Participation
a. Participation is open to all paying members
i. There is a $20.00 Annual Membership fee for each member
ii. The entry fee for each event is $10.00 for dues paying Members
2. Membership
a. All prospective members must complete an application
b. Applications must be accompanied by an official USGA handicap
i. Three scores from recent rounds may be substituted in lieu of an official handicap
3. Attire
a. Proper golf attire is required
i. Bermuda shorts or slacks and golf shirts are permissible.
1. No denim
2. A golf shirt is defined as a collared shirt, wind shirt, or mock turtle neck.
4. Rules Governing Play
All USGA rules govern play, with the following exceptions:
a. Equipment
i. Balls should be marked in order to be clearly identifiable
1. a 2 stroke penalty is incurred by any player that strikes the wrong ball
ii. Each player is allowed a maximum of 14 clubs
b. First Tee : Each participant is allowed to choose the better of two tee shots from the first tee box
i. This is not a “mulligan,” and cannot be saved for use later
c. First Green : Players can take practice putts on the first green, as long as the putts are not towards the hole, or on the same line as their real putt.
d. No putts will be conceded : In order to maintain accurate handicaps, each player must putt out before counting score for that hole
e. Participants may roll the ball one-club length , no closer to the hole, in the fairway
i. Balls in the rough or bunkers must be played as they lay
f. Hazards : If your ball is lost in a hazard, there are two ways to proceed.
i. Provisional: If you think your ball might be lost, you can play a second ball and declare it a provisional. You can then look for the first ball, and if it is not found, play the second ball, but you will be laying three.
ii. Drop: You may drop a ball where your original ball crossed into the hazard and incur a one stroke penalty. You cannot be any closer to the pin, and your drop should not be in the fairway.
g. Artificial Obstruction (such as a bench, water fountain, shelter, house, or protective screen): If your ball lies on or touches an artificial obstruction, or when an immovable obstruction within two club lengths of the ball interferes with your stance or stroke, you may without penalty pick up the ball and drop it within two club lengths of the original lie, but not nearer the hole.
i. Casual Water, Ground Under Repair : If your ball lies in or touches casual water, ground under repair, or a hole made by a burrowing animal, you may obtain relief without penalty. Your ball may be lifted and dropped as near as possible to the original lie, but not nearer the hole. If your ball requires such relief in a bunker, it must be dropped within the bunker. If you elect to drop behind the bunker, you must count one penalty stroke. (Casual water is a puddle of rain water or hose water--not a creek or pond.)
h. Max Stroke Limit for any hole is double par
5. Handicaps
a. Handicaps will be calculated utilizing a formula that closely matches the USGA handicapping system
i. Players' initial handicaps will either be official USGA handicaps provided at the time of registration, or calculated using 3 recent signed scorecards provided at the time of registration
ii. After the initial handicap is established, only Sand Trap Tour event scores will be used in handicap calculations
Handicap Enforcement - At the discretion of tour management, any player suspected of sandbagging will be disqualified from winnings in the current event, and his handicap reset to accurately reflect his score before the next event.
6. Tournament Scoring
a. Tournaments will be scored by applying the player's handicap index to their gross score to determine their net score.
b. In the event of a net tie, the winner will be determined using a scorecard playoff.
i. The playoff will be a net score comparison, beginning at the 1st hole and continuing with the 2nd, 3rd, etc., until a winner is determined.
7. Season Scoring
a. The season point champion will receive a combination of a prize and a trophy
b. Season Scoring will be based on a points system
c. Net Points will be based on the scale below
• Any player placing outside the top 20 will receive .5 points
Place |
Points |
1 |
30 |
2 |
25 |
3 |
24 |
4 |
23 |
5 |
22 |
6 |
19 |
7 |
18 |
8 |
17 |
9 |
16 |
10 |
15 |
11 |
10 |
12 |
9 |
13 |
8 |
14 |
7 |
15 |
6 |
16 |
5 |
17 |
4 |
18 |
3 |
19 |
2 |
20 |
1 |
8. Financial Considerations
a. There is a $20.00 Annual Membership fee for each participant
b. The entry fee for each event is $10.00 for dues paying Members.
i. Prizes will vary based on individual tournament participation.
c. Total cash purse for a tournament will be 100% of tournament fees
i. Payouts are determined by the number of participants.
