Mid Washington Seniors Golf Association
Board Meeting
July 3, 2024
11:00am – 1:00pm
Call to Order
Board Members in Attendance
Wes Forshee, Denney Dawson, Reinhold Schuetz, Ron
Whitaker, Steve Carley, Jim Pape, Terry Welling, John Galligan, Bob Watson and Paul McDonald.
Board Members not in Attendance
Perry Straus, Tom Seeley
Past Board Members not in Attendance
Chuck Broten and Dan Skaramuca
Order of Business
A. Review and approve the March 20, 2024 Board Member Minutes.
1. Unanimously approved by the board . Document will be entered into the Golf Genius portal.
B. Mid-Season Tee Assignment Review & Audit
ISSUE:
The eligibility for assignment of Forward Tees according to the Rule of 85 was performed at the beginning of the season. This assignment may have changed for some players because of significantly improved handicaps, based on scores recorded in the GHIN system, since the season started.
DISCUSSION:
1. Concerns were expressed by several board members that we should consider a review of the assignment of tees and adjust the application of the Rule of 85 in mid-season to better reflect improved or declining handicaps getting better or worse, age change or a combination of both.
2. Prior to the beginning of the season most all of the members were evaluated and assigned a tee based on meeting criteria established within in the rule of 85, but there may be a few players incorrectly assigned to the forward tees who are taking advantage based on the same handicap now as when the season began and there hasn’t been an adjustment. Additionally, several players maybe incorrectly been assigned the forward tees in the master and league portal.
ACTION:
1. QA/QC review of tee assignments listed on the master and league roster will be conducted. The goal is to identify and research this exemption and any other players incorrectly assigned forward tees. They might not qualify using the rule of 85 and are playing from the wrong tees.
2. The board approved a policy to conduct a mid-season review beginning in the 2025 season to verify and confirm a player’s eligibility to play from the forward Tees according to the Rule of 85 (age plus handicap). Also, the board may adjust a player’s eligibility to play from the Forward Tees if an error has been made in the initial determination.
C. Timeclock – Failure to Punch Clock
ISSUE:
The use of the time clock has been well received by members and a positive influence in helping with the pace of play during our tournaments. However, there have been several instances of players/teams inadvertently failing to document their time using the time clock following their round of golf.
DISCUSSION:
1. The consensus of the board was that the time clock has been well received by the members and has made a positive difference in the pace of play.
2. It was suggested that failure to punch the time clock should carry the same penalty as not signing your scorecard which is disqualification (DQ).
ACTION:
1. There was a unanimous decision by the board that we should amend the best ball and scramble rules. If the team does not sign the scorecard and/or time stamp the scorecard they will be disqualified.
2. The rules will be effective during the remainder of 2024 season. A general notice will be emailed to the membership informing them of the rule amendment.
D. Pace of Play and Penalty Policy options
ISSUE:
Pace of Play and timely completion of a round of golf in MWSGA Tournaments continues to be a priority for the Board and many members. Also, several golf courses have expressed concern about the time our membership takes to complete a round of golf.
DISCUSSION:
1. The board has seen significant improvement on the pace of play by players/teams based on the utilization of the time clock. In general, many members have indicated improvement in the pace of play.
2. Some comments received acknowledge we have a significant number of members that are aging, some have physical challenges, and some of the courses on our schedule are tough and challenging.
3. It was also noted that the co-chairs of the tournament should identify the slow players after the times are entered into the pace of play spreadsheet following the tournament. Those players should be notified directly about their slow times.
4. All the tournament players/teams should be notified the pace of play results after the tournament. The pace of play results should be broadcast to the field. It could serve as a teaching opportunity when they are notified about their slow play.
5. It was noted that a 4.5 hour round time should be the standard playing time and finishing within 15 minutes or better behind the group in front of you at the 18th hole must also be the standard and required to avoid a penalty.
6. It was noted by members of the Board that The Home Course used the following above criteria for pace of play compliance:
“If a foursome fails to complete the round in under 4.5 hours and/or fails to finish behind the group in front of them within 15 minutes the whole foursome will incur a one stroke penalty after the 18th hole.”
