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26 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | FEBRUARY 2018 | From the President – Tom Moore: This month I want to address an age-old problem in the golfing world… S L O W P L A Y. It's like the weather; everyone complains about it, but no one seems to be able to do anything about it. However, I believe that we can do something about slow play, and here are a couple of ways we can speed things up a bit: After you take your shot, get back in the cart with your club in your hand. You can put it away (quietly!) while your partner is lining up his or her shot — it takes approximately 10 seconds to wipe the dirt/grass from club face, put the head cover back on, put the club back in your bag, and get in the cart. Doesn't seem like a long time, huh? But imagine that the average golfer takes around 95 strokes, multiply that by 10 seconds, and you come up with around 15 minutes per player. There are usually two players to a cart, so we can wind up with as much as 30 minutes of "wait time" per round. Another thing that will save a little time is to wait until you get to the next tee box before you fill out the scorecard. The next group is usually waiting for you to clear the green area, and it is a waste of time for them to have to wait to take their shot while you sit there filling out (and sometimes arguing about) each player's score. It won't hurt to try these two tips, and we all might benefit from the effort. On a different note, the golf course management has informed me that some of our players are not reporting to their assigned hole on Tuesdays. It is crucial that we don't take it upon ourselves to change our starting position — this screws up the courses' ability to sell starting times after we've finished our rounds. If we go back from our designated starting hole it causes a delay for the non-club golfers to start at their assigned times. Try to imagine how you would feel if you were told that you had to wait for up to half an hour after the time that you had paid for — not very happy, I'll bet! We are trying to work with Ray, and he is making every effort to accommodate our needs, and the least we can do is to co-operate with the Hemet Golf Club and their requirements. From the Tournament Chair – Addis Scott: You may sign-up at our prior Tuesday golf event, or contact the Tournament Committee by email at hemet4sgc@gmail.com. Our February 2018 Game Schedule is: • Feb. 6, 8 am: President's Cup – Match Play 16 Players - Others = Low Net • Feb. 8, 8 am Thursday: President's Cup – Match Play 8 Players - Others = Low Net • Feb. 13, 8 am: President's Cup – Match Play 4 Players - Others = Low Net • Feb. 20, 8 am: President's Cup – Match Play 2 Players - Others = Low Net • Feb. 27, 8 am: Individual: Low Net Score From the Membership Chair – Elliot Yaeger: As we begin a new year we find ourselves saying goodbye to some of our members. I wish Jerry Donze, George Kuvakis, Bob Prescott, Jim Rhyne and Shirley Steiger much happiness in their new homes. Welcome to our newest members Mike Lawson and Lonnie Elms. This brings our membership to 147. Please continue to invite your neighbors and friends to join our club so they can also share in fun golf and experience the camaraderie we experience every Tuesday. Everyone who lives at Hemet Four Seasons is welcome. Membership is $66, which includes SCGA membership as well as 4 Seasons Golf Club membership. Pick up your application from the Four Seasons Lodge reception desk if you are interested in joining. For more information contact Elliot Yaeger, Membership Chairman at (951) 223- 3735 or email me at hemet4sgc@gmail.com. From the Rules Chair – Tom Johnson: In preparation for Jan. 1, 2019, when the major rule changes that have been proposed go into effect, I plan to go over the proposed rules here in the Herald. There is a proposal to offer training sessions for our club to acquaint players with the new rules. Let's begin with the following: Under the proposed new Rule 13.1: There would no longer be a penalty if a player (or opponent) accidentally causes the player's ball to move on the putting green. We have already adopted this as a local rule as authorized by the USGA. The reasons for the change is: The shape, slope and condition of many putting greens today increase the chances that a ball at rest on the putting green might move, and it can be difficult to determine whether a player caused the ball to move or whether the ball was moved by wind or other natural causes. When a ball moves while the player is doing nothing more than taking normal actions to prepare for a stroke, it can seem unfair for the player to be penalized. Most "ball moved" situations occur on the putting green, involve minimal movement of the ball, frequently occur when the player is taking reasonable actions to prepare for a stroke and the ball can be easily replaced. These considerations are not the same when the ball lies off the putting green, and so the penalty would continue to apply (with exceptions, such as accidentally moving a ball during search) to a player or opponent in those circumstances to reinforce the principle that the ball should be played as it lies and that players should continue to exercise care when near to a ball in play. From the Handicap Chair – Melody Lewis: What's the highest score I can post on a hole? I've had a few people ask me about posting and what is the maximum number they can or must post. An easy way to remember is to add six to the first number of your COURSE handicap. Ex: If your COURSE handicap is 18 the max you can post is a seven. If it's a 21, the max you can post is a eight, if it's a 40 or above, you post a 10, etc. When your COURSE handicap is nine or below the max you can post is double bogey on any hole. Your COURSE handicap is different from your Handicap Index. You can find your COURSE handicap, based on the tee box you play and your handicap index, on a chart located at the posting computer in the clubhouse. You can also calculate it using the GHIN or SCGA website. Remember, posting is based on YOUR COURSE handicap not any "extra" strokes you may receive or lose for competition. Most tee boxes have ratings for men and women. They usually are not the same. Be sure you are looking at the correct COURSE handicap. You may be playing against other players, men or women, that, according to the tee ratings, play an "easier" or "harder" course than you are playing. We use the white tee box as our baseline for handicaps. Anyone playing from any other tee box other than white, MAY have their handicap adjusted up or down. However, remember to post your score based on YOUR COURSE handicap.

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