rules

Our CTGA Challenge is an optional year-long competition that begins with the first official event of the year (following our Fall Classic) and concludes with the first round of our next Fall Classic.

Open to all CTGA active Members only who must play in at least 9 events to record scores for 18 CTGA Challenge holes.  Particulars for this competition are….

1. All Members must enter the competition within their first 3 events of the year.
2. A one-time entry fee of $10.00 is due anytime within the Member’s first 3 events of the year.,
3. Two (2) holes at each event (one on the front 9 and one on the back 9 are designated as our CTGA Challenge holes and will be announced prior to that event.
4. Our CTGA Challenge holes will be selected at each event based on a mixture of Par 3, Par 4 and Par 5 holes that bring differing skill requirements of distance, difficulty and putting.
5. $1.00 from each Member’s tournament entry fee will go toward the year-end CTGA Challenge prize fund.
6. Members will compete in both Gross and Net divisions but can place in only one.
7. Each Member’s CTGA Challenge holes will be recorded throughout the year with the 18 Low Gross and Net Scores Relative To Par will be counted.
8. The Member with the Lowest Aggregate 18 Hole Scores Relative To Par in both the Gross and Net Divisions will be our CTGA Challenge Champions.
9. Ongoing updates will be sent out at the end of each month showing both Gross and Net results to date.

We look for this year-long competition to build excitement and anticipation throughout the season as Members step up to each CTGA Challenge hole to compete for the title of CTGA Challenge Champion.

The CTGA Exposed Root Rule was approved by member vote to prevent personal injury and/or golf club damage from roots that are exposed away from the tree.

Exposed Roots by CTGA definition applies only to roots that have surfaced away from the normal trunk of the tree.

In the spirit of this CTGA specific rule and in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play, if it is determined that your ball has come to rest on or within striking distance of an Exposed Root and you request relief, the following steps must be applied:

1. You must get concurrence from at least two (2) players in your 4-some before taking relief;
2. The allowable relief distance must be no greater than the distance required to ensure complete relief from the Exposed Root.
   1. Place a tee at the spot where your original ball lies;
   2. Take relief by placing the ball in a spot that ensures relief from the Exposed Root only, which in most cases should be within 3-5 inches away from the Exposed Root.
   3. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.
3. Exception to Rule:  Interference by an Exposed Root with the player's Stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under this Rule.
4. Again, in the spirit of fair play, you may not take additional relief that could improve your stance or swing away from trees, bushes, etc.

Exposed Root relief does not apply within a marked hazard.  If you elect to take relief from roots within a marked hazard area, you must declare the ball unplayable and take relief as specified by Rule 28.  Ball Unplayable.

Our CTGA Cup is an optional season-long competition where players accumulate points based on their specific finish in all CTGA tournaments, followed by a year-end Playoff to determine our CTGA Cup Champion.

Our CTGA Cup competition consists of 2 segments:

1. Year long competition concluding with the 2^nd to last event prior to our annual Fall Classic;
2. A 4-Round Playoff for all CTGA Cup participants;
   1. Two Elimination Rounds concurrent with our last 2 Medal Play events prior to our Fall Classic
      • All Round 1 players advance to Round 2
      • Playoff field cut to the top 30 players based on points earned will advance to the Finals
   2. Two Final Rounds concurrent with our annual Fall Classic
      • Round 3…Low 50% of Playoff field cut to got into Consolation Bracket;
      • Round 4…Playoff Finals for overall Championship and Consolation Champions

CTGA Cup Competition Eligibility and Formula

1. CTGA Cup competition is limited to active CTGA Members only;
2. All CTGA Members must enter the competition within their first 3 events of the year;
3. A one-time entry fee of $10.00 is due anytime within the Member’s first 3 events;
4. $1.00 from each Member’s tournament entry fee will go toward the year-end CTGA Cup prize fund;
5. CTGA Cup Points are awarded based on their finish within their Medal Play Flights or hypothetical Flights in Team events;
6. Year end points accrued divided by the total rounds played determine the Average Points Per Round;
7. Members must meet the specific number of round requirements to compete in our year-end Playoffs as defined in #7 and #8 below:
8. Minimum Rounds Required to qualify for CTGA Cup Playoff:
   • Returning and new members who join before May 1:  7 rounds played including 5 after April 30.
     Those who play in 10 our more rounds, including 5 after April 30 will advance to the Playoffs with no adjusted Average Points Per Round;
     Those who play in less than 10 rounds will advance to the Playoffs with adjusted Average Points Per Round.
   • Returning and new members who join after April 30:  6 or more rounds played;
     Those who play in less than 6 rounds after April 30 will advance to the Playoffs with adjusted Average Points Per Round.

CTGA CUP
REGULAR SEASON
TOURNAMENT POINT DISTRIBUTION
BY FLIGHT

1. CTGA Directors and/or golf course Professional shall reconcile all concerns regarding Rules of Play.
2. If a player is doubtful of his rights or the correct procedure during the play of a hole, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls in accordance with Rule 3-3.
3. CTGA Directors will reconcile disputes and protests concerning scoring or eligibility. 
4. Protest of a handicap shall be reconciled prior to the Member(s) start of play on tournament day.  The Directors' decision shall be final.
    

