Hyde Park Golf Club

CURRENT CLUB CHAMPIONS

The Board has finishedn planning for the upcoming 2019 season. A tentative schedule is posted.

With the course now being managed by a private concern, we will hopefully see marked improvements in the overall condition of the course as well as some new amenities. We wish the group the very best in their endeavor to return HPGC to its former glory days.

With the above taking place, Rick Horn has tendered his letter of resignation as President of your club to avoid any conflict of interests. Also, he will be very busy in managing the day to day operation of the course. The board met and recommended that Dave Clingersmith be appointed  as acting President for the reminder of this term. He gladly accepted thus assuring no disruption in the running of the club. Rick has agreed to remain a Board Member.

Last year we created a C Flight in order to widen the field of competition. The C Flight included golfers with course handicap ratings of 17 and over. After reviewing the results and looking at our current membership and handicap ratings, this years flights will be set as follows:.  A - 0 to 9 ; B -10 to 14 ; C - 15 and over.

We will maintain that the  required players for a Flight to qualify in a tournament is 8. So if 8 players are in any Flight for a tournament it will count. If less than 8 players are in the B Fight they will move up to the A Flight. If less than 8 players are in the C Flight they will move up to the B Flight.

Keep in mind the new Rule Changes for 2019, especially ones concerning dropping a ball, taking the distance  for an out-of-bounds shot instead of rehitting, and especially three minutes to find a lost ball.  Pace of play is going to be one of the things we will be stressing this year. Look below for some of the rule changes that will be in effect this year.

*****NEW HANDICAPPED SKINS GAME TO BE MANAGED BY CLUB*****

After much research and discussion, the Board has agreed to  take over and manage the skins game played during our tournaments on a trial basis. The skins game will now be handicapped at 80% to allow all players an equal opportunity to compete. Hopefully this will increase the participation and winnings. Needless to say a very close eye will now be kept on individuals handicaps to ensure they are legitimate. 

GHIN HANDICAPPING SYSTEM
The GHIN handicapping system has gone very well and has been well received by the membership. All paid members are provided with a GHIN number in order to access the system and enter in their scores. Moving to the GHIN system provides you with the ability to see your handicap at anytime should you choose to play in a tournament elsewhere. Updating the handicaps is done automatically and on a regular basis which proves to be more accurate as well. For those that do not have access to a computer or smart phone in order to enter your scores, cards can still be dropped into our club box and your score will be entered by one of the GHIN committee members. Anyone wishing to have a GHIN handicap on file for participation in the WNYPLGA and BDGA tournaments only, and not participate in our club tournaments, may do so by becoming an Associate Member. Cost is $25.00.

HYDE PARK GOLF COURSE RATING
Prior to last season, we had the BDGA out to our course four times to provide us with an updated course/handicap rating. New score cards were printed using the updated numbers as well as updating the GHIN system. As most of you are already aware, we discovered shortly after the season began that the rating provided to us was wrong. 

To that point, the NYSGA who were actually the ones who caught the error have already been contacted and our course will once again be rated this spring.

JACO'S CUP
Thanks to Jaco's Pizzeria who sponsors our version of the Fedex Cup. Let's all participate, have fun and feel free to offer up suggestions.

This will be a year long event and is a total point system based on ALL tournaments.
Points cannot be accumalated unless dues are paid.
Handicap scores, all players in one flight
Anyone posting a score in any tournament will receive points. 

Points will be awarded as follows:

 If there are 20 players who posted scores first place will receive 20 points, second place 19 points, third place 18 points and so forth with the last place person receiving 1 point.  When two or more players tie with the same score the points for those postions will be added together and distributed evenly. For example, three players shoot 80 and are in the third spot of a 40 man tournament. So they are in point slots 38, 37 and 36. Those points will be added together and divided among all three players so each would receive 37 points.
In team events such as a Two Man Best Ball the following system will be used. If 18 teams (36 players) enter and post scores both individuals from the first place team will receive 18 points, both individuals for second place will receive 17 points and so on with the last place team each receiving 1 point.
The Club Championship and the City Championship will be considered Major Tournaments and points awarded will be doubled. If 25 players post scores the first place finisher will receive 50 points, second 48 points, and so on with the last place person receiving 2 points.

Gift Cards will be awarded as follows:

1st Place - $75
2nd Place - $60
3rd Place - $50
4th Place - $30
5th Place - $25

 FINAL STANDINGS

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RULES OF GOLF FOR 2019

As you should be aware the USGA and the R & A have adopted some new rules and rule changes governing the game of golf. 

Below are some of the rules that you need to be aware of:

• Out of Bounds or Lost Ball - The U.S.G.A rule in tournament play still calls for you to replay your shot from the original spot of play. They have allowed a local rule to be adopted that we will adopt. You still have the option of replaying the shot from the original spot, but you also now have the option of taking a two stroke and distance penalty. First, estimate where your ball is or where it went out of bounds. Imagine a straight line running from the hole through your estimated point. Next, estimate a point on the nearest edge of the fairway that is the same distance from the hole. Imagine a straight line running from the hole through that estimated point. Your relief area is two club lengths outside the two imaginary lines or anywhere between them but not nearer the hole where you estimated your original ball was lost. You cannot use this local rule if your ball was lost in a penalty or if a provisional ball was played. As an example if your tee shot is hit out of bounds you may elect to not re-tee but rather drop a ball per this local rule. You would be playing your fourth stroke. (Tee shot 1, Out of Bounds Penalty 2, Drop 3, Hitting 4.
  
• To see a video of this explanation click HERE.
  

• Rake & Place in Sand Traps - Remember that raking in a trap is an option. You are not required to do it. This year if you elect to rake the trap you are required to drop the ball from a height of at least 6 inches. You are no longer allowed to place the ball. You will also now be allowed to move the ball within a 12 inch radius of where it originally came to rest. (The ball must remain within the hazard). If you deem there is interference by an abnormal course condition you may use the following:
  
  • The nearest point of relief and the relief must be in the bunker.
    
  • If there is no such nearest point of complete relief in the bunker, you may still take this relief by using the point of maximum available relief in the bunker as the reference point
    
  • Penalty Relief by playing outside the bunker (Back on the line of relief) for one penalty stroke.
    
  • ClickHEREfor a complete U.S.G.A. guideline
    

• Lift, Clean & Place - After cleaning your ball you have a maximum area of 12 inches no nearer the hole to place it back into play. You are not allowed to change surfaces meaning you are not allowed to move it from the rough to the fairway or from the fringe onto the green.
  

• Grounding Club in a Hazard - You are now allowed to ground your club within a hazard (not a sand trap) with no penalty.
  

• Double Hitting - There will no longer be a penalty for double hitting a ball with one swing.

• Lost Ball Time Limit - The time allowed to look for a lost ball has been reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. This time starts when the player who hit the shot arrives and begins looking. It is always recommended that the player hit a provisional ball in order to speed up play.

• ​Taking Relief - The relief area is measured by taking 1 or 2 club lengths using the longest club in your bag excluding a putter.
  

• Dropping Procedure - The ball must be dropped straight down from knee height while in a standing position.
  

• Putting - You now have the option to leave the flagstick in while putting. If the flagstick is attended while putting it must be pulled once the ball has been putted.
  

Again these are only some of the new rule changes for 2019. We highly recommend you acquire a rule book or search the web to review all the changes for 2019.

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