Yahara Hills EWGA League 2011

 

 

 

Welcome to the eighth year of EWGA golf at Yahara Hills.  Our league will play on Wednesday nights for 12 weeks (May 18 through August 3).  Tee times begin at 5:06 and end at 5:30.  I will be posting the full schedule on the EWGA website this week.

 

10 Stroke Rule

In order to keep pace of play, please limit yourself to 10 strokes per hole.  After 10 strokes, you should pick up your ball and allow the rest of your foursome to complete the hole.  Record a 10 on your scorecard and strive to minimize the number of holes in which you are forced to pick up. 

 

Rain/Bad Weather

Always assume that you are playing.  If the weather is bad all day, we will try to get a decision on play from Yahara as soon as possible.  In general, unless there is a lot of standing water or lightening, we will play.  If the course closes, we will be offered a rain check or reschedule.  However, if it is raining, and you decide not to come to the course, you are not offered a rain check.   

 

Play Your Designated Tee Time

The tee time schedule has been structured to evenly split the early and late tee times and to give everyone the opportunity to play with each other.  If you arrive late for your tee time, do not assume that you can golf with a later group.  It is likely that you will have to skip a few holes and golf with your designated group.

 

Substitutes

It is your responsibility to obtain a substitute if you are unable to play.  To find a sub, go to the EWGA Madison website (ewgamadison.org) and: 
1) Click on Members Only section and enter your name and password to sign in.
2) Click on Send an Email. 
3) Click on the drop list for 'Category/League to Send To' and select Yahara - Wednesday Subs.  Make sure you chose the 'subs list' for your league or your request will go to the actual league and not to the subs.
4) Type the message of your e-mail and click the Send button.  It's a good idea to include the date, place (many people are on more than one sub list) and your tee time.  You should indicate if you would like to be reimbursed for the greens fee.  Some people do, some don't.
 If you have a sub, please let me know so that I can have the card ready for the appropriate person.  Many times the sub forgets the name of the person they are subbing for.

 

Splitting your League

If you are splitting a league, please add your name to the sub list so that you will receive e-mails regarding the league.

 

Check-in

When you arrive at Yahara Hills, please check in with me or the assigned teammate.  We will be located near the starter, adjacent to the course.  You will pick up your score card and the weekly flyer which will contain an etiquette/rule tip of the week and instructions on any special games that will be played that week.  Some weeks there are special games that allow you to win a free gift or earn a bonus point for your team ~ longest drive, etc.  Always arrive early and be ready to play 10-15 minutes before your scheduled tee time.  This courtesy ensures that everyone will play their full 9 holes before the sun sets!

 

Scorecards and Handicap

It is your responsibility to enter your own card.  In order to register points for your team, please turn your scorecard in to the captain or designated person.  (If I am not playing on a particular evening, there will be a designated person to collect the cards). 

 

IMPORTANT HANDICAP INFORMATION PLEASE READ!!

We are no longer paying a handicap fee to the golf course.  This year you should pick between these two options:  1) use the free EWGA handicap system at www.ewga.com or 2) pay a separate $29 fee to use the WSGA handicap system at www.wsga.org.  Either way, you will need to record your own scores online using your personal computer rather than the course computers.

 

Both handicap systems are essentially the same in features and both are allowed for the Chapter Championship, Regionals, Finals and local EWGA events.  The DECIDING FACTORS for continuing with the WSGA system would be: 1) to participate in Women’s WSGA tournaments and events (which require a WSGA handicap) or 2) to retain your history of scores*.  If you choose WSGA, register for this separate item and pay the fees ($29) through the EWGA Madison website (go to “Register”).  The Meadows at Six Mile will be noted as your home course.

 

Using the EWGA handicap system will require that you either start over entering scores beginning with this season OR you can enter some of your WSGA history scores* from prior years into the EWGA system to get your handicap established prior to the 2011 season.  It doesn’t take long!  Step by step instructions are available on the EWGA Madison website (www.ewgamadison.org) under “Leagues/Handicap Information” along with a comparison of WSGA and EWGA systems.

 

Yahara Hills Roster

I will be posting the roster and schedule on the EWGA Madison website.

If you would like to update any of your personal or contact information, please do that on the EWGA national website.

 

Team Play

Some members have chosen their own team; others have been randomly assigned to a team.  Each week your team has the opportunity to earn 16 points through match and medal play.  Three weeks during the league, you will play as a team.  No points will be earned on Team Play nights. 

 

At the end of the season, we give prizes based on team points.  You are paired up with a different playing partner each week.  You will play against that person and be awarded points should you win the “match”, “medal” or both.  This is a 4-point system with 2 points awarded for “match” and 2 points for “medal”.  In the event of a tie, 1 point to each player is awarded.

 

“Medal” play (also known as stroke play) is played by keeping track of all your strokes on all of the holes. Your strokes are then added up at the end of play to get a gross score. The gross score is the score that is entered in the course computer in order to get a handicap.  Next you calculate your net score (gross score less handicap) to determine who wins the “medal” play. 

 

“Match” play scoring sounds more difficult that it is.  “Match” play considers every hole as a self-contained contest.  The person with the lower net score on the hole, wins that hole.  The person at the end of play who has won the most holes gets 2 points.

 

Use the following example: 

Stella has a 9-hole handicap of 15.

Frances has a 9-hole handicap of 10.

Thus, Stella is given 5 strokes.   

 

To determine which holes get those strokes, refer to the “ladies handicap” line on the scorecard.  Each role is rated 1 through 19 with 1 being the most difficult.  When playing 9 holes, find the lowest number and mark the scorecard with a dot to indicate which holes the player gets the stroke on.  In this example, Stella would mark 5 holes and reduce her strokes on each hole by 1.

 

Match and medal play is fun because it allows players of all abilities to enjoy competitive play. 

 

Stick Around After Golf!

If possible, join your fellow league members for a sandwich and dinner in the club house following golf.  This is a great way to relax and meet some new friends!

 

This is YOUR league – have fun and please share your feedback on what you like, dislike, etc. so that I can make improvements each year.

 

Feel free to contact me at any time!

 

Now let’s get out there and golf!!

 

Nancy Winter

nwinter@winterlaw.net