HLWGA Rules

The HLWGA will conduct its tournaments and play day activities in accordance with the USGA rules, and course handicaps will be computed as recommended by the Women’s Committee of the USGA. Handicaps are computed from the lowest handicap differentials of the player’s last twenty (20) rounds. A USGA handicap shall not be issued to a player who has returned fewer than five (5) scores.

WGA members will have the option to play 9 holes or 18 holes each play day and each tournament. Players must declare if they are playing 9 or 18 holes when signing up for play day and tournaments.

Players who are also eligible (80 years of age or their age plus course handicap equal 105) to play from the forward tees must also declare if they will be playing from those tees. (Amended 2020) (Amended July 2023)

To participate in the Club Championship and President’s Cup tournament, a player must have a current Holly Lake handicap and eight (8) posted scores from play at Holly Lake during the current calendar year.

Handicap limit for an 18-hole player is thirty-six (36). Handicap limit for tournament play is thirty-six (36). Handicap limit for a 9-hole player is forty-two (42). (Amended 2015)

Seventy-five percent (75%) of all rounds must have been played at Holly Lake to qualify for any year-end awards. (Amended April 2013)

The President’s Cup Trophy will be presented to the Holly Lake WGA President’s Cup winner each year. The trophy is to be engraved with the winner’s name and travels from home to home of each President’s Cup Winner.

The HLWGA Club Championship will be a two-day gross score tournament flighted by handicaps. All players will play from the RED Tees for both rounds of the tournament.

In order to be eligible to win the Club Championship, players must play from the Red tees. Should any player elect to play from the Fairway Tees, that player will be eligible to win their flight only.

All participants must declare if they are playing for the 9 hole OR 18-hole Club Champion. The Tournament Chair is responsible for securing an alternate weekend for play in the event the tournament cannot be played due to rain.

To participate in the Club Championship tournament, a player must have a current Holly Lake Ranch handicap and eight (8) posted scores from play at Holly Lake Ranch golf course during the calendar year. Eligibility requirements also apply (see Membership Article III).

All participates will be playing for Club Champion and Flight winners.

Pairings for the first day of play will be flighted. Pairings for the second day of play will be determined by scores from the first day, regardless of flight. Participants will still compete within their designated flight.

Ties for Club Champion will be determined by a golf course playoff. All other ties will be determined by a score card playoff.

Tournament Chair will receive a budget for the Club Championship tournament. The budget includes all prizes and the party held at the conclusion of the event. Number of places paid in each flight will be determined by Tournament Chair.

9-Hole Club Champion will receive the same prize or equivalent value as Flight winner. Tournament Chair shall determine all Flight winner prizes.

• All 1^st place in each flight receives the same prize or equivalent.
• All 2^nd place in each flight receives the same prize or equivalent.

Because the Club Championship is a two-day event, the preference is to have a back-to-back event if possible. In the event of rain, the policy for play is as follows: the score from the original dates, if any day could be played, will be held over to the prescheduled rain-out dates. Should the tournament be completed (Saturday and Sunday) on the following rain-out dates the back-to-back score will be used to determine the Club Champion and the original score will be disregarded making this a back-to-back event.

If only one of the rain-out dates can be used, then the “held” score will be used with the one rain-out score to determine the Club Champion. Should both scheduled dates (original and rain-out) have rain issues resulting in only 18 holes being completed, the 18-hole score will be used to determine the Club Champion and the tournament will be deemed finished. No more attempts will be made to reschedule. A 9-hole Club Champion and 18-hole Club Champion with Flight winners will be announced.

In 2010, we lost one of our active WGA members, Charlotte McCarthy. Charlotte served as President in 2003; was Club Champion in 1996 and 2000; and Senior Club Champion in 2003 and 2008.

In an effort to honor and remember Charlotte, a small group of her personal friends purchased a trophy to present to the Holly Lake WGA Club Champion each year. The trophy is to be engraved with the winner’s name each year and travels from home to home of each Club Champion.

HLWGA Local Rules of Play

If player hits her first drive into the water, she may choose to move to the Ladies tee box (drop zone) across the water to hit her next shot and would be hitting her 4th stroke, without teeing the ball. This Rule applies to Play Days and WGA Tournament play and applies to the WGA Club Championship and President's Cup tournaments. (Amended 2015) (Amended October 2022)

Note: Moving to the Ladies Tee box (drop zone) across the water is an Option and is not a requirement.

If a player’s ball comes to rest on or near a tree root such that the lie of the ball, the area of intended swing would be affected or the stance of the player would be on a root, the player, without penalty, may take relief within one club length from the ball, no closer to the hole. The player must get consensus from her playing partners before taking relief. Once there is consensus and the club length, and/or stance, is determined, the player may place the ball in that spot. This Rule applies to all WGA sponsored events.

Note: The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary injuries only.

A member who qualifies to play from the Fairway Tees can always play from the Fairway Tees, including playdays and WGA sponsored tournaments. This applies even if some/all of the holes in the tournament will be a scramble. (Adopted July 2023)

Note: A member who plays from the Fairway tees is not eligible to win the Presidents Cup nor the Club Championship. They are only eligible to win their flight (Adopted April 2019)

Players who are also eligible (80 years of age or their age plus course handicap equal 105) to play from the Fairway Tees must also declare if they will be playing from those tees.

Spectators may follow a group, but they may not ride with the player, give advice, coach, caddy or speak to the players. They must avoid being a distraction to any player and stay on the cart path.

Spotters may also be allowed, but they may not talk to the players except to tell them where their ball is. (Adopted July 2023) (Amended November 2024)