2024 Golf Guide

2024 SEASON

GOLF GUIDE

Dear Golf Member, Welcome to the 2024 golf season at Crystal Tree! This condensed guide is designed to bring you up to speed on Crystal Tree’s golf events and policies.

More detailed information is available at crystaltreecc.org, including our annual Tournament Book publication which is available as a PDF download.

The golf committee wishes you a wonderful golf season! Please contact John Jacobs or a committee member for answers to any questions that arise throughout the course of the season as it pertains to this publication or Crystal Tree’s golf operation.

2024 Golf Committee Members Michael Yazbec – Chairman – michael.yazbec@gmail.com Ed Barkowski – eddie@servicenetforklift.com Fred Garfield – fgarfield99@yahoo.com Brett Huff – bhuff1202@gmail.com Matt Jolgren- matt.jolgren@gmail.com Bob Kelly – robert.kelly@oldnational.com John Mussallem – john.mussallem@bynmellon.com Saif Nazir – saifnazir1@gmail.com Bill Nero – billnero@centralparts.com Tom O’Neill – final497@oneill.com Robert Ostrom-- o1bob@aol.com Elie Rivollier – elie.rivollier@gmail.com Frank Ryan – fryan@sbcglobal.net Diane Szofer – dianeszofer@gmail.com Pat Cooney – pgcooney@comcast.net John Jacobs – jjacobs@crystaltreecc.org Mitchell Haines – mhaines@crystaltreecc.org

Contents Bag Drop .................................................................................. 1 Club Storage............................................................................. 1 Locker Room Service ............................................................... 1 Golf Course access ................................................................... 1 Weekly Schedule ..................................................................... 2 No Tee-Times? ......................................................................... 4 The Noon Game ....................................................................... 4 Weekend Mornings ................................................................. 5 Fivesomes? .............................................................................. 5 Ladies Leagues ......................................................................... 5 Monday Golf ............................................................................ 6 Guest Policies........................................................................... 6 Free Guest Rounds.................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Golf Shop Information ................................................................. 7 Golf Shop Hours of Operation ................................................. 7 Golf Shop Merchandise Policies .............................................. 7 Additional Golf Shop Services .................................................. 8 Golf Instruction Programs ....................................................... 8 Demo Days ............................................................................... 8 Golf Course Policies ..................................................................... 9 General Rules ........................................................................... 9

Pace of Play .............................................................................. 9 Course Protection and Repair................................................ 10 Practice Facility ...................................................................... 11 Golf Carts /Push Carts............................................................ 12 Privately owned carts ............................................................ 13 Caddies .................................................................................. 14 Dress Code ............................................................................. 14 Cell Phones ............................................................................ 15 Hole-in-One Clubs .................................................................. 15 Crystal Tree Golf Events ............................................................ 15 Golf Calendar Overview ......................................................... 15 Local Golf Rules...................................................................... 16 Tournament Policies and Interclub Events ............................ 17 World Handicapping System ..................................................... 19 The Importance of Handicapping .......................................... 19 Max Net Double Bogey .......................................................... 20 Exceptional Shot Reduction (Replaces T Scores) ................... 20 The Handicap Committee ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Golf Schedule ............................................................................ 23

Golf Course Access Bag Drop

The Bag Drop is located at the far end of the clubhouse on the right. The Golf Staff will then get your clubs to the area that you need them (on a cart, with a caddie, in storage, etc.).

Club Storage

Each Golf Member and spouse is billed for one bag slot in our downstairs storage unit. The staff will assign you a slot, place an identifying bag tag on your golf bag, and will retrieve the clubs whenever you need them.

Locker Room Service

Full-length lockers are generally available to all Regular Golf Members. New members who have initially been assigned a half locker will be upgraded to a full locker when one becomes available. Any extra lockers may be assigned to Intermediate and Legacy members based on availability. Social members may request a locker, if available, but in all instances must relinquish the locker, if necessary, to satisfy the needs of the Golf Members.

Locker room attendants are available to clean and shine shoes, replace spikes, and other duties. The Men’s locker room supervisor is Felipe Dominguez, and the Ladies locker room attendant is Carmen Velasquez.

Golf Course access

In order to provide the utmost playing pleasure for all members, the Club sets the following times available for access to the golf course. The Golf and Grounds departments may close the golf course or practice facility whenever the grounds could be damaged by use.

