Mid Washington Senior Golf Association

Best Ball Rules

GENERAL:

 

All MWSGA tournaments will be played according to USGA, MWSGA rules, policies, and guidelines as well as any applicable state, local, course rules, policies, and guidelines.

All players should be knowledgeable of the basic rules established by the USGA.

 

PLAYING CONDITIONS:

 

Summer Rules: Play the ball as it lies unless announced by the Tournament Manager prior to the start of the tournament.

Winter Rules: The ball may be moved no more than six (6) inches and not closer to the hole.  If ball is moved it must be placed on the same cut of grass.

Sand Bunkers: Will be played according to USGA rules, policies, and guidelines. The ball must be played as it lies (exception: you may remove a rock or pebble if it interferes with contact of the ball).

PLEASE rake the bunkers when play is finished.

Taking Relief

  • A player may take free relief from an immovable obstruction, such as a building, bench etc. 
  • NO FREE RELIEF IS ALLOWED, if the ball is in a ‘penalty’ area, against a course boundary fence, boundary objects or integral objects. Non-staked tree or bush.
  • Relief is only granted if the obstruction interferes with the player’s swing or stance; a player does not get relief from the line of play.
  • A player is entitled to relief from a cart path, yardage markers, ball washer, staked tree, sprinkler heads, or signage on the course if the ball is not in a ‘penalty’ area.

 

TEE ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Tee Assignments are ‘pre-selected’ in Golf Genius according to the Rule of 85 (Age plus Handicap)
  • Tee Assignments (e.g., Back -White, Forward - Gold) will be identified on the Team’s scorecard.

 

Score Cards:

  • Exchange score card with other team.
  • Enter gross score for each player.
  • On the team score line, enter best gross score for the team.
  • All putts by both players must be holed out unless one player elects to ‘pick up’ to meet “pace of play’ expectation.  A player should ‘pick up’ if a triple bogey or higher will be scored, provided his/her partner has holed out for the team score.   An ‘X’ is recorded on the score card.
  • Score cards must be signed and attested and time stamped, no exceptions (Failure results in DQ).

 

PACE OF PLAY:  Please keep up with the group in front you.

 

KP HOLES: Par Three Holes will be identified for each Flight for a KP Prize.

 

RULES OF NOTE:  

  • A player must not stand on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball while their partner is making a stroke to gain information for their (the player’s) next stroke.
  • Option to leave the flag in during putts
  • Three (3) minutes to search and find your ball
  • No penalty for deflected ball, (double hit)
  • Drop the ball from knee height
  • A ball hit out of bounds may be dropped two (2) club lengths in the fairway nearest to point it went out no closer to the hole with a two (2)-stroke penalty. (MWSGA adopted)

 

 

                                                 Take the time to learn USGA Rules      Updated April 2024