Local Rules and Guidance

This Section provides Bench Warmer Golf Club policy and guidance on:

1. Posting Scores
2. Local rules
3. Guidance on improving pace of play
4. Resolving tied scores in a  tournament

1. Bench Warmer Golf Club will post your score for club tournaments.
2. You are expected to post all your other scores in the USGA GHIN system on the day you play.  This includes any 9 hole scores and incomplete rounds. 

Picking up on a hole ("X"ing Out)

1. In a Bench Warmer Tournament where a score is required (individual or team) "X"ing out will eliminate you and/or the team from the tournament and will be marked as "DNF" (Did Not Finish).

• Match Play leaderboards will count as a missing hole and loss of hole.
• Stableford and Quota leaderboards will count as the worst possible score.

• For handicap posting:  Enter "X" + the most likely Score. The score will be posted as the most likely score with the max of a net double bogey
  See USGA Rule 3.3 When a hole is started but not holed out.
• Most likely score might be less than net double bogey: The number of strokes already taken to reach a position on a hole, plus the number of strokes the player would most likely require to complete the hole from that position, plus any penalty strokes incurred during play of the hole.

GUIDELINES FOR SCORING AN INCOMPLETE ROUND: 

• You must have a valid reason for not completing the round (e.g. darkness, weather or injury), and were not intending to gain an unfair advantage (the Handicap Chair can apply a penalty score  if they believe the player's actions were intended to gain an unfair advantage).
• In the GHIN App, the use of the the "Hole by Hole" scoring is recommended and will figure the differential for the unfinished holes for you.  
• 10–17 holes: Enter the scores for the holes played, GHIN will calculate the 18-hole score differential for the remaining holes.
• 7–12 holes: Post a 9-hole score 

USGA Links

USGA Rule 2.2 Minimum Number of Holes Played for Score to be Acceptable

USGA Rule  3.2 When a Hole is Not Played

Bench Warmer Golf Club play is conducted  in accordance with the USGA Rules of Golf. 

The USGA rules allow the Tournament committee to establish local rules under specific circumstances.

Local rules for all our tournaments are provided below.  Any additional local rules established for a specific tournament will be provided on the Tee Times page or on the day of  the tournament.  If you have a question - ask!

It is your responsibility to get to know the rules and play by the rules - it makes it fair and easier for everyone. 

The USGA  Rules website:   https://www.usga.org/rules-hub.html has videos, instruction and rules books.  Each member is encouraged to go through the "Rules 101 - Basic Rules of Golf" training on the website.  And there is also a "USGA Rules of Golf Mobile App" available for Android and IOS.

1. Play Ready Golf!   If you are ready to hit and it is safe, go ahead and hit!!
2. Save your conversation for in-between shots. If it's your turn to hit, it is not your turn to make every one wait while you tell your latest story or joke!
3. Get ready to hit your shot while others are hitting their shot, as long as you don't distract them.  This includes  getting distances, choosing a club (and taking off the head cover), and pre-shot routine.
4. Line up your putt while others are doing the same so you are ready to putt when it is your turn.
5. Limit your practice swings and shorten your pre-shot routine.
6. Be mindful of where you park your cart.  
7. Wait to mark your scorecard until you are in the cart and driving to the next tee.  Discuss scores on the next tee rather than on the green.
8. You are only allowed 3 minutes to find a lost ball.  Know what your options are for the tournament and be ready to move on.
9. Limit what you need to do to be ready to hit and after you hit.  For example taking off (then trying to find) then putting on headcovers,  trying to find your ball marker, digging your range finder out of your bag all take time.
10. And finally PAY ATTENTION!  Is it your turn?  Where did you hit your ball?  Where did you put your head cover?

Tournament Ties

All ties are decided by the tournament committee using the USGA Rules Appendix I - Matching scorecards tie breaker method: score for last 9 holes, if still tied, last 6 holes; if still tied, last 3 holes; if still tied continue for 18th hole.  "Last nine holes, last six holes, etc." is considered to be holes 10-18, 13-18, etc."