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Spouse

Golf Member w/ Guests

*After 12pm

*After 12pm

*After 12pm

After 9:30AM

Before 11AM After 2PM

Day of the Week

Golf Member

Monday

Tuesday

Between 9:30AM & 12PM After 1PM

Before 11AM

Before 12PM

After 2PM

After 1PM

Before 11AM

Between 9:30AM & 12PM

Wednesday Anytime

Thursday

Friday

After 9:30AM

After 2PM

After 1PM

Before 11AM

Before 11AM

After 2PM

After 1PM

Anytime

Saturday

Anytime

After 11AM

After 10AM

Sundays / Holidays

Anytime

After 11AM

After 10AM

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* Monday play is available only on days approved by the Golf and Grounds Committees. Please call the golf shop or check weekly emails to find availability. Monday services will be limited to golf cart and bag room service, as the clubhouse is closed. The pool cabana may be available for food and beverage on those Mondays open to member and guest play.

Scheduled events, including league play, take priority over listed hours of play. Please check your “Weekly Golf Update” e-mail or call the golf shop to determine course availability.

Tuesday and Thursday morning leagues and Tuesday evening league have right of way over regular play.

Juniors under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult, unless carrying a Gold Bag Tag. Juniors who have acquired a Gold Bag Tag do not need to be accompanied by an adult and may play during the Junior Age 15 – 22 scheduled times.

“Golf Member” is any Regular, Corporate, Corporate Designate, Founder, Honorary, Intermediate, Legacy, and Senior member.

A special “twilight” guest rate will apply to the Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Grandmother/father, Grandson/daughter, Sister, Brother, Sister-in-Law, Brother-in-Law, Aunt, Uncle, Nephew or Niece of a Golf Member after 3pm on any day. Cousins or other extended family do not apply for the rate.

Social Members without guests or spouse may play anytime regular members can (within the six round limit). A Social Member cannot be considered a Guest, but family members of Social Members are considered Guests. A spouse of a Social Member may use any or all of the six rounds allowed, but only one will 3

count as being used if member and spouse play together (the spouse being considered a guest).

Members who bring guests out can also bring spouses during guest times. A member may bring up to two guests on weekend mornings before 10am with prior golf shop approval and at select times.

No Tee-Times?

Crystal Tree generally only has tee times for sanctioned golf events, with some exceptions. First is for Tuesday and Thursday mornings before the ladies leagues begin on non shotgun days.

Second is tee time reservations are acceptable on Friday afternoons from 1:00pm to 2:50pm. Third will allow a member bringing 3 guests to make a tee time seven days in advance.

These advanced times must not be between 12:00-1:00 or before 10am on weekend mornings. Otherwise, no reservations are granted on a daily basis, so first-come, first-serve rules the tee on non-event days. Upon arrival, simply let the Starter know when you wish to play, and with whom, and the Starter will inform you of your place in the queue. On weekend and holiday mornings before 10am, all players in a group must be present at the Club to hold a place in the queue; at any other times, one player may hold a spot in the queue just by being present.

The Noon Game

Tuesday through Friday at 11:45am, members gather in the 19th hole to form the “Noon Game”. Groups are formed to play scotch and better-ball games and typically tee off around noon. Modest to medium wagering is expected, and good camaraderie is always to be found.

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Weekend Mornings

Between the time the course opens of 7:00 am – 10:00 am (Memorial Day – Labor Day) is generally reserved for member play only (under certain circumstances, members may bring up to two guests for play before 10am on weekends, with prior approval from the golf shop). Members may plan their foursomes ahead of time, or form groups at the Club. Either way, the players must communicate their arrival and their playing partners (or need of) to the Professional Staff to insure timely tee-off, equipment readiness, and to help in forming new foursomes. Walking with a caddie is especially encouraged during the weekend and holiday mornings, and no player should feel obliged to ride in a cart even if the other players in the group choose to ride. Pace of play on weekend mornings is expected to be a little faster than at other times of the week, due to the fact that only members are playing at that time. 4 hours or better is the typical pace when carts are allowed on the grass, 4 hours and 20 minutes or better when carts are relegated to the paths only.

Fivesomes?

Occasionally you will see a group of five players at Crystal Tree.

The Club allows this in certain situations (for members only, no guests may play in a fivesome) so that no player is left out.

Fivesomes are expected to keep the same pace as a foursome, and are expected to let faster groups play through (provided that there is space in front of the fivesome and space behind the group playing through). On especially slow days (and very rarely), you may even spy a sixsome – this group has no standing on the course and must step aside for any players who catch them.

