MGA Match Play Tournament

1. Sign Up: All participants must play in their first round of Match Play in May on Monday/Tuesday as a regular MGA tournament.
2. Groups: Match play will be broken into our usual five groups.. For Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, your most recent Handicap Index prior to the May event will determine your group. The Scratch Group will play “Scratch” (no handicap).
3. Number of Flights/Players: Each flight/bracket is 16 players.  Number of flights expected is: Scratch - one flight, Group 1/2 and Group 3/4 - four flights each (9 flights - 144 players). Number of flights will be determined by the total number of signups within a group. Desired minimum number of players per flight is 12. Total number of flights will be adjusted after the entry deadline. If any group doesn’t have enough signups to open another 16 player bracket, a waiting list will be created. Call the Match Play Tournament Director to get on the waiting list if you are unable to sign up in Total-E.
4. Pairings: First round groups, flights and pairings will be posted on the MGA website. First round results and future pairings will be as posted on the MGA Website.
5. Substitutes: No substitutes are allowed.
6. Subsequent Matches: Remaining match play rounds will be conducted by the two participants outside of regular MGA league play. The player listed lowest in the bracket is responsible for contacting opponent, coordinating a time, date and course for the match. Both players are equally responsible for finding a mutually agreeable tee time to complete the match before the No Later Than (NLT) date. Playing in other groups does not take precedence over your match play obligation. Failure to meet the NLT deadline or to get an extension from the Match Play Director will result in a double forfeit.  Please do not let this happen.
7. Deadlines: There are four mandatory matches in order to win your flight championship and three or four additional voluntary matches to be crowned as the MGA 18 Match Play Champion. The first match is the MGA event in May. The remaining matches must be completed by the NLT date published on the MGA Match Play Brackets. The Match Play Brackets can be found on the MGA website. www.hsvmga18.com
8. Championship Bracket: Voluntary rounds to determine the MGA Match Play Champion will begin in August. The Championship Bracket matches will be posted on the MGA website.
9. Net Play: Except for the Scratch Group Bracket, each match is contested using the stroke differential of the two players’ handicaps as of the day of play (except for round 1). All matches in the Scratch Group will be played without handicap – scratch. Contact the Match Play Tournament Directors with any questions.
10. Results Reporting:  The winner of rounds 2 through 4 matches must call or e-mail results to the Match Play Tournament Director to report results of the match.

11. Winner:  The match winner retains this copy of rules as a reference for subsequent rounds.

MATCH PLAY FORMAT

        Format:  Match Play is a format of play that is scored in a hole-by-hole competition.  The player that holes his ball in fewer strokes than his opponent wins that particular hole.

        Handicap Competition:  In a handicapped match play competition, the player with the lowest net score wins the hole. If there is a difference in course handicaps for the two players, the difference is used and applied on the hardest holes. For example, if Player A has a 19 course handicap (CH) and Player B has a 15 CH, Player A gets one stroke on the 4 hardest holes.

        Playing Different Tee Boxes:  Groups 1, 2 and Scratch players will play from the white tees. Groups 3 & 4 will play from the Silver tees. Round 1 score cards will be printed up based on these tee assignments. Players are allowed to play from another tee box as long as they both agree. If opponents are playing from different tee boxes, applicable adjustments to handicaps must be applied. Score cards will need to be edited to reflect the new tee box choice. If an agreement can’t be made, players will play from the designated tee box.

        Winning: The player winning the most holes wins the match and advances to the next round. When a player is winning by more holes than there are holes remaining, the match is won.  A match can be won before all 18 holes are played. For example, if a player is “Up” by 5 holes with only 4 holes to play, he has won the match for his opponent cannot possibly win.  If all square (tied) after 18 holes, notify the starter or pro shop and continue play where directed until a winner is determined (sudden death). All handicapped stroke holes will be applied in the event of sudden death.

Opponents Decisions: The two players must decide prior to the match whether to play the ball down or up and rake/place in the bunkers. If no common decision can be reached, play the ball down through the green.  Putts may be conceded as per USGA rules.

Flights/Brackets:  The brackets for each flight will be posted on the MGA Website. When a match is completed, immediately notify the Match Play Tournament Director of the results.

Subsequent Match Play Rounds: The completion of rounds 2, 3 and 4 in each flight are the responsibility of the players involved and must be completed by the “Not Later Than” (NLT) dates posted on www.hsvmga18.com Match Play Brackets. The player listed lowest in the bracket is responsible for contacting opponent, coordinating a time, date and course for the match. Both players are equally responsible for finding a mutually agreeable tee time to complete the match by the NLT date. Playing in other groups does not take precedence over your match play obligation. Failure to meet deadline or to get an extension from the Match Play Director will result in a double forfeit.  Please do not let this happen. It is mandatory that matches be completed by the NLT dates in order to ensure all flights are completed in time for the MGA Championship matches that will follow in August.

Match Play Rules:  The general penalty for a breach of a Rule in match play is loss of hole except when otherwise provided.  See the MGA Match Play Supplement (provided and printable off the MGA Website) for some explanations of match play rules.  If you are not sure of a situation, continue playing and discuss it with the Match Play Tournament Director afterwards.

        NOTE: playing a second ball is not an option in match play.

MATCH PLAY FAQs

The following is a list of FAQs that will hopefully answer most questions you may have about the MGA Match Play Tournament.

