This rules section of the Maple Ridge Men's Golf Club (MRMGC) website incorporates two central themes, as follows:
General golf matters related to the overall game of golf, recent rule changes from golf's governing bodies.
Specific club matters pertaining to such things as local rules (e.g., local rules passed by the executive to facilitate
improved pace of play, drop zones, etc.) and club expectations for members related to tee time
cancellations, no-shows, membership renewal, etc.
General Golf Matters:
Golf Canada administers all matters pertaining to the Rules of Golf, amateur status, handicapping,
and course rating as set out by the R&A and the USGA. You can access Golf Canada's website for all Rules of Golf related information.
Additionally, the following three sections pertaining to recent rules changes etc. contain very useful
information for new and returning members to explore, and can be accessed directly through the following links:
Hybrid Local Rule E-5: An Alternative to Stroke and Distance
The City of Calgary will use a new scorecard this season to reflect the changes/renovations to the golf course.
Additionally, and of particular relevance to the MRMGC, they have chosen to implement a revised version of one of their
existing Local rules, which they feel will help improve pace of play while at the same time maintain reasonable alignment
with the governing bodies of golf and the latter's 2019
Local Rule E-5: An Alternative to Stroke and Distance.
This new local rule can be found on the back of the new scorecard, paraphrased as such.
"For any ball deemed lost or OB you may take a drop in the estimated general area of where the ball may have
come to rest, or exited the property, under penalty of 1 stroke. If you choose, you may also drop on the nearest fairway
under penalty of 2 strokes."
Starting in 2023 the MRMGC will align itself with this local rule.
As a result of adopting this local rule, there is no longer any requirement to hit provisional balls. If you believe your ball
is likely to be lost or OB, do not a hit a provisional. Go directly to where your ball is likely to be, and if it is not found
within the maximum allowable time of 2 minutes, proceed as indicated above and continue play.*
Under no circumstances are we to return to where the last stroke was played. Doing so will result in
disqualification for that round as regards prizes, match play, and accruement of Ressler Cup points.
*if you choose to re-hit a second ball, it will not be a provisional, and incurs stroke-and-distance penatly.
Let's say for example, a second tee shot, it will be under penalty of stroke and
distance (so a re-tee will be your 3rd shot) and your option to exercise E-5 from your original ball is forfeited (but will be available should you
lose your second ball as well). Meaning invoking E-5 after losing your second tee ball would constitute hitting your 5th shot from the general area or
your 6th shot if you choose to drop in the fairway.
Visually, the procedure for determining drop area:
Identify Ball Reference Point Ⓐ: You can drop there for 1 stroke penalty
Identify Fairway Reference Point Ⓑ: You can drop there for a 2 stroke penalty
The City's local Rule implementation does not use area Ⓒ. For our purposes it would be considered a 2 stroke penalty, as stated in E-5
NOTE: The City's local rule is not strick to E-5. As such the procedure & penalty text in blue of the picture above does not apply
Club Expectations:
Members are responsible to show up on time and play in any event in which they have registered.
If a member cannot make said event, notification must be made to the Club Captain
by 9:00 PM on the Monday evening prior to the Saturday event. This provides the Club Captain the opportunity
to fill that spot with a reserve-list member. A member who fails to cancel within the prescribed time,
or does not show up, is required to pay the club an amount equivalent to the current 18-hole green fee
plus Maple Ridge Golf Course user fee.
Existing members of the club in good standing can renew their membership annually prior to the deadline
declared by the executive each spring. Members can take a leave-of-absence from the club for a
maximum of one year and maintain their membership privileges provided it is approved in advance by the executive.
A leave of absence will be considered for temporary work relocations, injury/illness, etc.
New members to the club will be selected each year to fill openings on a first come, first served basis.
Application can be made by email sent to the membership chair (see How to Join page) or alternatively by posting
a letter to the club's mailing address. Potential members are contacted based on the date their application
was received by the Membership Chair. When a spot becomes available the first applicant on the list
will be contacted and given one opportunity to commit to membership in the club. Appropriate membership dues
for that year MUST be received within two weeks of acceptance.
For handicapping purposes, members are expected to post a minimum of ten scores in any one calendar year.
At its first meeting of the New Year, the Executive will review the membership of any member who has not posted
ten scores in the previous year.
Members must participate in a minimum of three scheduled Club events (alternate week casual play not included)
played at the Maple Ridge Golf Course. This is a minimum requirement for continuation of membership
and for participation in the competitive aspect of the Club Championship.
For all play during Maple Ridge Men's Golf Club competitions/tournaments, a player may obtain
distance information by using a device that measures distance only.
If a player uses a device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play
(e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3,
for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.
Slow Play remediation - In all Club Tournaments/events played with the MRMGC, the following Rules apply:
Each individual player must play all 18 holes without undue delay and in accordance with the
pace of play guidelines. As well, if a player unduly delays play between holes,
he is delaying the play of the next hole. Penalty for Breach of Rule 6 - 7:
Match Play - Loss of hole; Stroke Play - Two strokes; for subsequent offense, Disqualification.
When a group is more than one hole behind the group in front, or out of position*, the group must pick up their balls
and proceed to the next tee. Their score for that hole shall be par plus any handicap strokes the player is entitled
to receive on the hole, plus a two stroke penalty.
*(Out of position is defined as, failing to reach the tee of a par 3 before the proceeding group has cleared the next tee OR failing to reach the tee of a par 4 or 5 before the proceeding group has cleared the green of that hole).
NOTE: The City's local rule is not strick to E-5. As such the procedure & penalty text in blue of the picture above does not apply