TRAVELERS LINKS CLUB

League Rules and Information

MEMBERSHIP:

Membership term is one calendar year; Jan 1 thru Dec 31.

Membership fees are due by no later than Dec 31st of the previous year.
For new Members, the Membership fee for the first person from an immediate family group is
sixty dollars ($60.00).
For returning Members, the Membership fee for the first person from an immediate family group
is forty dollars ($40.00).
For all Members, the Membership fee for any other person from the same immediate family
group is twenty dollars ($20.00).
An immediate family group is defined as a Member, a Members spouse or significant other, and
any number of Members children under the age of 18.
The optional annual fee for TLC to maintain a Members GHIN is twenty dollars ($20.00). A
Member may use any FSGA recognized golf club to maintain their GHIN.
A verified GHIN, as reported by FSGA and maintained by TLC or any other FSGA recognized golf
club, is required to be eligible to win any TLC sponsored stroke based contest prize, including the
year-end Championship and Net Pool contests.
A Members invitation to the year-end awards dinner, including buffet, is free of charge and
included in their annual Membership.
A Member who participates in a minimum of ten (10) TLC events where dues are collected will be
invited to bring their first non-Member guest to the year-end awards dinner, including buffet, free
of charge.
A Member who participates in less than ten (10) TLC events where dues are collected will be
invited to bring their first non-Member guest to the year-end awards dinner, including buffet, for
an additional cost. The additional cost for a first non-Member guest will be communicated before
reservations are required and payment of this cost must accompany the Members dinner
reservation.
If a Member brings more than one non-Member guest to the year-end awards dinner, including
buffet, the Member will be responsible for the full cost for all their non-Member guests beyond
their first one. The full cost for a non-Member guest will be communicated before reservations
are required and payment of this cost must accompany the Members dinner reservation.
All Members are invited to bring their non-Member children under the age of eighteen (18) to the
year-end awards dinner, excluding buffet, free of charge, provided they order from the childrens
dinner menu.

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League Rules and Information

COMMUNICATION:

All current Members must provide TLC with a valid email address that the Member checks with
regular frequency.
Email is the primary and preferred method for all communication regarding TLC events and
information.
TLC will periodically email Members information regarding TLC events, news and other important
information.
These emails will, on occasion, contain event registration deadlines that require a response from
the Member. While it is understandable that last minute changes can occur, it is expected that
Members will email their event registration response on or before the communicated registration
deadline if they wish to participate in an event.
A Members failure to provide an event registration response on or before a communicated event
registration deadline may result in exclusion from participation in that event.
EVENT FORMAT:

Bi-weekly events at golf courses throughout the Tampa Bay area, as selected by Tournament
Director.
Unless an alternate format is announced, all events are individual net stroke play using course
handicap.
TLC Members may invite any number of non-Member guest to participate in an event.
When event space is limited, Member participation takes priority over guest participation, so long
as registration responses are received on or before event registration deadline. Any responses
received after registration deadline are given no priority.
Unless otherwise announced, all participants must pay their own greens fee to the course.
All participants are required to pay five dollars ($5) TLC dues per TLC sponsored event.
HANDICAPS:

Members most recent USGA GHIN will be used to calculate course handicaps. Course handicap
will be capped at a maximum of thirty-six (36) for Men and a maximum of forty (40) for women.
Contests vary from one event to another. It is possible not all contests will be available at all
events. A current, verifiable GHIN, as provided through the USGA, is required for eligibility to win
a TLC sponsored net stroke play contest.
All scores posted to a Members GHIN account, whether administered by Travelers Links Club or
some other USGA recognized club, must adhere to current USGA Equitable Stroke Control rules.
Each participant should insure that all their 18 hole scores are entered into their GHIN account.
Eligibility of a GHIN maintained through a golf club other than TLC is at the discretion of the
Handicap Director.
Course handicaps will be calculated using the following method:
o Forward Tee: (GHIN X Base Tee Slope 113) + (Forward Tee Rating - Base Tee Rating)
o Base Tee: GHIN X Base Tee Slope 113
o 2nd Tee: (GHIN X Base Tee Slope 113) + (2nd Tee Rating - Base Tee Rating)
o 3rd Tee: (GHIN X Base Tee Slope 113) + (3rd Tee Rating - Base Tee Rating)

