1. Purpose:  The MDT Golf League gives Medtronic male employees the opportunity to enjoy an outdoor physical activity and to get to know others outside of their departments.

2. Objectives:  To provide fun, relaxation, exercise, self-improvement, challenge, and healthy competition while achieving the purpose of the MDT Golf League.

3. Place, Day, and Time:  Columbia Golf Club, Mondays 4:30pm (tee time start)

4. Schedule, Teams, and Fee
1. Player Fees due 1 week prior to the 1st week of play and shall be paid directly to MDT Golf Venmo
2. Cancellations will be pushed to the following week
3. Each Team is required to field 4 players for its scheduled matches. Each team consists of at least 6 players to allow ‘off weeks’ for travel and vacation. Up to 3 no-shows or injuries are allowed. See section 7d for scoring. See section 7f if the entire team is missing. If a team does not have their full player count at their assigned tee time, they can allow a latter tee time with a full player count ready to play through. A team must start at their designated tee time if no latter tee time teams are available to play through.
4. Finishing prior to darkness is an issue later in the season (August & September), and slow play is very much discouraged - all year. Captains (or acting team captain) are responsible to ensure teams are ready on the tee and that play moves quickly. If a player comes late, he may join their foursome at the beginning of the subsequent hole and will incur scoring penalties as defined in section 7d.
5. Competition pairings will be made according to handicaps. The low handicap player will be matched with the opposing team’s low handicap player, the second lowest with the second lowest, etc. The home team captain shall be responsible to set the pairings properly. Use the MDT Golf Website Lineup tool.
6. If the team Captain is not present, the member of that team with the lowest handicap shall be the acting team captain. Each team is responsible for communicating to each other

5. Rules of Play
1. The league matches shall be played in accordance with the rules of golf as established by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Exceptions to the USGA rules shall consist of those established and posted by the golf course, and of those established by the league in the interest of promoting fast play and enjoyment by all participants.
2. All players should strive to maintain a reasonable pace of play. This includes keeping pace with the group in front of you. No player shall ever attempt to hit into a group in front of them that is not a safe distance away. If the group in front of you is a safe distance away for you to hit your shot, it is recommended you address your ball within 40 seconds of approaching.
3. The time limit for looking for lost balls is three minutes. Have a member of the foursome time it. All members of the foursome should assist in the search. Discretion should be used if a player is losing multiple balls on a hole and if trailing groups are waiting.
4. All puts within a putter length are considered a gimme to speed up pace of play.  Eagle, Birdie & Par putts can be putted if the player chooses. That putt is then counted no matter the outcome
5. All native grass shin height or longer (play as red staked lateral hazard): Lateral relief allows you to drop a ball into a relief area measured from where your ball last crossed the edge of red penalty area. From that reference point, you are allowed to drop outside the penalty area and anywhere within two club-lengths of that spot, no nearer to the hole with a 1 stroke penalty
6. All Par 3s Ball hit OB or in hazard, take your next shot from red tee box with one penalty stroke (DO NOT tee up the ball)
7. It is permissible to improve your lie in the fairway (limited to moving your ball using the club head no more than 4 inches from the original ball position). You may not improve your lie if your ball is not in the fairway
8. In the event temporary greens are encountered during league play, they will be played in the following manner: Any ball that comes to rest within one club length (driver) of the cup shall be deemed a “gimme”. No player shall be required to take more than two actual strokes on a temporary green regardless of how far the ball comes to rest from the cup
9. All White or Red stakes, use Lateral relief  

6. Regular Handicaps
1. Players with 3 league rounds or more: Handicaps will be calculated according to USGA Rules, using rounds from league play.
2. Players with 2 league rounds or less: Handicaps will be calculated from the following:
1. USGA handicap index + adjustment for Columbia Golf Club – if available.
2. Handicap from last years’ league at another course + adjustment for Columbia Golf Club – if available.
3. Otherwise, scoring for that night will be computed per 7d.
3. Maximum number of strokes given per 9 holes = 20.
4. Maximum score allowed on any given hole (for handicap purposes only) is Quadruple Bogey aka +4. Players can pickup ball & take a Quad to speed up pace of play.

7. Regular Season Team Scoring:  Each pairing will consist of:
1. Medal play - 3 points will be awarded to the player with the lowest net score. Points are split equally in the case of a tie.
2. Match play - 1 point for lowest net score on a hole (9 points total). Points are split equally in case of a tie.
3. Team play - 2 points for the team with the lowest total net score. Points are split equally in the case of a tie. Total Possible Team Points per Week = 50 (3+9=12 x 4 matches = 48 + 2 team points = 50).
4. Golfing un-opposed. In the event an opponent is absent at tee time, the player will play against their handicap for each hole they play unopposed. For each net score of Birdie (or better), the player will receive 1.33 points. For each net Par, the player will receive 0.83 points. For each net bogey (or worse), the player will receive 0.33 points. The total Match play points will be rounded to the nearest half point (capped at 9 points) and the absent player will receive the remainder of the points available (9 minus points scored by the player). If the absent player plays at least 5 holes, the 3 additional points for lowest net score will be awarded to the player with the lowest net score on the contested holes only. If the absent player plays 4 holes or fewer, all 3 points will be awarded to the player non-absent player.

