THIRD WARD LEAGUE RULES FOR 2010 (tentative)

1. The league consists of twenty (20) teams of either two or three men and a maximum of (6) floater positions. New players must have an established handicap (3 nine hole Deerwood scores) or have an existing handicap from another league. Paid membership in the Third Ward Social Club is mandatory.

2. Dues are $130/three man team or $100/two man team. Floaters pay dues of $30 each. Dues are to be paid to the league treasurer (Bronco Horvath) at the annual body meeting on Monday April 5, 2010. Please designate one team member to bring forth all the team dues at this time to expedite this process. All unpaid dues must be paid before the first match play begins on April 26, 2010. Failure to comply could lead to much public ridicule in the weekly newsletter and a $5 per week late fee assessment. Exception: League Secretarys and 50/50 split chairman’s dues to be paid by the league. Members must also be a member in good standing of The Third Ward Social Club to play in the league or his Golf Dues will not be accepted nor will he be eligible to participate in any league functions.

3. League start date is Monday 4-26-2010. Weather permitting, tell the wives it begins a couple weeks earlier than that and play a few practice rounds or just go straight to the bar. The course generally opens around the second week of April.

4. Scoring will be match play (hole by hole less handicap) and stroke total (team gross total minus both handicaps), with one point being scored for each match and two points for net team score for a total of 4 points to be contested for. The lower handicap players on each team play a match, ditto for the high handicappers. In case two players on a team have exactly the same handicap and average, designate who’s playing who with your opponent before teeing off. Please check your scores and sign your scorecards. Secretary will check each card for discrepancies, so get it right the first time, please!   

5. The handicaps will change every 4 weeks and are noted on the schedule. If you are playing a match before that scheduled date use your Handicap that is in place at the time you are playing. Your Handicap for the sweeps will be based on your 2010 average up to the first week of the sweeps on August 9th, The first 4 weeks of the season your Handicap is based your actual scores from the previous year.

6. Deerwood golf course is the only course allowed for league play. This is the Joey Bones rule which had to be put in because some jerk (JB) once tried to turn a card in from another course to count towards his match that is a no-no! Either the Buck or Doe or the Fawn nine may be used for scoring. It is not permitted to match cards from an opponent who has played at another time.

7. Scorecards must be turned in to either a) League Secretary Keith Miranto (1186 Master St. or 1128 Oliver St.) b) Outside Drop Box at the ticket office at Deerwood or c) emailed to kmiranto@hotmail.com. For any matches not being played on the scheduled Monday, both teams must notify the League Secretary or another League officer of the rescheduled match date, otherwise the match may be considered a forfeit for both teams. Please complete, review, sign and date your cards. This is your responsibility, signed cards are official. Many cards are being turned in with incorrect scoring, check your math and sober up when you’re signing those cards! DO NOT TAKE YOUR CARD TO THE THIRD WARD CLUB, PLEASE!

8. All rescheduled matches must be played before the regularly scheduled league date. E.g. May 10th scheduled matches may be played any time before May 10th. However, if the regularly scheduled week is cancelled due to inclement weather by the Rules Committee, any matches played previously will be declared null and void. Similarly, if the Rules Committee cancels the league on a Monday (decision will be made by 5:00 PM), any matches that either were completed earlier that day or are in progress will also be thrown out. Best policy: play your match within the designated time that our league has the tee which is between 4:30 – 5:30 on Mondays. It’s a Monday league, lets all try to remember that. It’s more fun when we’re all out together.

9. Rain outs/Snow outs/Cancellations for any reason by the Rules Committee.: That week of matches is cancelled and no scores will count. If you want to go out and play after the league is cancelled, knock your self out but we’ll not count the scores or matches. Similarly if the course is closed for inclement weather, the league is cancelled for that week. As a rule, always show up at the course, you never know what may be decided and besides, you can always sneak in a few cocktails that way regardless of the weather.

10. Tee off times is between 4:30 and 5:30. Should both opponents not be present by 5:30, you must play and turn in your card to receive points for the match. Try to punctual and not follow Tom Zinni’s poor habit of showing up at 5:29. 9. In any match you are unopposed; your score may not exceed 5 strokes above your average. This is for handicap purposes only you may still lose total. And if you’re a cheatin’ bastard, you deserve what you get!

11. If a team forfeits three matches (all three men fail to show), said team may be expelled from the league. Subject to rules committee review. If you have been STIFFED (no phone call from opponents while you sat on the tee with your thumb up your ass until 5:30), please write STIFFED across your score card next to where the scores of your opponents would be. Any team that STIFFS TWICE will be up for Rules Committee review for possible expulsion from the league.

12. New members must turn in three scorecards from Deerwood Golf Course ONLY to establish a handicap. Handicaps must be established before a match is played. Exception: The match being played may be considered your third card for handicap purposes. If no handicap is established, match is considered a forfeit. That means, you lose!

13. Out of bounds. Any shot going out of bounds, ball will be dropped nearest the point it went out, with a one shot penalty being incurred.

14. Lost ball. Any ball that is lost incurs one stroke penalty with the ball being dropped nearest the point where the ball was lost.

Exception: If the ball was obviously lost in the fairway and opponent agrees, drop a ball with no penalty.

15. Winter rules are in effect all year. However, it is the responsibility of each foursome, each week to set the ground rules which are always determined by weather, course conditions, etc. If all four agree to move the ball (one scorecards length) all over the course to improve lies, so be it. Moving the ball from underneath trees and out of hazards is not permitted. You may take relief from areas that are deemed free drop areas or environmental areas by the course. Otherwise, take a stroke and take a drop but don’t forget to gussie it up! Giving and taking gimmie putts is not encouraged however remember you are only cheating yourself by taking putts as your handicap will not be as true as if you were putting everything into the bottom of the cup.   

Miscellaneous

1. Annual league party is scheduled for Monday night October 4, 2010 starting with cocktails at 6 PM and Dinner to follow. This years Banquet committee is last years league champs; Dave Fingerlow, Matt Rusin and Kurt Bemisderfer.

2. The 2010 champs will be next years Banquet Committee and the 2011 officers will be elected at the year-end Banquet. Only one team member can hold a Rules Committee position in a given year. We will elect a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and (5) Rules Committee members at the year-end Banquet. Generally, the League Champs assume the positions of President & Vice President unless another team wants to run for those positions.

3.. All players who start the season hold the rights to their team spot. Players who leave the league or are expelled, hold no rights to any spot. His partner(s) will then have the option of filling the spot(s) for the following season. In the event an entire team quits or is expelled, the rules committee shall make determination as to replacement or not. Generally, if a team quits, preference will be given to an existing member of the league to form his own team. A master list of all teams with phone numbers, handicaps and league schedules will be distributed to all members. Any additional information can be received from league secretary Keith Miranto (531-0436).

4. League schedule will include 21 weeks, 19 regular season, the last four weeks of August being flights. The league is divided into four Divisions of which the top division winners will square off in a two week playoff to determine our overall champ and our overall point’s winner. The other teams/players will compete in a two week two-man scramble.  Team placement in each division/conference is determined by your previous years point total finish. 

5. Tie Breaker Policy – Tie breakers for Division Standings at the end of the season will be broken by:    # 1 Head to Head Record       # 2 Best Division Record       # 3 Best Conference Record

6. Prizes are awarded as follows: League Champion - Names on plaque & and can become the next years President  & Vice President. Overall Points Winner: Jacket or Sweater. A & B Flight champions - Jacket or Sweater. All league participants are invited to the year–end  Banquet.

HAVE A GREAT SEASON…!