Men’s Golf Association

2015 Handbook

The Sixth Season

CFNMGA Past Presidents

2010 – Dave Huber 2011 – Dave Huber

2012 – Tom Johnson 2013 – Mike Gibson

2014 – Bob Axelrod

CFNMGA Board of Directors, Coordinators and Advisors

Rich Keith, President Greg Lindsay, Vice President

Keith Blankenbicker, Secretary Darrell Davies, Treasurer

Ynez Garcia, Tournament Director Paul Zarnetske, Games & Rules and Social

Director, Away Golf Coordinator Bob Axelrod, Past President

Mike Gibson, N. Brunswick Coordinator Jeff Lind, Newsletter Publisher

Dave Will, Interclub Golf Coordinator Adam Clark, Head Golf Professional

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Cape Fear National Men’s Golf Association

Mission

The mission of the CFNMGA is to encourage enjoyment of the game and to familiarize players with the rules, good sportsmanship, and etiquette of the game. The CFNMGA and its members will adhere to the USGA Rules of Golf except as modified by the CFNMGA’s local rules.

CFNMGA EVENT SCHEDULE FOR 2014

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DATE EVENT

Mar 11 Opening Day Two Best Balls, Net (flighted by handicap) 8 AM Shotgun

18 1 Best Ball on Par 4’s; 2 Best Balls Par’s

3’s & 5”s. 10 AM

25 1 Best Ball on Par 5’s, 2 Best Balls on Par

4’s, 3 Best Balls on Par 3’s, Net. 8:30AM

(flighted by handicap)

Apr 1 1-2-3 Game. 8:30 AM

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"Masters Day" Major for MGA Cup

3 Best Balls on Par 5’s, 2 Best Balls on

Par 4’s, 1 Best Ball on Par 3’s. 8:30 AM

(flighted by handicap)

15 –6-5-4-3. Alternative, Two Best Balls, Net.

7:30 AM.

22 6-6-6. 8:30 AM Game (flighted by handicap)

29 9-6-3 You Pick – 9:30 AM Shotgun

May 6 "Players Championship Day" Major for MGA Cup, Fronts and Backs (flighted by handicap)

CFNMGA EVENT SCHEDULE FOR 2014

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DATE EVENT

13 Individual Stableford. 8 AM. Shotgun

15,16,17 North Brunswick Cup (at CFN)

20 Man in the Box. Alternative - Two Best Balls, Net. 8:30 AM (flighted by handicap)

27 Aerification at CFN – No MGA Event

Jun 3 Odds & Evens. 8:30AM

10 ”US Open Championship Day” Point

Quota. 8:30 AM (flighted by handicap)

17 Outing Scheduled at CFN – No MGA Event

24 One Best Ball Net. 8 AM Shotgun (flighted by handicap)

Jul 1 Shamble. Alternative, Fronts & Backs. 8:30 AM

8 Three Best Balls Net. 8:30 AM

CFNMGA EVENT SCHEDULE FOR 2014

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DATE EVENT

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“British Open Championship Day” Major for MGA Cup Triple Sixes, Net (flighted by handicap). 8:30 AM

22 Two Best Balls, Net. 8:30 AM

29 Two-Man Scramble. 8 AM Shotgun (flighted by handicap)

Aug 5 Outing scheduled at CFN. No MGA Event

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“PGA Championship Day” Major for MGA Cup Two-Man Teams – Best Ball (flighted by handicap). 8:30 AM

19 1-2-3 Game. 8:30 AM

26 1 Best Ball Par 4’s; 2 Best Balls Par 3’s &

5’s (flighted by handicap) 8 AM Shotgun

Sep 2 Aerification at CFN – No MGA Event

9 6-6-6. 8:30 AM (flighted by handicap)