The following table shows total points earned for various total net scores when playing un-opposed, or against a non-handicaped opponent. Table values assume no eagles (or better) and no double bogeys (or worse):

5. The only condition that will constitute a forfeit is when an entire team is missing. In this case the opposing team will receive 12 points for each opposing player who plays the round plus 2 points for the team (50 points maximum). The opposing team will be required to turn in their scorecard, as usual, but the scores will not be counted for handicap purposes.
6. In the event that a player cannot complete the 9 holes (injury, etc.) scoring will be assigned per 7d.
7. The maximum allowable score to be recorded for any hole is a quadruple bogey (+4). Players may pick up their ball at any point and score Quadruple Bogey.

8. Reporting Match Results
1. Each team validates the scorecard. The home team captain or designee will be responsible for inputting the scores at MDTGolf.com.
2. If no scores are submitted by Thursday at Noon, the visiting team will receive 25 points, the home team will receive 0 points.

9. Rainouts
1. We will follow the guidance of Columbia Golf Club if there is inclement weather and the League President will communicate cancellation notice via text to the captains and email to the league.
2. Rain or threat of storm at the course at tee time: The league president, or his designee, will poll the captains (or active captains) for a decision on whether to play. If 5 or more captains vote to "NOT PLAY", then league is cancelled for the week. If the matches are cancelled, they will be played the following week. The entire schedule will be moved back.

10. Scramble Events
1. Scramble events may be held during the year, based on schedule. Up to 6 players per team can play, but only 4 players will play any given hole. Captains will decide which team members play each hole. Teams are allowed to consist of less than 6 players (1-5) may play in the scramble if team members are not available. However, this is an end of the year event where everyone in the league is encouraged to play on the same night (and stay for a beverage).
2. If the team has 6 players, each player must play 6 holes (and sit out 3 holes). If the team has 5 players, each player must play at least 7 holes (and sit out at least 1 hole). If the team has 4 players, each player will play all 9 holes. If the team has less than 4 players, the team must play the scramble with less shots to choose from. The event will be handicapped and prize money for 1st place will be awarded.
3. Each team will be given a scramble handicap, computed as the sum of the following:
• 20% of the lowest participating handicap
• 15% of the 2nd lowest participating handicap
• 10% of the 3rd lowest participating handicap
• 5% of the 4th lowest participating handicap

11. Other League Information
1. League Officers
• President & Communications: Tuan Syonesa Schneider
• VP: Jesse Krizan
• VP: Jim Dawson
• VP: Tyler Johnson
• VP: Mitchell Held
2. Regular Season Format
• The season will consist of two 6-week halves
• Typically, Kickoff & Mid Year Scramble
• 2 week League Championship single-elimination tournament
3. Green Fees and Membership Fees
• Green fees for the whole season are paid prior to the start of the season.
• Players will be responsible to arrange for a sub if they cannot play.
• Fees will be calculated based on the amount Columbia Golf Club charges, and a pool of prize money.
4. Sub guidelines:
• There is a published sub list on the web site, under the Teams dropdown
• You can click on the link for the DL to send to the sub list group.
• Send to a specific sub by clicking next to their name
• If you cannot find a sub, have your captain reach out to the other captains
5. Team Formation:  All participants must be current Medtronic employees. Special exemptions may be made for recently retired employees who wish to still play in the league.
6. End of Year Prizes: Prizes will be awarded at the end of the year as follows:
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the League Championship - Team
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the 1st and 2nd halves - Teams
• 1st place for the scramble events (if it can be arranged) – Teams
• Weekly Proxies
7. Golf Etiquette: All players are expected to follow proper golf etiquette when playing in the league. This includes but is not limited to:
• Always repair divots and ball marks on the green
• After playing a shot from the bunker, rake the area to its original state
• Be mindful of where you walk, drive carts and leave gear to minimize damage to the course
• Keep a steady pace to ensure a smooth flow of play for all groups
• Be quiet and still when other players are addressing their ball or putting
• Don’t stand in the line of sight or play of others, especially on the green. Do not walk in or on other players putting line.
• Don’t stand directly behind others when they are putting. You may only ask a player on your team for permission to stand behind them to view a putting line (commonly done when playing in a scramble).
• Arrive early. Give yourself time to prepare and warm up before your tee time.
• Dress appropriately. Wear golf appropriate attire which often includes collared shirts and avoid jeans (courses may have local rules for attire requirements)
• Avoid distractions. Keep phones on silent and avoid loud noises or unnecessary conversations.