BY-LAWS AND RULES OF PLAY

(Revision as of November 6, 2008)

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I.  TITLE AND PURPOSE

            A.        Title

The name of this organization shall be the Northern Virginia Retired Men’s Golf Association, hereafter referred to as the Association.

            B.        Purpose

The Association is formed and exists for the purpose of developing and fostering a competitive and social golfing relationship among retired, senior men of the 15 member country/golf clubs of Northern Virginia.

C. Eligibility.

1.      Membership in the Association is open to Northern Virginia golf clubs with adequate facilities that agree to comply with the by-laws and rules of the Association.  Club facilities must include a well-maintained 18-hole golf course and a clubhouse that can accommodate the semi-annual meetings or other league-wide functions of the Association. Entry is subject to the approval of two-thirds of the existing member clubs by secret ballot.  

2.      Member clubs shall reserve their golf courses for Association matches from 8:30 a.m. until the final foursome clears the No. 1 tee on Thursdays (or another day designated by a home team), generally from late March until late October. Host clubs shall extend reciprocity privileges to players from visiting clubs – that is, no green fees, free range balls and cart fees at the same rate paid by members of the host club. Host clubs also shall provide for charge-backs or credit card payment of cart fees.

3.      Every member club shall treat visiting players to a lunch after each match that is commensurate with those served by other clubs.

4.      Member clubs shall maintain an adequate roster of eligible players and be prepared to field a full team of 24 players at all scheduled matches, home or away, plus, if possible, 4 alternates, except in extraordinary circumstances or by Association rule.

5.      Member clubs shall comply with the USGA Handicap Program and monitor their players in that regard.

6.      Member clubs found by the Membership Committee to be in non-compliance with the eligibility rules established by Article I.C. or other provisions of the by-laws will be subject to disciplinary action (including probation or expulsion in cases of serious or chronic violations). Expulsion will require a vote of two-thirds of the existing member clubs by secret ballot.  (Added 3/22/07)

ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

            A.  Team Captains

The governing body of the Association shall consist of one Team Captain designated by each participating club to direct the play of their respective teams and ex officio, the President of the Association.

            B.        Officers

1.  All member clubs shall periodically be given the opportunity to provide NVRMGA with individuals to serve as officers of the Association. (Amended 3/11/04)

2.  Officers shall consist of a President and an Executive Secretary, a Treasurer and a Scorekeeper appointed by the President. (Amended 3/11/04)

3.  To provide an equitable opportunity for all member clubs to have the honor to          provide the leadership of the NVRMGA, the selection of the Association President and his appointees shall be determined initially by giving preference to any member club that has not provided a leadership team, and then selected based on the initial sequence in which clubs have provided officers since the Association was formed. Those clubs that have already served twice would be skipped in the first rotation to assure that all clubs take the leadership equally. The club whose turn it is to provide a President of the Association will send the incumbent President the name and resume of its nominee. The name of the candidate    will be presented for affirmation at the fall meeting of the Association. (See Appendix A for the listing of clubs that have accepted the responsibility of managing       Association affairs since its formation in 1972) Should a club for any reason be unable to provide a slate of officers in its normal rotation, the opportunity to provide a leadership team will fall to the next club in the sequence. (Amended 3/11/04)

4.  The President assumes office upon election for a term of two years, or, if he elects, he may serve only one year. He may not succeed himself at the end of a two-year term.

5.  The President calls and presides at two annual meetings of the Team Captains. He may call other meetings as necessary. The president will investigate all reported violations of the By-Laws and Rules of Play of the Association. As necessary, he will also call meetings of the officers of the Association, to assist him in conducting violation reviews and arbitrating disputes. The President will have final rule on any violations that cannot be resolved by arbitration. If a violation is reported against the President’s member club, that violation, if disputed, will be arbitrated by a committee of three member team leaders appointed by the President. (Amended 11/3/05)

6.  The President is responsible for the yearly schedule of team matches and shall distribute the new schedule to Team Captains within thirty days after the Fall Meeting.

7.  The Executive Secretary, Treasurer and Scorekeeper assume office upon appointment for the usual duties of their respective offices, with the further proviso that the Executive Secretary shall act in the absence of the President.

