LEGIT LEAGUE 2015

 Official Rulebook

1. Weekly Golf and Typical Play

1. During normal weeks, standard USGA rules and scoring will apply, except with the exceptions noted below.

1. A PDF version of the USGA Rules of Golf can be found here.

2. The Handicaps

1. Each player will have a running handicap based on the best three scores of their previous rolling six league results in regular play.

1. If a player has not played consecutively for six weeks, it will be taken from their six most recent scores.
2. Handicaps for all competitors will be maintained in an online database to be determined; it is expected that all competitors will adhere to their handicaps for each league competition. Normally, each league member will play standard jacket nights in a single flight.
3. Handicaps will be calculated using Equitable Stroke Control, which places a maximum limit on the scores possible, relative to a player’s handicap. The limits are as follows:

1. ESQ will not be used on-course during competition, so a competitor’s score will stand for jacket purposes, but any scores too high for their relative ESQ will be adjusted when the score is placed in the computer to avoid handicaps from being adjusted incorrectly.

3. The Champion’s Jacket

1. At the conclusion of non-major play each week, the winning player will be awarded “The Champion’s Jacket”.
2. Typically, the player with the lowest handicap adjusted score will be the winner, unless the tournament format that week is gross stroke play or a unique tournament (Maxwell night, Hot August Night night, etc.).
3. In the event of a tie after handicaps are applied, the “Beer Hole” playoff will be in effect (see Section II, Paragraph B, Header iii)
4. For group non-major play, jackets will be awarded in one of two ways:

1. A vote will decide which member of the winning team will be awarded the Champion’s Jacket.
2. For larger tournaments, a collection of jackets will be purchased to be worn by each team of champions.

5. In order to be eligible for future jackets, the recipient must produce a photo of themselves wearing said jacket in a non-traditional function (ie - not at the golf course) and distribute said photo to league members via the group email and/or any future methods TBD.

1. Any league member who fails to produce a photo (or a valid reason why the photo was not taken or sent) will be ineligible to win the jacket during their next round of play.

1. If a second incident occurs, the competitor will be ineligible for their next two rounds of play.
2. If a third incident occurs, the competitor will be ineligible for the remainder of the season, even if they win future events.

2. The champion must bring and present the jacket to the following week’s winner. If they cannot attend the jacket presentation, it is the champion’s duty to find a suitable replacement for the jacket presentation. Failure to present the jacket to the new winner will subject the previous defending champion to the same penalties as a missed jacket photo.

1. If the defending champion should repeat, the next-most previous champion will present the jacket during the jacket ceremony. If that person is not present, the duty falls to the commissioner. If he is not present, the winner may choose the presenter of their choice.

6. If a decision comes up during the round where the weekly champion does not have an immediate opportunity to weigh in, the player in question should play two balls and maintain scores on both. The question will be decided at the end of the round, at which point one ball will be taken for the player’s score.

2. Special league rules:

1. Mulligans

1. One mulligan per round is allowed and can be used on any shot not on the green.
2. A second mulligan, to be used only on the opening tee shot, may be granted by the reigning weekly champion. This mulligan off the tee is to be used only if your playing partners agree to give you one, to avoid crowding the tee box with unnecessary play.

1. A player may use their weekly mulligan on their opening tee shot, in the event that their first tee shot and the subsequent mulligan (if one is granted by the weekly champion) are unacceptable.

3. If an additional mulligan is granted, it is granted to all groups playing the course - not just the group the weekly champion happens to be playing with.

1. If the champion is not teeing off in the first group, they must determine before the evening round begins if the mulligan will be taken.

1. If the weekly champion is not playing that evening, the decision will rest with people in the following order:

1. League commissioner
2. Deputy commissioner
3. League magistrate
4. Defending Tour Champion
5. Recent past Tour Champion (if i-iv are not present)

4. A player may hit their mulligan and still decide to use their original shot - they do not forfeit the original swing by taking the mulligan, in the event that their mulligan result is worse than the initial swing.
5. The mulligan, once the shot has been played, cannot be rescinded even if player does not play the ball from the mulligan swing. Once the ball is played, the mulligan is lost and cannot be used again in the round.

2. Beer Holes

1. All par 3’s are “Beer Holes” during regular weekly league play. Within each playing group, the player with the highest non-handicapped score on a par 3 loses the beer hole and is required to buy a “round of beer” for their group following the round.

