Handicaps

GOLF HANDICAPS

Handicaps are based on the assumption that every player will endeavor to make the best score they can at each hole in every round they play. The committee reserves the right, under USGA rules, to adjust a player’s handicap in the following circumstances:

· Scores improving faster than the handicap system can react

· Player manipulates round(s) – does not make best effort

Desert Greens handicaps are computed using the official USGA Handicap Rules based on the best 10 rounds of your last 20. Because we are a par 54 course, D.G. handicaps cannot be used at other courses.

Desert Greens handicaps will be based SOLELY on league play. A minimum of five rounds of league play.

If golfers wish to have a club handicap maintained (a requirement to participate in club tournaments) they must pay the $1.00 Maintenance fee for league play. For someone who is establishing (or re-establishing) their Desert Greens handicap – they will only need to pay the $1.00 Maintenance fee for each of the five (5) rounds of league play – required to calculate their handicap.

ORGANIZED LEAGUE PLAY

Men’s league plays on Tuesday and Fridays, Women league play on Mondays and Thursdays. We have a mixed league Scramble on Saturday and a mixed league stroke play on Sunday. The entry fee for Saturdays mixed league Scramble is $4.00 ($3.00 for prize money and$1.00 for the Maintenance fee). Entry fee for the other five (5) days is $3.00 ($2.00 for prize money and$1.00 for the Maintenance fee). The Maintenance fee is for maintaining handicaps, golf course supplies, BBQ’s and other events, and maintenance workers annual bonus. Golfers may elect to pay only the $1.00 maintenance fee for league play to use their scores for handicap purposes, but will not be eligible for prizes including closest to pin prizes. As of September 1, 2017, nonresident golfers will not be allowed to play in tournaments or scrambles. They will be allowed to play in regular league play, but will not be eligible for prize money nor have handicaps maintained. They also must pay $10 green fees (unless they are relative of resident) and be invited by and play with a resident.

HITTING HOUSE

If you hit a house you should politely discuss it with the homeowner to make sure you have not caused damage to the house. If you hit a house and the homeowner is not home, you should leave a message with the H.O.A. Office stating the date, time and what house you hit. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PLAYERS TO PAY FOR DAMAGE THEY CAUSE TO ANOTHER’S PROPERTY. Also, never go onto a homeowner’s property to retrieve an errant ball without the homeowner’s permission. If you cannot reach it with your retriever – it is a lost ball!

GUEST FEES AND RULES

The fee for guest players is $10.00, regardless of the number of holes played. The fee is to be placed in the honor box on the first tee. No fee is charged for immediate family members of a resident. Remember, no guest is allowed to play without a Desert Greens resident accompanying them. If you don’t play golf you must either walk with them or get a resident golfer to play with them. You, or the volunteer player, will be responsible to ensure that the guest follow all local rules and fix their divots and ball marks!

If players are seen on the course without a Desert Greens Golf Tag, they will be approached and questioned. If you are a resident please do not be offended if you are approached as we must keep non-residents off the course for the benefit of us all. If you don’t have a Golf Tag, please request one at the H.O.A. office.

HANDICAPPED FLAGS FOR GOLFERS

Flags are available for those who need them for their golf cart. You must present an Official Nevada DMV certificate or a letter from your Doctor. Applications are available at the office.  The cost is $20.00.

Only Golf Carts with official flags will be allowed off cart paths and they must follow the “90 degree rule”. In other words, enter the fairway at the nearest point perpendicular to your ball and, after your shot, return to the cart path. In no event are carts to be driven closer than 15 feet from greens and bunkers. Avoid areas that appear wet or soft (standing water) to prevent leaving track marks. When on the cart path use extreme care to avoid hitting porches, particularly when near the second/eleventh tee box area, where the cart path is narrow.

BALL MARKS

We continue to see many unrepaired ball marks on the greens. We don’t have a lot of golfers here at Desert Greens so we all need to do a better job of fixing our marks! A mark has NOT been repaired unless you look at it and would be comfortable having to putt over it the next time you play the hole.

As a refresher here’s how to repair a ball mark. Insert your ball repair tool into the outer edge of the ball divot, with the prongs angled at 45 degrees. Gently work the turf up and back into place by pushing up and forward. Repeat this step around the entire ball mark as necessary. Tap down the repaired ball mark with a putter, until the mark is as smooth as the rest of the putting surface.

As you are walking across the greens look for marks that have been missed or not completely repaired. The hardest ones to remember are when you hit the green and bounce or roll off the green. So, even if your ball ends up in the rough, be sure to check for your mark on the green.

DIVOTS

It is the responsibility of every player to fill in their divots. If a piece of sod is intact it should be retrieved, placed in the divot and tamped down. Otherwise, the divot should be filled, level to the surrounding ground, with a mixture of sand & seed. This mixture of sand & seed is provided in a plastic bottle and is available at every tee box area. Once used, the plastic bottle should be returned to its original holder.