Ladies Leagues

Tuesday morning from 8:00 am – 9:30 am (before Memorial Day 5

and after Labor Day) or 7:30 am – 9:30 am (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) is reserved for the Ladies 9-hole League to tee off. The league alternates playing the front and back nines each week, leaving the opposite nine to open at 9:00 am for regular play. Thursday morning from 8:00 am – 9:30 am (before Memorial Day and after Labor Day) or 7:30 am – 9:00 am (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) is reserved for the Ladies 18-hole League. For early bird members who wish to tee off before the Ladies Leagues begin, there are three tee times available each Tuesday and Thursday before the league starts on non-shotgun days. Please contact the golf shop to reserve an early time. All members of the Ladies Leagues are required to have a locker and bag storage.

Monday Golf

The Grounds and Greens and Golf Committees will decide each year which Mondays the course will be open to the members for play. This decision is based on the number of corporate or charity outings scheduled, the level of staffing available, and the condition of the golf course. Mondays that will be open for play will be communicated each week in our “This Week in Golf” emails. Monday golf will be an “a la carte” experience, the Clubhouse will essentially be closed (including the Golf Shop), but there will be a Bag Drop attendant on duty. The pool cabana may be open for food and drinks.

Guest Policies

We like to treat our guests at Crystal Tree like members for the day, so we ask for every guest’s full name so we may address them by name, and given some advance notice, have a locker available for them with their name on it. A guest may play our golf course up to six times per season (Note: the six round rule does 6

not apply to Member-Guest events, guests who are golf members in good standing at a private country club of equivalent stature, and guests who live outside a 30-mile radius of the Club). Guests are expected to follow the same dress codes and codes of conduct as our members, and it is the member’s responsibility to inform and, if necessary, correct a guest when a situation arises.

Sometimes, it is difficult for a member to correct a guest, so please feel free to ask the Professional Staff to inform the guest of the Club policies, which will be done in a most courteous fashion.

The golf guest fee is a daily fee and includes use of the practice facility. Members may have up to three guests for the day between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and up to seven guests outside of those days. More guests may be allowed but must be approved by the Professional Staff via e-mail in advance of the date to ensure that the facility is not already booked for a larger group. Children of Golf Members age 15 to 22 are permitted up to three guests, and children under 15 with a Golf Bag Tag may invite one guest during their approved playing times.

GOLF SHOP INFORMATION Golf Shop Hours of Operation

The Golf Shop opens the first Tuesday of March each year and closes December 23rd. During the season, the Golf Shop opens 45 minutes before the course opens (6:45 am before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, 6:30 am between Memorial and Labor Day), and closes at 7:00 pm. In March and December, the Golf Shop hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Golf Shop Merchandise Policies

All golf members are part of the Mill River Plan, which allows them to purchase golf equipment and apparel for 15% over wholesale cost. The price tags on the merchandise show the retail 7

price of the item, and the Mill River price is coded above the retail price. For example: A golf shirt wholesales for $50.00 and retails for $100.00. The price tag would read Retail $100.00, and $58.75 Mill River, which is the $50 wholesale plus $1 shipping, times 15% and rounded up to the nearest quarter. If the member wishes, their guests may also purchase merchandise at the Mill River price.

Additional Golf Shop Services

The Golf Shop and its staff offer lessons, club repair, custom embroidery, corporate gifts, awards, shipping, and special ordering, in addition to its in-stock items.

Golf Instruction Programs

Every member of the Golf Staff is PGA certified to teach the game of golf, which lends itself to outstanding adult and junior programs. A half-hour lesson with our golf professionals are $60 for adults and $45 for kids under 14. Packages include 6 lessons for the price of 5, and 10 lessons for the price of 8. Our Junior Golf Program begins on Saturdays in May, for kids who have some golf experience and want to pass their Gold Bag Tag test or make their high school golf team someday. Our open program runs on Wednesdays in June and July, with three different skill level groups. The teacher to student ratio can be as low as 1:1, but is never higher than 9:1, and the staff keeps things moving along and interesting to make the golf fun and lively. The summer session ends with a “Junior Golf Championship”, where all the kids get to experience playing the game and get treated to a luncheon where every golfer gets a gift!

Demo Days

Throughout the year, we invite every major golf manufacturer to bring their latest equipment for you and your friends to test! We 8

will invite one manufacturer to bring their fitting system, or new fancy monitoring equipment and you may schedule an appointment to spend some 1 on 1 time with the fitter

GOLF COURSE POLICIES General Rules

All members and guests must register with the Professional Staff before beginning play. The order on the first tee is governed solely by the Starter and any starting location other than the 1st tee must be approved. Groups of less than four players may be paired together by the Professional Staff for pace of play purposes. Practice on the course is prohibited other than during a playing lesson with a Golf Professional. Players stopping at the halfway house must occupy the next tee before the group behind them does, or they lose their position on the golf course. Each player must have his or her own set of golf clubs. If lightning is in the area, the Professional Staff will sound a horn. Do not rely on the horn to be your sole warning to dangerous conditions, as it may be in disrepair or out of earshot. If you hear the horn, or hear or see any dangerous weather approaching, immediately suspend play, seek nearest shelter, and make sure that any caddies get to safety as well. Golf Rangers have full authority to enforce all rules and speed of play and your cooperation with them is appreciated.

