About the YRGA

The York River Golf Association was founded in 1996 by Doug Rhodes and several avid golfers, “hackers” mostly, who shared a passion and love for this wonderful game. Our mission is to build fellowship and help needy children at Christmas through golf. Through the years we have strengthened our association and now proudly boast a yearly roster of up to sixty-five participating members. We provide a means for players of all skill levels to participate in organized, competitive and enjoyable golf outings at many of Hampton Roads’ elite courses. Our season begins in March and concludes with a Championship tournament in October. Overall, members have the opportunity to participate in thirteen scheduled events including a team competition, 9 individual stroke play events, two ‘major’ tournaments (a two-day mid season event and an end of year major (both with double points awarded) and a two-day season-ending stroke play championship tournament. Please read the following information carefully and if you are willing to make the commitment, let’s hit the links for a fun, competitive, and furious 2013 Season!

Winter Ice Breaker: The 2013 season begins with our lone team event on Sunday, March 10th. This is a perfect opportunity to “break the ice” off your golf game and at the same time meet new members and reacquaint with returning ones. The format is handicapped four-man better ball. Teams are comprised of players of differing skills (A & B players) and handicaps will figure in the scoring. Each player plays his own ball through the hole and the team records its lowest net score per hole. In the end, the team with the lowest net score will be crowned Winter Ice Breaker Champions. Prizes will be awarded for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place teams

Stroke Play Tournaments: Our stroke play tournaments make up the bulk of the season. These tournaments are individual handicap stroke-play events. They are held on Sunday’s about every three weeks starting in late March, and running through October (see the following schedule). Prizes are awarded for several top finishers at each event, as well as closest-to-the-pins and long drive. The final number of members will determine the prize breakdown as well as tournament flighting. Good Luck and Play Well!

Doug Rhodes Championship: The final event of the season is the Doug Rhodes Championship. This is a flighted two-day cumulative score stroke play tournament where the winner in each flight will be crowned Club Champion. This year we will have it at two different venues. Some very nice awards and prizes will be available for the taking for each of two places in each flight, as well as prizes for daily closest to the pin and long drive competitions.

Banquet: On the last day of our season, following the final round of the Doug Rhodes Championship at Cypress Creek Golfers’ Club, we will hold a banquet at the clubhouse. In addition to the food, fun and beverages, the lies will be abundant as we congratulate the year’s winners and bestow upon them their deserved awards. Sadly, this will conclude the season and force everyone to get started on the honey-do’s for the off-season.

Player-of-the-Year and Stableford Competitions: At the end of the year we will crown the Player-of-the-Year and the Stableford Champion. For our eleven stroke play tournaments, points are earned towards Player-of-the-Year honors for (1) entering and finishing your round, (2) placing in the low net top twenty-five, (3) winning any of the standard closest-to-the-pin holes, and (4) finishing in the low gross top ten. Two tournaments are designated as “majors”(double points awarded), the mid-year 2 day event and the last single day stroke play event. At the conclusion of the last regular stroke play tournament, the player who has accumulated the highest number of points wins Player-of-the-Year honors. In the Stableford competition, we track pars, birdies, and eagles throughout the year and tally points for each to establish the Stableford Champion. Your standing in these competitions will be posted on our web site. As is evident from past years, if you want to be in the running for these competitions you must plan to attend most of the events.

Prizes and Awards: All tournaments offer the opportunity for you to earn prizes that reward your stellar play. In addition, if you are hitting the ball close to the pin or killing it off the tee, you can earn additional prizes at one of the many featured “closest-to-the-pin” and “long drive” holes at each tournament. Finally, at seasons end, special awards are presented to the Player-of-the-Year, Club Champions, and Stableford Champion. During the year, you will have many opportunities to line your pockets and fill your trophy cases.

