Tournament Rules

Handicapping Night 

The  handicaps for each individual player will be decided at this meeting and if you are not present, it will be up to others to lobby for or against on your behalf.   Attendees will be given approximately 1 minute to make your case for your handicap.   Next, the floor will be open to others to challenge or defend.   After that, the individual will have 1 minute for a rebuttal.  After the rebuttal , the committee, based on consensus, will announce the handicap.  If a player is not present, a number will be presented by the committee, discussed and challenged and then decided based on the criteria below.

Step 1 - Player handicap presentation

Step 2 - Challenges and Defense

Step 3 - Player Rebuttal

Step 4 - Handicap decided - by Board of Governors

Handicap setting Criteria -

The criteria involved in deciding a fair handicap is a combination of the players' past year handicap, WSGA handicap, and public opinion.  If a player does not have a WSGA handicap or did not play in past Gamechanger tournaments, the Gamechanger Board of Governors will base a players handicap on their average scores obtained at Baraboo CC or home course, and the players ability based on the club pro’s opinion as well as anyone who has played with that participant.   

Gamechanger Tournament Mission

To respect the game of golf by treating it as just that; a game.  But most importantly, to play golf, to meet friends and enjoy their fellowship.

The Gamechanger celebrates the great game of golf through competition, camaraderie, banter, and making memories with friends. 

Player Cards 

As a Board of Governors, we are limiting the number of participants in the Gamechanger Tournament to 35 Players. 

1. If you bow out, and eventually want to get back in, you would be put on a wait list. 

2. If a player is not on the 2024 roster, and wants to play in the coming years, they will be put on a waitlist.  

Exemptions - 

1.  Medical/health reasons  

2.  Legacy

General Rules

The Match format -

2 man best ball with handicaps. 

Any ties after 18 holes require the group to start on hole #1 (and additional holes if needed) and compete in a sudden death playoff. If there is a tie after 18 holes during the playoffs the tie will be decided with an additional 9 holes or whatever weather or sunlight will permit. 

Season Long Tournament Scoring -

The first four tournaments an individual  player participates in are “without penalty” for a loss.  So, if you lose all 4  of your first 4 tournament matches, you are still at zero.  If you win 3 of the 4, you are +3.   If you then play in a fifth tournament and win, you will be +4.  If you lose the fifth tournament match, you will be +2 because you subtract a win because of your loss.  

Also, margin of victory or loss will be recorded and will be used as a tiebreaker for entry to the playoffs if needed.

Inclement Weather Procedure - 

Inclement weather definition - Lightning strikes or Tornado warning. Heavy rain is not considered inclement unless the Club Pro calls you off of the course.

In the event that we have an inclement weather delay, assuming the golfers are allowed back on the course, the match is to resume the same day until completion.  

If your ball is resting on the ground, you can either mark the location with a tee or leave the ball in the location.  When the delay ends, you can start the match from the location of which you left.  

In the event golfers are not allowed back on the course, the following will take place:

1. If 9 holes or less have been played when the match is delayed, regardless of the score, the match will be void, meaning it will not be counted towards a win or a loss.  Hovey Challenge points will also not be counted.

2.  If 10 holes or more have been played and neither team is up in skins, the match will be void and no G.C. Challenge points will be awarded.

3. If 10 holes or more have been completed and one team has a skin advantage, that team will be awarded the match and holes.  

Playing holes in order-

Due to the variance in handicaps, holes MUST be played in order on the scorecard, no exceptions including playoffs.  Playing holes out of order with the exception of starting on the back 9 and finishing on the front is not allowed.

"Preferred Lie" in fairways-

Because of Wisconsin weather conditions, within the Gamechanger tournament, you are allowed to a "preferred lie" in the fairways ONLY!  Meaning, you can roll your ball within 6 inches of the original resting location, to take your next shot.  Fairways are the lowest cut of grass and include the fringe/apron around the green.    "Mark, Clean and Place" because of recent weather will be decided and communicated prior to the Thursday Match.

Tournament Week

Tournament Week - Thursdays are designated as Tournament day and preferred.  However, with participants' busy schedules we are allowing players to play a match against one or more players Friday, Saturday or Sunday of the Tournament week.  

Within the last two regularly scheduled match weeks, Friday thru Sunday Sanctioned Golf is NOT allowed.  Game day Thursday is the only option. 

Example - Player A cannot play on Thursday afternoon and player B either can not or chooses not to play on Thursday.  Player A can contact Player B and set up a match for Friday, Saturday or Sunday of the Tournament week.  (The Match must be a “point match” for both players)

Start Times -

Most sanctioned matches will be scheduled for 3:00 PM Tee times or after.  Upon special requests, matches can be played earlier.  It will depend on the number of players and open tee times.  

An email will be sent out to the participants on Monday morning of the tournament week, so please keep an eye out for it. If you choose to play a particular week, you must commit via email, by the end of the day Tuesday for the upcoming tournament play.  Those players will be randomly drawn and paired based on the players availability.  We will attempt to ensure you are not  paired up with the same person in the same month.  Also, we will also make sure you’re not required to play a solo match more than once a month. 

Once a match pairing is set, it is final.  If a player backs out, they will receive a forfeit.  

Exception...The said player must report why to the committee and the committee will decide if it is legitimate. Viable Excuses - Death / Serious Illness.

The Playoffs 

The Playoffs will consist of the top 12 golfers in which the top 4 earn 1st round byes.   Example - the 11 & 12 ranked golfers will play the 9 & 10 ranked golfers.  The winner of that match will play the 1 & 2 ranked golfers, etc.  The Winning team takes it all.  If there is a tie with the number of wins then the ranking of the playoff participants will be determined by their net margin of victories during the regular season.

Tie-Breakers of the margin of victory fall to the quality of wins.  Meaning...fewest losses overall

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1. The Playoff dates are posted before the start of the season

2. Championship -

a. There are two dates that the Championship match can be played on is the Thursday before Labor day (Preferred) or the Thursday after Labor day.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  We do this so that we can get the max attendance to watch the match. 

b. The Championship match must be played at 3:00 PM or later

3. Quarter and Semi Final -

a. However, we are all busy and have a lot going on, so we do allow some flexibility in the quarter final week as well as the Semi final week. This means that we will do our best to accommodate people and their schedules. 

b. With that said, Thursday is the official scheduled day. So if all four players can not find a day that works for them, those who can play on Thursday will stay in the playoffs, and the person(s) who can not play on Thursday will have to relinquish their spot and the next player in the standings will take their place.  

c. If in the semi-final round a player(s) can not play on Thursday and the others can not accommodate and find a different day/time to play, the losing player from the quarter-final round with the lowest net score will take their place and advance to the semi-final round.