Row concave Shape Decorative svg added to bottom

USGA Rules

We play the rules of the USGA with some exceptions. Our league is more about fun than real competitive golf although we have some excellent golfers mixed in with the duffers. Our exceptions to the USGA rules are the reason we don’t post your scores for your handicap. Some golfers play exactly to USGA rules and post their own scores. We encourage players without handicaps to join us and play. You will not win prizes but can share equally in the joy of golf played with friendly companions.

Learn more about USGA Rules

Exceptions

Our exceptions to USGA rules are:

  1. You can move your ball up to up to 6 inches, regardless if it is in the rough or fairway. Moving the ball does not mean building an artificial tee and placing your ball on it.
  2. You can move your ball 6 inches in the rough to improve your lie. This does not mean you can move your ball from the rough to the fairway or that you can move your ball to avoid a tree or rock on your path.
  3. We play balls out of bounds or lost in the woods as a one stroke penalty. From the point of entry, not the place where your ball might have gone if you hit it correctly, you can drop and count a one stroke penalty and hit from there. We do not play provisional balls.
  4. Rules of etiquette on when you may hit your ball are suspended for our group. Please hit when ready.
  5. Once you have reached a score of double par or a point in your life where you believe you will have double par, please pickup your ball. Double par is the highest score you can post. This is a new rule to help speed up play.

Speed of Play

Having dispensed with rules, the biggest complaint we have in our group is speed of play. Keeping up to the group in front of you is important. We are trying to achieve a maximum 4 1/2 hour round. If you feel that this is too difficult, here are a few suggestions:

  • Ride a cart.
  • Hit the ball when you get to it.
  • Continue to putt until your ball is in the hole.
  • Line up your putt while other golfers putting.
  • 5 minutes is about 3 minutes too long to look for a lost ball. We can provide free balls to golfers who can’t afford to lose a golf ball.

We don’t want people to feel rushed, but to respect other golfers on the course, we also want to discourage ultra slow golfing.