Newsletter

Roster Pictures Now Available

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Pictures taken at the March 11, 2019 Metro Seniors General Meeting have now been added to the Rosters on OurGolfStats.com for Divisions 1-5. OurGolfStats.com is the website used by Metro Seniors for Handicap Administration. We now have 311 pictures, or 48% of our Division 1-5 membership, on the Rosters. To view pictures of the other members of your Division, just log into your Division with the Metro Seniors password (which is metro) and choose menu option #1 – Member Content Roster, Handicaps and Flights.

Double check your ID on the Roster. A few getting their pictures taken gave us the wrong ID. Don’t make an error with your ID when you sign your scorecards. Additionally, a couple of times people got out of the picture taking sequence in the line, so make sure we have the correct picture with your name!!

Familiarize yourself with other members of your Division. In particular, seek out our new members, introduce yourself, and even play a few rounds with one or more of our new members. The social aspects of the game of golf are an important part of belonging to a large organization such as ours.

2019 Special Events Update

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The Entry and Waiting List have been updated for all of the Special Event tournaments as of 2/13/2019.

The 4-Person Find Your Swing Tournament is 97% full.

The 2-Person Ryder Cup Tournament is 100% full w/waiting list.

The 4-Person Best Ball Tournament is 86% full.

The 2-Person Pick Your Partner Tournament is 100% w/waiting list.

The 4-Person Founder’s Day Tournament is 100% full w/waiting list.

The Individual Samr Flight Tournament is 67% full.

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 Roundtable

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Where do I drop the ball?

I have seen many variations of the correct place to drop your ball if it’s out of bounds, lost in the weeds or in a Penalty Area. My hope is to show everyone the correct place to drop with this communication. I have included a couple of illustrations created by Rick Hines (Thank you Rick). You must scroll down and put your glasses on to see them.

There is some confusion about the term “Back on the Line Relief” as well. Most golfers I have talked to, thought that meant the line from their previous shot to where the ball came to rest, but that is not correct. The best way I can describe “Back on the Line” is to, stand behind the ball while looking at the pin and then taking your relief back on that line 1 club to either side of it. Then drop the ball from your knee height. Metro seniors allows us to roll the ball with our club up to a foot, left, right or back to try and improve our lie.  

Lift, Clean and Place of the ball within one (1) foot, not nearer the hole, allowed on the whole of the course except:

  • 1. The putting green of the hole being played; and
  • 2. All Penalty Areas on the course including Bunkers
  • 3. If the grass your ball is in, is longer than 6”
  • 4. NOT ALLOWED to improve line of play, to get relief from behind tree, in a different cut of grass (rough to fairway),

Enjoy this video of the proper way to use “Back on the Line” relief: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/procedure-for-taking-back-on-a-line-relief.html

Lateral Relief: Is another option for determining your drop options in some cases.  This option may be used to your advantage, depending on where your ball entered the Red Staked Penalty area (Sand traps are not Red staked). I have also included a video on the proper Drop Procedures.   

Lateral Relief: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/procedure-for-taking-lateral-relief.html

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

2019 Special Events Entry List Update

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The Entry List for all of the 2019 Special Events have been Updated. The Waiting List for the Founder’s Day, Ryder Cup, and Pick Your Partner Tournaments have also been updated.
Click on the sidebar link “Confirm/Wait/Pairing Lists”.

The registration levels for each of the tournaments are as follows:

Find Your Swing 96% full

Ryder Cup 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

4-Person Best Ball 85% full

Pick Your Partner 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

Founder’s Day 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

Same Flight 66% full

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.