Rules and Info
every player should know
2019 saw the advent of many significant rule changes, most aimed at improving pace of play. Follow the link below for a complete list:
Follow the link below for info on new local drop rule E5 which we are now using in all Club tournaments.
Below is a summary of other rules most likely to have a frequent impact on the average player's game:
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You may leave the flagstick in when putting.
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You may ground your club in a hazard.
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You may remove loose impediments in a bunker.
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"Ready" golf encouraged.
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Players may play out of turn in match play.
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Time to search for lost ball reduced to 3 minutes
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No penalty for accidentally hitting yourself or the unattended flagstick
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No penalty for accidentally hitting the ball twice during a stroke
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You must drop from knee level
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You may substitute a ball when taking relief
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A player may take relief outside the bunker back on the line from the hole through where ball was at rest for 2 penalty strokes.
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Players should make each stroke in no more than 40 seconds, and usually in less time.
Also, you should know how to fill out a scorecard properly, player rows and marker rows, if you don't, here's some tips:
WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM
Important Notice! As of January 6, 2020, the NCGA is now using the new World Handicap System to manage your scores and handicaps. This will impact each of you as follows:
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Course Handicaps now use the formula Index * (Slope/113) + Rating - Par. In many cases this will result in a lower Course Handicap than you are used to.
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There is a new app for your phone and a new link for your PC which you should use for posting scores. This information is on the NCGA website at this link:
http://ncga.org/memberarea/post-a-score/
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When you install the new app on your phone, please DELETE THE OLD APP FIRST! Otherwise it may not connect properly to the NCGA server.
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Handicaps now update EVERY DAY, not every 2 weeks.
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Every night the NCGA will run software on the scores posted that day in order to adjust that day’s scores based on playing conditions (eg weather which might impact scores like too wet, too dry, too cold, too windy – yes, really!)
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Because of the above, the NCGA wants you to post your scores on the day you played, so please try to do so rather than waiting a day or two as you might be used to doing.
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Finally, Equitable Stroke Control is now a thing of the past – which means that it is no longer true that 30+ handicappers can post no more than a 9, 20+ no more than an 8, 10+ no more than a 7. Instead, EVERYBODY is now required to never post more than a NET DOUBLE BOGEY on any hole, in regular rounds as well as tournaments, so you basically now need to know your Course Handicap for the course you are playing on. The NCGA mobile app for your phone has a convenient Course Handicap calculator. For more on this, see this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVA8WhgyxKU&feature=youtu.be
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For more on the World Handicap System, see this link: