RANCHO PARK GOLF CLUB - TOURNAMENT POLICIES


The most popular question is "What's my Club Index?" Click here to find out.

 

DO THIS EVERY TOURNAMENT!

 

* On the first tee, decide who will keep the Golf Genius scores and who will keep the paper scorecard.

* The person doing the paper scorecard should put the names in the same order as they appear in Golf Genius. This will make it easier later. Use last names, not first names.

* After the Golf Genius scorer finishes inputting scores on the 18th hole, the app will spit him out to the first hole.

* The Golf Genius scorer reads the scores aloud (example: "4-5-5-6"), and the paper card scorer confirms. Continue through all the holes and fix any errors as you go. After 18 holes, you are done. This process should take about one minute.

* PLEASE TOTAL YOUR SCORES. We won't hold you accountable for the math, but it's much easier for us when you include each player's totals.

* After the round, take a photo of the card (right-side-up!) and email it to ranchocards@gmail.com no more than 30 minutes after your round. 

 

NO SHOWS
If you are going to miss your tee time, text the Tournament Chairman before your scheduled time. If you do not send notice, you will be charged a $20 penalty, which must be paid before playing in a future tournament. Additionally, we will not refund green fees or skins payments for a no-show, regardless of whether you gave notice. Each subsequent no-show will be assessed a $50 fee. 

 

If a player in your foursome doesn't show up, enter "X" for his score (in the Golf Genius app) on each hole.

LATE WITHDRAW
If you don't withdraw by the deadline, you will forfeit your signup fee.

You are responsible for withdrawing yourself from a tournament. Follow the directions on the website's Help Page. Withdrawals outside of the deadline will be refunded. Withdrawals after the deadline will not be refunded, whether or not there's a waiting list. All refunds will be assessed a $5.00 processing fee, which covers the credit card processing fee. You can find WD instructions under the "Help" menu above.

 

CLUB HANDICAP POLICY

It's too much for this page, but please read it - especially if you're a new player, because you will play at a reduced handicap for your first tournament.

 

SIGNING UP FOR OTHER PLAYERS

Do not sign up for anyone but yourself. If you are found to sign up for another player, both of you will be removed from the tournament. Tournaments are first-come, first-served - if your friend is lazy, that's his problem.

 

WAITLIST:

You are responsible for withdrawing before the deadline to get a full refund. You won't be charged if you are on the waitlist and don't get promoted; however, once you are promoted, you are IN the tournament and will be charged $5.00 if you WD 10 days out. If you WD within 10 days, there is no refund. No exceptions, so don't bother asking.

 

Club volunteers on the waitlist have priority if spots become available. If something opens up within 24 hours of the tournament, and your phone number isn't listed with the club, the next person on the waitlist will be called up.

 

After the tee times are published, pulling a same-flight player from the waitlist is sometimes necessary so the pairings and flights don't have to be recreated.

 

PACE OF PLAY POLICY

Rancho Park Golf Club has the following Pace of Play regulation in effect: 

 

If your group is more than a hole behind for more than one hole, each group member will receive a 2-stroke penalty.  Continued infractions will be dealt with as follows:

 

First offense: 2-stroke penalty.

Second offense: On-the-spot DQ and three-month tournament suspension.

Third offense: On-the-spot DQ and one-year tournament suspension.

 

All penalties are subject to full review by the Pace of Play Committee.

Remember the #1 rule in Pace of Play:  Keep up with the group in front of you. No excuses.  The group behind you is irrelevant, do not worry about them. Your group must keep pace with the group in front of you, period.

Follow these tips to increase the pace of play:

  • Immediately play a provisional if your ball may be lost.
  • Go directly to your ball after everyone tees off. Don't group together.
  • Hit your ball if you're ready, and it's safe; ignore "honors" in stroke play.
  • Putt out, instead of marking, whenever you can (except in Match Play).
  • Go to the next tee when you're done putting; don't wait for everyone to finish.

 

SCORE CARD SUBMITTAL & ELECTRONIC SCORING
Our tournaments feature live scoring, where hole-by-hole scores for each player are input into an app for the rest of the field to view. Every player, whether scoring or not, is responsible for ensuring their scores are posted electronically in a timely manner. You should never be more than two holes behind. If the scorer for your group cannot continue scoring for some reason (phone dies, he WDs, he's gone blind, etc.), ask another member for the login and continue for your group.

 

  • In every group, one person must enter scores electronically, and another must keep a paper card with all four scores. List the players by last name only. Write the names and scores clearly, and don't add extra info on the card (like games or circles).
  • After 9 and 18, ensure the paper card scores match the electronic scores. If they don't match, fix them. You have until 10 minutes after your round to ensure the paper card and electronic scores match.
  • After your round, take a photo of your paper card (right side up and on one page) and email it to ranchocards@gmail.com.
  • If your scores aren't posted electronically in a timely manner, your group will be DQ'd.
  • If your electronic scores don't match your paper card scores, you will be DQ'd.
  • If you don't email a photo of your group's scorecard within 30 minutes after your round, the group will be DQ'd.

