Notice to Player

USGA Rules Always Apply

USGA Rules are always in effect. If you are uncertain of a ruling, play two balls and write down the score for each. The Tour Director and Head Pro will make the final determination after play.

Ball Search / Provisional Ball

Three-minute ball search is in play. When in doubt, play a provisional ball.

Putts Must Be Holed Out

All putts must be completed, even if the flagstick knocks the ball out. Pins may be removed.

Official Scorecards

All players must sign the official scorecard and return the signed scorecard to the scorers table before taking clubs to the car.

Check-In Requirement

Players must personally check in at least 30 minutes before their assigned tee time and be at the starting tee box at least 15 minutes prior. Failure to do so may forfeit the tee time. Under Rule 6-3, a player not ready at the assigned time may receive a two-stroke penalty.

Cell Phones / Pagers

Phones and pagers must be off, silent, or on vibrate. A ringing phone results in a warning on the first offense and a two-stroke penalty for each later occurrence.

Headphones / Music

Headphones and earbuds are not allowed on the course. Music may be played only if others cannot hear it and your group agrees.

Pace of Play / Triple Bogey Max

Pace of play is 4:30. To support pace, players in all flights except Champ Flight may not card more than triple bogey on any hole. After that, the player must pick up. Rangers may warn slow groups and report them to the director. Play ready golf.

Conduct Unbecoming

Loud, foul, or abusive language toward members or officials will not be tolerated. Continued behavior may result in revoked privileges or membership. Throwing a club in anger is immediate disqualification, and two such disqualifications in a season may lead to denial of entry for the rest of the season.

Practice / Starting Time / Committee

• Practice between holes is prohibited.
• If a player arrives late but within five minutes of the assigned start time, the penalty is two strokes on the first hole instead of disqualification.
• The Tour Director and Rules Committee have final authority on rulings.

Playing Conditions / Bunkers

Playing conditions are announced by the starter before each group tees off.

• If Cart Path Only: free bunker relief by lift, smooth, and replace within one scorecard length.
• If Not Cart Path Only: free relief only for washouts, wet mud, water, or footprints in bunkers with group agreement. Smooth the area and replace within one scorecard length.
• When the ball is played down, bunkers are not automatically free relief. A plugged or difficult lie alone does not qualify.

Penalty Areas / Environmental Areas

Play all tree lines and tall fescue as penalty areas. White or green environmental signs mark restricted areas; do not enter these areas to retrieve or play a ball. Playing from them is a two-stroke penalty. Anything not marked is considered lateral unless specifically marked out of bounds.

Drop Zones / Waste Areas / Stones in Bunkers

• Drop zones are not in play for this tournament.
• Waste areas, if any, will be noted before play begins.
• Under Rule 15.1, stones in bunkers are movable obstructions.

Aeration Holes

Through the green or on the putting surface, a ball at rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped or placed as near as possible to the original spot, no nearer the hole.

Rules Discrepancy

Under Rule 20.1.c.3, if there is a discrepancy in the interpretation of a rule, the player should play two balls through the hole and get a ruling from the Tour Director(s) and club pro after the round.

Ground Under Repair / Sodded Areas

Ground under repair is defined by white lines. French drains are GUR. White-lined areas tied into cart paths are part of those obstructions. Sod seams, not the sod itself, are deemed GUR when the ball lies in or touches a seam or the seam interferes with the intended swing. Relief applies to the ball only, not the stance.

Dangerous Animal Conditions

Fire ants, alligators, snakes, stinging bees, and similar dangerous animal conditions qualify for relief under Rule 16.2 when they interfere with the ball, stance, or swing. A normal ant hill is not an abnormal ground condition.

Embedded Ball

In the general area, a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark and not in a penalty area may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to the original spot, no nearer the hole. The dropped ball must first strike part of the course in the general area.

One-Ball Rule

The one-ball rule is in effect. You must use the same brand, make, and model of conforming golf ball for the entire round. The ball must appear on the current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls, and the ball placed in play must be marked.

Out of Bounds

Out of bounds is defined by the inside points of white stakes at ground level, the inside points of fence posts at ground level, and the inside edge of paved roads and beyond. Relief is not allowed from OB stakes or fences.

Ornamental Flower Beds

Planted flower beds outlined in white paint are mandatory drop areas with relief under Rule 16.1 for ground under repair. All other planted beds are considered through the green.

Suspension of Play

A dangerous situation suspension is signaled by one long air horn blast. All play must stop immediately. Practice areas close during the suspension. Players should monitor live scoring for messages from the Tour Director.

Abnormal Conditions / Heavy Rain Damage

Abnormal conditions include animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions, and temporary water. The committee may declare unusual heavy-rain or traffic-damaged areas as ground under repair under Model Local Rule F-4. Players should play two balls and report the situation to the Tour Director. Taking a photo is allowed.

Prize Format

Flights compete for Visa gift cards. All first-place ties in every event are decided by sudden-death playoff on the course. If more than two players are tied for first, the playoff ends as soon as a winner is determined. The playoff winner receives the trophy and first-place prize.

1-Day Event Tiebreaking

For prize positions outside first place, ties are broken using the USGA matching scorecards system: back nine, last 6 holes, last 3 holes, 18th hole, then front nine, last 6 holes, last 3 holes, and 9th hole.

2-Day Event Tiebreaking

For prize positions outside first place, ties are broken by Day 2 total, Day 1 total, Day 2 back nine, Day 2 front nine, Day 1 back nine, then Day 1 front nine. If still tied, the tied players split the prizes.

Lost Gift Cards

DCMGWAT will not replace any lost gift cards after a tournament is played.

Playing Above Current Flight Standards

To protect the integrity of each flight, the Golfweek Amateur Tour Index Committee may review players whose scores indicate performance above their current flight. The Local Tour Director will contact the Committee before awarding prizes. The Committee may evaluate the player's full playing record, determine whether disqualification applies, and share the final decision with the player and Local Tour Director.

Rule 8 Update: Any player with 8 or more completed tournament scores in the last two years will not be disqualified from the event. That player will instead be promoted after the tournament.