PACE OF PLAY / RULE EXCEPTIONS / NEW MEMBER INFO

Below is a report on how EVERYONE is doing.       Preferred pace of play is 4 hrs. 15 min to 4 hrs. 30 min
WATERCHASE 4/2/2025  AVERAGE TIME:  4:18
TEE    START   END          ELAPSED TRAVEL  PACE      TARGET  DIFF  OVER  PLAYERS
1A      8:00      12:04        4:04          0:03      4:01         4:30      0:29              DORSEY  LUCAS  JONES-  KNIGHT
1B      8:08      12:15        4:07          0:00      4:07         4:30      0:23              BENNETT  WILKINSON  CHADWICK  ARMSTRONG
1C      8:16      12:20        4:04          0:00      4:04         4:30      0:26              DENBOW  WESTBROOK  PORTLEY  PORTLEY-
18A    8:00      12:40        4:40          0:13      4:27         4:30      0:03              AMMONS  DeFRAIN  BROWN  COURTNEY
18B    8:08      12:40        4:32          0:13      4:19         4:30      0:11              McCLINTON  SWIATEK  BARRERE  EVANS
17A    8:00      12:30        4:30          0:16      4:14         4:30      0:16              MERCADO  RHONE  MORGAN  
17B    8:08      12:35        4:27          0:16      4:11         4:30      0:19              RAMPY  LeMAY  BLACKWELL  CORMACK
16A    8:00      12:21        4:21          0:20      4:01         4:30      0:29              BONACCI  CRISWELL  SAWYER  MEYERS
15A    8:00      12:25        4:25          0:16      4:09         4:30      0:21              JOHNSON  LINDSEY  LORD  
15B    8:08      12:25        4:17          0:16      4:01         4:30      0:29              HOLLINGS  MOLBERG  YORK  GOSS
14A    8:00      12:32        4:32          0:13      4:19         4:30      0:11              BAKER  PIERSON  BETANCOURT  HAVERKORN
14B    8:08      12:45        4:37          0:20      4:17         4:30      0:13              DRAKE  DUCKWORTH  GRAVES  ODNEAL
13A    8:00      12:40        4:40          0:05      4:35         4:30      ***      0:05        HOLT  WATKINS  FEASTER  PARHAM
13B    8:08      12:45        4:37          0:05      4:32         4:30      ***      0:02        BUNCH  GOODEN  MERSHON  RAPP
12A    8:00      12:40        4:40          0:06      4:34         4:30      ***      0:04        HEADY  #REF!  GRIMES  GRIMES-
11A    8:00      12:35        4:35          0:16      4:19         4:30      0:11              KRUEGER  MALONE  SMITH=  
11B    8:08      12:52        4:44          0:16      4:28         4:30      0:02              DYER  ELWOOD    
10A    8:00      12:40        4:40          0:10      4:30         4:30      ***                DIETZ    MORROW  MORROW-
9A      8:00      13:05        5:05          0:13      4:52         4:30      ***      0:22        FIELD  STITT  HACKLER  WEISS
It seems like every time I read anything having to do with the problems in golf, right at the top of the list is slow play. For many golfers, slow play can ruin an otherwise pleasurable round. It occurred to me that one of the major contributing factors to slow play may be that a slow player may not know that he is slow. We can at least fix this problem. With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy here we go.

You might be a slow player if ... you refuse to leave the putting green until you have dutifully recorded each and every score on your scorecard. Please proceed to the next teeing ground and do your score keeping there so the group behind you can hit in.

You might be a slow player if ... you don’t even think about yardage or club selection until it is your turn to play. Please find your yardage and make your club selection while the previous player is hitting so you are ready to play when it is your turn.

You might be a slow player if ... you sit in your cart, which is 20 yards from your ball, until your cartmate hits, then you drive to your ball, get out of the cart, look for your yardage and go through your whole routine. Pleases get out of your cart, estimate your yardage, take the club you think you will use and one club shorter and one club longer, then walk those 20 yards and be ready to hit when it is your turn. Your cartmate can then drive over to pick you up. Oh, and by the way, hold those three clubs in your hand after your cartmate picks you up. It saves even more time if you wait and replace them when it is time to make your next club selection.

You might be a slow player if ... you wait until it is your turn to putt to study your line, plumb-bob from above and below, crouch down and do the Tiger-shade-the-eyes thing, and finally miss that 10 footer. Please get as much of your prep work as possible while others are doing the same – no, not while they are putting but while they are also lining things up. You can learn most of what you need to know just observing the other putts.

You might be a slow player if ... you leave your clubs on the green where it is inconvenient to pick them up on the way off the green.  

You might be a slow player if ... you find that your group is almost always “out of position.” This means that the group ahead of you is on the green of a par 5 before your group has played your tee shots, or you have an open par 4 before your group has cleared the tee. Never should any player take longer than 40 seconds to play a shot. Start the timing when it is your turn to play and there is nothing preventing you from playing.

