Official Hank Invitational Tournament Rules
1. Tournament Start Time, Entry Fee, Green Fees, etc.
Players should arrive at Stone Canyon Golf Course on Friday, July 19 2014 by 7:00AM (if you have one of the last tee times please be there by 7:20). This should give you time to practice, check in, and pay your green fees. Each individual player shall pay a one-time $20 CASH entry fee PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FIRST ROUND. Each individual shall be assigned to one of two sides based upon his handicap rating. The $20 fee will go into a purse that the two sides will compete for head-to-head in the five match play rounds. Players will be responsible for paying their own green fees to each course each day. I will not collect any money for green fees; the only money I will collect is the $20 cash entry fee. I will spend a few minutes covering the general setup of the tournament, rules, and answer any questions you may have before we tee off.
2. Ryder Cup Match Play Format
The Hank Invitational will be played in "very slightly modified" Ryder Cup match play format.
3. Etiquette, Player Conduct, and Not Being a Douchebag
Please keep in mind that this is both a friendly AND competitive event. NO DOUCHEBAGGERY. In the interests of both goals, please keep to the following guidelines:
The majority of the entry fees shall be placed in the tournament purse for which the two sides will play. There will also be a handful of prizes for predetermined “achievements” during Round 5. Specifically, there will be a prize awarded for the following “achievements”:
$10 prizes
Longest drive in fairway in a Round 5 singles play match (hole TBD)
Closest to pin on the green in a Round 5 singles play match (hole TBD)
Additional "prizes"
Shortest drive in the fairway in a Round 5 singles play match (hole TBD)
Largest margin of defeat in a Round 5 singles play match (not awarded in the event of a tie)
6. Weather, lunch, blisters & boo-boos, etc.
Players should arrive at Stone Canyon Golf Course on Friday, July 19 2014 by 7:00AM (if you have one of the last tee times please be there by 7:20). This should give you time to practice, check in, and pay your green fees. Each individual player shall pay a one-time $20 CASH entry fee PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FIRST ROUND. Each individual shall be assigned to one of two sides based upon his handicap rating. The $20 fee will go into a purse that the two sides will compete for head-to-head in the five match play rounds. Players will be responsible for paying their own green fees to each course each day. I will not collect any money for green fees; the only money I will collect is the $20 cash entry fee. I will spend a few minutes covering the general setup of the tournament, rules, and answer any questions you may have before we tee off.
2. Ryder Cup Match Play Format
The Hank Invitational will be played in "very slightly modified" Ryder Cup match play format.
3. Etiquette, Player Conduct, and Not Being a Douchebag
Please keep in mind that this is both a friendly AND competitive event. NO DOUCHEBAGGERY. In the interests of both goals, please keep to the following guidelines:
- Follow the “Am I BEING a douche bag?” rule Players should not be looking to call for a penalty stroke at the drop of a hat for insignificant occurrences. For example, if a guy tees a ball up and touches the ball with his club and it falls off the tee, don’t be a douchebag and tell him that counts as a stroke or that he gets a penalty for re-teeing the ball. Just laugh at him instead. Before you decide to call your opponent out for a possible rules infraction, or make your own attempt to violate a rule, ask yourself, “If I do this, am I being a douchebag?” If the answer is "I don't know" or “YES,” then re-think things carefully before acting. Discuss it with your partner if you can. Legitimate (non-douchebag) issues arising between pairs/players regarding scoring, penalty strokes, improvement of a lie, etc. DO come up from time to time, but they should be discussed and resolved only among the pairs/players involved prior to the continuation of play. I keep an Official USGA Rules of Golf booklet in my bag, and it will be available to anyone who has a question about a rule. However, I will NOT get involved in any questions about rule interpretation outside of my own match other than lending out my rule book. Any issues that may arise shall be resolved among ONLY the player/pair involved and in a fair and friendly manner which complies with the rules of golf and etiquette in general. If you choose to be a douchebag by breaking a rule or pressing an insignificant issue, keep in mind that you might earn the same treatment from your opponent(s)-as well as the reputation of being a douchebag-and you might risk not being invited back.
- Any player who is injured during a round and cannot continue shall forfeit any ongoing match which is not yet completed at the time the injury occurred. Any player who becomes injured, cannot continue to play, and then fails to play in each remaining scheduled match which has not yet been started shall forfeit all remaining matches in which he fails to play and his $20 entry fee.
- A pair/player shall be permitted to concede a match and retire prior to its completion without forfeiture of any entry fee(s) or future matches not yet started ONLY IF the conceding pair/player then completes each remaining match in which the pair/player is scheduled to play.
- Any uninjured player who withdraws (quits) during a match or between matches, and fails to play in each remaining scheduled match which has not yet been started, shall forfeit all remaining matches in which he fails to play and shall also forfeit his $20 entry fee and any share of the purse/prizes he might have been awarded if his side were to win the tournament or if he would have won any individual prizes at stake during the singles round (Round 5).
- Absent extenuating circumstances, any player who withdraws from the tournament, and/or fails to appear for a match without providing prior reasonable notice, shall be disqualified from the tournament and invitation to all subsequent Hank Invitational tournaments. In short, if you are a scumbag who decides to quit and not show up for unplayed matches without telling anyone, you will lose your $20 entry fee, your side will be punished by being forced to forfeit any match you failed to complete (not to mention the fact that you will be hanging your playing partner out to dry if you miss a pairs match), AND you will not get invited back to any Hank Invitational tournament in the future. See also, the “Am I Being a Douchebag?” rule.
The majority of the entry fees shall be placed in the tournament purse for which the two sides will play. There will also be a handful of prizes for predetermined “achievements” during Round 5. Specifically, there will be a prize awarded for the following “achievements”:
$10 prizes
Longest drive in fairway in a Round 5 singles play match (hole TBD)
Closest to pin on the green in a Round 5 singles play match (hole TBD)
Additional "prizes"
Shortest drive in the fairway in a Round 5 singles play match (hole TBD)
Largest margin of defeat in a Round 5 singles play match (not awarded in the event of a tie)
6. Weather, lunch, blisters & boo-boos, etc.
- In the event of rain, each round shall be played as scheduled. Rounds will not be “rained out” so bring your umbrella, some towels, and whatever rain gear in which you would normally play golf. Additional recognition will go to anyone who wears one of those yellow slickers with bonus points available if you are wearing only a Speedo underneath said slicker. Play will only be suspended due to weather if the course issues a warning calling all golfers to the clubhouse or to take cover due to lightning or other threats of severe weather. In that situation, play will resume as soon as possible thereafter. If play cannot be resumed that day, any match not yet completed at the time of suspension of play will end and the winner will be determined based on the status of the match at the time that play is suspended.
- Some brief down time has been scheduled between the morning and afternoon rounds on Friday and Saturday for rest and recovery. Each course has a snack bar. If you want to try to sneak your own sack lunch in, that is your call but keep in mind that the courses have the “all food/drink must be purchased from us” rule.
- Since we are playing 5 rounds of golf in 3 days, it is recommended that you bring along some band aids, athletic tape, stretch wrap, tampons, aspirin/Tylenol, Hagen Daas, ibuprofen, Icy Hot, VagiKleen, etc. to take care of any blisters, sore muscles/joints, and swollen/torn labia that might flare up during the course of the tournament.
- The weather in Missouri in July usually involves temperatures in the 90’s and high humidity. It is strongly recommended that you bring sunscreen, a hat/visor, sunglasses, an extra towel for sweat, extra socks, and extra shirt(s) to help you avoid sunburn or heat exhaustion and to stay as dry and comfortable as possible.