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2025“Busch League” Rules & Information


  1. Costs:  $175.00 membership fees.  Due on or before your first season week of play.  The scheduled start of league play is below.  If fees are not paid on or before your first week of play, the golfer/team score will not be counted, and players will be deemed as absent.  If any players decide to quit during the season, all fees will be forfeited, and the player will no longer be allowed to participate in the league/tournament.


  2. Handicaps & Averages:  Starting handicaps for returning players/subs will be based on an average of posted handicaps throughout the entirety of the previous season.  To establish handicaps at the beginning of the year for new players/subs we will use our built in "sub score sheet" for the first 3 weeks (available on our website or on the back of our scorecards).  At the conclusion of the 3rd week, each player will receive an established handicap to use moving forward.  NOTE: Handicap averages will be rounded up/down based on the decimal (2.444 = 2 / 3.56 = 4).  Once handicaps are established, we will be taking your most recent 4 rounds, dropping the highest score, and taking the average of the remaining 3 scores. This format will remain consistent throughout the year.  Our end of the year outing (18 holes / 2X points) will be played using your lowest posted handicap throughout the current season.


  3. Attendance:  Being a member of this league, each person has their own responsibility to make certain they can play.  Missing some play for vacation, family or medical reasons are understandable.  Excessive absenteeism if not fair to all members of this league.  If any players miss an excessive amount of play, they should not expect to be asked to rejoin the league.


  4. Schedule:  The 2023 season will begin on Thursday May 4th and continue every Thursday night until our final outing in September.  During regular season play we will have 17 weeks of normal play, 2 weeks of position play (matchups based on position in standings) and an 18 hole final (separated into 2 nine hole matches played using standard position week format).  We will not have play on the Thursday following up to our Championship tournament.

    - POSITION WEEK:
    Regular season position weeks (NOT OUR FINAL OUTING) will be played as a 2-man SCRAMBLE. Team handicaps will be based on the current handicap of your teams A player and all non-established substitutes will play as SCRATCH (0 HDCP). In the event a team only has (1) player, the individual will play each shot twice. Hole to hole scoring will remain the same with a total of 9 points available and winning team NET score will receive 12 additional match points. All ties are split.

  5. Scheduled Early Matches:   ALL SCHEDULED EARLY PLAY MATCHES MUST BE REQUESTED WELL IN ADVANCE AND MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD. All teams have the ability to schedule an early match with their opponent (upon agreement of both teams) anytime between prior week play and following week play for any regular season week (does not include our final outing). *IMPORTANT NOTE* In the event you play your match early and our regularly scheduled play gets cancelled due to inclement weather, uncontrollable circumstances or an act of god, your scores will not count and there will be no refund for your green fee. There are NO make-up games for cancelled weeks.*All teams who play early matches must turn in their scorecard by no later than Thursday of our regularly scheduled play. Players can do so by snapping a photo of their signed scorecard and texting it to Tony DiPersio (224) 358-0628.


  6. Playing Times:  Tee times are from 4:15 to 4:30pm every Thursday.  All players need to be ready and tee off no later than 4:30pm. If a player is running late, they will receive a score of +2 over par for each hole missed and their opponent will automatically win those holes. If you cannot make it to play that day, you are required to obtain a substitute to take your place. If something should occur at the last minute, please contact you partner, or Treasurer Greg Koniecki, to make arrangements. Anyone who can golf is eligible to sub in place of a league member. Subs will keep their raw score and calculate their handicap at the conclusion of the round using our approved "sub score sheet". In the event you are absolutely unable to find a sub, you partner can opt to play both members of the other team. If both team members are absent the team will receive 0 points for the week and the opposing team will play PAR (see playing PAR under Scoring).



  7. Golfing Rules: All regular rules of the Valley Ridge Golf Club will apply to the league concerning bounds markers, hazards, etc. We will be playing from the white tees for league play and all members 65+ will play from the red tees. USGA rules apply with the following exceptions:


    • Fluffing: The golf ball may be moved (fluffed) when lying in the fairway or rough. The ball should only be moved a couple of inches using your club. The ball may not be relocated so as to improve position. Each group will police themselves while on the course.

