General Club Policies
1. Membership Qualification
Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club is a State of Colorado not for profit corporation and tax exempt as described in IRC 501(c)(7). Membership in The Club is open to any amateur male golfer. Before competing for prize money, members must have a verifiable USGA Handicap Index issued by GHIN. To establish a GHIN handicap index, the member needs to enter a minimum of 54 holes of scores in a combination of 9-hole or 18-hole increments into their GHIN account.
2. Membership Fees
Members can join the Club using the SRMC Men’s Club Portal within Golf Genius. Annual Membership fee includes a new or renewed GHIN account number, weekend tournament prize fund, weekend hole-in-one pot, eligibility to participate in the two 9-hole leagues (Monday at Murphy Creek and Tuesdays at Saddle Rock) and general club operating expenses. Annual Memberships expire December 31st, each year, regardless of the date of registration.
3. Membership Cancellation/Refund
Once membership has been accepted and approved, membership dues are non-refundable, except for special individual circumstances that are approved by the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club Board.
4. Assumption of Risk and Release from Liability
By signing or electronically submitting a member application and entering/playing in a Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club tournament, the participant understands and agrees that there are certain dangers involved with the participation in a golf tournament, including but not limited to being struck by lightning, getting hit by golf ball or club, suffering from heat exhaustion, heart attack or injury from uneven terrain, all of which risks participant assumes and solely accepts, and waives all claims of injury to body or property against the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Golf Club and it’s Board of Directors. Further, the participant agrees that while on the premises of a Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club tournament, the participant, and any guest, relative or anyone else affiliated with participant, shall be present at their own risk and that Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club or it’s Board of Directors shall not be liable for any claims for injuries or damages whatsoever to person or property of the participant or related person arising out of or in connection with the participation in the tournament or presence at the tournament. Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club and it’s Board of Directors from all claims of liability to the participant or affiliated person.
5. Tournament Formats
The majority of tournaments are stroke play, although other team and individual formats are included. Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club play will be governed by the current Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association (USGA.) Other specialized formats, such as match play or best ball, will be played in accordance with USGA Rules of Golf. The City of Aurora Golf Division assigns the weekend dates that we can hold tournaments. The Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club Board is responsible for determining the tournament formats for each date prior to the season.
6. Tournament Flights
Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Golf Club events are flighted based on the size of the field, and the most reasonable handicap distributions for each tournament. Final decisions on flighting are solely at the discretion of the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Tournament Directors.
Players are flighted initially based upon their most current USGA Handicap Index or a modified tournament index assigned to individual participants by the Handicap Committee of the Men’s Club Board. Players without established handicaps can play in Men’s Club tournaments, however, they may not compete for prize money until they establish a handicap. Handicaps can be established by posting scores for 54 holes from a combination of 18 hole or 9-hole scores posted in the GHIN system.
7. On Course Rules
All play will be governed by the current USGA Rules of Golf as set forth by the USGA. The Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Golf Club or Course Management provides information containing local rules and any special rules that will govern play before each tournament.
8. Dress Code
Men’s Club Participants are expected to comply with the golf course dress policy. Golfers are encouraged to wear golf appropriate attire. Men should wear a collared golf shirt. T-shirts, tank tops, cut off shorts, beach wear, or gym wear are not proper attire. The decision regarding golf appropriate attire is left up to the golf shop staff and/or the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Golf Club Board.
9. Player Conduct
Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club Players shall conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times. Any excessive display of anger, vulgar language, club throwing, alcohol abuse, illegal drug use, lack of golfing etiquette, act of violence or aggression or disrespect to a fellow player, golf course staff member, or any other individual may be grounds for disqualification from any tournament and expulsion from the Men’s Club. The Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men's Club Board reserves the right to revoke the membership, without a refund, of any individual at any time for conduct deemed inappropriate or damaging.
