Rev. February 28, 2006 (Rev 9-5-06)

        The M-PMGA Fiscal Year will be January through December 31.

.New—Sept 5, 200^:  The M-PMGA will provide a keg of beer and soft drinks at the next monthly luncheon for any or all aces scored by a member(s) during an M-PMGA event since the previous luncheon.

        Due to inclement weather or other reasons, the Tournament Committee will determine the playability of the course on the day of the scheduled event. The Tournament Committee will have sole discretion is canceling or continuing the event. Whenever possible, timely notification will be provided to the members.  Golf course management retains the right to cancel the event without M-PMGA input.

        As members of the M-PMGA, we are required to follow the rules of the USGA since our events are tournaments and our handicaps are USGA approved.  The use of non-conforming equipment is not allowed in any USGA sanctioned event at any level.

        Therefore, playing in any M-PMGA sponsored event with a non-conforming club or ball will result in disqualification for that event.  Repeated offenses by any individual may result in removal from the M-PMGA.

        If you have a club or ball that you feel may be non-conforming or is in question, it is your responsibility to contact the manufacturer and/or golf shop to determine if your equipment is in compliance.

All players must have paid their M-PMGA dues and AGA handicap fees, and have an established AGA handicap before being eligible to play in a M-PMGA event. (AGA handicaps are updated on the 1^st and 15^th of each month).

Members may sign up or withdraw using the golf shop computer system from 2 weeks up until 12:00 o’clock noon on the Friday before the event.  For the weekly Wednesday M-PMGA events requiring a special sign-up form, members may sign up or withdraw up until 12:00 o’clock noon on the Friday before the event. Special sign-up forms will be available in the golf shop 2 weeks before the event.  Event pre-payment may be required with the special sign-up form.

Members who withdraw after 4:00 p.m. on the Sunday before the event or who fail to show up for the event forfeit their fees and eligibility to participate in the next regular scheduled event.  In both cases, individuals may request a waiver for extenuating circumstances from the Tournament Committee.  The Tournament Committee will have sole discretion in granting such waiver. Remember, in team events, your team members are counting on you!

The Tournament Committee verifies all scores for the specified format played. Individual scores are verified by the Handicap Committee. 

       All scorecards must be signed by the scorer and the players listed on the scorecard, and returned to the location designated by the Tournament Committee.  A Tournament Committee member will arrange to pick up the cards after the end of the day’s play.  The Tournament Committee audits all scorecards for the specified format played and then forwards them to the Handicap Committee along with the list of winners. 

The Handicap Committee will verify the individual scores and verify that the scores have been posted. Members have until midnight on the Thursday following the

Event (or midnight on Friday following the second day of a two day event) to post scores.  Event winners who have not posted their scores will forfeit their prize money. The prize money forfeited by event winners who did not post will be distributed among the winners who did post.  The Handicap Committee will post scores for members who did not post and will correct improperly posted scores.

The official tournament results will be available in the Pro Shops by late Friday after the Handicap Committee completes their review.  The final list of winners will include scores and payout amounts, shall be in a format suitable for posting and will be provided to the golf shop in duplicate.  All payouts will be in the form of golf shop gift certificates.

The payout schedule shall be in accordance with the following guidelines:

   1.The "prize money pool" will be separate and distinct for each flight and will consist only of the aggregate entry fees paid in by the entrants in that flight.  All monies collected on any week will be disbursed that same week, less any allocations determined by the Board of Directors.  There shall be no carryover pool.

2. The payouts to the winners in any flight will be solely based upon the "prize money pool" collected for that flight.

3. For payout purposes, entrants shall be defined as individuals or 2 or 4 man teams.

   4.The “prize money pool" size will vary from week to week dependent upon # of entries. Special tournament events may have a different payout plan as needed.

   5.Minimum payout per player shall be $2.00.

NOTE # 1:      In the event of a tie for 1^st place, all pool money will be combined and split evenly.  There will be no 2^nd place payout.  In the event of a tie for 2^nd place, the 2^nd place pool money will be split evenly among the 2^nd place finishers.

NOTE # 2:      In the event of a 2-way tie for 1^st place, 1^st and 2^nd place pool money shall be combined and split evenly among the winners.  3^rd place money shall be awarded to the 3^rd place finisher(s), unless there is a 3 way tie or more for 1^st place, then all pool money for the tied players/teams shall be combined and split evenly among the 1^st place finishers.  Payouts for the subsequent places shall be dependent upon the number of remaining payout positions and players/teams that qualify.  Payout positions shall not exceed the table above, but may be less depending upon ties.

         M-PMGA members whose age plus handicap from the Purple Tees (MV) or Gold Tees (P) totals 90 or more may select to sign-up to play from the Green Tees (MV) or Platinum Tees (P) for weekly play days.  These members will play all events from the Green Tees (MV) or Platinum Tees (P) except for events designated by the Tournament Committee in which case they will play from the Purple Tees (MV) or Gold Tees (P).   Members playing from the Green Tees (MV) or Platinum Tees (P) will have their handicaps adjusted to reflect playing from these tees in addition to the rating differential between either the Green & Purple Tees at Mountain View or the Gold and Platinum Tees at the Preserve.