16 3 Best Balls on Par 5’s, 2 Best Balls on

Par 4’s, and 1 Best Ball on Par 3’s. 8:30

AM

23 Odd & Evens 8:30 AM (flighted by handicap)

CFNMGA EVENT SCHEDULE FOR 2014

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DATE EVENT

30 One Best Ball Net. 8 AM Shotgun

Oct 7,8 Presidents Cup. 8:30 AM

14 Triple Sixes. 8:30 AM (flighted by handicap)

21 Two Man Teams Best Ball. 8:30 AM

28 Three Best Balls, Net - 8 AM Shotgun (flighted by handicap)

Nov 4 1 Best Ball on Par 4’s, 2 Best Balls on Par

3’s & 5’s. 8:30 AM (flighted by handicap)

11 Fronts & Backs. 8:30 AM

18 Closing Day Two Best Balls, Net - 8 AM Shotgun (flighted by handicap)

Note: Should any Games involve flighting by tee box: Blue and Blue/White tee players will be in one

flight; White, White/Green and Green tee players will be in the other flight. Note: CFNMGA requires a second score sheet to be

maintained, signed and handed in as recorded by a player in the foursomes other cart. This minimizes the possibility of scoring or addition errors, facilitates scoring for the skins game and provides a copy of the scores to the statistician.

DESCRIPTION OF GOLF EVENTS

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1 Best Ball Par 4’s; 2 Best Balls Par 3’s & 5’s

Count one best ball net of the foursome on Par 4 holes; 2 best balls net on the Par 3 and Par 5 holes.

1 Best Ball on Par 5’s, 2 Best Balls on Par 4’s, 3 Best Balls on Par 3’s, Net

On all Par 5’s, the lowest net score of 1 player is recorded; on all Par 4’s, the 2 lowest net scores are recorded; on all Par 3’s, the 3 players’ lowest net scores are recorded.

1-2-3 Game

Starting at hole #1, the lowest net score of 1 player is recorded; on hole #2, the 2 lowest net scores are recorded; on hole #3 the 3 lowest net scores are recorded. Start the process over on hole #4 and continue it throughout the round.

3 Best Balls on Par 5’s, 2 Best Balls on Par 4’s, 1

Best Ball on Par 3’a

On all Par 5’s, count 3 net scores; on all Par 4’s, count 2 net scores; on all Par 3’s, count 1 net score.

6-5-4-3

Record 1 net score for the first 6 holes; record 2 net scores for the next 5 holes; record 3 net scores for the next 4 holes; and record 4 net scores for the last 3 holes.

6-6-6

Record one best ball net on the holes with handicap 1-6; two best balls net on the holes with handicap 7-12; and three best balls net on the holes with handicap 13-18.

9-6-3 You Pick

Immediately after each hole the team decides how many balls will count for that hole, recording number of balls counted and a total net over/under par score for that hole. Over the course of the round the team must use the scores

DESCRIPTION OF GOLF EVENTS

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of 2 balls on 9 holes, 3 balls on 6 holes and 4 balls on 3 holes.

Captain’s Choice

Each player in the foursome hits a tee shot – the team then selects the best drive, and from that spot each player hits a second shot. This procedure is followed on subsequent shots including putts. At least 2 drives of each player must be used during the round. Handicaps are used only to determine teams.

Fronts & Backs

Two best balls net on the front nine and three best balls net on the back nine.

Individual Stableford

Points are earned – Bogey (1 pt.), Par (2 pts.), Birdie (4 pts.), Eagle / hole-in-one (8 pts.). Highest point total wins.

Low Gross, Low Net

Two best balls of team – 1 low gross, 1 low net total for each hole. Same ball may not be used for both. Full handicap will be used for low net.

Man in the Box

This is two-best-ball net event. Each player in the foursome will rotate as the ‘Man in the Box” and that player’s score counts in addition to the best ball net from among the other 3 players. The player with the lowest handicap will be” in the box” on handicap holes 1 through 4; the player with the next lowest handicap will be “in the box” on handicap holes 5 through 8; and so on. The team score on handicap holes 17 & 18 are the best net scores of any two players.

Odds & Evens

One best ball net of the foursome on the odd numbered holes; 2 best balls net on the even numbered holes.

