The Full Story
Table of Contents
ARGG GOLF GUIDELINES....................................................................................................................1
Membership...........................................................................................................................................1
Handicaps:.............................................................................................................................................1
Mission:.................................................................................................................................................2
RULES OF PLAY:................................................................................................................................2
Pairings Coordinator Role - Daily Format........................................................................................2
“A” Player - Application of Rules:...................................................................................................2
Counting Strokes – Max Score ........................................................................................................2
Mr. Par, Kilroy, Extra Shot...............................................................................................................2
Tee Boxes-180 Yard Rule ...............................................................................................................3
Do-Over’s, Mulligans, Breakfast balls:............................................................................................3
Gimme’s and Drive By’s..................................................................................................................3
Obstacles to Play – “Amoco Adjustment”........................................................................................4
Ground Conditions under the Ball (Playing Down, Bumping and Traps).......................................4
Lost Balls, Water Hazards, OB.........................................................................................................4
ProctorScoping.................................................................................................................................4
Pace of Play......................................................................................................................................5
Membership
Membership is by invitation by any existing member. While the group's name is the “Amoco Retiree's
Golf Group” we are no longer just Amoco retirees. Members and guests come from a wide range of
career backgrounds. Guests are eligible for membership after playing with the group once, simply by
requesting to be placed on our mailing list. The mailing list IS our membership list. There are no dues,
and once a member, always a member or until you ask to be dropped from our list. Up to the date of
this document this has always been a men’s group, We have no objection to women guests and
members.
Handicaps:
We play using ARGG handicaps, calculated based on the rounds we play with this group. Handicaps
are used to sort players into A,B,C,D for the purposes of team play. Guests must submit a handicap
when signed up by a member. That initial guest handicap will be used until an ARGG handicap can be
established, unless it is obviously out to line.
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Mission:
Our goal in this group is that everyone have fun and continue playing as long as they are able. We
don’t want to become rule-bound so we ask members to recognize that part of that fun is fair
competition….see application of rules, below.
RULES OF PLAY:
Pairings Coordinator Role - Daily Format
The Pairings Coordinator for the day picks the format of play (Stroke, Scramble, Shamble…etc) and in
doing that may NOT modify the rules contained in this rules documents. He does however have broad
discretion and can be as creative as he wants in terms of play format, teams, and prizes...no questions
asked.
“A” Player - Application of Rules:
Golf is a game of honor and trust. Understand these rules and apply them to yourself. No one is going
to call you out. However it is the responsibility of the “A” player to ensure that his team members
understand our rules and norms.
Counting Strokes – Max Score
All strokes taken must be counted. A “taken” stroke is one where contact with the ball is made with the
intention of striking it. A “Whiff” is not a stroke. We will all just unsee those. In the interest of “Pace
of play” all players should take a maximum score once they reach three over par.
Mr. Par, Ollie, Extra Shot
We attempt to form four person teams, but when that cannot be done, then threesomes will exist. The
fourth player on threesomes will either be Mr.Par or Kilroy at the discretion of the pairing coordinator.
Both of these “players” are scored as if they were team members for rounds where individual scores are
carded (Play your own ball, and Schamble). Mr. Par scores a par on every hole and Kilroy also scores
par on every hole but also has a few “pops” or strokes depending on the Pairing Coordinator (usually
3).
For example (see scorecard below)
1. Bob scored net par, Irvin a net birdie, Kilroy has no strokes...he scores par, not needed.
2. Bob=net par, Irvin=net par, Alan=net birdie, Kilroy=Net birdie..kilroy is used
3. This is similar to hole two, but here Kilroy contributes even without a stroke
4. Kilroy isn't needed
5. Kilroy isn't needed
6. Kilroy contributes without a pop
7. Kilroy not needed even with a stroke
For team play formats where a foursome gets 4 shots and takes the best one, such as a Scramble or
Shamble, threesomes are at a distinct disadvantage getting only three shots. In these circumstances one
of the members of the threesome has the option to take the fourth shot. To make it fair this fourth shot
should be rotated sequentially among the A,B, and C players.
Tee Boxes-180 Yard Rule
As a general rule this group plays from the “Senior” tees. There is one exception to this rule and it is
designed to allow all players to contribute no matter their skill level or ability to hit longer drives.
