Rules, Format & Terminology

Play is governed by the Rules of Golf as issued by The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and where applicable, by Local Rules, Match Play, including foursomes scramble, four-ball, and singles. There are a total of 24 matches.

Rules

● A Lateral Hazard applies to all lost balls, out of bounds, and all other marked hazards. Consult your playing partners for the nearest drop point.

● The maximum amount of time a player has to search for a lost ball is 2 minutes. If the player fails to locate their ball within 2 minutes, they must consult their playing partners for the nearest drop point and incur a one stroke penalty.

● The maximum amount of strokes on one hole is 12. In the event that a player who has reached the maximum strokes (12) prior to completing the hole and ties or beats their opponent with handicap strokes, that player must continue past the maximum stroke rule until they have holed out.

● All other USGA Rules apply. Consult your playing partners or Team Captain for any questionable rulings.

Teams

Big Green Lake versus Little Green Lake

Match Play Format

All games are played under Match Play rules, where the result of each game is determined by the number of holes won. The order of play for the first two days is Four-ball and then Foursomes. The final day’s play will be in Singles Format.

Four-balls (four groups of two-man teams)

"Four-ball" play is a match in which each member of the two-man teams play their own ball. Four balls are in play per hole with each of the four players recording a score on the hole. The team whose player posts the best score on that hole wins the hole. Should players from each team tie for the best score, the hole is halved.

Foursome Match Play (also known as Alternate Shot)

In a foursome match, two play against two and each side plays one ball. In a foursome during any stipulated round the partners play alternately from the teeing grounds and alternately during the play of each hole.

Handicap Determination: The allowance for the higher-handicapped side is 50 percent of the difference between the combined Course Handicap of each side. The lower handicapped side competes at scratch. Example: Side A-B with a combined Course Handicap of 15 competes against side C-D with a combined Course Handicap of 36. The higher handicapped side, C-D, receives 11 strokes (36 - 15 = 21 x 50% = 10.5 rounded to 11).

Foursomes Scramble (three groups of two-man teams)

"Foursome" play is a match where two golfers compete on a team against two other golfers and each side plays one ball. The golfers play two shots each (player A and B hits tee shot, player A and B hit second shot, etc.) until the hole is played out. Team members play the better ball (Team choice). The team with the better score wins the hole. Should the two teams tie for best score, the hole is halved.

Singles (seven groups of one-man teams)

"Singles" is a match in which one player competes against another player. A player wins the match when he is up by more holes than there are holes remaining to play.

Pairings

Each Team Captain independently submits the order of play for his Team to the appointed tournament official. The lists from each Captain are matched, resulting in the "Pairings". Please note that the players in pairings can be modified by the Team Captains only if a player is ill or injured. Pairings are subject to change and should not be considered final until play begins for a particular match.

Guidelines & Terminology

● Match play is a game that is decided hole by hole instead of cumulatively over 18 holes.

● A hole is won by the team, which holes its ball in the fewer strokes.

● Score is kept by the number of holes up (won) and the number of holes to play. (Example: B.G. 2-up, with six holes to play)

● When a team is up (winning) by more holes than there are holes remaining, then the match is closed out and a point is awarded.

● One point is awarded for each match won.

● If the match is tied or "halved" through 18 holes of play, each team receives one half of a point.

● A total of 24 points are awarded in this Green Lake Cup competition. If a match is currently tied while in competition, then it is considered "all-square".

● A match is considered "dormie" when one side is up by the exact number of holes that remain.

● A player/twosome is said to be 2-up thru 10 after winning two more holes than their opponent(s) through 10 holes.

● A player/twosome is said to win the match 2-up after winning two more holes than their opponent thru 18 holes.

● A player/twosome is said to win 3 and 2 after winning three holes more than their opponent(s) with only two holes left to play, assuring victory.

● When a player/twosome has “won” the match and there are still holes remaining, continue play until all holes are complete.

What are concessions?

A stroke, hole or an entire match can be conceded at any time prior to the conclusion of the hole or the match. There are NO concessions, every stroke must be recorded.

How many points does one team need to win the Green Lake Cup Matches?

There are a total of 24 matches. One point is awarded for each match won. The side with the most points at the conclusion of the Green Lake Cup Matches wins the Green Lake Cup.

Can the Green Lake Cup Matches end in a tie?

If, at the conclusion of the Green Lake Cup Matches, the teams are tied at 12 points each, the team that won the Green Lake Cup in the prior year retains the Cup. To win the Matches, either team will need 12 ½ or more points.

Player Eligibility

Captains

Each Team must select one Captain per year. Each Team Captain is responsible for submitting the order of play for his Team to the appointed tournament official for each day of play.

Approximately one week prior to the first day of Tournament Play, each Team Captain will submit the order of play for his Team to the appointed tournament official for the Four-balls Match. The evening prior to the Foursomes Scramble Match, each Team Captain will submit the order of play for his Team to the appointed tournament official. Each Team Captain will submit their final order of play for his Team to the appointed tournament official the evening prior to the Singles Match.

The Captain must enforce the Rules of Golf as issued by The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and where applicable, by Local Rules, Match Play, including foursomes scramble, four-ball, and singles. The resolution of any Rules of Golf violation or dispute will be a compromise between the Captain of each Team.

Captain Eligibility

A Player must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible to be selected as a Team Captain:

1. The Player has a valid USGA index.

2. The Player has competed in a minimum of 4 Green Lake Cup Tournaments (Includes current year Tournament).

3. The Player has played in the Green Lake Cup within the last 3 years (Does not include current year Tournament).

4. The Player was last a Captain at least 10 years prior (Becomes Eligible the year of the 10th Anniversary).

In the event that a Team does not have a Player available that meets all the requirements to be a Captain, all Players who meet the first 3 requirements will become eligible.

Selection

During the Players dinner which occurs on the evening prior to the Singles Match, the Commissioner of the Green Lake Cup will distribute voting ballots to each Player that contain the names of the eligible Players for their Team for the following Green Lake Cup.

Each Player will then anonymously select the Player on their ballot that they wish to be their Captian and submit that to the Commissioner. The Commissioner will read the name of the Player selected on each ballot one by one until one Player is selected more times than any other listed on the ballot. The Player with the most selections for each Team will represent the Captain for that team for the following Green Lake Cup.