1. Although handicaps are not used on the holes for determination of the beer hole winners and losers, the holes will still be handicapped appropriately for the players overall evening score.
2. Beer may be bought in individual glasses or pitchers, as determined by the group.

2. NOTE: A hole-in-one on a par 3 exempts a player from having to buy beer (no matter their score) for that hole for the rest of the regular season only for the noted calendar year.

1. Players who have made hole-in-ones are still subject to all other rules.
2. Players are still eligible for all beer-related prizes/penalties on the other par 3, unless they make hole-in-ones on both holes in the same playing year.

3. In the event of a tie for highest score on a beer hole, all those tied will continue contending for the beer hole on the following hole(s) in a playoff, until the tie is broken.

1. The playoff holes will also be played without handicap for beer hole purposes, although any handicaps on the subsequent holes will be used in the final evening score to determine the jacket winner.
2. If the tie is not broken by the end of the round, the following will take place to determine the winner:

1. A putt-off or chip-off, with participants going to the practice green and chipping and/or putting to a specific hole chosen by the weekly champ (or the person with the lowest score outside of the participants, in the event that a participant is also a weekly champ), played out either as a “closest-to-the-hole” scenario or with total strokes taken to complete the hole - this will be determined by coin flip.
2. If the chip-off does not result in a “loser,” the contest then moves to 10 foot putts. If after two separate sets of 10 foot putts, we do not have a “loser,” the putts become 5 feet and continue until the loser is determined.

4. Once a player has lost a beer hole, they are ineligible to lose any future beer holes on that nine-hole round.

1. In a round of 18, a player is eligible to buy for one beer hole per side - however, the second nine is considered a second “match” for the beer holes and all rules apply.

5. A player who has lost a beer hole does have an opportunity to win their way back and not buy anyone beer. This can only be done by having the lowest score (with no ties or handicap) on the next beer hole, within the same 9.
6. Use of a mulligan is highly discouraged on beer holes - if a mulligan is used, the player automatically loses the beer hole and is ineligible for redemption. However, if a player determines that the use of a mulligan would be advantageous for winning the jacket, they are free to use it.
7. If a player picks up a ball as a “gimmie” on a par 3 or accepts a conceded putt by a fellow competitor, they automatically lose the beer hole, regardless of their score.

1. If a competitor inadvertently “gives” a player a putt by removing their ball as a concession, the competitor (regardless of score) will be the beer hole loser.

8. If a player is unable to buy beer after the round, they must provide beer for those players before or during the next round, or provide cash for those players to buy drinks.

3. Special events (one-offs)

1. In the event of group play for regular season events and majors, scoring will be decided depending on the rules set that day (best ball, alternating shots, etc.).
2. Four “major” championships will be held each year. These are two-man team events with the stipulations noted below:

1. 2 Man BS: Best shot, handicapped.
2. Best Buddies Better Ball: Partnered stroke play and handicapped by full current League handicaps.

1. Each player will play their ball as their own score, with on-course hole-by-hole handicaps being utilized for scoring purposes.

1. All hole-by-hole strokes will be noted for each team prior to tee time.

2. The lowest handicapped (gross) score will be utilized for the team score (example: player’s A and B make a 5, but player B gets a stroke on this hole. The team score taken is a 4.)

1. There is no minimum or maximum number of holes needed for a team to utilize a score from each player; for example, one player could have all nine of their scores on the card.

3. Unfinished holes: if it becomes clear that a player’s score will not be used, relative to the number of strokes by another teammate, said player may opt out/give up themselves on the hole and pick up the ball to keep the game moving. This renders that teammates score ineligible for use, even if the other teammate’s score ends up being higher than the other potential forfeited score, due to bad play.
4. No mulligans will be used - each player will abide by the rules of Golf for any lost balls or penalty strokes.
5. Proximity markers and stats: each player’s statistics will be kept as per normal league rules.

1. Holes must be completed for eligibility: If a player gives themselves up on a hole (see section 3), they forfeit ANY statistics or markers earned on that hole. For example, a player on a long-drive hole who hits the longest drive in the fairway, but later quits the hole without finishing, loses both their chance at the long-drive award AND the fairway they hit on that hole.

1. This does not prevent a player from winning an overall statistical category, based on the remaining holes completed (example, if a player gives up on a hole but hits all 8 other greens in regulation, their GIR submission is 8 greens).