Pace of Play

The Club’s official Pace of Play policy states that all groups must maintain a pace of less than 4 hours or finish within 15 minutes of the group in front of them. That being said, there are circumstances when a 4 ½ hour pace is fine (like a foursome stroke play event) and there are times when a 4 ½ hour pace is much too slow, like a dry, non-event Saturday morning. The best rule of thumb to follow is this; if there is a group catching up to or 9

waiting for you, and your group is not waiting or caught up to the group in front of you, then your group is falling or has fallen out of position, and steps need to be taken to correct that. Nobody likes to rush, so begin by playing “ready golf”. “Ready golf” is a policy that asks that you abandon the practice of always allowing the player farthest from the hole to play first, or to allow the player who scored the best on the previous hole to tee off first. “Ready golf” allows players to play their shot when ready, rather than having to wait for a player who may not be ready to play. Also, be aware that the cart driver does not need to drive up to each ball; a player can take some clubs and walk over to get ready to play the next shot. Also, begin your pre-shot routine or line up your putts before it is your turn to avoid the extra wait time for the rest of the group. Park your cart on the cart path area closest to the next tee, and do your scoring on the next tee while the rest of the group is teeing off. Be sociable, but reserve extended conversations for the 19th hole. A group violating the Pace of Play policy will receive a letter outlining the policy and asking for compliance in the future. Receiving three such letters will constitute a temporary suspension of playing privileges during busy hours. This policy is common among country clubs to deter slow rounds, which can disrupt the entire golf course.

Course Protection and Repair

The golf course is the jewel of the Club and the members of Crystal Tree own it. The type of soil that our Club sits on is very susceptible to divots and ball marks, so it is paramount that these get repaired immediately to avoid a bounty of unsightly blemishes. All divots that are replaceable should be replaced. A replaceable divot is one that has a chance to grow back; a deep divot can always grow back, a shallow divot with little or no dirt 10

attached is unlikely to grow back. If the divot is replaceable, then fit it in the hole and gently press down on it with your foot to press out any air trapped underneath. If it is not replaceable, and sand bottles are available, then pour enough sand in the hole to fill it up to ground level in the fairway only. The sand bottles provided on the carts and the designated sand bottle boxes on the course have fairway seed in them, which is different than rough seed or tee box seed. If you take a divot on a Par 3 tee box, use the sand bucket on the tee to fill the hole; if no sand is available, leave it be. Bunkers should be raked smooth, and the rakes left in the bunkers perpendicular to the edge, with the handle resting on the lip and the head of the rake towards the center of the bunker. Ball marks on the green should be made level with the putting surface, but a pitch mark that breaks the surface of the green must be closed up as well. Gently pull the outside edges of the ball mark towards the center, thereby closing up the hole by levering the tool towards the center of the mark.

You may then proceed to level the depression, if necessary, by levering up the turf a little without breaking it open. The end result should show no bare area on the surface. If every player repairs all their ball marks and divots properly, our course will have the finest playing surface possible!

Practice Facility

The practice facility opens a ½ hour before the golf course every day the course is open except Mondays and select Thursdays and Fridays. On most Thursdays (and a few Fridays), the range will not open until 9:00 am to allow the grounds crew to safely mow. The range closes one hour before sunset. The practice facility is closed on Mondays. The golf course dress code applies on the practice facility (no jeans or swimwear, please). For golf members and 11

their families, and social members or guests who are paying the daily green fee, there is no additional charge for the use of the practice facility; otherwise the daily guest rate applies. Social members and their immediate family are only allowed to use the practice facility prior to using one of their six rounds of golf, unless they have elected to pay the appropriate annual single or family range membership fee. The practice area at the back of the range is reserved for lessons with the Golf Professionals. To allow for new grass to grow in, the range will be designated as artificial turf use only on a periodic basis. All golfers must adhere to this restriction when posted. Children under the age of 15 who do not have their Gold Tag, must be supervised by an adult. Juniors must yield their space on the range if there are adults waiting and the spaces are full.

