Team Rules 2008

Team Match Rules

The Rules and Decisions
Method of Play
Handicap Allowances
Scoring
Fielding a Team(s) in the Competition
Default
Team Line-Ups
Order of Team Brackets
Honor of the Teeing Ground
Undue Delay/Slow Play
Suspension of Play
Termination of Play
Disputes
Winners of the Competition
Ties

1) The Rules and Decisions of the USGA governs play, as modified by the Local Rules and conditions of the competition.

2) Method of Play: Four-Ball Match Play.

3) Handicap Allowances:

The Course Handicaps of all four players in a match are reduced by the Course Handicap of the player with the lowest handicap, who shall then play from scratch. The three other players are allowed 100 percent of the difference. Strokes are taken as assigned on the course scorecard.

4) Scoring:

18 point System will be used as follows:
1 point for each hole won
½ point for each hole halved
0 points for each hole lost
If a player plays with a handicap higher than allowed, her bracket shall be disqualified from the net play match. The opposing team will receive 13 points in the net play match, and the team that had the infraction will receive no (0) points. Once the bracket with the incorrect handicap tees off, the bracket is disqualified in the net play match.
Any bracket (side) where two players play against one player may win a maximum of 13 points. The one player bracket may win as many as she can. Totals for these brackets might not total 18 points.
Opponents in each match are responsible for reporting scores of the match to the Host Team Officials.
One Bonus Point will be given to teams that win a match; teams that tie each receive ½ Bonus Point. Bonus Points will be kept in a separate tally to be used for tie breaking purposes only.

5) Fielding a Team(s) in the Competition:

Each team of six players shall be divided into three brackets (or sides). Each bracket (side) shall consist of two partners. In four-ball match play, two players play their better ball against the better ball of two other players.
If a team is unable to find an eligible substitute(s) for a regular player it may, on the date of the competition, field brackets (sides) with one player.
Any club that fails to field six players for each team(s) more than once during the competition, including rain dates, may be required to reduce by one the number of teams in competition the following year.
Ineligible Player: Any team using an ineligible player on a competition date shall lose any points won in the bracket (side) involved.

6) Default:

If a team fails to appear for a match, the team will be disqualified from the entire competition. All points won by teams that have been opponents of the disqualified team shall be nullified.

7) Team Line-Ups:

Order of Players: The player with the lowest handicap index must play in the First Bracket. All other players may play in any position. If two players have identical low indexes, either player may play in the first bracket. Each team’s first bracket must play the opponent’s first bracket, second brackets play second brackets, and third brackets play third brackets.

Submission of Team List and Line-ups: Team captains shall fax or email a list of team members and/or subs, their indexes and handicaps to the Host Team Captain by noon the day before a match. Team line-ups shall be submitted to the Host Team Captain and the Opponent’s Team Captain prior to the start of the days' competition. If a substitute is the team’s low handicap index player, the opponent’s team captain must be notified before the submission of the line-up. Notification may be made the night prior to (highly recommended), or early morning of the day of play.
Note: If due to unusual circumstances, the opponent’s Team Captain was not notified before submitting her line-up, she may change her line-up upon learning of the substitution before play begins. The opponent with the low index substitute player is not allowed to change her line-up once it has been submitted. This is the only exception in making changes to a team's line-up.

Incomplete Line-ups of postponed or rained out dates: If a team has submitted a line-up of fewer than six players, then only those players listed may participate in the match even if it is suspended and continued on a later date. If a team submits a lineup with six players and one (or more) player(s) is not present, that player may join the resumed match as provided for in the Rules of Golf. If the missing player(s) is the low handicap in the bracket, all other players in that bracket will receive strokes based on the missing player(s) handicaps. It is recommended that teams always submit a full (6 players) list on the day of competition even if they have 5 players or less.

8) Order of Team Brackets:

Brackets may tee off in any order, provided there is an agreement between the Team Captains.