2. The team’s submission for statistics will utilize the statistics taken from each hole (example: if player A’s score is taken for hole #1, their statistics [FW, GIR, putts] are used as well - any players with ties after handicap are encouraged to take the score that gives them the best statistical advantage in a category they feel they can win)
3. Any points earned for winning a particular statistical category and/or proximity marker will be given to each team member.

6. PLAYOFF (if necessary):

1. In the event of a playoff, each team(s) will participate in a chip-off, with the closest shot to the hole for each team being taken. From there, BOTH team members will putt from the closest individual ball on their team.
2. The winning team must make more putts than the other team in a given session to advance and/or win, depending on the number of playoff participants (example: A makes 1, so B must make 2/A makes 0, B only needs to make 1, etc.).
3. Any ties in the playoff will carry-over to the next playoff hole for all teams making an identical score (example: in a three team playoff, if two teams make 1 putt each and one team makes no putts, the first two teams advance to another playoff hole and the third team is eliminated).

1. In the playoff, honors will be alternated to avoid any undue advantage or disadvantage by any participating teams. Initial honors will be determined by coin flip.

4. If the playoff is not decided after 3 holes, teams will participate in a league-opener-style putting contest, beginning at 3 feet and moving out from there, 1 foot at a time. Again, as above, the winning team will be the team who has the “most” made putts at a given length.

3. 2x4: Each player carries only four clubs plus putter, handicapped.
4. TASTY (Two-man Alternate Shot Tournament Yearly) Invitational: Alternate shot, handicapped.

3. All majors will carry a cash purse made from a split of the entry fee ($5/person); some events will also have side-bets (ex: TASTY - lost ball pool).
4. In addition to stroke play and the previously-noted majors, additional formats are as follows:

1. Best shot: Teams of 2. Each golfer plays a shot, with the best shot taken on each individual collection of strokes.

1. Note: In this team format, each player must use at least 1 drive, iron shot and putt by both team members.

2. Worst shot: Teams of 2. Each golfer plays a shot, with the worst shot taken on each individual collection of strokes. No mulligans permitted.
3. Yin-Yang: Each hole alternates the best shot and worst shot formats, with low cumulative score winning.
4. Best ball: Each golfer plays their own ball through the hole, with the team taking the better of the scores between the group (i.e. player A gets a 4, player B gets a 5 = the score is 4). This can be done in groups of 2, 3 or 4.
5. Alternate shot: Teams of 2. Golfers play alternating shots until completion of a hole, with designated tee shot holes.
6. Match play: Head-to-head play where holes are won, but relative score is meaningless (i.e. player A gets a 4, player B gets a 7 = player A wins the hole and is “1 UP,” not “3 strokes ahead.”)
7. “Hot August Night” Night: much like the Neil Diamond song, a regular tournament will be played from the red (ladies) tees. Regulation scoring will apply.
8. More tournaments can be found here.

5. Playoff: In the event of a tie, the beer hole playoff will be held (see Sec. II, Paragraph B, Rule III, Subsection 2, Addendum b)

4. Season-long tournaments:

1. Monthly match-play

1. This will be a concurrent match played with the league’s nightly round.
2. Scoring will be based on handicap.
3. Players will be paired by random draw throughout the year.
4. The yearly winner will be determined by the person who wins the most match-play holes over the course of a year.
5. SPECIAL NOTE: As of 2014, this format has yet to be tried - these rules are in place for when the league wishes to start this.

2. Ryder Cup:

1. The Ryder Cup will be contested yearly in the fall with equal teams from Minnesota and Iowa (or any other grouping the league decides) playing in a single-day, 18 hole match. The matches will be handicapped according to the most-recent LEGIT League handicap available.

1. As of 2014, the Ryder Cup will be contested yearly at Hollydale in Medina, MN. The league reserves the right to change courses yearly, based on availability and the requests of league members.
2. All scoring details herein are presented as the matches would be played with 16 man rosters; it is possible to have smaller rosters.

2. Front 9: 2-person scramble match play, with team scoring based on average handicap of your pairing per USGA rules.

1. 4 possible points from 4 matches (1 point per match) and matches can be halved.

3. Back nine, holes 10-17: Each team will play handicapped better ball (each player plays their own ball) in the modified Stableford scoring system. Each player plays their own ball and the team takes an individual's best score after handicap.

1. All point values are relative to handicap: Eagles are 5 points, Birdies 3, Par 2, Bogey 1, Double bogey or worse: 0 points and pick it up.