       In the event of a tie in match play or stroke play in which a winner is required, the following procedure shall be used for all M-PMGA sponsored events.  Any competitions requiring the use of tiebreakers should be identified in advance and the type of tiebreaker to be used, if different from those below.

       Match Play:  A match, which ends “all square”, should be played off hole by hole until one side wins a hole.  The playoff should start on the hole where the match began.  Handicap strokes should be allowed as in the prescribed round.

       Stroke Play:  In the event of a tie in a handicap stroke-play competition, a play-off with handicap strokes shall be played hole by hole until a winner is decided.  The play-off should start on hole #1 unless otherwise specified.  Handicap strokes should be allowed as in the prescribed round.

       If a play-off is not feasible, scorecards will be matched for the lowest gross score or net score from holes #10-18.  If the tying players/teams have the same scores for those nine holes, scores will be matched for the holes #13-18, then holes #16-18, and finally for hole #18.  If a tie remains, the scorecards shall be matched hole-by-hole starting with hole #1 until a winner is decided.  The net scores shall be based on the dotted handicap strokes from the scorecards.

        The MMGA Grievance Committee, which is chaired by the Vice-President, includes the Tournament Chairman, the Handicap Chairman, and the Rules Chairman.  This committee was established in 2003 for the purpose of resolving allegations brought to the Committee’s attention regarding the conduct of an M-PMGA member during an M-PMGA event.  The Committee will investigate the allegations and interview all relevant parties in order to attempt to come to a satisfactory resolution.  The Committee considers these matters to be confidential and will proceed accordingly.

1.        The duties and responsibilities of the Handicap Committee are delineated in the USGA Handicap System Manual, which is distributed to each new member.

2.        The effectiveness and fairness of the handicap system depends on the posting of all scores, both home and away.  The Committee reviews every M-PMGA event and corrects any non-postings or incorrect postings.  On a random basis, the Committee will audit the daily tee sheets from the Pro Shop with the scores posted to the AGA Handicap System.  If the percentage of rounds posted falls below 70% of the Member’s rounds played, then the Handicap Committee will require all scorecards be turned in to the Pro Shop.  The M-PMGA will be notified when and for how long this procedure will be in effect.  The Committee shall post a penalty score for those players who fail to post their score.  If the member fails to post an unusually high score, a high penalty score (highest of his last 20 scores), will be posted.  If it is an unusually low score, then a low penalty score will be posted.

3.        The USGA Handicap System relies heavily on peer review.  Everyone has the ability to access everyone else’s scores to make sure he has posted an accurate score.  In other words, if someone is winning most of the money in your weekend group, make sure he is posting his winning scores!  Those who arrange the tee times and pairings for your group should try to ensure that scores are posted.  The Committee is also required to look for indications of a player manipulating scores to influence his USGA Handicap Index, but rely heavily on peer review by all of our members to ensure everyone is shooting the best score they can, and posting the same.

4.        In an effort to ensure that everyone’s handicap is fair to all competitors, the Committee has established a “watch list”, as recommended by the AGA.  The Committee monitors every Wednesday M-PMGA event for scores of –3 net differential or lower (Score shot minus course rating times 113/course slope (MV) minus players handicap index).  Whereas the AGA recommends a person goes on the list after on –3 net differential, the M-PMGA has adopted a more lenient policy if two –3s or lower within a three month period.  When a person is placed on the watch list, he will receive a letter acknowledging that he has achieved two exceptional scores.  The purpose of the letter is to inform the member that if he scores another exceptional score soon thereafter, the Committee will evaluate his scores and handicap index to determine if his index needs to be adjusted to better reflect his potential for scoring.  The Summer 2004 issue of “Arizona, The State of Golf” (each M-PMGA member receives this periodical) has a very descriptive article on aspects of the Handicap System and a reprint of the Probability Table from Appendix E, “The USGA Handicap System” manual.

5.        If, after being put on the watch list, the member scores another exceptional score, the Committee will evaluate his scoring history to determine if the Handicap system is reacting fast enough to his rapidly improving scores.   If the Committee determines that an adjustment is required, another letter will be sent advising the member of the handicap reduction decision, allowing appeal to the Handicap Committee.  The letter will specify the handicap reduction and the duration of the reduction.

6.        The USGA Handicap System uses several letters following a person’s handicap index for special situations.  For example:

·         L signifies a person who has a handicap above the maximum allowed by the USGA.  It follows any handicap index greater than 36.4 and is to be used only for local competition.

·         N indicates a nine-hole handicap index.

·        M follows any handicap index that has been adjusted by the handicap Committee, either up or down.  This could happen when a member shoots three exceptional rounds and the committee believes his index is too high.  It can be used when the Committee raises a member’s index due to an injury or other medical condition.

·        R is an index that has been reduced because the person has had tournament scores within the past year that are significantly better than his current index.  Remember, T scores stay on your record for one year.  The handicap system looks at those scores at every index revision (twice a month) and determines if a reduction is required.