1. HOW DO I KNOW WHO I'M PLAYING?  The brackets for each group are posted on the MGA website; www.hsvmga18.com. These will be kept as current as possible.
2. WHAT COURSE DO WE PLAY? The first round in May will be played as scheduled.  All subsequent rounds can be played at any HSV golf course prior to the NTL Date.
3. WHEN/HOW DO I PLAY? Set up a time and date and course with your opponent and play it. You and your opponent must play each match head to head at the same time/course and in the same group/foursome.
4. WHAT IF A MATCH IS NOT COMPLETED BY THE NLT DATE? Both players are equally responsible for finding a mutually agreeable tee time to complete the match by the (NLT) date. Failure to meet deadline or to get an extension from the Match Play Director will result in a double forfeit.
5. WHAT ARE THE NLT DATES? These dates are listed in the Match Play Rules and on the Group brackets posted on the MGA Website.
6. HOW ARE HANDICAPS DETERMINED? Handicap formula (course/tee slope divided by 113 multiplied times your GHIN index rounded to the nearest whole number). Example: If playing Silver tees at Ponce, slope is 117 (slopes are listed on all score cards), with GHIN index of 18.5, CH = 117 ÷ 113 x 18.5, CH equals 19.15 rounded to 19 (CH=19). An HSV Course Handicap Calculator can be found on our website. Look under the “HSV Golf Web Links” menu for “HSV Course Handicap Calculator”. The formula above is built into this calculator.
7. WHAT IF WE ARE PLAYING FROM DIFFERENT TEES? If you and your opponent are playing from different tee boxes, you must determine each player’s CH. Go to the “HSV Course Handicap Calculator” on our website to find each players course handicap. Once both CHs are determined the player with the higher CH will receive the differential strokes on the hardest holes. Example; Player A has a 19 CH and Player B has a 15 CH, Player A gets one stroke on the 4 hardest holes.
8. WHAT DO I DO IF I WIN A MATCH? When a match is completed, please call or email the Match Play Tournament Director to report the results (example: Joe Player beat Sam Golfer 3 up with 2 to go).
9. IF I WIN, WHO DO I PLAY NEXT? Once you have advanced (won a match) look on your Group/Flight bracket on the MGA Website to see who you play next. Be proactive. Don't wait for the other guy to call you.

Go to the MGA 18 Website for the most current information.. www.hsvmga18.com

MATCH PLAY SUPPLEMENT

Match Play Terms   

Status of a Match:  The status of a match is expressed relationally.  Match play scoring does not indicate the number of holes won by a player, but rather how many more holes than his opponent a golfer has won. "Up" indicates that a player is winning by a number of holes and "Down" indicates that a player is losing by a number of holes (i.e. Player A is Up 3 or Player B is Down 3).

Halved Hole:  A halved hole is a hole where opponents score the same on a specific hole.  The opponents are said to have "halved" the hole and the status of the match remains the same.

Dormie: A match is said to be dormie when a player has won as many holes as the number of holes remaining to be played, i.e. 3 up with 3 to play. The worst the leading player can do at this point is tie (by losing all the remaining holes).

All Square: A scoring term that indicates a match that is tied.

Excerpts from the USGA Rules of Golf

The general penalty for a breach of a Rule in match play is loss of hole except when otherwise provided.  

Rule 2 – Match Play

          2-4. Concession of Match, Hole, or Next Stroke

• A player may concede a match or hole at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that match or hole
• A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time, as long as the opponent’s ball is at rest – the opponent is considered to have holed out with that next stroke.
• A concession may not be declined or withdrawn

2-5. Disputes & Claims

•  If a doubt or dispute arises between players, a claim may be made by a player to an authorized representative of the tournament Committee
• The Committee may consider a claim only if the player making the claim notifies his opponent (i) that he is making a claim, (ii) of the facts of the situation and (iii) that he wants a ruling.
•  In the event a representative is not readily available, the players must continue the match without delay and then lodge a claim before playing from the next tee or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green.

**NOTE: playing a second ball is not an option in match play**

Rule 9 – Information as to strokes taken

9-2b. Wrong Information

•  A player must not give wrong information to his opponent
• Providing wrong information will result in loss of the hole
• Be sure to keep accurate track of your strokes and communicate to your opponent if you incurred any penalty

Rule 10 – Order of Play

          10-1. Match Play

• The player that has the honor on the first tee is decided by draw and the player winning the hole has the honor on the next teeing ground
• During the round, the ball farther from the hole is played first.  If both balls are equidistant from the hole, the ball to be played first is decided by lot
• If a player hits out of turn, the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke just made and, in correct order, play a ball as near as possible from the spot where the original ball was last played.

Rule 11 – Teeing Ground

11-4a. Playing from outside the teeing ground - No penalty.  The opponent may recall         the stroke, but isn't required to do so.

Rule 18 - Ball at Rest Moved: 

18-2a. By Player or Equipment

• If your ball at rest is moved by you or your equipment, you incur a penalty of 1 stroke and you must replace the ball.
• If your ball at rest is moved by someone else or another ball, replace it without penalty to you. 

18-3a. By Opponent or his equipment

• If a ball at rest is moved by an opponent or his equipment during a search, no penalty is incurred and ball must be replaced if it was moved.
• If the player’s ball at rest is moved by the opponent or his equipment at any time other than during a search, the opponent incurs a penalty of 1 stroke.

Rule 19 -  Ball in Motion, Deflected or Stopped

19-3.         When a ball in motion is deflected or stopped by opponent or equipment in         match play – no penalty is incurred and the player may cancel the stroke or play         the ball as it lies.  The stroke must be canceled before another stroke is made.

19-5.         When a ball in motion is stopped by another ball in motion - No penalty, even if         both balls are on the putting green.

Rule 22 – Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play

22-1.   You may lift your ball if it might assist any other player.  

22-2.   You may have any ball lifted* if it might interfere with your play or assist any other player.

*If you are not on the green, particular care must be used in marking and holding your ball and you may NOT clean your ball.