Author: David Cook

New USGA rule on Picking Up during play

The new USGA rules allow each organization, like the Pinseekers Club, to establish their own rules on whether a player is disqualified from tournament play if they pick up the ball without holing out.  Prior to the 2019 change, picking up was automatically marked as an “X” for disqualification.

Now, since it is optional, and the existing Pinseekers Rules of Play, Rule 8, addresses what happens when picking up and does not require a disqualification and “X”, the Pinseekers Club rule is that the Player must mark the hole with a stroke count of 10 strokes, but is not disqualified for the sweeps competition.

A Very Busy May!

Hi Fellow Pinseekers,

May will be our busiest month so far, with the Clyne Soley Tournament on Saturday May 11th, the Swingers/Pinseekers Spring Mixer Tournament on Tuesday May 14th, and our Annual Membership meeting on Tuesday May 21st.  Be sure and mark your calendars!!
Clyne Soley Tournament – Saturday, May 11th
The Ironmen have challenged both the Pinseekers and the Men’s Golf Club to come out and find who is better at the short game on our Par 3 course.  Saturday, May 11th with two shotgun flights at 9am and 11am.  Pick three of your friends (or as many as you have for the socially challenged) and sign up at the Pro Shop to compete.  Cost is $35 which includes greens fees. a Hawaiian themed lunch, and the chance to win hundreds of dollars in prizes.  There will be a long drive contest, 4 closest to the pin contests, a bulls-eye drive accuracy contest, flight winners, and an overall Villages Short Course Champion award.  More information in the attached flyer.
 
Swingers/Pinseekers Spring Mixer – Tuesday, May 14th
One of our two annual Mixers with the Ladies.  Mixed foursomes, competition, and lunch at the Gazebo following.  Always a lot of fun!  Please sign up for the event and make your lunch selection on the signup sheet in the Posting Room.  Sweeps will be awarded that day only to those playing in the Mixer.
Annual Membership Meeting – Tuesday, May 21st, Clubhouse
Our mandatory annual membership meeting will be in the Clubhouse at 11:00 am sharp.  Please sign up with Martin Hoek or the Posting Room and make your lunch selection.  The price of lunch is only $13, since the cost is subsidized from the club treasury.  We will have Officer Elections, club business, recognition of our Player of the Year, lunch, and a guest speaker – Scott Steele talking about some of the benefits of the new rules.  The Nominating Committee met on April 23rd and proposes the following slate of Officers for 2019-2020:  President – David Cook, Vice President – Leighton Horio, Joint Secretaries – Jack Bindon and Tim Short, Treasurer – John Eige, and Activities Chairman – Dick Frey.  Additional nominations will be accepted at the meeting before the vote.
So mark your calendars and prepare for some fun and socializing this month!
Best regards,
David Cook, President

New Local Rules

Scott Steele has updated the Villages Golf Local Rules.

I especially like the Rule about losing a ball in the Italian Cypress Tress – I’ve already had an opportunity to use it.  Also note the new option for the Lost or Out of Bounds balls – it can save a lot of time and effort not have to go back and tee up a replacement ball.

Balls Lost or Out of Bounds
A player may still take a Stroke and Distance Penalty (Rule 18.2) and re-hit from the original spot if he so chooses.
Option 2 for balls lost or out of bounds (OB)…A player may now take the spot where the ball was lost or crossed the OB line and go directly across from this spot to the edge of the fairway and drop within 2 club lengths, no nearer the hole, and will incur a 2-stroke penalty.

150 Yard Italian Cypress Trees
Any ball stuck or lost in a 150 Yard Italian Cypress Tree may be dropped at the nearest point of relief, plus one club-length, no nearer the hole, with NO PENALTY.

The complete list of Local Rules is attached and on the Pinseekers web site.  VGCC Local Rules

Maximum Number of Strokes per Hole

The Pinseekers has a club rule (Pinseekers Rules of Play, rule 8) that the maximum number of strokes per hole is 10, and that any player picking up without holing out shall record 10 strokes.

And, if you pick up without holing out, you must mark a “10X” for that hole, signifying that you have withdrawn from the Sweeps competition that day.