Golf Carts /Push Carts

Every day, carts must stay on the paths on all Par 3 holes and must return to the path at the blue stakes on the Par 4 and 5 holes. Each day, the cart rule for the day is posted on signs at the 1st and 11th tee boxes, and on every golf cart that the Club sends out. The “Scatter” rule means that carts can travel freely on the grass (except on Par 3’s), while staying away from bunkers and hazards, and avoiding worn areas and steep areas. The “90 Degree Rule” allows the carts off the path in a more limited fashion; carts are allowed to cross over to the ball at a 90-degree angle from the cart path. In other words, avoid unnecessary cart traffic on the grass by maximizing cart path time and only traveling over to the ball when needed. Occasionally, the “Rough Only” rule will be in effect. This is like the 90-degree rule, but it prohibits driving the carts on the fairway due to excessive 12

wetness. The “Cart Paths Only” prohibits the carts from ever leaving the continuous cart path. Sometimes, the wettest parts of the golf course are on or near the cart path, so it is very important to keep all four tires on the path, so no ruts are created. Players who violate the cart path rules after a warning will receive a letter informing them that subsequent violations will result in a temporary suspension of cart privileges. Carts are available on a “first come, first served” basis immediately prior to teeing off.

Carts cannot be reserved in advance, or without Golf Staff on duty. A playing group with two or more carts in it MUST take a forecaddie is one is available. Each driver must be at least 16 years old and possess a valid driver’s license. Please lock the parking brake when it is stopped, and do not let anyone ride on the back of a golf cart. Any costs for damage related to the operation of a golf cart are the member’s responsibility that is driving, or sponsoring the player driving. Golf carts can cause serious damage to the course and others, therefore violations of these rules or reckless driving may result in the loss of golf cart privileges or playing privileges. Pushcarts may be used any day after 3:00 pm, or after 10:00 am on cart path only days when no caddies are available. Only Club owned pushcarts are allowed on the course, unless we run out.

Privately owned carts

Members who live in the Crystal Tree neighborhood may choose to own a golf cart for the convenience of getting to and from the Club. Before purchasing a cart, please obtain a copy of the Trail Fee Lease Agreement that the Club requires to be signed, and a Golf Cart Check List sheet, both of which must be adhered to in order to use a private cart on Club property. A yearly “Trail Fee”

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must annually be paid up front. All previously stated cart rules apply for private carts.

Caddies

Crystal Tree’s caddie program connects the Club to the community in a way that cannot be replicated. The motto of the caddie program has always been “Treat your caddie as you would your son or daughter”. Caddies can carry your clubs while you walk, or will run ahead of your cart and “forecaddie”. Their basic duties include taking care of your clubs (for walkers), spotting your ball (for forecaddies), raking bunkers, replacing divots, tending the flagstick, and cleaning the ball. Our finest caddies are typically our Honor Caddies and they have been voted as such by their peers and the caddie committee. “A” caddies have shown that they will usually put in an excellent performance. “B” caddies have some experience, but are still honing their skills, and “Rookie” caddies are inexperienced and are learning the ropes.

The caddie rating card needs to be filled out by the member at the end of the round with the caddie’s name, and ten categories are to be rated. Your feedback is critical in helping the Caddiemaster teach the caddies how to improve. The caddie pay ticket outlines the proper pay rates for all levels of caddie relative to how well they performed their job. In order to maintain a strong caddie program, any group with three or more players must take a forecaddie if one is available.

Dress Code

The dress code for the practice facility and golf course is as follows: •

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No denim, exercise, cargo, swimming or bicycle clothing.

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• • •

Men’s shirts must have a collar and sleeves (turtle neck, mock, and blade neck shirts are allowable).

Ladies shirts must have either a collar or sleeves.

Men’s polo style shirts must be tucked in; full button-down camp style shirts (i.e. Tommy Bahama-style shirts) or banded shirts may be left out.

Shorts must be at least mid-thigh in length.

Hats must be worn in the forward position.

Golf shoes (non-metal spikes) or athletic shoes must be worn on golf course and practice facility.

Cell Phones

Cell phone usage should not interfere with or intrude on anyone else’s experience at the Club. Please use good judgment on when and where to make and answer cell phone calls. Put the phone on silent mode whenever possible.

Hole-in-One Clubs

Any time a member of the Men’s Hole-In-One Club makes a holein-one during the CDGA score posting season and is in accordance with the rules posted on the Hole-in-One Club sign-up sheet, $15 will be charged to every other member of the Club and be placed on the acer’s account. A drink for those at the Club will be charged to the acer’s account in celebration, in accordance with tradition. Simply notify the Golf Shop that you want to be in the club, and then you are in it every year unless you ask to be removed. Ladies Leagues also have a Hole-In-One Club. Please check with Carmen in the Ladies Locker Room.

