Author: Bill Stevens

New Local Rules Effective October 2009

All Tournaments, All Courses

Embedded Ball (effective October 2009):

LOCAL RULE: Embedded Ball, “Through the green” a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

 

Poplar Creek Golf Course – Local Rules

Staked Trees due to Poplar Creek’s tree planting project (effective October 2009):

LOCAL RULE: Protection of Young Trees, Protection of young trees identified by a stake. If such a tree interferes with a players stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-b (Immovable Obstruction).

Pace of Play Policy

Play ready golf and keep up with our established Pace Of Play.

The pace of play for the Poplar Creek Golf Club tournaments at Poplar Creek is 4 hours and 12 minutes or less. This equates to an average of 14 minutes per hole or less.

Important: The first groups must play in 4 hours or less. Players that cannot meet this goal will not be placed in the early tee times.

If you are the first group in the field, play efficient golf. If you are in a following group, keep up with the group in front of you and you will not have a pace of play issue.

If you are in the first group, or any following group, and fall behind on one hole you are expected to play efficient golf and regain your position. This might mean playing ready golf and doing continuous putting, both of which are allowed in stroke play.

If you tee off at a time that is different from your scheduled time it should be recorded on every scorecard in your group. Tee off time is the time the first tee is placed in the ground

Important Pace of Play information for today’s tournament

  1. The first group must play in a maximum time of 4 hours. As pacesetters it is hoped they will play in less than 4 hours. Should the first group finish 18 holes at 12 minutes to 15:59 minutes over pace each player will be penalized one-stroke. 16 minutes or more over pace will result in each player being penalized two-strokes.
  2. Each following group must finish the 18 holes no more than 12 minutes behind the group they follow. Groups that finish in more than 4 hours and 12 minutes and 12 minutes to 16 minutes behind the group they follow will be penalized one-stroke. Groups that are over 4 hours and 12 minutes and 16 minutes or more behind will be penalized two-strokes.
  3. Any player that would like to appeal any pace of play penalty must do so before signing and turning in his scorecard.
  4. The last hole is considered completed by the group when the flagstick is placed in the hole.

Appeals: Do not sign and turn in your scorecard if you intend to appeal a POP penalty. Players concerned about a slow player(s) in their group may ask to have the group monitored. The individual player need not be identified; the request only needs to be made to a course ranger or a tournament official. At some point during the round the group will then be monitored to determine which player(s) may be the cause of slow play. Pace of play penalties may be appealed to the Committee but must be made before scorecards are signed and returned. In order for an appeal to be considered, there must have been an action by the Committee, a circumstance beyond the contestant’s control, or some similar occurrence that contributed to the delay, such as an action by an individual of the group. An appeal may result in no more than a one-stroke reduction.

Official clocks are on the 1st tee and the 18th green.

Basic Tournament Rules

All tournament players: You are required to pickup your scorecards 10 min. before your tee time or face disqualification. -The Rules Committee.

Closing dates for home tournaments; all HOME tournament-closing dates are 12 days before the event. The away dates vary; the away schedule is posted on the web and on the bulletin board at Poplar Creek Grill with the closing date for each away event.

Once you have signed up for a tournament you are responsible for that fee. If you are unable to play it is prudent of YOU to find a replacement. If you are unable to find someone and there is no one on the standby list the tournament fee will still be collected. The club pays green fees to the course and sweeps money for the payout.

Poplar Creek Golf Club New Member Newsletter

Welcome from the President

Welcome New Member! We are pleased you have joined our club and look forward to seeing you in upcoming tournaments. This special newsletter is designed to prepare you and briefly educate you on how things happen around our club. One thing for sure… our members are the friendly sort and look forward to assisting you. Don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have. Fore!

Board Members

These 13 individuals volunteer time to assist in the running of your club. We are always looking for new blood on the Board. Nominations begin each year in July. If you have some time to spare and want to assist in one aspect or another, please introduce yourself to any Board Member. See our web page for pictures and email contact of the Board members. Feel free to contact any Board member via email.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are the 2nd Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m., at Poplar Creek Grill at the golf course. All members are welcome. Come find out what goes on. There are always Q&A sessions at every meeting. This an ideal forum to bring up good ideas and ask questions.

Tournament Schedules, Costs, Prizes

Our club publishes an annual schedule, typically consIstmg of 20-25 home and away tournaments. Typical green fees are $45-$50 for home tournaments and higher for some away tournaments. A "sweep" or prize fund is tacked on to the green fee cost and is typically $10. From this prize fund, the club matches an amount ranging from $250-$500 to each tournament and each flight receives a fair share. Almost all tournaments are flighted, meaning you will compete with others in your handicap range. The more people who sign up, the more flights we arrange. The smallest is usually two flights (30-45 players) and the largest is five flights equaling 100 or more players.

Tournament Signup Procedures

Tournament signup sheets are available on our web page and in the pro shop. You must fill out the signup form, include appropriate payment for your self and any others you are signing up. Follow the instructions carefully on the form and be aware the cutoff for signing up may be 8-10 days prior to the tournament date. You may mail to our P.O. box or drop off in the lock box located at the GHIN computer in the pro shop, by the cutoff date. Unfortunately, you will not have any confirmation of your signup or your special requests, until the tee times are prepared and posted. You can check the web page approximately 7-10 days prior to the tournament or visit the course and look for the tee times, on the bulletin board in the restaurant, near the front restroom area or near the GHIN computer in the pro shop. If you cannot do either of the first two items, you may call the course – NO EARLIER THAN 2 DAYS BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT and ask if they have the tee times.

Member Communications

We try an use our web site for the bulk of member communications. Here you will find almost all of the info you need to know about our club. Please visit the web site often as new info is added all of the time. On our site you will find tee times for upcoming tournaments, tournament scores for all new and old tournaments, history items and many other things. However, don't worry if you don't have access to the Internet. We mail newsletters about 4 times per year.

Prize fund payouts are in the form of a gift certificate, good in our pro shop. The Gift Certificate box is behind the counter in the pro shop, in alphabetical order. Ask for it if you wish to retrieve your gift certificates. Gift certificates expire after 12 months from issue date if not used and are not reissued. If you are saving gift certificates for a large purchase, our Pro Dana Banke is willing to redeem our gift certificate with one of his own, which do not expire. See Dana for details on ordering special equipment or items you do not see.

Special Tournaments

In our annual schedule, there are a few special tournaments. The TOC (Tournament of Champions) is the year-end special event. To qualify for this tournament, you must have won your flight during the Oct-Sept season. If so, you qualify for the TOC. Club pays for most of your entry fee at a top-rated course, as our season ending event. The Member-Guest is one of our largest tournaments of the year. It is a blowout and you should not miss it! It is typically held in the early fall, each year. The NCGA 2 Man, NCGA 4 Man and NCGA Net tournaments all have certain flight winners that go on to Sectional qualifYing and further if you continue winning. The club pays for entry fees for the winners, as well as a flat expense amount, if traveling overnight. See the web page for more information.

Social Events

We try and have 6-8 social events following tournaments during the season, where we host food. Each year we try to have a Christmas party. When you sign up for tournaments, look for a spot on the signup sheet, where you have to confirm if you are staying for food after the tournament. There are always discussions going on within the Board about bus trips or other special tournaments. Keep an eye on the web page or the newsletter or other special mailings.

Pace of Play

We operate our tournaments under strict Pace-of-Play guidelines. You should become very familiar with these guidelines. A Pace-of-Play sheet is handed out at every tournament.