RULES AND REGULATIONS
(As updated November 21, 2023)
The League consists of teams from each of its member clubs and any member club may
have more than one team representing them.
1. Weekly Event Schedule
Based upon the number of teams, the BOG will decide on the start date and length of the season.
Each Governor will then be required to provide a list of dates that their club can host the event.
Based upon the length of the season and the available dates, a schedule will be proposed and agreed to by the Board of Governors.
This schedule will be available on the Northshore Website. The team listed on the right is designated as the visiting team and the team on the left is the home team with respect to these rules, regardless of the location where the match is being played.
2. Weekly Event Format
Each weekly event will consist of 4 matches. Each Match shall be two partners better ball (Four Ball match play). Teams will be paired according to the rules below.
3. Weekly Event - Handicaps
The Handicap Index as calculated by GHIN as of the Handicap Cutoff date shall be used as a basis.
The Handicap Cut Off date is defined to be 4 days before the day of the match. Typically, matches are held on Wednesday, therefore, Friday midnight is the cutoff date. If a rematch is being played due to a rainout, the same timing should apply (e.g., if the match is on Friday instead of Wednesday, then the team roster is due Tuesday instead of Sunday and late changes occur after Wednesday instead of Monday).
The lowest handicap indexed player, based on 90% of his full handicap shall play from scratch and the others shall receive the differential in strokes based on the USGA regulation in effect at the date of the match.
4. Pairings
Match 1 and 2 will be played using the player’s selected tee but must use either Middle or Rear tee. A forward tee player may play but will be moved to the Middle tees.
Match 3 and 4 will be played using players selected tee but must use either Forward or Middle tee. A Rear tee player may play but will be moved to the Middle tees.
For each match, the lowest available index player will be the A player starting with Match 1. The second person in each match must be within 5 index points of the first player or the next lowest index player if none exists within 5 points.
5. Match Roster
Governors shall appoint a Team Captain for the upcoming the weekly event. The Team Captain is any member of the Team Roster who will participate in the weekly event. Governors can appoint themselves.
Team Captains shall submit the match roster (list of players and the team captain for the day) via the North Shore League website (http://northshoregolf.org) under Match/Roster Admin and View/Create Match Roster), no later than midnight on the Monday preceding the match.
Each Roster must designate the Tee Box being played.
Alterations to the match roster may be made until midnight on the Monday preceding the match.
In the event of a ‘late change’ where a substitution must be made after midnight Monday through tee time, a contestant as near as possible to the handicap of the absent contestant shall be substituted from the alternates list Because this change must be entered by the host venue pro, it is the responsibility of the governor or captain making the change to communicate the new roster to the host venue pro ASAP.
Any qualified club member may be added.
Teams shall be permitted to bring alternates, if permitted by the host venue.
Captains for teams not playing at their own club shall collect fees from their players and pay the host venue club professional the total sum before 8:15 a.m.
Each Captain shall sign the Match sheet at end of match and attest to its accuracy.
Each Captain shall retain a copy of the final attested Match sheet.
6. Incomplete Teams
If a competing team does not field a full team, the opposing team shall be awarded 3 points for those individual matches in which they are not opposed.
If a competing team does not have a full team (8 competitors) when play is ready to start the following rules shall apply:
If a single player from one of the matches is missing, his partner shall play 1 against 2. If both players of a partnership are missing, the captain may choose to forfeit the match, or he may split one of the adjacent teams and play both matches 1 against 2. If he chooses to split one of the adjacent teams, the player with the lower index will play the lower match and the player with the higher index will play the higher match.
If two partnerships are each missing a single player, both matches may be played 1 against 2 or the single with the higher index may take the place of the other missing player. If the two singles are combined into one partnership, they will play a regular match and the missing partnership match will be forfeited.
If a missing player arrives late or calls to say he is enroute but delayed in traffic, etc., the match will begin without him. He can join the match on the next tee box after joining his group and he will be given no score for the holes that he misses.
7. Weekly Event Procedures
Schedule starting time to begin as close to 8:30 a.m. as possible. Where permitted, arrange a shotgun start in order for all players to finish play approximately the same time.
All players should arrive at the host venue at least one-half hour before tee time.
The host venue shall have score cards prepared in advance indicating the players’ names, handicaps, and the holes on which the strokes apply for each individual match. Present completed team list of players with handicap indexes and home handicap to each participating team’s governor or captain by 8:00 a.m.
Only Governors or Captains are allowed to observe the matches. The host club may at its discretion, charge for food and cart for the observer. No coaching of communicating scores is permitted by observers.
GPS or Laser devices for distance measuring may be used with no restrictions.
8. Pace of Play
The host Golf Professional Staff/ Marshalls monitor pace of play for North Shore events using the following guidelines solely at their discretion. Each four-some (group) is expected to complete their round within 4 hours and 20 minutes. Each group is responsible for monitoring their own pace of play.
Proper position is staying up with the group ahead of them or no more than 14 minutes behind them to complete a round in 4 hours and 20 minutes. Players should never have an open hole ahead of them. Groups should be in the fairway on a par 4 and par 5 when the group ahead of them leaves the green and should have hit their approach shot on par 3 by the time the group ahead of them leaves the tee box on the hole ahead of them. The first group out will be monitored at the discretion of the Golf Professional Staff/ Marshals in a manner that encourages a completed round in 4 hours and 20 minutes and in a manner, that groups behind them are not being held up.
The format of play is four-ball match play. When a stroke is conceded or if a player is out of the hole the player should pick-up. For score posting purposes the player should post his most likely score.