DESCRIPTION OF GOLF EVENTS

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One Best Ball Net

In this team event, the lowest net score on each hole is counted.

Point Quota

Your official MGA handicap deducted from 36 represents your target score. The goal is to meet or exceed your target score by accumulating points based on your score on each hole. Each player’s points are totaled for the team score. Points are earned – Bogey (1 pt.), Par (2 pts.), Birdie (4 pts.), Eagle / hole-in-one (8 pts.). Highest point total wins.

Shamble

Each player in the foursome hits a tee shot and the best drive of the team is selected. From the spot of the selected tee shot, each player hits his second shot and continues to play his own ball to finish out play. On each hole, only count the best 2 gross scores. At least 2 drives from each player must be used for the round.

Three Best Balls Net

3 best balls net on each hole count.

Triple Sixes

Record one best ball net on holes 1 thru 6; two best balls net on holes 7 thru 12; and 3 best balls net on holes 13 thru 18. This is a net score event.

Two Best Balls, Net

Two best balls net on each hole count.

Two-Man Scramble

This is played as a conventional scramble or Captain’s Choice event, but with 2-man rather than 4-man teams. At least 3 drives of each player must be used on each 9. Handicaps are used only to determine twosomes.

Two-Man Teams – Best Ball

Count the best ball net of the twosome for each hole.

MGA CUP CHAMPIONSHIP & RINGER TOURNAMENT

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The MGA Cup Championship is an individual net score season-long event open to all MGA members. It is modeled after the PGA FedEx Cup, with players earning points based on their performance relative to other participants each week. The MGA Cup Championship is flighted by handicap.

All weekly MGA golf events in which a player plays his own ball will be an MGA Cup Event. A $25 Entry Fee is required to participate. All scores in MGA Cup Events will count toward the Championship.

All participants earn points for each event and all will be eligible for cash prizes. The prize list will be determined by the number of paid MGA Cup participants and will be posted along with the current standings of the participants each week during the season. During the last three weeks of our season, the top 50% of the players in each flight (may be higher if players were tied in point total), based on earned points, will be eligible to play in the MGA Cup Playoffs. Each of those players will carry all their points earned through the MGA Cup competition throughout the year into the playoffs. Each event of the MGA Cup playoffs will award 2000 points to the player finishing first with remaining points awarded based on the Fed-Ex Cup Playoff point distribution scheme. When the playoffs are completed, the top point earner of each flight will be deemed MGA Champions and will have their names inscribed on the MGA Cup, which will be displayed in the CFN Clubhouse during the following year.

All MGA members are automatically entered into the Ringer Tournament without additional charge. A member’s Ringer score is his lowest gross score on each hole during the season and is counted toward a total gross score. The lowest Ringer score in each of two flights (flights determined by handicap) will win a cash prize at the awards dinner. The more you play, the better your chances of lowering your Ringer score.

GOLF HANDICAPS

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Handicaps for all CFNGMA members will be computed in accordance with USGA guidelines, utilizing the nation-wide GHIN system. The maximum allowable handicap is 36.

When you join or renew your MGA membership, you will indicate whether you will play the Blue, White, Green, or Hybrid (Blue/White, White/ Green) Tees in MGA golf events. Once you make that selection, you may not change it for the duration of the season. However, new MGA members may change their tee box selection one time, but must do so before they play their third MGA event.

In accordance with USGA guidelines and based on the course ratings for each tee position, stroke adjustments to your course handicap will be made as follows based upon the tees you play: Blue, +3 strokes; Blue/White, +2 strokes; White, 0 strokes; White/Green, -2 strokes; Green, -3 strokes. Note that the addition of strokes may not cause the player’s total stroke allowance to exceed the maximum allowable handicap (36). Also in accordance with USGA guidelines, 80%, 90% or 100% of your course handicaps will be used based on the game format each week. Your strokes as printed on your scorecard each week will have these adjustments incorporated.

