Member Handbook
This handbook is being designed to help address many of the common issues that come up during the season and to improve the experience of every member of the club. This handbook is not intended to address every issue that could come up, but is really a resource for every member to use.
1. Scoring. Each tournament will have a scorecard and generally will use a live scoring app (GolfGenius). It is the player’s responsibility to ensure that the scorecard matches the scores in the live scoring app. In case of disputes, the scorecard will take priority. Each scorecard should have two signatures to confirm scores.
2. Tournament Handicap System. Beginning in the 2020 season, the club will be utilizing a tournament handicap system (THS). This system will use only qualifying Red Hawk club tournament scores. As a general rule, all tournaments will be used in the THS except the following: the member-guest; and the member 6-6-6. The basic concept is that anytime a member is playing from their normal tees, the score will be used in the calculation. A member’s handicap will be based on the best 7 of the last 10 scores rounded to the nearest whole number. We will use scores back to two years and have a rolling forward system. In the case a member does not have 10 qualifying scores, the system will calculate a tournament handicap if the player has at least 3 tournament scores. In the cases of less than 10 scores, the handicap will be based on the following: 2 out of 3; 3 out of 4; 4 out of 5; 4 out of 6; 5 out of 7; 6 out of 8; 6 out of 9. The handicap will be calculated taking an average of the best scores and subtracting from par (72). For example, if a player’s best 7 scores average 80, then that player’s handicap will be an 8. For new members who have less than 3 tournament scores, we will use their World Handicap System number to establish a playing handicap. The Board of Directors and the Handicap Chairman will monitor the effectiveness of the system and may make adjustments to the system to promote fairness and proper flight placement. This includes an adjustment to any player’s handicap in cases that are deemed necessary. 3. Flights. Beginning in the 2020 season, flights will be based on handicap ranges. Currently, there are 6 flights utilized, however, more may be added based on total membership. Flights will likely be separated as follows: A flight 0 -5; B flight 6 - 9; C flight 10-13; D flight 14-16; E flight 17 - 19; F flight 20 and over. These flights will play from the following tees: A flight black tees; B flight black gold combo tees; C flight gold tees; D flight gold tees; E flight gold tees; F flight blue tees. Based on membership, these flights may be altered. This means that during the season a player may get promoted to a different flight if their handicap lowers and may get a performance reassignment if their handicap increases.
4. Payouts. Since the flights are based on handicaps, it is very likely flights will be unbalanced. Meaning that C flight may have more players than other flights. The general rule is that payouts will be paid to a third of the field. Therefore, larger flights will have more payouts. Payouts will be given to Gross and Net scores but no player will receive a payout for both. For example, if a player “wins” the gross and the net in their flight, they will be awarded 1st place gross and first place net will be awarded to the next player in the net standings. In case of ties, a scorecard playoff will be used which is back 9, the last 6, and then last 3. Payout money will come from membership dues at the beginning of the year, and it is the goal to have payouts consistent throughout the year. Also, flight winnings will be paid as pro shop credit.
5. Red Hawk Cup. The Red Hawk Cup is an end of the season tourney split into two teams and will consist of five matches to determine a team winner. A year-long points system will be used to determine qualifying players. To be eligible, members will need to pay a modest fee at the beginning of the year. Those fees will be used for the Red Hawk Cup tourney and will help offset the costs of gifts, trophies, food and beverage. Qualifying players will still need to pay green fees. Beginning in the 2022 season, the qualifying players will be based on the top 15 players in the gross scoring; the top 15 players in the net scoring, and the winners of the 6 Match Play tourneys. Participation points will be given for each tourney played to encourage more participation. If a participant needs to withdraw from a round due to an unforeseen event, he may still receive the participation points at the Board’s discretion. In addition, points will be awarded based on the number of players each player beats in a qualifying tourney. For example, the player with the lowest overall score will receive 100 points, second place will receive 99 points and so on. This score will be added to the participation points. Participation points will be 10 points. A completed round requires every hole to be played and every hole to be completed. Standings will be based on the top 4 scores of the 7 qualifying tourneys. In case a qualifying player is unable to play, the spot will be offered to the next eligible player in the standings. The Board of Directors may make changes to the system if circumstances warrant a change. 6. Vice President's Cup. The Vice President's Cup is a secondary 36-hole tournament that will coincide with the Red Hawk Cup. This tournament is to expand the number of members that will have the opportunity to participate on the Red Hawk Cup weekend. This event will run after the morning matches of the Red Hawk Cup on both days. It will consist of the next 28 members that did not qualify for the Red Hawk Cup. To be eligible a member must have signed up for the RH Cup and be one of the next 11 gross or 11 net players in line from the Red Hawk Cup points list. Additionally, the 6 match play runner-up's will earn a spot. If the match play runner-up did not sign up for Red Hawk Cup, the spot will be awarded to the next player from the net points list.