Now, if you play golf with someone who possesses one or more of the above mentioned traits, here is how we attempt to fix the slow play problem. Tear this article from the magazine and put it in that player’s locker or in his golf bag, or mail it to him (or her). Once the slow player realizes he is a slow player the traits are easily eliminated. In the immortal words of Tommy Bolt, “Miss ’em quick!”

​RULES OF GOLF MADE EASY
Since the USGA Members Program began, we have been proud to offer you Rules of Golf education, to help you enjoy every round and stay connected with the game’s enduring traditions.
When we launched the modernization process in 2019 to make the Rules easier to understand and apply, the USGA and The R&A also made a pledge to review our distribution methods. Our goal was to reach more golfers with better rules education, while acting on our commitment towards a more sustainable game.
As part of that worldwide effort, we are no longer producing the Players Edition of the Rules of Golf, which has eliminated 4 million printed copies across more than 100 countries. It is an important step in the right direction, even as we acknowledge that we all loved the pride and comfort of having a book in our side pocket as a quick reference.
The decision came with a commitment to redouble our investment in modernizing our Rules education tools, which have taken considerable effort in the last few years: Just recently announced, we are offering two free public webinars on the Rules of Golf: USGA Member Virtual Town Hall
We are pleased to invite you to attend our USGA Members virtual town hall on March 23rd where the focus will be the Rules of Golf. Guest speakers will include USGA President, Fred Perpall, USGA CEO, Mike Whan, Chief Governance Officer, Thomas Pagel and Senior Director, Rules, Craig Winter. We encourage you to take advantage of these new tools and resources.
Thank you for being a member of the USGA, and please know how much we value your commitment and investment in us, to help unify, showcase, govern and advance our great game.
Sincerely,

Charlie Pagnam
Head of USGA Foundation & Membership

RULE EXCEPTIONS and LOCAL RULES
ALL COURSES:      The Championship flight play the ball down in the fairway and the rough
                             EXCEPT for the winter months of Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb., Mar., & Apr.
                             The A, B, C and D flights may roll the ball in the fairway but play it down in the rough. The area around the green that is
                             mowed to the length of the fairway is considered fairway all other areas are considered rough.

SAND TRAPS:       If the sand traps have not been conditioned by the golf course from the day before and your ball ends up in an
                             animal track or foot print, you may RAKE THE TRAP and PLACE the ball back in its original position.
​
CART PATH ONLY: The main reason for the golf course to call for a CART PATH ONLY is because of very wet conditions.
                             When this happens, we will "LIFT, CLEAN AND PLACE" from ALL AREAS and will DROP OUT OF SAND TRAPS
                             no closer to the hole unless publicly stated otherwise.
​
WATERCHASE:     Drop zones for all par 3's are to the red tee boxes.
                            Any force carry over water on all holes that does not have a drop area can be dropped on the most forward tee box.
                            The drop zone for hole #17 at Waterchase is to the left of the water hazard near the bridge that crosses                                                      over to the #17 fairway and the large stone near that bridge.
                            A NEW DROP ZONE for HOLE #3 for forward tee FLIGHT ONLY will be across the bridge to the area between the cart                              path and the bunker and creek. HOWEVER (effective 02/06/2020), this drop can be taken only after 3 or more                                    strokes have been taken. If a player is in the creek on 2 shots he must play his third shot from a normal                                          penalty area.

ALL COURSES:     A LOST BALL is considered to be lost in a hazard whether it is marked or not. This is to speed up play and
                            to NOT have the player go back and re-hit the shot from the previous spot.

WHEN TO PICK UP: In the event of an extremely bad hole, a player may "pick up" and take a "DOUBLE PAR" on his scorecard for the sake                                of time. Effective January 01, 2019 the pick up and taking a double par is now an accepted rule. You are still eligible for low                              net and low gross prizes. This is a change from previous years.
                            
RAIN:                 Once play has started, it will not be canceled unless an appointed official comes and notifies every group
                           that it is canceled. The exception is lightening or other life threatening conditions.
LIGHTENING:    It is recommended that everyone cancel their round if they feel threatened and their prize money will be refunded to
                          them. However, if anyone wishes to continue, they do so at their own risk. The prize money will be divided among
                          those who stay and complete their rounds.

 LOST BALL :     If a player has lost his ball and taken a drop, It is understood to be a "provisional".
                         After he hits his dropped ball, he finds his original ball in front of where he hit his dropped ball, he will be allowed
                         to play his original ball with no penalty provided that it is not in a hazard. We do this to save time for a presumed
                         "lost ball". The player MUST play the found ball (even if he is happy with the provisional) .   
                         However, if he hits provisional once he passes his original ball, the provisional ball is in play. 