CRYSTAL TREE GOLF EVENTS Golf Calendar Overview

See the back pages for the Golf Event Schedule. For event details

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and policies, see the annual “Tournament Book” posted on the Club’s website.

Local Golf Rules

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When a player hits a ball out of bounds, you will have 2 options; 1) Stroke and distance a.k.a replaying from the original spot. 2) Determine the spot where the ball went out of bounds. Relief options; find the nearest fairway edge to the spot no closer to the hole and drop OR drop at the point where the ball crossed the out of bounds line.

Rangefinders and GPS units are legal for tournament play at Crystal Tree, if they only measure distance. Slope or wind measuring devices are not allowed.

A ball embedded in its own pitch mark may be lifted, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the original spot, no nearer the hole, with no penalty in the fairway or in the rough.

All flower beds and newly planted trees are considered ground under repair. Newly planted trees will be marked with ribbons or wire mesh.

Optional drop areas exist on holes #7 (just before the main pond in front of the tee boxes), #15 (just before the main pond in front of the men’s tee boxes), and #18 (the white teeing ground).

For some areas on the right side of #1, left side of #6, the right side of #7, the left side of #12, and the left side of #18, there may be less than 2 club lengths between the cart path and the lateral hazard line. A player may drop on the opposite side of the cart path if: a) the player elects to take a drop out of the lateral hazard, but the cart path is

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nearer than two club lengths away from the hazard line, or b) The player’s ball lies on the cart path and the hazard line is nearer than 1 club length away from the nearest point of relief.

Fairway bunkers on hole 18 are designated as “waste bunkers”, allowing for removal of stones and grounding of the club.

During the ongoing renovation process, certain bunkers and grass areas will be under construction and deemed ground under repair. In the absence of a white painted drop zone, please take free relief and a drop within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief.

Tournament Policies and Interclub Events

Designation of Events All events will be designated as “Men’s”, “Ladies” or “Couples”.

Male members and spouses, or significant others of golf members may play in any “Men’s Event”, and female members and spouses, or significant others of male golf members may play in any “Ladies” event. “Couples” events are open to any golf members and spouses or designated significant others. Golf memberships include Regular, RIW, Corporate, Intermediate, Senior and Legacy.

Sign-Up Policy All Men’s events have entry fees that will be billed to your account. Signing up for all events will be done through Golf Genius. If you are struggling to register for an event, please contact the Golf Shop. Once an event is full, you will be placed on the Wait List.

The committee reserves the right to adjust or withdraw the handicap of a player under USGA guidelines.

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Cancellation Policy Any event that offers food or prizes needs to have a policy that covers costs and discourages last minute cancellations. Any event that shows “cancellation policy is in effect” at the bottom of the format bullets will mean the following: After the signup deadline, if a member or team needs to cancel, any remaining alternates will be contacted to fill in. If no alternates are available, the member or members responsible will be charged for the amount of the entry fee that covers food and prizes.

Travel Team Play Crystal Tree currently sponsors Men’s and Ladies travel teams (must be a golf member to participate). The Men’s Senior team plays on select Wednesday mornings throughout the spring and summer; eligibility includes minimum age of 55 and a golf membership. Please contact Captain Fred Garfield to inquire about a roster spot. The Ladies SW team plays on select Wednesday and Thursday mornings; for eligibility please contact Captain Marilyn Nero. The Ladies CWDGA team plays on select Wednesday mornings; for eligibility please contact Captain Marilyn Nero.

TPC Our Men’s tournament program keeps track of player’s participation and performance by awarding points for each. At the end of the season, the 24 players with the most points are invited to play in the annual TPC Championship- Player of the Year. This is a NET 36-hole stroke play event with staggered scoring to start the event based on the standings going in, just like the PGA Tour’s FEDEX Cup.

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WORLD HANDICAPPING SYSTEM The Importance of Handicapping

Handicaps make golf unique in the world of sports because they allow players of different abilities to compete against each other fairly. Having a handicap is mandatory to compete in almost all of Crystal Tree’s golf events, and golf events form a large part of the social structure of the Club. The Golf Staff can initiate a handicap for you in a matter of minutes and show you how to properly “post” your scores. Being accurate on the scores, dates, and difficulty (“slope” and “rating”) when you post is paramount to maintaining fair play in events. All local rounds (not played by yourself) must be posted between March 15 and November 14, and winter scores should be posted from warm weather locations out of state. Following the update to the World Handicap System (WHS), a minimum of 10 holes must be played to count as an 18 hole score. In this instance for any holes not completed due to weather for example, you are to enter your scores hole-by-hole and an expected score differential will be calculated to complete your 18 hole score. No longer are you entering scores as a net double bogey for any holes not played. For a 9-hole score to count, all 9 holes must be played.

