MGA League

 THE ORCHARD GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB     The Fall/Winter Season   Revised as of 9/1/2010 The Orchard Men's Golf Association (MGA) Rules & Policies      

The Organization:

The Orchard Men's Golf Association ("MGA") is an organization for Orchard Male Members 18 years of age or older who have an established GHIN handicap at the Orchard. The MGA will meet on Saturday mornings for a modified point's game.

MGA is governed by a board of elected officers that is made up of a President, Vice-President, Treasure/Secretary and various members At-Large. New Officers are elected the last Saturday in March of each year. The primary purpose of these officers is to represent the MGA member's wishes and to regulate any grievances by MGA members.

Standing Rules:

USGA rules will govern play, unless modified by the officers. Distance measuring – devices are approved in accordance with USGA Decision 14-3/0.5. (Distance Only)

Time of Play:

The MGA has two seasons Spring/Summer (April – August) and Fall/Winter (September – February).

All participants are asked to be registered by 8:00 a.m. Spring and Summer and 8:45 a.m. Fall and Winter. The golf staff will reserve an hour or more time for the events, this will be dependent on how may register for play. The months of April – August, the group will start @ 8:30 a.m. and will have a backup shotgun to start. The MGA will meet every other Saturday in the Spring/Summer Session. The Fall/Winter Session MGA will meet every Saturday morning @ 10:00 a.m. starting in November and will have a backup shotgun or a regular shotgun start. (Check with Pro Shop for starting time in September & October)

Flights:

Beginning in the Fall of 2010 there will be two flights for participating players. The first flight will be for players with an 11 or below handicap. The second flight will be for players with a 12 and above handicap. Players will not be required to play in groups within their respective flights.

Fee Structure:

MGA members are required to pay annual association fee or dues of $30 (April 1st of each year) unless the membership votes to suspend them for a period of time. When a member participates in a Saturday point's tournament or event they are required to pay the $15 entry fee towards the prize purse before starting play. There is an optional skins pot that cost $5. The only additional monies required would be if a members fails to make their quota, then they would be required to pay an additional dollar for each point they are below or short of the current quota. Beginning in the Fall of 2010, there will be an optional proximity to the hole pot for each play day. There will be one hole designated for the closest to the pin competition. Participation will cost an extra $1.00 and there will be one winner. These winnings will count toward the cumulative total.

Tees: (4 Established Sets at Present)

MGA members will play MGA tees which measure between 5,700 and 6,000 yards. Scores should be posted from the Tournament Tees.

Quote Formula:

MGA members Quotas will be formulated the first played day by using the player's current course handicap from their established tees. Quotas will be adjusted according to the player's performance on each Saturday thereafter.

Quota Adjustment Formula:

• Money Winners – Plus Points – New quota will be increased by half their plus points. Minus points --- quota will remain the same as their current quota.
• Winners and Non – Winners - Even pts – New quota will remain the same as their current quota.
• Non – Winners - Minus 1 pt to 3 pts – New quota will decrease by one.
• Non – Winners - Minus 4 pts to 6 pts – New quota will decrease by two.
• Non – Winners - Minus 7 pts and above – New quota will decrease by three.

Quota Points Are Accumulated As Follows:

• Bogey                          1
• Par                               2
• Birdie                           4
• Eagle                           6
• Hole-n-One                 8

Prize Money Distribution Rules:

Front Nine      $5        Back Nine       $5        Overall                        $5

• Twenty participants or less pays three places:  1^st 50%, 2^nd 30%, and 3^rd 20%.
• 21 to 32 participants pay four places:              1^st 40%, 2^nd 30%, 3^rd 20%, and 4th 10%.
• 33 or more participants pay five places:           1^st 40%, 2^nd 25%, 3^rd 20%, 4^th 10%, 5^th %.

Participants accumulating plus points for a Saturday event, but not earning any money will not be increased and their quota will remain the same until the next event.

Short Pot:

Each participant will be assessed $1 for every point below their quota. This money will accumulate throughout the session (Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter) as the "Short Pot". This money will be used for the "Short Pot Tournament" at the end of each session. The format is to be determined. To be eligible for the "Short Pot Tournament", MGA members must play in 60% of the events for the session.

The pay out will be calculated according to the number of eligible participants and will pay 33% of the field for each flight.

The Shoot-Out:

The Top 7 points or money leaders and ties from each flight will play in the "Shoot-Out" event at the end of each session. 10% of the $15 entry fee for each MGA event for the particular session for each flight will be placed in a pot for the "Shoot-Out" tournament. The purse will be disbursed to the final two contestants, 75% to the winner and 25 % to the runner-up in each flight.

The Shoot-Out will begin on Hole #1 and will be played through #9 with #2 and #7 being skipped. One player from each flight will be eliminated on each hole. The winner of the 9th hole will be the overall session champion and his name will be placed on the MGA trophy. (If by way of ties we end up with more than 14 players, more than one player will be eliminated on the first hole played.)

INCLEMENT WEATHER RULES

1. If rain is forecasted during the time of play, or if it is already raining, the Officers of the MGA will make a decision whether or not to play golf.
   1. They will use all means at their disposal to determine the most prudent action. This will include, but is not limited to weather radar on TV in the pro shop.
2. If it is determined that play will begin, the entire round is to be completed by everyone signed up to play unless:
   1. Dangerous weather becomes evident, that is, lightning.
   2. The course becomes unplayable because of excess water on the greens or other areas.
   3. In the second case, it will be the Officer's or Pro Shop's call.
   4. USGA rules will apply unless otherwise stipulated by the Officers.
3. Anyone who quits after play has begun, except for a medical emergency, will be responsible to pay the short pot whatever is owed.

At Least Two Tournaments:

One will be a Bubba Tournament. The other will be a two man alternate shot with a requirement that those with a handicap 12 or below must have a partner with a six stroke differential.

Money for tournaments WILL NOT count towards winnings. Fee will be $20.00 and places paid will be determined by numbers of participants.