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The whole point of The Slammer Tour is to create a fun and competitive golf environment where players of every skill level get to compete for bones, prizes and personal pride.
But, it's also about helping each other learn about the rules, etiquette and culture of golf so that everyone, especially the golf courses and your opponents, are always treated with the utmost respect. Although we do on occasion "break the rules of official golf" on the Tour, we do so only because ours is such a unique format for golf.
Etiquette & Course Care
Tour Format
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Pace-of-Play Rules
Other Rules
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Etiquette & Course Care: Updated March 1, 2008
Golf Course & Clubhouse Respect
We're all in it to have a great time and we want courses to want us. When we treat the courses and staff with respect, they respond by treating us as valued customers... and that's a win-win for everyone. Please keep swearing and rough language to a minimum, especially in the clubhouse where other customers and staff are present, and always respect the course's local rules with respect to powercarts and practice facilities. Remember: each time you play in an event, you represent The Slammer Tour and Executive Golf so we'll say "thanks in advance" for helping out.
Divots & Ball Marks
We all appreciate a beautiful course so please make sure to always replace your divots, repair damaged tee boxes with seed and sand, if available, and fix your ball marks (and any others that you find). Try to leave the course in even better shape than you found it... even if it's not already in great shape.
Be Safe
No one wants to take a ball in the back of the head or meet their maker at the bottom of a ravine, so please be mindful of others' positions when hitting... especially from peculiar lies. Anyone can skull or toe a ball: even Chilly! We have strict pace-of-play rules, too, so it's never appropriate to hit into a slow group to send them a message. If you have a blind shot, be absolutely sure all is clear before you hit. Safety first!
Gamesmanship & Whining
Gamesmanship is not good sportsmanship and there's a fine line between teasing and intentionally doing something to negatively impact your opponent. Just use your judgment and treat others like you would like to be treated. Golfers are notorious whiners... but not Slammers! If you hear a legitimate whine, get two others to second your opinion and the culprit will be asked to toss a toonie to the kids.
Complaints
When we visit a golf course, we are guests and represent The Slammer Tour and Executive Golf. It is critical that we maintain a positive and respectful relationship with every course so If you have any issues during Tour events, please direct your complaints to the Commish... who will address them and get back to you within 48 hours.
Tour Format: Updated March 1, 2008
Match-Play
All Slammer Tour events are match-play format as opposed to stroke play. In match-play, you win, tie or lose each hole until you run out of holes and a winner is declared... unless of course it ends up in a tie. Unlike stroke play where scoring is based on the total number of shots for the entire round, The Slammer Tour plays on a hole-by-hole basis. If you par the first hole, for example, and your opponent bogies it, you're "one up". Beat them again on hole #2 and you're "two up". If, for example, you are "three up" but there are only two holes left to play, you win the match!
Challenges
The Tour is structured as a ladder; similar to a tennis ladder. You challenge someone who is ranked above you. If you beat them, you get their ranking and they get moved down a notch. The challenge system opens 10 days in advance of an event at 9pm. Up to three challenges may be declared for an event but only the top available challenge will be used to make the groups. The other two challenges are alternates, in case the challenger does not get their first choice. Priority is established by the time stamp on your entry. Once registered for an event, you can change your challenge at any time on the website. By default, you also challenge everyone else ranked lower than your top challenge and all challenges are five bones each.
Doggies
Doggies are awarded to the Slammer who sticks the ball closest to the pin out of the entire event's field of players... assuming they make no worse than par! You should keep a couple of doggie balls (maybe 4?) in your bag; white and pre-marked with your name so that others will know who is in the running. Use a white ball, since they're easier to see from the tee, and prop it up on a good long tee. A five-bone doggie entry is mandatory on the Tour, and payable before you tee off, so look for the DoggieMaster when you arrive at the course.
Skins
Skins are an optional side-competition at every Tour event whereby you can win a "skin" if you alone get the lowest score on a hole out of the entire field of players. Every event has a designated SkinMaster whose duty is to collect score cards at the end of the round, and to tabulate and present the results. If you want in on the skins game, you must give your name and entry to the DoggieMaster.