With the new world handicapping system there are many changes that golfers need to be aware of.

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Handicaps will now update daily instead of only twice a month It is IMPERATIVE that you post your score ON THE DAY you played

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A handicap can now be established after only 3 rounds instead of 5 rounds Handicaps will be generated by averaging a player's 8 best score differentials as opposed to the previous 10 differentials that were used When abnormal course or weather conditions cause scores to be unusually high or low on a given day, a "playing conditions calculation" will adjust score differentials There will no longer be a 2 shot reduction for a player playing a different set of tees. All golfers will have a "playing handicap" from each set of tees. This will eliminate the need for that reduction.

Max Net Double Bogey

One of the biggest changes under the new world handicapping system is with regards to the highest number you can take on a hole. Previously, the maximum score on a given hole was determined by the equitable stroke control. That has been eliminated, and the max is now net double bogey for ALL players regardless of handicap. For example, a scratch golfer (0 handicap) can take no more than a double bogey on any given hole; an 18 handicap golfer (getting 1 shot on every hole) can make no more than a triple bogey on any hole; another example would be a 9 handicap, this golfer can make a triple bogey on the 9 hardest holes and a double bogey on the other 9 holes.

Exceptional Shot Reduction (Replaces T Scores)

Previously, under the old handicapping system, when a player has recorded 2 or more “T” scores within the last 12 months that have a differential of 3.0 or more lower than the player’s handicap 20

differential, the player’s handicap index may be reduced under Rule 5.9 of the USGA Rules of Handicapping.

Under the new world handicapping system, when a player submits a score that produces a score differential of 7.0 strokes or more below their handicap index, they will be subject to an Exceptional Score Reduction (ESR).

• When the score differential is between 7.0 and 9.9 strokes below their current handicap index, a -1.0 reduction is applied to the most recent 20 score differentials. When the score differential is 10.0 or more strokes below their handicap index, a -2.0 reduction is applied to the most recent 20 score differentials.

• Scores submitted after the exceptional score will not contain the -1.0 or -2.0 adjustment (unless they are also exceptional), which will allow reduction to gradually work itself out of a scoring record.

Cap Patrol

All handicaps for Club Events will adhere to Cap Patrol. The Cap Patrol system uses a proprietary algorithm that takes into consideration many factors including:

• • • •

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A players’ potential or ability in recent play and tournament rounds Variance in home vs. away performance Disparity in casual vs. competitive scores reported Placement in club sponsored tournaments/events

2024 Golf Calendar April 9th – Tues.

11th – Thurs.

11th – Thurs.

15th – 17th 18th – Thurs.

20th – Sat. 23rd – Tues.

25th – Thurs.

27th – Sat. 30th – Tues.

Ladies 9 Hole League begins Men’s Opening Night Kickoff Ladies 18 Hole League begins Green Aeration Ladies 18 Hole League Men’s Opening Scramble Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 18 Hole League Presidents Cup 1st Round Matches Ladies 9 Hole League

May 2nd – Thurs.

2nd – Thurs.

2nd – Thurs.

4th – 5th 7th – Tues.

7th – Tues.

8th – Wed. 9th – Thurs.

10th – Fri. 11th – Sat. 14th – Tues.

15th – Wed. 16th – Thurs.

17th – Fri. 18th – 19th 20th – Mon. 21st – Tues.

23rd – Thurs .

24th – Fri. 27th – Mon. 28th – Tues.

29th – Wed. 30th – Thurs.

31st – Fri.

Ladies 18 Hole League Ladies Chairman Cup Begins Ladies Social Presidents Cup 1st Round Matches Tuesday Night Men’s League Begins Ladies 9 Hole League – Opening Day Men’s Spring Classic Guest Day Ladies 18 Hole League – Opening Day Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Founders Cup 1st Round Matches Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 9 & Dine Ladies 18 Hole League Couples 9 & Dine Founders Cup 1st Round Matches IPGA Pro-Assistant Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 18 Hole League Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Memorial Day Club Closed Men’s South District Senior League Ladies 18 Hole League Couples 9 & Dine

June 3rd – Mon. 4th – Tues.

6th – Thurs.

7th – Fri. 11th – Tues.

12th – Wed. 13th – Thurs.

