Stupid Idiot Golf Tour – Official Rules

Welcome to the Stupid Idiot Golf Tour. These rules keep things competitive but still fun. It's like real golf but more relaxed. It is USGA rules but with a few exceptions below: 

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Handicap Rules

• All handicaps are adjusted solely based on league tournament rounds.

• Your first round starts as scratch (0.0 handicap).

• Each round you play is factored into your calculation.

• Non-league rounds will not affect your handicap.

  • Meaning if you take a two-month break, grind it out, and get your game to scratch, your next league round will immediately reflect that hard work.

  • However, your membership dues still apply during your break—paying to suck is part of the deal.

• Calculations follow USGA rules: fewer rounds = more adjustment, more rounds = more accurate.

 

Playing the Ball

• Play the ball down as it lies. That includes mud balls—no special relief unless Clean & Place is in effect.

• Clean & Place may be called before the round.

  • You may lift, clean, and place the ball on its original spot.

  • Usually in effect for any CPO (Cart Path Only) or 90-degree rounds.

  • It’s generous, so take advantage of it.

• Ball (or stance) is on cart path, root, or other hazard that could injure a player.

• If behind a tree on a root, you may move the ball straight back, not sideways.

• Ball is in standing water.

 

Hazards & Out of Bounds

• Everything is a hazard.

• Out of bounds? Drop near the closest point of entry, or back up as far as you want—just like a water hazard.

• If you hit a ball 250 yards out of bounds, you can take your drop in the fairway, but only by going back on the line of entry.

  • This might mean giving up distance (sometimes 50 yards or more), but you must stay on your line.

  • You cannot cut directly sideways left or right to find a better spot.

• No need to hit 3 off the tee.

• If possible, you may hit a ball from beyond OB. This is usually how a high handicapper loses strokes so we don't want to take that option away, hit as many trees as you feel like. So you can hit beyond the sticks as long as:

  • It’s not in someone’s backyard, and

  • The course does not specifically mark OB rules on the scorecard.

  • Example: Hole 9 at Wildcat Golf Club Highlands is marked OB on the scorecard, so a drop is mandatory.

Strokes, Mulligans & Misses

• A missed swing is always a stroke.

• Each player gets one mulligan per round, tee to green.

• There are no Breakfast Balls but you may use your 1 mulligan.

• Mulligans do not roll over. Use it or lose it.

Scoring & Rulings

• You must record your score in the Squabbit app (or other approved app) as you play. Hole by hole. 

• A paper scorecard must also be kept, and scores confirmed by the group at the end of the round.

• If a rule is unclear, play two balls for that hole. An official ruling will be made after the round.

Sportsmanship & Penalties

• Keep it friendly. The rules are rules—don’t get mad at players for enforcing them.

• Keep it honest. Call your own penalties and respect your playing partners.

• One warning will be issued if you’re caught skirting the rules.

• Second offense = ban. If banned, your membership will be cancelled with no refunds for past payments.