The Fall Cup Pamphlet has been posted on the Mass Golf Website. Click Here to Access Please familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures of Fall Cup. Please share the link to the Pamphlet with your teammates.
For a printable and downloadable copy of the 2018 Fall Cup Pamphlet, click here.
Should you have any questions, please contact Cathleen Beach at cbeach@massgolf.org.
The purpose of the Fall Cup is to determine a gross and net Fall Cup State Team Champion at the end of the year.
A team consists of six players, playing as a unit, representing their home course. Each team will play against each of the other three teams in their region in a Better Ball of Partners format. The players will play as partners and must be fielded in order by their individual handicap indexes (lowest to highest). Matches will be played at 90% of course handicap. Scorecards will be created through Golf Genius/Tournament Management but players in each group must check that scorecards are stroked correctly. No more than one stroke per hole will be given regardless of course handicap. Example: (After converting to course handicaps and reducing to 90%) Team A, Player A1 is a 12 and Player A2 is an 18; Team B, Player B1 is a 10 and Player B2 is also a 10. Player A1 will get 2 strokes for the match – the difference between her handicap and the lowest handicap of the foursome. The same method is applied to each of the other players. Player A2 will get 8 strokes. Players B1 and B2 do not get strokes.
In each 18-hole match, a total of three points will be awarded: one point each for the front nine winner, the back nine winner, and the winner of all 18 (“Nassau”). One-half point will be awarded for any ties. With six players per team, playing as partners, a total of nine points may be earned on any day.
A shotgun is the preferred starting method; however, tee times may be used at the discretion of the host course. In the case of a shotgun, points are awarded based on a course’s front nine and back nine holes, and not in accordance with what hole a match begins on. (Note to Captains: If you are not having a shotgun, please let other teams in your region know the details as early as possible!)
Matches are limited to 4 hours and 30 minutes unless the host course feels that is not reasonable. Matches can be extended to a maximum of five hours. The adjusted pace of play must be announced prior to the start of the matches. At the end of 4 hours and 30 minutes (or longer as determined by the host captain) all play will cease. However, once one ball is in the air, the hole should be played to completion. Any holes not played will be halved. It is expected that the pace of play will be enforced by the captain of each team.
If not using Tournament Management, the host team Captain should fax or e-mail the results to cbeach@massgolf.org as soon as possible following the completion of the match. The host team Captain on the final day should announce the result totals and Region winner. Fall Cup Pins will be awarded at the Fall Cup Championship.
Captains in each region will be invited to use Tournament Management to manage team rosters and enter points. If you have used Tournament Management for Spring Teams, you will access the Fall Cup portal using your existing user name and password. As with Spring Teams, all Mass Golf members active at your club will be eligible to use as a team member. Club personnel may also be added to assist the captains manage Fall Cups. Staff names and emails should be sent to the cbeach@massgolf.org to be included. Further information regarding Tournament Management will be sent by email.
The winner in each Region will be the team with the most points. The winner of each Region will participate in the Fall Cup Championship.
TIES: In the event of a tie within a region, the winner will be determined by the results of the tied teams against each other. If they are still tied, they will both go to the Championship.
The Championship will consist of each Region’s winning team sending six players to play in a better-ball tournament at a neutral site. The 2018 Championship will be held at Willowbend (Mashpee) on October 17, 2018. There will be one gross team winner and one net team winner as determined by the aggregate scores of the team. The Trophy will be engraved with their club names. If a tie occurs, the name of each winning club will be engraved on the Trophy. In order to play on a club’s team in the Championship a player must have played in at least one match representing that club and team.
The USGA Handicap Revision as of September 1, 2018 will be used for all players and substitutes for the matches. To determine your course handicap apply your GHIN index to the course slope table. The Fall Cup Championship USGA Handicap Revision will also be September 1, 2018..
If a team player cannot play after the team list has been submitted, you may still use a substitute. The substitute can be any woman with an active Ghin Index at your club as of TWO DAYS prior to the match. She must play in the position that her handicap index dictates and not necessarily in the spot of the player she is filling in for. Substitutes must have posted a minimum of five (18-hole) scores during the previous 12 months. If an ineligible substitute plays, the match will be defaulted. Notify the host Captain no later than the night before a match of any substitutions.
A club is expected to field a full team of 6 players playing in 3 teams of two. If a club cannot field a full team, then the following steps will be taken:
5 players – the lowest handicap player on the team will play as a single and the others will play as teams of two
4 players – the two lowest handicap players will each play as a single with the final match being played as a team of two
3 players – each player will play as a single in the appropriate handicap order
2 players – one match will be defaulted(the last match) the other players play as a single – the opposing team will receive 2 points.
