WOMEN’S

NINE HOLE LEAGUE

7883 County Road 16

Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
218-543-4900
www.whitefishgolf.com
Steve Bengtson
PGA Professional
TABLE OF CONTENTS

S & M Rule (Sunday Monday Rule).…………………3

How to Stroke Your Card………………………..4

Equitable Stroke Control…………………………5

Rules of Play……………………………………..6

Rules for Competition……………………….....7-8

Constitution………………………………………9

By-Laws……………………………………....10-13

Hostess Procedures……………………………..14

Publication Date: September 2018 Page 2

 S & M Rule
(Sunday and Monday!!)

Rules for signing up for League play

You may sign up for Wednesday League Play

a couple of different ways:

1. Online sign up can be done at: whitefishwomens9holeleague.weebly.com. Select the

“WEEKLY SIGN UP” tab. Enter date for which you are signing up (xx/xx/xxxx) and
your name. Select “Yes Playing”, “Yes Luncheon/Meeting” if applicable, and/or “Yes
Riding a cart” if applicable. Enter your e-mail address. There is a place for comments
such as “early tee time” or “want to play with…”.

2. Sign-up sheets for the next two weeks of League play are available at the sign-in
table on Wednesdays or online anytime.

3. A sign-up sheet for the current week is always posted from Wednesday to Monday
noon on the bulletin board at the clubhouse.

YOU MUST SIGN UP BY 12:00 PM MONDAY

FOR LEAGUE PLAYTHE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY
(IF FOOD IS PLANED, SIGN UP BY SATURDAY NIGHT)

4. If you must cancel, please do it as soon as possible by Monday 12:00 PM online, at the
clubhouse bulletin board or by email to Pairing Committee Chair.

5. Emergencies may cause last minute cancellations on the day of league play. If this
occurs, you must inform the Clubhouse that you cannot make your tee time. It may be
reached by 7:00 a.m. at 218-543-4900. If you need to cancel after 12 noon Monday, send
an email to the Pairings Chair.

6. The decision regarding inclement weather cancellation will be made by 1 hour before the
first tee time on the day of play. Notification of cancellation will be via email or you may
call the clubhouse after 7:00 a.m. If the league play is cancelled and you choose to play,
you may do so as long as Whitefish has not canceled. If you choose to play when league
is canceled, there will be no hostesses, no game and no prizes.

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Publication Date: September 2018 Page 4
 HOW TO STROKE YOUR CARD
Handicap InformationHANDICAP INFORMATION

The GHIN system at Whitefish keeps track of our scores and assigns each of us a handicap.
The handicap translates to strokes that we can subtract from each hole to get our net score.
The holes are rated for difficulty from 1 to 18 with hole #5 rated the most difficult (handicap
hole #1). These ratings are listed on the scorecard as “handicap” with numbers 1, 3, 5, 9, 11,
13, 15 and 17 on the front nine and numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 on the back nine.
On the computer scorecards used for league, the handicap strokes that you are allowed are
represented by dots for each hole.

Example: A league member with a nine hole handicap of 17 playing the front nine would be
entitled to 17 stroked (dots). To determine the handicap for each hole, start assigning one
stroke for each handicap hole starting with the lowest handicap hole until you reach a total of
17. The net score for each hole is the gross score minus handicap.

________________________________________________________________
Hole # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
________________________________________________________________
Player A
17 Handicap oo oo oo o oo oo oo oo oo
____________________________________________________________________________
Player B
7 Handicap o o o o o o o
____________________________________________________________________________
Handicap 7 11 15 17 1 9 13 3 5
________________________________________________________________

Some of the games or events use hole-by-hole net scores. The net score is the gross score on
a hole minus the handicap for that hole. A gross score of “6” with two dots would give you a
net score of “4” for that hole.

NOTE: This is for information only. Golf Genius software does all the calculations for net
score and event winners even when hole-by-hole net scores are used for the game.

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 EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL PROCEDURE

Equitable Stroke Control is the procedure that you will use to calculate an ADJUSTED
SCORE to be entered into the GHIN computer system each time you complete a round to
acquire and maintain a handicap.