Our CTGA Pace of Play policy was established and approved by our members at our 2021 Annual
Meeting but has been quite relaxed up to now. In light of expectations from golf courses and our
CTGA members, we have made the commitment to apply and enforce our CTGA Pace of Play
Policy in accordance with USGA Prompt Pace of Play, Rule 5.6 (as defined below) to its fullest in
2025.

Our 2025 CTGA Pace of Play policy has a 2 part common goal…

1. ALL FOURSOME FINISH TIMES SHALL NOT EXCEED 4 HOURS 30 MINUTES,
2. ALL FOURSOMES NOT TO EXCEED 20 MINUTE FINISH BEHIND THE FOURSOME IN FRONT.

Most all CTGA members are making a concerted effort to meet this goal, yet we continue to see some groups every event who just can’t seem to play in less than 5 hours.

Why does CTGA have a Pace of Play Policy?

1. Golf courses are becoming less lenient on excessive slow play and its important for CTGA to maintain a positive relationship with all golf courses on our schedule;
2. Our Members continually request an acceptable Pace of Play in our tournaments.
3. We will not lose valued members due to the continual frustrations of Slow Play.
4. It is the right way to play golf.

The success of our Pace policy is determined by….

1. The pace of the General Public play in front of our lead foursome;
2. Our lead CTGA foursome maintains an acceptable pace behind the GP foursome in front;
3. All other CTGA foursomes maintain an acceptable pace behind our lead foursome.

As Directors, our commitment to our Members is to:

1. Honor the continuing requests to eliminate Excessive Slow Play;
2. Clarify our position as to what constitutes “Excessive Slow Play” as explained below;
3. Avoid premature penalizing of players until we understand why their finish time was excessive;
4. Be fair and consistent on when to or not assess penalties for Excessive Slow Play.

Excessive Slow Play will not be assessed if….

1. The foursome completes their round in 4 hours 30 minutes or less or finishes more than a hole behind the foursome in front but within our 4 hour 30 minute goal.
2. The foursome maintains an acceptable distance with the foursome in front but finishes in more than 4 hours 30 minutes, caused by excessive slow play in front of them.
3. The foursome gets behind during the round but is successful in catching up and getting back to an acceptable position behind the foursome in front.

Excessive Slow Play WILL be assessed if…..

1. The foursome maintains a position of more than a hole behind for most of the round and finishes in excess of 20 minutes behind the foursome in front;
2. The foursome fails to maintain an acceptable pace behind the foursome in front that causes excessive wait time and bottlenecks of foursomes behind and make no effort to catch up.

ACCEPTABLE POSITION ON THE COURSE is defined by CTGA policy as….

1. Being ready to play when the group in front is out of range on the same fairway;
2. The group in front is still in the fairway on Par 4 and Par 5 holes or on the green on Par 3 holes when your group reaches the teeing ground on the same hole.

Simply stated, if you’re waiting for the foursome in front to clear to make your shot, your pace is excellent, whereas if you can’t see the foursome in front, your pace is poor.

THE 2 MAJOR FACTORS THAT WILL ENSURE AN ACCEPTABLE PACE OF PLAY:

Although there are many helpful hints one can incorporate in his/her game to ensure an Acceptable Pace of Play, the 2 Major Factors all players should focus on are:

1. Be aware of your play time to ensure a 4 hour 30 minute maximum time on the course.
2. Be either waiting or not more than one hole behind the foursome in front.

As we begin our new year of tournament play, we all should individually….

1. Be a Pace of Play Champion
2. Be aware of and maintain the hole-by-hole finish time on official scorecards
3. Stay up with the foursome in front and, should you get behind, work together to catch up
4. Know that playing too slow will result in Excessive Slow Play penalties.

Our CTGA Pace of Play Policy is as important as the USGA Rules of Play and our CTGA Specific
Local Rules.
 
Lastly, we welcome any feedback and/or suggestions that may help CTGA members improve our
collective Pace of Play.
 
Thanks in advance to all for your efforts and cooperation.

Your CTGA Directors
January 12, 2025

USGA PROMPT PACE OF PLAY (Rule 5.6b)

A round of golf is meant to be played at a prompt pace.

Each player should recognize that his or her pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take other players to play their rounds, including both those in the player’s own foursome and the following foursomes.

A player should prepare in advance for the next stroke and be ready to play when it is his or her turn.

When it’s the player’s turn to play:

1. The player completes the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after he or she is able to play without interference or distraction, and
2. The player should usually be able to play more quickly than that and is encouraged to do so.

Play READY GOLF to Help Pace of Play.

1. Depending on the form of play, all players should play your next shot when it makes sense to do so to help Pace of Play.
2. In Stroke Play, players may play “Ready Golf” in a safe and responsible way.