Club Play

Birdies and Eagles (link to historical list)

Pins will be awarded to members upon scoring their FIRST birdie and/or eagle during regular Thursday play days.  They must be identified on the scorecard.  Notify the scoring committee on play day.  These awards may be won only once during membership years.  Link to historical list

Carts

It is preferred that members ride in carts.  If a player chooses to walk, they must keep up with the pace of play.  Make sure your cart partner is aware of this decision.  

Cart Partners - How do you know with whom you are riding on a play day?

The pairings in the paper or on the internet tell you that.   Generally, the 1st person listed in the pairings is responsible for providing the cart for the 2nd person, her cart partner;  the 3rd person provides the cart for the 4th, her cart partner.  

Closest-to-the-Pin

To be eligible, a player must first pay $20 at the beginning of the season (or $10 in July).  A player must be on the green with her FIRST shot.  One half of the collected funds will be distributed in prize money and one half will be given to charity.  The charity funds will be split equally between the charities determined by the members.  

Holes-in-One 

To be eligible for the Hole-in-One prize monies, you must have paid your "hole-in-one" money to the membership chair AND you must have completed the 18 holes of golf on one of the 18 hole Bella Vista golf courses where you shot your hole-in-one.  The scorecard must be attested by at least one of your playing partners.  The scorecard or a copy of the card must be given to the membership chair.  Eligibility is from fall meeting to fall meeting.

Pairings

Pairings for a play day are usually done Tuesday afternoon preceding the play day.  Pairings will be available on our Golf Genius site and will be emailed to those players playing that Thursday. 

Cancellations called into the Pairings Committee Contact after pairings are completed will incur NO PENALTY.  No Shows on play days will be removed from the sign-up sheet for the *next regular play day.  (*Regular play day does not include Special Tournaments.)  No Shows are defined as "members who do not notify the Pairings Committee Contact or the clubhouse prior to start of play".  This penalty applies whether or not the play day is cancelled or not completed for any reason.   Members are encouraged to contact the pairings committee contact as soon as possible if a cancellation is necessary.  A member is responsible for letting the Pairings Committee Contact know if you are unable to play after pairings are published.  

Prize Money

Prize money certificates are for the entire month's winnings and are placed in the Prize Box only once a month (around the 10th). Money WILL be combined so you do not get a certificate for each win.  No member may receive more than one prize on a play day excluding special events, such as closest to the pin, longest drive, etc.

Scoring

In league play on Thursdays, please read and follow the scoring instructions found at the bottom of the official scorecards. These instructions change each week according to the game being played.  After play is complete, please make certain that players' scores on the 2 scorecards are identical hole by hole. Additionally, it will always be necessary to total each player's gross score.  Scorecards not signed by two people subject the player(s) to disqualification and the possible loss of prize monies.

Website Sign Up Information

To sign up online, click on the "Sign Up" link in the horizontal navigation bar on the Weekly Golf page and it will take you to our Golf Genius site.  The website lists the next three Thursday play dates.  Online sign ups must be submitted by 10 pm on Monday evening prior to the play date. (Example: If you want to play on April 4th, you must sign up online by April 1st. You will not be able to sign up online AFTER 10 pm on Mondays for the next week's play.)

Instructions for how to Sign In to Genius are on the Weekly Golf page, under Sign Up Support

Updated:  1/31/25

1. Membership Dues 

BVWGC membership season begins with the Spring meeting and ends at the Fall meeting. Dues are currently $50. Persons joining AFTER July 1st will be assessed a prorated membership fee of $30.00.

2.  Awards/Weekly Prizes

a. Birdies/Eagles: Pins will be awarded to members upon scoring their FIRST birdie and/or eagle during regular Thursday play days. They must be identified on the scorecard. Notify the Scoring Chair on the play day. This award may be won only once during membership years.

b. No member may receive more than one prize on a play day excluding special events such as closest to the pin, longest putt, etc. Prize money certificates are for the entire month’s winnings and are placed in the Prize Box only once a month (around the 10th). Money will be combined so you do not get a certificate for each win.

c. Player/team is disqualified for weekly prizes if two players do not sign the scorecard or scorecards do not match Hole by Hole.

d. IN MIXED FLIGHT GAMES: Players compete in their team flight letter (A, B, C, D) written on scorecard for closest to the pin and longest putt.

e. Results will be posted on the BVWGC website.

f. All Ties will be paid.

3.  Scoring

On Low Gross/Low Net play days, Low Gross will take precedence over Low Net. All ties will be paid. Minimum prize money is $2.00. 

4.  Closest to the Pin (CTP)

To be eligible, a player must first pay $20 at the beginning of the season (or $10 in July).  A player must be on the green with her FIRST shot to be eligible.

One half of the collected funds will be distributed in prize money and one half will be given to charity. The charity funds will be split equally between charities determined by the members. When monies for closest to the pin are NOT distributed due to play being cancelled for any reason, the monies will go to charity.