1. At the end of the round, calculate your GROSS SCORE by adding together the
scores for all the holes.

2. Use the chart below to determine the maximum score ALLOWED on each hole.

Handicap of:
Maximum
9 Hole Score Posted
Handicap On Any Hole
4 or less Double Bogey
5 thru 9 7
10 thru 14 8
15 thru 19 9
20 and above 10

3. Using this MAXIMUM, go through your scorecard hole by hole. For any hole where
your actual score exceeds your MAXIMUM, record the difference. The sum of the
differences is then subtracted from the GROSS SCORE to calculate your ADJUSTED
SCORE. This “adjusted score” is the score you must enter into the Handicap Computer.

Example: If your 9 hole handicap is 18: Your GROSS SCORE for the 9 hole round just
played is 59. You have an 18 handicap. Using the chart above, the MAXIMUM score
ALLOWED per hole for an 18 handicap is 9. Assuming you had a 10 on No. 5 and a 10 on
No. 8, you would have a total of 2 strokes above MAXIMUM (10-9=1) = 2. Subtract the
two strokes from your GROSS SCORE of 59 for your ADJUSTED SCORE of 57. You
will post the 57 in the computer.

Important: For league play your actual gross score and net score will be used.
Your gross score would be 59 and your net score 41 (59 actual score minus your 18
handicap).

Note: Golf Genuis software applies Equitable Stroke Control for league play. You must
make adjustments to non-league scores that you enter into the GHIN computer system..

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 RULES OF PLAY

USGA Rules of Golf govern all play except as modified by local or league rules as follows:

1. Winter rules are in effect only when announced by the Club Manager or Pro.
If winter rules are announced, preferred lies only apply in the fairway of the hole being
played. The ball may be rolled with the club head no more than 6 inches no nearer the hole.

2. Hole #12 – Hit first ball from tee. If ball goes into the water, take a one stroke penalty
and move to the drop in front of the pond to hit your next shot. If next shot also goes into the
pond, take another one stroke penalty and take your next shot from the drop area on the other
side of the pond. Do not tee up ball in drop areas. PENALTY – ONE OR TWO
STROKES

3. Ball in woods, lost or found – Local Rule: The player has the option of either playing the
ball from the woods with no penalty, or, under the penalty of ONE STROKE use the Local
Rule and play the woods as lateral *hazardpenalty area. If played as a lateral
hazardpenalty area, you may drop a ball within two club lengths of the point of entry into
the long grass/brush line, no nearer the hole. ONE STROKE PENALTY (* no longer
called “Hazard”)

4. If ball lies on rocks, cart paths, by yellow tagged trees or by artificial obstructions (such
as yardage markers, benches, fences, equipment), ball may be moved within 1 club length
from the nearest point of relief and no nearer the hole. NO PENALTY

Reminders About USGA Rules for Penalty Areas

1. Water Hazards:

1. Play as lies without penalty. Allowed to remove loose impediment, touch ground and water,
and ground club in penalty areas. ??Sand??Regular Water Hazard Rules (Yellow Stakes)
offer the following options for relief:
a. Play the ball from within the hazard as it lies without grounding your club. NO PENALTY
b. Replay your shot from the spot where it was last played. ONE SHOT PENALTY
c. Play a shot from any point along a line that extends from the hole back through the point that
the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, yet no closer to hole than the point that the ball
last crossed the hazard. ONE SHOT PENALTY

Lateral Water Hazard Rules (Red Stakes offer the following options for relief:
a. Play the ball from within the hazard as it lies without grounding your club. NO PENALTY
b. Replay your shot from the spot where it was last played. ONE SHOT PENALTY
c. Play a shot from any point along a line that extends from the hole back through the point that
the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard yet no closer to the hole than the point that the
ball last crossed the hazard. ONE SHOT PENALTY
d. Drop a ball that is no more than 2 club lengths from the point that the ball last crossed the
hazard yet no closer to the hole ONE SHOT PENALTY

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e. Follow the same procedure as in #d above yet dropping from a point that is equidistance from the
hole yet on the opposite side of the hazard. ONE SHOT PENALTY

2. Take penalty relief ONE STROKE PENALTY

a. Yellow Stakes
1) Stroke and distance – play original or new ball from a relief area based on where the
previous stroke was made. (May need to estimate.)
2) Back on the line – drop original or new ball in relief area based on reference line
going straight back from hole/flag through the estimated point where the ball last
crossed the edge of the penalty area.

b. Red Stakes
The two options above plus lateral relief
Lateral relief – drop original or new ball within two club lengths from the estimated
point where ball crossed the edge of the red penalty area.