 

POSTING OF SCORES
If the club makes your tee time, the club will post your score. 

 

When you make your own tee time, post your score IMMEDIATELY after your round. If you don't post your score immediately after your round, we will add a penalty score to your SCGA scoring file. No exceptions. 

 

TOURNAMENT WINNINGS (SCRIP AND SKINS)

This page explains how we will send your winnings to you. You have 60 days to claim your winnings, with no exceptions.

You earn scrip by placing in a tournament, and skins by winning a particular hole. We pay all tournament winnings (scrip and skins) through Amazon eGift cards. 

 

For regular tournaments, our payouts are (usually) as follows: $150/$100/$50 Gross, $150, $100, $80, $60, $40 Net.

 

For Major Tournament payouts, navigate to each Major page under the "Policies" drop-down menu above.


HANDICAPS

All members will play to their Club Index if it is lower than the Current or Low Index.

 

New members without a GHIN index will play to a zero handicap in their first tournament.

New members with a GHIN index will play to 1/2 their handicap in their first tournament.

 

WHEN ARE TOURNAMENT HANDICAPS FINAL?

Tournament indexes are final once the tournament is fully set up in Golf Genius (except for Major Tournaments, where indexes can be adjusted anytime). Because indexes are set up well before the tournament, your Current Index may not match your tournament index. For example, if the tournament was set up on Monday for a Saturday tournament, the rounds you post in between will not affect your tournament index. For this reason, your index for any given tournament may be below or above (if you're lucky) your Current Index. 

 

TEE TIMES

Starting with the 2026-2027 season, artificial intelligence, and not a human, will produce the tee sheets. The algorithm will consider your sign-up position, sign-up notes, course handicap, and pace-of-play history.

 

As a general rule, the earlier you sign up for a tournament, the earlier you will play. Exceptions include:

 

* The first groups will always be rabbit groups, setting the pace of the play for the field.

* Club volunteers will get preferred tee times.

* Players who leave sign-up notes will have preference over those who don't.

* Players with a history of slow play will be placed in the latter half of the field.

 

Tee times are usually posted online at least 48 hours before the tournament, and you will always receive an alert. Always check your time and flight the night before the tournament, as things can change until then.

 

Do not email a tee time request. Requests have to be in your sign-up notes.

 

FLIGHT MANAGEMENT
We will divide the field by index, depending on the number of players and the tournament format. As a general rule, we use:

 

0-71 Players - 2 Flights

72-90 Players - 3 Flights

91-120 Players - 4 Flights

 

In regular home course weekday tournaments, A/B/C will play from the blue tees, and D will play from the white tees. On the weekends, A will play from the black tees, B/C will play from the blue tees, and D will play from the white tees.


TOURNAMENT FEES
Fees vary by event. The tournament fee includes a prize pool fee, 100% of which goes back to the membership as scrip prizes after each tournament. Fees are generally based on the price the club pays for the tee times plus $20 for the prize pool


STARTING TIMES

Weekday city tournaments usually start at 7:30am, and weekend city tournaments start at 8:00am. Non-city courses will have variable starting times, depending on the event. We will post the tee sheet on our website a few days before the tournament. Players are advised to check their tee times the night before the tournament - things change fast and often.

 

NO CHECK-IN REQUIREMENT
RPGC does not require players to check in. However, a player not on the tee box and ready to play at their tee time will receive a 2-stroke penalty. If they are still not on the tee box five minutes after their tee time, they will be DQ'd. 

 

DISQUALIFICATIONS & WDs

For DQ'd or WD players, greens fees, CTPs, prize pool money, or skins entry will not be refunded.

 

LOST BALL

One of the most abused rules in golf is that your ball is considered lost if you don't find it within three minutes. Three minutes is not five minutes. 

 

CARTS WITHIN 30 YARDS OF GREENS 
Cart paths only within 30 yards of all greens (or where marked by the course superintendent by rope, tape, or signs). Penalty: 2-strokes for every violation that applies to golf cart drivers and riders. Disabled players are exempt from this policy.

 

PRACTICE BETWEEN HOLES

Members shall not play any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played in any RPGC stroke play event. If a practice stroke is played on or near the putting green of the hole last played, the player shall incur a penalty of 2-strokes at the next hole, except that in the case of the last hole of the round, he incurs the penalty at that hole.

 

ELIGIBILITY

The Tournament Committee shall have the sole and final authority to determine the eligibility and inclusion of any player.

 

ALTERNATIVE TO STROKE AND DISTANCE FOR LOST BALL OR BALL OUT OF BOUNDS:
Pursuant to Model Local Rule E-5 stated in Section 8E of Section 8 of the Committee Procedures, when a player's ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds (and the ball is not in a Penalty Area nor has a Provisional Ball been played), the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.

 

* For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or a substituted ball in the relief area (see Rule 14.3) between Two Estimated Reference Points.


The first is the Ball Reference Point (i.e., where the original ball is estimated to (a) have come to rest on the course or (b) last crossed out of bounds).


