dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

So You Think You Know The Rules

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The new USGA rules are completely reorganized and simpler. Plus they have lots of illustrations to help understand exactly what the words mean. Plus there are some really great videos to help too.

One more way to really get you up to speed – take a quiz and see how well you really know the new rules.

USGA has just that, a really cool interactive quiz package. They propose a situation and a few alternatives. You select. the correct response. They give you feedback. And let you retest.

USGA Rules Quizzes – CLICK HERE

You can select how many questions, and one of 3 levels of difficulty I challenge you to try. I got 50% correct on my first try of 10 “basic” questions.

Rules Presentation Now Online CLICK HERE

If you attended the General Meeting you participated in a Rules 2019 presentation that the Rules Committee lead by Gary Brown put together. You have been exposed to most of what you need to know for the big rule issues.

Our survey showed that most of you think you know and follow the “rules” already, but we all know that there are a lot of differences in interpretations. Opinions vary.

We have now loaded the presentation onto the website. Now all can see in your own time.

Remember – we used USGA as our Rules Foundation. Our few exceptions to USGA are there to keep pace of play at target and to better fit the game to seniors capabilities.

Knowing and using the rules properly can help you manage abnormal situations or really bad shots better and perhaps with fewer strokes. Really knowing the rules helps you play smarter golf!

New Charity Golf Listings

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We have stated a new service for our Metro Seniors Members! A listing of charity golf tournaments that are supported or sponsored by our members. These are listed in our website menu under Member Resources. CLICK HERE for more information

Metro Seniors Golf is not endorsing, sponsoring, or soliciting for these events. However, we felt that some members might be interested in more golf and participating in a charity program.

2021 Rules / Operation Changes

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For the 2021 season the Board of Governors approved the following changes in rules and operations.

The most important changes are in the changes in the Rules of Golf as implemented by USGA starting January 1, 2019. The rule book was completely rewritten for better clarity and easier play. Metro Seniors (MSLAGA) started adopting some of these rules in 2018.

The most important changes are in defining the Penalty areas – previously know as either “lateral hazards – Red Stakes” or “water hazards” as defined by Yellow Stakes. These are now either Red or Yellow Penalty areas.

Most important MSLSGA has more clearly defined our rules for improving lies, Lost Balls, Out of Bounds, and Penalty areas. The MSLSGA rules are targeted to provide a little extra relief beyond USGA for OB, Lost Balls, and Yellow Penalty areas. These will help keep pace of play moving along.

The Rules Committee will be posting information regularly to help all members understand and follow these rules. CLICK HERE for the Rules Roundtable

MSLSGA does NOT ALLOW the Stroke and Distance penalty anywhere on the courses (returning to the location of your last shot). This would be a major disruption to pace.

LAST REGISTRATION – 1 1/2 Hour After Start Tee Times

In 2018 we looked at reducing registration end time. Larger divisions had concerns. Now the official registration ending time for Division 1-5 weekly tournaments is again 1 1/2 hours. However, Division VPs may announce adjust the time if attendance is low.

Click on this Link to see all revisions for 2023:

Summary of Major USGA Changes with Videos

Pace of Play Ideas
Here is a link to a video from USGA about ideas on Pace of Play.  CLICK HERE

Ideas on faster play at the Greens – CLICK HERE

Rules of Golf – History

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Looking over the rules changes for 2019 brings all kinds of interesting information to the fore.

Interested in the history of the “Rules”? USGA has prepared a very interesting summary of the rules over a 270 year period.

Some of these are quite interesting, especially the relief drops. Some give shine a light on why some rules were established.

Makes for interesting reading when taking a rest from putting new grips on, cleaning up the grooves, or otherwise tuning up for the new season.

CLICK HERE for a little fun reading.

I also recommend that you visit the USGA site to look at the new rules. The videos are really good. Metro Seniors is founded on USGA rules. We make a very few “local” variations to keep pace moving and allow for “seniors” abilities. However, if you know and follow all USGA rules, it will help you with the few variations from Metro Senior.

CLICK HERE for USGA Major Rule Changes with videos

Pace of Play Rules

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CLICK HERE FOR USGA PACE OF PLAY RULES

USGA has new rules specifically focused on improving pace of play. MSLSGA as the “Committee” has over several years adopted local rules for pace. These are now virtually identical to the several of the new USGA rules.