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League Rules and Information
TEES:
Tees will be designated and communicated by the Tournament Director prior to the beginning of
each event. Not all tees will be available to all participants. Not all tees will be available at all events.
Unless otherwise communicated, women will use the forward tees. Men can select any available
tees, but will not receive a course handicap and will not be eligible to win points or prizes, including
CTP, if they elect to use the forward tees.
Course handicaps for all tees available to a participant will be provided in writing prior to the
beginning of each round, excluding Course handicaps for Men using Forward tees.
Once an event participant has begun their round using a particular tee box, unless otherwise
communicated by the Tournament Director, the participant will continue using that same tee box
throughout the round.
RULES OF PLAY:
USGA Rules of Play, local course rules and TLC rules will govern all play.
Play the ball as it lies. Any movement of the ball to modify its lie or position within bounds on the
course, other than movement allowed by USGA, local course or TLC rules, will result in a two stroke
penalty.
TLC Rule - In the event the ball come to rest against an imbedded tree root, or an imbedded tree
root would come in contact with the golf club during the course of a normal swing, the ball can be
lifted without penalty and dropped from shoulder height no nearer to the hole, along the same
straight line to the hole as original and within the same type of lie as original (fairway/rough/etc.).
TLC Rule - In the event the ball come to rest in a clearly defined footprint within a sand trap, or
within a crack, crevice or mud located in a sand trap due to water runoff, the ball can be lifted
without penalty and dropped from shoulder height no nearer to the hole, along the same straight
line to the hole as original and within the same sand trap.
TLC Rule - At the discretion of, and as communicated by the Tournament Director prior to the
beginning of an event, the USGA rules regarding Imbedded Ball and Casual Water that normally
apply only to fairways can be extended to areas of the course beyond fairways (rough, hazards,
etc.).
STROKE SCORING:
To maintain satisfactory pace of play, the maximum number of strokes played on any hole is equal
to double par on the hole being played.
Unless otherwise communicated by the Tournament Director, and at the discretion of the playing
group, an event participants putt can be conceded prior to holing out, in order to improve pace of
play. A general rule of thumb is if a putt is within the length of a putter grip, it can be conceded
and a single stroke is assessed.
If a participant holes out in double par or less, they will mark their scorecard for that hole with the
number of strokes taken to hole out.
If a participant fails to hole out in double par or less, they will pick up their ball once double par is
achieved and mark their scorecard for that hole with a number equal to double par for that hole
with a visible circle drawn around the number.
At the completion of an event, each playing group will submit one scorecard accurately listing all
hole by hole and front and back scores for all participants in that playing group. The scorecard must
be signed by two participants of the playing group, one of which must be a Member.
Scorecards are deemed final once submitted. Any scorecard submitted that does not contain all
scores, or contains calculation errors, or does not contain two signatures will, at the discretion of
the scoring committee, be subject to penalty up to and including assessment of penalty strokes or
exclusion from event results calculations.
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League Rules and Information

STROKE SCORING TIE BREAKER:

In the circumstance where more than one eligible event participant achieves the same Net Stroke
amount, the following tie breaking procedure will be followed:

o Step 1 - Lowest number of double par circles wins

o Step 2 - Lowest Net Back 9 Score wins
o Step 3 - Lowest Net Hole #10 Score wins
o Step 4 - Lowest Net Hole #11 Score wins
o Step 5 thru 11 Lowest Net Hole # 12 thru #18 Score wins

Tie breaking steps are followed in ascending order until there are no remaining ties. The resulting
rankings are then used to award applicable points or place.

