UPDATED 4/30/07, 9:00 AM

• I'm a new member.  What do I need to know?

• I sponsored a new member.  What are my responsibilities?

• Who do I call or email when I can't make a tournament?

• What's the big deal with late cancellations/no shows?

• When do I have to cancel to avoid paying penalties?

• What are the late/no show penalty fees?

• How are tee times arranged?

• What is the KP Pot?

• What is the KP contest?

• How do I fill out my scorecard?

• Do I have to post my FHG tournament scores?

• Can I post my scores on the internet?

• How do I get a rules interpretation on the course?

• How do we avoid slow play during tournaments?

• What are winter rules?

• Forget the details, how do I get a handicap index so that I can play in those awesome FHG tournaments?

• How do I check my most current GHIN handicap index?

• How do I correct a mistake made when posting a score or course information?

• What exactly is my USGA handicap index and how is it calculated?

• I usually hit over my handicap - shouldn't my handicap index be higher?

• What the heck is an Evite?

• How was this web page created?

I'm a new member.  What do I need to know?

Welcome to the club!

Read this FAQ.  It answers the basic questions.  If you haven't already, browse through the website to get a better feeling for our club.

If you have questions, ask the member who sponsored you.  If they don't know the answer, they can point you in the right direction.

The main goal of our club is to have fun playing golf.  In order to play golf, you have to respond promptly to your Evite.  No rsvp, no play.

We have a great club because everyone helps out.  Occasionally, you'll be asked to give us a hand.  If you're really lucky, you'll get to work on this website!

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I sponsored a new member.  What are my responsibilities?

You are responsible for making sure the new member blends in smoothly with the club activities and has a fun time their first year.

Point them to the website and have them read this FAQ.  (Of course, you've read the FAQ already haven't you?) 

Make sure they read their pre-tournament emails and most importantly, respond to their Evite.

At their first tournament, introduce the new member to his playing partners and tell them about paying green fees, the tournament format and ground rules, scorecards, not posting tournament scores, etc.

Remind them to post all other scores according to the USGA rules so that our tournaments remain fair and competitive.  If they are new to the GHIN system, show them how to post and review scores.

Encourage them to help out since that's the core of our club.

Any concerns about the new member, e.g. not counting strokes, not following rules, etc., will first be directed at the sponsor who should mentor the new member before the issue goes before the Board.

Your duties to the new member last throughout their first year in the club.

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Who do I call or email when I can't make a tournament?

Call or email the tournament chairman.  If you call and leave a message, the tournament chairman will call you back.  If you send an email, the tournament chairman will reply with a confirmation.  If you don't receive a phone or email confirmation, you should assume that something went into the dark hole.  Resend your email or call again.

You can also rsvp to your Evite.  See What the heck is an Evite?

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What's the big deal with late cancellations/no shows?

It's part courtesy, extra work and team fairness.  The team formats favored by the club require matching golfers and teams to create a fair and fun tournament.  A change after the line-up is set requires the committee to rerun all golfers through the matching process.  (How are tee times arranged?)  If done less than a week before the tournament, it also requires changing the website and the printed materials created for committee members, course marshals, etc.  If done at the course, then it compromises the outcome of the tournament by putting teams at a disadvantage.

Unexpected events happen when members can't play.  Injuries and work commitments do come up.  But they should be the rare exception.

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When do I have to cancel to avoid paying penalties?

We need to know if you are playing in each tournament.  We DO NOT assume you are playing.  If you are not going to play, you must notify the tournament chairman by the 2nd Friday (13 days) before the tournament.  See the 2007 Schedule for the last day to cancel for each tournament. 

Members can email or call the tournament chairman, or they can reply to their Evite.  Don't rely on a friend passing the message on for you.

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What are the late/no show penalty fees?

No-shows will be fined $20 plus green fees.

All fines to be paid prior to the next tournament.  No prizes will be awarded if fines are outstanding.

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How are tee times arranged?

The handicap chairman inputs the names of the participating golfers and the format for the next tournament into the computer.  Using the most current handicap indexes, the computer generates a line-up.  The tournament chairman manually fine tunes the list, arranges the tee times, and coordinates the club's requirements with the golf course.

The goal is to match golfers of varying skill levels and teams to create a fair and fun tournament.  Once the line-up is set, a cancellation forces a repeat of the whole process.  So don’t cancel!

Tee times will be posted on the website the week of the tournament and updated as necessary.

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What is the KP Pot?

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What is the KP contest?

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How do I fill out my scorecard?