Event Summary Sheets
The top-ranked Slammer at the end of play in each foursome is responsible for filling out the group summary sheet, and for getting sign-offs from all opponents. This is an honour!
Pace-of-Play Rules: Updated March 1, 2008
Overview
Pace-of-play is critically important for the Tour and we have to look at ourselves, first, to find ways to ensure we play as efficiently as possible. The best tip of all is to be ready when it's your turn to go. Think ahead and plan your shot while others are making theirs, or while you're walking to your ball. We play "ready-golf" on the Tour when a group is out of position so lead by example... hit the ball! After your round, ask your fellow Slammers if they've noticed anything that you can do, personally, to improve your own pace-of-play and be open to others' observations. If you see a pattern in responses, then perhaps there is something you can work on. Remember, it's not about rushing: it's about efficiency and protection of the Tour's reputation.
30 Second Rule
All shots must be executed within 30 seconds of the previous player's shot. This goes for drives, reloads, fairway shots, approaches, sand shots, chips and putts. Thirty seconds may not sound like much but if you test it out in the field, you'll see that it is in fact plenty of time. The key is to do as much planning before your 30 seconds kicks in... and get your glove on while you're walking or waiting for another player to hit. If a player is over 30 seconds, mention it to him/her in a polite, constructive or even "fun" way. If the problem persists, however, send an email to the Commish and he will address the issue with the individual.
Half-Hole Behind
Because efficiency in pace-of-play is so critical to The Tour, a group is officially out of position when they are more than a half-hole behind the group in front, regardless of how many people are in the group ahead or for any other circumstance. When a group is out of position, the Group Captain must take responsibility and ensure his group gets back into position as quickly as possible.
Three-Minute Search
A maximum of three minutes is permitted to look for your ball in the woods, hazard, rough or anywhere - and you are only entitled to 3 three-minute searches per round. All searches after you've spent your three-minuters are limited to a maximum of one-minute each. Keep it in play!
Slammer Max
The maximum number of strokes per hole is NINE and all nines are equal. If an individual is out of the hole with all other opponents, he or she may mark down an estimated (realistic) score.
Two-Foot Gimmies
Opponents must concede putts within two-feet of the hole except if the putt is to win or extend a match, or to win a doggie, and all opponents still in the match must agree. The distance is measured from the edge of the hole to the front of the ball. A player cannot give him or herself a putt; it must be agreed to by all opponents unless it is obvious. All Slammers must have a two-foot marker on their putter (either tape around the shaft or a mark on the grip) for measuring.
Lost Ball or Out-of-Bounds (OB)
If at any time, you think that your ball is lost or out-of-bounds, you may hit ONE provisional ball. If your provisional, off the tee, is also lost or o.b., you must place a ball at a reasonable yardage from the hole and you are then lying five. For any shot subsequent to your tee shot, if your provisional is lost or o.b., you will be given a Slammie max (9 strokes) on the hole. After you have hit a provisional ball (because you thought your ball might be lost) but you find your first ball, you must play your first ball. At this point you have a few options:
- Play it as it lies OR
- Declare it unplayable and take one of two relief possibilities as per the Rules of Golf (with a one-stroke penalty): drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole; (the third option of going back to re-hit is not available under Slammer Tour pace-of-play rules) OR
- The option of going back to re-hit is not available under Slammer Tour pace-of-play rules. Instead you may take relief thus: drop the ball at the point of entry into the rough stuff, no nearer the hole, and take a two-stroke penalty.
If after teeing off, and you have not hit a provisional ball, but you discover that your ball is lost, you may drop a ball at a reasonable distance from the hole and you are lying five. In any case only ONE provisional is permitted and there is NO GOING BACK to hit a shot over.
Play While Others are Searching
At least one player must hit while others are searching for a lost ball. When searching for a ball, please be as quiet as possible so the person hitting will not be disrupted.
