League Format

The UTMC golf league uses the following format:


  • Two person teams and each team plays all other teams during the year.
  • Match play where low handicap players from each team play each other and higher handicap players play each other.
    • If both players on the team have the same handicap they must designate who is the A and B player before the first shot.
  • If a player cannot make the match a substitute should be found. It is the team's responsibility to find a sub and keep our groups filled.
  • If no substitue is found then the remaining player plays both players from the other team.
  • If a single player starts play and leaves, for whatever reason, the remaining holes will be considered a loss.
  • If both players from a team start play and leave and the league counts the day of matches the team that left will forfeit the entire match.
  • The tee boxes used for the league are the Blue tees at Valley Hi and the Burgundy at Patty Jewett. Other tee boxes can be played following these rules:
    • Any player may move back as many tee boxes as they like.
    • Any player 60 years or older at the start of the first round of the season may move up one set of tees if they want. This is the white tee boxes at Valley Hi and the green tee boxes at Patty Jewett.
    • Any player 70 years or older at the start of the first round of the season AND has a golf league handicap of 10 or more may play the forward tees. Forward tees are green at Valley Hi and Cream at Patty Jewett.
    • Exceptions to the above two rules can be given by the executive committee if a player does not meet the criteria but wishes to a play a more forward tee.
    • Subs must make the decision on which tee to play before they play their first round.
    • If no choice is deliberately made then whatever tee box is used on the first hole of the first round will be considered a choice.
    • The player must play the selected tee boxes the entire year. They are not allowed to switch tee boxes within a season.
    • There is no requirement for anyone to move up a tee box, it is the players choice.
  • Handicaps are calculated and kept only for league use, a USGA handicap is not necessary.
    • Scores are limited to triple bogies for handicap purposes.
    • Handicaps are calculated at 85% of the over par value for the rounds played except for the first round by a player with no "seeded(USGA)" handicap, which is calculated at 80%.
    • The last six rounds of play are used for those players that have played six or more rounds. For these players, the high and low rounds are dropped and the handicap calculated from the remaining four rounds.
    • For players with less than five rounds all rounds are used to determine the handicaps.
    • For players with five rounds the oldest round is dropped and the remaining four are used to determine the handicap.
  • Scoring to determine league standings and prizes is based on the matches between each of the players on each team. The points awarded for each match are as follows:
    • Each match between two players is worth 9 points, one per hole.
    • Two matches per round results in a total of 18 points available.
    • There are also 2 additional team points awarded if the total points for one team exceeds the total points of the other team.
    • If both team total points are equal then each team is awarded 1 additional point.
    • In the case where only one team member plays and no sub is found to play, the one member plays both of the members from the other team and can win all 18 individual points but cannot win any team points.
    • For the team that plays another team with only one member present, they win 1 additional team point for each player that wins their individual match against the single player.
    • In the case where no one, and no sub, plays for a team, the opposing team that plays is awarded 14 points and 1 more point for each player that played for a maximum total of 16 points.
  • Interrupted Matches: If a match is not completed due to weather the remaining uncompleted holes will be scored so that the holes would be halved by the opposing players. Under extraordinary interrupted or incomplete match conditions the league officer may choose to disregard an entire round of play.

Rules of Play

For the most part, the UTMC Golf league follows the USGA rules of play. Following are some minor modifications to speed the pace of play:


  • Ready Golf:
    • Play when ready, no need to wait for the farthest person from the hole to play first.
    • Putt out if you can without impacting another players line and feel comfortable doing so.
    • Gimmies are acceptable and up to your opponents.
  • You may NOT improve your lie in the fairway or anywhere on the course unless specifically approved by your opponent
  • Out of Bounds and Lost Ball: In order to keep the pace of play moving we allow the player to either treat the lost ball or out of bounds like a lateral hazard or to use the 2019 USGA local rules.
    • In the first scenario, treating the situation like a lateral hazard, the player can drop the ball within two club lengths of where the ball went out of bounds or is deemed lost, no closer to the hole and add one stroke. For example; if you hit your drive out of bounds you can go to the spot where the ball crossed over from in bounds to out of bounds and drop within two club lengths of that spot and be lying 2 and hitting your 3rd shot
    • In the second scenario, using the 2019 USGA rule, you can drop as show in the image below and summarized as follows: Find the spot where the ball went out of bounds or is likely to be lost and drop anywhere between there and the nearest fairway edge, not nearer to the hole. This area is extended on both sides by two club lengths and you can drop as far back as you like. In this case, because of the leniency of the drop area, you add TWO STROKES, so if you hit your first shot into this situation you are now lying 3 and hitting your 4th shot.
    Out of Bounds or Lost Ball

Closest to the Pin Rules

These are the rules for the Closest to the Pin game.


  • Closest to the pin is active for each of the two standard par threes on every active match round.
  • Everyone must pay for the season to play in closest to the pin by the beginning of the first active match round.
  • The season payment is based on the number of active match days and 2 holes each day. Payment is $1 per contest.
  • Most seasons have a full 15 active match days so the total payment for closest to the pin is $30 per player.
  • Subs are only eligible for closest to the pin if the person they are playing for is active in the game.
  • It must be your first shot, the ball must be on the green and it must be closer than any previous player.
  • Payout is based on the number of players active in the game.

Skins Rules

These are the rules for the optional skins game.


  • Skins are open to everyone who wants to enter.
  • Handicaps are not used for skin calculations.
  • Everyone who wants to be in the skins game must pay by the beginning of the first active match round.
  • Skins are only for the person who has paid, they do not carry to your sub.
  • Payouts are based on the number of people in the skins.
  • Any day with no payouts carries all the funds forward and it is then equally split between the remaining days.