Eric Jones Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 18 Hole League Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 9 & Dine Ladies 18 Hole League

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2024 Golf Calendar June 13th – Thurs.

14th – Fri. 15th – Sat. 17th – Mon. 18th – Tues.

20th – Thurs.

21st – Fri. 23rd – Sun. 24th – Mon. 25th – Tues.

26th – Wed. 27th – Thurs.

27th – Thurs.

Green & Gold Invitational – Practice Round Green & Gold Invitational – Day 1 Green & Gold Invitational – Day 2 Weekly Challenge Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Swing 4 a Cause Couples 9 & Dine Larry Hickey Evans Scholar Tournament Silver Cross Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 18 & Dine Ladies 18 Hole League Men’s Smoker Night

July 2nd – Tues.

4th – Thurs.

5th – Fri. 8th – Mon. 9th – Tues.

10th – Wed. 11th – Thurs.

12th – Fri. 13th – Sat. 16th – Tues.

17th – Wed. 18th – Thurs.

19th – Fri. 23rd – Tues.

25th – Thurs 26th – Fri. 27th – Sat. 28th – Sun. 30th – Tues.

31st – Wed.

Ladies 9 Hole League Red, White, & Blue Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Caddie/Member Event Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 9 & Dine Ladies 18 Hole League Couples 9 & Dine 27-Hole Challenge Ladies 9 Hole Guest Day Crystal Classic Ladies 18 Hole Guest Day Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 18 Hole League Main Event – 1st 9 Holes & Auction Main Event – Day 2 Main Event – Day 3 Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies 18 & Dine

August 1st – Thurs.

2nd – Fri. 4th – Sun. 6th – Tues.

6th – Tues.

7th – Wed. 8th – Thurs.

Ladies 18 Hole League Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Mr. & Mrs. Club Championship Tuesday Night League Playoffs Ladies Club & Class Championship – Day 1 Ladies Club & Class Championship – Day 2 Ladies Club & Class Championship – Day 3

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2024 Golf Calendar August 9th – Fri. 10th – Sat. 11th – Sun. 13th – Tues.

14th – Wed. 14th – Wed. 15th – Thurs.

16th – Fri. 17th – Sat. 17th – Sat. 18th – Sun. 19th – Mon. 20th – Tues.

21st – Wed. 22nd – Thurs.

22nd – Thurs.

23rd – Fri. 24th – Sat. 26th – Mon. 27th – Tues.

27th – Tues.

28th – Wed. 29th – Thurs.

30th – Fri. 30th – Fri. September 2nd – Mon. 3rd – Tues.

4th – Wed. 5th – Thurs.

5th – Thurs.

9th – Mon. 10th – Tues.

12th – Thurs.

13th – Fri. 16th – Mon. 17th – Tues.

18th – Wed. 19th – Thurs.

23rd – Mon. 24th – Tues.

25th – Wed.

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Men’s Club Championship – Day 1 (Championship Flight only) Men’s Club Championship – Day 2 (All Flights) Men’s Club Championship – Day 3 (All Flights) Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies Southwest District League – 8:30 Shotgun Ladies 9 & Dine Ladies Club & Class Championship – Rain Date Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Ladies Shootout Men’s Senior Club & Class Championship – Day 1 Men’s Senior Club & Class Championship – Day 2 St. Coletta Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies Southwest District League – Rain Date Ladies 18 Hole League South Side Invitational – Practice Round South Side Invitational – Day 1 South Side Invitational – Day 2 Compass Lease/Joe Rhodes Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Tuesday Night League Finals – Day 1 Tuesday Night League Finals – Day 2 Ladies 18 Hole League Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times Couples 9 & Dine Labor Day Green Aeration – Course Closed Green Aeration – Course Closed Ladies 18 Hole League Men’s Smoker Night United Sertoma Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Ladies Fall Social & Golf Event Couples 9 & Dine – Night Golf St. Laurence Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Men’s Fall Classic Guest Day Ladies 18 Hole League Park Lawn Outing Ladies 9 Hole League Closing Day & Luncheon Ladies 9 & Dine

2024 Golf Calendar September 26th – Thurs.

27th – Fri. 28th – Sat. 29th – Sun.

Ladies 18 Hole League Closing Day & Luncheon Friday Game – 11:00 – 1:00 Tee Times TPC Championship (Player of the Year) – Day 1 TPC Championship (Player of the Year) – Day 2

October 5th – Sat. 7th – Mon. 13th – Sun. 19th – Sat.

Couples Trick or Treat Orland Park Chamber of Commerce Outing Pro Am Finals Men’s Closing Scramble & Awards

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