* The second is the Fairway Reference Point (i.e., the point on the fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the Ball Reference Point but is not nearer the hole than the Ball Reference Point).


* The Relief Area is anywhere between a line from the hole through the ball reference point (or within two club lengths to the outside of that line), and a line from the hole through the fairway reference point (or within two club lengths to the outside of that line.


* A diagram clearly illustrating this new Local Rule can be found here.

 

DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE (RULE 20.1.c(3)):

If you doubt the correct procedure during stroke play, you may complete the hole with two balls without penalty. If you decide to proceed under this Rule, you will need to do so before taking further action (e.g., making a stroke at the original ball). You should also announce to your fellow competitor (a) that you intend to play two balls and (b) which ball you wish to count if the Rules allow the procedure used for that ball. You MUST report the facts of the situation to the Tournament Committee via email at ranchogolfrules@gmail.com before turning in your scorecard. The committee will then decide. 


RAKE PLACEMENT 

Leave the rake outside the bunkers in areas where it is least likely (in most cases, behind the bunker) to affect the movement of any ball hit by the groups behind.

 

CADDIES & SPECTATORS

Caddies and spectators are not allowed without 1) Approval of the City Golf Manager and 2) Approval from the Tournament Chairman, and persons under the age of 18 are never permitted. Caddies must take a cart.

 

GROUND UNDER REPAIR (GUR):
Unless otherwise noted in the Local Rules, all Ground Under Repair (GUR) will ONLY be marked with yellow (not white) paint. A ball in a GUR area may be played as it lies or relief may be taken under Rule 16.1. An area with a sign that reads Ground Under Repair shall be treated as such. If the player elects to take relief from this GUR, they shall do so outside of the line, rope, or chain that identifies the border of the GUR. 

 

In stroke play, if you believe a ball is in an unmarked Abnormal Ground Condition, including GUR, apply Rule 20.1.c(3) and play a second ball. In this case, you must take a picture of the area and email it to ranchogolfrules@gmail.com, along with a description of what occurred and a phone number where you can be reached.

ELECTRONIC MEASURING DEVICES
USGA-approved measuring devices are approved for use at all events. The USGA decision permits using devices that measure distance only; devices that measure other conditions that might affect a player's play (such as wind and slope gradient) are not permitted.

CELL PHONES

All device volume controls must be set to silent or vibrate at all times. If a member's device makes a sound on the golf course that is detrimental to a competitor, he/she shall report it to the Tournament Chairman immediately after the round.

 

SCRIP PRIZES
Rancho Park Golf Club's tournaments provide awards based on your finish and other criteria. For more information, visit this page.

TIEBREAKING PROCEDURE
Ties will be broken using the USGA Last 9, 6, 3, 1 method. If the tied players have the same back-nine score, the winner will be determined by the last six holes, then the last three holes, and finally by starting at 18 and going backward until the tie is broken. 

 

For net tiebreakers, the he process is the same, but players get their strokes as follows: 1/2 handicap back nine, 1/3 handicap back six, 1/6 handicap back three. Additionally, handicaps are rounded to the nearest whole number, with .5 getting rounded up - so an 11 handicap on the back nine is a 5.5, rounded up to 6. 


INCLEMENT WEATHER AND COURSE CONDITIONS

If the city doesn't allow carts on tournament day, the tournament will be canceled, and all players will be refunded. However, players can still play independently by paying at the starter.
 

ETIQUETTE POLICY & SPORTSMANSHIP CODE

Failure to demonstrate etiquette and decorum will be considered a breach of Club policy and may be reviewed by the Board of Directors to determine a sanction or penalty. In addition to any disciplinary action recommended by the Grievance Committee, a member may be restricted from entering future tournaments and possibly expelled from the Club.
 

RULES OF GOLF

All play shall follow the USGA Rules of Golf and Rancho Park Golf Club's course Local Rules.  Each member is responsible for knowing the rules of golf.  If you are in doubt on the golf course about any rule, play a second ball for a later ruling by the Rules Committee Chairman. 

 
LOCAL RULES

For Tournaments played at home, Rancho Park Golf Club's Local Rules are in effect.

 

EMAIL/PHONE

We strongly encourage you to include your email address and phone number on your profile page.  Club communications are strictly done via email.  If tournament status changes, we will email you. If we don't have your contact information, you will be out of the loop.


DISPUTES & DECISIONS

For all RPGC tournaments, the Competition Committee shall be composed of the Tournament Director for that tournament and the Rules Committee. This committee must be formed only when a dispute or decision is required. Submit any dispute or doubtful point on the USGA Rules or RPGC policy verbally or by email to the Tournament Chairman within forty-eight (48) hours after the stipulated round of golf. If a dispute involves two parties, the member making the allegation must provide a written or emailed copy of the pertinent USGA Rule or RPGC policy verbatim for reference to support the claim. Timely witness statements are welcome to help resolve the claim. The Competition Committee shall review the dispute and/or doubtful point and provide the final decision and disposition.