    • Course Hazard Markers: Red staked areas formally marked/played as OB are to be played as lateral hazards. Private property shall not be played out of nor shall balls be played across any roads. A one stroke penalty will be assessed and the player must take a 2 club length drop, no closer to the hole, where the hazard was first crossed. All areas where white stakes remain shall continue to be played as OB when applicable to our OB ruling, see below.

    • Out of Bounds: When a ball is hit out of bounds from the tee box, USGA RULES WILL APPLY. Play a provisional, you will be shooting 3 (penalty is stroke and distance). In the event a second ball is hit OB from the tee box the player will resume play from the spot the 2nd ball crossed the penalty area receiving an additional 1 stroke penalty. Balls that are hit OB from any location other than the tee box will result in a drop and 1 stroke penalty at the location the ball crossed the penalty area.

    If it is questionable weather the first ball is OB or not, the player MUST play a provisional ball and must tell their opponents you are doing so. If the first ball is found in bounds, the provisional ball can be picked up without penalty. If the first ball is out of bounds, the player continues play with the provisional and will be hitting their 4th shot. NOTE: On holes 2, 14 and 15 - if the ball is hit and rests against or is close to the fence line the ball cannot be moved.  If a player decides the ball is unplayable, they will have the option of taking a 1 stroke penalty and moving the ball away from the fence.


    • Sand Traps: Due to the current condition of Valley Ridge sand traps, you may lift, rake and place your ball in the location the ball rests without penalty. If you visualized your ball enter a water filled trap you may drop that ball behind the bunker NO CLOSER to the hole without penalty. Your opponent must be notified and in agreement prior to moving the ball. If your group did not visualize the ball entering a water filled trap or cannot come to an agreement you must proceed play taking a 1 stroke penalty for lost ball.  Clubs cannot be grounded in bunkers and a 1 stroke penalty will be assessed if done.

  8. Scoring: Each player on a team will play head-to-head with a player on the opposing team. A player vs. A player  /  B player vs. B player.

  • There are 15 possible points for each player to win each week. Points consist of 1 point per hole plus an additional 6 points for the lowest NET score. (NET score is your gross score less handicap). Tied holes count for one-half point each.


  • The lowest handicap golfer on a team will play the lowest handicap golfer on the opposing team. If two team members have identical handicaps, you must default to whom the most recent A/B player was. If no previous A/B player has been established, it will be up to the team to determine who will play A/B. ALL DETERMINATIONS MUST BE ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO PLAY.


  • The handicap difference will be allowed in strokes on the holes as they fall on the card with the hardest handicap hole being designated as number 1.


  • The maximum number of strokes allowed on any hole is 9. No handicap is given to a player on any hole if the ball is picked up on or before holing out for 9. (Play every 9th shot out).


  • The maximum number of strokes GIVEN to an opponent based on handicap is ONE PER HOLE. (EX: If a 10 handicap is playing a 0 handicap, the 10 handicap player will only be given 9 strokes, one per hole).  This does not apply to net score.


  • Playing PAR: In the event any player/team does not have an opponent to play they will play against PAR. When playing a regularly schedule week against PAR each player will automatically receive the 6 match points and will play their handicap against PAR for the remaining 9 possible points. PARs handicap is defaulted to 0 and will receive a score of par on each hole. Play and score your match the exact same way you would if getting strokes from an opponent. **NOTE** IF YOUR OPPONENT DOES NOT SHOW NOR HAVE SUBS TO PLAY YOU DO NOT GET THE AUTOMATIC 6 MATCH POINTS/PLAYER ANYMORE. YOU MUST BEAT "PAR" WITH YOUR NET SCORE. 


  • When a player is absent and does not have a substitute, there are 2 options for the single player to choose from.  The option must be announced prior to the start of play:

  1. The single player, at the option, can decide to play both opponents, thus, trying to get as many points as possible.

  2. The single player can play his scheduled opponent and his partner will take 0 points for that week. When this option if selected, the opposing team opponent will automatically win the 6 match points and play against PAR for the additional 9 points.