Also, the following procedures should be followed for members to remain in compliance with USGA guidelines and to ensure handicaps are accurate and fair to fellow MGA competitors:

• All scores should be posted into the GHIN system in a timely manner. Rounds played at CFN should be posted immediately after completion if possible. In order to participate in MGA events, all MGA members must maintain their handicaps through CFN. The Golf Shop staff will post the scores for MGA golf events.

• All “away” scores should be posted as soon as practical after completion of the round, using the course rating

and slope of the “away” course.

GOLF HANDICAPS

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• Before posting your score, review your scorecard and apply “Equitable Stroke Control” (ESC) as follows:

Course Handicap

Maximum Strokes

9 or less Double bogey

10-19 7

20-29 8

30-39 9

>39 10

Note that the ESC is based solely on the player’s Course Handicap for his tee box and is not affected by adjustments in strokes for the tee box played or the handicap percentage for a given round of play.

• If you play a round in a tournament, that score should be entered as a “tournament round.” Note that the 5 MGA Cup “Majors” are tournament rounds.

GOLF ETIQUETTE

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Golf etiquette is a valued tradition of the game. Members are encouraged to refer to the USGA Etiquette Book or consult the Pro Staff when questions arise. Examples of etiquette during MGA golf events and at all times include:

• Be polite and courteous to fellow golfers and staff.

• Help maintain the course by raking traps, filling divots, repairing ball marks, and picking up trash.

• Follow cart rules and avoid driving in restricted areas.

• Be attentive to both your and fellow golfer positions on the course.

• Avoid undue delays in play.

• Avoid hitting your shot until the group in front is safely out of range.

• Do not pressure the group in front of you if they are keeping up with the group in front of them.

• Discourage the use of profanity and loud remarks.

• Honesty and integrity should prevail during play and scoring.

• Fill more divots than you make. Repair more ball marks than you make.

• It is each player’s responsibility to notify his fellow golfer if they notice an infraction of a rule. If you see it, point it out!

SUGGESTIONS FOR FASTER PLAY

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• Arrive at the first tee slightly ahead of your time.

• Avoid hunting or fishing for golf balls other than your own during play.

• Prepare for your shot before it’s your turn to hit.

• Avoid changing clubs more than once on a particular shot.

• Take several clubs with you to your ball location when “carts on path” is in force.

• Prepare for your putt prior to your turn.

• Play ready golf. Take no more than two practice swings and then hit your ball. Your group should be one stroke behind the group in front of yours.

• Avoid unrelated conversation that delays play.

• After finishing a hole, proceed to the next tee before scoring or discussing the match.

• If you are playing at a pace behind the allotted time per hole, you may be asked to skip a hole (by the ranger). If this occurs the players involved will take a score consistent with their handicap plus par. Ex. hole is a par 4, you receive 2 strokes on the hole; your score would be 6.

• If Pace of Play clocks are installed on the course, make sure you are keeping pace and, if necessary, adjust your group’s play so that you are on pace.

GUEST POLICY

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• An overnight house guest of an MGA member may participate in any MGA event (except special events). The member and guest will normally be placed on the same team.

• If the guest has a verifiable USGA handicap, he can participate fully as a team member, except that he will not pay the entry fee nor participate in the team winnings. If the guest does not have a verifiable USGA handicap, he can participate in the event, but his score will not count, and his team will use a blind draw in his place.

• The MGA member is responsible for ensuring his sponsored guest is entered in the event by the cutoff date and time if applicable, his USGA handicap is provided to the CFN Golf Shop in sufficient time to verify it and appropriately place the guest on a team. Since guests cannot be entered on the CFN web site or at the CFN posting station, entering a guest in an event should be communicated directly to the Golf Shop staff.

• As a courtesy, the sponsoring member should also inform the MGA President that a guest will be playing.

LOCAL AND MGA RULES

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First and foremost, golf is just a game and we want everyone to have an enjoyable experience playing with the MGA. You will make new friends with whom you can enjoy many rounds of golf and other social activities. The following are some reminders and expectations to help us all enjoy MGA golf.

