Men’s “First & 20″ Group – Wed – Sun.

 “First & 20″ Men’s Group

“For Members with a Variable Work/Life Schedule; For Members Who Can’t Play Every Week; For Members Looking to Play Golf and Meet Other Members!”

 Many golfers are looking for a game but don’t have a “set group.”  We welcome you to join us in “First & 20” Men’s Group.  We will offer this program on weekdays and weekends.  Play only the days and times you can make!  There are some rules but most of them are common decency to avoid anarchy on the course. 

Who:  Any member with a GHIN handicap.  We will take the first twenty (20) players who sign up.

When:  Saturday’s and/or Sunday’s when there is no VHGA Men’s Tournament (First Tee Time approximately 8:00 AM).  If there is a VHGA Men’s Tournament, we will not be running the group.  Also, Wednesday’s and Friday’s at 2:00 PM.  Subject to change.

How:  Sign-up required at the Member Board in Rachel’s up to 4-days prior to the day of the event.  Waiting list is important should we have course availability, etc.

Format & Entry Fee:

• The format is Chicago (a point-quota-game that takes into account your handicap and a requirement to achieve a personal quota; best 3 of 4 individual scores comprises your team score).  Once in awhile we may vary the format so based on feedback from the players.
• Entry fee is $12.  This is broken into a $7 entry fee (paid back in cash; $2-$2-$3 Nassau) and $5 individual sweeps (paid back in Pro Shop credits; you are welcome to get into pins and skins but it is not required).
• This is an 18-hole commitment.
• Pairing groups will be set ahead of time.  Tee times will be posted on the internet via our website.  Final team assignments for the Nassau will be blindly drawn by the Pro Shop while the players are on the course.  Results will be tallied immediately upon conclusion of play by the last group and payouts made for the cash portion of the entry fee.
• If your handicap and age equal 75, you are encouraged to Tee-It-Forward and your handicap will be adjusted accordingly for the shorter tees (only fair)!  This will clearly affect the quota you need.  But it’s supposed to be fun.  You always have the option to play the white tees at your current handicap.

Rules:

1. We will take the first 20 (twenty) players who sign up. 
2. The sign-up will be posted well in advance of the event on the Member Board in Rachel’s on the Green.  If you are not one of the first 20 players to sign-up, please sign-up on the “waiting list” as we are sure there will be movement as commitments, etc. change.  At times, we will be able to go with more than 20 players but there is no guarantee!  It will surely vary on the time of year and the day of the week.
3. If someone scratches on the sign-up sheet, you cannot sign up in the scratched spot.  We will go to the first person on the wait list.  If you do sign up in a scratched spot, you will be moved to the end of the waiting list at the time of the discovery.
4.  “No-shows” kill the group.  In fairness to the players who show up, “no-shows” are measured on a 3-strikes-you’re-out policy.  Keep in mind you can sign up within 4 days of the date of the event.  Strike one is allowed with cause; strike two is a formal verbal warning; and strike three…you are out of the group for 2 weeks.  Sorry.  We need a little structure and commitment so it’s not total chaos.  Especially if we have more than 20 who want to play.  Please sign up but we expect you to show!
5. We need one person per group to calculate all points (front 9, back 9 and overall).  In the situation where someone’s handicap is an odd number, they will take the odd number stroke on the front 9.  Card must be turned into the Shop for Action calculations.
6. If the course is playable, we are playing.  If the majority of the people want to play, people always have the option of using one of their “strikes.”
7. If this group becomes a ‘set group’ with the same 20 players, we will reevaluate the sign-up process and may move to a ‘lottery.’  However, let’s not assume we’re going to be overly successful from the start.  J

The Intent of “First & 20” is not to take away from the McCarthy Group which has been the most successful, well-run groups ever at Val Halla.  The McCarthy Group has a different level of commitment; plays different games; and plays at different times than the First and 20 Group.   Like the McCarthy Group, the First & 20 Group is looking to have fun on and off the course.