Home › Rule Book

Rule Book

Know the rules – WITHOUT THEM, YOU’RE STUFFED!

THE BROWN JACKET RULE BOOK AND EXPLANATIONS

 umm wtf

Standard rules of golf apply to all days.

 

  1. We ALWAYS play “preferred lie”. This means in the event your ball stops on a path or in water from rain (or something similar) you may move your ball within a cards length (18cm) no closer to the hole on a similar line and in a way that does not improve your line.

  2. In the event your ball stops in a divot ON THE FAIRWAY you may move the ball 1 cards length out of the divot.

  3. In the event your ball stops near a man made structure that impairs your swing you may take a free drop no closer to the hole.

  4. If your tee shot goes out of bounds on a par 3 – you must hit another tee shot (as your 3rd shot.) Par 4’s and 5’s you can take a drop at the point it went out of bounds.( SEE RULE 5)

  5. On Par 4’s & 5’s you have 2 minutes timed by your partner to look for your ball, if you can play it out of bounds you may and not receive penalty. ( PARTNER WILL ENFORCE 2 MINUTE WINDOW)

  6. There are no “Gimme putts.” NONE

  7. Every shot counts (including but not limited to shots from the rough, miss-hits etc). THERE IS NO MAXIMUM SCORE. KEEP COUNTING AFTER 10.

  8. Tee shots must be ‘teed up’ BEHIND marker, not in front. (2 stroke penalty [if your c*nts of mates dob you in!])

  9. Closest to the pin holes. Each day we will be doing ‘closest to the pin’ holes. Each team will be given a tape measure. Whoever is closest to the pin out of your group should measure the distance to the hole and write it down next to that hole on the scorecard with your initials. This way it will be a bit of a secret who wins until that night. Don’t measure it if it’s not on the green. If no-one gets it on the green, no-one wins. Measure from the closest edge of the cup to the closest edge of your ball.

  10. Longest putts. If you drain a putt longer than 2 m, measure the length and write it down on the scorecard with your initials. WE HAVE A LONGEST PUTT PRIZE FOR THE MASTERS – longest for this years tournament and longest for each day. 

  1. Longest drive. There will be holes each day where this will come into play. First group takes it with them and places it on the spot where the longest drive in their group stops. If you hit further, move it to where you ball stops and Write your name on it. Last group will pick it up and bring it back with them. This marker can only be used if your ball stops on the fairway – not in the rough next to the fairway, bunkers etc. Obviously, only move this marker if you drive further.

  2. Par hole prize. Certain holes will be ‘par holes’. If you have a handicap over 20, you may receive a bonus shot on these holes to obtain your prize. NOT APPLICABLE

  3. Birdie hole prize. As above NOT APPLICABLE

  4. Team Challenge Handicaps. It is played using normal “stroke” golf (including handicaps). This is a one on one challenge to win 1 point for the round. The team with most points at the end of the day wins.  NOT APPLICABLE

  5. Ambrose Day. (If we play 2-man Ambrose in future Brown Jackets). Groups of two players work as a team. Each player hits off the tee, the best shot is selected for your team and the other player picks up their ball and places it, within club length ( not out of bunkers) alongside the best ball. Each person then hits a second shot from the same spot. The best shot is again selected. This continues until the ball is in the hole. On the putting green the best ball is marked before either putt using a marker and the other ball is played from this position.  NOT APPLICABLE

          One score is thus recorded on each hole. This is the sum of the best shots used throughout the hole.

          There is one additional requirement. During the course of the round all player’s drives must be used on a minimum of five occasions. So if you            have a  beginner golfer in your group it may be prudent to use their drives early in the round so as to not put pressure on them as the rounds                concludes. Put the initials of the player who’s drive you took in a spare column on the scorecard. This includes par 3’s.

          You may play in any order ( e.g. Player 1 does not have to hit before his team mate with every shot).

