2018 Annual Board Meeting - Recap

At the end of each year, the Board meets to vote on Club rules and regulations. Here's a recap of last night's votes, as well as changes that immediately go into effect. For the most part, I don't expect to revisit these items every year, but each change is worth monitoring, and feedback throughout the season is appreciated.

New Members

• Adam was unanimously approved by the board for a new member vote. Sometime this week you'll receive an email asking you to submit a ballot for or against. Assuming 75% of the responses are "yes," he'll be our 20th active member.

Rule Changes (Requires 4/5 Board approval)

• The max for any hole is now +5, replacing the Double Par maximum we've used since inception. This means on a par-3 you can now make an 8, and on par-4s you can make 9s. Four Board members voted for this change, with JW the only dissenting vote as he pushed for a 7-8-9, 7-9-10, or 7-9-11 structure.
• The Board unanimously voted to overhaul the Skins Game. It's now a $20 entry fee, with $1 going to the Club and $1 going to the Hole-In-One jackpot. The remaining $18 will be used for skins within your group, with pairings based on handicaps. Holes will now roll-over, with any remaining Skins paid out to whoever won the first Skin of the day within that group.
• The Board unanimously approved mandatory pre-payment of all event fees before the start of a season. With the increased Skins Game fee, each season is currently $130 (four $20 events and five $10 events). In order to be eligible to play in ANY event, you must pay the Commissioner for the entire season. If/when you miss tournaments, your account will be credited for next season, or the fees refunded if you retire your membership. Detailed accounting of all dues and balances will be set up on the Club's blog/website.
• All Board members voted to create a Local Rule (#16), allowing any advice to be given or asked during all rounds, from any entity, as long as it's off the green. This officially allows anyone within a group to give yardages, lines of play, hazard locations, strokes/scores etc. All things we've been doing for years. However, we're still operating under the USGA Rule which prohibits the reading of putts by anyone other than your caddie or partner. 
• It needs to be clarified that in Singles Match-Play (during Rapture), your "teammate" is not the same thing as your "partner." You are a "single" and can not have your fellow Blue/Red teammate help read your putt. You can have them help read putts during Fourball and Foursomes.
• The Board failed to pass any changes to the Hangover Invitational. A measure to award 50 bonus points for attendance failed with only 3 votes, Faz and Gary dissenting. For now, that event remains the same. Show up if you want to hang out.

By-Law Changes (Requires 100% Board approval)

• The Board voted to change Article III, Section 8, regarding minimum participation to keep active membership (effective immediately). Instead of 6 events per calendar year, it's now 6 events in a two-season period. This equates to 33.33% (repeating, of course) attendance. A 3/5ths Board vote will be used to grant any reprieves as needed (medical, babies, etc).