7. Match Play. Members can pay a fee and play in the year-long match play event. Historically, the field has been limited to the first 64 players, but it is anticipated that the increased membership will necessitate an expansion to 80 to 96 players (5 or 6 flights). The field will be split evenly based on total number of entries. This means that a player may end up playing in a flight against an opponent who is playing from different tees. All players will play from their "normal" tees. Payouts in each flight will be 75% of the pool to the winner and 25% to the runner-up. The winner of the flight will automatically qualify for the Red Hawk Cup. If that player declines the invitation, the Board of Directors will determine the priority for that spot. It is the responsibility of the players to play matches in a timely fashion. If players do not play a match in timely fashion, the Match Play Chairman (most likely the VP) will make a determination of the declared winner. This determination may be as simple as a coin flip.
8. Ringer Rounds. This is a separate contest all members can participate in and the entry fee will be used for payouts. For both the gross and net score, the lowest score on all 18 individual holes will be recorded for a cumulative ringer round. Only qualifying tournaments will be used as these will generally be the same qualifying tournaments which are used in the Tournament Handicap System. Members can participate in either or both.
2. Tournament Handicap System. Beginning in the 2020 season, the club will be utilizing a tournament handicap system (THS). This system will use only qualifying Red Hawk club tournament scores. As a general rule, all tournaments will be used in the THS except the following: the member-guest; and the member 6-6-6. The basic concept is that anytime a member is playing from their normal tees, the score will be used in the calculation. A member’s handicap will be based on the best 7 of the last 10 scores rounded to the nearest whole number. We will use scores back to two years and have a rolling forward system. In the case a member does not have 10 qualifying scores, the system will calculate a tournament handicap if the player has at least 3 tournament scores. In the cases of less than 10 scores, the handicap will be based on the following: 2 out of 3; 3 out of 4; 4 out of 5; 4 out of 6; 5 out of 7; 6 out of 8; 6 out of 9. The handicap will be calculated taking an average of the best scores and subtracting from par (72). For example, if a player’s best 7 scores average 80, then that player’s handicap will be an 8. For new members who have less than 3 tournament scores, we will use their World Handicap System number to establish a playing handicap. The Board of Directors and the Handicap Chairman will monitor the effectiveness of the system and may make adjustments to the system to promote fairness and proper flight placement. This includes an adjustment to any player’s handicap in cases that are deemed necessary. 3. Flights. Beginning in the 2020 season, flights will be based on handicap ranges. Currently, there are 6 flights utilized, however, more may be added based on total membership. Flights will likely be separated as follows: A flight 0 -5; B flight 6 - 9; C flight 10-13; D flight 14-16; E flight 17 - 19; F flight 20 and over. These flights will play from the following tees: A flight black tees; B flight black gold combo tees; C flight gold tees; D flight gold tees; E flight gold tees; F flight blue tees. Based on membership, these flights may be altered. This means that during the season a player may get promoted to a different flight if their handicap lowers and may get a performance reassignment if their handicap increases.
4. Payouts. Since the flights are based on handicaps, it is very likely flights will be unbalanced. Meaning that C flight may have more players than other flights. The general rule is that payouts will be paid to a third of the field. Therefore, larger flights will have more payouts. Payouts will be given to Gross and Net scores but no player will receive a payout for both. For example, if a player “wins” the gross and the net in their flight, they will be awarded 1st place gross and first place net will be awarded to the next player in the net standings. In case of ties, a scorecard playoff will be used which is back 9, the last 6, and then last 3. Payout money will come from membership dues at the beginning of the year, and it is the goal to have payouts consistent throughout the year. Also, flight winnings will be paid as pro shop credit.
