Question 1

Getting a handicap index

Accepted Answer

Getting a handicap index
If a new member does not have an established handicap index with the SCGA, the Handicap Chairman (check website under “contacts” for Handicap Chairman’s contact information) will help you establish a handicap index. Before you have a handicap index, you can still play in tournaments, but you cannot get into any of the optional prize pools (low net, closest to pin, skins, and low gross). 
After you receive your SCGA number, post your scores at ghin.com. You will find a link to ghin.com on our website, ksmgcgolf.com, under "Home". Need help the first time? Ask the Handicap Chairman or any club member. Once you have a handicap index it will be automatically updated on a daily basis. 
Updated course handicaps can be viewed on http://www.ghin.com, or on USGA/GHIN app on your cellular phone, at any time.
Also, because the SCGA sends out handicap indexes (not course handicaps), a chart for converting handicap indexes to handicaps for Knollwood tees is available on the KSMGC bulletin board in the Knollwood pro shop.  You may also ask the Handicap Chairman to assist you with handicap adjustments at other courses we play, or as noted below, you may find your adjusted handicap on the USGA/GHIN cellular phone app.
Your handicap index is calculated by the USGA (GHIN) computer system based on your best 8 scores of your last 20 rounds of golf. If a member has tournament scores that are extraordinarily low compared to his handicap, the system will lower your handicap index based on a special formula. 
All your scores should be properly posted into the USGA (GHIN) system. Take care to post “adjusted scores” based on “Net Double Bogey”. Players may also post their scores via the USGA/GHIN cellular phone app.  It’s quick and easy to use.  It also gives you the option of viewing your adjusted handicap based on the course slope rating and tees used. All adjusted scores for KSMGC tournaments are automatically posted after each tournament.  Therefore, a tournament participant should not post their own score for a tournament as that will result in a double posting of the same score.
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Question 2

Tournaments

Accepted Answer

Tournaments
Typically, there are four or five tournaments per month. One per month is at another course; and the rest are at Knollwood. All away tournaments and most home tournaments have low net winners in several flights (based on handicap) and closest to the pin winners. There is also optional skins (lowest untied net score in your flight on a given hole) and optional low gross, also by flight.
Click here ksmgcgolf.com/tournaments to see our current schedule.
In most tournaments, a partner can be requested, but a foursome should not be honored. When you enter a tournament, you will receive an email from golfgenius.com with the GGID for the tournament. Go to golfgenius.com, sign in with the GGID and view your tee time. The tee times are also posted on our website, ksmgcgolf.com. 
At Knollwood, we play some 2 or 4-man scrambles, and partner better ball tournaments. There are also two tournaments each year where the competition is within a foursome. In these two, a foursome may be requested. In most of these special tournaments, there are no optional skins or optional low gross. See FAQs for a descriptions of other special tournaments.

Question 3

Entering a tournament

Accepted Answer

An entry coupon is available to download from our website, ksmgcgolf.com, under Tournament Forms in the two months prior to the tournament. It has relevant information, e.g. date of the tournament, closing date of entry, format, first tee time, cost of entry, name, address, and phone number of tournament chairman, etc. Complete the coupon, and send it to the tournament chairman along with your check. If you are entering with a partner, indicate that on the form along with relevant information. It is your partner's responsibility to send in his own check. Your check will be destroyed if you have to cancel out within the allotted time. Checks will not be destroyed for no-shows or in other situations where the Club must still pay for a late cancellation. For home tournaments, pay your green and cart fees in the Pro-Shop when you arrive at the course. For away tournaments, your green and cart fees are paid in advance with your entry check.

Question 4

Late Entries

Accepted Answer

If you want to enter a tournament after the entry deadline, contact the tournament chairman to see if that is possible. Late entrants do not play for prizes.

Question 5

Formation of tournament foursomes

Accepted Answer

The tournament chairman will form foursomes.  In general, earlier entrants get earlier tee times. To the extent possible, the chairman will honor partner requests and will place players with similar handicaps in the same foursomes.

Question 6

Rules of golf

Accepted Answer

All tournaments are played per USGA rules of golf. KSMGC has some local rules for Knollwood.

Question 7

Completing your tournament scorecard

Accepted Answer

To be valid, all scorecards must be complete, readable and signed by all players whose scores are on the scorecard. The scorecard may have special instructions on the back for the tournament.