10. Prize Money
For each tournament, prize money will be paid as credit and stored in a City of Aurora Credit Book account that can be used at any of the five City of Aurora Golf Pro Shops, the Pro Shops can provide you with your account balance on request. The value of the prize pool at each tournament will be established prior to the tournament and is based on league membership. The prize pool is typically formulated to pay approximately 30% of the field. Due to concerns raised by the members about the unfair distribution of tournament payouts and points due to retaining all ties, the SR-MC Men’s Club will break all ties. We will use the recommended USGA procedure for breaking ties: lowest total score on the back nine, and if still tied the lowest total score on the last 6 holes, if still tied the lowest total score on the last 3 holes, if still tied the lowest score on the 18th hole and if still tied go from last to first hole by hole starting with 18.
In order to adhere to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status, no single prize awarded will exceed $750 in value.
11. Skins
In most tournaments, Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club offers an optional skins competition, buy-in is voluntary. All Skin monies won will be paid out through PayPal monthly. Everyone needs to have a PayPal account or have access to someone's that will accept their winnings. If you do not have a PayPal account, your skin winnings will be accumulated and credited to your Aurora Credit Book at the end of the league year.
12. Proxies
Most Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club tournaments include a “closest to the pin” competition, included in each player’s entry fee. Proxies are awarded on each of the four par 3 holes and closest second shots on two par 4 holes, payouts are in Pro Shop credit. Each flight will compete on one of the four par 3 holes and flights 1 & 2 will compete on one par 4 hole for the closest second shot and flights 3 & 4 will compete on another par 4 hole for the closest second shot.
13. Hole-in-One Policy
Each year, Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club funds a cash pool to be divided equally between members who achieve a hole-in-one during the course of the season. Only Hole-in-Ones made by Club members during Weekend events, will be considered eligible for the award. Hole-in-Ones made while competing in events such as Team Match play, Individual Match Play, Monday or Tuesday Night 9-Hole Leagues or extra tournaments like the Spring Kickoff tournament are not considered eligible for the award. The Hole-in-One pot is funded at $750. In the event no member makes a Hole-in-One during the season, fifteen names will be drawn from the membership roster and each name drawn will receive $50 paid through PayPal in early October.
14. Pace of Play Policy
Pace of play for both courses is 4 hours and 45 minutes for each round played. Scanning of QR codes after the 9th and 18th holes will be the official time record for each group. Each group must scan the QR code or be assessed penalty strokes for each scan missing.
15. Inclement Weather
Severe weather-related conditions may prevent, delay, or suspend play when the course is rendered unplayable, or the safety of players is at risk, as determined by golf course staff.
The Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club will do everything possible to complete the full number of holes in a tournament.
Tournaments, especially in the spring, can be delayed due to frost. Participants should remain on the premises and wait for the tournament to resume. No refunds/rollovers will be issued for weather delays. If the tournament is cancelled prior to the league forwarding the green fees payment, you will have a choice of having your registration and fee transferred to a future tournament or have your fees refunded.
In the event a tournament is played but the player chooses not to play in less-than-perfect weather, the player may check in on site of the event and ask for a rain check for their green fee. A rain check may be issued by golf course staff in accordance with Aurora Golf and the course's rain check policies. Once the tournament starts greens fees and tournament fees will not be refunded.
16. Failure to post scores
Members must post all legitimate open play scores immediately at the conclusion of the round played. If a score is not posted within 48 hours, the Handicap Committee may post a penalty score to the member’s scoring record. All tournament scores are posted by the Handicap Committee.
17. Knowledge of the Rules of Golf
It is recommended that each member to attend a seminar on the Rules of Golf once during each 4-year cycle for which the Rules of Golf are published. The Club provides such seminars on occasion, or you may attend a rules seminar hosted by another club, the Colorado Golf Association or the USGA.
18. Music
From Rule 4.3.a.4 – “Listening to audio or watching video on matters unrelated to the competition being played (such as a news report or background music). But in doing so, consideration should be shown to others (see Rule 1.2). Not Allowed - Listening to music or other audio to eliminate distractions or to help with swing tempo or viewing video showing play of the player or other players during the competition that helps the player in choosing a club, making a stroke, or deciding how to play during the round.”
