WGA 18-Hole STANDING RULES – 2026

(Revised 03-08-26)

1. PURPOSE:  The purpose of this Association is to promote the pleasure of golfing recreation among its members. Play will be governed by the Revised Rules of Golf as approved by USGA and any Local Rules applying to HSV courses.  ALL MEMBERS ARE URGED TO STUDY THE USGA RULE BOOK AND BE AWARE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF ITS CONTENTS.

2. DUES:  Hot Springs Village WGA 18-Hole members will be assessed annual dues of $45.00, which will not be refunded after the first play day.  The Arkansas State Golf Association (ASGA) will provide a USGA Handicap Index. GHIN handicap calculation fees are paid through the POA, EXCEPTION a Diamante member may pay through that club and turn in a filled out GHIN form to POA marked paid).

3. SUSTAINING MEMBERS:  A Sustaining Member must have been a member in good standing for at least 5 years.  She will pay a reduced annual membership fee of $10.00, will have access to the WGA 18-Hole website, may attend all social functions, and will be listed as a Sustaining Member on the WGA18 roster.  A Sustaining Member may not participate in play days and with the exception of the Crush Cancer, HSV WGA Summer Swing, and Snow Woman tournaments, she may not play in league sponsored tournaments.  She may upgrade her membership to full-member status at any time thereby gaining full-member privileges.

4. MEMBERSHIP:  The membership roster of the WGA 18-Hole Golf League of Hot Springs Village is for the sole purpose of communication with the membership and other golf related organizations.  No portion of the information in the roster may be used for commercial advertising promotion of other clubs or any other venture.  You may be a member of more than one league in the Village.

5. MEETINGS:  The President shall determine and publish the schedule of Board meetings.  The Board will meet the second Wednesday of each month, January through October at 8:30 a.m.  Changes to the schedule will be posted at the earliest opportunity.      

IF YOU WISH TO BE ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE NOTIFY THE PRESIDENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND ATTEND THE MEETING TO PRESENT YOUR ISSUE.

6. HANDICAPS:  A current USGA Handicap Index, with a maximum index of 30.5, is required for membership.  A continuing membership supersedes the 30.5 requirement.  When playing in WGA 18-Hole play days, all golfers having an excess of a 36 handicap must play to a maximum of a 36 for that competition.  Only a current USGA Handicap Index will be accepted for play day events.

For new members, a current official index card from any association will be accepted to join, but to participate in play day events a member must have a USGA HANDICAP INDEX through the POA.

The Handicap Committee will post scores for league play. Outside of league play, EACH PLAYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POSTING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF HER ADJUSTED SCORES UPON COMPLETION OF A ROUND OF GOLF, PREFERABLY ON THE DAY OF PLAY. 

The WGA 18-Hole Handicap Committee and/or the POA Handicap Committee have the right and responsibility to ensure the Handicap Index of a player reflects their demonstrated ability. The Handicap Committee can and will conduct handicap reviews, as required for all members of the WGA 18-Hole League. This review will follow the recommended process of the HSV Golf Committee’s guidelines. 

Additionally, a handicap review can be requested at any time by:

• a fellow competitor that feels a person’s handicap does not reflect what they are   scoring
• the Handicap Committee wishing to review the handicap of a player who is consistently returning scores that do not reflect their demonstrated ability

Based on Rule7.1a, Conducting a Handicap Review and Adjusting a Handicap Index, any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index resulting from a handicap review must be applied only after the player has been informed and has had an opportunity to respond to the WGA 18-Hole Handicap Committee or POA Handicap Committee.

Any player who fails to maintain an up to date and accurate handicap will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the HSV Handicap Committee Process. Disciplinary action will be cause for competitive suspension from WGA 18-Hole play days and Tournaments until the issue is resolved. 

If there is a valid reason for a score not having been submitted The Handicap Committee has the authority to determine whether a player’s reason for not submitting a score is a valid reason.

