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2026 Match Guidelines

USGA Rules apply to ALL competition. Please see the 2026 TMSGA Rules of Play Card

General Guidelines

  • All matches shall be played as a 9-hole event unless inclement weather or darkness apply. In order to be counted as a date of competition, at least 5 holes must be completed by each competitor on the team.

  • The TMSGA will allow matches to be held on Par 3, Executive or Regulation courses. We suggest most matches be played on regulation courses since the District and Sectional Championships will be played at approximately 2,400 yards for girls and 2,800 yards for boys. (Per 9 holes)

  • Consideration should be made by the coaches on where tees are set, especially considering tee shots with forced carry over water. For pace of play purposes, tees may be set on the green side of penalty areas in these cases.

  • USGA approved Distance Measuring Devices may be used.

  • Green reading material is prohibited.

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BOYS MATCHES: A team is allowed to play four (4) or five (5) players in a match. The four (4) lowest scores are used to calculate the team's total score.

GIRLS MATCHES: A team is allowed to play two (2) or three (3) players in a match. The two (2) lowest scores are used to calculate the team's total score.

Approved Formats for the Regular Season

  • Stroke Play - USGA Rule 3.3

  • Match Play - USGA Rule 3.2

  • Foursomes (Alternate Shot - Stroke Play or Match Play) - USGA Rule 22

  • Three-Ball Match Play - USGA Rules 21.4

  • Four-Ball (Stroke or Match Play) - USGA Rule 23

  • Stableford - USGA Rule 21.1

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USGA Rule 21.2 (Maximum Score) will be in place for all competitions. A maximum of 10 on each hole in all the above mentioned formats.

USGA Rule 3-3c (Failure to Hole Out) will NOT be in effect. Once a competitor has reached the maximum score, he/she must pick up his/her ball and record a 10 on the scorecard and move on to the next hole.

Model Local Rules (found in Section 5c of the Committee Procedures)

  • USGA Rule E-3: Preferred Lies

  • USGA Rule E-5: Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds

  • USGA Rule E-11: Ball Deflected by Power Line

  • USGA Rule F-16: Bunker Filled with Temporary Water

  • USGA Rule H-2: Appointment of Advice Giver in Team Competitions

  • USGA Rule F-1: Defining Abnormal Course Conditions and Integral Objects

Starting Procedures (coaches who are starting should review below with each group)

  • Have players introduce themselves to one another

  • Hand out scorecards so a player is not given their own scorecard

  • Have players show their golf ball at the first hole to ensure players are not playing the same ball. Each ball should have a unique mark in order to identify the ball on the golf course (use of sharpie pen I best).

  • Inform players as to what colored tees they will be playing that day.

  • Inform the players of any specific local rules 

  • Reminder players of pace of play and 40 seconds to play their shot

  • Remind players to fix ball marks, divots and to rake bunkers

  • Reminder players of Rule 20.1c(3) if they have a rules question and can't find a coach to ask where this allows a player to hole out two (2) golf balls if they are in doubt how to proceed.

  • Remind players of the maximum stroke rule of 10

  • Make sure all players tee off on time.

Disqualification Penalties

Due to the nature of the team competition and maximum stroke rule, the TMSGA has determined that the only disqualification penalty that can be enforced is for an incorrect scorecard, Rule 3.3(b), or player etiquette (throwing clubs, swearing, etc.). If it is determined that a player has proceeded incorrectly under another rule, such as Lost Ball, Ball Out of Bounds or Wrong Ball, the player must record the maximum score of 10 for that hole.

Tiebreakers

District Tournaments – For teams, we will take the next score – 5th for boys and 3rd for girls to determine which team(s) will advance. If a tie still exists, or one of the teams doesn’t have an additional score (5th score for boys and 3rd score for girls), go to the 4th lowest score, the 3rd lowest, etc. If all scores tie, contact the TMSGA office. 

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For individuals, if there is a tie for the second individual position (top two individuals on non-qualifying teams advance to the Sectional Tournament) if possible, we will conduct a sudden death playoff.  For all individual playoffs, the maximum stroke rule of 10 is NOT in effect. If a sudden death playoff is not possible, we will use the USGA method for scorecard playoffs.  Match scorecards to determine the winner based on the score for the last 6 holes, last 3 holes and finally the 9th hole.

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Sectional and State Tournaments – Information will be printed on the notice to competitors. 

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