C.        Administration

1.      Player Eligibility.  Team membership within each club is restricted to males, 55 years of age or older, who are retired or who are eligible to retire, and who are annual or golfing members of that club. (Amended 11/3/05 and 3/22/07)

2.       Meetings.  The semi-annual meetings shall be in the spring (March) and in the fall (November).  The Team Captain’s meetings will include the Co-Captains according to the Secretary’s roster of Team Officers.

3.      Quorum.  Two-thirds of the clubs that are members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for a semi-annual meeting or any other Association-wide meeting called by the President under Article II.B.5. A two-thirds vote of the clubs present or represented by proxy is required to amend the by-laws, while a simple majority is sufficient to change the Rules of Play. Each club is entitled to one vote, which may be cast by the Team Captain or his representative. (Amended 3/22/07)

4.      Membership Committee.  The President shall appoint for a two-year term a Membership Committee consisting of a Chairman (selected from member clubs on a rotating basis) and four representatives from other member clubs (also selected on a rotating basis). The Membership Committee shall review all applications for membership in the Association and make a recommendation regarding admission at one of the semi-annual meetings of the Association.  The Membership Committee shall conduct after the close of each season a survey of all member clubs, seeking to ascertain the level of compliance with the eligibility rules established by Article I.C. and other provisions of the by-laws. (Added 3/22/07)

5.      Complaint Resolution. Whenever possible, complaints about one member club by another member club should be resolved between themselves.  If this is not possible, complaints should be submitted in writing to the President for resolution, as provided by Article II.B.5.  If the facts so warrant, the President may refer written complaints to the Membership Committee for review and, if appropriate, disciplinary action as provided by Article I.C.6. (Added 3/22/07)  

6.      NVRMGA Championship Trophy.  The Association will maintain a permanent trophy, which will be inscribed with the names of all past and future winners of the league championships.  The current League Champion will retain the permanent Association trophy for a one year period, or a lesser period if the trophy is shared as provided in Article III. C. 7.  An appropriately inscribed plaque will be presented to the champion(s) for permanent retention.  Turnover of the permanent trophy will be at the Fall Meeting each year.  The League President is responsible for the purchase and engraving of the permanent trophy and yearly plaques. (Amended 3/13/03)

7.   Dues.  Dues for each participating club shall be $40.00 annually, payable at the Spring Meeting.  (Amended 11/4/04).

RULES OF PLAY

ARTICLE III. COMPETITION

A. Club Competition.

  A season’s competition shall consist of home and home matches in accordance with the published schedule of matches.  (Amended 3/15/01)

B. Team Organization.

1. Twelve competitive teams are required for a match to be played without penalty. This normally contemplates 24 competitors per team.  However, as set forth below, a match may be played without penalty where one or both teams have less than 24 players as long as 12 individual matches have been established.

2. If on the morning of the competition a player fails to show for his scheduled match and the team Captain lacks a substitute player, the match may proceed without penalty with one competitor playing against two in the lineup slot originally established for that particular match.

a. In unusual cases, play may proceed without penalty with more than one line-up slot deficient a competitor, as long as the line-ups are established in accordance with, and meet the requirements of 1 and 2 above, and 5 following.

b. If one club cannot field enough competitors for 12 individual matches, including two-man and one-man teams, it forfeits three Nassau points for each match less than twelve.  (All elements of Article III.B.1 and 2 amended 3/11/04, to read as shown above). If a team is discovered to have used an illegal player, (as defined in Art II.C.) the penalty for use of the illegal player shall be loss of the three points available in the match in which the illegal player is used. (Amended 3/9/2006).

3. Visiting clubs may bring two teams of alternates except when limited to less by the host club.

4. To the extent feasible, handicap spreads of team partners should not exceed eight strokes.

5. Teams shall be listed in accordance with the order of the sum of their handicaps, the lowest sum team #1, the next lowest #2, etc.

