ROCKWELL RETIREES GOLF CLUB GOVERNING DOCUMENT

                                                                                                 (Revision 7/12/2024)

 

The Rockwell Retiree’s Golf Club (RRGC) provides an opportunity for retirees and their friends to participate in golf outings throughout the year. The purpose of our club is to promote fun, competitive golf outings conducive to building friendships among the members.

 

The club was originally formed by Rockwell Retirees, however, for many years the only criteria for membership has been the desire to play golf in a friendly environment.  There are no annual fees or dues and no requirements to play in every event.  To join, all a player needs is for a member to sponsor him.

 

The club schedules events throughout the year.  These include weekly tournaments at local courses, one to three out of town tournaments, and luncheons/pizza parties.  The Club plays tournaments at public golf courses in Ventura County on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The away tournaments are two-day or three-day events generally in the Palm Springs area or along the central California coast.  Each event is open to all members and their guests; however, total attendance may sometimes be limited to the number of available starting times.

 

At each tournament, participating members pay green fees and applicable cart or range ball fees directly to the golf course. Typically, sixteen to twenty-eight members play in each tournament. 

 

The club establishes golf indexes and handicaps for members based on the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Royal & Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews (R&A) new World Handicap System implemented in 2020.  New members with established handicaps (such as an SCGA or GHIN index) can compete for tournament prizes immediately upon joining. Those without handicaps must play three tournament rounds to establish one.  Guests may play in tournaments if there are openings, but they are not included in the competitions except in away tournaments where the fees and prize money are separate from our treasury.

 

Weekly Tournaments

Tournaments are held each Tuesday and Thursday. The tournaments are generally held at Buenaventura, Olivas Links, Los Robles, Moorpark County Club, River Ridge, Soule Park, Sterling Hills and Tierra Rejada, or other local golf course at the discretion of the Tournament Chairman.  To play in a weekly tournament, members and guests need to notify the Tournament Chairman of their desire to play so that appropriate start times may be reserved.  A week or two in advance is preferred; however, it may be possible to get in with a one or two-day notification if there are openings.  

 

Members pay $5.00 to the club each time they play.  The funds are used mainly for prize money, but a portion is set aside for luncheons or pizza parties and other expenses.  The distribution of the tournament prize money and number of closest-to-holes to be played are shown in Appendix A – Tournament Guidelines.  Tournaments may have up to four closest-to-hole contests on par threes.  Tournaments are mostly individual play; however, partner-better-ball and scramble competitions are held occasionally at the discretion of the Tournament Chairman.

 

Partners Better-Ball Competitions

In 2024 partners better-ball competitions were scheduled once a month alternating between the Tuesday and Thursday tournaments.  The frequency is subject to change.  These competitions are voluntary and held in conjunction with the regular individual low net score tournaments.  Players may have up to 5 partners (two-person teams), and the cost is $3 per player per team. The lower net score of the partners is used for each hole, and the total team score is used to determine the team’s finish position. Your partners are randomly selected using a computer and a random number sorting scheme.

 

Away Tournaments

The away tournaments typically are two-day events scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays with some having an optional practice round on Sunday.  Tournaments have been held at Morro Bay; Palm Springs area; Pahrump in Nevada, Black Lake in Nipomo; Cypress Ridge in Arroyo Grande; and The River Course at the Alisal in Solvang.   Special Tournament Chairmen typically volunteer for such events.  Prize money fees are established separately for each away tournament and are about $20 to $30. Golf, cart and range ball fees have to be paid in advance for some of the away tournaments.  Spouses and friends of members may play in these events if enough start times can be reserved.

 

Luncheons/Pizza Parties

The club has luncheons or pizza parties two to three times a year after weekly tournament.  It’s open to all members whether they played that day. The fare is sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas.  There is no charge to attendees because the cost is covered by a portion of the $5.00 paid by members playing in the weekly tournaments.

 

Club Organization and Applicable Duties and Responsibilities

The club is managed by a steering committee composed of volunteers for core club positions (Tournament Chairmen, Handicap Chairman, Luncheon Organizer, Treasurer/Results Chairman, Stan-X Organizer, and Website Managers) and up to three at-large members who are active in club activities.  Members may fill more than one position. Duties of the Steering Committee are: (a) assure the core office positions are filled, (b) assure the club has weekly Tuesday and Thursday tournaments as well as one to three away tournaments each year, (c) see that luncheons/pizza parties are held commensurate with the club’s budget, (d) communicate with club membership to improve their satisfaction with club tournaments, rules and activities, (e) promote compliance to club rules and good pace-of-play in all tournaments. (f) work to maintain an active club membership that provides tournament participation of four to eight foursomes, (g) assure timely and accurate communication with the membership through emails, website postings and other appropriate methods.

