Organization

The Saguaro Golf Club is an all male golf club organized to promote competition between golfers of all capabilities. Saguaro Golf Club’s designated home course is Randolph Golf Course. The Club will schedule all events based on course availability, course conditions and level of anticipated play. The minimum age for membership is 18 years of age unless waived by the Saguaro Board of Directors.

Annual Dues

Members are required to pay their dues by December 1st. The Arizona Golf Association (AGA) charges the club each year based on the number of active players registered in the electronic handicap system. The Membership Chairman will inactivate any member who fails to submit their dues. The annual dues are composed of two components, the AGA yearly fee and the Saguaro Golf Club dues. The Board of Directors is responsible for determining the amount which will be charged for the next year’s dues. The amount set by the Board will be included in the newsletter prior to December and will be included on new member applications and in any membership advertising information. Members who are renewing their memberships for the following year must pay their dues no later than 1 December. If their memberships are not paid by 1 December, they will not be eligible for club events during December, or until their dues have been paid. New members will not be allowed to officially play in a club event until they have paid their dues.

Social Membership

Members who were once active but can no longer play with the Club for health reasons, are eligible to become social members for a yearly fee of $20, and participate in the Club’s social functions. These members are not eligible to vote in elections.

Hole-in-One Dues

Hole-In-One fund participation is an integral part of our organization. All members, excluding social members, will participate and contribute to the fund. A nominal fee will be collected from each joining member along with his initial dues. Additional fees will be charged when a member makes a hole-in-one. The Board of Directors will determine the exact hole-in-one payout, but it is intended to provide approximately $300 for each hole-in-one scored during Club play. This amount will be paid by check, however, if necessary to defray celebration costs after the event, the Tournament Director (TD) may pay a portion of the amount at the event. Club play is defined as a scheduled event that consists of 12 or more members actually playing, or any Club member representing the Club at a Club sanctioned event.

Note: Members making a hole-in-one who have not paid their hole-in-one fee are not eligible to receive the money.

New Members

A current member of the Club must sponsor a prospective member. When the prospective member is requesting to join without a sponsor (i.e., prospective member just moved into town) the Membership Chairman or other Board member shall become their sponsor and be responsible for assisting them. Each prospective member must fill out the application form and submit payment for his dues with the application, along with their latest handicap information (GHIN number, prior home course ID number, etc). The prospective member should, at a minimum, be briefed by a Board member and be paired up with a Board member when playing in their first event. A paid prospective member may play with the Club, but not in the Club event, until his dues become effective and he has an established handicap.

Monthly Board Meetings

The Board of Directors will hold regular meetings as required on the second (2nd) Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. The location will be specified by the Club Secretary or President. Special meetings will be called at the discretion of the Club President.

November Board Election Meeting

An annual Saguaro Golf Club Board of Directors meeting will be held in November of each year. The election of Board members shall occur following the November Board of Directors meeting. Members indicating their willingness to serve on the Board will be announced prior to the meeting, but write-in candidates can be nominated at the meeting. Write-in candidates must be present and acknowledge their willingness to serve prior to the election. Prior to the meeting, members may send electronic proxy votes via the Internet to the Saguaro Club Secretary. In the event of a tie, a tie-breaking vote will be taken at the election meeting.

Changes to Policies and Procedures

Changes to Saguaro Golf Club Policies and Procedures shall become effective when approved by a majority of the elected Board members. The Club Secretary shall record approval or disapproval of changes and notify the club members that a change has occurred.

Tournaments

Day Play Tournaments

All Saguaro Golf Club day play tournaments are played under the USGA Rules of Golf and shall be considered tournament (T) scores for the purpose of determining club member handicaps.

Signing Up To Play

All Club scheduling will be via the Internet at sgc-saguarogolfclub2.golfgenius.com. Events will be available for sign up at least two weeks prior to the event. Tournament Directors will finalize the pairings 24 to 36 hours prior to the first tee time and will email participants when pairings are available. Those members that sign up any of our non-internet capable members are responsible for keeping that member informed.

No-Shows and Cancellations

Cancellations must be made not later than 48 hours prior to an event. If a member must cancel for any reason after the event is closed for Internet sign ups (usually ~55 hours prior to the first tee time), they must telephone the Tournament Director listed for that event. A $10 fine will be assessed to any club member who signs up for an event, does not cancel per the above process and doesn’t show up. Notification of the assessment will be made by letter and/or email to the member. Late cancellations will also be tracked. Two late cancellations in a 6 month period will also result in a $10 fine. Emergency cancellations made later than 55 hours will be considered.

