DMVVGA RULES & POLICIES

HANDICAP POLICY
It is very important that all handicaps are fair and accurate for any DMVVGA Tournament. To help keep the tournamet fair for the field, DMVVGA reserves the right to adjust your handicap if your score reflects way outside your stated or recorded handicaps. DMVVGA reserves the right to use handicaps or scores from prior events for any player from prior tournaments if your handicap has increase in between events. 

DECIMAL POINTS
DMVVGA will use handicaps with the decimal points to help prevent numerous ties. We will not round up or down to the nearest whole number.

LOW GROSS
In the event that 2 or more low gross scores are tied for the low gross placement, we will look at each players scores on the hardest holes starting with the number one hardest to determine the tie breaker. The player who shot the least strokes will win the tie break.

STROKE ALLOWANCE
Every player will be allowed 2 strokes better than their tournament handicap. Meaning, a 10 handicap on a par 72 will be allowed 80 as his best score if he shoots 79 or less. This is a guideline and can be changed accordingly per player by DMVVGA for multiple occurences. (Course Par + Handicap - 2)

DMVVGA reserve the right to change your handicap to match your gross score if it's way outside your handicap range. On a two day event, a 10 handicap shooting way out of their handicap range on either day will affect both day's scores.  A 10 handicap shooting 76 may and can be adjusted to a 4 handicap for the entirety of the event instead of their score being capped at 80. 

If an adjustment is to be made by DMVVGA, we will inform you of the adjustment to your score.

SANDBAGGING or CHEATING to win any DMVVGA tournament will not be tolerated and will result in the player(s) being banned from further participation and membership.

Direct all questions and concerns about handicaps to Bi Nguyen, 240-328-5728.

NEW MEMBERS/FIRST TIME PLAYERS
New first time members are ineligible to win any of the trophies or prizes on their first tournament. You are only eligible to win side contests such as closest to the pin or long drive. Once you complete your first tournament you are eligible for life so long as you do not allow more than two seasons go by without membership. If more than 2 year lapses, you will return as a new member upon reactivating your membership.

CAP LIMIT
To keep the playing field fair all GHIN handicaps are capped at 30 as the highest handicap allowed. If your official GHIN handicap is over 30, your handicap will be adjusted to 30 for scoring purposes. If a player shoots better than their cap then the 2 strokes better rule will apply.

COURSE RULES
All DMVVGA tournaments will follow USGA rules & policies throughout game play.

The noted rules below are often changed depending on condtions. They are to be followed unless otherwise announced. If any player brings notice to a DMVVGA board member of a rules violation on another player, DMVVGA will gather all information and make a determination whether a penalty will be imposed. DMVVGA's ruling is final.

NO HELPING
The following occurences are prohibited:
• Reading greens for another player
• Asking or telling another player club selection
• Telling another player how to play the hole
• Telling a personal match partner to lay up and you go for it or vice versa in a stroke play tournament.

All above rules carry a 1 stroke penalty per occurence.

PLAY IT DOWN
We play everything down unless announced otherwise.  If the weather calls for it, we will announce lift, clean and place at the opening announcement prior to start time. 1 stroke penalty per occurence if you lift your ball off where it lies. Checking to see if it's your ball does not require you lifting an unplugged ball entirely off the surface, rotate it where it lies. A playing partner is required to witness you checking your ball after a search and found situation. Any player who brings it to our attention that they did not witness you finding or checking your ball may result in a decision not in your favor.

PLUGGED BALLS
Plugged balls can not be unplugged in hazard areas. A plugged ball can be unplugged and placed within a scorecard of where it was plugged when in the fairway or rough.  Plugged bunker balls must be played as it lies.

BUNKER RULES
Play as it lies in the bunker unless otherwise announced,  When announced there is relief in a footprint, DO NOT move the ball until other playing partners determine it is a footprint. Once determined it is a foot print, a player can use the rake, club or foot to smooth out the sand and replace the ball in the exact spot. Moving a ball before your playing partners determine it is a foot print or moving a ball that is not in a foot print will incur a 1 stoke penalty per occurence. Plugged balls in the bunker can not be unplugged, it must be played as it lies.

MARK YOUR BALL
Mark your ball clearly and uniquely. Any player who questions whether it is your ball or not, ruling will lean towards complainant if your ball is not clearly and uniquely marked. Hitting a ball that is not yours incurs a 2 stroke penalty per hit.

UNMARKED AREAS
Unless it is announced otherwise, all unmarked tall grass and wooded areas will be played according to USGA/LOCAL rules of lost ball. SEE OUT OF BOUNDS BELOW.

OUT OF BOUNDS/LOST BALL
Out of Bound or lost ball rules states you can rehit from original spot for a 1 stroke penalty or place the ball in the fairway equidistant to the pin as the point of entry to the pin.
(i.e. your ball goes out and point of entry is 190 yards to  the pin. You can either place the ball 2 club lengths from the rough in the fairway 190 yards from the pin, no closer and take 2 strokes penalty or rehit from the original spot for 1 stroke penalty.)

If your ball's entry point never reached the beginning of the fairway, you CAN NOT take relief in the fairway regardless that your ball was found parallel to the fairway. You must re-hit from the original spot for a 1 stroke penalty or 2 strokes penalty drop within 2 club lengths from the entry point. Again, distance is measured from the entry point and not where your ball came to rest.

PACE OF PLAY
Please keep up with the group ahead of you. Any group that is holding up the group behind them and no group are holding in front will get a warning. If you're two holes behind, each player will receive a 1 stroke penalty.

BALL SEARCHING
Hit your ball first before you start to help your playing partners search for their ball. Maximum allotted time to search for a lost ball is 2 minutes. Once found, a witness must be present to determine that it is your ball.

LOCAL RULES
If there are any local rules the course wants us to follow, we will announce those rules during opening announcements or via email prior to tournament start.

SCORECARD
Please have everyone acknowledge and sign the card. Submit 1 signed score card to JoJo, Nuge or Bruce after the round. Once a scorecard is turned in, scores can not be changed for the better, it can only be changed for the worse.
The official score card must be scored with full stroke count per hole per player. Plus and minus count scoring will not be accepted.

Once scores are posted, you have until noon the next day to dispute any errors or inaccuracies for DMVVGA to investigate and make corrections.