Santa Clara Golf Club

 

Club Rules

To be eligible to participate in the 4-man, 2-best ball Zone Qualifying , the 2-man best ball Qualifying, the Individual Net Qualifying  and the Club Championship, you must have played in at least 2 home and 2 away tournaments in the last 12 calendar months.

All players will use their USGA index to determine the Course Handicap for tournaments.  Players not having an index will be placed in a “Guest” flight until an index is established or a minimum of 5 recent scores are submitted so we can calculate a temporary index for you.

If you are a Life Member, you must play in at least 3 tournaments in the calendar year to be eligible to retain that status for the following year(s). Any default in these obligations may cancel the Life Membership of the beneficiary at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

SCGC Club Handicap Index

In 2012, the Board elected to institute a “Club Handicap Index”.  This index is calculated using the same formula as the USGA Index with these exceptions:

1)    Only official club tournament scores are used

2)    The best 5 of the last 10 scores are used, not 10 of 20 like the USGA

3)    A new index value is calculated after each SCGC tournament and when new USGA indexes are posted (1st and 15th of each month.)

The details and examples of the formula used by the USGA can be found here:

 USGA Handicap Index Calculation Formula

If at any point a player’s USGA index over 20% higher than the calculated Club Index, the Club Index will be used to calculate a course handicap for club tournaments.

For example if a player with a 12.5 USGA index has tournament scores that compute to a Club Index of 10.0, the player will play to the 10.0 index until the percentage difference drops to 20% or less.

(12.5 / 10.0 = 1.25 = 25%)

You can check your Club Index and differentials used on the detailed Current Handicap Report under the “Reports” section of the home page.  Those in red are over 20%; green is between 0% and 20%; blue is less than 0%.

 

 

Tournament Rules

It is mandatory that you sign-up for all tournaments, both home and away, so that a firm number can be given to the golf course. Sign-up will be by returning the coupons along with your payment.

You can also now sign up through the website and mail your payment separately or pay with PayPal.

Mail coupons and entry fees to Santa Clara Golf Club-PO Box 3521-Santa Clara CA, 95055-3521

For home tournaments we will collect the tournament entry fee only, not green or cart fees. For away tournaments, total fees will be collected (green, cart, and entry fees).  A voluntary closest to pin contest ($5) and low putts ($1) is also available at all tournaments.

Any member wishing to play after the tournament has filled up or is past the cutoff date will be placed on a waiting list.

Any member who signs-up for a tournament and cancels after the cutoff date will be responsible for any cost the club incurs due to the cancellation.

A list of the tee times will be posted on the SCGC website no later than 3 days prior to the date of the tournament or you can call the Tournament Chairman to get your time. It is your responsibility to check for your time, don't expect someone to call you.

The club collects hole-in-one insurance for members wishing to participate. It is $10 and is collected by the Tournament Chairman or Treasurer. The pot will only be paid to a member who gets a hole-in-one at any of our tournaments if he has paid into the insurance. At the beginning of each year or if anyone collects, it is your responsibility to "renew your policy" by paying another $10 premium. 

Guests are allowed at tournaments with the following conditions: You must play with your guest(s). No guest is eligible for any prize money, envelope money, etc. Guests may only play if the tournament is not full with members. This rule is not in effect for the Reno Tournament.

Prices for any away tournament are subject to change. The club will try to give as much advance notice as possible, however if we don't find out until the day of play, you will be responsible for getting the increased amount to the club treasurer or tournament chairman.  The prices for the Reno tournament cannot be determined until the courses open in April. 

          All tournament ties will be decided by taking the gross score for the final nine holes and deducting 1/2 of the handicap. If there is still a tie, take the final six holes then the final three. If there is still a tie, net scores will be backed up from the 18th hole.

Players with indexes 9.9 or lower must play the designated “Back” tees. Players with indexes 10.0 and higher can play either the designated “Regular” tees or the “Back” tees.  On courses that have 3 sets of Men’s tees, players 60+ and with an index 18.0 or higher can elect to play any set of tees, “Forward”, “Regular” or “Back”. Course handicaps are calculated using the slope of the tees chosen and then adjusted by the difference in the course rating of the “Regular” tees.  (The “Back” tees will have a higher rating and the “Forward” tees will have a lower one.)

At all tournaments a Pace-of-Play rule is in effect.  All members of a group that finishes 30 minutes or more behind the group in front of them may be subject to a 2-stroke penalty at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Ed Ryan, Tournament Chairman

Santa Clara Golf Club

Handicap Rules

Procedure for Adjusting Your Scores

The USGA & NCGA system for adjusting your score for posting is as follows:

Course Handicap Maximum Number Posted On Any Hole

9 or less 

10 thru 19 

20 thru 29 

30 thru 39 

Double Bogey on any hole

7 on any hole

8 on any hole

9 on any hole

For example, a player with an index of 21.6 plays a course with a slope of 120, resulting in a course handicap of 23. Under the USGA/NCGA procedure, that player is allowed a maximum of 8 on any hole. There is no limit to the number of holes this player may reduce to 8 during the round.

Rules For Marking Score Cards and Posting

1. Each score card must include the following information:

Date the round was played.

Each players full name. Always include last names.

All gross scores as well as adjusted scores

Each score card must be signed and attested.

2. A penalty may be imposed for repeated failure to turn in a properly completed score card.

3. At Santa Clara GC tournaments, both "home" and "away" post your own score on the computer at the course or through the internet or mobile app. If we are playing an NCGA qualifying tournament, then post the score as a "Tournament" round.  (Change round type to “T”.)

4. All other scores (for ALL other rounds) must be posted by the member. It is the member's responsibility to post all their scores to maintain an equitable handicap index.

Penalties

An index may be arbitrarily reduced if a player does not turn in all of his scores, or does not observe the spirit of the handicap system.

Failure to post your adjusted score at any tournament may result in a penalty round being posted against you.

Perry Forschino, Handicap Chairman