1 player – two matches will be defaulted(the last two matches) the opposing team will receive 2 points for each match Unable to field a team – all three matches defaulted.(see “DEFAULTS”)
Rain Dates: In the event of a match cancellation, it is up to the discretion of the Captains of each region to determine the feasibility of a makeup date. Host Captain must notify Mass Golf of any makeup dates. ANY AND ALL MATCHES MUST BE COMPLETED BY 5 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2018.
Early cancellation (night before): If severe weather has occurred or is forecast, cancellation is determined by:
a. the home team Captain when advised to do so by the golf course superintendent
b. any Captain requesting, by telephone, a vote of the other Captains to cancel the matches depending on the availability of carts/caddies.
Early cancellation (morning of match): If weather is severe, players should contact their Captain before leaving for the site. Cancellation is an option and is determined by a majority of the Captains after conferring with their players.
Cancellation of match at site: If conditions are extreme, cancellation is an option and is determined by a majority of the Captains after conferring with their players.
Weather conditions or other circumstances may result in a host club not allowing riding carts to be used during a match. If substitutes are not available for players unable to walk, cancellation is an option to be considered by the Captains. All teams must be involved in the discussion. A majority of Captains must vote to cancel a match. Captains should be sensitive to the possible physical limitations of fellow competitors and should also present to the other Captains the name of any team member who has a doctor’s note indicating an inability to walk a course.
For all situations requiring a vote of Fall Cup Captains, if a tie occurs, the Home Captain’s vote will be eliminated.
Play may be suspended by: course superintendent, golf professional, radar, or a majority vote of the Captains. (See paragraph number 5 under Cancellations.) Following a suspension, a decision must be made to either: resume play after a reasonable amount of time or cancel the match.
Portions of the cancelled match can be counted if at least seven holes have been completed on any given nine (front or back). The final point for the 18-hole match will not be awarded (unless the match has already been won prior to cancellation).
Thunder/Lightning: Discontinue play if you believe you are in danger from lightning (R6-8). Do not take chances. Leave the course immediately if lightning is in the area. You are not required to lift your ball.
If a Team accumulates more than two defaulted matches during the Fall Cup season, they are disqualified from the Cup and lose all their accumulated points. If they are scheduled to host a future match, they must honor that commitment. All prior points from the disqualified team are also subtracted from the other teams’ aggregate scores.
Number of Players – If a team is unable to field a full team, the opposing team must be notified. If a team arrives with less than six players, a player may play her match by herself (see “Fielding less than 6 players”).
Late to Tee – see Rule 6-3 and Rule 30-3.
Positioning of Players – If a team places a player or substitute in the wrong position, that match is defaulted. All positions below could be affected. If this affects two positions, her team is disqualified. That team must continue to host the match if they are scheduled to be a host club.
Withdrawals – If a team or club cannot fulfill its commitment once the Regions and dates are scheduled, the team may be denied entry the following year.
For the purpose of Fall Cup Matches, the ‘Committee’ will consist of the four team Captains. The Club Professional may be consulted as a resource, but the Committee shall make all rulings (R34-3).
1-3. Waive Rules – Players shall not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred.
2-4. Concession – Concession of a stroke or hole may not be declined or withdrawn.
2-5. Claims In Match Play – If a doubt or dispute arises between the players and no duly authorized representative of the Committee is available within a reasonable time, the players shall continue the match without delay. A claim must be made to your opponents before any player plays from the next teeing ground, and the claim may be brought to the committee at the end of the round. In match play, playing a second ball when in doubt as to procedure is never appropriate. A second ball thus played is a “wrong ball,” and would result in loss of hole by the player (D3-3/9).
9-2. Wrong Information – During play of a hole an opponent is entitled to ascertain from a player the number of strokes she has taken. If a player gives wrong information and does not correct herself prior to the opponent making her next stroke, the side shall lose the hole.
10-1b. Order of Play – In match play the ball farthest from the hole is played first. Balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best (30-3).
19-5a. Ball Deflected – If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player shall play her ball as it lies. No penalty is incurred in match play, even if both balls were on the putting green prior to the stroke. The moved ball shall be replaced (R18-5).
22. Interference – A player may lift her ball if she considers that the ball might assist her opponent, or a player may have her opponent’s ball lifted if she considers that the ball might interfere with her play.
30-3a: A side may be represented by one partner for all or any part of a match. All partners need not be present. An absent partner may join a match between holes, but not during play of a hole.
Note: The committee provides that if a side arrives at the starting point ready to play within 5 minutes after the starting time the
penalty is loss of first hole in match play.