Regardless of your age or handicap you may chose to use the forward tees if your normal drive is under
180 yards. Since handicaps are affected by the tee you use, if you want to use the forward tees you
must be identified in the ARGG handicap system. Therefore we ask all players to clearly identify
themselves as meeting this criteria ahead of time. Your name will be flagged in the handicap system
and on the scorecards as a forward tee player. Please respect this rule. If your ball striking improves
and you begin hitting longer drives we’d appreciate your help in unflagging your name in the handicap
system, and stepping back to the senior tees. Please play the tees you are supposed to play. If you
desire to change due to the 180 yard rule, then indicate that my marking the tee change on the scorecard
and communicating the change to the handicap coordinator.
Do-Over’s, Mulligans, Breakfast balls:
Mulligans are limited and depend on the skill of the player. Better players should take less mulligans.
The rule is simple; A&B players get 2 mulligans per 18 holes, C&D players get 4 per 18 holes.
“Boudreauxs”…multiple mulligans on one shot…are not allowed. The player must play his mulligan,
not the original ball.
Gimme’s and Drive By’s
Gimme’s are acceptable as long as they are within one putter length of the hole…no longer. A “Drive
by” is a gimme assessed from afar. If you really want to drive by and leave your ball on the green for
the next group, go ahead and take the drive-by, otherwise we recommend actually walking up and
seeing if your ball is within a putter’s length of the hole.
Obstacles to Play – “Amoco Adjustment”
An obstacle is anything that gets between your ball and the hole, on the same hole you are currently
playing, that could potentially impede your ball from flying cleanly and gracefully to its destination. If
that obstacle is movable, such as one of your playing companions, then move it and play the ball
“down” (see next topic). If that obstacle is not moveable, such as a tree, tree roots, rocks, benches, or
farm equipment, then you are allowed to take an “Amoco Adjustment”. An Amoco adjustment allows
you to move your ball to avoid an immovable obstacle, to a place, no nearer to the hole where you have
a clear and safe shot to your target. It DOES NOT allow you to move the ball out of the forest all the
way to the middle of the fairway. Use this rule judiciously, and place the ball in “roughly” the same
ground conditions it was in behind the obstacle. (see next paragraph on ground conditions)
Ground Conditions under the Ball (Playing Down, Bumping and Traps)
There are times when the ground under your ball is not pristine fairway. USGA rules call for playing
the ball “down” and suffering the “rub of the green”, whenever nature is unkind. The ARGG rules
define “Down” as anywhere the ball lands after a small nudge, which we call “Bumping” . A small
nudge is defined as anywhere within a club length of the original position where the ball came to rest.
You are allowed to lift clean and place your ball on every shot regardless of the weather.
Traps are a special type of ground. They are there for a reason, and some even consider them design
features on golf courses. If your ball lands in a trap you may bump it (see above), but you may not
remove it from the trap, except for one of these conditions:
a) You have physical reasons for not climbing in and out of traps…we want to see you at lunch.
b) Traps are under repair or in such poor condition that playing there makes no sense.
If you remove the ball from the trap, place it outside the trap NO CLOSER TO THE HOLE.
Lost Balls, Water Hazards, OB
Occasionally our golf balls end up where we don't want them to. If we're lucky we can find them and
then can reward ourselves for our diligence by not taking a stroke for a lost ball (it wasn't lost) and
since we are allowed to take Amoco adjustments, no stroke is incurred. Lost balls that stay lost are
penalized by a stroke as in normal golf play. This rule applies for balls lost in water or out of bounds as
well. If you can retrieve YOUR ball (not a replacement) then no stroke is incurred. Place the ball as
close as you can to where it entered the water hazard, or went OB, and play on. If your ball is lost in
water or OB take a stroke and play it as close as possible to where it entered the water or went OB. See,
the paragraph of “Pace of Play”. Look for a reasonable amount of time, but not forever.
ProctorScoping
A long-standing ARGG practice. When playing a team round where only one score is carded per hole
(Scramble), or in a Shamble on a par 3 where the best drive is used (team ball), all players on the
putting surface (not the fringe), may at their discretion putt their balls before the “team ball” is putted.
This document was prepared: 11/06/21ARGG GOLF GUIDELINES Pg 5
If that player makes that putt it counts even if the team ball is not putted. In a scramble situation the
team score would reflect that made putt. In a shamble format the individual(s) making their putt would
not have to putt the team ball and can score their own putt. If they miss the putt with their Proctorscope
they may then put the team ball.
Pace of Play
Each group should keep up with the group ahead. The “A” player is responsible for keeping his group
moving and in contact with the group ahead. The reason this is important is that our group plays many
courses that have members and are heavily used. We do not want to become unwelcome because of
complaints from other players. If the marshal warns your group about your pace of play, heed the
warning and pick up the pace. Players should cease play and pick up on the hole when they reach three
over par.
This document was prepared: 11/06/21