2023 Wednesday Night 9 Hole Golf League (pending)
The League is full for 2023
Format
This year’s league will consist of two person teams in two divisions. The divisions will be based on the combined handicap indexes of the partners as of April 12th.
We will accept a maximum of 36 teams for this year’s league.
Players sign up with a partner or you may sign up individually as a substitute.
The league’s regular season is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 28th.
Matches will not be played Wednesday August 4th.
Each team will play every other team in their division once.
There are 2 weeks built in for rain outs. The Playoffs will begin Wednesday September 1st.
If there are 3 or more rain days, the regular season matches will be pushed back. We will complete the regular season matches and the playoffs will begin the week after the end of the regular season.
All regular season matches will be played on Wednesday evenings with a 5:00 shotgun
The first two rounds of the Playoffs will begin @ 4:45
Fees
An entry fee of $100 per player and a $35 handicap fee will be collected with each team’s entry. This fee will be used for year-end prizes for the regular season and playoffs, championship plaques and the end of the season cocktail & appetizers event.
Entry deadline is Wednesday April 7th. or the first 36 paid entries. A meeting for all teams is TBD.
A fee of $25 per player will be collected each Wednesday evening for the golf fees. Range balls will be included with this fee. This fee will not apply to Odessa National members.
Odessa Associate members will receive a $5 discount.
An optional fee of $5 (cash only) will be collected each week for closest to the hole events. These events will be a cash payout.
Men who are eligible to play from the gold tees and would like to compete for the closest to the hole prizes must play from the white tee markers on the par 3’s.
If a player scores a Hole in One on any par 3, he or she will receive all of the closest to the hole money.
Scoring
Each week, each team will play a match against another team in their division.
Player “A” will play a singles match against the other team’s player “A”. This match will be worth 1 point.
Player “B” will play a singles match against the other team’s player “B”. This match will be worth 1 point.
Player “A” and player “B” will also play a better ball of partners match against the other team’s player “A” and “B”. This match will be worth 1 point.
All halved matches will split the 1 point.
Once a singles match or team match has been completed a new match will begin for the remaining holes worth a 1/4 point for each hole (regular season only). Holes won do not offset the 1/4 points. Everyone accumulates points.
Teams will accumulate points throughout the regular season for year-end prizes and seeding positions for the playoffs.
Substitutes
If a player can’t make the Wednesday evening match, he or she or their partner are responsible to arrange for a substitute. If they can’t find a substitute please contact the golf shop for assistance. The Golf Shop staff may assign a last minute substitute for a match to avoid a forfeit situation.
Original team members are responsible for notifying the Odessa golf staff as soon as possible when a substitute is being used.
A substitute list will be updated weekly.
Each player will be limited to 5 substitutes during the regular season.
A team may use 2 substitutes during a regular season match.
Depending on the size of the league, a team may have a bye week. A current member of the league who has a bye week may be a substitute only if they are a substitute for the other division.
Substitutes will not be permitted during the playoffs.
All substitutes must have an established USGA handicap (GHIN #).
If a substitute does not have a USGA handicap they will play at a 0 handicap for the match.
If a player, partner or substitutes do not show up for a match all related points will be forfeited. If both players do not show up for the scheduled match they will forfeit 3 points. The 1/4 points will not be added to the totals.
Handicaps
All players must have a USGA handicap (GHIN #) to be verified prior to the beginning of the season.
If a player does not have a current handicap he/she will have to play and post a minimum of 54 holes. This may be a combination of 9 or 18 hole rounds at any regulation golf course in order to determine an appropriate handicap. Maximum handicap is 16 for 9 holes.
The five rounds must be completed and posted by April 12th.
This handicap will be used for determining the two divisions and the first week of the League.
Handicaps for this season’s league will be the lowest course handicap between your GHIN handicap (the Monday prior to each Wednesdays match) and your weekly league handicap.
Your League handicap for this year will start with your last two regular season scores from last year. Each week the Committee will apply the Net Double Bogey maximum, post all scores and calculate the handicaps. League handicaps will be updated each week and will be a 4 round rolling handicap. Players habdicaps will be capped after their 10th league score. Your handicap may not go up after your 10th league score. It can go down.
Players are still responsible for posting all league scores and any other scores during the golf season to their GHIN handicap accounts in a timely manner. This is in your best interest for an accurate handicap.
GHIN handicaps are updated daily, the morning after you post a score.
Rules
All matches will be played under the USGA Rules of Golf.
All matches will be played under Match Play rules.
All matches, single and team will be played at 100% handicap off the low ball.
All matches will be played from the white tees for men and the red tees for women.
Any male player age 60 and older with a combined age and white tee course handicap of 85 and higher will have the option to play from the gold tee markers. Handicaps will be adjusted.
Any player who scores a gross par or better on a hole and receives 2 strokes may only better his / her score by 1 stroke.
If there is a rules infraction or you think there is a rules infraction, it is the opposing player/team’s responsibility to address the infraction as soon as the information is known.
All rules decisions will be made at the completion of the match.
Local Bunker Rule: If your ball comes to rest in a washed-out area, a footprint or an abnormal condition in the bunker, you may lift, rake and drop (knee height) in an area no nearer the hole in the bunker. Always talk to your opponent prior to lifting your ball.
Starting Time
Starting time for all regular season matches is a 5:00 shotgun.
Playoff matches will begin @ 4:45.
All players should be at their golf carts ready to go 10 minutes prior to the shotgun start.
We will alternate front and back nine each week.
Pace of Play
A good Pace of Play is very important for an enjoyable round of golf. All players are expected to maintain a good Pace of Play.
Two hours and fifteen minutes is the recommended pace for a nine hole round. Remember, you are permitted to concede putts.
This League is meant to be competitive as well as enjoyable and fun!
Rain / Darkness
Matches will be played unless the course is unplayable or there is dangerous weather in the area.
All matches become official after 5 holes have been completed by all teams
If matches are completely rained out the closest to the hole money will be carried over to the following week.
If all matches complete 5 holes, the matches are official and all closest to the hole money will be paid out.
If a match is canceled because of weather that scheduled match will be played the following week and all other matches will be pushed back one week.
Playoff matches that are rained out or not completed because of darkness will be rescheduled and completed prior to the following Wednesday matches if possible.
Playoffs
The top 12 teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs. The top 4 finishers in each division will receive a first round-bye.
The first 3 rounds will be 9 hole matches. The semi-finals and finals will be 18-hole matches. Date and time to be determined by the participants.
If a player or players are not available to play on the scheduled Wednesday, they may play the match on a different day prior to the next round of matches, if both teams agree. This is for the playoffs only. The Committee must be notified in advance.
Ties
Tie breakers for the playoff seeding will be determined by total points of the team’s head to head match. Then total individual points of head to head match. Then total team points of the head to head match. The final tie breaker if needed will be a coin flip.
Ties for money positions will be split evenly.
If a playoff match ends in a tie (points) the match will continue in sudden death as a better ball of partners match only.
Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the top 8 teams and ties in each division during the regular season (total points) and the top four teams in the playoffs. All prizes will be Odessa National gift cards.
Thank you for your participation!
We look forward to a great season.
Prize Breakdown
(Based on 32 teams)
Regular Season
(Per player)
1st. $220
2nd. $190
3rd. $160
4th. $130
5th. $100
6th. $70
7th. $60
8th. $50
Playoffs
(Per player)
1st. $250 each + Champions Plaque
2nd. $200 each
Semi-finalist
$100 each