The Rules - updated on 11/21/2024

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Overview

This is an unofficial league created by a few of us who wanted to play in a fun, competitive 9-hole afternoon golf league with no binding week-to-week obligation. It is not affiliated with the club and is governed by volunteers with an aim to bring all those members together who are looking for such an experience. The goal here is fun, camaraderie and a little friendly competition!

Plus, we get to gather at Whit’s afterwards to talk about all those amazing (and not so amazing) shots. Friends and Fam welcome at Whit’s after the round.

Weekly Signup and Tee Times

1. Each week, the volunteers reserve a block of tee times, typically around 4PM on Thursday.

2. A signup is conducted via a Groupme Chat Poll and members are added to the tee sheet as they sign up. Slots are allocated on a first come/first served basis.

3. Once the X’s are removed from open spots, anyone who wishes to play can simply add themselves to an open slot in the group. However, you are still encouraged to respond to the poll – it helps us keep track of who to expect.

4. Note: Players should arrive for the first tee time in the block, as we will form foursomes on an ad-hoc basis when we go out. This keeps us mixing it up and allows for some flexibility of arrival time when last-minute obligations cause delays. We can also accommodate those who have after-golf responsibilities. Repeat – the tee time you are signed up for is not necessarily the time you will go out. Show up ready to be flexible.

5. On occasion, there may be reasons that you are not able to play in the normal time slot, but still want to participate. Committee meetings and difficult to schedule matches are typical reasons for this. You may still participate by teeing off at an earlier time that day provided that:

     a. You inform the group that you are going out early via Groupme

     b. You are playing with at least one other BBGL participant competing that day

     c. You follow the BBGL rules/practices (primarily around gimmes). This can be challenging during match play, as a conceded putt in a match may not be a gimme in BBGL. Play fair!

     d. You "pay the man" before teeing off

     e. It is your responsibility to know the CTP hole and accurately provide the length and location to the group before they tee off

Handicaps, Scoring, Competition

1. Handicaps

     a. Each golfer should have a handicap managed by GHIN.

     b. In the absence of a GHIN Index, the BBGL tournament committee will assign an Index.

     c. 100% of course handicap (9 hole) is used for the calculation of net score.

2. Rules and pace of play

     a. This is fun, but competitive. We play by USGA and FCCC local rules. If you need a ruling, ask your playing partners and arrive at a reasonable outcome. If it is interesting, we get to discuss it in Whit's after the round and learn something. The overriding guidance is to compete fairly without getting too caught up in the minutiae. 

     b. Gimmes. Yes. We generally play with an inside the leather mentality. 2 ft should be good. Those 3 footers with 8in of break…Hmmm you decide. In any case, try to keep it fair and fun for everyone.

     c. Pace of play – just like any other round you play at FCCC. Keep up with the group in front and finish within recommended pace of play. 

     d. The BBGL tournament committee reserves the right to make rulings as needed and employ the membership (aka kangaroo court) to arrive at decisions as needed should questions arise.

3. Buy-in

     a. Each week, each participant pays $21 via Venmo

     b. $20 is allocated for the weekly winners (weekly pool) and $1 from is used to grow the end of year Top 12 tournament prize pot.

4. Weekly Prizes - There are 3 prizes awarded each week:

     a. Low net

          i. Receives 50% of the weekly pool and the honor of wearing the BBGL belt until the next competition. 

          ii. If there is a tie then the participants who tied, will play hole #9, as a playoff, to determine the winner. This playoff hole is played without handicap (gross)

         iii. If it is still tied after the playoff hole, then the prize money will be split among the participants who remained tied after the playoff hole.

          iv. Players who are not present for the playoff forfeit their chance to compete for the prize $$.

     b. CTP (Closest to the Pin)

          i. Receives 25% of the weekly pool.

          ii. The CTP hole will be announced via Groupme on the day of play.

          iii. The first player in the group to hit the green will mark his ball (preferably with a little paper to make it visible).

         iv. Subsequently, any player who is closer moves the mark to the spot where his ball came to rest.

         v. To be awarded this prize, you must achieve par or better on the CTP hole. Par will be validated when the score card is turned in at the end of the round. 

         vi. Should no player hit the green (it has happened) or should the closest player fail to make par or better, the payout will carry over to the next competition and be added to the CTP payout.

     c. Chip In

          i. The Chip in Pot is 25% of the weekly pool plus any Chip in carryovers from previous weeks.

         ii. Anyone that holes out from off the green with a club other than putter wins a share of the Chip in Pot and the honor of wearing the Chip In Chain

          iii. Did we mention that shots with a putter are not eligible.

          iv. If the field fails to chip in, any money in the Chip In Pot will carry over to the following week. 

         v. Should multiple players chip in, they split the pot based on the number of times they chipped in during that round. Thus, if one player chips in twice and another chips in once, then the player who chipped in twice receives 2/3 of the Chip in Pot.

     d. Payouts are made via Venmo usually within 24 hours if not evening of play.

Season Long Competition – Top 12 Tournament

1. Details of the year end Top 12 tournament will be shared as the season progresses.

2. Qualification - To determine which golfers quality for the end of year Top 12 tournament, the following point system was established:

     a. Low Net Competition

          i. Low Net 1st place receives 15 points

          ii. Low Net 2nd place receives 9 points

          iii. Low Net 3rd place receives 6 points

          iv. Low Net 4th place receives 4 points

          v. Low Net 5th place receives 3 points

          vi. Ties are handled in the same way the PGA Tour handles ties. Players will split the combined points for the positions they occupy. For example, someone scores a net 34 to take the top spot but there are two players tied at net 35. Those two will evenly split the combined 2nd and 3rd place points with each receiving 7.5. This will continue until the points are consumed

     b. CTP 

          i. Receives 8 points

          ii. CTP Points are not carried over in the case of failure to validate or when no players reach the green. They are just lost.

     c. Chip In 

          i. Receives 8 points

          ii. Should multiple players chip in, they split the points based on the number of times they chipped in during that round. Thus, if one player chips in twice and another chips in once, then the player who chipped in twice receives 2/3 of the points.

          iii. Chip In Points are not carried over when no Chip Ins occur. They are just lost

     d. Participation

          i. Everyone who plays receives 1 point!!!

3. Golf scores and related metrics are collected and shared on the 2025 Standings page.

4. Due to weather, the end of season may occur anywhere in October and prior to Daylight Savings Time change.