Please remember to pick up broken tees from the tee box area and discard them in the waste baskets provided. Broken tees cause havoc with mowers.

GOLF ETIQUETTE

· Players should always show consideration for other players on the course and should not disturb their play by moving, talking or making unnecessary noise.

· Players should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players.

· On the teeing ground, a player should not tee his ball until it is his/her turn to play.

· Players should not stand close to or directly behind another players ball, or directly behind the hole, when the other player is about to play.

SAFETY! SAFETY! SAFETY!

We have had incidents where golfers have been hit by a ball! Please make sure the players ahead of you have completely cleared the areas around the green (including the cart path), before teeing off. Any of us can occasionally hit an errant shot, so please be patient and safe not sorry!

There are several holes (#7 for example) where the tee box is vulnerable to errant tee shots from the previous hole. At least one member of the group should keep an eye on the group behind them – while they are teeing off.

Golf Cart drivers, please use caution and pay attention to speed when on cart paths. Rocks are being thrown onto the golf course grass. This can cause rocks to get caught and thrown by mower blades, which can be very dangerous! When approaching aprons to the street on holes 3/12 and 5/14 slow down. Skidding into the aprons throws rocks to the side and onto the grass.

Finally, our maintenance crew makes every effort to stay out of our way during league play. So, if you are playing a practice round, please show our maintenance crew the same respect. If you come to a hole where maintenance people are working, just move on to the next hole and avoid any chance of injury to our workers.

DESERT GREENS GOLF COURSE LOCAL RULES (Revised 07/1/19)

1. WINTER RULES are played year round. If a ball is muddy or plugged, it may be lifted, cleaned, and replaced within the length of a scorecard from the original spot. This applies anywhere on the course except in a sand trap/bunker. Otherwise, play the ball as it lies. “Ready Golf” is also played except when giving honors to Birdies and Aces. 

2. FREE DROPS: If a player's swing is obstructed by a man-made object (retaining wall, flags, rope line, tree stakes, etc.) or if the ball is lying in an area: 1. under repair, 2. in casual water, 3. on a cart path, 4. in a position where the player would be standing on the path, or 5. a place that puts a player at risk of falling, the player may take a free drop within one club length that is no closer to the pin. Casual water is any temporary accumulation of water on the course, which is not in a water hazard.

3. PUTTING: Putt out all holes-no gimmies, no exceptions! A player must play the same ball from the tee through the green. A player may not substitute another ball for putting. A ball on the green or fringe areas may be moved laterally, no nearer to the hole, to avoid damaged areas on the green. When putting, a player may request another player’s ball be marked and lifted. If a ball played from the putting green hits another ball on the putting green, the person making the stroke incurs a penalty of 2-strokes in medal play, and loss of the hole in match play. 

4. MAX LIMIT OF STROKES is 6 per hole. If a player completes a 5th stroke, and the ball is not in the hole, the player must pick up the ball and take a six (6) on that hole.

5. TEES: Yellow tee boxes are used for holes 1 through 9 and red tee boxes for holes 10 through 18. An exception is granted to women golfers, and golfers with handicaps of 15 or higher; they may use the red tees on holes 7 and 9 and the yellow tee on hole 13. For golfers 80 years and older, you must use the red tees on holes 7 and 9 and the yellow tee on hole 13, failure to do so will result in a disqualification for that round.

6. OUT OF BOUNDS (OB): All areas lateral to the edge of the fairways or in a street shall be considered OB, including areas of construction. Housing areas along the fairway: If the ball lies behind a line running along the edges of the homes, to include landscaped areas or in between houses, it is considered OB. Additionally on holes #3 & 12, if the ball is hit across the street, it is OB even though it may still be on the golf course. All shots determined to be OB are to be re-teed or re-hit from the original area. If a player is unsure of the ball being OB, then a provisional ball is to be hit. A provisional ball must be declared to a playing companion. Otherwise, that ball becomes the ball in play no matter where the first ball landed. If a player has not hit a provisional ball, and that player is OB, the player MUST return to the original position from which the ball was hit. Decorative rock areas beyond holes #5/14 & #9/18 are considered OB. A ball on the grass near the border for these rock areas may be moved one club length no closer to pin. The rock lined ditch behind hole #8/17 is considered an unplayable lie. Drop ball within one club length of ditch no closer to pin with one stroke penalty.

7. WATER HAZARDS: A ball in a water hazard (yellow stakes – holes #4, 7, 9, & 13), or, in a lateral water hazard (red stakes – holes #2, 11, 16, & 18). If the ball is hit into the water (does not clear the hazard), under the penalty of one stroke the ball may be: 

          a. Re-teed or hit as near as possible from the original spot.

          b. Dropped behind the water hazard, on a line running through the hole and the spot where the ball               crossed the hazard line.

          c. Played from the designated drop area (holes #4, 7, 9, & 13).

8. WRONG BALL: Player should always identify their own ball before hitting. Playing the wrong ball is a 2-stroke penalty.