 

Tournament Chairman (Kirk Butler, Tuesday and Glenn Haynie, Thursday)

The Tournament Chairman is responsible for assuring that a yearly tournament schedule is in place by the beginning of the year with a first tee time and reservations for up to 7 groups. The schedules shall be posted on the website. Glenn has assumed the responsibility of doing both the Tuesday and Thursday schedules. Additionally, the Chairman shall keep in touch with the golf course management to see if rescheduling is necessary as course maintenance schedules become available.  For each tournament he will establish a start sheet with player groups and starting times, the mode of play, tees to be played, any special rules such as “lift, clean and place”, and holes for closest-to-pin prizes. The start sheets shall be emailed to the course contact, posted on the website, and an Excel version provided to the person doing the results. Upon completion of the tournament, each group is responsible for texting or emailing a photo of their group’s scorecard to the Results Chairman. If a Tournament Chairman is unable to perform his duties on a given day, he assigns an alternate Chairman. There is generally a separate Tournament

Chairman for Tuesday and Thursday tournaments.

 

Handicap Chairman (Fritz Kuck)

The Handicap Chairman is responsible for calculating member indexes using a program that approximates the World Handicap System and reporting the handicaps for each week’s tournaments depending upon the courses and tees to be played by each player.  The Handicap Chairman receives score cards from each tournament group and adjusts gross scores to no higher than a net double bogey for any hole for entering into the handicap software program.  Handicaps are calculated weekly and posted on the website for the following week’s tournaments.

 

Luncheon Organizer (Dave Browning)

The luncheon organizer is responsible for scheduling luncheons or pizza parties after golf two to four times each year as funds are available.  He works with the venues to establish a menu and associated prices.  The luncheons shall be rotated as much as possible between Tuesdays and Thursdays to accommodate the schedules of the membership. The organizer shall provide a receipt for reimbursement if the Treasurer does not pay for the luncheon directly.

 

Treasurer/Results Chairman (Fritz Kuck)

The Treasurer/Results Chairman duties include:   1. Collecting tournament fees from members. 2. Maintaining a membership roster and database to keep track of who plays in each tournament, tournament fees paid and owed, tournament prize money won and paid, and player and club balances. 3. Maintaining a Treasurer’s Report that shows Club funds, expenditures and liabilities, and promptly pay all club bills.   Typical expenses include club luncheons/pizza parties, payments of $25 for holes-in-one, engraving of the Stan-X trophy and other miscellaneous expenditures. 4. Maintaining a results database and posting information that includes tournament money winners by flight, closest-to-hole winners, Stan-X competition results, and player statistics.

 

Stan-X Organizer (Harry Hilty)

The Stan-X organizer is responsible for getting player sign-ups, collecting competition fees, getting Steering Committee concurrence on competition rules, making prize money distributions, and getting the trophy engraved with the name of the overall Stan-X champion each year.  The Stan-X competition is like the PGA FedEx competition where points are awarded each tournament based on each player’s finish position.  There is a Tuesday and a Thursday competition. The points are accumulated and the top finishers (historically eight) in each competiton are awarded prizes at the end of the year based on their finish position.  The Tuesday and Thursday winners have a playoff to determine the overall champion.  The Stan-X is voluntary, and the buy-in has historically been $20 to $30 for each competition.

 

Website Managers (Glenn Haynie and Fritz Kuck)

The website managers are responsible for maintaining a website that has all pertinent club information posted and maintained up-to-date.  Posted information includes the club’s governing document and rules, tournament schedules, tournament pairings and start times, tournament results, treasure data and reports, member tournament fee and prize balances, member indexes and handicaps, away tournament information, luncheons/pizza party notifications, and special player information such as statistics and photographs.

 

At-Large Committee Members (Al Hallden, Stan Pendleberry and Ron Ramos)

The at-large members provide input and vote with the other Steering Committee members on rule changes and other decisions. 

