2025 Events

League Rules

WGA League Golf Rules/Guidelines
Revised January 2024

Pending Approval

1. USGA rules will govern play with local rules as indicated herein and on the scorecard.

2. Day-of-play handicaps as posted by the CDGA will be used.  Handicaps will be limited to the USGA maximum handicap index of 54.0 for weekly and tournament events.  According to USGA standards, the green course slope of 121/rating of 68.6 and the white course slope of 118/rating of 67.5 at the Wilmette Golf Club results in a maximum course handicap of 56.

3. Competition will be by divisions according to handicap. Divisions will be adjusted on the first of the month during the season.

4. All scores should be posted for rounds played on courses having a course rating from April 1 through November 1. All scores for play in WGA leagues should be posted the day of play, hole-by-hole, on the CDGA website.

5. Two players are required to keep a scorecard for each threesome or foursome.  The cards should show the full name of all players and be signed, attested to and dated.  Depending on the league, one or both scorecards should be turned in to the Tournament Director immediately after play.  Scorecards serve as the official record of a player’s round.

6. 18 Hole leagues require a player to hole-out all putts, and record them, to be eligible for prizes. Match play is the exception to this rule.  Any player has the option not to complete a hole, but will forfeit her eligibility for any prizes for that round. For a hole not completed, net par is posted (par+any handicap strokes the player is entitled to receive for that hole, based on the course handicap). To post an acceptable score, at least 7 of 9 for 9-Holes and 14 of 18 for 18-Holes must be played.

To keep pace of play, 9-Hole leagues allow a player to take a maximum of 10/3 on any hole, but still be eligible for prizes.

7. The field of play is limited to members and prospective members. 

8. Each player is responsible for announcing her correct score at the completion of each hole. If there is a discrepancy, the score should be resolved and entered on the scorecard before the players begin the next hole.

9. League days are official when:

a) At least ¼ of the active membership completes a full round.,

b) The course is open for walkers and riders.

c) The Board or its designee has not cancelled the event.

Official days will have weekly events, ringers, birdies and putts recorded. If a league day is not official according to the criteria above, a “low net across the field” event will be substituted if more than 1/3 of those scheduled to play complete the round. One prize for the low net and one prize for low putts will be awarded.

10. If there is a question before, during or after the scheduled play of an event, the Board or its designee should be contacted immediately after play to resolve the issue in conjunction with the head golf professional.

Prize and Award Guidelines

Scores shall count from the first league day to the last league day, excluding the final week’s event.

Weekly Prizes

Weekly prizes (events, low putts, birdies and perhaps chip-ins) will be awarded to winners in each division. Some leagues also award second place winners.  In case of a first-place tie, the awards will be combined and split among the winners. A tie for second place will result in that award being split between the winners.

Seasonal Prizes

Each player’s best eight rounds will be used to determine seasonal prizes in each division. These prizes include Low Gross, Low Net, Low Putts, and Ringers (the total for a round using the lowest score achieved for each hole during the season). If there is a tie for first place, each person will receive an equal prize.

Cash amounts for seasonal prizes will be based on current year’s revenue.

To be eligible for seasonal prizes, a member must meet the prize participation standards by her league. Some leagues require that she have been a member of WGA for more than one year. 

Some leagues allow only one seasonal prize per player. The order of prizes is Low Gross, Low Net, Low Putts and Ringers.

Prizes are awarded in the division in which the golfer has played the most rounds and will be distributed at the awards luncheon at the end of the season.

The Most Improved Golfer Award in each league is determined by a CDGA change-in-handicap formula computed from the first day of league play to the end of the season.

A Gold Women’s Western Golf Association Low Net Pin is awarded to the player in one of the 18-hole leagues who has the lowest combined net total for 4 of the 6 Low Net Pin Days scheduled by her league. A Silver WGA Low Net Pin is awarded to the winner of each league, except it’s awarded to the second-place winner in the 18-hole league which had the gold Western winner.

General Rules for Tournament Play

Some leagues sponsor a Low New Tournament and a single elimination Match Play Tournament. All members are encouraged to participate. The Tournament Director will establish all tournament rules.

