Stonebridge Ranch Country Club
The Hills Course, Senior Men’s Golf Association (SMGA)
Conditions of the Competition

All SMGA play is governed by the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective January 1, 2019.  The following Conditions of the Competition and Local Rules, together with any additions or amendments published by the SMGA at the golf course, will apply to all SMGA tournaments.

Conditions of the Competition:

  1. All players must check-in with the SMGA Tournament Director at least 20 minutes prior to tee time.
  2. Each group/team must select a player to enter the hole-by-hole scores into Golf Genius during play.  Each team or individual player must also legibly complete the assigned paper scorecard.
  3. The paper scorecard must be signed by at least one team player, or by the player for individual events, and returned to the official scorer.  The official scorer may help resolve any issues, but once the player has left the scoring area the scorecard is final and can no longer be corrected.  In case of conflict between the Golf Genius scores and the paper scorecard, the paper scorecard is the official document.
  4. All ties are decided by scorecard playoff using the USGA recommended count-back method (Last 9, 6, 3, 1 holes, then last to first)

 

We have six local rules briefly described below.  For the full text of any Local Rule referenced below, please refer to the SMGA Bylaws.

  1. Maximum Score on any hole is Net Double Bogey, if you can’t do better, pick up and enter Net Double Bogey. (Yes, it’s legal, see Rule 22)
  2. Maximum Time for Round.  To avoid DQ keep pace with the personalized time on your scorecard and turn your scorecard in to the official scorer without delay.
  3. Hole 24 dropping zone [Relief from the left penalty area, drop at the 150 yd marker, one stroke penalty.  This is only for hole 24, there are no other dropping zones]
  4. Abnormal Conditions in Bunkers (exposed liners and washed out sand treated as Ground Under Repair)
  5. Alternative to stroke and distance penalty for ball lost or out of bounds [if ball is lost or out of bounds, drop in fairway within 2 club lengths from the edge, two stroke penalty]
  6. Preferred lies [Lift Clean & Place, used when the entire course is cart path only.  Within one grip length, and only if in closely mown area.]

 

Helpful Hints:  Do not worry if Golf Genius doesn’t exactly match your paper scorecard, the official scorer will correct any Golf Genius entry errors for you.  He can do it much faster on his computer than you can on your phone!  The player is only responsible for entering the correct score for each hole, he is not responsible for any addition errors or errors in entering the Golf Genius scores.  That said, try to do the Golf Genius entries correctly and with some care, but if you skip a hole, or interchange two scores, let the scorer find it and fix it for you.  Huge time saver.

Reminder, all SMGA play is in accordance with the full rules of golf.  There are NO “gimmee” putts, or any dropping zones on par 3’s, or self-declared ground under repair, or winter rules, or waived rules, etc.  However, our tournaments have formats that allow you to pick up and enter your most likely score.  When possible, please pick up and enter your most likely score --- that is even better than gimmee putts!

To avoid DQ for slow play, please return your scorecard and any assigned CTP markers to the official scorer immediately after finishing your round, before taking your clubs to your car or going to the clubhouseFinish time is when the official scorer receives the paper scorecard.

Please take some care with your paper scorecard as errors may result in disqualification (Rule 3.3b), note the player is not responsible for addition errors, or any errors entering scores into Golf Genius, only for entering the correct score for each hole on the paper scorecard.

 

June 28, 2021