6.  The host captain is responsible for the final pairings of the visiting and host teams.  The visiting team captain must notify the host captain of his listing of the visiting pairings not later than 9:00 PM on Monday evening preceding the match, unless a later time is mutually agreed to by the two team captains.  The line-ups can be submitted by means agreeable to the team captains.  All pairings are to be made/listed in accordance with subparagraph 5 above.  (Amended 11/2/06)

7.  The host match captain should provide the visiting match captain with a match line- up that shows both the handicap index and the course handicap for each player. (Adopted 11/6/03)

8.  When substitutions are made, the opposing match captain must be notified of the change and the handicap of the player(s) involved prior to the start of the match. It is the responsibility of the host captain to see that revised scorecards are provided to both the affected host and the visiting players as soon as possible.  (Adopted 11/6/03, Amended 3/20/2008)

 C. Match Competition.

1. All play will be under the USGA Rules of Golf and the local rules of the host club as supplemented below.

2.  a.  The handicaps to be used in all matches shall be the most recent first of the month USGA  Handicap Index available, properly adjusted by the host course slope rating (i.e., the most recent first of month USGA index adjusted by the host course slope rating to determine course handicap).  Handicaps shall be at 100% for both match and sweeps play and that the maximum handicap index is 36.4.  All league play shall be considered tournament scores as defined in the USGA Handicap Handbook and posted as “T” scores except as provided for in the last paragraph of Article III. C. 2. b. (Amended 3/11/04 & 3/20/2008)

b. NVRMGA Local Rule for “Preferred Lies”: If  a player’s ball lies on a closely-mown area through the green the player may mark, lift and clean his ball without penalty.  Before lifting, he must mark the position of the ball.  The player must then place the ball on a spot within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4).  If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies.  If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply. If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.  Scores made when the NVRMGA “Preferred Lies” rule is used shall be posted as tournament scores for handicap purposes, except when the Committee determines that conditions are so poor that scores should not be posted.  If the captains of both teams with the host pro determine that conditions are swamp like or otherwise so poor that mark, lift, clean and place should also apply to balls in the rough; those scores shall count in determining the winner of the match but shall not be posted.  (Amended 11/6/03)

3.  Handicap Strokes. The numerical difference between the player with the lowest handicap and the handicaps of the other players in the same foursome shall be applied to the individuals’ score as they fall on the score card (i.e., each member in foursome plays off the low handicapper).

4.  Putts conceded or “ Picked Up”. For match scoring and to avoid misunderstandings, if a ball is inside the leather (about 2 ½ feet) when conceded  or  picked up, the player will record one stroke for the remaining putt. If a ball is on the green, but outside the leather, regardless of the length or difficulty of the remaining putt(s), and is conceded or picked up, the player will record no more than two strokes on the remaining putt. (Para added on 11/3/05).

5.   Match Scores shall be based on one point for winning a nine and one point for winning the eighteen.  For ties each team shall be awarded a half point.  Incomplete matches will be scored according to Article III. F. 5.  (Amended 3/11/04)

6.   The club winning the match shall be awarded two match points in the seasonal competition.  In a tie, each club shall be awarded one match point.

7.   For all matches, the host team shall maintain the official score card.  Opposing captains should confer and agree on the match score and sweeps results before they are announced.  The host Team Captain is responsible for reporting the results of the match to the Association Scorekeeper as early as possible, but no later than 4 PM.  (Amended 3/13/03, Second sentence added 3/20/2008)

8. Determination of Final League Standings and the League Champion

a. Final League standings and the League Championship will be calculated by determining the “winning percentage” of each member club.  This percentage is based on the total number of matches officially completed, including those defined in Article III.F.3.b. A club must play no fewer than two less than the number of matches scheduled in order to qualify to be League Champion.

b. Formula:  The “winning percentage” is calculated by dividing the number of points won for the season by the total number of points it is possible to earn, at 2 points per match, from officially completed matches.  Reference:  Article III. C. 5.

Example:

 40 points won divided by 48 (2 times 24 matches) = a “winning percentage” of .833.

