Crusaders Golf League

Rules

Format

  • League format will be a 2 player team scramble. This requires both players to hit their own ball from the tee, after which you must choose which ball
    is in a better position. You both take your next shots from this position. This continues until the ball is in the hole.
  • Partners will rotate weekly based on a randomized schedule. Final pairing schedule will be sent out once everyone is paid up.
  • Within a round, a minimum of 1 drive must be used from each player
  • Gimme’s are allowed at the sole discretion of the other pair (recommended putter shaft length or closer)
  • All players will use the white tees
  • Strokes will be capped at triple bogie, pickup your ball in disgrace and move on
  • Any holes not completed due to darkness or weather will be scored at par + that pairing’s average +/- to that point in the round
  • If both players in a pair have lost their ball on the same stroke, a 1 stroke penalty is assessed and the next shot is taken approximately where either ball was last seen – confirmed by the other pair
  • Two minutes maximum is allowed for searching for a lost ball. Please have a quick look and move on
  • Any ball in heavy rough, fully obstructed or in an otherwise unplayable lie, can be improved laterally by a maximum of one club length. Any lie improvement should never move the ball closer to the hole

Subs, Late or No-Show Players

  • Sub scores will count for the league player they are covering for, points will be capped at the missing players 75th percentile earned points (slightly above average), this applies for the missing player only. Will re-evaluate in 2025 season with the new handicapping.
  • If your scheduled partner is a no-show and there is no sub, you will play solo and receive 1 mulligan for each par 3 and 4, 2 mulligans at each par 5. Mulligans may not be used on the green.
  • League play will start on time, any players arriving late will miss any shots taken by their group to that point (no points awarded to the late player), any player who’s partner is missing/running late will receive mulligans at each hole played without their partner present (1 mulligan on par 3’s and
    4’s, 2 mulligans for a par 5). Mulligans may not be used on the green.
  • We will have 5 tee times each week (5:52-6:24pm), if your assigned partner is running late, you will get a later tee time.

Season Structure

  • With the new 20-man structure, all 16 weeks will be scored play
  • For 20 players and 16 weeks it’s not possible to be paired with everyone (we will play with all but 3). The pairing schedule will be randomized and the new handicapping should ease fears of getting stuck with the bottom 16 golfers
  • We will not have a mid-season points reset unless necessary (someone is running away with 1st place, large point gaps)

Scoring

  • One person per team (or 4some) needs to be nominated to keep score for the round. Recorded scores should NOT include any applied handicaps, this will negatively impact your handicap going forward
  • Handicaps will be calculated using the PGA handicapping formula for each player based on prior scramble scores. These will be limited to a maximum of 7
  • Every week the lesser of each pair’s handicap will be applied for that weeks score, handicaps will be updated weekly based on the actual score for the round
    • Example: Soubie (HCP 2) is paired with Leon (HCP 7) in Week 2, for that week they will get a HCP of 2.
    • A handicap of 2 means the 1 stroke is subtracted at each of the two most difficult holes played that day. Which holes is determined by the HCP on the scoresheet, the lower the number, the more difficult the hole.
    • A note on handicap “padding”
      • Handicaps are calculated using the lowest 8 out of the last 20 rounds and these are capped for our league at a maximum of 7
      • For most of us with scoring from last year, you would need to pad your score 13 times before it will start to impact your handicap
      • If you are a high handicap player, chances are you’ll be using your partner’s handicap most weeks anyway
  • Scorekeeper should note which hole any late players started on as well as which player used a mulligan
  • Stephan Stortz III should never, under any circumstances, be allowed to keep score
Score-3-2-1012+
Points543210
Stableford points system – awarded by hole

Example of handicapping application

Weather/Cancellations

  • League is rain or shine
  • We will aim to avoid extreme winds/hail/heavy rain etc.
  • If the course closes for any reason, we will add one week to the end of our schedule
  • If the course does not cancel, the league will be cancelled as infrequently as possible
    • Cancelling when the course is open may result in the loss of a paid week, notice will be given as early as possible on the day of

Definitions

Gimme – A gimme in golf refers to a putt so short that it is essentially unmissable. Rather than making the other team roll the ball into the hole, you can give them the shot and count it as holed. The final stroke, while not performed, is still counted.

Mulligan – A mulligan in golf refers to the opportunity to replay a stroke when the first shot was absolute dog shit.

Handicap – A shameless manipulation of scoring with the goal of making golf more fun for shitty golfers.