 

Member Responsibilities

Members are requested to pay the $5 tournament and the $3/partner partners competition fees to the Treasurer/Results Chairman in advance if possible.  To minimize the number of transactions, it is recommended that players pay for a few rounds in advance such as the number of tournaments they expect to play in a month. Payments can be made by PayPal, Zelle, check or cash.  For PayPal and Zelle send to Fritz Kuck using his email address (fritzkuck@gmail.com). Each group is responsible for submitting their validated scorecard to the Results Chairman promptly after their round by handing it to him if he’s available or by sending a photo of it by text (818-519-2838) or email (fritzkuck@gmail.com). Members must also adhere to the USGA  and our Committee rules.

                                          

RULES, ETTIQUETTE AND SPECIAL CLUB RULES

 

Rules

Golf is a game rich in a tradition based on honesty and fair play. To make the game fair, all participants must compete by a uniform set of rules, namely: The Rules of Golf, Club Local Rules, and rules stated by the Tournament Chairman for a given day. Honesty is a prime requirement and is essential for the success of the club's tournaments. If a question pertaining to a rule interpretation cannot be resolved within a foursome then a member of the Club Steering Committee can assist with a ruling. A pamphlet on The USGA Rules of Golf is available for a nominal fee at most courses and is a good investment.

 

Golf Etiquette

A golfer should notify the Tournament Chairman of his desire to play in a tournament one or two weeks in advance if possible.  There may be no openings if a notification is within a day or two of a tournament date.

If a golfer is unable to play on a given date that he previously signed up to play, he should notify the Tournament Chairman as soon as possible.

Every player, including the scorekeeper, must clearly announce his score before he steps off the green.

Fix your divots. Replace and or use sand/seed mixture in the fairway and repair ball marks on the green.

Rake a sand trap after use and place the rake depending on the particular course rule either in/out of the trap parallel to the fairway.

The same ball must be played through the green. A different ball may not be used unless damage can be shown.

 

Summary of 2019 USGA Rule Changes

​

The Club adopted the 2019 USGA changes for modernization of golf rules in April of 2018.  Here are the major ones affecting our Club.

1. Ball at Rest Category

   1. There is no penalty for accidentally moving your ball while looking for it.  Replace it to your best estimate to where it was.

   2. There is no penalty for accidently moving your ball or ball marker on the putting green even on practice stroke or setting up.  Simply replace the ball or marker to its original location.

   3. Other than when you’re on a putting green, there is a one stroke penalty if you cause your ball to move.  On deciding whether a player caused the ball to move, it must be known or virtually certain that the golfer’s action caused the ball to move. (See the RRGC exception to this rule in Committee Rule 10 on bumping of the ball.)

   4. If a ball is moved or lifted by someone, it must be replaced, not dropped, to the known or estimated spot from where it was moved.

2. Ball in Motion Category

   1. There is no penalty for accidental deflection, including when it hits the player, opponent or their equipment, and the ball is to be played from where it lies.  This means there is no penalty for a double hit while striking or putting a ball. 

   2. There is a penalty however, if players intentionally position their equipment to deflect a ball.

3. Taking Relief Category

   1. When taking relief, the ball must land in and come to rest in a relief area defined by one or two club lengths from the point of relief, no nearer the hole.  The club length is the longest club in the player’s bag other than a putter.

   2. Drop ball from knee height when taking relief.

   3. Lost ball search time is reduced from five to three minutes.

   4. Substituting a ball is allowed when taking relief.

   5. For embedded balls in the general playing area other than sand bunkers, the player will drop the original ball or a substituted ball within one club-length of (but not nearer the hole than) the spot right behind where the ball was embedded.

4. Areas of the Course Category

   1. If your ball on a putting green moves after you have marked, lifted and replaced it, simply replace it to its original position without penalty.

   2. A player can repair any damage on the putting green including, divots, spike marks, old hole positions, and any damage caused by animals or maintenance equipment.

   3. There is no penalty for touching the line of play on a putting green.

   4. There is no penalty for hitting a flagstick left in the hole.

   5. There will no longer be any special restrictions when a ball is in a “penalty area” (the expanded designation for the area that includes what are now called water hazards). A player will be allowed to touch or move loose impediments and touch the ground with hand or club (such as grounding the club right behind the ball) and take practice swings.

   6. A penalty area will include both (1) all areas currently defined in the Rules as a water hazard or lateral water hazard and (2) any other areas the Committee chooses to define as penalty areas such as desert areas, barrancas, lava rock fields, jungles, etc.  The term “hazards” will no longer be used in the rules of golf.  The Committee is given the discretion of marking any penalty area as lateral.

