WADGA Standing Rules - 2025

District Representatives:
1. The District Representative from each club shall preferably be a playing member of WADGA.
2. The District Representatives are expected to attend two (2) meetings, spring and fall. If a club’s representative changes, the incoming representative should accompany the outgoing representative at the fall meeting.
3. The District Representative of the current year or her designated proxy will be the voting member.
4. The club rosters and club information sheets are to be received electronically by the District Secretary no later than the date of the Spring Representatives Meeting, or by May 1^st which ever date is first.
5. A new WADGA member may join any time after May 1^st provided they meet the handicap requirement and pay the full member dues for that year. After the Spring Representatives Meeting, dues that have been paid will not be reimbursed, prorated, or applied to the following year.
6. Each club’s members’ dues shall be submitted in one check payable to WADGA and given to the association’s treasurer at the Spring Representatives Meeting.
7. District Representatives are to submit to the Tournament Chairwoman a list of players scheduled for an event sometime between 3 and 5 days before the event, but no later than 5 p.m. three days before. With the World Handicap System, we will now use the actual handicaps for everyone from the same day as provided by the host pro shop.
8. The fee for weekly play will be established by each club prior to the Spring meeting; however, if the cost of play differs for a hosted event, the Host Representative and Tournament Chairwoman will be responsible for notifying all District Representatives no later than a week before the hosted event.
Handicaps:
1. The maximum USGA handicap index (“HI”) for members is 30.0. The qualifying HI shall be established by using the April 15^th revision as the first date of eligibility and the May 1^st revision as the final date of eligibility. A new member, to the club or to WADGA, may join when she establishes a 30.0 or below HI.
2. A previous WADGA member, whose HI is above 30.0 on May 1^st, but would like to continue to be a member, may request an extension until June 1^st in an attempt to lower her HI. The request should be made to her District Representative by May 1^st.
  1. A Legacy member must have been a WADGA member for at least 30 years and will be given the maximum 30.0 HI during any competition. They will be eligible to remain a Legacy Member until their HI exceeds 32.0.
3. A member whose HI index goes above 30.0 during the year may continue to compete at a 30.0 handicap.
4. The HIs for all events and Tournaments shall be determined by the most recent HI as provided by the World Handicap System, using the same day for everyone, two or three days prior to the event, according to the Host Pro’s discretion.
Rules:
1. USGA rules govern all play.
2. Local rules are to be announced before play and printed and distributed before the start of play.
3. All WADGA regular and championship scoring for all flights will be as follows: 1st Low Gross THEN 1st Low Net THEN 2nd Low Gross THEN 2nd Low Net THEN 3rd Low Gross THEN 3rd Low Net etc.
4. The Rules Committee for the day of play shall consist of the Host Golf Professional, District President, District Vice President, District Tournament Chairwoman and District Assistant Tournament Chairwoman.
5. There is a two (2) stroke penalty for those players who played one hole out of order. If the second hole is played, it disqualifies those players.
Weather:
1. In case of inclement weather, you must show up at the host club unless you are notified by phone, email, or text message that the play has been canceled. If inclement weather occurs during tournament play, play will be suspended for up to one hour, at which time the tournament will either continue or be canceled.
Slow Play:
1. To speed up play, please play “ready golf” safely from tee to green. A player will be penalized if she delays play or contributes to causing her group to delay. A group that is out of position and behind the established pace of play will be warned once by an official. In order to be out of position, the players must be in violation of one of the following:
  1. When the following group reaches the tee of a par 3 and the preceding group has cleared the next tee.
  2. When the green on a par 4 is clear and the following group has not left the tee.
  3. When a group on a par 5 has reached the putting surface and the following group has not left the tee. When a group continues to be out of position and behind the “time par”, the group will be timed under the following guidelines.
1. 40 SECONDS is the time allotted for each shot for a player. Ten seconds extra is permitted for the first to play on par 3’s, the first to hit shots on par 4’s and 5’s, and the first to play on or near the green.
  
