Frequently Asked Questions
If the below FAQs don't answer your question, please send an email to signups@bigfore.org
Membership
A USGA handicap is required to be a member of the Big Fore Golf Association. Membership dues are $50/year if your USGA handicap is maintained with the Big Fore Golf Association; otherwise, dues are $25/year if your USGA handicap is maintained elsewhere. If you maintain your handicap account with Big Fore, your dues is due by May 15th of each year.
To join the association, send an email to signups@bigfore.org that you would like to join and how you heard about the Big Fore. You will be put on the email distribution list which keeps you informed of all activities of the association.
Important Links
Click the “Home” button above to see the BFGA main page. Click “Tee Times” or “Results” above to see those.
Outing Signups/Payments
To play (or cancel from) an event, send an email to signups@bigfore.org listing what outings you would like to play. Normally, we start accepting sign ups for an outing about two months before the event. You will receive an email when we are accepting sign ups for an event. You can create your own foursome, threesome, twosome, or you can signup as a single and be placed in a group for the outing. Most courses want our golfer counts 1-2 weeks (sometimes more) in advance. If you want to sign up after the signup by date, then we’ll try to get you entered but we cannot guarantee it. Cancellation conditions are listed below.
Generally, guests are allowed at all outings. As the host of a guest you are expected to tell them before they play that they are NOT eligible to win any prizes or awards. Members are responsible for guests costs if they cancel too late or no-show at an event. Guest scores are not posted in the the results nor are they automatically posted to the USGA handicapping system. The association may limit the number of guests allowed for any outing since members have priority. Exception to the no prize rule is that for the end of year event, guests are eligible for team prizes, CTPs, and 50/50 prizes should they decide to enter the 50/50.
The cost of an outing is based on what the course charges the association. We also add a few dollars to cover outing prizes, year-end outing prizes, Player Of The Year, and club championship awards. The cost of the outing includes green fees and cart, and sometimes range balls. Any pro shop dollars given by the course are used for prizes at the end of the year outing.
Payment is expected prior to the event. Please make checks payable to “Golf Association”. Venmo is the preferred payment method (see home page for how to pay for an event using Venmo). If Venmo is not an option for you, then payment at the course will be accepted. If you cannot do either of the first two methods, email signups@bigfore.org and we will send you the address for mailing your payment.
All outings now have a “signup by/cancel” date on the schedule. If you cancel prior to that date, you will not owe anything for the outing (or if you’ve already paid, we’ll credit those funds to a future outing). After that date, we are obligated to pay the course for you unless we aren’t charged by the course. Therefore, if you’ve paid for the outing, you won’t get a refund (possibly will get a rain check but almost never at private courses) or you will owe the association for the outing. We think courses will be less accommodating for cancellations than they have in the past.
Day of the Outing
Yes. On the day of the outing, please sign-in with the outing coordinator at least 30 minutes prior to your tee time or the shotgun start. This will ensure that we get started on-time.
Generally, most courses have the following dress code: acceptable attire is collared shirts, long pants, walking shorts, and golf skirts. Unacceptable attire includes denim, t-shirts, tank tops, athletic shorts, and cut-offs. Soft spikes or spikeless shoes are mandatory on most courses.
Tee selection for men, seniors, and women will be announced on the day of the outing. Normally, men will play tees ranging from 6000-6500 yards, seniors from 5500-6000 and women from <5500. Everyone should mark next to their name on the scorecard the tees that they played that day to ensure accurate scoring. You have the option to play any other set of tees that is rated for your gender.
Normally, we use four flights based on playing handicap. The cutoff handicap point changes each outing so that each flight will contain the same number of players. You must have 3 rounds registered in the USGA handicap system (either through the BFGA or otherwise valid handicap system) to have a valid handicap. Contact the handicap chair (email signups@bigfore.org) for setting up a USGA handicap system login. If you have less than 3 rounds entered in the system, then you can play but you are not eligible for flight prizes. Rarely do we have separate flights for men, seniors and women.
When a golfer has the lowest net or gross score for a hole, they win that hole and earn a skin. All members are included in the skins competition. There are no carry-over skins. The total prize fund is divided by the number of skins won to determine the prize amount for each skin. Prizes are distributed for both handicap and scratch hole winners.
Outing Rules / Formats
The association follows all USGA except that the maximum score for any hole is 5 over par; and lost balls and out-of-bounds balls should be played as lateral hazard (see “Rules to Remember” in this section). For lost balls, you also have the option to place the ball 2 club lenghts from the rough edge in the fairway on the side your ball was lost or went OB. A 2-stroke penalty is applied for choosing the latter option. Any other exceptions to the USGA rules will be announced at the outing.