Handicaps: All of our tournaments are handicapped. We use a modified USGA handicap system. Stroke counts are adjusted for players playing from different tee boxes following the procedures outlined in section 3-5 of the USGA Handicap system. New members need to establish a handicap by submitting 8 or more scores (the more the fairer). Returning members do not need to re-establish their handicaps. New members who don’t establish a handicap will carry a zero handicap until we have eight scores. Remember, the more scores you give us the more accurate your handicap will be and the fairer it will be for all. Aside from the scores you submit to establish your initial handicap, only scores posted in our tournaments will be used for handicap purposes. A handicap of 36 will be the maximum allowed by the Association for any tournament. Please use the attached application to submit your scores. If you’ve played a course for which we do not have information, please supply a scorecard. Fortunately, our handicap database contains most of the local courses.

Rules: We honor USGA rules for all tournaments. However, we also honor some local rules in an effort to speed up the pace of play. Slow play is a typical problem in golf but we do not want to be a part of it. Listed below are our local rules, and accompanying this invitation is a rules refresher covering Hazards, Unplayable Lies, Lost Balls, OB, and Provisionals. We strongly recommend that you keep a copy of these rules in your bag for reference. The Association reserves the right to add, amend, or repeal any local rules at any time for the benefit of the association.

Ø Preferred lies will be honored in the fairway only, unless conditions warrant otherwise. A player may move his ball one club length in any direction no nearer the hole. “Lift, clean and place” is not allowed under our local rules unless otherwise stated before a round.

Ø Double par is the maximum score allowed on any one hole. When double par is imminent, the player should pick up his ball and discontinue play on that hole.

Ø “Ready play” is in effect at all times. A player should play his shot when he is ready with no consideration given to honors, and when not disturbing his playing partners. Slow play will not be tolerated by the course or the association.

Ø Marking a putt inside of two feet is discouraged. A player should finish putting out anytime he is within this distance. “Gimmees” are allowed if the ball is “inside the leather” of a standard 32”-36” putter. At his own risk, the player may elect to attempt the putt instead, at which time the gimmee is negated.

Ø A player should take a maximum of two minutes when looking for a lost ball. If possible, all others in the group should hit their shots before helping to look for the lost ball. This is to keep up the pace of play.

Ø A player should play a provisional ball anytime it is believed his ball may be lost or out of bounds. If in doubt play a provisional.

Ø See the accompanying YRGA Local Rules sheet for details on rulings. Keep in mind that these rules are not strict USGA, but set to help keep up the pace of play. Keep a copy in your golf bag for reference.

Ø Any ties encountered for which prizes are available will be resolved by comparing the player’s scorecards. The Association will compare the cumulative net score for three consecutive holes beginning with #17 and working backwards. If the tie remains, the preceding three holes are compared and so on until the tie is resolved. All other inconsequential ties will stand.

Ø Throughout the season each pairing will be assigned a captain (usually a member of the board, or an “A” player), whose responsibility it is to monitor his group’s pace of play, assist with any rulings, and take care of scorecards.

Ø It is the responsibility of each player to arrive at the golf course no less than 30 minutes before his tee time and be ready for play. Each player is also responsible for registering at the tournament table prior to hitting practice balls and teeing off. This is also a great time to sign up for future tournaments.

Ø Any member that does not attend a tournament that he has previously registered for and does not give adequate notice to a member of the YRGA Golf Committee, will pay for any costs incurred by the YRGA for his failure to attend and will be ineligible to compete for prizes or points in the next tournament he participates in. If this occurs a second time during the season the member will forfeit his membership in the YRGA and will forfeit the initiation fee. Members who forfeit membership will be eligible for reinstatement the following year as new members.

Club Officers:

President -Chris Capozzi
Vice President-Charlie Krzeski
Tournament Chairman - Chris Capozzi
Membership Coordinator - Chris Capozzi
Treasurer/Awards Chairman - Chris Capozzi
Handicap Chairman - Chris Capozzi
Webmaster/Communications- Joe Thomas
Data Base Manager/Scorekeeper- Phil Koetter
Rules Chairman - Chris Capozzi

Contact Us: E Mail Chris Capozzi