Rules

Tall Cedars Golf League Rules Summary

  • All play will be governed by League Rules, Local Course Rules and the USGA Rules.
  • Out of Bounds Rule – The player shall play his next stroke as nearly as possible at the spot which the original ball went out of bounds, no more than two (2) club lengths, adding One (1) Penalty Stroke to his score for the hole.
  • Unplayable Ball – The player is the sole judge as to when his ball is unplayable.  Penalty for an unplayable ball is one stroke and ball shall be dropped as near as possible to the unplayable spot, no more than two (2) club lengths and no nearer the hole.  [See local course rules concerning maintenance equipment]
  • Ball in Water Hazard – If a ball lies or is lost in a water hazard, the player may drop a ball under penalty of one (1) stroke behind the water hazard, keeping the spot at which the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard between him and the hole.  This rule applies whether or not there is water present in the hazard.
  • Sand Traps – If a ball enters a sand trap and comes to rest in a hole created by the preceding player or no sand, you are allowed to lift the ball, level the sand, and drop the ball at knee height, as close as possible to the former location or remove your ball entirely from the sand trap using the original line of flight to drop your ball, incurring a 2 (two) stroke penalty.
  • Searching for Lost Ball- The maximum time looking for a lost ball is three (3) minutes.
  • Course Rule – Matches shall be played using “Winter” rules.  Ball may be moved with the club head a distance of no more than twelve [12] inches, no nearer the hole, in fairways only.
  • Ball on or Near Tree Root- Player may move his ball no more than necessary to create a safe shot, keeping all obstructions between the ball and the green or fairway. (No closer to the hole)
  • Pin may be left in or taking out when putting.
  • Choice of tee using the “Rule of 85” – any member who’s double 9 hole handicap plus their age is equal to or higher than 85 may choose to use the forward(Gold) tees if they wish, all others must use the white tees. All members perfering the gold (forward) tees must indicate their choice prior to the playing schedule being published.

Scoring and Score Cards

  • Call your opponent the day before the match to insure being there and at what approximate time.  Be sure to call if you cannot be there!
  • If a player fails to appear by 5:30 p.m., he will automatically forfeit the match and ten [10] points to his opponent.  A scorecard indicating this should be turned in to the Statistician who will then notify the Rules Committee to make the final decision.  The player postponing a match is obligated to make arrangements for rescheduling the match within the prescribed, three (3) week, grace period or else forfeit the match.
  • Rescheduled matches will be played using the most recent player handicap. It will not be permissible to turn in more than two [2] cards per night from the same nine holes.
  • Matching of score cards is strictly forbidden.  Any members found to be matching score cards will forfeit the match and receive no points for the match.
  • The schedule week shall begin on Thursday and end the following Wednesday.  All matches must have date originally scheduled entered on the score card.
  • On the same day a match is played, score cards are to be dated, signed and attested by both players.  All score cards shall be turned in to the Statistician no later than the following Thursday.
  • If there is a disagreement between the players of a match, they shall declare, at that point, that they are playing the remainder of the match under protest.  The Rules Committee should then be notified so that the grievance may be judged and a decision rendered.
  • There will be a total of eighteen (18) match play points per match, two (2) points for each hole.  In the case of ties for any hole, each player will receive one (1) point.

2021 RULES OF THE TALL CEDAR LEAGUE

  1. Section I  General
  2. Section II Course, Playing & Season Rules

SECTION I – GENERAL

  1. MEMBERSHIP

    1. Any member of Tall Cedars of Lebanon may apply for membership in the league. Non-Masonic, new members shall be invited guests of The Golf League’s Tall Cedars members. Total membership of the league may be limited as necessary to insure a proper working schedule.
    2. A new applicant must submit an established P.G.A. club handicap or after the first five (5) match play rounds of league play a handicap will be calculated by the league Statistician. This handicap will be utilized for awarding points retroactive to pervious rounds that have been played.
    3. If a member has forfeited three or more matches he may be suspended from the League at the Rules Committee. If the member has either been suspended from the League or wishes to withdraw from the League, every effort will be made to replace him with a new member.
  2. OFFICERS