- Generally, we do not allow lift, clean, and place anywhere. Exceptions to this rule will be announced at the outing
- Specific rules for each outing are distributed prior to the outings
- Penalty areas, lost balls, and provisional balls can be found in detailed rules and at the USGA Rules Website.
- We’ve used this format on our week-long trips and it’s worked out well
- Teams are 4-person; if a team has less than 4 players, a random player will be selected to fill the vacant spot
- Each player plays their own ball
- Each player writes their usual gross score on the scorecard
- Each player is assigned as the A, B, C or D player (lowest to highest handicap)
- Two net scores are selected for each team’s total score
- Holes selected for each player will be random and will be given out closer to the event
- The A-player has 6 holes assigned to them which means that on those holes, the A-player’s net score will definitely be used
- The B-player has 5 holes assigned to them which means that on those holes, the B-player’s net score will definitely be used
- The C-player has 4 holes assigned to them which means that on those holes, the C-player’s net score will definitely be used
- The D-player has 3 holes assigned to them which means that on those holes, the D-player’s net score will definitely be used
- The other ball selected will be the best net score by the other 3 players on each hole
- To make this less stressful, the worst 3 holes are dropped from a team’s total score so if a selected player doesn’t do well on a hole, that hole will probably be tossed o
Please use one scorecard for each team; not one score card for both teams.
For the below formats, all hole numbers refer to the course’s hole numbers, not your hole number. For example, if you start on hole 16, you’ll be doing a scramble on your first 3 holes (course holes #16 – 18) and your last 3 holes (course holes #13 – 15).
- Course Holes #1 – 6: Best Ball: Each player plays their own ball until holed out. The computer will determine which player’s score is the best one for the team, so write BOTH players’ gross scores on the scorecard for each hole.
- Course Holes #7 – 12: Modified Alternate Shot. Each player tees off. Select the better shot and alternate shots until the hole is completed. For the 2nd shot, the player’s tee shot that was not taken will hit the 2nd shot. After that play only the one ball and alternate who hits the ball until the ball is holed out. Enter one number on the scorecard for each hole.
- Course Holes #13 – 18: Scramble – This is a normal scramble. In this format both players tee off and then select the better tee shot. Both players hit their ball from that location and then select the better shot from which both will play their next shot. This continues until ball is holed, with a single score for the team. Enter one number on the scorecard for each hole.
We’ll provide “single person teams” their instructions at the course.
Max score for all holes is our usual 5-over par.
A scramble is played with two, three or four-person teams. Each player plays from the teeing area on each hole, one of the tee shots is selected and all the players play their second shots from that spot. One of the second shots is then selected, and all players play their third shots from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed.
In best ball, each player plays their own ball throughout the round, and the lowest net score on each hole is used as the team score. For example, if player A makes a net birdie, player B makes a net par, player C makes a net bogey, and player D makes a net double bogey, the team score is a birdie.
In 2-Person Best Ball, the lowest net score of the pair will be used.
In 2 of 4 Person Best Ball, the lowest 2 net scores for the foursome will be used.
Unlike traditional scoring methods, where the aim is to have the lowest score, the objective in a Stableford tournament is to have the highest score. Stableford awards points based on the number of strokes taken on each hole. The points awarded in Big Fore events are below. This point system encourages taking changes for a big score. Scores used are net scores. We usually do this format as a 2- or 4-person best ball:
- Double Eagle: 8 points
- Eagle: 6 points
- Birdie: 4 points
- Par: 2 points
- Bogey: 1 point
- Double Bogey or more: 0 points
Handicap Information
The handicap service is through the GHIN handicapping system. The handicap from this service is used for all association events and can also be used for any other non-association event that requires an official USGA handicap. All association event scores will be entered automatically into the system. You will also be given a login so that you can enter your non-association scores. When you are entering your own scores, we recommend that you enter scores hole by hole so that the Equitable Stroke Control is correctly calculated.
Handicaps are updated any time a score is entered between Mar 15th and Nov 30th for courses in MD. Scores outside MD may or may not be used depending on the “winter” time considered for that state. See Links tab to view all state winter seasons.
See this document for an explanation or visit the USGA Handicap Link.
New starting in 2024: For Big Fore trips, all handicaps will be capped at the potential soft cap level which is your low handicap for the past 12 months plus 3.0. For example, if your low handicap for the past 12 months is 15.3 and your current handicap at the time of the trip is 20.4; your handicap for the trip will start at 18.3. In addition, very good rounds shot during the trip may require further handicap reduction. This will be discussed with the golfer at that time.
