GCO Golf League

* Partially-exempt members that do not have to play the course during the provisional period §3.7

1.1 TEEING AREA. The teeing area for all league play shall be the tees closest to and at least 6600 for a par 72 yard course. The Commissioner reserves the right to make reasonable tee alteration to accommodate the league.

1.2 RED STAKES. USGA rules apply. It is summarized as follows: If you hit your ball past a red stake (and into the staked hazard), you may proceed under several options. 1. You may play your ball from beyond the red stakes without penalty; 2. You may take a drop, within 2-club lengths of the point where your ball last crossed the red stakes (or on the opposite side of the hazard), but no nearer the hole, with a one stroke penalty; 3. You may take a drop behind the hazard, keeping the point at which the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the hazard the ball may be dropped, with a one stroke penalty; or 4. You may rehit with a one stroke penalty.

1.3 WHITE STAKES. USGA rules apply. It is summarized as follows: If you hit your ball past a white state (which is out of bounds) you must rehit with a one stroke penalty. You will be hitting three at that point. You must continue to rehit until you ball is no longer out of bounds.

1.5 PROVISIONAL BALL. Whenever there is the slightest doubt that your ball may have come to rest near or past the white stakes (out of bounds) or you believe your ball may be lost outside of a hazard, you are to declare a provisional ball, and hit a second ball. There is no penalty if your first ball is still in bounds or not lost. You then pick up the provisional ball and play your original. If you determine later that your original ball has come to rest out of bounds, you take a penalty and play the provisional ball. If you have not played a provisional ball by mistake, you are to return to the spot of your last shot and play another under a one stroke penalty. If you fail to comply with this rule, you will be assessed another two-stoke penalty, on top of the penalty for the lost ball.

1.6.1 PLAY BALL AS IT LIES. The default form of play is to play the ball as it lies under USGA rules and applicable local and GCO rules unless Preferred Lies is announced.

1.6.2 PREFERRED LIES. Preferred Lies - Fairway may be announced by the Commissioner's Office when conditions warrant such as snowy or muddy conditions, excessive moisture in the soil, extreme heat and un-mown fairways. The Commissioner will post Preferred Lies in the Commissioner's Notes when applicable. When Preferred Lies is announced, a ball lying on your fairway may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed. If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless another USGA rule apples. 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, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. Preferred Lies - Everywhere may be announce by the Commissioner's Office and provides the same relief as Preferred Lies - Fairway except you may lift clean and place anywhere on the course, except a hazard.

1.7 EMBEDDED BALL. You may lift, clean and replace an embedded ball anywhere EXCEPT in a hazard, including bunkers, or any non-closely mown area such as the woods. An embedded ball is a ball which lies, in whole or in part, within its own pitch or ball mark.

1.8 POWER LINES. If a ball strikes an elevated power line or cable, the stroke MUST be canceled and replayed, without penalty. If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted. This rule does not apply to the support structures of power lines or cables.

1.9 WEATHER RULES. Scattered showers and light rain do not cancel golf. Cool, cold or windy weather does not cancel golf. Golf is only canceled by reason of thunderstorms that are ongoing at tee off, snow accumulation, tornado, ongoing heavy rain at tee off which has little hope of letup and the golf course being closed. If the weather situation is particularly threatening, please check you emails before heading to the golf course. We try to send out a last minute cancel / no-cancel notice, if possible.

1.10 USGA AND LOCAL RULES: USGA Rules apply except where local course rules apply and the listed GCO league rules. In all instances where GCO, local and USGA rules contradict or contravene each other, the GCO rules shall control, followed by local rules then USGA.

1.11 LOSE OF HOLE: Breach of any USGA, Local or GCO rule during match play will result in a lose of hole in addition to the scheduled penalty.

1.12 COMMON INFORMATION: Sharing information with your opponent or other players as to the distance to the hole from a tee box, yardage marker, gps unit, distance laser, paced off yardages, topographic feature or other similar circumstance, are considered commonly known facts and no penalty shall be incurred by either party. Sharing information as to the direction of the hole or the pin position are also considered commonly known facts and no penalty shall be incurred by either party. Sharing of said common information is intended to help the speed of play but one is not required to share such information.

2.1 SCORING FORMAT. Scoring shall be the combined point totals of the weekly league matches and the point totals for the Majors.