 SAME BALL :    Your are NOT required to play the same ball through the green or same type of ball through the round. However, you are not                          allowed to pick the ball up and change it unless it is damaged or on the green.

OUT OF BOUNDS :  effective 3/12/2014 
                         ALL OUT OF BOUNDS will be played as a lateral hazard to speed up play and assure that ALL are following  
                         the same rules.                 
                         The player has the option of playing the stroke and distance penalty or dropping two club lengths where it last crossed
                         the hazard line or keeping the last point the ball crossed the hazard between the player and the hole.  If you are NOT SURE
                         where it last crossed the hazard line - ASK YOUR PLAYING PARTNERS for their best guess.     





NEW MEMBER'S INFORMATION
WE PLAY WATERCHASE EVERY MONDAY MORNING (UNLESS IT FALLS ON A HOLIDAY) AND WEDNESDAY WE ROTATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT COURSES  (USUALLY THE SHOTGUN START TIME during the summer is 7:30AM and as late as 10AM during the winter months ).
WE USUALLY PLAY 4 FLIGHTS -  EACH FLIGHT COMPETES FOR ITS OWN "PLACE" CASH PRIZES and SKINS. The CLOSEST TO THE PIN MONEY is divided into TWO GROUPS, RED group (lower half of the handicaps) and a BLUE group (the upper half of the handicaps). WE HAVE RESERVED SPACES FOR 40+ PLAYERS EACH EVENT DAY. CONFIRM YOUR SPOT PRIOR TO PLAY BY 6PM THE DAY BEFORE PLAY ("ADD TO CONFIRM" is the guest book portion of website or email at grumpy.o.men@att.net )! I will update the confirmed page every 8 hours or less. WE WILL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN HANDICAPS ACCORDING TO THE OLD USGA HANDICAPPING SYSTEM.
In fairness to all golfers, NEW members joining after July 10, 2006 will not be allowed to contribute or compete in the place money until 5 scores have been entered into our handicapping system or have an established handicap index. This can be accomplished by bringing in 5 score cards of recent rounds or playing 5 rounds with The Grumpy Old Men or a combination of both or bringing in your handicap card. The Grumpy Old Men index/handicap, once established, will take precedence over any other index.
The new member is always welcome to play the "skins" and "closest to the pin" until the score requirement is meet.
Here is a brief rundown on how we have things set up for our members. I am just a member as the rest of us. We have a group that maintains the handicaps, distribute the winnings and publish the results. We do not want nor accept money for this position. Waterchase charges and collects a $38 green fee + $4 for range balls. I collect a mandatory $5 for "place" money prizes. I also collect an additional (optional) $3 for skin money and an optional $2 for closest to the pin money. The $5 place money is paid back in the form of cash to the 1st, 2ND, 3rd, etc. place finishes (depending on the number of players) for each flight. The place is determined by the gross score minus the handicap. In the event of a tie, a score card playoff is done starting with the #1 handicap hole (which is #5 at Waterchase) followed by the #2 handicap and continues on until the tie is broken. The hole handicap information is found on the score card.
THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN MONEY is $2 times the number of players that I collect for the closest to the pin for four par 3’s.
THE SKIN MONEY is $3 cash that I collect to be divided up for cash prizes for individual skins. A SKIN is the lowest score on a hole - SOMETIMES WE WILL PLAY NET SKINS, BUT USUALLY GROSS SKINS (usually a birdie, but can be a par or an eagle) that is not tied by anyone of either flight that has paid to compete for skins. Each flight competes for their own skins. The prize per skin is determined by dividing the skin money ($3 times the number of players competing for skins) by the number of skins for the day in each flight.
For example: we had 18 players that contributed $3 skin money in the Champ and A flight on a given day.
There was a total of 7 skins (this was birdies on #'s 2,3,6,9,10,13,15) that was divided into the remaining $54. (There was also multiple birdies on holes #'s 12,14,16 that canceled each other out. Also, a birdie was also made on #7 by the individual that did not want to play in the skin money.) This paid $7 for each skin. This was a total of $49.
The remaining $5 was put into a "hole in one" fund. The odd dollars are accumulated into this fund until someone in the group gets a hole in one while playing in our group. The custom is also that whoever gets a hole in one also buys drinks for everyone. We have had 6 hole in ones in the two years that I have been playing with the group. You could be the next one!
MAXIMUM SCORE of DOUBLE PAR for any hole. Once you reach the point that your next stroke will be double par, you may pick up and score a double par on your score card.
THE “SKIN” & “CLOSEST TO THE PIN" MONEY IS OPTIONAL! We do have some that only wants to pay the $5 place money and not enter into the skins or closest to the pin contest. This is fine if that is what anyone wants to do. It just adds a bit to the competition. Also, others in their own foursome play additional skins competition (usually for 25 cents per skin, greenies, sand saves, etc.). This is also purely optional and you should feel no pressure to join in any game that you do not fell comfortable with.
We have 4 TO 5 flights ("CHAMP", "A" , "B", "C" & "D" flights). CHAMP, A, B & C flights play from the white tees and the D flight plays from the forward tees. Sometimes we only have 4 flights due to a smaller number of players. The the C Flight will play form the forward tee.
We play Waterchase golf course every Monday unless it falls on a holiday. Then usually we schedule it the next Wednesday. In some rare cases that Waterchase is having some major maintenance issues or they are having a major tournament we will play another course on that Monday. We notify everyone by e-mail & post in the website.
We rotate courses on Wednesdays between Southern Oaks, Tangle Ridge, Tierra Verde and an optional 4TH course (Mansfield National, Hawks Creek, Bear Creek, White Stone, Hidden Creek, Split Rail, Iron Horse, Riverside, etc).
The score history (a report of the last twenty scores that is used for handicapping for every) and handicaps for the next course that we are playing in found under the "HANDICAPS" tab of the website.  The website is updated twice per week after each round. PRIZE MONEY NOT CLAIMED will be held for 60 days. If not claimed by 60 days it will be turned in to the hole in one fund unless that person contacts Tom Moore and asks him to hold his winnings.
LOW GROSS is a $5 optional game that is played in all flights if there i an interest. The low gross is awarded the lowest gross score in a given flight if the individual participates in that game. A second place is also awarded if we have at least three players in the respective flight. The first st place will receive 65% of the total prize money collected and 35% will be awarded to the second place winner. There is no score playoff if there is a tie for first or second. If there is a tie for first, no second place prize will be awarded. The prize money will be divided evens between the ties.
HOLE IN ONE
This pot is funded by the money left over from the skins and closest to the pins and delinquent money not claimed after 60 days. Consequently you have to play in those games to be eligible for the "hole in one pot". Once someone gets a hole-in-one it start over at $0.  We have had four hole-in-ones that people did NOT receive the hole in one pot because they chose not to play in the skins and closest to the pins games. 
5/18/2022 We have started an additional HOLE-IN-ONE fund in addition to the one mentioned above. This requires a $5 fee. That fee is good until the next hole-in-one and at that point another $5 fee will be required in order to stay in that funded pot. The next qualified hole-in-one wins whatever that funded $5 pot has init at the time.
CART PATH ONLY:
The usual reason that the course has us on cart path only is because of very wet conditions. If we are cart path only - we will LIFT CLEAN AND PLACE FROM EVERYWHERE & DROP OUT OF SAND TRAPS (no closer to the hole) unless stated before the round.
Effective May 09, 2011
The "CHAMP" Flight will play the ball down from May until November.  The exception will be if the fairways are aerated.
Winter rules will be effect during November through April.
The "A", "B", "C" & "D" flights will continue to roll the ball in the fairway. Everyone will play the ball down ALL THE TIME in the higher cuts and roughs.
All putts will continue to be putted out.
PACE OF PLAY:
Our goal is to complete the round in 4 hours and 30 minutes or less.
The web site shown below is a good one to review if you want ideas on how to speed up our play without having to rush.
http://www.usga.org/MicroSiteContent.aspx?id=21474855478 

