Mark your calendars! Opening Day for the SMC Golf League is scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2019 at the St. Clair Shores Country Club, 22185 Masonic Blvd., St. Clair Shores, MI 48082.

We will begin gathering at 7:30 am, breakfast will be served at 8:00 am, and tee times will be available starting at 9:00 am. Details relative to the breakfast (cost, menu, etc.) are undetermined at this time due to a recent change in the company that provides catering services to the golf course. Additional information will be provided to the league members as it is determined. As always, league members pay for the breakfast individually on opening day. Greens fees on opening day have not been finalized either, but should be in the neighborhood of $25 for 18 holes with cart. Please schedule tee times in the pro shop when you arrive at the course since there is no shotgun start.

It is not too soon to register for membership in the league for the 2019 season! Registration is open! Due to increasing costs the fee for league membership is $50 for 2019, up from the $45 fee that has been in effect for the past 8 years. Please make your check for $50 payable to “SMC Golf League” and send it to: Mark Jahnke, 7 Fairlake Lane, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236.

While it’s hard to find anything negative about opening day, we had to name one thing: the long line that forms before and during the breakfast for last minute league membership registration. Although it will be possible to register at the breakfast, we encourage you to register early if at all possible. As an incentive, everyone whose registration is received by March 31, 2019 will be entered into a raffle in which two winners will each receive a dozen golf balls!

Please pass the word about our league to friends and family who have an interest in the great game of golf and encourage them to join our league. We welcome new members and are confident that they will enjoy the camaraderie, competition and fun that membership in the league provides. You do not need to be a resident of the Grosse Pointes or a member of the Senior Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe to be a member of the golf league. However, we on the golf committee encourage those who are not members of the SMC to visit www.https://seniormensclubofgrossepointe.com and learn more about the many activities and benefits of membership.

Mark Jahnke for The Golf Committee

---

League Rules of Play

Season – April 17 through September 22. There will be two scrambles, dates to be announced.

Courses – Your choice of Chandler Park, Golden Hawk or St. Clair Shores. Up to five times per work week.

Rounds – Generally 18 holes, but 9 hole scores are allowed and will be combined.

Tees – All handicaps are based on Middle Tees. This is the default setting for all Golfers. However, Golfers can select tees of their own choosing. Please notify the Handicapper if you will be playing the forward tees all season. If you normally play from the middle tees, but play one or more rounds from the Forward tees, please indicate this on your scorecard. Using the Red Tee on #6 and the Gold Tee on #10 at Golden Hawk is allowed, as in the past.

Scorecards – Dated and identified with golfer’s last name. Deposit in League boxes in the clubhouse at each course. Remember to enter each golfers name on the sheet in the box. Cards will be collected at the end of each week. Scores are entered on a hole by hole basis.

Handicaps – Because of the change is software, all handicaps for this year start at zero. Handicaps will be computed after three rounds. Next year, handicaps will carry over. New members must shoot three rounds to get a handicap.

The last 20 rounds will be used to compute your handicap. One HI and one LOW will be discarded.

Handicaps are normalized to Forward Chandler Park tees. That will show as Home Course on reports but ignore it.

Handicaps will be updated at the end of each month.

Flights – Again, we will have three flights, based on handicaps.

Gimmes – Suggest 12 inches or less. No gimmies allowed on par or birdie putts.

Continuous Putting Encouraged – Once you start putting, continue until you hole out.

Ready Golf – Strongly encouraged. Hit when you are ready and it is safe.

Lost Golf Balls – Strict three (3) minute limit, per USGA.

Winter Rules – Yes, even when it is 90 degrees outside.

Prizes – Each week, for each flight, First place will pay $5 and second place will pay $3. Holes in one during regular league play will pay $50.

The Golf Committee
Bob Vogler, Pres., Nick Kondak, Sec. Mark Jahnke, Asst. Sec., Jim Regan, Handicapper
April 17, 2017