Open Days

All participants must have a Handicap Index. To establish a Handicap Index, a total of 54 holes must be played and posted to your scoring record. These scores can be made up of any combination of 9- or 18-hole rounds. (Rule 4.5, Rules of Handicapping).

Team Play

All players must have 20 rounds of 9 holes posted or 10 rounds of 18 holes posted within the past 24-month period prior to the Handicap Revision Index date for the team play game that is scheduled.

Tournament of Champions

All players must have 20 rounds of 9 holes posted or 10 rounds of 18 holes posted within the past 24 months. Of those 20 posted 9-hole rounds, 6 must have been played in the current year. Players must also be an active, participating member of a nine-hole organization. The criterion for this requirement is decided by each member club. If a player is a member of more than one club, she may represent only one club as her home course. Players that are dual members of both 18-hole organization and 9-hole organizations must choose at the beginning of the year which TOC event they want to participate in. They may only compete in one TOC event per year. Players must have competed in their club championship tournament where three nine-hole rounds were played. These rounds may all be played on the same nine holes or on alternate nines. They may be played on three separate days or two rounds on the same day. However, for each round, all players must play on the same nine, on the same day, and at the same time of day (morning or afternoon).

Format

Stroke Play

Handicap

All competitors will play at a handicap not to exceed par for the course.

Starting Times

Play to be determined by the host club and the director-in-charge.

Pace of Play

WNHGA’s pace of play policy for TOC and Team Play Championships is as follows

• Minutes per hole to be determined by the pro at the host club and DIC.
• All participants must be either on time or in place (one shot behind the foursome in front of them).
• If a group is both off time and out of place, the marshal will give them a warning. If the group continues to be off time and out of place, the marshal may add a one stroke penalty to each player during play.
• Please note – to help the players with their timing, each scorecard will indicate the hole-by-hole time that the flag should be in the cup (hole completed).

Scoring

Official scorecards will be issued for each player or team. At conclusion of play, if markers are used, players are to check scorecards hole-by-hole with their marker before signing their scorecards. Players should not sign scorecards or marker sheets if a score or ruling is in doubt. Signing an incorrect card may result in disqualification. The WNHGA committee will decide all disputes.

Ties

WNHGA uses a net card-off to break all ties. In the Champions Flight of the TOC, the gross scores of the three most difficult holes are added together. If there is still a tie, the score of the next most difficult hole is added. The player with the lowest total wins the Champions Flight.

Distance measuring devices and cell phones

During the tournament, any distance measuring device may be used for distance only and must be in silent mode at all times. Once a device makes a sound, the penalty is disqualification. During a WNHGA event, a player may only use a cell phone for authorized purposes i.e. distance measuring, rule look up, or entering scores into GHIN. The cell phone CAN NOT be used for any other purpose and must be on silent. The first violation will incur a Two Stroke Penalty. For subsequent offense – Disqualification.