Welcome to SIR Branch 116 Golf. If you are interested in playing golf with the SIR Branch 116 group, below are a few Q & A that may help you understand our program. It does not matter if you are a high or low handicapper. Join us and have some fun.
Who can participate? All members of SIR Branch 116 are eligible and are invited to participate. You can find a list of our tournaments for the year on this website to assist you in your planning and the courses we play.
What is our program? We have basically a 9-Hole ( Wednesday) and an 18-Hole ( primarily Monday) weekly programs. The 9-Hole program is to facilitate beginners who wish to learn the game, high handicappers who wish to test the waters first or our older members who while they still enjoy the game of golf, feel they no longer wish to play 18 holes. However, all golfers are welcomed to sign up to play regardless of skill levels. Some participate on both programs to further hone in on their skills or play golf. The 18-Hole program is also open to all golfers who wish to participate, again regardless of your skill levels. We need to establish your handicap in order to place you in one of the four flights we have established. In addition to the above, we have special tournaments competing against other branches or out of town tournaments with or without spouses- -like Carson City.
How can I join? Contact our golf chairman, whose name and telephone number is listed on this Website and in the member handbook you were given. You will be asked to pay a nominal annual fee to cover administrative costs and prizes. We do not pay members for their services. These are all done by members on a voluntary basis. In addition, you may be asked to pay a fee to join the NCGA if you are not already a member.
What if I don’t have an established handicap? We use your handicap for scores posted by you on the website of NCGA. If you are not a member, we can sign you up with NCGA and then you need to post your scores to establish your handicap there. You should post all your golf scores played and not only the scores when you play with us. However, if you just wish to play and not participate in any competition, you are also welcomed to join us and we will not keep your score.
How can I sign up to play? There are several ways. At each of our monthly lunches, we have a sign-up sheet for the immediate forthcoming tournaments. If you fail to do this and still wish to play. You need to call our golf hotline 925-906-5355 and leave your name and telephone number. For our home course only ( Boundary Oak GC), you should indicate whether you wish to walk or ride. You will ride on all other tournaments. You may also signup on this website.
How do I pay? For our “Home” tournaments at Boundary Oak, you pay at the course. For other “away” tournaments, you need to send a separate check for each tournament before the indicated deadline. Individual checks are made out to ” SIR Golf Branch 116″ and mailed to PO Box 683, Lafayette CA 94549-0683 and noting the course you wish to play on the check. If you miss the deadline, you will be placed on a reserve list and you will be notified if someone cancels.
How do I cancel once I have signed up? Should you wish to cancel after you sign up, call the hotline. The Treasurer will destroy your check if one was received. It is important to call the hotline if you wish to cancel any tournament you have signed up. This will facilitate our organizers who will need to reschedule your team’s foursome and prepare the updated scorecard pairings for the day’s tournament.
Who do I play with? For each tournament, our monthly organizers will randomly set up team foursomes regardless of handicap status. In this way you will get a chance to meet with and eventually play with all our golf members. Be sure to check in with the organizer when you first arrive on the course.
What is a Team Captain? The organizers will select a “team captain” for each foursome in any tournament. You will be notified by phone or email when selected. Your function will be to notify by phone and/or email the other participants in your group about the assigned tee time. Ensure players confirm receipt of message and report any “no shows” to the monthly organizer. Upcoming pairings are also reflected in this website. The captain is required to keep score for the team and have all players sign the scorecard after the 18th hole. Turn this scorecard in to the captain of the team following your group. The Captain’s responsibilities are outlined in the “Responsibilities” Section of this website.The Scorer will collect all scorecards at the end of the round.
Any special rules of play? Generally we follow the NCGA rules of play. In order to speed up the game, we allow a 6-inch bump to improve your lie on the fairway only. You may also be asked to pick up your ball and not finish your putt if it is within 12 inches of the hole – a “gimme” given by the team captain. Avoid slow play by following our guidelines.
Do I need to volunteer for any part of the program? The short answer is YES. As the success of the program is highly dependent on voluntary help, you will be asked to contribute your services once you are familiar with the program.
What are some of the voluntary programs?
- Scorer. At some tournaments, you will be asked to be the scorer when you are more familiar with the program ( about a year later). The scorer will be in the last group to facilitate pick up (PU) of all the score cards, the closest to the pin bags for the tournament and tabulate the results. Report the results to the webmaster. The following week, you will put out (PO) the bags to record the closest to the pin at two par three holes selected by the organizer. The Scorer’s responsibilities are outlined in the “Responsibilities” Section of this website.
- Organizer. When you become a regular participant, you may be asked to help organize a month’s tournaments ( 4 to 5 tournaments) at the beginning of the year. The Organizer’s responsibilities also are outlined in the “Responsibilities” Section of this website.
- Golf committee