CWDGA Team Matches

CWDGA 4-Ball Match Play

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Rolling Green Team

GENERAL 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 two teams of eligible players to compete in one of the four or more divisions of the club's respective section. 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 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% 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. Each team should have at least two reliable substitutes who can meet the handicap eligibility requirement. After team divisions are set on February 8, 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 must receive prior approval if the substitute has a Course Handicap over 28.0.

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 present a form listing players for the day, regular and substitute, including current Handicap Indexes, host Course Handicaps, and club numbers to the Sectional Handicap Chair. 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 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 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.