Most outings are individual stroke play events; however, we usually have a couple of team events each year. For all of the below situations, we use the USGA recommended method of determining the final handicap(s) for the team
- For 4-person scrambles, 25% of the lowest handicap, 20% of the 2nd lowest handicap, 15% of the 3rd lowest handicap, and 10% of the highest handicap.
- For 2-person scrambles, 35% of the lowest handicap and 15% of the highest handicap.
- For 2-person best ball, 90% of each golfer’s handicap.
- For 2-person alternate shot, the two handicaps are averaged.
- For 2-person modified alternate shot (both players tee off and the better drive is used and it is alternate shot until ball is holed), 80% of the average of the two handicaps.
Equitable stroke control is used to ensure that a score is not adversely affected by extremely bad holes. For any scores that are more than net double par, then the equitable stroke score is lowered to net double par.
Example: Player A gets 2 handicap strokes on a par 4. If the player scores an 8 or less then that is the score that is used under ESC since 8 is net double par for Player A. However, if Player A has a 10 on the hole, for ESC purposes, the player’s score is an 8.
The course rating is determined by what a scratch golfer would shoot on the course 50% of the time. Therefore, if a course rating is 75.5 with a par of 72, the course is considered difficult; if a course rating is 68.5 with a par of 72, then the course is considered easy. The slope is determined based on what a bogey golfer would score on a course. This takes into account factors that affect the bogey golfer more than a scratch golfer such as hitting to elevated greens, doglegs, width of fairways, forced carries, and how often water and sand come into play. For more detailed information see ratings and slope on the USGA web site. Also see this 3-minute overview video on how Pebble Beach #18 is rated.
Rounds can be designated either as Home, Away, or Competition.
- Home rounds are those played where a player belongs such as a club (private or public). Since the BFGA does not have a home club, no rounds are designated as home.
- Competition rounds are committee-planned events AND the rounds are considered most important. The BFGA committee has designated that multi-round events are considered most important; therefore, they will have the Competition designation applied (e.g., overnight and week-long trips; 2-round club championship).
- Away rounds are those that do not fall under the Competition round designation (e.g., one-day events).
Please note: regardless of the round designation, one’s handicap will be the same. The primary reason for the different designations is to identify those that only play well in competitions or only play well at their home course.
General Information
Generally, the association tries to rotate courses from year to year so we are not playing the same course repeatedly. Some factors that the association considers when scheduling outings include:
- Time of day – afternoons are cheaper than mornings
- Day of week – Monday to Thursday outings are cheaper than Friday
- Time of year – April, July, and August are cheaper than other months
- Food requirement – some courses require a food purchase following the round which may negate the association going to that course
For those courses that are affected by the above situations, they are scheduled first in order to get the most reasonable outing cost.
We also try to spread the outings across the days of the week so that all outings do not occur on the same day.
Big Fore uses the Countback followed by Last to First method for tiebreaks. This technique is used for all outings and POTY. Here is an explanation of each method:
- Countback (Last 9,6,3,1 holes): This tie-breaking method uses the last 9,6,3, and final holes. The handicap allocation is used for the group of holes being considered. For example, Player A (handicap 10) is tied with Player B (handicap 15). If the last 3 holes are compared, the handicap of each hole is considered. If the 16, 17, and 18th have handicaps of 5, 15, and 18, resp.; Player A will receive 1 handicap stroke and Player B will receive 2 handicap strokes. If both players shot a total of 15 for those 3 holes, then Player B would win the tiebreak (Player A would have a 14 and Player B would have a 13). If there is still a tie after comparing the last 9, 6, 3 and 1 holes, then Last to First is used.
- Last to First Hole: Ties will be broken by going from the last hole of the course all the way to the first hole until there is a winner. For instance, if Player A and Player B are tied after applying the Countback method, then their net scores on hole 18 will be compared. If they are still tied, then their net scores hole 17 will be compared, and so forth (one hole at a time) until the tie is broken. In the very, very unlikely event the players are still tied, then the tie will not be broken.
- Note: All tiebreaks use the course’s 1-18 assigned holes; not the players’ starting and ending holes. For example, if Player A starts on hole 10 and Player B starts on hole 5, the Countback for 9 holes considers the course’s holes 10-18; Countback for 6 holes considers the course’s holes 13-18. Similarly, for Last to First Method, first tiebreak is course hole 18, second tiebreak is course hole 17, and so forth.
An optional contest for current association members is the hole-in-one contest. For $5, a member can enter the contest and whoever gets a hole-in-one in a BFGA scheduled event that entered the contest wins the prize fund. If more than one person has a hole in one at the same event, then the prize fund will be split between the players. Each player only needs to enter the contest once (i.e., if there is no winner in one year, it’s carried over to the next year) until there is a winner; at which point, the contest starts over. As of the beginning of 2024, the prize fund is $615.