Closest to the pin (CTP) holes for all flights will be:

Country Club - #2 and #17, Dogwood Hills - #2 and #16; Highlands - #9 and #11; Kingswood - #7 and #17; Scotsdale - #4 and #15.

When scrambles are played, there will not be a longest putt hole.

5. Carts

It is preferred that members ride in carts.  If a player chooses to walk, they must keep up with the pace of play.  Make sure your cart partner is aware of this decision.  

The pairings list on the website will determine cart partners. Generally, the 1st person listed in the pairings is responsible for providing the cart for the 2nd person, her cart partner; the 3rd person provides the cart for the 4th person, her cart partner. 

6. Rain Policy

If there is lightning in the area on BVWGC play days, mark your ball and seek shelter (not under a tree). Return to the clubhouse when safe. After a 30 minute delay, the Committee* will make a decision to resume play or cancel the round. See inside back cover of the Rules of Golf & USGA Rules 6-8 and 33-2D. *The committee will consist of the Golf Pro, current Rules Chair, Vice President and President, or the Play Manager.

7. Past BVWGC Champions’ Club Championship Eligibility 

All past BVWGC Champions (gross, net and senior) who are current members in good standing are allowed permanent eligibility in the BVWG Club Championship.

8. Club Championship

The Club Champion awards (overall low gross from Red tee and overall low gross from the Gold tee) will be determined by a sudden death playoff on the golf course starting with the first hole.  

Winners are determined in the following order:

Club Champion Gross players from the red tees and the gold tees with equal the lowest two day gross.  Club Champion Net players from the red tees and the gold tees which equal the lowest two day net.

Only one prize will be awarded to an individual player.  In case of a tie for "Low Gross" flight awards during the Club Championship, first use the second round total gross score to break the tie.  If the players are still tied, use the USGA tiebreaker on the second round gross score.  In case of a tie for a 'Low Net" overall or flight awards, first use the second round total net score to break the tie.  If the players are still tied, use the USGA tiebreaker on the second round net score.

9. Active Season Club: Home and Away Scores

BVWGC is an “active season” club. All members must post all home and away scores year round. The handicap committee will contact members not in compliance.

10.  Handicap

NET DOUBLE BOGEY = Double Bogey + any handicap strokes you receive

Example: A player with a Course Handicap of 10 receives 1 stroke on handicap holes allocated 1 through 10.  On a par 4 hole with a stroke index of 5, their maximum hole score is 7 (double bogey + 1).

11.  New BVWGC Maximum 10 Stroke Rule (Adopted in the January 2023 Board Meeting

In an effort to speed up game day play, a new maximum score rule has been adopted.  On game day, if a a player reaches 10 strokes on a hole, they may choose to pick up and take a maximum 10 on a hole.  A 10 with an X should be recorded on the scorecard.  

Exceptions:

1. Lone Ranger (yellow) net next ball - the person with the Lone Ranger (yellow) must play out the hole.

2. The game where only 2 players count for that hole - the two players must continue to play out the hole.

3. The game is Low Gross/Low Net - players must count the entire score for all 18 holes.

Allen's Foods and Steve Morrow

MAJOR SPONSOR of our WGC League Tournament, Hall of Fame Award, a weekly Longest Putt contest and supporter of our yearly activities.

posted Jul 29, 2018, 7:38 PM by Susan Nuttall

Phillip Wright, PGA, Former Director of Golf Operations

You don’t need to play hurry golf to have a good pace of play. Slow place is a result of failure to be ready to play. A few seconds here and there add up in a hurry. Here are some good habits to help you learn to keep a good pace of play from tee to green! Good habits should not make you feel rushed; they should only make you feel prepared! 

1. TAKE A CLUB TO THE TEEBOX even when you need to check the distance. Distances devices should increase your pace, not slow you down.

2. NO HONORS! Get ready and tee off! 

3. KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP IN FRONT OF YOU.  Focus on keeping pace with the group in front of you. Do not be concerned with the group behind you. We will worry about the group behind you!

4. PLAY READY GOLF. There is no penalty for playing out of turn in stroke play. If you are approximately 100 yards from the green on the left side of the fairway and a fellow player is the same distance on the other side of the fairway, make eye contact and determine which one is going to play next. 

5. KEEP AN EYE ON EACH OTHER’S SHOTS. Help look for lost balls AFTER you have hit your shot. If all four members are looking for the ball at the same time, the group has come to a dead, screeching halt.

6. THE CART DRIVER should drop off the passenger at her ball and then drive immediately to her ball. Do not wait for her to hit UNLESS you would be in her line of flight or some other danger.

7. THE PASSENGER should take 3 clubs (the one you think, one more and one less) and let the driver go.

8. TAKE YOUR PUTTER with you if your next shot is a wedge or short iron to the green, and tell the driver to go without you.

