INSTRUCTIONS GOVERNING FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAY
CWDGA conducts Four-Ball Match Play every year in
each of its five sections - Central, Northeast,
Northwest, South and West. A member club is entitled
to submit up to three teams of eligible players to
compete in one of the four or more divisions of the
club's respective section. An “eligible player” must
have golf privileges at a CWDGA member club and must
maintain a current, valid CDGA handicap at that
club. A lottery may be used for the second or third
teams if the section is oversubscribed. A team
consists of four players who play as a unit.
The form of play is four-ball match play (USGA Rule
30-1 and 30-3 apply) with an eighteen-point system
of scoring, which is played on five separate dates.
Each team must be represented by at least one
regular team member each play day. All regular
members of a team must play at least three-scheduled
Four-Ball Matches for the team to be eligible for
prizes.
For scoring the match, the host-club Course
Handicaps of the four players in the match will be
reduced by subtracting the handicap of the player
who has the lowest handicap. The player with the
lowest handicap competes at scratch. The other three
players, regular or substitute, will receive 100
percent of the resulting difference and strokes are
taken as they fall on the scorecard.
Each member club is responsible for the selection of
its team members. To be eligible, a player must have
a Handicap Index not to exceed 28.0 when submitted.
Each team should have at least two reliable
substitutes who can meet the handicap eligibility
requirement. During the season, if a player’s or
substitute’s index changes and exceeds 28.0, she
must play to an index of 28.0. After team divisions
are set on March 31st, players may not be
permanently replaced without approval of the Team
Match Chair. Since a permanent replacement will play
to her full handicap, the handicap of the
replacement should be as close as possible to the
person being replaced.
A team player, regular or substitute, competes to
her current Course Handicap at the host club. If
handicaps are the same, she is placed in a position
according to the Handicap Differential. If the
Handicap Differential is the same, the players will
be positioned alphabetically by last name.
A substitute may play in any division and is not
restricted by handicap. However, if a club fields
more than one team and more than one of its teams
require substitutes, the lower index player must
substitute in the lower handicap division. A
permanent team member may not substitute or
otherwise play on the other team of the club.
Each player is responsible for notifying her Team
Captain well in advance if she is unable to play any
Four-Ball Match Play dates. The Team Captain should
notify the Sectional Handicap Chair of any
substitutes no later than 36 hours in advance of
Four-Ball Match Play and should receive prior
approval if the substitute has a Handicap index over
28.0. In advance of each match the Sectional
Handicap Chair will email the pairing sheet to the
Team Captain who should verify the roster and
indexes of her team(s), and inform the Sectional
Handicap Chair of any corrections.
In case of emergency, every effort will be made to
accommodate substitutes within the 36-hour period.
No substitute appearing on the day of play without
prior notice will be accepted regardless of
circumstances.
The Team Captain is responsible for notifying the
Sectional Handicap Chair 36 hours in advance of
Four-Ball Match Play if her players have changed
from caddie to cart or cart to caddie. All efforts
to effect the change will be made, but not
guaranteed. On the day of play only the Sectional
Handicap Chair can authorize changes from caddie to
cart or cart to caddie.
At least thirty minutes prior to the team's
scheduled starting time on the day of play, each
Team Captain must check in with the Sectional Team
and Handicap Chairs. Each substitute must pay a
$5.00 substitution fee. This fee will be refunded
only if the course is declared closed before the
substitute has teed off.
A player from one side shall sign and a player from
the opposing side shall attest one score card,
immediately upon completion of the match. The
scorecard must show both a team score and an
adjusted eighteen- hole score for each individual
player. The points won by each should be clearly
marked and both players shall return that card to
the Sectional Team Chair. No changes will be made
after the players have left the scoring table. When
the last member of each team has finished play, she
shall collect the record slip of the Four-Ball Match
Play results and turn the record over to her club
Team Captain.
Team Captains are encouraged to write thank you
notes to host clubs. Team players should reward the
locker room attendant at the host club with an
amount of their choosing if they feel that they have
received courteous and attentive service.
