Golf Rules & Regulations

SECTION 1: PLAYER RESPONSIBILITY

A. By registering to play, members and guests accept responsibility for their actions.
B. Members and guests are expected to comply with the rules and regulations governing play and course property.
C. Failure to comply with the stated rules and regulations may result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, suspension of playing privileges for a specific period of time.

SECTION 2: GUESTS

A. A guest is defined as any non- member player. Guests include persons sponsored by a member, POA-sponsored visitors; and visitors from other Cooper villages.
B. Guests are subject to the normal rules and fees as established by the POA.

SECTION 3: MANAGEMENT OF PLAY

A. Members and guests who use the golf course and practice range are subject to the authority of the golf professional and/or his staff.
B. The golf course superintendent, in coordination with the club professional, has the authority to close the golf course due to weather or other extenuating circumstances.
C. The golf course superintendent has the authority to restrict the use of golf carts, including, but not limited to restricting carts to paths only.
D. The golf professional has the authority to reserve the use of the course at designated times for the exclusive play by the MGA, WGA or other exclusive functions, events or tournaments. At all other times, the course shall be available for play by men, women, or mixed groups.
E. Members and guests should be aware that the golf course may be closed during times of tournaments and/or outside events. All efforts will be made to publish the dates and times of such events in advance.
F. Verbal or any other form of abuse toward Rangers or other golf staff or course personnel will not be tolerated at any time.

SECTION 4: TEE TIMES

A. All players must reserve a tee time by contacting the golf shop prior to starting a round of golf.
B. Members may reserve tee times for themselves and their guests by using the automated tee time system or contacting the golf shops.
C. Management may assign tee times at its discretion for special circumstances and/or events.
D. If a member or guest finds he is unable to keep a tee time, he is requested to cancel that tee time by calling the appropriate golf shop as much in advance as possible, but no later than 24 hours prior so another member may use the tee time.
E. Abuse of the tee time system by intentionally entering false or incorrect information will be considered a rules violation.
F. For Prime time tee times (opening until 1:00pm, Monday-Friday,) for failure to cancel a tee time at least 24 hours prior without finding another person to play in the signed up members place will result in the member, who did not show or whose guest did not show, receiving a fine. Fines will not be levied on days where inclement weather, cart path only days, frost delays or other staff generated changes occur.

SECTION 5: DRESS CODE

A. Appropriate dress for the golf course is required. The dress code applies to the putting green, driving range, practice areas, as well as to the golf course. Members are responsible for the proper attire of their guests and family members.
B. Acceptable attire includes:
• Women: Sleeved or sleeveless golf shirts, golf slacks, skirts, skorts, and shorts of reasonable length.
• Men: Traditional collared shirts with sleeves, turtlenecks and mock turtlenecks. Shirttails are to be tucked in unless the shirt is designed to be worn out.
• Children: Children over the age of 12 should comply with adult dress standards. Younger children should be neatly attired.
C. Unacceptable attire includes: Tank tops, halter tops, T-shirts, gym shorts, sweat pants, blue jeans, blue jean shorts, cut offs, and short shorts.
D. Billed caps are not to be worn backwards.
E. Metal spiked shoes are prohibited.

SECTION 6: GOLF CLUB RULES

A. Each player must have his or her own golf bag and clubs.
B. Groups with less than four players may be paired by the golf shop staff or the automated tee time system. Members are expected to check with the golf staff before filling those spots.
C. Fivesomes or greater are not permitted at any time.
D. Individuals may play more than 18 holes in a single day provided tee times are available and an 18-hole fee has been paid. Appropriate cart fees are required for all holes played.
E. Walking is permitted at any time provided the player maintains the expected pace of play. Walkers may not ride at anytime except to their starting tee for a shotgun start.
F. All alcoholic beverages consumed on golf course property by players and spectators must be purchased from or provided by the club.
G. Rain checks will only be issued when inclement weather precludes play.

SECTION 7: REGISTRATION AND START OF PLAY

A. All members and guests are expected to register with the golf shop prior to their assigned starting time.
B. All members and guests are required to check for and abide by cart path restrictions and/or other special restrictions when registering to play.
C. Proper membership or guest identification will be required prior to registration.
D. With the exception of shotgun starts, players will begin their play from the number 1 tee unless they have been directed by the golf professional or his staff to start on the number 10 tee. Players may not commence play anywhere else on the golf course, other than their scheduled tee, without permission from the golf shop.
E. Any players making an authorized start on No. 10 must give priority to players making the turn from No. 9 to No. 10.