Players wishing to play music over a speaker during the round should ask permission from the group. If anyone objects, then music should not be played. If the group approves the playing of music, the volume should be set to be heard only by the golfer or group when they are near the speaker but should not be so loud as to be heard by other groups on other holes on the course."
Playing music over a speaker is allowed. Using headphones, either in-ear or over-ear, is prohibited.
19. Miscellaneous
The policies and regulations of the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club are subject to revision.
All players in Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club tournaments are deemed to be familiar with these policies and regulations, as well as the USGA Rules of Golf and agree to abide by them. Failure to comply with the aforementioned policies and regulations could result in tournament penalties, tournament disqualification, suspension, or expulsion from the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club.
20. Breaking Ties
Due to concerns raised by the members about the unfair distribution of tournament payouts and points caused by not breaking ties, the SR-MC Men’s Club will break all ties going forward. We will use the recommended USGA procedure for breaking ties: lowest score on the back nine, and if still tied the lowest score on the last 6 holes, if still tied the lowest score on the last 3 holes, if still tied the lowest score on the 18th hole and if still tied go from last to the first, hole by hole starting with 18.
Tournament Policies
1. Tournament Registration
Only Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Golf Club members may participate in Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club tournaments.
Members will register online at the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Golf Club Tournament Portal within Golf Genius. Events have a limitation on the number of entries, and each event will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We encouraged Members not to wait until the entry deadline, which is typically on Sunday before the tournament, as any event may sell-out well in advance. If a tournament fills up a wait list will be established, the member's credit card will not be charged until the member is moved to confirmed status.
2. Payment Policy
Payment of tournament entry fees that includes the green fees will be made by credit card at the time of tournament registration. Skins buy-in, when applicable, will also be paid by credit card when registering for the tournament.
3. Cancellations and No Shows
If a player registers for a tournament and withdraws at any point prior to the end of the tournament, the member may be subject to forfeiture of greens fees and entry fees. A refund will be offered if the cancellation is requested prior to the registration closing on Sunday at 6:00pm. After the registration closes a refund may be offered if the cancellation is requested before the pairings and tee times are published, if a refund is issued, a fee will be deducted to cover the transaction costs, for most events the fee is $10. If a cancellation request is received after the pairings are published but prior to the league paying the green fees to the course, a $20 fee will be deducted from the refund. Due to paying the courses the green fees if cancellation is received after Wednesday evening prior to the tournament a refund will NOT be offered, the member will need to contact the course and request a rain check (rain checks are the discretion of the golf course, and rain checks are NOT accepted for a future tournament). If a tournament is cancelled prior tournament play, you may be given the option to transfer your registration to a choice of designated future tournaments or be issued a refund.
4. Tournament Handicaps
Rule 7.1a/1 of the USGA Handicap Manual enables the handicap committee to reduce a player’s handicap for Men’s Club tournament events if it deems a player’s performance continues to exceed his potential ability. Several methodologies exist for this purpose. The member will be notified of any adjustments made by the Board.
5. Starting Times
Tournaments will typically use sequential starting times. Pairings will be emailed to all participants and are also available on the Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club website under the Tournament Info tab, Tee Times page. Pairings and tee times are subject to change prior to the event, if the pairing or tee times are changed, the Tournament Director will notify individuals impacted by the change in advance.
6. Check-In and Starting
Players should check in on site at least 30 minutes prior to their assigned starting times and be at the starting tee box at least 10 minutes prior to their assigned starting time. Players should have teed off and be leaving the first tee shortly after their scheduled tee time. If the player arrives at his starting tee box, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Otherwise, the penalty is disqualification, and no refunds of the green fee or Skin fee paid when registering.
7. Tees
Tee boxes are subject to change from event to event.
8. Scorekeeping and Scorecards
For weekend tournaments we use a combination of a group scorecard and the Golf Genius App for live scoring. One member in each group will be responsible for recording everyone’s scores on the scorecard and another for entering the scores in the Golf Genius App.