1. To enter any tournament a member must sign up as posted. A player should not enter a tournament unless she intends to compete on the scheduled days of the tournament.

2. The player must start at the time established by the Tournament Director (USGA 5.3a), and rules shall be distributed as necessary.

3. Posted handicaps will be used to determine the flight in which the player will compete.

4. A Player whose handicap changes during a tournament shall complete the tournament in the flight in which she started but must play with her current handicap.

5. Prizes will be awarded to the winner and runner-up in league tournaments in each of the scheduled flights.

6. If the Tournament Director decides that the weather is inclement or unhealthful (e.g., a heat index over 100 during the time of play), tournament play may be postponed.

Low Net Tournament

1. If for any reason the scheduled Low Net Tournament cannot be completed due to weather, course conditions, etc., the tournament will continue to be played on scheduled league days until completed. If the field cannot complete at least thirty -six holes of play, the tournament will be cancelled.

2. Card matching will be used to break all ties, according to the USGA Rules in the method determined and announced by the Golf Committee prior to the start of the tournament.

Match Play Tournament

1. The beginning date of Match Play will be set during regular league time by the Tournament Director.

2. The winners of the initial match will continue play during the succeeding rounds by establishing matches during non-league time or league day in consultation with the Scheduling and/or Tournament Director, if needed. Each subsequent match must be completed and reported to the Tournament Director within the allotted time for the round, generally two weeks, unless unusual circumstances occur (weather, course condition, etc.). Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

3. The Match Play flight brackets will be posted in the locker room and distributed online so that players will be able to set up their matches in a timely manner.

4. Tied matches will be played off hole by hole (sudden death), starting on the hole designated by WGC staff and using full handicap strokes as applicable.

5. Regular USGA Match Play rules will be followed.

6. No Match Play rounds will count toward seasonal prizes..

Scheduling/Cancelling 

The Scheduler will send out a request to all members asking them to indicate if they want to be scheduled for play. Tee times and pairings will be emailed to each golfer several days before play.

If a change is required, the scheduler must be notified by noon before the scheduled day of play. The final schedule will be sent to the golf course and posted on the golf course website.

Members are not allowed to change their own starting times and must notify the pro shop, the Scheduler and her scheduled partners of any late cancellation.

Membership Expectations
All members are encouraged to play 2/3 of the available league days and to attend luncheon meetings as indicated in the events calendar.

Hole-In One

Holes-In One are recognized for play during regularly scheduled league play, during the WGA Championship, or other WGA-sponsored events. $2 from each WGA member’s dues is allocated to the Hole-In-One Fund. The accumulated funds will be divided equally among the number of members who have achieved a Hole-In-One during the current season and capped at a maximum of $500 per winner.

WGA members who achieve a Hole-In-One during non-league play at the Wilmette Golf Club will be recognized on the WGA Hole-In-One plaque, but will not receive a share of the fund.

 

Tips For Keeping Pace

Before The Tee

  • Arrive at the starter 15 minutes before your tee time.
  • If you want to warm up, plan to arrive even earlier.
     

On The Tee

  • Tee off as soon as the group ahead is safely out of the way.
  • Carry an extra ball in your pocket.
  • Limit the number of practice swings. No more than 3.
     

Tee To Green

  • Plan your shot/club on the way to the ball.
  • Play “Ready Golf,” where players hit when they’re ready, rather than adhering strictly to the “farthest hits first” rule.
  • USGA rules limit searching for your ball to 3 minutes.
     

On The Green

  • Putt “Ready Golf.”
  • USGA rules allow you to leave the flag in.
  • Prepare for your putt (determine your line, distance and slope) while others are putting.
  • Fill in your scorecard at the next tee.
     

Use Of Motorized Carts

  • When two players in a cart hit to opposite sides of a hole, drive to the first ball and drop that player off with the appropriate club(s); then drive to the second ball. After both players hit, they should meet up again farther down the fairway.
  • When leaving the cart, make your best guess about the club you will need. If unsure, take more than one club with you to your ball.