Bell Golf League (BGL) Rules

(Amended March 15, 2025)

General BGL Information:

BGL players are encouraged to be present at the 1^st Tee 15 minutes prior to the first scheduled tee time. Tee off positions are set only when “ALL” 4 players of a group, with their green fee receipt in hand, are at the tee block & ready to play “before” a ball is drawn from the “Ball Caddy”. Please return the ball to the caddy afterward. Whoever draws a ball from the caddy be sure to take a score card for your group at the same time. Teams can win a maximum of 4 points per round. Two points are awarded for stroke play & two points are awarded for most holes won. Please fill in your score cards correctly and ensure it gets to the score keeper. Review the scorecard tutorial in the “General Info” tab on the web site. The tutorial explains how to apply the HDCP, mark score & enter the info correctly. If you have any questions ask the statistician.

* The BGL follows the rules set out by Golf Canada & the USGA RA. https://www.golfcanada.ca/rules-of-golf/

1. Play Ready Golf

All members are urged to be aware of pace of play. Play “ready golf”, which means; you don’t necessarily have to wait for the “proper” order of play on the fairway, if you are ready to hit your ball do so. Same applies when on the tee block, if someone else has the “honors” but is busy doing something else, if you’re ready to go, hit away.

TIPS:

• Cell phone on vibrate or airplane mode. Keep pace of play to15 minutes per hole. Be ready when it’s your turn to hit.
• Hit a provisional ball if you are unsure of where your original shot went or agree on a drop area with an opposing team member.
• Do not delay play looking for a lost ball. Two minute rule applies. Drop a ball and move on.
• Have a plan for your next shot prior to arriving at the ball.
• Once at your ball get prepared, hit when ready. Don’t wait for other players if they are not ready to hit.
• On the green, if you are ready, make your putt. Sight your putts while waiting for your turn.
• Don’t delay on the greens after the hole is finished. Proceed to the next tee, mark your scorecard & discuss any issues there.
• Always keep in mind there are other members waiting to play behind you.
• If you don’t see the group “ahead” of you, you’re playing too slow. Pick up the pace.

* Undue delay of play should be reported to the “rules committee” upon completion of the round.

2. BGL Spares

i) Each team is responsible for obtaining a spare. Preference should be given to players on the spares list. The list is available on the BGL web site. If you want to bring out a new spare please inform the statistician and the spare will be added to the list.

ii) All spares must pay the $2.00 fee prior to playing the round in order to compete in the closest to the pin hole.

iii) In order for a spare to compete in the YE Tournament they must have played a minimum of 3 games during the current year or have an established handicap from the previous year.

iv) Should no eligible spare be available for the YE Tournament another spare from the spares list may be picked. The player must then be approved by rules committee.

3. Team & Player Default Definitions

i) Two players from the same Team do not show up (no points). The opposing Team must play & submit their scorecard (for HDCP) in order to be awarded the 4 points.

ii) One player from a Team does not show up. The Team defaults 2 points. The opposing Team is awarded those 2 points. The remaining 2 points are played for by the single player against one player from the opposing Team. The player is chosen by the opposing Team prior to match play. 1 point is awarded for strokes and 1 point is awarded for holes. The non-competing player from the full Team must still play the round (for HDCP) & their score must appear on the submitted score for the Team to earn the defaulted 2 points.

iii) One player only from each Team shows up. Both Teams are deemed to be in default. Two points are lost due to the 1 player default rule invoked on both Teams. The two players then play for 2 points only. 1 point is awarded for strokes and 1 point is awarded for holes. In the event of a tie situation each Team is awarded 1 point. (BGL does not award ½ points)

iv) The round must be played and a scorecard submitted (for HDCP calculation) to be awarded any default points.

4. Secession of Play

i) Game Cancellations & Inclement Weather

The BGL Executive Team will make every attempt to inform players as early as possible of a cancellation decision. This decision is always controversial. Please ensure your contact information on the web site is up to date. Always check your e-mail before heading out to the course when foul weather in the area. If unsure of course conditions protocol dictates we proceed to the course. The decision to play or not is determined by the Meadows Golf Course and other factors the BGL rules committee deem appropriate. At least “3” members of the Rules Committee are required to make this decision. Please refer the course rules regarding their rain check policy!

· Note: Intermittent showers or drizzle will not cause a cancellation.

ii) Six completed holes will constitute a valid match.

iii) In the event of suspension of a round due to inclement weather or darkness (after a match starts)

· If 50% of the teams do not complete a match, no points are awarded & the game is deemed a wash.

· If 50% do finish, the remaining teams, still playing, split the 4 points, 2 points each.

iv) Play suspended due to weather or darkness by player/ players in a single match prior to the official suspension of the match. (Rule 4.ii still applies)

· A team wishing to suspend play must obtain agreement from the opponents.

· If there is an agreement, then the 4 points are split, 2 points per team. (Rule 4.ii still applies)

· If no agreement is reached and a team still wishes to suspend their play, they will forfeit the round and the opponents will be awarded the 4 points. (Rule 4.ii still applies)

v) Any matches deemed “A WASH “will be scheduled in as a rain date.

vi) Matches not able to be re-scheduled will be shown as cancelled on the schedule.

5. HDCP Definition

i) The HDCP formulae is applied & based on the average lowest scores on 50% of games played up to 10 games.