At the completion of the round all players in each group needs to verify their scores on the scorecard and what was entered in the App. Each member should then sign the scorecard attesting that their scores are correct, and the scorecard should be placed in the scorecard box. Players are only responsible for the score on each hole and not the total score. If a player signs for an incorrect scorecard with a lower score on a hole than they actually shot, that player will be disqualified per rule 3-3b.
The signed written scorecard is the official tournament score. Golf Genius app scoring is unofficial and for informational purposes only. Any discrepancy between the two will be reported as the signed written scorecard value when tournament scores are finalized.
If there are scoring disputes in a round, protest should be lodged when turning in scorecard, by emailing the Tournament Director explaining the dispute. Each player should be available for a reasonable amount of time afterward to answer questions by the Tournament Committee in the event that a ruling is required. Competition in each flight is deemed to have closed, and results finalized, when winners are announced by email following conclusion of each event.
Posting of scores to GHIN: For handicap purposes, the SR-MC Men’s Club will post all applicable tournament scores to the GHIN Handicap service. The tournament committee will post all Match Play events scores, winners of each match will send a picture of the signed scorecard to the Tournament Director when reporting the results of the match.
9. Distance Measuring Devices
Distance measuring devices are allowed at all tournaments. If your device must only measure distance all other features, such as slope, grade or wind, must be turned off. USGA Rule 4.3a1 limits the use of distance-measuring devices during a round of golf. Players are allowed to use these devices as long as they do not access any information that is prohibited under this rule. The first breach of this rule results in a loss of hole penalty in match play or a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.
10. Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
A smart phone in each group will be used to record the scores for the group in the Golf Genius App. Cell phones must be on silent at all times. In the spirit of competition, cell phone usage for personal business during competition is discouraged. A player should be respectful of fellow competitors. The device should only be used to enter scores in the Golf Genius App or make phone calls in emergency situations.
11. Club Championship
The Saddle Rock-Murphy Creek Men’s Club Annual Club Championship is a two-day event held in August. Format is 36 holes of individual stroke play, one round at each course we play. The winners of all flights are determined by the low gross score. If the low gross scores are tied for first place in any flight the players will play extra holes sudden death, this is only for first place gross in each flight.
12. Other items
Unless otherwise notified, the 14-Club rule is in effect for all of our events.
Unless otherwise notified, the one-ball rule is NOT in effect for any of our events.
All balls must be putted out or holed if your score counts for the tournament score.
Unless otherwise notified, a closest to the pin contest and Hole-in-One on a Par 3 hole is for a player’s first tee shot on that hole. The closest to the pin must be on the putting surface of the green. Strokes made provisionally or after a penalty has been imposed are not eligible.
All balls must be holed for a score to count. If your score is to be counted for the tournament results your ball must be holed. No gimmes during any tournament.
13. Drop Zones (DZ)
We use the Dropping Zones outlined by each course’s maintenance staff as additional alternative to the normal relief procedures for a ball in a penalty area. At Saddle Rock you will find drop zones on holes 4,10,11, 16, and 18. At Murphy Creek you will find the drop zones on holes 8, 11, 12, and 17. (See local rules for drop zone locations).
14. Cart Path within Penalty Areas
There is NO free relief from a cart path that is within a Penalty area. Part of the penalty areas on holes 6, 9, 10, 11 and 18 at Saddle Rock include the cart path (the bridge at the end of the 18th fairway is in the penalty area). If your ball comes to rest on a cart path that is within a penalty area, you have two options.
1. Play the ball as it lies. (No penalty)
2. Drop out of the penalty area where your ball last crossed the penalty line. Add a one stroke penalty to your score and continue playing.
If you lift your ball and drop it within the penalty area and execute a shot, you will incur a two-stroke penalty. Failure to add the appropriate number of penalty strokes could cause you to be DQ from the event.
15. GHIN mobile GPS app and enhanced features
Use of GHIN's mobile app is permitted during tournament play. The GPS function and the enhanced Approach Heat Maps, Putt Break Maps, Shot Tracking and Distance to the Green features are all USGA compliant. If you do elect to use GHIN's mobile app during league events, please keep in mind Pace of Play and don't hold play due to using the Enhanced feature for greens.