   7. A player no longer has the option of using the other side of a red penalty area for taking relief.

   8. In bunkers players may remove loose impediments; however, players are still not allowed to ground the club, take practice swings that hit the sand or hit the sand on the backswing.

   9. For an unplayable ball in a bunker, a player has two options.  One is to take relief by dropping the ball in the bunker for a one stroke penalty.  The other is to take relief outside of the bunker by dropping it along a straight line from the hole through the spot in the bunker as far back away from the hole as you like for a penalty of two strokes.  Drop the ball within one club length of this straight line.

5. Equipment Category

   1. Damaged club rule:  A player will be allowed to keep using and/or repair any club damaged during the round no matter what the damage or even if the player damaged it in anger.  The club may not be replaced unless damaged by some outside source or someone other than the player. 

   2. Use of distance measuring devices is allowed. (Note: RRGC also allows the use of range finders with slope correction.)

 

RRGC Committee Rules

1. The Tournament Chairman will provide a clear list of rules to be followed that day, including the details of special tees or relief areas (if any), closest-to-the-pin holes, and special game rules.

2. Off the tee or on the course, if it’s apparent that a hit ball is lost or out-of-bounds, provisional balls must be played from the location at which the original ball was struck, each with USGA stroke penalty (one-out, two-in, hitting-three, etc.) until it is perceived that the ball is in bounds. Provisional balls are allowed even if original ball is known to be in a penalty area.  

3. If after leaving the location at which the original ball(s) was (were) struck, it is discovered that the ball(s) is (are) lost or out of bounds, in the interest of keeping pace with players in front of you, the player has the option to drop a ball where it is estimated the original ball went out of bounds or was lost. This dropped ball may be declared a provisional ball.  A two stroke penalty is incurred. For example: If first ball is lost or OB, and you drop at the location where last seen, you incur a two=stroke penalty and next shot is your fourth.  If you hit a provisional from the same starting point as your first shot and it is lost also, hitting from the position where it was last seen, you are now hitting your sixth shot.

4. Under rule #3, if the original ball is found in-bounds, it becomes the ball in play. All provisional balls can be picked up and no penalty is incurred.

5. Ground Under Repair (GUR): Because some of the courses we play do not regularly or adequately mark ground-under-repair areas, concurrence of another player is required to take relief, without penalty, from an area that under reasonable maintenance procedures would be considered and marked as GUR.  Relief without penalty shall not be taken from areas intentionally maintained barren of fairway or rough grass.  These areas include native or desert areas; bare dirt, sandy or dead grass areas created to conserve water; or dirt, bark or pine-straw areas under trees or around shrubs.  The unplayable lie rule applies to tree roots and rocks. 

6. Clarification of Relief.  For lateral and red marked penalty areas, relief is taken from the point where the ball crossed into the hazard, one stroke penalty.  Relief area is two club lengths no nearer the hole.  For yellow marked penalty areas, the ball must be replayed from the same side of the penalty area as the original shot even if the ball cleared the penalty area and then rolled or bounced backed into the penalty area.  The ball shall be dropped along a line from the hole through the point where the ball last crossed the hazard as far back as the player wants, one stroke penalty.  For balls on, or a player’s stance on, a cart path or paved or unpaved road or pathway, relief is taken at nearest point of relief and the ball is to be dropped within one club length, no nearer the hole, without penalty.  For balls near immovable objects that interfere with a player’s stance or swing, relief is taken at nearest point of relief and the ball is to be dropped within one club length, no nearer the hole, without penalty.

7. If a ball crosses a protective fence (but not a perimeter fence) and the lie is such that the fence lies between the ball and the hole. The player may drop his ball away from the point where it crossed the fence line, no nearer the hole, no penalty.

8. Every player is responsible to maintain a reasonable pace-of-play.

9. The maximum score taken on any hole shall be 10.  If a player picks up on a hole and takes a 10, he is still eligible for any prize based on his individual score.

10. Bumping of the ball to improve the lie is allowed in the general area and penalty areas.  Bumping is restricted to a radius of one foot length from the position of the ball.  Balls may be bumped when dropped in a relief area.  Balls may not be bumped onto the putting surface. Because bunkers are not generally raked adequately, players may bump the ball out of depressions or properly rake the bunker and place the ball where it originally came to rest. If a ball that would normally roll to the bottom of a bunker is stuck on the face because of a footprint or other abnormal condition (not because it plugged as a result of the shot) you may place the ball where it would probably have rolled and play it without penalty.

