RULES

 

FORMAT
The Boston Summer Twilight League is a four ball match play league where the matches are played at 100% handicap. Club matches will consist of 10 golfers from each Club competing in 5 matches.

ELIGIBILITY

1. A golfer must be a member of the Club he is representing and must be 40 years of age or older on the day of the match.
2. All Handicaps must be calculated based upon a golfer’s most recent USGA handicap using the slope of the course being played on the day of the match. Golfers whose handicaps are less than 10 are not eligible to play unless that golfer’s handicap has dropped below 10 during a 48 hour period prior to the match. Golfers whose handicap exceeds 20 will have their handicap adjusted downward to 20.

 

MATCHES, PAIRINGS AND RULES OF PLAY

1. The lowest handicap golfer of the first team must be the golfer with the lowest handicap of the 10 golfers. His partner can be any one of the 9 remaining golfers with the caveat that if the handicap differential of the two partners is greater than 3 strokes, the higher handicap partner’s handicap will be adjusted downward so that the differential is 3 strokes.
2. The lowest handicap golfer of subsequent teams two through four in that order will be the next lowest handicap golfer of the remaining golfers. That team’s partner can be any one of the remaining golfers with the caveat that if the handicap differential of the two partners is greater than 3 strokes, the higher handicap partner’s handicap will be adjusted downward so that the differential is 3 strokes.
3. Team five will be the two remaining golfers. If the handicap differential of the two partners is greater than 4 strokes, the higher handicap partner’s handicap will be adjusted downward so that the differential is 4 strokes.
4. A player that has a 21 handicap, or higher, on the course on which the match is being played is allowed to play if his handicap is reduced to conform with the above rules of differences between partner.
5. The pairings for each four ball match will match the teams in order, first against first, second against second, etc. Teams will tee off in that order.
6. Matches must proceed if one golfer of the pairing is missing at the start of the match or must leave during the match. Missing golfers may join a match in progress at the next hole to be played. Club captains may mutually agree to change the order of the matches but not the pairings to accommodate missing golfers. All matches must be started within 1 hour of the official start of the Club match.
7. If both golfers from a Club’s pairing are missing one hour after the start of the match and the opposing Club’s team has at least 9 golfers present, the scoring for the that match will be 11 hole points for the opposing Club and 7 hole points for the Club that is unable to field a team.
8. If neither club has at least 9 golfers present at the start of the match, including interruptions, the Club match will be rescheduled.
9. All matches will be played to completion unless interrupted or stopped by the Course Superintendent, the Golf Pro Shop, or the mutual agreement of both Captains by declaring the course to be not playable [e.g. weather condition or darkness]. 
   If play is interrupted, scoring will be completed by awarding each team half hole points for holes not played.
10. In the case that one player refuses to play or is unable to play, the match will continue as a threesome.
11. In the case that 2 players from the same club in the same foursome refuse to play or are unable to play, play will continue and the defaulting players will lose the remaining holes.
12. A foursome in a four ball match must continue play unless interrupted or stopped pursuant to Rule of Play: item #9.
13. In the case that a twosome refuses to play, the team that continues will win the remaining points. The refusal to play is a violation of the rules.
14. All violations will be reported by the captains to the Executive Committee for further action.
15. All matches will be considered official when all of the teams have completed nine holes. The remaining holes not played will be halved.
16. If there is an age or handicap violation, then the match will be scored as 7 points for the team that committed the violation and 11 points for the other team.
17. If golf carts are not available at the time the first tee is open, the match will be rescheduled.
18. The first tee is closed from 1:15 until 2:30, all matches will start promptly at 1:30 (except Winchester 1:00) unless conflicts with other leagues or matches necessitate a change in time. These changes will be conveyed to the visiting team as soon as possible.
19. No Club matches can be forfeited, see Postponement Item #4
20. USGA Rules will govern all play. A Player will not be penalized for rules violation made by his caddie.
21. Range finding devices are permitted and the information must be shared with the other players.