SECTION 8: CONDUCT ON THE COURSE

A. Slow play is a problem in golf. Under ideal conditions the acceptable rate of play is four hours (4:00) to complete eighteen holes and two hours (2:00) to complete nine holes. Regardless of
course conditions, the rate of play should not exceed four hours and thirty minutes (4:30) to complete eighteen holes and two hours fifteen minutes (2:15) to complete nine holes. If players take longer than these times, they are considered slow players and should not only recognize their slow pace but also make a serious concerted effort to remedy it. The golf staff has the right to ask slow players to pick up and advance to their scheduled position.
B. Players who find themselves with one clear hole between themselves and the players that started immediately ahead of them must speed up and close the gap, including skipping the open hole.
C. Players are not permitted to practice their game on the golf course (i.e. fairways, greens, traps, bunkers, or hazards). Designated practice areas are for this purpose.
D. All players should be ready to make their shots when it is their turn to play.
E. All players should be certain that the group ahead is out of range or clear of the green before playing any shot. If players create divots on the fairway, they should fill them with sand from the container on the golf cart.
F. Players should rake or otherwise smooth out all footprints and divots they make in any sand traps. Place trap rakes three to four feet out in the trap, well away from the edges of the trap and parallel to the line of play.
G. For the sake of courtesy to the following group and in an effort to speed up play, players should park their golf carts on the cart path beyond the green being played, en route to the next tee.
H. All players are responsible for repairing any ball marks made by them on the putting greens. It is also courteous to repair any other ball marks that are found during the course of play.
I. When players have finished a hole, they should promptly return the flag stick to the hole and clear the green. Scoring for the just-completed hole should be done at the next tee while others in the group are playing their tee shots.
J. Players must limit stops for refreshments to no more than 5 minutes. Players stopping for lunch lose their position and may not continue play until approval is obtained from the golf shop.
K. Persons traveling the golf course cart paths to or from home should not drive past golfers on the course that are teeing off, playing fairway shots, or putting. Golfers have the right-of-way and travelers should stop well short of golfers so as not to interfere with their concentration and play.
L. Players are not to leave trash on the golf course.
M. Willful damage to golf course property or grounds will not be tolerated and may result in severe discipline.

SECTION 9: GOLF CART REGULATIONS

A. The only carts allowed on the course are those owned by the POA or those owned by members for which the applicable trail fee has been paid.
B. Players are responsible for paying the appropriate cart and green fees. Explanation of fees may be obtained from the golf shops.
C. Only licensed drivers may operate carts on golf club property.
D. Players using carts belonging to the golf club are not allowed to drive them to homes or on streets. Carts are only to be driven to and from the practice range, on the golf course, and to pick up or drop off bags at cars in the parking lot.
E. Golf cart operators and riders use the carts at their own risk.
F. No more than two carts per group unless authorized by the proper authorities.
G. No more than two people and two golf bags may occupy or be carried in or on a single golf cart at any one time.
H. It is the responsibility of the driver to operate the cart in a manner that does not cause damage to the course. Observed willful damage may result in severe discipline.
I. All cart operators must abide by all directional and restriction signs and posted regulations. Under no circumstances are motorized carts allowed within 30 yards of any green.
J. Carts are not permitted on par 3 holes at any time.
K. Private carts may be transported but trailers may not be parked on POA or common property.

SECTION 10: CART FLAG RULE

A. This rule permits the use of carts on the golf course, with the approval of the course superintendent, when the fairways are closed to normal cart traffic.
B. This rule applies to persons who have a valid handicap parking permit from a state Department of Motor Vehicles and have registered it with the golf shop. Such documents will be reviewed on a regular basis.
C. Flags will be issued on a daily basis by the golf shop and must be returned to the golf shop at the end of each day's play.
D. No private handicap flags will be permitted. Golfers eligible for handicap flags must ride together to minimize cart traffic on the golf course.
E. The golf professional or course superintendent shall have the authority to modify or temporarily discontinue use of this rule to preserve the golf course during periods of critical growth or adverse weather conditions.

SECTION 11: PRACTICE RANGE

A. The practice range is open during the hours of golf course operation. Members and guests may only use the range during these hours.
B. Range balls are available from the golf shop for a set fee and are for use on the practice range at the course where purchased only. No player may hit his own practice balls on the driving range.
C. Bag stands are provided on the range. These stands must not be removed from the locations set by the golf staff.
D. Members and guests are required to practice in the areas of these stands so as to distribute wear evenly on the practice tees.

SECTION 12: GOLF CLUB STORAGE

A. There is no provision at this time for members or guests to store their golf bags or clubs at either golf club.

SECTION 13: TOURNAMENT PLAY

A. Authority to close the golf club for the purpose of hosting amateur or professional golf tournaments is delegated to the management.
B. All tournament play at Savannah Lakes Golf Clubs shall be governed by the USGA rules, except as modified or superseded by local rules.
C. Local rules are posted at the golf club and are also available through the men and women's golf associations. Each player shall play in strict accordance to these rules.
D. Any player found to be in violation of such rules and whom as a result reports a false or inaccurate score may be barred from tournament play and be subject to other action deemed appropriate by management.
E. All tournaments or special events including those sponsored by the WGA, MGA, and SLV Tournament Committee must be coordinated with and approved by the golf professional, and if food is included, the clubhouse manager.
F. All tournament players are required to have a valid USGA handicap. Contact either golf shop for additional information on establishing and maintaining USGA handicaps.

SECTION 14: WALKING, JOGGING, AND BICYCLES

A. Walking and jogging are not allowed on the golf club premises during normal hours of operation.
B. Walking and jogging done outside of normal golf club hours must be on the cart paths only.
C. Bicycles and motorized vehicles other than authorized golf carts are not allowed at any time. The only exceptions to this are golf club maintenance vehicles.
D. Pets are not allowed on golf course property at any time. The only exception would be for a dog that is trained to control the problem with geese on the golf course, under the direction of the golf maintenance staff.

SECTION 15: RULES VIOLATIONS

A. Rules violations will be dealt with in accordance with the Guidelines for Golf Violations as approved by the SLVPOA Board of Directors.