TLC CHAMPIONSHIP:

REGULAR EVENTS (Events 1 through 20)

Unless otherwise communicated by the Tournament Director, event participants are assigned to
a flight based on their current GHIN, in ascending order, on the day of the event. Participants are
separated into two flights, each containing equal number of participants. If there is an odd
number of participants, Flight A will contain one more participant than Flight B.
The following points schedule will be awarded in each flight based on Net Stroke total for 18
Holes:

o Lowest Net Strokes 5 points

o 2nd Lowest Net Strokes 4 points
o 3rd Lowest Net Strokes 3 points
o 4th Lowest Net Strokes 2 points
o All Other Net Strokes 1 point

In the event that more than one eligible participant achieves the same Net Stroke amount, the
procedure previously outlined under STROKE SCORING TIE BREAKER will be followed.
Upon completion of the regular season, the Member with the highest cumulative point total for
the year will be named winner of the Most Points Prize.
In the event of a tie, the Most Points Prize will be distributed equally among the winners.
Upon completion of the regular season, the sixteen (16) Members with the highest cumulative
point totals for the year (including ties) will be invited to participate in the 1st Playoff Event (Event
21) as Playoff Members and are eligible to win additional points.
Upon completion of the regular season, Members who did not achieve one of the sixteen (16)
highest cumulative point totals (including ties) for the year are invited to participate in all playoff
events, including the Championship, but are not eligible to win additional points.

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League Rules and Information

PLAYOFF EVENTS (Events 21 & 22)

Throughout all Playoff Events, the following points schedule will be awarded to Playoff Members based on
Net Stroke total for 18 Holes:

o Lowest Net Strokes 10 points

o 2nd Lowest Net Strokes 9 points
o 3rd Lowest Net Strokes 8 points
o 4th Lowest Net Strokes 7 points
o 5th Lowest Net Strokes 6 points
o 6th Lowest Net Strokes 5 points
o 7th Lowest Net Strokes 4 points
o 8th Lowest Net Strokes 3 points
o 9th Lowest Net Strokes 2 points
o All Other Net Strokes 1 point
In the event that more than one Playoff Member achieves the same Net Stroke amount, the
procedure previously outlined under STROKE SCORING TIE BREAKER will be followed.
At the completion of the 1st Playoff Event (Event 21), the twelve (12) Playoff Members with the
highest cumulative point totals for the year (including ties) will be invited to compete in the 2nd
Playoff Event (Event 22) as Playoff Members and are eligible to win additional points.
1st Playoff Members that are not within the highest twelve (12) cumulative point totals for the
year are invited to participate in all remaining playoff events, including the Championship, but are
not eligible to win additional points.
At the completion of the 2nd Playoff Event (Event 22), the eight (8) Playoff Members with the
highest cumulative point totals for the year (including ties) will be invited to compete in the
Championship (Event 24) as Playoff Members and are eligible to win additional points.
2nd Playoff Members that are not within the highest eight (8) cumulative point totals for the year
are invited to participate in the Championship, but are not eligible to win additional points.
TLC CHAMPIONSHIP (Event 24)
At the completion of the TLC Championship, the following points schedule will be awarded to
Playoff Members based on Net Stroke total for 18 Holes:

o Lowest Net Strokes 20 points

o 2nd Lowest Net Strokes 18 points
o 3rd Lowest Net Strokes 16 points
o 4th Lowest Net Strokes 14 points
o 5th Lowest Net Strokes 12 points
o 6th Lowest Net Strokes 10 points
o 7th Lowest Net Strokes 8 points
o 8th Lowest Net Strokes 6 points
In the event that more than one Playoff Member achieves the same Net Stroke amount, the
procedure previously outlined under STROKE SCORING TIE BREAKER will be followed.
At the completion of the TLC Championship, the Playoff Member with the highest cumulative
point total for the year will be declared winner of 1st Place in the TLC Championship.
The Playoff Members with the next three (3) highest cumulative point totals for the year will be
declared winners of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Place, respectively, in the TLC Championship.