Valid reasons for not submitting a score can include:

• Sudden injury or illness
• Emergency
• Dangerous weather conditions
• Any other reason for stopping play that is considered valid by the Handicap Committee

7. PLAY DAY: Date, course and event as indicated by the schedule:

1. You may sign up for play 7 to 14 days in advance. Sign-up applications for Pick Your Partner, Low Gross/Low Net Championship and the Member/Member will be available on our website at www.hsvwga18.org.
2. Play Day game details, tee times, pairings and results may be obtained using the links provided on our Play Day Schedule on our web site at www.hsvwga18.org.
3. For cancellations or to be added as a late sign-up, call or email the Tee Time Adjuster listed on the web site under the “Play day Infor/Pairings” tab. Do NOT cancel on Explore the Village.
4. In order to receive the 25% credit for play day participation that is required to play in the Member/Member tournament, you must complete either the game or the 18 holes on any given play day unless the game is canceled.

8. HSV WGA Summer Swing:  The HSV WGA Summer Swing is a two-day event.  The format is a best ball event, low gross and low net both days with no more than an 8-stroke differential between partners.  There is a POA mandate that a minimum of 50% of the players be HSV property owners.  Information will be posted on our website in advance of the tournament dates.  Any WGA 18-Hole member may invite any female golfer from inside or outside HSV to play in the two-woman event.  It is not a requirement that a WGA 18-Hole member be part of each team.  WGA 18-Hole members may request invitations be sent by the Tournament Director to other women’s golf associations inside or outside of Arkansas.  All players must have an established USGA handicap or a verifiable handicap by their club professional.

9. MEMBER/MEMBER: The Member/Member is a two-person WGA 18-Hole tournament requiring each member to have COMPLETED 25% of available WGA 18-Hole league play days (not counting the HSV WGA Summer Swing Tournament) prior to the initial signup date for the Member/Member. This tournament is funded through a separate player entry fee. Tournament play consists of a total of five 9-hole match play games over a two-day period. Initial web signup will be made available at least one month prior to the tournament with further game details being communicated via all WGA 18-Hole information outlets well in advance of the initial web sign up. Subsequent signups MAY be made available at a later date by the Tournament Chair for members that have NOT met participation requirements if additional players are needed to complete the field or to serve as stand-by teams.

10. LOW GROSS/LOW NET CHAMPIONSHIP:  The combined club championship will crown a low gross and a low net champion for members.  There will also be gross and net flight winners. You will be pre-flighted by handicap.  The tournament will feature the largest payout of any WGA 18-Hole event. It will be 2 days of stroke play.  

11. BLIND SCORE:  For multiple ball events, or when a team is incomplete, a “blind score” may be utilized.  On each play day (other than tournaments) a player with a similar index will be chosen by the Scoring Committee to be in the blind score.  When a team uses a blind score, it will be copied from the original scorecard and combined with the other scores.  The BLIND SCORE PERSON IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE WITH THE TEAM SHE “COMPLETES”,  SHE IS ONLY ELIGIBLE TO WIN WITH HER ORIGINAL PLAYING PARTNERS.

12. PRIZES: 

1. Each play day the Scoring committee will award prizes to approximately 40% of the field of players.  Winners will be awarded points: 5 for 1st, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, and 1 for 5th or more.  New in 2026, all players will also be awarded 0.5 point for each league day played.
2. Points will be assigned a value at the end of the season based on available WGA 18-Hole funds. Play day prize monies will be issued as credit on member POA accounts.

13. TIES: All ties will be eliminated by using USGA Rules for a scorecard playoff.  Currently those are the last nine holes played, the last six holes, then the last three holes, followed by the last hole played. (See USGA Rules and Decisions, Appendix 1 - Local Rules:  Conditions of the Competition, Part B, Section 10, Stroke Play (c).)