Should the Club incur an additional expense due to a no-show, the member is responsible for that expense. If the Tournament Director cannot be notified, the starter of the golf course for that day should be notified at least 30 minutes prior to their tee time. The Resort Course sign ups are handled differently and cancellation instructions will be posted on the sign up sheet.

If you play in any club event, and leave the course without paying your event fees and skins money (or do not give your event and skins money to a member of your group), a $10 fine will be assessed.

A member who has been fined will be restricted from signing up for an event until the fine has been paid. Any disputes regarding assessment of fines as described above can be presented to the Board at the next monthly board meeting.

Check-In

Golfers must check in with the TD at least 30 minutes before their scheduled tee time. It is advisable to check in and pay the TD before you go to the pro shop, putting green, or driving range. It always helps if you have the correct change. It is the responsibility of each member to pay his event fees prior to the start of his round. If, for some reason, the member is unable to do this, he should give his event money to another player in the group who can turn in the event fee to the TD. If the member has not paid his event fee either before or after the round, a $10 fine will be imposed.

Cell Phones

Cell phones carried on the golf course should be turned off, or at least put in Vibrate mode. Saguaro Golf Club policy is to assess a two stroke penalty each time an unauthorized cell phone rings during play. However, in the rare instance that a member requires emergency contact capability, he may leave his cell phone on, recommended in vibrate mode only. He must notify the other members of his foursome that he requires this capability.

Guest Policy

Guests are always welcome to play with the Saguaro Golf Club. Please realize that during peak season (i.e., February and March), specific events may not allow guest participation. When the web site restricts signing up of guests, members desiring to bring a guest should contact the specific TD for that event with their request. Note that a member can bump a guest if there are not enough tee times to accommodate members. Once the event is closed, ~55 hours prior to the first tee time, a member cannot bump the guest.

Tee Designations

It is solely the member’s responsibility to know the event that is being played, what tees he is to use (according to his handicap index) and the assigned tees for that event. If a member plays from the wrong tees, the member will be assessed penalties in accordance with the USGA rules. Major events have tees assigned according to handicaps and/or age group. A member assigned to the front tees for majors may elect to play from the back tees, however, a member assigned to the back tees may not elect to play the front tees.

Scorecards

Computer generated scorecards are preferred because all necessary information is available (i.e., name, date, event, handicap, specific tournament instructions and tee assignment). Scorecards must be filled out completely, posting gross, net, Stableford points (if that is the event), Nassau scores (if that is the event) or any other information as dictated in the Tournament Instructions. Scores will be kept during the round. Prior to starting the round, each group shall designate an individual who will keep the official scorecard. In the interests of scorecard accuracy, it is recommended that a second scorecard be kept (by another player) so that it can be compared with the official scorecard (which will be turned in) when the round is completed. All players must sign the card at the conclusion of play. Failure to sign your scorecard may result in your disqualification from the event. The scorecard must be turned in to either the event TD or another Board Member who is present.

Each player is responsible for his individual score on a hole-by-hole basis (even though someone else may be keeping the official scorecard) - that’s the reason we require that all players sign the scorecard at the completion of the round, to verify that their hole-by-hole scores are accurate. If your score on a hole is incorrect, the following will occur:

If your individual score on a hole is incorrect and “improves” your score, you will be disqualified from the event.

If your individual score on a hole is incorrect and “improves” your score, you will be disqualified from the event. If your individual score on a hole is incorrect and results in a “worse” overall score for the event than what you should have had, you will not be disqualified, but the score that is turned in will be final.

If all of your individual hole scores are correct (whether strokes or Stableford points) and you simply add them up incorrectly on your total score, the TD will make that correction on the totals and there will be no penalty to the player.

For Best Ball and Stableford Events, you will only be held responsible for your Gross (Hole-by-Hole scores). You will not be held responsible for your Best Ball Total (individual or team). The computer will calculate your Best Ball total (individual or team). Likewise, you will not be held responsible for your Stableford scoring (individual or team). The computer will calculate your Stableford score (individual or team). Although you are only responsible for your gross hole-by-hole scores, you are encouraged to calculate your net score or Stableford points and include those totals on your official scorecard as a double-check for the person doing the computer scoring.

New World Handicap System Maximum Hole Score

The maximum hole score for each player will be limited to a Net Double Bogey. This is equal to Par + 2 + any handicap strokes received (based on player’s Course Handicap).

If you have side games, use another card. Members should post away cards via the AGA computers or at Azgolf.org Cards may be given to the TD who will forward them to the Handicap Chairman for posting.