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League Rules and Information

THE TLC CUP (EVENT 23):

Participation in The TLC Cup is open to any current Member and their guests.
When space is limited, Member participation takes priority over guest participation, so long as
registration responses are received on or before event registration deadline. Any responses
received after registration deadline are given no priority.
Only current TLC Members are eligible to win the TLC Cup.
At the completion of the event, the participating Member with the lowest Net Stroke amount will
be declared the winner of the TLC Cup.
In the event that more than one participating Member achieves the same lowest Net Stroke
amount, the procedure previously outlined under STROKE SCORING TIE BREAKER will be
followed.
No points are awarded in the TLC Cup.
NET POOL:

At the discretion of the Tournament Director, Net Pool contests are held at TLC sponsored 18 hole
events.
Participation in Net Pool is optional and available only to Members of TLC
The cost to participate in Net Pool is five dollars ($5.00) per event and must be paid prior to the
beginning of the round.
The following schedule will be awarded based on Net Stroke total for 18 Holes:
o Lowest Net Strokes 1st Place
o 2 Lowest Net Strokes 2nd Place
nd

o 3rd Lowest Net Strokes 3rd Place

In the event that more than one participating Member achieves the same Net Stroke amount, the
procedure previously outlined under STROKE SCORING TIE BREAKER will be followed.

CLOSEST TO THE PIN (CTP):

At the discretion of the Tournament Director, CTP contests are held at TLC sponsored 18 hole
events.
Participation in CTP is optional and available to all event participants except Men playing from
Forward Tees.
The cost to participate in CTP is five dollars ($5.00) per event.
CTPs are contests are applicable to par three (3) holes only.
A single winner on each hole will be determined using whatever marking or measurement
equipment is provided by the course.
A CTP winner is the participant whose ball, as a result of their 1st stroke, comes to rest closest to
the hole while resting on the putting surface.
It is the participants responsibility to use whatever marking or measuring equipment is provided
by the course to determine their eligibility to win a CTP and if eligible, to record their name using
whatever CTP recording method is provided by the course.
The winner of each events CTPs will be based solely on the information contained on whatever
CTP recording method is provided by the course.
Event participants that did not elect to participate in CTP should refrain from entering their name
on whatever CTP recording method is provided by the course.

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League Rules and Information
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
The TLC Board of Directors is comprised of five TLC Members that are selected through a general
election conducted at the end of every even numbered year. Elected Board Members serve two
(2) year terms.
During an election year, any current Member may nominate any other current Member to be
considered for a seat on the Board. Members cannot nominate themselves. An additional current
Member must second the nomination in order for the nominee to appear in the list of Board
candidates.
During the election process, all current Members may vote to elect three (3) Board candidates.
Once all votes are collected, the five (5) candidates with the most cumulative votes are elected as
Board Members.
At the discretion of, and requiring an affirmative majority vote from the previous Board, the Board
of Directors can be modified for a single two-year term to include two (2) additional Board
Members as needed. The Board must contain either five (5) or seven (7) Members during any
given term.
Once a Board of Directors is elected, the newly elected Members of the Board will collectively
nominate, second and vote on assigning one Board Member to each of the Board positions. A
Board Member must receive an affirmative majority of Board votes to hold a Board position.
Board positions, and their respective duties and responsibilities are as follows:

o Board Chairperson
Oversees general operation of the League. Collaborates with and
insures accountability from all Board Members.
o League Treasurer
Responsible for transparency in all League financial transactions.
Maintains League bookkeeping, reporting and budgets.
o Tournament Director
Determines Event calendar, venues and formats. Collaborates
with Handicap Director on League Rule & Scoring decisions.
o Handicap Director
Administrates Member GHIN records. Collaborates with
Tournament Director on League Rule & Scoring decisions.
o Membership Director
Coordinates flow of information and processes between Board &
Membership. Point of contact for new Membership inquiries.
o Director at Large (if applicable)
Duties as needed
o Director at Large (if applicable)
Duties as needed

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