* Score minus par (36) HDCP calculation: Low scores on 1of 2, 1 of 3, 2 of 4, 2 of 5, 3 of 6, 3 of 7, 4 of 8, 4 of 9, 5 of 10 games.

ii) HDCP for all new players will be based on par (36), but must not exceed a maximum of 30.

iii) New Players & Spares must play 2 games to establish a HDCP. (Rule (5.i) applies)

iv) Any player not having played in the previous 2 years must re-establish their HDCP. (Rule (5.i) applies)

6. Age Exemtion “70” Definition

A Player has the option to play from the “Orange” Forward Tee position under the following conditions.

i) Player must reach 70 years of age prior to season commencement.

ii) Player must state intention of playing from the “Orange” Forward Tee’s prior to season commencement

iii) Player must play all holes from the “Orange” Forward Tee position for the entire season.

iv) Player’s HDCP will be carried forward and applied as per the existing league format.

7. Preferred Lies Lift Clean Drop

i) A ball may be moved 1 club length, no closer to the hole of where it lies, through to the green, under the following conditions:

· The ball must be in the fairway and in play (Tree line to Tree line)

ii) A ball cannot be moved using the preferred rule, under the following conditions:

· The Ball is on the green or on the 1st cut of the green.

· The Ball is in a staked hazard.

· The Ball is out of bounds.

· The Ball is in a treed or brush area off the fairway in play.

· The Ball is in a sand trap

· The Ball is in a waste bunker or zone.

8. Free lift (no closer to the hole)

A ball may be moved 1 club length, no closer to the hole of where it lies, through to the green, under the following conditions:

· From any "ditch" which is not staked ie: drainage ditches, one club length not nearer the hole.

· From “Casual water“. Casual water is any temporary puddle of water caused by rain or over watering.

· From “Ground under repair”. Ground under repair is any area which has been marked as such or ground that is deemed as damaged by the player and 1 member of the opposition.

· If your ball or your stance is in casual water, ground under repair or a burrowing animal hole, you may either play the ball as it lies or find the nearest place not nearer the hole which gives you relief and drop the ball within one club-length of that place.

· Plugged ball. A ball plugged through to the green can be lifted and placed.

· Mud Balls. Balls with attached mud can be lifted, cleaned and placed.

9. Lost Ball or Out of Bounds

· A ball is considered lost if it is not found within 2 minutes after you first begin to search. Play must resume before the end of the 2 minute grace period.

· If the original ball is found in bounds and playable, you must play it and remove the provisional ball from play.

· If the original ball is lost or out of bounds the provisional ball must be played - penalty 1 stroke and distance. Ex: ball of bounds from tee (count 1 stroke), add 1 penalty stroke, hit provisional ball from tee, count 1 stroke. (Therefore, he now lies 3 if provisional ball is in bounds and playable).

· If a provisional ball is not played and your original ball cannot be found: you either go back to the position the ball was played from and hit another ball taking the appropriate penalty stroke, OR (for speed of play) drop another ball, 1 club length into the fairway from where you think it should be. (Everyone on the foursome should agree on the location.) This would constitute a 2 stroke penalty. (Therefore, having shot from the tee, the player will be shooting 4 from the dropped location).

· A ball lost in “casual water “, “ground under repair “, lost in fairway (plugged) may be dropped within one (1) club length of that place (taking relief from the condition) and no closer to the hole, without penalty. (determine where the ball entered the area and drop a ball within one club-length of that place without penalty).

10. Attendance

a) A Team must be in attendance and play the scheduled round, regardless if there are any opponents, to be eligible and awarded the points for that round.

b) A regular member missing 2 or more games without a valid, acceptable reason (ruled upon by the executive) and not providing notification or an attempt to obtain a spare may be replaced.

c) If a member is consistently absent without a valid reason the Executive can replace him.

d) If a regular member due to sickness or accident will or does miss the majority of the season, he will be replaced with the next eligible spare. Said member will be placed at the top of the list for regular play the next year. The spare, should he play more than 50% of the season in place of that regular member, shall be deemed as a full replacement and have all the rights and priviliges of a regular member, but will still be classified as a spare.

e) A regular member missing the final eighteen (18) without a valid, acceptable reason (ruled upon by the executive) and not providing notification or an attempt to obtain a spare may have their regular membership status revoke. This action is to be decided by a vote of the executive (see 8b).

11. Disputes & Rules Committee

a) Disputes regarding the rules of golf shall be decided by the rules committee.

b) Requests for rulings must be submitted to a member of the rules committee immediately following the round in which the ruling is requested or prior to the start of the next scheduled round.

c) Requests for rulings submitted after the start of the next scheduled round will be rejected.

d) A minimum of three (3) rules committee members are required to provide a ruling.

e) Where 3 rules committee members are unavailable, a minimum of one (1) rules committee member and a minimum of two (2) executive members are required to make the ruling.

f) Where a ruling is requested by a member of the rules committee or executive, that person is not eligible to vote on the ruling.

12. Rule Change requests

a) Changes to the local rules can only be instituted by the League executive.

b) Changes (additions, deletions or modifications ) can be requested to the local rules committee by members .

c) A membership vote must be taken to modify rules, a vote result of 50% + 1 of the voting members is required to adopt the change.

13. YE Tournament Final 18

a) The final YE Tournament will be played as two (2) nine (9) hole rounds.

b) Four (4) points will be awarded for each round.