NOTE: Play cannot be changed once the match has started. If no options are selected prior to play, play will be defaulted to option 2.


  • After your round, you must total all scores and designate points won on your scorecard. Have one member of each team sign the scorecard after scores/points have been finalized. Turn your scorecards in to the secretary (or designated backup) each week. Secretary Tony DiPersio will be in charge of scoring.


  • Subs/Players w/o Handicaps: All players who do not have an established handicap will use our "sub score sheet" at the conclusion of their round to obtain a handicap. All point scoring will have to be done after the round to create correct matchups. Lower handicap players on each team cannot play as the B player, if your sub ends up with a lower handicap than you for the round they must play as the A player that week.


    9. Walk-offs: The board will determine points after determining the reason for the walk-off.



    10. Weather: If the warning horn is sounded during play, please come into the clubhouse immediately. You should mark/leave you balls on the course. Play will resume after the storm has subsided if deemed safe by Valley Ridge Golf Club.


    11. Miscellaneous: It is the responsibility of the league officers to either postpone or cancel league play due to inclement weather and to handle any other matters or disagreements pertaining to play or the general welfare of the league. If play is postponed or cancelled due to weather, an Email/Post will be sent out one hour prior to tee time.


12. Officers:
      President:  Cory Whipple   847-445-6817
      VP/Secretary:  Tony DiPersio   224-358-0628
      Treasurer:  Greg Koniecki   847-456-2336


13. Substitutes: It is each team members responsibility to obtain substitutes. Please do not ask the board to find your substitute. A sub list will be available on our website consisting of players who have asked to be contacted if you cannot find your own. An individual substitute should not be used by one team in excess of three times. If that sub needs to be used more than three times, members of the board will review it. Substitutes will be allowed to participate in our year end tourney but will be required to pay approximately $60 for their golf, drinks and food. They will not be eligible to participate in awards & prizes.


14. Weekly Contests: Each week we will have 2 contests such as closest to the pin, low net and/or longest putt, etc., to win half of the weekly prize money for each contest. Subs may not participate in contests. If you do not show up, you will not have a chance to win. Closest to the pin contests can ONLY be played using you FIRST shot from the tee box. Longest putt contests can ONLY be played using your FIRST putt once on the green. The contest money is included in your original league fee and averages to approximately $2.00 per player, per contest.



15.Weekly Survivor Knockout Contest: STARTING WEEK 4 - Each week the (2) individual players who gain the LOWEST amount of points will be knocked out and eliminated from this contest. Tie breakers will be low net followed by low gross per week. In the event there are multiple players remaining during our last week of play, the individual with the MOST points that week will be crowned Survivor Knockout Champion. Tie breakers for this will start with total accumulative season points followed by low net, followed by low gross and IF necessary, final tie breaker will be position on the leaderboard AFTER week 19. SUBSTITUTES must be used for weeks any player cannot make it in order to avoid automatic elimination. All players will receive (1) pass on this rule per season. This contest requires no additional funding.



16.(Optional) Putting Contest: At the conclusion of play we will be hosting a optional putting contest each week. Entry fee will be $5 per player and is a winner take all contest. We would like for All players who choose to opt-in to sign up and pay prior to the start of their match with our designated contest official. Signing up after your round will have to be done before the start of the contest. We will have a non-contestant select a location on the putting green of 10-15ft and all players will putt from the specified area. Each player will have (1) putt and play continues as follows. When only one contestant makes the putt, that contestant wins the pot. In the event all players miss the putt the contest is restarted in the original order of play. In the event multiple players make the putt those players will continue to putt-off from the same location until a winner is determined. Contest is paid out each week and winnings are determined by number of contestants.


  • Standard Contest payouts: We will be paying out all contest winners at the end of the year banquet. Each week the winning contestants will be announced, and a tally sheet will be created to keep track throughout the year.




        *Any and all rules of play can and will be changed at anytime the board deems it necessary for the betterment of our league.

















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