1. Hole 17 (a par 5): Double points per score available, so a big score (like a net eagle) could bring a losing team all the way back into the mix. Highest total points per pairing wins the match point.

2. 4 possible points from 4 matches (1 point per match) and matches can be halved.

4. Back nine, hole 18: Total team score on the hole (a short, beautiful, deadly stadium par 3) minus the team's collective handicap on hole. For example, a player who gets 2 shots on the par 3 and makes par will get a net ace, while a player who only gets 1 and makes bogey will score a par 3, for a team total of 4. Lowest team total wins the hole and the point.

1. 4 possible points from 4 matches (1 point per match) and matches can be halved.

5. That is 12* total possible points from the three games, with 6.5* points winning the Ryder Cup.

1. *This is in the event that we have 16 players, or 8 per team. We must have multiples of 4 to make this work, unless the captains decide they are fine playing 14 or 10, etc. - this means one match in each game would be head-to-head.

6. PLAYOFF (if necessary):

1. If the teams are tied after each game is finished at 4.5 points apiece, each squad will nominate one twosome to represent them in a winner-take-all battle playing 18 again, with the same format as before.

1. The twosome in the playoff does not have to be an existing team make-up that played during the previous matches - captains may pair different players for the playoff.

2. Should that pairing fail to produce a winner, captains will nominate a second, different team to repeat the contest. This may again be a re-pairing, or an existing team, but team members from the first playoff hole may not participate.

1. If all three squads on both teams fail to produce a winner, a sudden death, 6-footer putting contest will decide the matches in one-on-one fashion, with each captain nominating players to go head to head.

3. Tour Championship

1. The League Tour Championship will consist of 18 holes of handicapped play, using year-end handicaps.

1. It will be contested at Highland National unless the league votes for another course to host it.

2. The winner of the tournament with the lowest overall net score will retain the Champions jacket for the offseason.

4. The Tour Championship and Ryder Cup will occur in concurrent weekends in the fall, as it works within the league calendar.

1. Courses for either tournament are set with preferences (TC: Highland National/RC: Hollydale) but neither are set in stone.

5. Season-long awards, contests and statistics

1. Highland Cup, sponsored by Michelob Golden Draft Light

1. The Highland Cup will be a season-long points race for an end-of-year prize related to the best overall performer in the league this season.
2. Points will be awarded for the following things

1. Regular season jacket win - 5 points

1. Second place, no tie - 3 points

1. Second place (tied for first originally) - 4 points

2. Third place - 1 point

2. Major win - 10 points

1. Second place, no tie - 6 points

1. Second place (tied for first originally) - 8 points

2. Third place - 2 points

3. Any of the proximity markers in section IV (see below) - 1 point
4. Weekly statistical winners (most FW, most GIR, least putts) - 1 point

1. If a participant sweeps any individual category (all proximity markers or all stats) in one evening, they will be awarded two bonus points, in addition to the three points given (one per category won) for a total of five (5) points.

3. SPECIAL NOTE: Potential future points may be given if a quorum votes to give points related to finish per night (IE - first place is 10 points, second is 9, PT is 1, etc. and/or points given on strength of field - 8 players means first place that evening is worth 8 points, not 10, etc.)
4. Individual hole awards will also be calculated and measured by proximity markers in the turf, where a recipient will place their name and wait for their following competition to match or best their current place:

1. Longest drive (in fairway), to be done on a par 4/5
2. Closest to pin (on green), to be done on any hole.

1. Note: if the hole chosen can be reached in less shots than average (i.e. a par 5 that can be hit in 2, where 3 is allowed), then it is closest to the pin after the allowable number of shots.
2. If nobody during the evening hits the green, the point will be given to the person who comes closest. The first group should place the proximity marker at the spot closest to the green for the competitor in their group.

3. Longest putt made on the green

1. Putts made from off the green do not count as putts and are ineligible for longest putt made (See Section IV, Part B, Article I, Example 3, Subset A - holy shit, that’s too long)

5. Points will also be awarded for any birdies (1 point) and eagles (3 points) made on-course.

2. A majority of these season-long statistics will be calculated and given as individual awards during the year-end Goby’s ceremony, immediately following the Ryder Cup. The awards are as follows:

1. Statistical awards

1. Straightest Dude - Most Fairways Hit
2. Rough Diver - Least Fairways Hit
3. Dancefloor Dude - Most GIR
4. Wallflower Weiner - Least GIR
5. Ben Crenshaw Putting Average - Best Statistical Putter
6. John Daly Putting Average - Worst Statistical Putter
7. Peaks and Valleys - Highest disparity between high and low rounds
8. Steadward Edward- Lowest disparity between high and low rounds
9. Put It On My Tab - Most Beer Purchases (not including own)
10. Put It On HIS Tab! - Least Beer Purchases (not including own)
11. The Winbacker - Most Winbacks on Beer Holes
12. The Awards Show Participation Trophy - Didn’t win an award or jacket? This is for you.
13. Lowest gross score: lowest score of the year without handicap
14. Lowest net score: lowest score of the year once handicaps have been calculated

2. Voted awards

1. Just The Tips - Best Driver
2. I’d Hit That - Best Ball Striker
3. Pick It Up - Best Short Game
4. Who You Callin’ Flatstick? - Best Putter
5. Slice of Life - Best Swing
6. The ‘#$%&’-er! Shooter McGavin Angriest Player Award
7. Phoenix from Ashes - Most Improved Player
8. Mr. Congeniality - Best Playing Partner
9. Tom’s Your Tailor - Sharpest Dresser
10. LEGIT League Player of the Year

6. Membership and course play

1. League will consist of no more than 16 (SIXTEEN) members at any given time.

1. The cap on membership is due exclusively to the arrangements we have with local courses, the limits of play after-work and the desire to keep the group consciously small to promote camaraderie.
2. Substitute players will always be considered for evening play, even if they are not considered for league membership (see VI.b for “new members”)
3. Any prospective new member cannot enter the league until an existing member exits the league, or the new member is ratified by a three-quarters majority vote of the existing membership.

2. New members:

1. Any prospective new member must be suggested and sponsored by at least TWO existing league members.
2. New members will be subject to the following review process:

1. One round of golf each (two total) with the following: one league figurehead (commissioner, dep. commissioner, Magistrate, League Champion), one Ryder Cup captain and one unaffiliated party (cannot be either of the two existing players sponsoring said prospect).
2. The prospect will join the league for conversation and libations following the round.
3. Following each round, the commissioner will review the prospective member’s on-course play and off-course conduct with their evening playing partners and league members.

1. If it is determined after one evening that said prospect is not a good fit, following one evening of play and socialization, that player will be removed from consideration by the commissioner.

4. Following the two evenings of play and socialization, along with feedback collection, a league-wide anonymous vote will be sent electronically for all existing league members to vote yay/nay on the new league member’s acceptance.

1. The prospect must pass by three-quarters of the given ballots cast; any player falling short of this measure will not be considered for membership.

1. Since the prospect must pass by three quarters of the ballots, there is no set “number” of votes needed for membership - only the ¾ majority of the voting members.

2. Any prospect not receiving three quarters of the vote is invited to re-apply for league membership at the beginning of the next season, provided they still have all the previous qualifications. The same prospect process will play out next season.

1. Any prospect who receives nay votes on more than half (50%) of the ballots cast will not be considered for league membership at any point in the future.

3. Courses:

1. The LEGIT League will make a sincere effort to include different courses in the rotation that reflect the location of all league members. This will mean that more events will proportionally be played where more members live, but the league will attempt to play tournaments in as many areas that represent the league make-up as allowable.
2. The official home-base courses for play are Highland National and the Highland 9 hole, with preference given to the National course.

4. Revocation of league membership:

1. A golfer’s league membership may be revoked if the following scenarios occur:

1. Conviction of a felony, misdemeanor and/or any other legal sanction that draws negative attention to the league’s association with said individual.
2. Multiple (3+) instance of “poor conduct” during league interaction, as reported by other league members over the course of one season.
3. Any untoward interaction with a fellow league member, spouse/significant other, sponsor or otherwise affiliated entity.

2. Rulings on these infractions are at the sole discretion of the commissioner's office.

7. Amended/additional rules:

1. New rules and/or tournaments may change at any time.
2. This rulebook is a living, breathing document modifiable by a league vote that does not necessarily have to pay homage to rules of the past.
3. In the event of a non-majority or otherwise noted ruling party, the Commissioner will have final say on all league rulebook and event changes.

1. The weekly champion’s influence is limited purely to weekly games, not overall league operation (Note: “That makes Fred our defacto-dictator. Sorry, guys.” - Craig).

4. “Smokey, this isn’t ‘Nam, this is bowling - there are rules.” - Walter Sobchak