USGA encourages setting expectations for both beginners and experienced players on what types of behavior are considered prompt play, including the maximum amount of time it should normally take to make a stroke.

New USGA Rules encourage prompt pace of play by recommending that:

  • Players should recognize that their pace of play affects others and they should play promptly throughout the round (such as by preparing in advance for each stroke and moving promptly between strokes and in going to the next tee),
  • A player should make a stroke in no more than 40 seconds (and usually in less time) after the player is able to play without interference or distraction
  • Committees should adopt a Pace of Play Policy.
  • In addition, Rule 6.4 expressly allows playing out of turn for stroke play, affirmatively allows and encourages players to play out of turn in a safe and responsible way to save time or for convenience (also known as “ready golf”).

EXPECTATIONS METRO SENIORS

  • Members are Expected to:
    • Play to best competitive effort, with courtesy and respect for others
    • Follow all rules – no gimme putts, QUAD BOGEY max, leave flagstick in, ……
    • Manage their group to “Meet Pace” and “Keep Up” with group ahead
    • Play READY GOLF – Play “out of turn” in a safe, responsible manner – No HONORS!
    • Play quickly – USGA suggests 40 SECONDS for a stroke
  • Pace of Play Targets
    • 4 to 4 1/2 hours Tee Starts
    • 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours Shotgun Starts
    • Course, conditions, organization, member capability

Maximum of Quad Bogey on any hole

All players are required to take no more than a Quad Bogey on any hole.  This will prevent a “blow-up” hole from slowing a group and all behind them.  It will reduce only about 15 to 30 strokes per round but these are concentrated in our slowest players and groups. Pace for our slowest players (and those following) should improve by several minutes per round.

The Quad Bogey rule will not make any differences in handicaps, in flight prize money, in flight standings, or in qualifications for the league championship.

Everyone who has a bad hole is required to take advantage of the Quad Bogey rule.

News of History!

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Did you know?

Metro Seniors is 46 years old in 2019?

That we have had 30 Presidents over the years? And, six of those are still playing in 2019!

That one man with an idea started Metro Seniors with an ad in the newspaper?

Larry Roth with Bob Roderigue, Metro Seniors’ Historian, are finishing a project to collect, organize and publish much of our rich history. Over the next year or so we will be posting some of our history as an honor and recognition to the many volunteers who have contributed to building Metro Seniors.

You, too, can make history. We have many opportunities for volunteers on committees, at the Division level, and as a Board member or officer. This is a great way to help a great St. Louis institution while using your skills, knowledge, interests or talents with a great group of friends.

A simple start – a look back at our Presidents over the years. CLICK HERE

2019 Metro Plus Membership Sold Out

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Metro Plus “Sold Out”

140 Metro Senior members have signed up for the Metro Plus. The new Premium Division will start play this April playing premium public courses and 4 private Country Clubs. I’d like to thank all of the Metro Senior members who signed up to the initial season.

Metro Plus has started a wait list for those who cancel prior to the start of the season. If you wish to be put on the wait list, please contact Larry Roth @ larry@lgr-sri.com for the appropriate links.

Additional information will be sent to all the members directly. Starting in March/April a separate section on Metro Seniors website will be dedicated for all Metro Plus info.

Larry Roth
Metro Seniors VP

Credit Card Now Accepted for Memberships 1-7-2019

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Credit Card transactions are now reopened for Membership Renewals and New Membership Applications effective immediately. 1-7-2019. Special Events and Metro Plus will open January 9, 2019 by 9 AM.

The problem that developed with our PayPal account was completely resolved within a few days during the holiday period. We decided all close credit card transactions for an abundance of caution until we were completely satisfied that our account and issues were completely clear.

The actual incident involved only the Metro Senior account. It was very short and security procedures locked our account access immediately. Along with PayPal security procedures, we have strengthened our own security rules and education to prevent this in the future.

No member information or credit transactions were involved.

Membership Renewals have been extended to January 31, 2019 to accommodate members who may have waited until late December to renew. Paper form renewals remained open during the credit card outage.

As announced, we decided to delay Special Events registrations opening to Wednesday, January 9, 2019. This allowed time to make sure our credit card transactions were secure. Plus for fairness, all members had fair notice for the opening.

Links for the Special Events and Metro Seniors registration will open by 9:00 AM on January 9, 2019.