• The MGA plays by all Local Rules and USGA rules with the following exceptions:

o “Lift, clean and place” within one club length if your ball is in the fairway on Cart Path Only days or on any individual hole designated as Cart Path Only. All Par 3s are Cart Path Only.

o If your ball lands in a waste bunker and is “unplayable” due to a recent weather event such as strong rains or maintenance related issues such as the edges of the bunker being machined but not raked, you will get a free drop.

o The designated “A Player” in your group must agree that the condition warrants a free drop. You do not get a free drop because your ball is in a footprint, no matter how deep the footprint.

• Unless the “lift, clean and place” rule is in effect, all balls are played as they lie. They may not be cleaned. Rolling the ball or any other intentional movement of the ball with your club, any piece of equipment, any outside object, or any part of your body other than for the sole purpose of identifying the ball in a manner consistent with USGA rules is a one stroke penalty and could lead to disqualification.

• You do not get relief from your ball coming to rest in a divot, no matter how deep the divot, even if that divot is in the fairway.

• All putts must be holed (putted out). There are no “gimmees” regardless of length.

LOCAL AND MGA RULES

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• Scoring for each hole is the actual number of strokes you took to complete the hole. It is not limited to your ESC. The CFN staff will post your score as modified by your ESC for handicap purposes.

o To speed up play, a player may (and should) pick up and concede his ESC score any time doing so will not affect the match. He may not pick up, and must record all strokes, in any match or on any hole in which his gross score (without handicap) is used for the match or hole. And he may not pick up, and must record all strokes, in any match or on any hole where his net score (with handicap) is used for the match or hole. If there is any doubt as to whether his gross or net score would be used on a hole for his team or individual score, the player must complete the hole. In any case where the player picks up, he must record his score appending an X to the number of strokes (for example, X8).

o If you are out of a hole and choose to pick up, your score for that hole is the number of strokes you took at the time you picked up PLUS your honest judgment of the number of additional strokes you believe it would have taken you to complete the hole. Put an “X” after your numerical score.

• For all rules-related issues this year, we are asking the “A Player” in each group to assure that the rule interpretation is consistent for their group.

• If you are unsure how to proceed in a particular situation, play two balls for the hole you are on and ask a member of the CFN Golf Staff after the round for a ruling.

• Do not ground your club, pick up branches or move objects in a hazard.

LOCAL AND MGA RULES

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• CFN has many hazard areas that are not marked as hazards. All tree lines and native grass/perennial perimeter areas are deemed lateral hazards.

• Do not take a free drop from any hazard, even if you are standing on a cart path and your ball is in a hazard. Hole #15 is a good example of this.

• Do not play a ball from a hazard that has been marked as an environmental area.

• Mark your ball with a distinctive mark so that you can readily identify it.

• Do not stand near or in another player’s line of sight while he is making a stroke.

• When on the green and marking your ball, place your marker behind the ball and then pick up your ball. The green is defined as the shortest cut and does not include the slightly longer collar cut at the green’s edge.

• Out of Bounds on Holes #1 (right) & #3 (left over water) are played by going to the drop area and playing under penalty of one stroke. All other out of bounds shots shall be played as a lateral hazard, with the exception being that the player may not play the ball from the out-of-bounds location of the ball.

• When the “90° rule” for golf carts is in effect, once you leave the cart path to enter the fairway, you should remain on the fairway for as long as conditions allow going no closer than thirty yards from the green. Going back and forth through the rough is the primary source of damage to the rough.

• Relief for Embedded Ball Rule, Anywhere through the Green (including waste bunkers): A ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The

LOCAL AND MGA RULES

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ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

• Waste Areas: Waste areas are considered through the green. You may ground your club. The rakes are placed in areas close to the green as a courtesy. Please use them.

• With regard to the hazard to the left of the cart path on hole #17 (and other holes where the hazard line is close to the cart path), you may drop the ball within 2 club lengths of where your ball entered the hazard with a one-stroke penalty. If the cart path lies within 2 club lengths of that spot, you must first determine the nearest point of relief from the cart path, which may be on the side closer to the fairway. You then drop the ball within one club length from that nearest point of relief. If there is room to take your stance and drop your ball between the line of the hazard and the cart path, that is your nearest point of relief.