5. Red Hawk Cup. The Red Hawk Cup is an end of the season tourney split into two teams and will consist of five matches to determine a team winner. A year-long points system will be used to determine qualifying players. To be eligible, members will need to pay a modest fee at the beginning of the year. Those fees will be used for the Red Hawk Cup tourney and will help offset the costs of gifts, trophies, food and beverage. Qualifying players will still need to pay green fees. Beginning in the 2022 season, the qualifying players will be based on the top 15 players in the gross scoring; the top 15 players in the net scoring, and the winners of the 6 Match Play tourneys. Participation points will be given for each tourney played to encourage more participation. If a participant needs to withdraw from a round due to an unforeseen event, he may still receive the participation points at the Board’s discretion. In addition, points will be awarded based on the number of players each player beats in a qualifying tourney. For example, the player with the lowest overall score will receive 100 points, second place will receive 99 points and so on. This score will be added to the participation points. Participation points will be 10 points. A completed round requires every hole to be played and every hole to be completed. Standings will be based on the top 4 scores of the 7 qualifying tourneys. In case a qualifying player is unable to play, the spot will be offered to the next eligible player in the standings. The Board of Directors may make changes to the system if circumstances warrant a change. 6. Vice President's Cup. The Vice President's Cup is a secondary 36-hole tournament that will coincide with the Red Hawk Cup. This tournament is to expand the number of members that will have the opportunity to participate on the Red Hawk Cup weekend. This event will run after the morning matches of the Red Hawk Cup on both days. It will consist of the next 28 members that did not qualify for the Red Hawk Cup. To be eligible a member must have signed up for the RH Cup and be one of the next 11 gross or 11 net players in line from the Red Hawk Cup points list. Additionally, the 6 match play runner-up's will earn a spot. If the match play runner-up did not sign up for Red Hawk Cup, the spot will be awarded to the next player from the net points list.
7. Match Play. Members can pay a fee and play in the year-long match play event. Historically, the field has been limited to the first 64 players, but it is anticipated that the increased membership will necessitate an expansion to 80 to 96 players (5 or 6 flights). The field will be split evenly based on total number of entries. This means that a player may end up playing in a flight against an opponent who is playing from different tees. All players will play from their "normal" tees. Payouts in each flight will be 75% of the pool to the winner and 25% to the runner-up. The winner of the flight will automatically qualify for the Red Hawk Cup. If that player declines the invitation, the Board of Directors will determine the priority for that spot. It is the responsibility of the players to play matches in a timely fashion. If players do not play a match in timely fashion, the Match Play Chairman (most likely the VP) will make a determination of the declared winner. This determination may be as simple as a coin flip.
8. Ringer Rounds. This is a separate contest all members can participate in and the entry fee will be used for payouts. For both the gross and net score, the lowest score on all 18 individual holes will be recorded for a cumulative ringer round. Only qualifying tournaments will be used as these will generally be the same qualifying tournaments which are used in the Tournament Handicap System. Members can participate in either or both.
9. Member Guest Tournament. Beginning in the 2021 season, priority will be given to those members who bring a guest. In addition, priority will be given to those members who played the previous year. Since it is anticipated that the tournament will be sold out, any member who signs up without a guest will be considered on the waitlist. Once the deadline has passed, the Tournament Committee Director will then review the list of interested members who signed up without a guest and will make random pairings.
10. Make- up tourneys: The general principle for tournaments will be that if the course is open for play, the tournament will be held. Earlier in the year there are times when weather conditions are less than ideal but the goal is to play as scheduled. If a tournament cannot be played, attempts will be made to reschedule the tourney. Often times that will be the following weekend but will partly depend on course availability. Since participation points are given to tourneys played for those who sign up for Red Hawk Cup, points will be given on rescheduled tourneys as follows: For all non-qualifying tourneys that need to be rescheduled, no participation points will be given. However, participation points will be given to rescheduled qualifying tourneys (Ugly Green Jacket, The Open...). This is simply based on the qualifying tourneys having more value in the overall qualifying. In no case will points be awarded for those who could have played the original date but unable to participate in the make-up qualifying tourney. Hence the term "participation points".
10. Make- up tourneys: The general principle for tournaments will be that if the course is open for play, the tournament will be held. Earlier in the year there are times when weather conditions are less than ideal but the goal is to play as scheduled. If a tournament cannot be played, attempts will be made to reschedule the tourney. Often times that will be the following weekend but will partly depend on course availability. Since participation points are given to tourneys played for those who sign up for Red Hawk Cup, points will be given on rescheduled tourneys as follows: For all non-qualifying tourneys that need to be rescheduled, no participation points will be given. However, participation points will be given to rescheduled qualifying tourneys (Ugly Green Jacket, The Open...). This is simply based on the qualifying tourneys having more value in the overall qualifying. In no case will points be awarded for those who could have played the original date but unable to participate in the make-up qualifying tourney. Hence the term "participation points".