2025 Our Local League Rules will be adjusted as we move thru the season. USGA Rules.
University of Scranton Golf League Rules
9 holes a week at Sleepy Hollow GC on Tuesdays Tee Times 4:45 to 5:30pm
Please use the contact information in the PLAYERS' lists on the web site to arrange a time when both teams can play their match. Teams should try to avoid going to the course by themselves and posting their scores. This defeats the original social and collegial purpose of the league.
All scores must be entered within 48 hours of play on the League’s webpage.
I Handicaps (not the official PGA handicap calculation)
All players are assigned a handicap, equal to 65% of the difference between the mean of their weekly 9-hole raw scores and par for those nine holes. Handicaps are rounded up at .5. The maximum handicap is 18. Handicaps will always be based on all the player’s raw scores for the season.
The maximum recordable raw score on any hole is 10. A player may pick his/her ball up at any time and state that he/she is taking 10. After declaring 10, a player may NOT finish playing the hole for practice so as to not delay play.
II Rules
A single mulligan is permitted on only the first drive on hole #1. If you hit a mulligan, you must play it.
A variation of “winter rules” will apply to balls in the cut grass only. Players may move poor lies up to 1 club but no closer to the hole. This may NOT be done in the woods, nor if the movement results in placement on the putting green.
Each week, a foursome may establish their own policy on “gimmies.” These short putts count as a stroke. Remember nonchalant putts count as much as chalant putts.
If your tee shot goes way out of bounds, you have two options. First, tee it up again for your THIRD shot. Or second, place a ball on the fairway at the approximate point where the shot left the fairway and take your THIRD shot.
Shots into the woods and other unplayable lies may be placed on the fairway at the approximate point the shot left the fairway, with a one stroke penalty. For example, if your second shot goes into the woods, place a ball on the fairway for your fourth shot.
Balls that land in water (tee shots or others) may be played on the fairway laterally to the point they hit the water, with a one stroke penalty. You do not have to place them on the tee side of the water. For example, if your second shot goes into water, place a ball laterally on fairway for your fourth shot.
Sand Traps: You may play or take a free lift from any sand trap no closer to the green.
Local course rules, printed on the score card, must be followed.
Hole rankings (on the score card) will be followed for purposes of handicaps.
Odd Situations: If the foursome agree on any “odd” situation then “what they determine goes”. Players should ask their playing group for a decision. This could be a ball lost in the fairway or in unusual uncut rough, or something similar . If they say ‘ok’ no stroke or yes stroke. Record the appropriate score and play on.
USGA rules govern all other circumstances:
Internet link: USGA . New Video on the USGA Rules
III Competition and Scoring
Two-person teams are formed. There will be 22 points per match: two points for each hole and four points for the final scores. The two points per hole go to the team of the player with the best handicap adjusted score on that hole. In case of a tie between opposing team players, each team gets one point. For the final four points each team player's handicap adjusted score goes head to head with the two players of the opposing team.
The holes are ordered by difficulty for handicap purposes. A player with a handicap of one gets a one stroke reduction on the most difficult hole, a player with a handicap of two gets a one stroke reduction on each of the two most difficult holes, and so on. Since the maximum handicap is set at 18, two strokes per hole is the maximum reduction.
Any match may be played before the scheduled date, if team members know they will be unavailable on the scheduled date. Just post the scores with the appropriate match number( Game ID) and Player's ID #”
If one member of a team plays, but the other team member does not, the result will still be recorded as a regular match. The single hole-by-hole score competes with both of the other team’s scores. The single final score counts twice against each of the other team member’s final score, for the final four points but only once for handicap calculations. Enter the single score only once on the Score Submission form but include a note to "use it twice".
All matches must be played or made up. All make-ups must take place no later than two weeks after the scheduled match. After two weeks the Forfeit Rule (5.2) applies. If a make-up cannot be scheduled at a time agreeable to both teams, then each team can play the round at separate times and post their scores on the website with the same GAME ID#. If only one player is able to make the match they have the choice to use their score to count for their partner's score that is absent or wait for their partner to make-up the match within two weeks. Please note this in the "NOTES" section on the Score Submission form.
5.1 "Doubles score". In some seasons rain outs or vacation may prevent players from completing a match within the two week limit imposed in Rule III.5.0. This can be relaxed if players inform the webmaster of their intentions to complete the match(s). This allows players to count their score for a second match. The Doubles rule allows you to count a competitive round as two matches. The one that your playing and also one that you have missed (or will miss). To invoke the Doubles rule you must announce before teeing off that you intend to count this match double and the match that your are doubling it with. Submit the scores for each match twice and with separate Game ID #s. You will see the round posted to your handicap twice.
If you plan to use a match to count as a double match you will need to enter the score TWICE or more, once with the current Game ID# and again with the missed match Game ID#. Also be aware that this score will figure into your handicap calculations as two or more rounds. Please note this in the "NOTES" section on the Score Submission form.
If you enter the scores, please keep score cards for the season to be sure there are no database errors or questions.
5.2 "Forfeit Rule". If one team does not post a score, then they forfeit that round. In a forfeit, the team that did NOT play will receive 0, ZERO, points. The team that did play will be place against the Current Handicaps "Details with Averages" of the Non-Playing team to determine how many points they will receive. Below is a sample match. See Scoring rule III 1.
Prizes
A sleeve of balls will be awarded to the person closest to the hole on their first shot on hole #3. The ball must be on the green. Measure the distance in flag sticks, and report it in the “Comments” section when you enter your scores. A box of balls will be awarded at the end of the season to the person who had the closest first shot to the hole during the entire season.
At the end of the season, there will also be team and individual scoring prizes.
President/Commissioner: Dr. Susan Trussler <susan.trussler@scranton.edu>
Webmaster Ron Grambo: gramborj@comcast.net