2.2 WEEKLY LEAGUE MATCH PLAY. The weekly format will be match play against other golfers according to a random schedule. With the number of members larger than the number of weeks of league play, it is not possible to schedule a matches whereby each golfer will play every other golfer in the league. Scores are handicapped using established GCO handicaps system which is USGA compliant. Provisional handicaps will be used for players without an established GCO handicap.

You receive one point for winning a hole, a 1/2 point for a tie. You also receive 3 points if you have the net low score in your match. In case of a net low tie, each player will receive 1 1/2 points. The maximum point total is 9+3=12. Players are to calculate their scores with their handicaps and submit a joint scorecard with names, scores, net scores, points and handicaps used, at the end of the round to the designated league Commissioner or coordinator.

An example of this format in play is as follows: Player A plays Player B. Player A has a 9 hole handicap of 9 and player B has a handicap of 0. Player A and B both par hole number 1. Player A is awarded one point because Player B has to give Player A 1 stroke for each hole ( the difference between their handicaps.) If the difference in handicaps between the players is something less or more than 9, then strokes are given to holes based on the hole's difficulty. For instance, if Player A has a handicap of 11 and Player B has a handicap of 7, Player B gives 4 strokes to Player A by giving one stroke on the four hardest holes as designated by handicap of the hole. The #1 handicap hole is the most difficult hole. Whoever has the lowest net score (total score after taking into account one's handicap) after 9 holes wins the net and is awarded an extra 3 points to his total hole point score. Each player will be awarded 1.5 points in the case of a net score tie. It is possible to lose a majority of the hole points, win the net low and win the match. The winner and loser will have both of their respective scores added to their running totals for the year.

2.3 MAJORS. In addition to the weekly match play scoring format, the league will also have 4 "Majors" of varying formats which will be counted towards the point totals. The following points will be awarded in each Major according the finishing position:

If more than one player tie for first place, then first place shall be awarded to the player with the best score on the hardest handicap hole. If still tied, then the second handicap hole and so forth will be examined until a winner is determined. If the course handicaps holes based on nine hole sides, the backside shall be used and the front side shall only be used if all the holes on the backside are tied. If more than one player tie for a certain finishing position other than first place, for instance, three players finish tied for second, then each player will be awarded the points awarded for second, in this example, all 3 shall be awarded 21 points. However, if 3 players tie for second, there shall be no third or fourth place points. The next lowest score shall receive fifth place points.

All Majors will be fully handicapped regardless of format. If a player does not have an established GCO handicap for a Major, he must use a temporary handicap consisting of the provisional handicap minus two strokes, unless otherwise exempted from this modification by the Commissioner. In no event may the temporary handicap exceed two strokes per hole. The common formats for the Majors shall be stroke play and GCO modified stableford.

If weather is preventing the playing of a Major, all effort will be made to play to completion on the scheduled day. If the event cannot be completed in full on the scheduled day, it shall be cancelled and not be rescheduled.

2.4 LEAGUE CHAMPION. The GCO League Champion (winner of the GCO Cup) shall be the individual with the most total combined weekly match play and Major point totals at the conclusion of the season following deduction for §2.5 Worst Score Drop Rule.

2.5 WORST SCORE DROP RULE. Your point total for the year will be modified at the end of the season by the dropping of your two (2) worst scores. No-shows are calculated as zero points for the purposes of this rule. While players are encouraged to compete on a weekly basis, it is usually inevitable that some players must miss a week or two due to work obligations or vacation plans. You will now be able to drop that zero from your totals. For the purposes of this rule, a Major shall be considered the equivalent of two weekly matches, therefore, if you miss a Major, you exhaust (2) of the allotted worst score drops. If you only miss one weekly match, you drop that missed weekly match and also your one other lowest weekly match score. If you miss more than your allotted weeks of missed matches, all other no-shows will be tabulated as zero points. If you do not miss any weekly matches and do not miss any Majors, you must drop your two worst weekly match scores.