Completion of Play

Regardless of weather conditions, event participants completing the event will be eligible for prize money. Entry fees paid by those members not choosing to complete play will not have their fee returned. The Tournament Director may cancel an event prior to beginning play due to weather conditions. If you play in a Saguaro Club event as an established member, you must pay the entry fee.

Dual Handicaps

If you have two GHIN numbers (two handicap indexes); you will have your numbers merged into one Saguaro Golf Club index number.

Changes in Scheduled Events

The Tournament Director for any event has the authority to adjust any scheduled event with good cause. It is suggested that the TD consult with other Board Members present for their input.

MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS:

Club Championship: A Club Championship will be held each year in the early spring months. Format will be gross within flights.

Match Play Championship: A Match Play Championship tournament will be played early in the calendar year. The format will be net within brackets.

President’s Cup: A President’s Cup tournament will be played generally in the month of November. The format will be net and will include a senior’s division. Seniors are defined as 55 years of age or older. As there are two divisions for the President’s Cup, if you are age 55 or older, you must pick either the President’s Cup or Sr. President’s Cup to play in when you sign up. You are NOT eligible to play in both.

Eligibility for New Members: If you are a new member with Saguaro Golf Club, you MUST have participated in a minimum of 10 events (with the club) in order to be eligible to participate in one of our Major events.

Minimum Play Policy for Major Events

Members playing in the Club Championship, Match Play and President’s Cup must have played a minimum of 4 rounds with the club within the six months prior to the event. If the field is not full, any member not otherwise eligible may play in the day events. A member must have played in 10 club events in the 12 months prior to the club qualifier for the AGA Team Championship in order to represent Saguaro Golf Club at the AGA Team Championship event.

Stableford Scoring Forma

Stableford event scoring shall be in accordance with the following points allocation unless the Tournament Director designates an alternate scoring method. Saguaro Stableford event scoring is as follows: minus 2 points for double-bogey or worse, minus 1 point for bogey, 0 points for par, 2 points for birdie, 5 points for eagle, 8 points for double-eagle, and 11 points for an albatross.

Format for SCRAMBLE EVENTS

A) The ball that the team elects to play, must be in play, per USGA rules (i.e. must be “in-bounds”.

B) The selected ball can be moved “one club length, no closer to the hole”. The ball to be used may be picked up and cleaned and then placed within the one club length. Subsequent players shall PLACE their ball(s) no nearer the hole, within one club length of the original ball position, except on the green where the maximum distance is one putter head no closer to the hole..

If the chosen ball is in a sand bunker or penalty area, it must remain in the sand bunker or penalty area and (still within one club length) and played from there. The one club length CAN take you from unplayable to playable, rough to fairway or from fringe to green.

Handicaps are to be determined as follows:

2 Man Scrambles – 35% of the lower handicap player’s course handicap plus 15% of the higher handicap player’s course handicap. Add these together and round up (if .5 or higher) or round down (if .4 or lower).

3 Man Scrambles – The sum of the three handicap indexes divided by 6. Determine appropriate team handicap from USGA handicap tables based on course slope rating.

4 Man Scrambles – 20% of the A player’s course handicap, plus 15% of the B player’s course handicap, plus 10% of the C player’s course handicap, plus 5% of the D player’s course handicap. Add these together and round up (if .5 or higher) or round down (if .4 or lower).

Note: For 2 Man Scrambles a minimum of two golfers is required, for 3 Man Scrambles three golfers and for a 4 Man Scramble four golfers is required.

2 Man Best Ball Events

In the event the field has an odd number of players, the player without a partner may choose any other player to be his partner. This player must announce to the Tournament Director, prior to teeing off, who he has selected. The player chosen has the option of competing only with his original partner or he may also compete with the player who chose him. Should the chosen player want to compete with both, he must pay two entry fees. If he pays for both teams, he then has the opportunity to win with both teams. The new World Handicap System is recommending that 2 Man Best Ball Events be played with each player using 85% of their Course Handicap. Our club policy will comply with that recommendation.

Red – White – Blue Events

The white (middle) tee handicap will be used. Everyone tees off from the white (middle) tee on the first hole; then if you had a:

Net Birdie or better – tee off from the Blue (back) tee on the next hole.
Net Par - tee off from the White (middle) tee on the next hole.
Net Bogie or higher - tee off from the Red (forward) tee on the next hole.

On each successive hole use the above criteria until finished. This event may be played as a 2 man net event.

