs or leaves etc without incurring penalty.  Movable obstructions such as cans, bottles, etc may be moved.  .

  8. Mulligans: 

    9. Mulligans are permissible on the first tee only and if taken must be used as the ball in play.  You will not have the choice of two shots and picking the better.

  9. Ball identification:

    10. You may lift a ball anywhere on the course, even in a hazard, if you need to identify your ball but you may not clean it (you will notice that the pros lift with two fingers) and replaced it in the exact spot (usually marked with a tee or coin). If the lie is altered when you lift the ball you must recreate the lie when replacing the ball.

  10. Rules Questions: 

    11. If not resolved in the fourball, play two balls and announce which ball you would like to count if the rules apply, record both scores and obtain decision from the rules committee at the end of the round.

  11. Clubs

    12. The limit of 14 clubs will apply unless otherwise specified.

  12. Lost Ball

    13. Rules are that we have a limit of five (5) minutes to look for a lost    ball.  If you find it after 5 minutes it is still lost and may not be played.  Doing so is playing a “Wrong Ball” and carries a two stroke penalty.

  13. ”Distance-Measuring Devices

    14. For all play of the SMGA, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.”

  14. Native Grass

    15. The IHSMGA Board of Directors has ruled that in order to speed up play, all balls lost in the native grass shall be played as a lateral hazard. This local rule only applies to regular play days not tournaments. 

    During a tournament if a ball is lost in the native grass it must be played as a lost ball.  If you think it went in the native grass and might be lost, you can hit a provisional.  If choose not to hit a provisional and you cannot find your ball you must return to where you hit the last ball and hit again. This rule applies to the following holes:

    Seminole 3 (behind the green), 4, 5 and 9; Choctaw 9

  15. Handicap Limits:

    16. Weekly Playdays

    Any member with a handicap index greater than 34.6 (39 C.H.) will be able to play in playdays after paying the entry fee. However, their score will not be counted in the team score. The team captain will request a blind draw or other resolution for a +34.6 index player assigned to their team at the scoring table. The player will benefit from the team’s ranking or winnings through use of the blind scores. The player’s course handicap will be capped at 39 and be eligible for the closest to the pin, longest putt awards, low net, and skins. (revised 2/2014)

    (Last revised March, 2016)