Example:

 40 points won divided by 52 (2 times 26 matches) = a “winning percentage” of .769.

c. In the event of a tie for first place in the standings at the end of the season, the clubs will share the title of League Champion for that season and have the trophy for a proportional number of months.  Each club will receive an appropriately inscribed plaque for permanent retention as provided in Article II.C.4.  (Amended 3/22/07)

9.   Range Finders.  Range finders that measure distance only may be used in NVRMGA matches.  As provided by the USGA, use of devices that gauge or measure other conditions (e.g., wind, gradient, temperature, etc) are prohibited, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.  The penalty for use of an illegal range finder device, as provided by Rule 14-3 of the USGA Rules of Golf, is disqualification of the offending player.  If requested, the user of an approved range finder may share the information with other players in his foursome.  (Added 11/1/07)

          10.         Posting of Match Scores.  A captain or his designated representative or his home pro shop,

not the individual players on his team, must post all of his team’s NVRMGA match scores as soon as possible after completion of play.  (Added 11/6/2008)

 D. Two-Man Team Competitions (Sweepstakes).

1. Each player will contribute $5.00 towards prizes for stroke competition, which is in addition to and separate from the match.  The money will be turned over to the host professional, who will issue gift certificates.  (Amended 3/20/2008)

2. Four prizes will awarded: 40% of the collection to the first place team, 25% for second, 20% for third and 15% for fourth.  Ties will be resolved by matching cards starting with the first hole.

3. Winners will be determined on the net best ball of each team, using the adjusted handicap of each player (same handicap as used for match play as provided by Article III.C.2.  The strokes will be given as they fall on the scorecard.

4. Alternates for both clubs who are not playing in the match may compete, as two-man teams, in the stroke competition by paying the $5.00.  (Amended 3/20/2008)

5. For purposes of the sweepstakes only, in the event a team is short a man, the remaining team member may be provided a partner through a blind draw from his club’s players.  Or, the blind may be selected from among the threesome to simplify scorekeeping even though this pairs players from opposing teams. Such “blind” partner will also participate in any prize money on an equal basis.  However, the prize money contributions prescribed by Article III.D.1., will be based on the actual number of players and will not include a double contribution by the “blind” partner.

 E. Starting Times and Play.

1. Normal starting time is 9:00AM.  Other starting times may be specified by mutual agreement of Team Captains.

2. Team Captains are enjoined to instruct their players to finish every round in less than five hours, resorting to “ready golf” when necessary to maintain pace with the foursome in front.

3. Slow Play Penalty.  Matches will be completed in 5 hours after the match begins on the starting hole.  At the beginning of each match, the actual starting time should be annotated on the official score card by the host team. Teams still on the course at 4 hours and 45 minutes after start of play will complete the current hole and immediately return the score card to the scorer.  Score cards will be accepted for match play but not for stroke play competition (sweepstakes) when less than 18 holes have been completed.  In the event that “Cart Path Only” rule is in effect, the 5-hour limit can be extended by the Captains’ concurrence.

4. Inclement Weather.  The following conditions may warrant postponement of a scheduled match.

a. Snow, Rain and Wet Grounds.  If the host course is to be closed because of snow, rain or wet grounds (or other conditions such as lightning, tornado warnings, etc.) until after 10:30 a.m., the match shall be postponed and rescheduled in accordance with Article III.F.3.  If the course is to be closed for a shorter period, the host captain, in consultation with the visiting captain and the host club’s professional staff, shall determine whether the match is to be played or postponed.

b. Excessive Heat.  If, the prior evening, the U.S. Weather Service or weather.com is forecasting a heat index of 100 or above for the morning of a scheduled match for Zip Code 22030, all NVRMGA matches shall be postponed and rescheduled in accordance with Article III.F.3.  If possible, the NVRMGA will confirm this condition to club captains and officers.  If the forecasted heat index is slightly less than 100 for the morning of the scheduled match, but includes a Code Orange or Code Red air quality index warning, matches are not postponed by rule, but individual players who are vulnerable to heat exhaustion or respiratory problems should consider resigning from the following day’s matches.  If, as a result, fewer than 24 players on each side are available, Article III.B.1&2 shall govern the conduct of matches. (Amended 11/1/07)

c.   Lightning.  At clubs with automatic lightning detection equipment, play must cease immediately when an alarm is sounded.  No more strokes should be taken.  All players should mark their balls and seek shelter without delay.  At clubs without automatic lightning detection equipment, all play must cease at the first evidence of a lightning threat.  If the host captain or the host team’s pro shop has not suspended play, any player in any foursome may declare such a threat and the issue is not debatable for that foursome.  At that time, all players should mark their balls and seek shelter immediately.  Any player who does not follow this procedure and continues to play will be disqualified.  In the event of a lightning suspension, play will be resumed when authorized by the host team’s pro shop.  If the match cannot be resumed on a timely basis, the outcome will be determined by Article III.F.3.b.  (Added 11/6/2008)