Yellow Bal

This is a net event. Each foursome will start out with a Yellow ball. Each player shall alternate playing the yellow ball as follows:

Player #1 plays the yellow ball on the team’s first hole.
Player #2 plays the yellow ball on the team’s second hole.
Player # 3 plays the yellow ball on the team’s third hole.
Player #4 plays the yellow ball on the team’s fourth hole.

This same rotation must continue for the remainder of the round. Always play in the same rotation as you started. The other members of the team will play their own ball. The team score for each hole will be the yellow ball net score plus the best net ball score of the other three. The team must finish with the yellow ball in order to post a score. You lose the yellow ball; you’re “outta there”. Hint: The rotation order established when you begin will determine who needs to be playing from difficult holes during the round.

1-2-3 Events

This event requires foursomes. Count the lowest net ball of the foursome on the 1st hole, the lowest two net scores of the foursome on the next hole, and the lowest three net scores on the third hole. Repeat this 6 times for a final net score for the foursome. If there are only three players in the group, then a fourth player must be identified, informed of this fact, and agree to pay an additional entry fee.

Gross/Net Nassau Events

Nassau events will specify whether they are Gross, Net, Win One, Win ‘em All, or Two Man.

SPECIFIC SAGUARO GOLF RULES

Embedded Ball - Relief is granted through the green.

Provisional Ball - For speed of play, if a ball is hit into an area out of sight and it is unknown if the area where the ball came to rest is a hazard, it is O.K. to hit a provisional ball and continue playing the provisional ball until you reach the area where the original ball was last seen. If the original ball is found in a hazard or if the ball is not found, but it is concluded that the ball entered the hazard, then the player continues to play under USGA rules

Stones in bunkers - As proposed by the USGA, Saguaro Golf Club will attest that stones in bunkers are movable obstructions and Rule 21-1 will apply.

Slow Play

Saguaro has adopted a policy of "ready golf" in an attempt to combat slow play. Please make every effort to keep up with the group in front of you. If you fall behind and don’t catch up, and/or hold up players behind you when there is an open hole in front of you, each player in the group can be assessed a Two Stroke Penalty by the Tournament Director.

In addition, any group that finishes their round in more than 4 hours and 30 minutes, AND finishes more than 15 minutes behind the group in front of them, WILL be assessed a Two Stroke Penalty (for each player). The Tournament Director is obligated to notify that group at the end of the round. It is recommended that each group write down their finishing time on their scorecard and immediately turn that card in upon completing their round

The following penalties will be enforced on an individual basis over a rolling 12 month period. This means that if you violate the Slow Play Policy for the first time in May, the penalties described below will be enforced over the next 12 months (i.e., until the following May).

1st time violation of the Slow Play Policy: Will be enforced as described above. There will be a 2 stroke penalty given to each individual in the group that has fallen off the pace as described above.

.2nd time violation of the Slow Play Policy (only given to the individual who has violated the Policy for the 2nd time within the 12 month window): In addition to the 2 strokes penalty for each individual in the group, the individual who has violated the Policy for the 2nd time will be given a formal “Warning”. The warning will inform the individual that a 3rd violation will result in the penalty described below.

3rd time violation of the Slow Play Policy (only given to the individual who has violated the Policy for the 3rd time within the 12 month window): In addition to the 2 strokes penalty for each individual in the group, the individual who has violated the Policy for the 3rd time will be banned from participating in a Club event for a period of 1 month.

Upon returning to Club play after the 1 month suspension, any following Slow Play violations (by that individual) will be dealt with by the Board on an individual basis.

The Club has also adopted a policy of continuous putting - you should putt out if you are not impeding another player’s line. Each foursome should designate a captain who shall have the responsibility of keeping the group in position.

SAGUARO GOLF CLUBS METHOD OF BREAKING TIES

The following USGA recommended method will be used to break ties for tournament events for which play-offs are not feasible. It should be noted that only ties for the lowest place finishers (in the money) in a club day events are affected. Higher finishing ties are paid out equally to the members tied. Ties for the major tournaments may be resolved by competition, if so directed by the Tournament Director, prior to the start of play.

For Net 18 holes, scratch or handicap, the winner will be based on the best score for the last 9 holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last 9 holes, then the last 6 holes, last 3 holes, and finally the 18th hole, as necessary, will be used to break the tie. If such a method is used in a handicap stroke play competition 1/2, 1/3, 1/6, of the handicaps should be deducted respectively. Fractions will not be disregarded. If this does not produce a winner, the first 9 holes, 6 holes, and 3 holes will be used. Note: For an event that uses wave tee times, the back nine of the course will be used for breaking ties for all players.