1. Time of Starting:
Players should be prepared to tee-off at the time
published on the schedule. If only one player of the
side fails to report to the tee on schedule, Rule
30-3a applies. If both members of the side fail to
report to the tee on schedule, but at least one does
arrive, ready to play, within five minutes after the
starting time, the PENALTY is loss of the first
hole.
2. Communication Devices: The use of a
cellular phone, pager, or any other portable
electronic communication device by a contestant or
caddie during a stipulated round is strictly
prohibited. Players who use such devices may be
subject to disqualification due to a serious breach
of etiquette.
3.Distance-Measuring Devices:
Distance-measuring devices (that conform to USGA
specifications) will be allowed in all CWDGA events
at host clubs where the Local Rule allowing such
devices is in effect.
4. Caddies/Carts: If a host club has provided
caddies, and caddies are available, a contestant
must use (a) a caddie or (b) a cart with a caddie.
Contestants may not provide their own caddies.
5. Posting Scores: All CWDGA sectional
Four-Ball Match Play scores will be posted by the
CWDGA Sectional Handicap Chair. Each player must
return an adjusted eighteen-hole individual score to
her Sectional Team and/or Handicap Chair at the
conclusion of each match. This individual score will
be entered in the player’s scoring record by the
Sectional Handicap Chair. This score will NOT be
posted as a "T" score. Failure to return a score for
a particular match may result in a penalty score
being entered in the player’s record for the missing
score. This score may be "equal to the lowest
Handicap Differential in the player's scoring
record." (The USGA Handicap System manual Section
8.b, page 56). For any questions about this policy,
please review The USGA Handicap System manual or
contact the CWDGA Handicap Chair, Linda Weinstein,
at wein6@comcast.net or 847-272-7005.
6. Discontinuance of Play: For breach of Rule
6-8, in addition to disqualification, the individual
team members involved will forfeit their right to
play in all CWDGA events for that current season and
in Four-Ball Match Play for the following season. If
an entire team or a side fails to play or
discontinues play for any reason, whether a breach
of Rule 6-8 or not, all points earned by and against
the team for the season shall be null and void.
7. Weather: Players, including substitutes,
regardless of weather, must appear at the host club
to receive points, unless the course is declared
closed and the match officially canceled prior to
start of the matches. If an entire team is
undefended, it shall be disqualified from Four-Ball
Match Play for the current season and all points
earned by and against the team for the season shall
be null and void. The individual team members
involved will forfeit their right to play in all
CWDGA events for that current season and in
Four-Ball Match Play for the following season.
Play will start as scheduled and continue unless the
course is declared unplayable. Play will be resumed
unless the course is declared closed. Players are
expected to wait at least one hour if the course is
declared unplayable to determine if the course will
be closed.
If the course is declared closed before Four-Ball
Match Play has begun and the matches cannot be
rescheduled, the points will be divided equally. If
the course is declared closed after play has begun,
the points for the holes played stand as earned and
the points for any holes not played are divided
equally.
In an electrical storm, players shall discontinue
play and take shelter. Balls may be picked up and
marked with a tee, or left on the course.
The Committee (Sectional Team Chair and Sectional
Handicap Chair and/or CWDGA Board Member) will
determine when and if play continues or
discontinues.
8. Ties: First Place: If there are any ties
for first place in any division at the end of the
Four-Ball Match Play season, there will be an
eighteen-hole playoff at a neutral club selected by
the Sectional Team Chair. If that playoff results in
a tie, both teams will be winners in that division.
Second Place:
A. If the two teams
that are tied have previously played each other
during regular Four-Ball Match Play, the winner of
the original match is the second place winner of the
division.
B. If the two teams that are tied have played each
other and the original match was a tie, there will
be a scorecard playoff determined in the following
order:
1. The winner of
the back nine of the original match;
2. If tied, the winner of the last six holes on
the back;
3. If tied, the winner of the last three holes
on the back;
4. If tied, the winner of the eighteenth hole.
C. If the two teams
that are tied did not play each other during regular
Four-Ball Match Play, there will be an eighteen-hole
playoff at a neutral club selected by the Sectional
Team Chair. If this playoff results in a tie, both
teams will be winners in that division. |
