Rules and Regulations.

League Fee – A $35 per player is required to participate in the golf league payable before July 4th. A $10 late fee will be imposed for any team member that has not paid their league fee by the due date. Also, a team will forfeit the 3 points awarded for a match win if a team member is not paid in full by the due date. Any player who has not paid the league fee by the end of the regular scheduled season (prior to the playoffs) is considered out the league.

Course Fees – Every team is accountable for two green fees every week during the regular season whether that team plays or not. In case a team or member cannot make play any given week, their greens fees must be paid to the course no later that the following week. Failure to do so will constitute a forfeit for that team. If a paying substitute is used, that player’s green fees are considered paid.

Handicap – The league handicap will be 85% and based on the last 20 rounds 
No more than one stroke per hole handicap can be giving during play. The FULL handicap is used for the round total score.
New golfer will be based on their first round and will be as follow:
1st round – 65% / 2nd round – 70% / 3rd round – 75% / 4th round – 80% / 5th round – 85%

Winter Rules – Winter Rules apply. Improve lie, but not position, within 3”

Out of Bounds Rule – Ball will be dropped at the point of going out of bounds and take a one-stroke penalty. Opposing team member must approve drop location.

Range finders and electrical devices – The use of a distance-measuring device or other electronic device that is designed to gauge or measure distances or other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.) is not permitted.

ALL Other Rules - U.S.G.A. apply

Rain out / Six hole completion – In the event of inclement weather to which carts are NOT allowed, the match is canceled. 
If carts are permitted, play will proceed as scheduled.
If any team cannot complete a minimum of six holes, the day’s match will be considered a rain out.
If the last group has finished at least six holes, the points up to the final hole completed of the last group will be counted for all teams. (NOTE: No 3-point match points will be awarded for that week.)


Scoring: Teams will play 9 holes matches and score as follow:
1-point for individual low net score per hole (Only 1-point handicap per hole limit)
1-point for total net score per hole
3-points per match for low team net score (Full handicap used for adding total team net score)
(21 total points per match)

Teams – Each team will consist of 2 players each week. 
In the event only one player is able to play, it is the responsibility of that team to line up a substitute. (A sub list will be posted at MeadowBrook and on-line). 
If a team fails to get or use a substitute, that team will forfeit the match 3-points to the opposing team. If no substitute is available, the player’s team score is doubled and the single player still forfeits the 3-points for the match. If a substitute is available, the substitute must be used or that team will forfeit for that week.
If a player or team fails to show for 4 weeks, that player or team is considered out of the league. To get back in the league the player or team goes to the rear of the waiting list is one exists. 

Forfeit – If a team is unable to play a match as scheduled or cannot pre-golf, they will forfeit the match and received “0” points for that week. The opposing team does not have to play the round but one of the teammates must show up to get their points. The team that forfeits and the opposing team (if they choose not to play) are responsible for that week’s green fees (See course fees). The opposing team will receive 13 points. In the case of the six-hole rule, the unopposed team will receive 10 points.
If both teams cannot play, the match is forfeited and neither team will receive any points for that week. 

Pre-Golf – A match (not a single team) can pre-golf prior to the Tuesday match or no later than the following Sunday evening.

Tee Time Limit – The tee time limit is 5 PM.
Any team that is not ready to tee off at the 5 PM deadline, the match is a forfeit and the team that is ready will receive the forfeit points. (See forfeit rules).
The clock in the pro-shop is the official time.
If only one player from a team is ready, the match will start as soon as possible and the team with one player will lose the 3 match points. If the other player arrives after the 5 PM start, whether the match has started or not, that team can still play but will lose the 3 match points.

*It is suggested that if there is a backup on the 1st tee, teams should start on a different hole.

Substitutes – A substitute list will be maintained for all available substitutes, with handicap. Each new substitute’s handicap will start as a new golfer (See Handicap). Substitute handicaps or 5 or more rounds will be carried over from year-to-year. A new substitute can begin at any time during the regular season.

Schedule – A schedule will be posted after the last of the practice week(s). The total weeks for the league play may be changed each year depending on holidays, starting/ending dates total number of teams etc. There will be a 3-week playoff at the end of the regular schedule.

Playoffs – The league will consist of two halves. The top 4 teams in the first half will advance to the playoffs. After the first half, all teams will start at 0. In the second half, the top 4 teams (that have not already made the playoffs) will advance to the playoffs. Overall win/loss record will determine all playoff teams rankings of 1 through 8

1st week of playoffs - Match 1 Team 1 VS Team 8 Match 2 Team 2 VS Team 7 
Match 3 Team 3 VS Team 6 Match 3 Team 4 VS Team 5

2nd week of playoffs - Match 1 Winner of 1and 8 VS Winner of 2 and 7
Match 2 Winner of 3 and 6 VS Winner of 4 and 5

3rd week of playoff - Championship Round – 18 holes played during golf outing.

*Substitutes For Playoffs Rule – A regular league member may play as a substitute during the league playoffs. 
A regular substitute may be used as long as the substitute has an established handicap of at least 5 rounds.

50/50 and Closest-to-the-pin – Every player will give $1 for the league 50/50 drawing and $1 for the last hole closest to the pin each week. Half of the funds from both will be returned to the winners of each contest. The other half will go into the league funds.


Protests – If a team is going to protest a Meadow Brook League rule or a U.S.G.A. rule during match play, the protesting team MUST notify the opposing team of the protest and the grounds for it, before the next hole tee-off. In the case of protest on the last hole, the opposing team MUST be notified as soon as the last put is made. 
The protest will go in front of the Rules Committee. The committee’s decision is final.
If the protesting team fails to notify in the timely matter, No protest will be considered. 

To help speed play, the following is encouraged:

- If there is a long backup on the first hole, consider starting on another hole.

- (the unofficial hacker rule) If a player (or hacker like myself) is lagging behind, on another fairway etc… your team does not have keep waiting for that player to keep shooting before you do. That player can catch up closer to the green. In other words, the farthest back rule can, at times, be overlooked to keep play moving so the poor folks behind your match aren’t constantly waiting and bogging down the rest of the league.

Let’s All Remember,
We’re here for Fun and Relaxation

Please abide by all Meadow Brook Rules and regulations

Good Luck and Good Golfing!!