Question 8

Special tournaments

Accepted Answer

TWO MAN SCRAMBLE: Each partner hits a drive. One of the drives is selected and marked with a tee. Each partner will place his ball within one club-length of that tee, no closer to the hole, in the same cut of grass and hit his next shot. This procedure is followed until one or more balls reach the green. The partners will putt within 6 inches of the selected ball, no closer to the hole until a putt is holed. Do not tap in a missed putt until all partners have had their turn putting because that will conclude the hole. 
Each partner must use his drive a minimum of 7 times in 18 holes. The scorecard must be marked to show on which holes each player’s drive was used. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Partners can be requested on the applications or assigned by the tournament chairman based on handicaps. Handicaps will be used to select the twosomes. Only a ten-stroke difference between partners’ handicaps is allowed. If larger than ten, the higher handicap will be reduced to within ten strokes of the lower handicap. This tournament has a team handicap offset. The team handicap average is multiplied by 75% (0.75). The team's net score is determined by subtracting the team handicap (Team H/C) from the team's gross score. Team H/C is noted on the scorecard. Skins and Low Gross are not part of the 2-Man Scramble format.
FOUR MAN SCRAMBLE: Each partner hits a drive. One of the drives is selected and marked with a tee. Each partner will place his ball within one club-length of that tee, no closer to the hole, in the same cut of grass and hit his next shot. This procedure is followed until one or more balls reach the green. The partners will putt within 6 inches of the selected ball, no closer to the hole until a putt is holed. Do not tap in a missed putt until all partners have had their turn putting because that will conclude the hole. 
Each partner must use his drive a minimum of 4 times in 18 holes. The scorecard must be marked to show on which holes each player’s drive was used. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Partners can be requested on the applications or assigned by the tournament chairman based on handicaps. Handicaps will be used to select the foursomes. Only a ten-stroke difference between partners’ handicaps is allowed. If larger than ten, any higher handicaps will be reduced to within ten strokes of the lowest handicap. This tournament has a team handicap offset. The team handicap average is multiplied by 50% (0.50). The team's net score is determined by subtracting the team handicap (Team H/C) from the team's gross score. Team H/C is noted on the scorecard. Skins and Low Gross are not part of the 4-Man Scramble format.
---When a 3-man team is grouped together, phantom player (PP) rules apply.
One of the 3 players on the team will hit 2 balls on every shot in the role as the 4th PP. The PP is rotated every hole in 3-hole sequence. Start with the lowest handicap player on 1st hole and progress to the highest handicap player on the third hole. Repeat every 3 holes. Mixing within any 3-hole sequence is not allowed. The PP must be the 2nd shot of that designated player, so NO MIXING of 1st & 2nd shots is allowed. The drives of the PP used will count toward the required 4 drives for the team and must be noted on the card. The player designated as the PP must be noted on the scorecard. Failure to note these requirements will DQ the team. The PP cannot compete for closest to pin, ‘hole in one’ or #17 Shootout on the par 3 holes.
PARTNER BETTER BALL: For each hole, each player’s gross score shall be posted on the scorecard by his name. The team’s score will be calculated by computer after the tournament. You can, however, keep the team score on the card for reference, as follows --- determine the team’s lowest net score for the hole by subtracting any strokes (dots) for that hole from each player’s gross score, and post the lowest number on the “team” line.
FOUR MAN PARTNER BETTER BALL SHAMBLE: Teams will be formed by the tournament chairman (One each of A, B, C, & D players). Each partner hits a drive. One of the drives is selected and marked with a tee. Each partner will place his ball within one club length of that tee, no closer to the hole, in the same cut of grass and hit his next shot. From then on for that hole, every partner plays his own ball and counts his own strokes until he holes out. All four gross scores are recorded. Determine the team’s lowest net score for the hole by subtracting any strokes (dots) for that hole from each player’s gross score, and post the lowest number on the “team” line. There is no limit on the number of drives that are selected for any given player. Don’t post your scores on GHIN.
TURKEY SHOOT: Competition is within the foursome only based on net scores. Prizes are $20-15-10-5. ($20-13-5 if there is a threesome). Payoff will be immediately after your round. All four players must be there together. This tournament is scheduled near Thanksgiving, has a shot gun start, followed by free lunch and general membership meeting. 
“THE SKINS GAME” (SKINS WITHIN THE FOURSOME): Before the round, give $9 (1-$5 & 4-$1) to a member of your foursome that you select as “treasurer/scorer.”  Generally, there will be a 10 handicap maximum difference between the lowest and highest handicap player in a group. The lowest handicap player gets zero strokes and other players get a number of strokes that is the difference between their handicap and the lowest handicap player. The score cards will be marked with dots (strokes) on the appropriate holes. Put the gross scores on the scorecard. Mentally subtract dots from the gross scores for net scores on a given hole. If a player wins the low net for a hole, he wins a skin. Mark an “S” under his name for that hole. If there is a tie, the skin carries over to the next hole. Mark an “S” for each carried over skin that is won. Pay out $2 per skin ($1.50 if there is a threesome). If there are un-won skins at the end, the remaining money will be split between players in your group.

Question 9

What websites do Knollwood seniors use?

Accepted Answer

The website, ksmgcgolf.com, is our home website that tells about our club. 
The website, golfgenius.com, is our scorekeeper's website. It is part of USGA and is made available to participating clubs for free. For each tournament, the scorekeeper will email a password to all registered players for that tournament to access the Knollwood portal. In the portal, you will find pairings, tee times and, after the tournament, results.
The website, ghin.com, is for posting scores. While golfgenius will post tournament scores, players post all other scores here.
The website, scga.org, is for registering new members and renewing present members.

Question 10

Frequently asked questions