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 RULES FOR COMPETITIONLEAGUE PLAY (not “Competition”)

1. Golfers should check in a minimum of 30 minutes prior to tee time.

2. A desirable pace of play would be 2 – 2 ½ hrs.
3. Proper golf attire does not include short shorts or halter tops.
4. Only paid members of the Whitefish Women’s Nine Hole League may compete for
prizes in the regular Wednesday events. Players must be enrolled in the Whitefish
Golf Club Handicap System.
5. To qualify for the league tournament, a player must have at least 4 attested scores that
have been posted from the 9-hole league competitions.
6. Golfers should check in a minimum of 30 minutes prior to tee time.
7. Each foursome should keep two scorecards; players should announce their scores on
completion of play on each hole and before teeing off on the next hole.
8. Each golfer is responsible for entering her adjusted score into the computer on non-
league days of play.
9. Two members listed on the official scorecard must attest the card.
10. All scores for all rounds played home or away should be posted in the Whitefish
computer. Ask for help from the proshop staff if needed.
11. Once you are on the green, all subsequent strokes are considered putts – even if you
go off the green

STEP UP THE PLAY

A. On the tees, have club, ball and tee ready to hit.

B. Choose a club and be ready to take a turn while other golfer is hitting.
C. At the green, park the cart pin high and exit green to side or rear.
D. Record scores at next tee while waiting to tee off.
E. Go to the ball as soon as it is time to hit; do not sit in cart and wait for cart mate to
drive to the ball if it is within 30 ft. or so.
F. Spend a maximum of 3 minutes looking for lost ball according to the 2019 USGA
Rules of Golf.
G. If a hole opens up ahead, step up the pace to close the gap.
H. If all of the above fails, consider letting the group behind play through.
I. Do not stand in the line of another player’s putt; players should continue putting
unless it is necessary to stand on another player’s line. Do not stand behind hole on
another putter’s line.

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 NO CHANGES

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 9 HOLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

Event: The 9 Hole League Tournament will be a 2 day event, weather permitting. The play shall be
on each of the two nines at Whitefish Golf Club. In case of rain, the tournament may become a 1
day tournament. This decision will be made by the Club Manager and the President. In case of 2
days of rain, the Club Manager and President may move the Tournament to a regular golf day or
days depending on availability of such days.

Rules: USGA Rules, Local Rules and Whitefish 9 Hole League regular rules shall govern
Tournament play.

Eligibility: To be eligible to play in the Championship Tournament, a player must have at least four
(4) attested scores that have been posted from 9 hole league competitions.

Tournament Committee: The 9 Hole League Tournament Committee will establish procedures for
the tournament. The exception would be the necessity for cancellation and then the Club Manager
and the President would determine the play as explained above.

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 NO CHANGES

League Constitution and By-Laws

of the Whitefish Women’s Nine Hole
Golf League at Whitefish Golf Club

CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the League shall be Whitefish Women’s Nine Hole League.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization shall be the promotion of good golf, the conducting of various
golf events and tournaments for its members, the promotion of good fellowship and
sportsmanship and the accurate handicapping of all members.

ARTICLE III – GOVERNMENT

Section 1. The League and its affairs shall be entrusted to the elected Officers: President, Vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer. These Officers constitute the Executive Board.
Section 2. The Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members attending the
September General Membership Meeting. They shall be installed in their offices at that meeting.
Section 3. An Officer shall serve for a one year term. She may serve one or more additional
years in the same office if she is elected to the position by the membership.
Section 4. If any member of the Executive Board fails to attend two Executive Board meetings
for other than a legitimate reason, such as illness or absence from the area, the Board may
terminate her membership on the Board.
Section 5. Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Board shall be filled for the unexpired term
by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV – AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted to membership at a general membership
meeting with a 2/3rd vote required for passage assuming a quorum of 51% of the membership
voting. Proposed changes may be proposed by the Executive Board or by written petition to the
Board by ten or more members. The Board must present the proposed change to the membership
with or without its endorsement, by posting it at least ten days prior to the meeting.