• With regard to a lost ball, not in a hazard (for example, if your ball is “lost” in the rough), USGA rules state that you must replay the shot from the spot where you originally hit with a one-stroke penalty. If you originally hit from the tee, you may re-tee the ball. You may not take a drop from where you believe the ball lies in the rough.

LOCAL AND MGA RULES

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Rain Policy

• In case of rain, if no group has completed the round, and if conditions are such that it is unlikely that play can continue, CFN may cancel the event and entry fees would be refunded.

• If any group has completed the round, it is incumbent upon the following groups to finish the round, or at a minimum, finish 12 holes. It is expected that as the first group finishes its round, the last group should have already finished its 12

th hole, so this should not be an

issue,

• A round becomes a postable round if at least 12 holes have been completed. A player would record a net par for all unfinished holes after #12,

• If a player chooses not to complete at least 12 holes, he will be DQ’d and will forfeit his $5.00 entry fee.

• Please be aware that a player who does not complete his round, but completes at least 12 holes, must post his own score using net par for all incomplete holes, as the pro shop will not post any rounds that have not been completed.

Hole-In-One Club

• The Hole-In-One Club primarily exists to help defray costs the successful Hole-In-One golfer may incur subsequent to his round in an MGA Event at CFN. The cost to belong to this Club is $3.00…it only applies to MGA Events (includes the Ryder/Presidents Cups but excludes away golf, Interclub, Brunswick Cup).

• Monies held in the Hole-In-One Club will be rewarded to the player that shoots the first hole-in-one of the day. The successful recipient will be responsible for satisfying ‘celebratory’ costs, including tips, incurred at the club that day. The MGA Treasurer will deliver all

LOCAL AND MGA RULES

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the monies held by the Hole-In-One Club to that player as soon as practical. Once funds are disbursed, participation in a replacement fund will require an additional $3.00.

• The shot must be taken from a standard or "recognized" tee box.

• The drive does not have to land on the green.

• Hole-in-one shots involving a "temporary" green are still valid.

• The scorecard reflecting the hole-in-one must be scorer signed and attested.

• Determining the validity of the round is subject to the MGA Rain Policy.

COMMON USGA RULES ISSUES

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Hazards

• No free relief if your ball is in a hazard. Moving anything (branches, twigs, pine cones, rocks, etc.) in order to hit your ball out of a hazard is a penalty.

• No free relief out of the hazard if your feet are on the cart path but your ball is in the hazard.

Bunkers

• There is no free relief from a bunker simply because your ball is buried.

• You may declare the ball unplayable and take a drop with a penalty stroke, but you must drop the ball in the bunker or waste area.

• There is no free relief from a footprint.

On the Green

• You must mark your ball before you move it.

• Putt it out! There are no “gimmees” in stroke play competition.

• Any part of your ball must be on the green to be marked and lifted.

On the Tee

• If your tee shot goes directly into a water hazard between the tee box and the fairway, you may take a penalty and re-tee the ball within the original tee ground markers.

COMMON USGA RULES ISSUES

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Out of Bounds

• Except as modified by local rules, if your shot goes out of bounds, you must take a penalty stroke and return to the spot from which you previously hit the shot to hit again. (At Cape Fear National, local rules take the place of this USGA rule).

• If you think your ball may have gone out of bounds, but you are not sure, you should notify someone in your group that you will hit a provisional ball. If your original ball is found in bounds, you play it without penalty. If your original ball is not found, you play your provisional ball with a two stroke (stroke and distance) penalty.

Sign up on the CFN web site for the weekly

MGA event or go to the CFN Golf Shop

and sign up at the posting station by 3:00

p.m. Tuesday.

If you encounter a problem, call the Golf

Shop at 910-383-3283.

Men’s Golf Association 1281 Cape Fear National Drive

Leland NC 28451

For Membership Information Contact

Keith Blankenbicker, (910) 769-1615 or

any member of the Board or Pro Shop staff