9) Honor of the Teeing Ground:

Teams listed first on the competition sch

edule have the honor on the first teeing ground. Within each match, the side that wins a hole (gross – Division 1, net - Divisions II-V) shall have the honor on the next teeing ground. If the hole was halved then the team that had the honor on the previous hole shall retain it.

10) Undue Delay/Slow Play:

The host Team shall monitor play. Refer to the WDCGA Pace of Play Policy for specific procedures. Also refer to USGA Rule 6-7. Penalty for undue delay in match play is loss of hole on which the player has been cited for slow play.
Observers and Spectators are welcome, but must not impede play. They must maintain a clear distance from players and their equipment.

11) Suspension of Play:

The decision to suspend play on any date of the competition is the responsibility of the Host Team Captain and the Division Captain.
If play is suspended, and players are in the process of playing a hole, they may continue provided they do so without delay. If they choose to continue, they shall discontinue either before or immediately after completing the hole. Players shall resume play when the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. In case of a dangerous situation play must be discontinued immediately. (Refer to USGA Rule 6-8, Discontinuance of play, and resumption of play). Players have the right to stop play if they feel threatened by a dangerous situation. A player who discontinues play without specific permission from the committee must report to the committee as soon as practicable.
Play shall be resumed from where it was discontinued, even if resumption occurs on a subsequent day.
If a side discontinues play before the match has been completed when play has NOT been officially suspended, the side shall be disqualified if the reason for discontinuing play is not approved by the Rules Committee. Bad weather is not, of itself, a good reason for discontinuing play. Points taken during the match by the offending side(s) shall be null and void. Points from the holes remaining to be played shall be awarded to the opponents who did not improperly discontinue play.

12) Termination of Play:

The determination to terminate play is a joint decision of the Host Team Captain and the Division Captain.

13) Disputes:

If a doubt or dispute cannot be settled within a reasonable time, players shall continue the match without delay after making a claim as provided in Rule 2-5. At the completion of play, disputes shall be referred to the Division Team Captain. If the dispute involves a claim under the USGA Rules of golf, the Division Captain shall defer to the Rules Committee for a decision. If the dispute involves an issue not pertaining to the USGA Rules of Golf, the Division Team Captain shall refer the matter to the District Teams Chair.

All disputes and claims shall be resolved no later than one week after the match was completed.

14) Winners of the Competition:

Division I:
The winner of Division I shall be the WDCGA Team Match Champions.

• 1st place is awarded to the team with the most gross points.
• 2nd place is awarded to team with the most net points.

All Other Divisions
• 1st place is awarded to the team with the most net points.
• 2nd place is awarded to the team with the 2nd most net points.

15) Ties / Playoffs:

1st Place in Each Division:

• In the case of a tie for the first place winner the bonus points for winning matches will be added to the total scores to determine the winner.
• If there is still a tie between any two (or more) teams there shall be an 18-hole playoff. All 6 players on each team may compete in the playoff. Subs are allowed. Teams may play with fewer than 6 players. Low index player must play in the first bracket.
• Team line-ups are to be submitted to the host team captain and the opponents’ team captain prior to the start of the playoff.
• The playoff shall be at a neutral site, with the date arranged by the District Teams Chair and the WDCGA Secretary.
• If there is still a tie after the 18-hole playoff, then there shall be a sudden death (hole by hole) playoff.
• Each bracket will play the 1st hole. At the end of the 1st hole the team with the most points is declared the winner. If still tied, all brackets will continue to play the next hole and so on until there is a winner.
• In the interest of expediency, brackets should continue play (2nd and/or 3rd hole) while trailing brackets are still playing. A monitor should travel among the brackets to determine the status of the match.
• Rule 30 provides information specific to instances when three or more teams compete against each other.

Second Place in Each Division:

• In the case of a tie for the second place winner, the bonus points for winning matches will be added to the total scores to determine the winner.
• If there is still a tie between any two (or more) teams, the team that won their head-to-head competition will be declared the winner of second place. If this tiebreaker fails, the second place winner shall be determined by a coin toss.
• If there is still a tie among three (or more) teams, then the second place winner will be determined by drawing lots.