 

SCORING

1. Scoring for each four ball match will be 1 point per hole won and .5 point for each of the holes halved. No points are awarded for lost holes. The twosome with the most points wins the match and wins 1 point for the Club. If the four ball match is a tie, each Club will receive .5 points. A total of five points will be awarded to the Clubs for these points.
2. The hole points for each of the five four ball matches will be totaled for each Club. One (1) additional club point will be awarded to the Club with the greatest number of hole points. If the total of the hole points are equal, each Club will receive half (1/2) of a club point.
3. The sum total club points won for both Clubs must equal six (6).

 

POSTPONEMENTS AND MAKEUP MATCHES

1. If a match is postponed or a change in venue is agreed to prior to a match, the two captains will make the required arrangements for the makeup and the change in venue.
2. The host team shall give 2 weeks notice for a makeup match and offer three dates as to when the host course is available. It is incumbent upon the visiting team to make a selection from one of these dates. If there are scheduling difficulties, then the Executive Committee should be notified immediately.
3. All postponements in the ‘first half’ of the season must be played as soon as possible by the first scheduled open date in July.
4. All postponements in the ‘second half’ of the season must be played prior to the end of the regular season. If this is not feasible, the Executive Committee must be notified immediately.
5. If near the end of the season there are matches that have not been played, with the approval of the Executive Committee, these matches need not be played if the results do not affect the playoff standings. However if one of the Captains wishes to play the match, the match must be played as scheduled.

 

PACE OF PLAY
If a golfer(s) is warned about slow play by the Captain, the Captain reserves the right and is encouraged by The League not to invite him back for the remainder of the season.

PLAYOFFS

1. Only golfers who have played in at least one match during the regular season are eligible to play.
2. The Clubs that finish in the first four positions are the playoff clubs. The four positions are determined by the number of points [based on the weekly 6 club point system] accumulated by the Club over the course of the season. The teams will be seeded 1 through 4 ranked from the highest to the lowest total Club points.
3. In case of a tie in club points, that Club with the higher number of hole points, based on the 90 point system will be seeded higher. If the teams are still tied, the Executive Committee will decide the seeding by comparing all aspects of the results from the head to head matches.
4. The highest seeded two teams are the ‘Home Teams’.
5. The semi-final matches will be played the week after the final matches of the regular season. Team #1 will play team #4 and team #2 will play team #3. The winners of the semi-final matches will play the Championship match the week following the semifinals. The higher seeded team will be the home team.
6. If a playoff match ends in a tie, the #1 teams from each club will play a sudden death match starting on hole #1. If the playoff match is suspended because the course is unplayable or dangerous conditions exist, the teams well be recognized as Co-Champions.
7. In case of postponements, all playoff matches must be played within seven (7) days of the postponement. If a team(s) cannot comply with these instructions the President of the League [if not available, the Vice President or any other member of the Executive Committee] should be notified immediately.
8. It is desirable that all playoff matches be completed prior to the Field Day. Any deviation from this schedule must be by approval of the Executive Committee.

 

FIELD DAY

1. The Field Day will be scheduled by the Executive Committee. If all playoff matches have not been completed due to unforeseen causes, then the playoffs will continue after the Field Day.
2. The team Captain will determine who is eligible for this event. It is incumbent that each Club gets as many participants as allowed by the host Club. It is suggested that only those who have played in matches be invited.
3. The following information must be submitted to the host Club no later than 10 days prior to the Field Day: Name, index, club number, caddie or cart preference and any other pertinent information that may be requested by the host Club.
4. The host Club will determine what the format of play will be for the Field Day.

 

REQUIREMENTS
It is strongly advised that all players attend dinner following the match and to stay until the end of dinner. If a player informs a Captain that he cannot stay for dinner it is suggested that the Captain find a replacement.
A player who habitually [more than once] does not attend dinners should not be invited to play for the remainder of the season.