9. DROP AREA for Hole #7/16 Wall: If your ball comes to rest close enough to the wall to impede your swing, you may use the drop area just left and short of the green (marked by green wooden blocks).

10. HANDICAPS: Handicaps will be established after 5 full rounds of golf. Player establishing handicap is not eligible for prizes in men’s league or Saturday scrambles. New handicaps will be published at the start of every month.

11. 9-HOLE RULE for Handicap Purposes: For residents who are unable to play 18 consecutive holes to establish a handicap, the following rule will apply: Golfer may play 9 holes on one day and 9 on another. The holes must be played in a 7 day period (same week, Sunday-Saturday). Golfer must use the yellow tees on the first 9 and the red tees on the second 9. Both nines need to be on one scorecard with dates and totals, and must be attested to by another league player. Golfer may not play another round in between the two 9-hole rounds and must pay the $1.00 maintenance fee for each 9-hole round. 

REMEMBER – USGA RULES ALWAYS APPLY EXCEPT AS MODIFIED BY THESE LOCAL RULES. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE RULES – ASK QUESTIONS.

Saturday scrambles will typically consist of 4 person teams. Teams will be determined by listing all scramble players in order of handicaps – lowest to highest. Lowest handicap players (“A” players) will draw cards to determine team captains and team number/ starting hole. Next lowest handicap players (“B” players) will draw cards to determine which team they will be on. This will continue with next lowest handicap players (“C” players) and lastly with highest handicap players (“D” players). Drawing of cards for last group will determine which of teams may have only 3 players.

When playing the Saturday scramble – the players from each team will tee off from the appropriate tee box. All players will shoot from the same position for all subsequent shots, until one player gets the ball in the hole.

Second shots will be determined from the position of all golf balls, relative to the hole. On holes 1/10, 4/13 &7/16– the second shot will be from the ball closest to the hole. On holes 2/11, 5/14 &8/17 – the second shot will be from the ball that is 2nd closest to the hole. On holes 3/12, 6/15 &9/18 – the second shot will be from the ball that is 3rd closest to the hole.

All subsequent shots will be played from the ball closest to the hole. Note; it is possible that a ball in a sand trap may be closer to the hole, than a ball on the green.

A ball out of bounds would automatically be considered the farthest from the hole.

A ball in the water would be considered closer than a ball out of bounds, but farther from the hole than any other ball in play. A ball hitting the bank and rolling back into the water is closer than a ball out of bounds and a water ball but farther than any other ball in play.

For example, from the tee, one player hits the ball on the green; second player hits the ball in the water; third and fourth players hit their balls out of bounds. On the first closest hole, the second shot would be from the location of the ball on the green. On the second closest hole, the second shot would be from the drop location (due to water ball) with a 1 stroke penalty (hitting 3rd shot). On the third closest hole, the second shot would be from the tee box (due to out of bounds balls) with a 1 stroke penalty (hitting 3rd shot).

After determining which ball will be played and the spot is marked, the ball may be lifted, cleaned, and placed within 12 inches (length of score card) of the original location. A ball may not be moved outside of a hazard. On the green, the ball may be placed within 4 inches (width of score card) of the marker.

If a team is required to use a water ball (hitting 3 from the drop zone) or a ball out of bounds (hitting 3 from the tee) – then ALL team members must hit from either the drop zone or appropriate tee box. Having met the requirements of selecting the proper second shot (plus a penalty stroke) – all following shots will be taken from the position of the ball closest to the hole.

In the event we have some 3 player teams; those teams will get 1 extra attempt for each shot and/or putt – on every hole. If the Starter decides to use the 1st & 2nd closest format (no 3rd closest) then no teams will be allowed to hit extra shots on any of the holes. The Captain will only be allowed to participate in the extra shots if he/she has a handicap of 6 or higher. The extra shot must be rotated equally among the remaining team members. The team captain will determine the rotation prior to start of play. For the player taking the extra shots on a “closest to the pin (K.P.) hole – “ONLY” the 1st tee shot will count towards the K.P.!A hole-in-one will count on either tee shot, but will not count if the team is hitting their 3rd shot from the tee box.

Players should be aware that with the 1st& 2nd format, it is possible to have consecutive odd & even number holes. Example: if a team starts on hole #2, then after playing hole #9 they will play hole #1, then hole #11 (all Odd). Also, after playing hole #18, they will finish on hole #10 (both Even).

If the second shot is determined to be from:

Tee shot out of bounds: re-tee from tee box, hitting three.

Ball in water: Holes 4/13, 7/16 & 9/18; Hit from drop zone – hitting three.

If ball crossed water, hit land, and rolled back into water; Drop ball within two club lengths of point ball entered water (no closer to hole) – hitting three.

Ball on Cart Path: Take free relief from Cart Path. Drop ball, no closer to the hole, then – hitting two.

Balls “in play” (excluding Out of Bounds and Water Balls) are measured from where they lie, not from where they will be dropped.