  Violations: One bad time Warning
  
  Two bad times One Shot Penalty
  
  Three bad times Two Shot Penalty
  
  Four bad times Disqualification

Score Cards:
1. Each player is responsible for turning in her signed and attested scorecard immediately after the completion of play. The player shall be disqualified if a signed and attested scorecard is not turned in. If two players cannot resolve a disagreement about scoring, it must be brought to the attention of the Rules Committee immediately upon completion of play. If the scorecard is not signed by the attester, it will not be accepted, and the player will be disqualified.
Championship:
1. District Championship will be a 3/2-day stroke play event. The Host Club will not be scheduled to host District play the preceding or the following year.
2. Playoff for Championship Tournament:
  1. Low Gross: Ties are broken by a sudden-death play-off for 1st place for the Championship Flight only, which will begin immediately following the final round of the tournament. All other gross ties are broken with a scorecard play-off by comparing the combined score of the last nine holes, then the last six holes, then the last three holes, and then the last hole.
  2. Low Net: Ties are broken with a scorecard play-off as follows. Gross score for the last nine holes minus ½ handicap; if still tied, gross score for the last six holes minus 1/3 handicap; if still tied, gross score for the three holes minus 1/6 handicap; if still tied, gross score for the 18^th hole minus 1/8 handicap.
3. Championship prizes will be based on a point system. The points will be converted to dollar amounts, and certificates to member clubs will be issued. Commemorative gifts will be presented to the champion, runner-up, and all other first places.
Caddies and Carts:
1. The Host Club will provide caddies (if available) upon an entrant’s request. A competitor may not bring her own caddie.
2. Carts will be shared only with another competitor.
Cancellations:
1. Regular Play Day events, including Opening Day and Closing Day:
  1. Any player who needs to cancel should do so by three days prior to the Play Day. It is the player’s responsibility to call the Host District Representative and/or Host Pro Shop. You should also call your District Representative. Any cancellation penalty will be at the discretion of the Tournament Chair after investigating the reason.
2. Championship:
  1. Cancellation must be received by the Host District Representative and/or Host Pro Shop two (2) days prior to the first round.
  2. Late cancellation will result in the player being responsible for the cost of the closing luncheon.
  3. For a “no show” or withdrawal during the Championship, the player will be disqualified. The player will be responsible for the 3 or 2 day cost of play and the closing luncheon.
Awards for Regular Individual Events:
1. For individual Play Days, winners will receive points which will be compiled throughout the season. Certificates will be awarded on Closing Day which can be redeemed for merchandise at their Club Pro Shop.
Guests:
1. Qualifying WADGA members may invite guests to play in regular Play Day events only, not Team Events. Any member can bring as many guests during the season as she wishes. Guests must be a full member of a member club and each guest is only allowed to play once per season. The guest participation fee will be the current event rate for that day plus the applicable beverage rate. Guests will not be entered into the competition for that day and will not be eligible for any awards presented.
Cell Phones:
1. Players are to silence and NOT use their cell phones for conversations and texting during play.
Distance Measuring Devices:
1. Distance measuring devices are allowed during play. It is your equipment, and its sharing is at your discretion. A player may use a device that contains prohibited functions (examples listed below) provided these specific functions are not accessed by the player during the stipulated round. Such prohibited functions include, but are not limited to:
  - The gauging or measuring of slope;
  - The gauging or measuring of other conditions that might affect play (e.g., wind speed or direction);
  - The gauging or measuring of a player’s physical or mental state, such as heart rate;
  - Recommendations that might assist the player in making a stroke or in her play (e. g. club selection, type of shot to be played, green reading, or any other advice-related matter; or calculating the effective distance between two points based on elevation changes or other conditions affecting that distance.)
Payment by Check or Cash:
1. Each player must pay for all WADGA events by check (payable to the Host Club) or cash at registration. The WADGA players’ District Representative will notify them of the amount due one week prior to the day of play.

Revised: October 25, 2024

Violations:	One bad time	Warning
	Two bad times	One Shot Penalty
	Three bad times	Two Shot Penalty
	Four bad times	Disqualification