Original effective date: June 12, 2002

Amended: August 14, 2002; Article III, Section 1.
Amended: September 7, 2016; Article IV

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 BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership occurs upon payment of annual League dues and enrollment in the
Whitefish Golf Club handicap system (GHIN).
Section 2. The annual dues will be established by the Executive Board and are payable to the
Treasurer by check. League dues will not be refunded after the first day of play except by
specific action of the Executive Board.
Section 3. The fiscal year shall be from September 15th to September 14th of the following year.
Section 4. When accompanied by a member and upon payment of green fees, guests may golf
on regularly scheduled days. However, guests will not be eligible for individual, or team games,
league golf prizes. Guests will not be permitted to play on days of the nine hole league
championship tournament.
Section 5. Those who choose not to golf but would like to maintain a social membership in the
Whitefish Women’s Nine Hole League may do so. This membership allows them to serve on
committees, attend luncheons and to be eligible for door prizes.
Original effective date: June 12, 2002
Amended: June 8, 2005; Article I, Section 4.
Amended: September 5, 2018; Article 1, Section 5.

ARTICLE II – MEETINGS
Section 1. The Executive Board shall meet as necessary to conduct League business – the day,
time and place to be agreed on by the Board members.
Section 2. General Membership Meetings will be listed on the published League Schedule and
coincide with luncheons.
Section 3. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by any member of the
Executive Board. Special meetings of the membership will be called by the Executive Board or
upon written request of ten or more members. Email notice will be given by the Executive
Board to the membership at least one week in advance of the special membership meeting stating
the purpose of the meeting.
Section 4. A majority of the Executive Board must be present at any meeting for the transaction
of official business.

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 ARTICLE III – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1. President – The President shall preside at executive and general membership
meetings. The President shall appoint the committee chairs and serve as an advisor to
committees. The President also confers with the Club Manager to determine if the League will
play during inclement weather.
Section 2. Vice President – The Vice President will fill in for the President if the President is
absent. She will also designate and manage weekly games for the season. She will meet with
the Hostess Chairperson to determine materials for the Hostess Binder. She will also provide
weekly game information to the pairings person and weekly hostess.
Section 3. Secretary – The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Executive
Board and the League. She shall handle League correspondence as requested by the Executive
Committee. She will mail out the membership information in the spring and maintain a roster of
members.
Section 4. Treasurer – The Treasurer shall propose the annual budget for approval by the
Executive Board. She will keep an accurate account of all funds received from dues and other
sources, depositing monies in the name and to the credit of the League in a depository approved
by the Board. She shall disburse all funds for expenses and prizes defined within the approved
budget or as separately authorized by an Executive Board’s recorded action. The Treasurer will
report on the finances of the League at each meeting of the Executive Board and at General
Meetings.

ARTICLE IV – STANDING COMMITTEES

The Executive Board at its first meeting after election and installation shall appoint the
Chairpersons and designate the duties of the following suggested Standing Committees:

League Tournament/End of season club dinner Sunshine

(Removed Rules and Handicaps)Rules and Handicaps Social and Luncheon
Handbook Review & Edit (including Rules) Publicity/Photography
Hostesses WOW/Cause Day
Technology/Web page Pairings/Scoring/Handicap

Committee Chairs shall attend Executive Board meetings when requested to do so by the
President.

Original effective date: June 12, 2002

As amended: September 7, 2016
As amended September 5, 2018
As amended September X, 2019

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 ARTICLE V – ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominating Committee – The Executive Board shall appoint a Nominating
Committee of three members in July each year. The Nominations Committee will notify the
membership by e-mail of the list of nominees at least ten days prior to the September
membership meeting when the election will take place. Nominations from the floor are
permissible if the nominee is present and verbally accepts the nomination. If all officers currently
serving agree to run for election again, a Nominations Committee is still needed to notify and
present the nominees at the membership meeting.
Section 2. Voting – If there are nominations from the floor, the election shall be by secret
written ballot with the votes counted by the Nominating Committee and the results announced at
the meeting. If there are no nominations from the floor, the Chair shall rule that the Nominating
Committee’s slate is elected by acclamation.
Original effective date: June 12, 2002
As Amended: September 7, 2016; Article V, Section 1
As Amended: September 5, 2018; Article V, Section 1