2.6 OPPONENT NO SHOW. If you opponent fails to show, you play against any other league member whose opponent has also failed to show. Only the winner of the match is awarded the 3 points for net low, or in the case of a tie, each shall be awarded 1.5 points. If there is no other league member to play against, you play against the course under §2.7. If there are three or more golfers whose opponents have failed to show, then those golfers shall select their opponents from the pool of other golfers who also do not have an opponent. The matches shall be selected by random utilizing the "tee toss" selection process. The "tee toss" process is where all the golfers without opponents stand in an informal circle and a tee is tossed to select which golfer plays against which golfer. The "tee toss" process shall not commence until the last schedule match for the day is on the tee or has tee off. This prevents premature "tee tossing" or cherry picking of opponents. If the "tee toss" process is commenced prematurely and additional golfers without a match arrive at the first tee, the "tee toss" shall be voided and the "tee toss" process shall be preformed again. If the "tee toss" process was performed within these rules and subsequently, additional golfers without matches arrived at the first tee, the "tee toss" matches shall stand except that any player "tee tossed" into playing the course shall either be paired with the late arriving golfer or a secondary "tee toss" shall be made with the late arriving golfers. The reigning GCO Champion shall have priority in all tee toss scenarios and will automatically be the first selected. Said priority may be declined.

2.7 PLAYING THE COURSE. If there is no other league member to play against, you play against the course and are awarded 3 points for net low if you beat the course and are also awarded any additional points you may get against the course using your handicap. Playing against the course means your net-score in relation to par. If your net is par, you tie with the course. You need a net birdie to score a point against the course. You do not need to break par, after factoring in your handicap, to get the 3 points for net low. You are attributed 2 extra strokes toward the overall net score. Therefore, in order to beat the course, you must score at least +1 (one over par) to be awarded the 3 points for net low. A net +2 will be equated as a tie with the course and you will be awarded 1.5 points. A net of +3 or higher will be considered a net low loss to the course.

2.8 FULL FOURSOMES. Only paired opponents in a full foursome may tee off. You may tee off as soon as you are ready and the course allows you to tee off. All others must wait for their opponents or go off at the end if your opponent does not show for his match. If you expect to be late or a no-show on a given day, a courtesy e-mail to your opponent is appropriate. This prevents guys from rushing down to the course only to wait 45 minutes for the guy who knew he was going to be late.

2.9 LATE SEASON LEAGUE LEADERS TEE-TIMES. In the last three weeks of league play, it is strongly encouraged that the league leaders in points be permitted to tee off as early as possible. The purpose for this rule is to minimize the effect of darkness due to late season tee times for those in a position to compete for the league title. Golfers out of the running for the championship late in the season, should, in good etiquette, permit those groups with players in position to compete for the league title to tee-off earlier. Furthermore, the league leaders are to play in the same groupings for the final major.

2.10 SEASON LENGTH AND SCHEDULE. The length of the schedule, shall in most cases, be determine by the length of the season. Should a week be cancelled due to inclement weather, course closure or a declared holiday layoff, the schedule shall resume without skipping a scheduled opponent on the next playable Wednesday. The league schedule shall commence on the first or second Wednesday of April, weather permitting. All league play will be ended before labor day weekend regardless of how many weeks of competition were completed.

2.11 PLAYOFF. In the event that two golfers finish the season tied with the most points, a nine hole playoff will occur the following week based upon the regular season match play format. In the event that more than two golfers finish the season tied with the most points, a nine hole playoff will occur the following week, however, this three or more golfer format will be based on stroke play using handicaps. In other words, the lowest net-score will win. In either case, if the golfers are still tied after the playoff round, the winner shall be determined by the lowest score on the most difficult rated holes based on the score card's handicap. If still tied after the number one handicap hole, then to the second, and so on. If there is still a tie after considering the scores from all nine handicapped holes, the tied golfers will play another nine holes along the same format and so forth until a winner is determined.

2.12 READY GOLF. Please play ready golf, that is, if you are ready to hit while your opponent is dinking around, go ahead. Ready golf also implies you should prepare yourself to hit as soon as possible, whether or not it is your turn. A good example of this is go to your ball with the correct club and figure out your shot while your opponent is preparing to hit and hitting. Don't wait for him to hit and then saunter over to your ball. This does not mean hit at the same time or be a distraction to your opponent or other golfers. Common Etiquette is still required. If a golfer feels that the order of play may effect the match, a golfer may, at his option, require his opponent to abide by the order of play.

2.13 TEE PRIORITY IN MAJORS. The order of foursomes in Majors is not pre-determined. However, tee priority is allocated to full foursome based on the highest ranked golfer in that foursome by GCO points. For instance, a four-some which contains golfers ranked 5th, 20th, 21st and 22nd, may take priority over a foursome containing golfers ranked 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. To perfect such priority, the complete foursome must be ready and at the tee at the moment it becomes available or they shall fall behind the next foursome that is ready and at the tee.

