FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP POLICY
The Fourball Championship is our first Major Tournament of the year and the following comprises everything you need to know about the format and rules. If you have further questions, contact the Tournament Chairman.
You can follow the tournament as players advance by checking out the brackets page.
ELIGIBILITY
This tournament is open to RPGC Members who have an established low index and have competed in at least six (6) RPGC-sanctioned events (not tournaments) within 12 months before this tournament. Participation in the same event the year prior does not count as an eligible round.
SIGNING UP
When you sign up to play, leave your partner's name in the notes. If you do not have a partner, the Tournament Chairman will pair you up with another registered member within five strokes of your handicap index to form a team.
PLAY-IN ROUND:
Each team plays a 2-Man Best Ball. In the Play-In round, each team will not be competing directly against the other team in their foursome, but against all other teams in their flight. Each player will get their allotted strokes as shown on their scorecard. Scores will be added hole by hole to get a final team score and the top eight net scores in each flight will advance to the Knock-Out stage.
Tiebreakers for the Play-In round will be determined by a net card off. Back nine, back six, back three, then 18, 17, 16, etc until a winner is determined. In the rare event that the players are still tied after all tiebreaking procedures have been exhausted, a coin flip shall determine the winner.
In the Knock-Out stage, #1 will play #8, #2 will play #7, #3 will play #6, and #4 will play #5.
FLIGHTS
The field will consist of three flights and teams will tee off according to flight. President, then Championship, then Vice President.
MAXIMUM HANDICAP DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEAMMATES
Teammates cannot be separated by more than five strokes, even if the course handicap calls for it. If one player is a 13 and his teammate is a 20, the 20 must play as an 18.
HANDICAPS
Competitors will be required to use their Low Index or Club Index - whichever is lower. This index will be frozen from moving up during the tournament, but an index can always move down mid-tournament, including adjustments made by the Handicap Committee as stated in the Club Tournament Policies.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR (GUR):
Ground Under Repair (GUR) will be marked with yellow paint (not white). A ball that is in a GUR area may either be played as it lies or relief may be taken per Rule 16.1. An area that has 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.
If you believe a ball is in an unmarked Abnormal Course Condition, which includes GUR, in stroke play only (Play-In round) apply Rule 20.1.c(3) and play a second ball. In this case, a picture of the area MUST be taken and emailed to ranchogolfrules@gmail.com
KNOCK-OUT STAGE:
Once the Play-In round is over, all further rounds will be head-to-head, single-elimination Fourball matches.
This tournament is a net Fourball match play competition where two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower net score of the partners is the score for the hole. Player A and Player B are on one team, and Player C and Player D are on the other team.
The Course Handicap of all four players is reduced by the Course Handicap of the player with the lowest handicap (Player A in the example below), who then plays from scratch. All players will play off the lowest handicapped player of the group, who plays as a zero.
Players receive strokes off of the lowest player in the foursome, who will play as a zero. Example as follows:
| PLAYER | INDEX | HANDICAP | STROKES |
| A | 3.9 | 4 | 0 |
| B | 7.2 | 7 | 3 |
| C | 7.5 | 8 | 4 |
| D | 12.1 | 12 | 8 |
TEES
Championship Flight competitors shall play from the tees closest to 6,800 yards, and the President & Vice President flights shall play from the tees closest to 6,400 yards (which represent the yardages of Rancho Black and Rancho Blue, respectively). That said, if all players agree they can play from any tees they like.
SCGA FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
When the winners of each flight have been determined, there will be a "last man standing" contest to determine which team shall represent Rancho Park at the prestigious SCGA Net Four-Ball Championship scheduled in the Fall.
ONLY ONE PLAYER
If one player on a team misses a match or gets injured during a match, his team does not forfeit - his partner can still play against the other two players.
SELF-SCHEDULED PLAY
It is the responsibility of ALL players in each match to find a mutually agreeable date, time, and course for the match to be completed by the deadline. Failure to complete your match by the deadline may result in disqualification. Please communicate with the Tournament Chairman if there are any problems or difficulties in scheduling and completing your match by the deadline.
If players cannot agree on a date, time, or course to play the following options will be applied:
- If players cannot agree to play during the week or on the weekend, the weekend takes preference.
- If players cannot agree on Saturday or Sunday, Saturday takes preference.
- If players cannot agree on a time to play, the tee time closest to 9:00 AM will be used.
- If players cannot agree on what course to play the following list is used to select a course in order: Rancho, Wilson, Harding, Encino, Balboa, Hansen Dam, Woodley.
- If still unable to agree upon a course, then contact the Tournament Chairman, let him know the two courses you are deciding between, and he will select the course to be played.
Failure to properly communicate with the Tournament Chairman and play your match by the deadline WILL result in disqualification.
REPORTING TO THE FIRST TEE
There may be an occasion when one team member will be late or may not be able to play at all. In that event, the lone remaining team member may play the other team by himself until his teammate arrives, but he is only allowed to play one ball.
POSTING SCORE & SUBMITTING SCORECARDS:
For the Play-In round only, the Tournament Committee will post all scores. Upon completion of all second round matches and beyond, it is the responsibility of BOTH teams to immediately post their scores (as Competition "C" rounds). Failure to post as a Competition Score or failing to post immediately after each of your completed matches will result in a penalty round being issued to your scoring file. The winning team must report all match results (including submitting scorecards for the Play-In round) via email to ranchocards@gmail.com
RULES OF GOLF
All play shall be per Rule 23 of the USGA Rules of Golf. It is the responsibility of each player to know the rules of Four-Ball stroke play and match play and how they differ from regular play.
TIEBREAKERS
Competitors shall agree to a tie-breaking method before commencing play. Here are some suggestions:
- Playing another 18-hole match, so long as the match is completed by a new posted deadline.
- Resume play immediately and continue playing hole-by-hole until a hole is won. Players shall receive the same strokes on the same holes they had in the first eighteen holes.
- Use a card-off method (back nine, back six, back three, 18, 17, 16, etc...) to determine the winner.
- Flip a coin.
If the competitors cannot reasonably settle who the winner is by the deadline, it will be up to the Tournament Chairman's discretion on how the winner of the match will be decided.
WHEN THE MATCH IS CLOSED OUT:
In the event the match has been "closed out" before 18 holes have been played, the stipulated round is deemed to have been completed. Once the match has been completed, each player MUST post Net Par (based on Current Index) for any holes remaining to be played.
DEADLINES FOR COMPLETION OF ROUNDS:
Play-In Round: March 10 Rancho Park
Next round by 4/1
Next round by 4/22
Next round by 5/13
SCRIP PRIZE PAYOUTS ($7,500 TOTAL PRIZE PURSE):
Champion (6): $800
Runner-up (6): $250
Semi-Finalists (12): $100 per player
POINTS (Golfer of the Year):
30 points for the Champions (1 team)
24 points for the Runner-Ups (1 team)
15 points each for Semi-Finalists (2 teams)
6 points each for Quarter Finalists (4 teams)
(One additional participation point is awarded to all players participating in the tournament).
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.
Thor Tandberg
Tournament Chairman