          In a team of 2 golfers, the handicap of the team is calculated by combining the handicaps of the 2 players and dividing by 4 to arrive at the                    team handicap. This is then subtracted from the Gross Score of the Team to arrive at the Net Score.

  1. 2 Ball Challenge – Similar to Presidents cup 4 ball. This is a battle of 2 golfers to win outright as many holes in 18 holes. If you win a hole then you receive 1 point. If the hole is a drawn then no points are won. Points do not “jack-pot”. Most points at the end of the day is the winner.  NOT APPLICABLE

  2. Putting Challenge. This challenge is to determine the best putter over a 18 hole round. (If used) At the end of each hole you must mark the amount of putts you had on that hole. Every time you use the putter it counts. ( If you use it from off the green you count the shot, If you use it as a driver you count the shot etc.) At the completion of the day you need to tally the total putts and highlight on your score card. NOT USED EVERY YEAR

  3. The Brown Jacket Draw Scenario.Option 1 The new rule will see the difference in handicap equate to a meter advantage for the tee off. (Must be a par 4 or 5, straight and flat for alternate tee off)The advantage is found as per below case examplesGroup 1*         Alex Handicap – 18*         TC Handicap -39Calculations*         Alex 18 / 39 Tony  = .462 (3 decimals)

    *         Tony 39 / .462 = 84m (No decimals)

    *         Result is that Tony can Tee off up to 84m in front of Alex therefore making the hole shorter and easier.

    18.2 If both players have the EXACT same handicap the play off will

    continue until 1 player wins the hole out right.

    18.3 Option 2 We will decide the winner of The Brown Jacket in the case of a

    draw through a count back starting at who won the most days (i.e best

    handicap score), then go to who won the most holes out of the winners after

    handicap.

  4. We will let everyone know about closest to the pin, longest drive/putt holes before the round starts and you should mark it on your cards. There will also be reminders placed on the tee by the first group and picked up by the last group.

  5. The leader after each day will be required to wear a “badge of honour” for the full round (similar to the yellow jersey in the tour de France). Failure to do so will result in a 5 stroke penalty for the day. Same rule applies to the current last placed player.

  6. By entering this tournament you are also agreeing to pay any person the sum of $50 should they achieve golf’s biggest dream of getting a hole in one. That person/s must pocket the cash & use the money to purchase a trophy to sit their ball in and remember the moment for eternity. Not to mention bragging rights for the rest of their life (which will most likely end in an early death due to people getting tired of hearing about it).

  7. Highest handicap anyone can carry into the tournament is (as of 2022) 45. This is designed to even the playing field and award more champions. IT IS FAIRER. HOWEVER, should a player be entering for the FIRST time, handicap rules state that if you have not submitted at least ten scores prior to play, then you may receive a maximum handicap of 25.

 LATE ADDITIONS…

  1. As a CHAMPION of The Brown Jacket Invitational, you are part of an elite group of people (9 of these people exist in the entire world), and in an effort to grow the membership of this exclusive club, you will have a penalty of one stroke on all future Brown Jacket Campaigns. Two time winners will receive a 2 stroke penalty and so on. This is designed to open the door to more winners.

   24. The new handicap system will be implemented for 2016 and it is capped at 45. A spreadsheet with calculations (Thanks to Alex and Matts                    wizardry) will be used that will take into account your scores for the year in the lead up to the Brown Jacket AND (if you were lucky enough to              be involved) your previous 12 Brown Jacket scores.

25. As a “Sportsmanship gesture” to other players, you are not allowed to play any of the courses in the line-up for the coming Brown Jacket                       Invitational 1 month prior to the tee off day. If you do play one of the courses within 1 month of the first day you will incur a 1 stroke penalty off           your handicap for the whole tournament. If you play all 4 courses, you will incur a 4 stroke penalty off your handicap for the entire                                 tournament.  This is deemed fair as most players do not have the time to play or do not live near the courses.