A contest for association members is the CTP contest (Closest to the Pin). We make every effort to ensure tape measures are provided, enabling golfers to accurately measure to a quarter of an inch. To measure a CTP, place the beginning of the tape measure at the edge of the hole. Then measure to the front edge of the golf ball. When recording the measurement on the CTP marker, you must record in feet and inches (e.g. 5′ – 10.5″). If proximity markers are used instead of tape measures, a common method for determining distance is laying the flag stick down on the green to determine relative distance.
Note: There are NO ties in a CTP contest. In order to record your measurement, you must have beaten the previous measurement.
The club championship is normally a two round event occurring near the end of the season. The combined scores for both rounds determine the winner. Each flight has a winner based on net scores. In this event, we also have a gross score winner. Gross scores are not a flighted competition; however, there is usually a gross score winner for men, senior men, and women.
Normally, our goal is to play a round in less than 5 hours. The courses plan for us to play in a timely manner because they schedule follow-on tee times or other outings. Always play ready golf and be prepared to hit when it is your turn to play. You should not fall back from the group in front of you. Normally, if you are not ready to hit after the group in front of you leaves the fairway or green, you are behind pace. Groups that are behind by more than 2 shots will be given one warning. Failure to catch up will result in every member of the group taking par plus five strokes for the hole they are on and moving to the next tee.
POTY is a year long accumulation of points based on your finishes in BFGA outings similar to the FedEx Cup. The POTY is not flighted. Usually trip outings are not included in the POTY standings. POTY is intended to be fun to watch as the year progresses. Normally, we give out prizes for the top ten finishers in each flight. Since the POTY standing is based on net scores, the winner of the POTY is usually the most improved player for the year. The standings can be seen on the results page (see tab at top of this page). Point distributions can be seen at the bottom of this page.
POTY Points
| Finish | Points | Finish | Points | Finish | Points | Finish | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10000 | 31 | 2700 | 61 | 1500 | 91 | 750 |
| 2 | 9000 | 32 | 2650 | 62 | 1475 | 92 | 725 |
| 3 | 8000 | 33 | 2600 | 63 | 1450 | 93 | 700 |
| 4 | 7500 | 34 | 2550 | 64 | 1425 | 94 | 675 |
| 5 | 7000 | 35 | 2500 | 65 | 1400 | 95 | 650 |
| 6 | 6500 | 36 | 2450 | 66 | 1375 | 96 | 625 |
| 7 | 6000 | 37 | 2400 | 67 | 1350 | 97 | 600 |
| 8 | 5750 | 38 | 2350 | 68 | 1325 | 98 | 575 |
| 9 | 5500 | 39 | 2300 | 69 | 1300 | 99 | 550 |
| 10 | 5250 | 40 | 2250 | 70 | 1275 | 100 | 525 |
| 11 | 5000 | 41 | 2200 | 71 | 1250 | 101 | 500 |
| 12 | 4750 | 42 | 2150 | 72 | 1225 | 102 | 475 |
| 13 | 4500 | 43 | 2100 | 73 | 1200 | 103 | 450 |
| 14 | 4250 | 44 | 2050 | 74 | 1175 | 104 | 425 |
| 15 | 4000 | 45 | 2000 | 75 | 1150 | 105 | 400 |
| 16 | 3900 | 46 | 1950 | 76 | 1125 | 106 | 375 |
| 17 | 3800 | 47 | 1900 | 77 | 1100 | 107 | 350 |
| 18 | 3700 | 48 | 1850 | 78 | 1075 | 108 | 325 |
| 19 | 3600 | 49 | 1800 | 79 | 1050 | 109 | 300 |
| 20 | 3500 | 50 | 1775 | 80 | 1025 | 110 | 275 |
| 21 | 3400 | 51 | 1750 | 81 | 1000 | 111 | 250 |
| 22 | 3300 | 52 | 1725 | 82 | 975 | 112 | 225 |
| 23 | 3200 | 53 | 1700 | 83 | 950 | 113 | 200 |
| 24 | 3100 | 54 | 1675 | 84 | 925 | 114 | 175 |
| 25 | 3000 | 55 | 1650 | 85 | 900 | 115 | 150 |
| 26 | 2950 | 56 | 1625 | 86 | 875 | 116 | 125 |
| 27 | 2900 | 57 | 1600 | 87 | 850 | 117 | 100 |
| 28 | 2850 | 58 | 1575 | 88 | 825 | 118 | 75 |
| 29 | 2800 | 59 | 1550 | 89 | 800 | 119 | 50 |
| 30 | 2750 | 60 | 1525 | 90 | 775 | 120+ | 25 |