Plano Senior Men's Golf Association

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2011 Financial Statement

PSMGA Rules

The following rules will apply to all PSMGA tournaments.  These rules have been reviewed and approved by the Board of Officers and may be amended as necessary by the Board.  Current USGA rules of Golf will apply during play with the following exceptions as per rule 33.8, which allows Local Rules that provide for abnormal conditions.

1. NO MULLIGANS ARE PERMITTED.  Period!
2. Maximum strokes:  A maximum of three (3) strokes over par are to be taken on any hole.
3. Putts:  All putts must be completed – i.e., holed out.  NO gimmies.  If you reach across the hole to tap in a “gimmie” and miss it, count it. Prove you can make it!  If you choose not to putt out, i.e., pick up your ball, you must take the maximum score of 3 over par on that hole.
4. Marking the ball on the green:  When you mark your ball on the green, place the marker behind the ball as you face the hole.  If you move your marker to avoid another player’s line and do not return it to the original position before you putt, a one stroke penalty is assessed, per rule 20-7.
5. Tee box area:  When you tee up the ball on the tee box, the ball must be between the markers and no more than 2 club lengths behind the markers.
6. Moving and cleaning your ball: Ball may be moved one club length (driver) in the fairway and rough, through the green, but not in a hazard, no closer to the pin.  The ball cannot be moved from the rough to the fairway.  The ball may be cleaned after each shot, except in a hazard.  The ball may never be moved onto a green from off the green.
7. Hazards (except sand traps):  Under penalty of one stroke, you may improve your lie within two club lengths of the red or yellow hazard lines, no closer to the pin or, if appropriate, repeat the previous shot, taking a stroke and distance penalty.
8. Sand traps: Play the ball as it lies unless specified otherwise on the day of the tournament.  When you play a shot from a trap, you may not ground your club at address or on your back swing under a penalty of two strokes.
9. Lost Ball or Out of Bounds:   Either can be a proper place for a provisional ball (it must be announced to the   other players prior to hitting the ball). 
   • If a provisional ball is not played and the original ball is either not found or is out of bounds, the player would normally return to the spot where the ball was last played and replay the shot, thus incurring two strokes (original stroke plus penalty stroke).  However, The PSMGA uses the following local rules to speed up play.
     • If a ball goes out of bounds, either hit a provisional ball with a one stroke penalty, or advance to the point where the ball went out of bounds and add one stroke. 
     • The same reasoning also applies to a lost ball.  If a ball might be lost, the player may hit a provisional ball with a one stroke penalty.  If a provisional ball is not hit, then drop as near as possible to where the ball should be and add one penalty stroke.
     • If a provisional ball is hit and the first ball is not found, then you must play the provisional ball with a stroke and distance penalty. 
     • If a ball goes into a “GRATE” and can be seen, it is NOT a lost ball.  If a player thinks his ball went into a grate but cannot see it, it IS a lost ball.
10. Hitting the wrong ball: A penalty of two (2) strokes is added to the offending players score.  If the ball is in a hazard, there is no penalty for hitting the wrong ball.
11. Three (3) players on a four-man-team scramble: Each team member will act as the 4th man on succeeding shots, per hole, and take turns as their names are listed from top to bottom on the score card.  The number of drives to be used by each player will be specified on the day of the tournament.
12. Ball in water:  A ball in the water may be played if a player desires, but, even if it is near the edge, it cannot be moved one club length backward without a one stroke penalty.
13. Casual water or ground under repair:  Casual water is any temporary water on the course, which is visible before or after a player takes his stance.  Ground under repair is any portion of the course so marked.  It also includes areas where work is in progress, but not marked, such as dirt piled up or areas scraped to bare earth.  You can get relief from casual water or ground under repair by dropping a ball one club length from the trouble, no closer to the green.  A ball cannot be lost in casual water.  If a ball is known to have gone into casual water and cannot be found, a new ball may be played without penalty.
14. Score keeping:  Scorekeepers should be careful to put down the correct scores.  If a player reports a score that is known to be incorrect, and the scorer knows it is incorrect, he should enter the score after consulting with the player and others in the group. Always exchange scorecards when playing an individual tournament.  For team events, scorekeepers will be announced that day.
15.  The PSMGA has waived the 14 club rule.  A player may carry as many clubs as he deems necessary.
16. Rule Violations:  Any violations of these rules should be noted and resolved by the team members at the time of the occurrence.  Any further disputes are to be immediately referred to the Tournament Committee for resolution.  The Tournament Committee is comprised of the President, VP Tournaments, VP Operations, and assisted if necessary, by the Club Professional.  Each member is encouraged to observe the rules, not only in tournament play, but also in open play.

Lateral Hazards and Environmentally Sensitive Areas: (ESA's)

• Marking: Environmentally Sensitive Areas are bounded by red stakes with green caps. These areas shall be treated as a lateral hazard with the proviso that the ball may not be struck while in the ESA.      
  • Penalty: Once your ball enters an ESA, a one stroke penalty is assessed and play resumes using one the following 4 options.

    •  Remove your ball up to two club lengths from where it crossed the ESA boundary, no closer to the hole.

    • Go back as far as you like along a line running from the pin through the spot where your ball entered the ESA, but no closer to the hole.

    •  Remove your ball to the other side of the ESA, no closer to the hole.

    •  Replay the ball from the previous location, taking both stroke and distance penalty.

• Lateral Hazards:  The boundary of most lateral hazards is marked with a continuous line of red paint or stakes. Also see ESA's above. Rules defining how the ball may be played from a lateral hazard (not a sand trap) are listed below.

• Play the ball as it lies without a penalty (treat it like a sand trap). The player:

•  may not use the local PMSGA rule of moving the ball one club length, and

•  may not ground his club in the hazard.