When the Golf Professional Staff/Marshals determine that a group is out of position a warning will be given to the group encouraging the group to get back into position. If the group continues to stay out of position the Golf Professional Staff/Marshals may at their discretion have the group skip a hole and the scoring for the skipped hole will be halved.
9. Weekly Event - Scoring
Individual matches shall be scored at 3 points total. One point is awarded for winning each of the Front 9, Back 9, and 18-hole total. Ties will be worth ½ point. The winner of the team match shall be the team with the most points.
Team Captains shall be responsible to collect all events fees (Event and Skins) from all of their team’s players and pay the host venue by 8:15 on the day of the event.
One partner from each team shall keep the opposing partnership score and each scorecard shall be signed by the scorer and attested.
As soon as possible after the completion of the match fax the official Match sheet(s) to the fax number listed at the bottom of the match sheet. It is important that these scores be submitted on the afternoon of play because they will go onto the website as soon as they are received. If a fax is unavailable, the results may be emailed to the email address listed at the bottom of the match sheet.
Each Member Team Governor shall ensure that all League match scores are recorded for handicap purposes. This will be done by the host venue club pro, his staff, the Governor, or his designee. There will be no protests of score recording or accuracy. The USGA provides guidance for recording match play scores that must be recorded.
Results of the weekly events shall be tabulated and used for the standings and playoffs.
10. Inclement Weather or Other Conditions
In the event of inclement weather or other reason,
Before any play has begun, the host venue professional shall make the decision on when and if the match can begin. If the decision is to cancel the match in its entirety, the Cancelled Match Procedure below will apply.
During play, the host venue professional will decide to suspend play or terminate play and when play can resume. Play can be suspended twice with each suspension being a maximum of 60 minutes. Note: This includes any suspension at the start of play.
Any further suspension will result in the event being considered terminated.
In the event play is terminated after play has begun, the following procedure applies:
First, a tabulation of the match as it stands at the time of termination will be made by adding points as follows:
Winning or tying one side, plus
Mathematically winning or tying the other side, plus
Mathematically winning or tying the overall match.
If a team accumulates 6 1/2 points based on the above, they will be declared the winner.
If no winner has been determined by the rule above and if the majority of matches have completed at least 15 holes the team match shall be considered complete, and each match score will be as of the last completed hole considering all remaining holes as tied. If not, the entire match shall be considered cancelled and Cancelled Match Procedure below will apply.
If any players leave the venue before play is officially terminated, the following rules will apply:
If the match has been mathematically concluded, the team score will count as it stands,
If one player of the twosome leaves, the remaining player will play as a single,
If both players of a twosome leave, all remaining holes will be scored as a win for other team.
If all four players leave, the match will be considered a draw regardless of the current status of the match.
11. Cancelled Match Procedure
For any match that has been determined to be Cancelled, it will be the responsibility of each designated home team to arrange the make-up match. The make-up match shall be at a time and date acceptable to their opponents. This match shall be arranged within 2 weeks of the cancelled match. If the designated home tea cannot host the make-up match, the opponent team shall have the right to host the event at a time acceptable to their opponents. If no make-up match is arranged within 2 weeks of the cancelled event, the match shall be considered a draw.
It is suggested that all clubs consider issuing a refund.
If the host venue requires compensation for lunch they have prepared, they are requested to rebate cart fees in accordance with their existing policy for members.
The host venue will identify whether lunch charges will be made for team players that do not show up and have not cancelled prior to the day of play. Should the host venue require food payment for no-shows, the amount should be reasonable.
12. Forfeits
Governor or Captain may forfeit an entire team match (subject to Board of Governors’ review) or an individual match at any time. If a team match is forfeited, the other team shall be awarded a win in the team standings and the forfeiting is awarded a loss. The winning team shall be credited with 9 match points (of the twelve 12 match points available) and the forfeiting team shall be awarded 0 match points.
13. Playoffs
The method of determining standings for League Playoffs will be as follows: A total of 2 Standings Points will be awarded for each week’s play. The winning team will be awarded 2 Standing Points, the losing team will be awarded 0 Standing Points. If the team match ends in a tie, each team will be awarded 1 Standing Point.
The Team with the most Standing Points will be Team 1, Runner-up Team #2, third place Team #3, etc. The six highest ranked teams will be in the playoffs.
In the event of a tie in the final standings the following method of determining the standings shall be used:
FIRST TEST: Head to head competition between the tied teams.
SECOND TEST: Total Match Points accumulated for the season.
If a tie still exists after the Second Test, the winner will be decided by a coin toss.
The League Champion will be determined by the playoff schedule as follows. All playoff matches will be 4 Ball Match play. The higher ranked team in the final standings shall be the host team during the playoffs.
The Final Round in the playoff will be played at an agreed neutral course.
All participants in Playoff matches must have played in 2 competitive matches. His name must appear on the roster sheet and his final score must be posted on the final score sheet that is handed in at the end of the match.
In the event of a tie in any playoff round (including the League Championship), the following format will decide the winner:
a. A sudden death playoff between the #1 team on each side
b. The format will be 90% of full handicap, better ball of two, beginning at hole #1.
In addition to the League Championship trophy presented to the, a permanent trophy or plaque will be presented by the League to both the League Champion and the Runner-up.
14. Penalties
The penalty for breaking league rules, losing team scores, or not properly reporting score to the scoring committee shall be the loss of the match and all points. The host club shall assume this responsibility.
15. Approvals and Amendments
Approvals or amendments to this document are covered in the By-Laws.