    1. Shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Statistician.
    2. Officers shall be elected at a League meeting held between the close of the season and the annual banquet.
    3. New officers shall assume their duties following the annual banquet.
    4. Duties of the Officers…

      1. President will be in charge of all meetings of the League and be ex officio member of all committees.
      2. The Vice President will be responsible to take over the duties of the President during his absence and shall be Chairman of the Rules Committee.
      3. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all meetings, shall carry on such correspondence as deemed necessary and shall record and bank in a recognized banking institution as designated by the Officers, all finances of the League.
      4. The Statistician shall be responsible for collecting all score cards after each match and shall calculate the points for each player. He shall then record the scores for handicap calculation purposes. It shall be his responsibility to provide a monthly listing of points accumulated by each member. He shall also publish a seasonal summary.
  3. COMMITTEES

    1. The Standing Committees will be: Rules, Scheduling, Entertainment, Tournament and Executive. Their memberships will be appointed by the President.
    2. Special Committees may be appointed by the President, when necessary.
    3. Duties of the Committees…

      1. The Rules Committee shall meet several months before the season opens to discuss changes or additions to the League rules. At the first League meeting, this Committee shall present their agenda for discussion and vote. Throughout the season they will serve to arbitrate any question of the rules. It will act as a grievance committee to submit a just decision in the event that a complaint has been registered. All claims of forfeiture of a match shall be submitted to the Rules Committee which shall have the power to pass on same.
      2. The Scheduling Committee shall prepare all schedules.
      3. Entertainment Committee shall plan and make arrangements for the annual banquet and other social affairs.
      4. The Tournament Committee shall arrange for an 18-hole tournament at the end of the season and any other special matches the League wishes to have. It will be their responsibility to arrange for prizes both throughout the season and for all special matches.
    4. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers and committee Chairman who shall review all matters pertaining to the league activities.
  4. DUES

    1. All members will be assessed dues, the amount of which will be determined at the initial league meeting of the year.
    2. Dues from all league members will be paid, in full, prior to the first league match of the season.
    3. A nominal assessment may be levied to cover excess banquet expenses.
  5. GOVERNMENT

    1. Any officer of the league may call a meeting of the league. The secretary shall be informed so that he may notify the members by mail or phone at least five [5] days before the meeting.
    2. A quorum shall consist of one-quarter [1/4] of the league membership.
    3. Final approval of all rules or changes in rules shall be made by a majority of the members present at a regularly called meeting of the league.
    4. Any grievance must be submitted to the Rules Committee before the end of the week in which the match is played.
    5. Any deviation of the playing rules must be submitted to the Rules Committee for approval.

