Savannah Senior Strikers' FAQ/Local Golf Rules

Joining the Savannah Senior Strikers Golf organization requires potential members to complete three rounds of golf to establish their prog and pay annual dues. During this trial period, they can participate in skins and closest to the pin challenges, but not the prog challenge. Once their prog is confirmed, individuals have the option to become a full member by paying annual dues before their fourth round of golf. Non-members are welcome to play if invited but cannot take part in any challenges: prog, closest to the pin, or skins.

Exceptions need direct approval from the president.

Effective immediately, the following rules apply to our double bogey blitz:

- Score adjustments will no longer be made based on minimum (20) or maximum (50) ranges. Your score is your score!

Prog Adjustment Criteria After the Blitz:

1. If your score is -1, +1, or even, your Prog remains unchanged.

2. If your score is -2 or lower, it decreases by one point.

3. If your score is +2 or higher, round down to the nearest even number, divide by two, and add the answer to your Prog.

Example:

Initial Prog: 40

Score: 45

Plus/minus: +5

Adjusted Prog: 42

BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT:

To play golf with the Savannah Senior Strikers, you need to book your tee time slot 36 hours ahead. This helps you get a good tee-off time and choose your playing group. If you don't book early, you might end up with fewer options and tee off last.

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Savannah Senior Strikers (Tee-Times and Booking Management)

I. Introduction
- Planning ahead is crucial for the success of golf outings and ensuring a positive experience for members.

II. Scheduling tee times in advance
- Prevents issues like last-minute changes and overbooking
- Creates a fair and organized system for tee-off times
- Contributes to a professional and efficient gaming environment

III. Implementation of booking rule by Savannah Senior Strikers
- Members must book a tee time-slot at least 36 hours in advance for the blitz
- Priority given to those who book in advance for tee-off times and group selection
- Members who do not book in advance will have limited options for tee times and may need to tee off last
- Enhances overall gaming experience and simplifies tee-time management

IV. Benefits of booking tee times ahead
- Creates a fair and efficient process for all members
- Maintains a positive reputation within the community
- Demonstrates professionalism and commitment to member satisfaction

V. Conclusion
- Restate the importance of planning ahead for successful and enjoyable golf outings
- Adherence to booking rules streamlines tee-time management and enhances gaming experience
- Commitment to scheduling in advance showcases dedication to professionalism and member satisfaction.
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If you hit your ball out of bounds or lose it (you have three minutes to search for your ball before it becomes lost), your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance. There are only a few exceptions to this when it is known or virtually certain what happened to your ball.

There is also an optional Local Rule which provides an alternative to stroke and distance relief when it is in effect. If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot. You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds.

If you think that your ball might be out bounds or that you might not find it, you can play a provisional ball to save time. You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball before doing so. If you are then unable to find your original ball, or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.

Local Rule

1. Play the ball down on the golf course, except for the fairways and the first cut of grass near the greens. In those areas you may apply lift, clean, and place according to the local rule (180° longest club in bag no closer to the hole). This rule is always in effect, along with other course condition changes: 90-degree cart path, Cart path only, and Winter rules.

a) 90-degree Cart Path

No change to the lift, clean and place local rule. Add bunker rule, improve your lie.

b) Cart Path Only

Add to the lift, clean, and place local rule to all over the course except for hazards. Add bunker rule, improve your lie.

c) Winter Rule

During winter, from 21 December to 1 March, the winter rule lift, clean, and place is in effect all over the golf course except for hazards. Add bunker rule, improve your lie. The administrator for each blitz has the authority to decide if the rule applies for the day, based on the course conditions. this decision will be announced before the start of each blitz. 

d) Bunkers

Bunker area play. When the 90° cart path, cart path only, or winter rules are in effect, players have some additional options for playing from a bunker. They can lift, clean, and place (180° longest club in bag no closer to the hole) within the bunker. They are also allowed to improve their lie using a rake. However, if there is erosion or standing water preventing ball placement within the bunker, players can place the ball outside the bunker, with the bunker still between the ball and the hole. 

e) Hazards

Hazard area play. No change, USGA Rule 17

Bunker play, temporary water.

When the 90° Cart path, Cart path only, or Winter rules are NOT IN EFFECT, players have some additional options for playing from a bunker. They can lift, clean, and place (180° longest club in bag no closer to the hole) within the bunker. They are also allowed to improve their lie using a rake (local rule). BALL MUST BE PLAYED FROM THE BUNKER! USGA Rule 16.1c(1)

The blitz administrator must be notified to officially call off the course of play. Simply quitting without informing the administrator does not constitute the start of the Inclement Weather Rules. If the round is not completed due to inclement weather (18 holes), scores will not be recorded on the official prog score sheet. In most cases we will have a payout!

Both proximity markers should be placed on the first two par three holes (front side) to ensure fairness for all participants. This allows everyone to have an equal opportunity to complete the Close to the Pin challenge. 

The Skin game concludes when the last group completes the last hole played. If the field of play (blitz) is called off due to inclement weather, the Skins will be determined by the holes completed up to that point. 

Example: If holes 1-12 are completed by the first and last groups, the Skins will be determined by those holes.

The first and last group, either in part or whole, must complete holes 1 through 9 (front side).

If holes 1 through 9 are not completed by the first and last group, either part or whole, the prog bets are called off (Canceled). The prog pot money will be returned to each participant.

If holes 1 through 9 (front side) are completed and the course of play is called off, the nine-holes (front side) score will be tallied and multiplied by two, pressing the individual's current progs (+/-). 

The close to the pin proximity markers were previously established set permanently on the par three holes by the Officers and Board of Directors (Committee) vote. These markers are typically placed on the most challenging par three holes with challenges like water, sand bunkers, and longer distances. One proximity will be placed on the front nine and one on the back nine of the 18-hole course.

In cases where new courses are introduced, the administrator with input from the members will provide clear guidance on the placement of proximity markers. Then the presence is set. The Committee can elect to change by vote. During a temporary one-day event, the blitz administrator has the authority to make necessary adjustments. It is important to note that the Inclement Weather rules override this section.