The determination of Flights:
We will divide into four flights (CHAMP, A, B  & C) as long as we have at lest 36 players.
Flights will be separated by handicap. The dividing handicap for each flight can and does change every round depending on the players that show for each event.
The "usual" dividing handicap is 13 and less for the CHAMP Flight  - 14 to 19 for the A flight, 20 and above for B Flight and  -   C & D Flight playes from the next tees forward and has a handicap that does not qualify for the CHAMP flight.
In the event of an unequal number between flights - the larger number will go to the lower handicap flight.
FORWARD TEES:
Effective 3/31/2014 Any C or D Flight player may elect to play from the next forward tee from the white tees.
Once he is set to play from the forward tees, he will continue to play from those tees until he notifies the Grumpy Old Men that he wants to play from the white tees or until he is moved to the B Flight.
EFFECTIVE: 5/21/018
If you are 80+ years old and are NOT IN THE CHAMP FLIGHT, you may play from the forward tees even though  you may qualify for the A or B Flight. You will be required to play in the C Flight if you play the forward tees. If you are 80+ and fall in the A or B Flight - PLEASE LET ME KNOW - so that I may make this correction to get you playing the correct tees.
RAIN: 
Once play has started, it will not be canceled unless an appointed official comes and notifies every group
that it is canceled. The exception is lightening or other life threatening conditions.
LIGHTENING: 
It is recommended that everyone cancel their round if they feel threatened and their prize money will be refunded to them.
However, if anyone wishes to continue, they do so at their own risk. The prize money will be divided among those who stay and complete their rounds.