SECTION II – COURSE, SEASON AND PLAYING RULES

  1. All play will be governed by League Rules, Local Course Rules and the USGA Rules.
  2. Some of the more common rules are as follows:
    1. No player shall agree to exclude the operation of any rule or local rule or to waive any penalties incurred.
    2. Out of Bounds Rule – The player shall play his next stroke dropping a ball from knee height as nearly as possible at the spot which the original ball went out of bounds, no more than two (2) club lengths, adding One (1) Penalty Stroke to his score for the hole.
    3. Unplayable Ball – The player is the sole judge as to when his ball is unplayable. Penalty for an unplayable ball is one stroke and ball shall be dropped from knee height as near as possible to the unplayable spot, no more than two (2) club lengths and no nearer the hole. [See local course rules concerning maintenance equipment]
    4. Ball in Water Hazard – If a ball lies or is lost in a water hazard, the player may drop a ball under penalty of one (1) stroke behind the water hazard, keeping the spot at which the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard between him and the hole. This rule applies whether or not there is water present in the hazard.
    5. Sand Traps – If a ball enters a sand trap and comes to rest in a hole created by the preceding player, you are allowed to lift the ball, level the sand, and drop the ball at knee height, as close as possible to the former location or remove your ball entirely from the sand trap using the original line of flight to drop your ball, incurring a 2 (two) stroke penalty.
    6. Searching for Lost Ball- The maximum time looking for a lost ball is three (3) minutes.
    7. Course Rule – Matches shall be played using “Winter” rules. Ball may be moved with the club head a distance of no more than twelve [12] inches, no nearer the hole, in fairways only.
  3. REGULAR PLAY
    1. The scheduling committee will schedule all matches on Thursday evenings as twosomes. However, whenever possible, we should tee off as a four-some. Matches should be started between 2:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. on the first or tenth tee. To play the other nine holes, mutual consent of the players involved is required. All members must accommodate the 5:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. opponents or forfeit the match.
    2. In the case of a rainout, the scheduled matches will be replayed or made up at a future date.
    3. It is up to the players concerned whether or not to cancel a match due to weather conditions, darkness, etc. To constitute a legal match, the full nine holes must be completed or replayed in its entirety.
    4. Call your opponent the day before the match to insure being there and at what approximate time. Be sure to call if you cannot be there!
  4. MATCH MAKE-UP
    1. For a legal postponement of a match, an opponent should make a courtesy phone call. If a player fails to appear by 5:30 p.m., he will automatically forfeit the match and ten [10] points to his opponent. A scorecard indicating this should be turned in to the Statistician who will then notify the Rules Committee to make the final decision. The player postponing a match is obligated to make arrangements for rescheduling the match within the prescribed, three (3) week, grace period or else forfeit the match.
    2. Rescheduled matches will be played using the most recent player handicap.
    3. It will not be permissible to turn in more than two [2] cards per night from the same nine holes.
    4. Matching of score cards is strictly forbidden. Any members found to be matching score cards will forfeit the match and receive no points for the match.
    5. The schedule week shall begin on Thursday and end the following Wednesday. All matches must have date originally scheduled entered on the score card.
  5. SCORING
    1. On the same day a match is played, score cards are to be dated, signed and attested by both players. All score cards shall be turned in to the Statistician no later than the following Thursday.
    2. If there is a disagreement between the players of a match, they shall declare, at that point, that they are playing the remainder of the match under protest. The Rules Committee should then be notified so that the grievance may be judged and a decision rendered.
    3. There will be a total of eighteen (18) match play points per match, two (2) points for each hole. In the case of ties for any hole, each player will receive one (1) point.
  6. HANDICAP RULE
    1. Handicaps for all former members shall be the ones computed at the end of the preceding season.
    2. Handicaps for new members shall be in accordance with the provisions of §I.1.b.
    3. Handicaps shall be computed by the Statistician and shall be revised after each month of play.
    4. Maximum handicap is eighteen [18] strokes.
    5. The handicap for any special 18-hole match [i.e., League Championship, Flight Championship, mid-season tournament, etc.] will be double the handicap in effect at the time the regularly scheduled league match is played prior to such special, 18-hole match. The score of such special match shall not be used in the calculation of a future handicap.
  7. DETERMINATION OF LEAGUE CHAMPION AND FLIGHT CHAMPIONS
    1. Only members of the League, with tenure greater than one [1] year, shall be considered eligible to participate in the playoffs determining the League Champion.
    2. In the event of a tie for a Flight Champion a match play 18-hole playoff will be scheduled to determine the winner. Any additional tie will require sudden death non-handicapped playoff.
    3. League Champions will be determined by a match play 18-hole playoff between the winners of each flight. In the event of a tie a match play sudden death non- handicapped playoff will determine the League Champion.
    4. The Championship match is to be played at the earliest possible date after the close of the regular season.
  8. AWARDS
    1. The Tournament Committee shall be responsible for the awards to be given to the Flight and League Champions.
  9. ANNUAL DINNER
    1. An annual dinner will be held after the close of the season for the presentation of awards.