F. Miscellaneous.

1. Green fees are waived on a reciprocal basis.

2. Whenever possible, walkers are paired with walkers.

3.  a.  When the course is closed to carts or due to conditions which preclude any “reasonable” resemblance of the game of golf and acceptable finishing times, the match will be rescheduled for a make-up at a time and site agreed upon by the Team Captains.

b. Should the match be stopped during play and cannot be continued, it will be considered an official match as long as at least 8 teams have completed 13 or more holes or one club has already won more than 18 Nassau points, excluding undecided points.  The outcome of the match will be determined by awarding points to all teams as specified in Article III.C.5.  Sweepstakes’ winners will be determined by the net score against par of the minimum number of holes completed by the competitors who have played the fewest number of holes starting with the first hole played.  Ties will be broken by beginning at the lowest numbered hole completed by all teams.  Matches in which at least 8 teams do not complete 13 holes and in which neither club has won more than 18 Nassau points, excluding undecided points, should be rescheduled; however, if rescheduling is not possible, or there are other special circumstances, the two team captains can mutually agree to declare a tie with each club receiving no points for the match. This will not be considered a match played. (Amended 3/11/04, 11/6/08).

4. A match must be completed prior to the fall meeting to count in the calculation of season standings.   No points will be awarded for matches that cannot be completed by the fall meeting.  (Amended 11/2/06)

5. If a game is terminated prior to completing 18 holes, all Nassau points that have been   decided at the time the game is suspended shall stand as decided. The undecided points shall be divided equally between the two teams. (Added 3/11/04)

APPENDIX A

Times Member Clubs Have Provided NVRMGA President & Other League Officers

(As of November 2008)

 Army Navy Arlington          1  1989-1990

 Army Navy Fairfax             2  1981-1982  1997-1998

 Belle Haven                        1  1979-1980

 Chantilly                              1  1977-1978

 Country Club of Fairfax       2  1976   1987-1988

 Evergreen                           1  1999-2000

 Fairfax National                  1  1995-1996

 Fort Belvoir                        1  2001-2002

 Heritage Hunt                      1  2005-2006

 Hidden Creek                     1  1993-1994

 International                        2  1972-1973  2007-2008

 Mt. Vernon                         1  1991-1992

 River Bend                          1  1974-1975

 Springfield                           2  1985-1986  2003-2004

 Westwood                          1  1983-1984

  *  *  *  *  *  *

 1972-1973      International                                          Maury Cralle

 1974-1975      River Bend                                           Ray Millard

 1976                           Country Club of Fairfax            Howard Johnson

 1977-1978      Chantilly                                               Haydn Evans

 1979-1980      Belle Haven                                          Hugh Murray

 1981-1982      Army Navy Fairfax                   John Sollosi

 1983-1984      Westwood                                           Joe Baird

 1985-1986      Springfield                                            Sy Farber

 1987-1988      Country Club of Fairfax            Fred (Bud) Linder, Jr.

 1989-1990      Army Navy Arlington    Tom Twisdale

 1991-1992      Mt. Vernon                                          Henry (Hank) Ford

 1993-1994      Hidden Creek                                       Charlie Good

 1995-1996      Fairfax National                                    David Close

 1997-1998      Army Navy Fairfax                   Cas Cush

 1999-2000      Evergreen                                             Emerson Cale

 2001-2002      Fort Belvoir                                          Jim Foresman

 2003-2004      Springfield                                            George White

 2005-2006      Heritage Hunt                                       Ron Cayton

 2007-2008      International                              Phil Meyer

 2009-2010      Belle Haven                                          Ernie Brita