ARTICLE VI – HANDICAPS
Section 1. Handicaps - Members must be enrolled in the Whitefish Golf Club handicap system
(GHIN) to qualify for prizes.(Deleted 2 sentences) If the “game of the week” does not require a
handicap, members who have not yet established a handicap can win prizes along with
handicapped members. If the “game of the week” requires a handicap, a member will not be
eligible for prizes in such events until her handicap has been established. Members may use a
nine or eighteen hole handicap. Strokes will be awarded according to the handicap rating of each
hole.
Section 2. Valid Handicaps – Members must establish a League handicap by one of the
following methods:
a) Have a Whitefish handicap from the previous season.
b) Provide a GHIN card from the previous year (from any USGA course) providing it includes
at least 20 scores for that year.
c) The League will use a modified Peoria system to calculate a handicap until a member has
established a GHIN handicap.

d) The GHIN system will provide a valid handicap when 10 or more scores are entered; it
periodically uses the best 10 of the last 20 scores entered to recalculate a handicap.

Section 3. Maximum Handicap – For all League events, maximum handicaps will have no
ceiling for 9 holes.
Original effective date: June 12, 2002
As Amended: August 10, 2005, Article VI, Section 1
As Amended: July 16, 2008
As Amended: September 5, 2018; Article VI, Section 2c

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Publication Date: September 2018 Page 16
 ARTICLE VII – INFRACTIONS – TERMINATIONS
Section 1. The Executive Board shall have the authority by a super majority vote (3 out of 4) of
the Board to warn a member and/or terminate the membership of a League member under the
following procedures and conditions:
a) Any complaint or grievance involving a member must be presented to the Executive Board in
writing by another member. The Board shall investigate the matter including testimony from the
complaining member, other members and the person accused.
b) The Executive Board at a special closed meeting shall rule on the matter. All members
directly involved will be invited to be present and enter into the discussions prior to action by the
Board.
c) After reviewing the written and oral comments, the Executive Board in closed session shall
vote to dismiss the complaint, to warn the member that any repetition may subject her to
termination, or if warranted, to terminate her membership, temporarily or permanently, in the
League.
Section 2. If the matter involves an Officer, she shall be subject to the same procedures as
above, including being removed from office. She shall not be allowed to participate or vote in
the closed session.
Section 3. Actions producing the complaint or grievance under this Article could be but are not
limited to disruptive, unsportsmanlike or unladylike conduct, deliberate falsifying of scores,
flagrant violations of the Rules of Golf or golf etiquette including habitual and extremely slow
play.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the By-Laws shall be submitted to the membership at a General Membership
meeting with a 2/3rd vote required for passage assuming a quorum of 51% of the membership is
voting. Changes may be proposed by the Executive Board or by written petition to the Board by
ten or more members. The Board must present the proposed change to the membership, with or
without its endorsement, by posting it at least ten days prior to the meeting.

Original effective date: June 12, 2002.

As Amended: September 7, 2016; Article VIII

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 HOSTESS PROCEDURE OVERVIEW

Please sign up to volunteer as a hostess for a weekly golf event on the Hostess Sign-up Sheet.
Two volunteers are needed each week. Hostesses will be reminded by email the Sunday of the
week they have volunteered.

On the day of the event, arrive about 45-60 minutes before tee times begin and locate the
Hostess Guide Binder in the cabinet under the GHIN computer. Please review the detailed
Hostess procedures (may be done ahead of time).

Check for last minute cancellations and make adjustments in pairings on the scorecards.
Put out sign-up sheets for following two weeks of golf dates and encourage members to sign up
on-line..

Each team will have two computer generated scorecards. Review game instructions and answer
questions on the game of the week. Detailed instructions for each week will be in the Hostess
Guide Binder.

After golf game, collect BOTH scorecards until a Pairings/Scoring Committee person arrives.
Review for correct signatures and ensure that both cards match (i.e. totals). Give both cards to
the Pairings/Scoring Committee. If no Pairings/Scoring Committee person available, put all
cards in the Hostess Binder.

Please put all unused materials back into binder and return to the cabinet under the GHIN
computer.

Post following 2 week’s sign-up sheets on bulletin board by the computer with the most current
week on the bottom.

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