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Do I have to post my FHG tournament scores?

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Can I post my scores on the internet?

Yes.  As of the 2007 season, our club allows internet posting at www.ghin.com.   Posting your score after your round at the course is still the preferred method for recording your score.  Internet posting can be used if posting at the course is not viable for some reason, such as for courses out of the GHIN system or when the local course computer is down.  The handicap chairman will monitor internet posting to insure that no one is abusing this option.

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How do I get a rules interpretation on the course?

The low handicap player in your foursome will make the interpretation.  You guys carry current USGA Rule Books don't you?

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How do we avoid slow play during tournaments?

The low handicap player in each foursome is responsible for the group maintaining a reasonable pace of play.

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What are winter rules?

1. A ball may be moved through the green* with the following restrictions:  A ball shall not be moved when it lies within 36 inches of the base of a tree, stump, shrub, or out of bounds.
   
   

2. If lifted, the ball shall be marked; it may be cleaned; and shall be placed no more than 6" from its original lie, no nearer the hole. Use of the clubhead in the movement and placement of the ball is prohibited.
   
   a.  A ball so lifted is deemed to be back in play once it has been placed.
   
   b.  While in the act of placing, the ball may be repositioned. For the purpose of this condition, the ball is considered placed, and may not be repositioned, once it has been at rest for five seconds.
   
   c.  A ball back in play that moves prior to address shall be played as it lies unless Rule 18 requires replacement.
   
   d.  A player is entitled to exercise this preferred lies option one time only per shot.
   
   

3. The Embedded Ball Rule shall be in effect through the green*.
   
   a.  Anywhere "through the green," a ball which is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, except in loose sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.
   
   b.  When an embedded ball is lost "beyond a reasonable doubt" in wet, soft turf, another ball may be put into play as near as possible to the spot the original ball was lost without penalty.

Exception:  A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than the conditions covered by this Local Rule. (Unplayable lie, etc.).

*Definition
Through the green is the whole area of the course except:  The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course.

General Penalty for Breach of this Rule:
Stroke Play - Two Strokes: Match Play - Loss of Hole

PNGA RULES COMMITTEE
Revised - January 2001

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Forget the details, how do I get a handicap index so that I can play in those awesome FHG tournaments?

Club members get a GHIN number and the club number (20-287-1).  Take your current handicap index, and using the chart provided at the course, figure out your course handicap.  Play golf.  After you finish and collect your bets, calculate your adjusted score using the equitable stroke control guidelines (there is a maximum number of strokes you can take on each hole based on your course handicap).  Post your score on the GHIN computer using your GHIN number, and club number or your last name.  Record the tees you played from and your adjusted score.

Follow the Rules of Golf when you play, and post every score.

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How do I check my most current GHIN handicap index?

Check out the Golf Handicap Information Network website.  After you enter your GHIN number or your name, you'll see your 20 most recent scores and the 10 scores with the best handicap differentials used to calculate your handicap index.  You'll also be able to see the course and slope ratings used in the calculations.  "View 20 most current" scores includes scores that have been posted, but not yet included in your handicap index.  Indexes are updated every 2 weeks during the season.

Golfers and technology are far from perfect, the combination even less so.  It's a good idea to occasionally check to see if your scores posted properly.

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How do I correct a mistake made when posting a score or course information?

Contact the handicap chairman, identify the mistake and give him the correct information.

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What exactly is my USGA handicap index and how is it calculated?

To find out how your handicap index is calculated, read the details on the handicap index page.

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I usually hit over my handicap (translation:  I'd like to win more bets...) - shouldn't my handicap index be higher? 

Did you know that the average player is expected to play to their course handicap or better only about 25% of the time?

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What the heck is an Evite?

Evites are electronic invitations from www.Evite.com.  The committee creates an Evite for each tournament which Evite.com emails to club members.  Included in the email is a unique link to each member's invitation on the Evites website.  Members respond if they are playing in the tournament and can make comments.  Responses and comments are displayed on the Evite for other members to view.

Evites will go out around the first of each month.  If you don't get an Evite by the 5th of the month, there is a problem.  Call or email the tournament chairman.  If you rsvp'd to your Evite and your name is still in the did not respond section, there is a problem.  Call or email the tournament chairman.

After the last day to cancel, the tournament chairman will print out the Evite response list showing who is playing, not playing, and did not respond. 

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How was this web page created?

The original version of the website was created for the 2000 season with a computer and a few beers.

Microsoft's FrontPage is used to create and edit the web pages.  The graphics are created with Macromedia's Fireworks.

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