3.1 GCO HANDICAP INDEX. A GCO Handicap index for this 9 hole league will be calculated based on a minimum of five adjusted gross scores from the home course or eligible seed scores and then at weekly increments throughout the season. The GCO Handicap system maxes out at your most recent 20 scores in the golfer's experience. The Handicap index is based on the USGA formula using the average of your best eligible Adjusted Gross Scores for the given period while taking into consideration a bonus for excellence as defined by the USGA. A golfer's playing handicap is derived by applying the USGA formula to the index which takes into account the slope and course rating of the course to be played. No playing handicaps can exceed 18 or two strokes per hole on a nine hole course. Handicaps are not effected by the Worst Score Drop Rule.

While Major consist of 18 hole rounds rather than 9 hole rounds, the front and back nine hole scores of each Major will be considered as a separate seed score and added to the golfer's experience for GCO handicapping purposes, provided there are front and back slope and course ratings statistics for the course played. Majors with formats other than stroke play will not be used for handicapping purposes.

3.2 EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL. For the sole purposes of calculating and tracking handicaps, not for calculating match or net points, Adjusted Scores will be used. The concept is to make handicaps consistent and limit abuse of the handicapping process. The amount of equitable stroke control being applied to a score depends on your handicap for the given day. An Adjusted Score will be determined by applying the following stroke control which follows the USGA guidelines:

For instance, if a player with a 5 handicap has a final score of 48 and such score includes a 9 on a par 4, the 9 will be adjusted to a 7 and the Adjusted Gross Score will be two less, or 46. No Adjusted Score can exceed 20 over par and no handicap can exceed 18.

New members who have not registered at least 5 rounds will utilized the equitable stroke control table with the provisional handicap accepted by the league for said first five rounds. Following that, the normal playing handicap calculated by the GCO will be utilized in equitable stroke control.

3.4 PROVISIONAL HANDICAP SYSTEM. The GCO golf league will provide a provisional handicap for all new/non-exempt players until such time as they have played five official rounds with the league, after which, an official USGA-GCO handicap will be issued. During this provisional period, the new/non-exempt player shall only play against the course with the provisional handicap in lieu of playing exempt members. The new/non-exempt player shall earn points as any match against the course. To obtain a provision handicap, new players must submit a verifiable USGA handicap index, or in the alternative, their best 5 rounds (9-hole or 18-hole), with name of the golf course and which tees where used. The GCO will calculate a provisional handicap based on those submissions, using USGA calculations. The provisional handicap generally should not go up during the provisional period. However, if any single round is below the provisional handicap, the provisional handicap will be adjusted downward based solely on that sub-provisional round for the following week's play. Furthermore, if the Commissioner's office determines that the provisional handicap is substantially above or below the level of play of a new golfer, the Commissioner's office upon committee, may adjust the handicap, even retroactively, to correct the inaccuracy in the interest of fair play.

3.5 HANDICAP PROBATION. Any time a GCO member's playing handicap exceeds 18 for nine holes in match play, said golfer shall be put on probation. On probation, said golfer is prohibited from playing other GCO members and shall only play against the course with a maximum handicap of 18. The period of probation shall continue until such time as the playing handicap is 18 or less. GCO members on probation cannot compete in games of prizes, but may still accumulate GCO points. If a player is able to come off of probation, his points earned during probation will count toward the league championship. A golfer on probation may play in a Major, but only with the maximum handicap allowed. Any GCO member in good standing that was scheduled to play against a golfer on probation will have his match canceled and will either play in a no-show match or against the course.

3.6 EXEMPT MEMBERS. Any GCO member, current or former, that maintains at least ten qualified scores in any GCO handicap system that are not less than five years old, shall have full GCO exempt status and his handicap of record shall apply. Should a member, current or former, not have ten (10) qualified scores, he shall play the course under the provisional handicap system for five rounds and then shall have full exempt status again. The scoring will be as any other match against the course. The handicap used by a player that has lost his exempt status shall be his old GCO handicap, and it shall be adjusted each week. He may accumulate points and compete in a Major but not other games of prizes during the non-exempt period.

3.7 PARTIALLY-EXEMPT MEMBERS. A partially-exempt golfer is one who does not have to play the course during the provisional handicap period but rather plays a regular match according to the schedule. A new golfer with a verifyable USGA handicap index that is also vouched for by a current GCO member shall have partially-exempt status. A new golfer coming from any other GCO league, such as the Top-20 Tour, shall have partially-exempt status.