11. Utility poles and any of their support cables are considered immovable objects and players shall get swing and stance relief per Committee Rule 6.  A ball striking utility poles, support cables or lines may be played from where it came to rest or replayed from the original spot without penalty.

12. In the spirit of friendly and fair competition with an eye towards pace of play, the Steering Committee has established the following guideline for accepting and giving of putts.  If the ball is more than a foot from the edge of the hole, putt out.  Eyeball it, use your shoe or club grip which is typically 10.5 inches, or put a 12 inch mark on your putter.  The goal is not to give excessive length putts, not to be precise on the measurement.

 

 

Specific Pertinent Course and RRGC Designated Course Rules:

Buenaventura

• The out-of-bound stakes between holes 1 and 18 only apply to hole 18.

• All water penalty areas are played as lateral penalty areas.

Los Robles

• Balls lost in the tall fescue plants predominately located around the bunkers, but anywhere in these plants on the course, shall be played as lost in lateral penalty areas, only one stroke penalty.

• The fescue planted sandy areas around the bunkers are not part of the bunkers, and the ball may be bumped and the club grounded.

• Red tees are usually used on holes 6, 7 and 16.

• For a penalty of one stroke, you may tee off from the red tees on hole 12.

Moorpark CC

• All native areas on the sides of all holes shall be played as lateral penalty areas unless they are marked as out-of-bounds.  You may hit from these areas, or drop where it entered under penalty of one stroke.

• On Ridgeline hole 9 the lake is marked as a yellow penalty area. For any shot going into the water, you must hit from the original tee or from the drop area even if your ball cleared the lake and rolled back in. You may re-tee at the original tee or drop at the gold tee area.

Olivas Links

• When the ball is hit in the native areas, you may play it where it lies (bumping allowed), or under penalty of one stroke, whether the ball is lost or found, you may drop a ball at the point where it last crossed the native margin, within 2 club lengths, no nearer the hole. 

• Perimeter fencing and white stake areas are out-of-bounds.

• Hole 13 is played usually from the teal tees.

Simi Hills

• The right side of hole 4 shall be played as a lateral penalty area for balls that go down the hill.  For pace-of-play consideration you may not play the ball from the bottom of the hill.

• For tee shots hit into the water on hole 15, the drop area is the most forward tee box unless a drop area is designated by the course.

Soule Park

• On hole 2, the drop area for tee shots hit into the barranca is the Lemon tee box, one stroke penalty, or for penalty of one stroke the tee shot maybe taken from the Lemon tees.  On hole 15, the drop area for a ball hit into the creek penalty area is on the green side of the creek in the grass area just beyond the bridge.

Sterling Hills

• There are no special course rules.

Tierra Rejada

• All native areas on the sides of all holes shall be played as lateral penalty areas. 

• The only out-of-bounds are on the right side of holes 15 & 16.

• Options on tee shots on holes 6 and 11.  If your tee shot does not clear the barranca, the drop area is across the barranca.  It’s located approximately 150 yards from the green on #6 and 85 yards on #11. For a penalty of one stroke, you may hit your tee shot from the tees located across the barranca.

• On hole 6, a player has two options if his ball rolls down the cart path.  (1) Play it from where it ends without penalty, taking appropriate relief if it remains on the cart path. (2) With 1 stroke penalty, play a ball 3 feet above the cart path directly in line with the centers of the fairway and green.  

• On hole 7, the drop area is the forward tee area.

River Ridge

• The boundaries of both the Victoria Lakes and Vineyard courses are out-of-bounds including where the two courses have adjacent holes as listed below.

Victoria Lakes

• The left sides of holes 16, 17 and 18 are out-of-bounds as marked.

• All water penalty areas are lateral penalty areas marked with red lines or stakes. One stroke penalty.

Vineyard

• The left sides of holes 1, 2, 3 & 4 are out-of-bounds as marked.

• Water penalty areas in front of holes 15 and 18 are marked with yellow stakes or lines meaning you must take one stroke penalty and hit from the same side of the water as your original shot even if the ball crossed the water and rolled back in from the other side. The drop area for hole 16 is the most forward tee if there is no designated area, and for hole 18 it is the Mat of Shame area.

• Red tees are usually used on hole 18.

• For a penalty of one stroke you may tee off from the forward, lower-left tee area on hole 16..