The Over-25 Exemption
If you have a handicap factor of 25.0 or higher you are exempt from any stroke and distance penalties. Lost or out-of-bounds penalties are played similarly, but not exactly, to a lateral hazard. Your only option is to take your point of entry with two club lengths and add one penalty stroke. To qualify for this exemption you must have an up-to-date handicap listed on the RCGA Network. Executive Golf offers RCGA/Golf Québec memberships for a nominal fee.
Chipping and Putting Order
The Group Captain (defender) should announce the hitting-order when close to the green, assuming it's not obvious. This will avoid wasted time when someone asks "is it you or me?".
Honours
The Slammer with honours is first up on the next tee and is NOT permitted to mark the score until they have hit. Anyone can tee off first as long as the Slammer with honours agrees. If the Slammer with honours is slow getting to the tee, ready-golf kicks in.
Other Rules: Updated March 1, 2008
Rule Priority
RCGA rules of match-play golf apply, except for local course rules and the Slammer rules as outlined on this page. Slammer rules take precedence, followed by local course rules and then RCGA rules.
Rulings
No one has the authority to "make a ruling" on the course and it is up to individual players to determine how he or she will proceed if an issue comes up. You may ask for opinions on what the proper course of action should be but it is ultimately up to you to make a decision. You may NOT play two balls. If an opponent disagrees with your course of action, said opponent must tell you, respectfully, that he/she is filing a claim. This announcement must be made before teeing off on the next hole. Once the round is complete, the claim must be emailed to rulings@slammertour.com with a description of the situation and the players involved. The Slammer Tour Rules Committee will follow up and make a ruling, and the decision will be posted on the Decisions Page. Claims must be emailed within 24 hours of event completion or they will not be considered for the outcome of the match. Non-claim rulings are still encouraged to be emailed in for review and for the benefit of all Tour members.
The Leaf Rule
If your ball is lost in an area that is normally maintained and you would have normally found it, 99% of the time, and your three opponents agree with you, then you may drop a ball closest to the point where you think it was without penalty. If you feel the leaf rule applies but one or more of your opponents don't, then play it and score it as you choose. Your opponents can file a claim if they disagree.
- Definition: Normally Maintained. Any area where the grass is regularly cut. This can be in the trees, like at The Meadows, for example.
The Leaf Rule automatically goes into effect October 1 every year.
Preferred Lies
You may roll your ball up to 12 inches with the head of the club, but only on your own fairway. You may not pick the ball up with your hands or kick it with your feet; you must use a club to do so. You may not clean your ball until you are on the green and the ball is properly marked, or for some other valid reason, unless of course the event has been designated as a "lift, clean and place" event.
Balls on the Collar
Preferred lies are NOT permitted on the collar of the green, the area between the green and rough.
Spike Marks
You MAY tap down or fix spike marks or any other marks on the green. (Please fix a few ball marks while you're at it!)
Embedded Balls
If your ball is embedded in its own pitch mark, anywhere outside of a hazard but still on the course, you can pick it up, clean it and drop it from shoulder height within one club length of the pitch mark, and no closer to the hole. And, you always get relief from casual water.
Portable Range Finders
Yes, they are permitted on The Slammer Tour, but please don't let their use hinder your nice and efficient pace-of-play.
Non-Conforming Clubs
It is preferred that such clubs are NOT used, however there will not be any "policing" on this issue. It's just an issue of good sportsmanship.
Cancellations
The penalty for bailing within 48 hours of an event is 50% of the event fee, applied to your EG account. Naturally, there are exceptions for emergencies. If the event is cancelled or deemed to be an "extreme weather event", penalties do not apply.
Participation
If you do not play at least once in a calendar month you will drop three places in the rankings. If you are in the top-five, however, and don't play at least once in 14 days, you will drop three spots in the rankings. The Tour believes in rewarding those who play a lot.
Junior Clause
Juniors play for stats, not bones - unless authorized by their parents. (applies to Slammers 18 years of age and under)
Please let us know if you think we've missed anything important.
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