4.1 PRIZES AND LEAGUE CHAMPION. At the completion of league play, prizes are awarded based on the following formula: 1st place, i.e., most points, receives the GCO CUP trophy (value approximately $40 to $50) and 55% of the pot, 2nd place receives 30% of the pot; 3rd place receives 15% (up from 10% in 2004). All amounts are calculated after the league expense such as the trophy, buck-a-bird, net-low-dough, major points and Ryder Cup(s) funding are subtracted from the pot. If there is more than one golfer tied for first, there shall be a playoff ( §2.11). If two or more golfers are tied for second place, then there shall be no third place prize and all second place winners shall equally divide the remaining pot. If there is more than one third place winner, then the third place prized shall be divided equally between the third place winners.

4.2 BUCK-A-BIRD. Every gross birdie scored will be worth one point, gross eagles will be three points and double eagles worth six. All players that post buck-a-bird points will receive a payout at the end of the season of one dollar for each point. The buck-a-birds will be tracked along with the point totals and all players are responsible for informing the Commissioner of the number of birdies scored each week by designating the birdies on the score card turned in for posting. If players fail to inform the league within seven days of the birdie or fail to take steps to correct a posting error on the part of the Commissioner or the league within twenty-one days, that buck-a-bird will be waived. Buck-A-Bird points are awarded during a Major.

4.3 NET-LOW-DOUGH. To be eligible for net-low-dough, the golfer must have logged a minimum of six eligible matches prior to competing for the net-low. The golfer that posts the lowest net-score each week will earn one net low point, or the equivalent of three birdies. In the event two or more golfers tie for the net-low, each will earn one net-low point. All players that post low-dough points will receive a payout at the end of the season of three dollar for each net-low point. The low-dough will be tracked along with the point totals and all players are responsible for informing the Commissioner of their net-low number by designating both the gross and net scores on the card turned in for posting. If players fail to inform the league within seven days of the claimed net-low score, or fails to take steps to correct a posting error on the part of the Commissioner or the league, within twenty-one days, that net-low-dough will be waived. Net-Low-Dough points are NOT awarded during a Major.

4.4 LEAGUE DUES. To be eligible to compete in the league and to be eligible for the prizes of the league, your league dues must be paid in advance as determined by the Commissioner. If your league dues are not paid at the season opening, you will not be awarded points for any birdies or net-low until such time as you have paid your league dues. There will be no retroactive awarding of birdies or net-low points following payment of league dues. If you fail to pay your league dues as proscribed by the Commissioner, you are also subject to removal from the league.

4.5 MAJOR MONEY. First, Second and Third place at each Major will be awarded the following points respectively: 3, 2, 1. Each Major point is worth $5.00.

4.6 RYDER CUP. Only the top 12 golfers by points qualify for the Ryder Cup(s), a team competition against another local golf league. Alternates shall be selected as Commissioner's picks following committee with all Commissioners and the current GCO League Champion. The league shall allocate $420.00 from league dues for the Ryder Cup(s) team.

4.7 GCO CHAMPION MAJOR SITE SELECTION. Beginning in 2013, The reigning GCO Champion may select the site of one of the four majors, provided that the site is available and within the GCO Top-20.

5.1 RULE ARBITRATOR. In the event of a good faith ruling dispute, you may play out the hole and continue to conclusion upon agreement with your opponent. If the ruling is still in dispute by the time you reach the club house, and after consulting the rules, consult with a Commissioner who will settle the dispute and determine the scoring for that particular hole. An appeal of said ruling may be made to the Board of Commissioners with supporting evidence. The Board of Commissioners shall consider any supporting evidence and make a ruling and such a ruling shall be final.

5.2 PROCEDURE WHEN RULING UNKNOWN. In the event of a good faith ruling dispute, you may play out the hole and continue to conclusion upon agreement with your opponent. If there is a good faith dispute as to whether a golfer can or should play out a hole with a particular ball, a second ball may be played following announcement of this intention, without penalty, as an alternative, along with the first ball, and the score with each ball must be recorded. Following the match, upon consultation with the Commissioner or Vice Commissioner and the Rules of Golf, the correct score shall be determined for that hole. A party may appeal the ruling to a the Board of Commissioners and any such ruling from the Board shall be final.