14. BIRDIES: Annually prizes will be awarded to the persons with the most birdies, chip-ins and eagles in each of four flights (ABCD).  Flights will be determined by the member’s October 1st handicap index.  Birdies, chip-ins and eagles will only be counted if the play day is completed.  The event must be one in which the member is playing her own ball, e. g. not a shamble or scramble.                                  

15. MOST IMPROVED GOLFER:  To be eligible, a player must have been a member of the WGA 18-Hole league the previous year and posted at least 20 scores during the past 12 months from HSV courses—Balboa, Coronado, Cortez, DeSoto, Granada, Isabella, Magellan, Ponce de Leon.  The most improved golfer will be determined by using the latest USGA handicap revision following the end of the WGA 18-Hole playing year (normally November 1) compared to the USGA handicap revision from the end of the previous playing year, e.g., November 1, handicap compared to the last revisions before the current year’s fall general meeting.

16. HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB:  Information is posted under the ‘Accomplishments’ tab at www.hsvwga18.com

17. DRESS CODE:  Short shorts, halter-tops, swimwear and other abbreviated articles of clothing will not be permitted on the courses.

18. STARTING TIMES/LATE ARRIVALS:  In an individual stroke competition or an alternate shot competition, if a player or team arrives at the first tee, ready to play, with in five (5) minutes of the designated starting time, she/they will incur a two (2) stroke penalty, and she/they may join their group.  Penalty for lateness after five (5) minutes is disqualification.  If the format of play does not require both partners or all team members to be present at the designated starting time, a player may join her partner or team and begin play at the start of the next hole.  TEAMS MUST USE THE ASSIGNED TIME.  YOU MAY NOT LET ANOTHER TEAM TEE OFF AHEAD OF YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE WAITING FOR A MEMBER.

19. RAIN OUT POLICY:  In the event of rain on any day of play you are expected to play unless otherwise canceled.  The Play Day Chair will post any cancellations on our WGA 18-Hole website and you will receive an email.  In addition, if play is canceled on the morning of play the first t-time participants will receive a phone call.

20. RULES OF PLAY:  All WGA 18-Hole members must observe the rules of golf, HSV Local Rules, and WGA 18-Hole Standing Rules.  Additionally, you will receive an email each week prior to our play day with any additional rules that may apply for that play day.  As always, try to restore divots and replace ball marks on greens and rake bunkers and leave the rake inside the bunker upon exiting.

21. PACE OF PLAY:  Start each round on time and play continuously at a prompt pace during each hole until your round is completed.  When it is your turn to play it is recommended you make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds.  For additional information see Rule 5.6b USGA Players Edition of the Rules of Golf, Jan 2019 edition.

22. CODE OF CONDUCT:  In accordance with the WGA 18-Hole mission statement and the USGA Rules, the WGA 18-Hole expects all players to act with integrity, follow all rules, apply all penalties, and show consideration to fellow competitors both on and off the course; before, during, and after play.  Players are expected to play in a reasonable amount of time and not distract other players by talking or moving around during their turn to play.  Further examples of potential misconduct include abusive language directed toward another player, a Rules Official, or WGA 18-Hole Executive Committee; club throwing, temper tantrums; or showing disrespect for other players.  The WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee will have absolute authority to penalize/disqualify any member for serious misconduct as described above and as further described in Rule 1.2a and Interpretation 1.2a/1. The player will be allowed to appeal after notification by the WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee. If, after investigation, a violation of the Code of Conduct is verified, the WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee will proceed as follows:

1. The player will be notified by the WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee in writing that the player is in violation of the Code of Conduct.
2. The WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee will have the authority to impose any penalties based on the seriousness of the violation, including but not limited to a two stroke penalty for the day of play, disqualification from future WGA 18-Hole play days and tournaments and a time of probation.
3. The WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee and the Executive Board may meet and also agree on loss of membership. 

Everyone who plays in WGA 18-Hole events deserves the same enjoyable experience.

This Code of Conduct shall be enforced and the USGA gives the WGA 18-Hole Rules Committee the complete authority to enforce any and all rules.  

Revision History