ACTION:
1. The co-chairs should send out a screen shot of the pace of play spread sheet of the finishing times of all the players/teams who played in the event. They should also communicate directly to the players who played too slowly in the tournament.
E. Late Cancellation and No-Show Penalties
ISSUE:
1. The process used by tournament managers to inform players/teams of the late cancellation and no-show penalties may be applied differently and inconsistently by the tournament chair(s).
2. If one player of a team cancels late, should the other player/partner also be assessed the penalty,if he/she does not have a partner? For example, in the Scramble Format, you need a partner. However, the Tournament Chair can provide a ‘Blind Partner’ in the Best Ball Format.
3. The current policy is ‘silent” on potential justification or reasons for an appeal of the late cancellation that maybe offered by the player/team for medical emergencies, family conflict etc. There is currently, no provision for a ‘formal’ appeal or process in the policy listed on the Golf Genius Portal.
4. Some members do not know or are unaware what happens to late tee time cancellation and no-show fees, since it is ‘silent’ in the current policy.
DISCUSSION:
1. If a player(s) cancels their tee time after the tournament registration closes at 10am on Monday or two days before the event or does not show at the designated tee time then they incur a $25 penalty.
ACTION:
1. Board members need to be consistent in implementing the late cancellation and no-show policy. A letter (email) needs to be sent to the player/team explaining the penalty and indicating the penalty must be paid before the next tournament they are participating in or they cannot play in the tournament.
2. The board is responsible for reviewing any appeals to the Late Cancellation and No Show $25 penalties.
3. If a player/team elects not to pay, and they are not playing in another tournament, then the $25 penalty will be deducted from their winnings at the end of the season.
4. It was recommended that the late cancellation and no-show policy on the portal, needs to address, that funds/fees that are collected are added to the tournament fees and distributed at the end of the season. There was also a discussion about explaining where the penalty fees go to the membership.
5. A late cancellation fee or no-show penalty can be appealed to board according to the policy. The board will decide if the penalty is to be waived. Recently, a player did not cancel the tee time before registration closed, so a $25 penalty was imposed. The player appealed the penalty because of an emergency trip to the hospital by the spouse. A motion was made by a board member to waive the penalty due to the seriousness of the emergency. The motion was approved by the board.
F. Failure to Pay $10 Tournament fee
ISSUE:
The board recognizes that some players inadvertently fail or forget to pay the $10 tournament entry fee before or during the tournament. Identifying, contacting players/teams that failed to pay the tournament fee and collecting the fee causes additional administration time by the tournament chairs and treasurer.
DISCUSSION:
1. Should the player/team be disqualified from the event or
2. be assessed a penalty (e.g. $5) for the late payment.
3. There was some consideration given to disallowing any points won at the tournament but there was no agreement by the board members.
ACTION:
The co-chairs should decide on the course of action to collect the $10 fee from the player. The co-chairs are responsible for contacting the player in question and determine the best course of action. This might entail the co-chairs collecting the fee directly at the next tournament, or paying the fee and decide on the collection process or having the fee mailed in before they can play again.
G. Scramble Tournament – Player/Team Eligibility
ISSUE:
1. There has been some concern among members that some players/teams appear to play significantly better in tournaments than reflected in their handicaps in GHIN.
Discussion:
1. This discrepancy is most notable in tournaments played in the Scramble format. For example, there are some players/teams that consistently win points in the NET DIVISION of the Scramble tournaments by exceptionally wide margins and that their handicaps inflated..
ACTION:
1. The board proposes to consider a policy next season that require players/teams to play at least four (4) best ball tournaments before July 2025 to play in scramble tournaments.
2. The board wants to help make sure that all players are playing under equitable conditions. As a result, the board approved a policy to adjust handicaps used in MWSGA tournaments, as appropriate, to better reflect a member’s playing ability. The adjustment will be made according to USGA rule 10.1, section 3 on a case-by-case basis. (see USGA rule 10.1, section 3).
MEETING ADJORNED AT 1:00 PM