5.3 FINAL SCORES. All scores become final on the week following the week in question at 10:30 p.m. unless a formal protest/appeal is filed with the Commissioner or Vice-Commissioner before the deadline.

5.4 OBLIGATION TO REVIEW. All GCO members are required to review their own scores and points and the posting of those scores and points. It is the obligation of the individual member to insure that the league and Commissioner's office has recorded and calculated said scores and points correctly.

6.1 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The league shall have an executive committee, called The Board of Commissioners, which shall consist of two positions, a Commissioner and a Vice Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners shall:

a. Hear all appeals;

b. Consider and create new rules;

c. Amend or abolish old rules;

d. Provide information and assistance to league members as required;

e. Take input and hear greivances from the league or league representatives and auxilliaries;

f. Issues sanctions and penalties against league members when appropriate;

g. Conduct handicap hearing to deterimine the validity of a current handicap;

h. Appoint Pace Marshals; and

i. Do all that is necessary or appropriate to serve the best interest of the GCO Golf League.

6.2 BOARD VOTING. The Board of Commissioners shall vote on all issue put to it, by a majority vote. In case of ties in voting, the Commissioner may cast the tie breaking vote.

6.3 VOIDS AND AMBIGUITIES. In rare instances where a situation or occurrence cannot be resolved by the rules and the Commissioner has determined there is a void or ambiguity in said rules, the Commissioner shall issue a ruling and resolve such void or ambiguity in the best interest of the league.

6.4 PENALTIES. The Commissioner reserves the right to issue penalties to league member for serious transgressions of the league rules, league customs, directives of the Commissioner or the etiquette of the game of golf. Penalties may be issued for, but not limited to:

f. All golfer that fail to attend league play Wednesdays when attendance falls below 20 golfer.

A single penalty will be equated to $4.00 and shall be only deducted from the winnings, if any, of the party assessed.

6.5 PACE WARNINGS. A pace of play warning may be issued when any of the following occur:

a. Out of Position: Any group will be considered out of position if (i) it reaches the teeing ground of a par-3 hole and the preceding group has cleared the next tee, (ii) reaches the teeing ground of a par-4 hole and the preceding group is on the next tee, or (iii) reaches the teeing ground of a par-5 hole when the preceding group has left the putting green of the par-5. Reaching the teeing ground for the purposes of this rule means not having a player in the group tee off yet. This rule does not apply to groups following a group of less golfers, such as a 4-some following a 3-some. The warning will apply to all golfers in the group.

b. Timing: Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player's stroke will begin when he has had reasonable opportunity to reach and find his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage and clubs will count as part of the time taken for the stroke. On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments on his line of putt. Time spent looking at the line, including from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke. A player is permitted 45 seconds to play a stroke.

c. Bad Time: A "bad time" may be assessed to a single player or players in a group which is out of position if the player or players makes no effort to help the group get back in position. An example of this would be a player who delays play between shots or a group which is already behind and continues to fall further behind with no effort to catch up.

Unless special circumstances exist for a group being out of position, slow play timing, or a bad time delay, a pace warning may be issued. The Commissioner's Office will solely determine if a pace warning is warranted and if any special circumstances existed, exempting the warning. Opportunity to explain special circumstances shall be permitted.

Every pace warning shall be documented. For every pace warning after the first, a penalty equated to $4.00 shall be deducted from the winnings, if any, of the party assessed. The Commissioner or Vice Commissioner as well as any appointed Pace Marshals, may make a pace warning assessment. Any three GCO members acting together may also lodge a pace complaint against another golfer or group of golfers.

1	24 points	7	15 pts	13	10.5 pts	19	7.5 pts	25	4.5 pts	31	2 pts
2	21 points	8	14 pts	14	10 pts	20	7 pts	26	4 pts	32	2 pts
3	19 points	9	13 pts	15	9.5 pts	21	6.5 pts	27	3.5 pts	33	2 pts
4	18 points	10	12 pts	16	9 pts	22	6 pts	27	3 pts	34	2 pts
5	17 points	11	11.5 pts	17	8.5 pts	23	5.5 pts	29	2.5 pts	35	2 pts
6	16 points	12	11 pts	18	8 pts	24	5 pts	30	2 pts	36+	2 pts

9 Hole Handicap	Maximum Number on Any Hole
4 or less	Double Bogey
5 through 9	7
10 through 14	8
15 or more	9