9. KNOW WHEN IT’S YOUR TURN TO PUTT.  This is what kills tournament golf. Somebody call out the order: “Ray, you're away, Jack you're next, then Gene ...” If you want to check your putt out from both sides, get a look from one side BEFORE it becomes your turn. PUTT CONTINUOUSLY when possible! Don’t mark a 2-footer.

10. NEVER RECORD SCORES AT THE GREEN. Drive to the next tee box to record your score.

Updated: 1/31/25

1. Membership Play Day Procedures

a. Participants must arrive at the course at least 30 minutes prior to tee time.

b. Non-annual members, who pay each time they play, will pick up all scorecards and cart tags for the foursome. If the foursome has all annual members, the first person who arrives at the course will pick up the scorecard and cart tags.

c. The first and third person listed in the foursome will get the cart. Players 1 & 2 will ride together and players 3 & 4 will ride together. The last person listed on the scorecard will be responsible for managing the group’s pace of play, including telling a player to pick up her ball after the player reaches the  PGA handicap max. This is par for the hole + number of stokes she gets on the hole + 2. 

d. Before teeing off, the foursome will decide who is keeping the official scorecard and who will enter the scores hole-by-hole in the Golf Genius software. The person keeping the scorecard will turn in the signed and verified scorecard after the round.

e. If a play day is canceled for any reason, an email will be sent to those members with email.  A notification will also be prominently posted on the website.  Those without email will be called by the Communications Committee.

2.    Sign Up and Pairings

a.  Declare Tee Box:  All BVWGC members will be asked to declare play from either the Red or Gold Tee Boxes. You will be able to make one change during the year which needs to be submitted in writing to the President or Vice President. If a second change needs to occur, it will have to be approved by the President and Vice President. 

b.  Members can sign up online to play open rounds when signed into the Golf Genius WGC league portal using a computer or smart device. Contact Pairings Chair, Scoring Chair, Vice President or President for assistance with any issues.  On Sunday morning, all members who are signed up to play on Thursday will receive an email confirming play for that  week.

c.  Online Sign Up Deadline:  Online sign ups must be submitted by 10 pm on Monday night prior to the play date. (Example: If you want to play on Thursday, April 11th, you need  to sign up online by 10pm on Monday, April 8th.)  See Pairings Timetable below for information regarding sign up after Monday night.  Sign ups for weekly rounds are available three weeks in advance of play.

d.  Sign In To Sign Up:

New members will need to download the Golf Genius app and will get an email with a temporary password to sign in. Contact Pairings Chair, Scoring Chair, Vice President, or Gavin Smith at BVCC for assistance, if needed.

To sign up online on a computer, click on the Golf Genius logo on the front page of the WGC website - It will open the WGC league portal. The Sign In prompt can be found on the right hand side of the menu bar. On some computers, there may be 3 black bars on the right-hand side of the menu bar which need to be clicked to see the Sign In option.  Once signed in, the open rounds will either be listed on the left hand side of the home page with a welcome message to the right of the open rounds OR the open rounds will be in the center of the screen with the welcome message below all the open round information.  Options include Sign Up, You are signed up, and Cancel Signup.

On a smart phone, load the Golf Genius App.  Open the App and follow the instructions below.

i. Click on the prompt to sign in with your email address and password and enter that information.

ii. Click on the League Name (may not be necessary)

iii. Click on the Member Portal option.

iv. Click Home

v. Click Round signup

After changing your playing status, players should expect to receive a confirmation email with the appropriate message depending on whether the player signed up to play or canceled. All changes to a member’s play status AFTER sign ups are closed on Monday should be made via phone call to the Weekly Pairings Contact.

e.  Pairings Timeline:  Online sign up is available until 10pm Monday night.  Additions to weekly play are possible on Tuesdays by contacting the Weekly Pairings Contact noted on the Golf Genius Home page directly via phone call, text or email by 2pm.  Pairings will be available Tuesday evenings on the WGC Portal.

f.  Cancellations:  After Pairings are posted, members are responsible for letting the Weekly Pairings Contact and her cart partner know she is unable to play.  If there is a need to cancel Thursday morning, call the course directly, as well as your cart partner. 

No Shows on play days will be removed from the sign up information

for the next regular play day.  (Note: Regular play days do not include Special Tournaments.)  No Shows are defined as “members who do not notify the Weekly Pairings Contact or the course of play for that week prior to start of play.”  

g.  Additions: If you are able to play after pairings are posted to the website, notify the Weekly Pairings Contact. She will make every effort to schedule you into play but cannot guarantee a spot as openings are limited.

h.  Walk Up to Play on Thursday:  If you are able to play on Thursday morning, go to the course 30 minutes prior to play and check with the Scoring Chair.  If there is any space available, you will be allowed to play.  However, you will not be eligible for CTP or prize monies and you may not be placed in your regular flight.  In addition, the Handicap committee will NOT enter your score.  It is your responsibility to record your score for the day.