General:

This championship is sponsored annually by the Free State Seniors Golf Association of Maryland. There is no entry fee requirement. This event is open to all Maryland clubs with members in the Free State Seniors Golf Association. Participants must be members of the Free State Seniors or on the waiting list to join the Association. If a golfer who was on the waiting list to join the Association declined membership when it was offered, that golfer is not eligible to participate.

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Competition:

A Free State member designated at each club will, by phone or email, captain, organize, and schedule all matches, including the day and time of the week. The team captain should contact the committee chairman (information below) to provide their name, phone number, and email address. Teams consist of 4 players, 2 playing at home and 2 on the road. Pools of teams will be created, based largely on geographic location, and points will accumulate throughout the season. This is a 4-ball match with teams using 80% of handicaps based on the lowest handicapped player at each site. One point is awarded for each hole won, and ½ point is awarded for tied holes. Each match will play all 18 holes, making each match worth 36 points (18 at home and 18 on the road). No player can play twice in a match against a club. Team captains should report all scores to the committee chair upon completion of each match. At the conclusion of pool play, the teams with the highest point total in each pool will move on to the finals. If teams are tied in each pool, then head-to-head results will break the tie in a match of cards by first comparing the Back 9 total strokes, then the last 6 holes total strokes, and then the last 3 holes total strokes. In the situation of a tie in the Championship match, a sudden-death playoff will occur at the site of the match that ends last. The playoff should begin on hole #1 with all strokes awarded. If both matches in the finals are played on the same day, and there is a tie, the team that finishes play last will be designated as the playoff team. This also applies if the final match is not played on the same day.

Each participating club is responsible for hosting two members from the opposing club and is willing to send two different members to their opponent’s club. Teams play 18 holes of two-man best ball matchplay with 1 point awarded per hole. The scores from both sites are added together to determine the winner. This is a single-elimination tournament.

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Schedule:

Matches will begin as early as April, and captains are responsible for ensuring that at least ½ of their matches are completed by July 1. All matches must be completed by August 31. The championship match will take place in September. If a team forfeits a match, they will be removed from pool play, and all their points from their matches will be removed. Flexibility and consideration of the visiting club should be utilized in the spirit of good sportsmanship. The courtesy of a riding cart for the visiting team is customary and appreciated
 

Rules:

USGA rules will govern play, unless modified by local rules. Play should be conducted from a total course length as close to 6100 yards as possible, plus or minus. Host sites will choose the tees, and all players at that site will play from those tees. Unresolved disputes will be referred to the committee chair with final appeal to the FSSGAM Executive Secretary, whose decision will be considered final.

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Award:

The winner of this event receives the Wally Engle Memorial plaque, which remains in their possession until the conclusion of the following year’s competition. The plaque commemorates Wally Engle, who served on the Board of Directors and was the organization's president in 1986. Wally was a member at Hillendale Country Club up until the time of his death.

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At this time, the Matchplay Championship Committee Chair is Greg Gruber, who can be reached at (717) 203-4883 or glgruber@goeaston.net, and the Executive Secretary is Jim Horn, who can be reached at (443) 977-9238 or freestateseniorsgolf1971@gmail.com.