Hamilton Mill Men's Golf Association Summer Match Play rules of play   1. All matches are played in match play format under USGA rules. You must announce your intention to challenge a rule before you tee off on the next hole.  Upon completion of the match, confer with one of the Pro Shop Staff for a ruling on the hole in question.   2. The current GHIN handicap indexes will be in effect. The index will be used with the slope rating of the tees played to calculate the course handicaps for the day. The difference in course handicaps will be used on the holes as they fall. The same procedure will be used when a match proceeds into extra holes. A list of players and their GHIN numbers will be published and can be verified at any time by going to the GHIN web site at www.ghin.com. If match competitors play from different tees then the handicaps of the players will be adjusted according to Sections 3-5 and 9-3c of the USGA Handicap System. The adjustment is made by calculated the differences in course ratings for the tees played rounded to the nearest whole stroke. The adjustment is then made by subtracting the adjustment for the player’s handicap on the lower rated tee, or added to the handicap of the player playing the higher rated tee.   3. In accordance with USGA Rules of Golf, scores in match play need to be posted for handicap purposes. This will be done by the tournament committee. If a player is conceded a stroke or a hole that player shall record for handicap purposes the score he most likely would have made. That score should be preceded by an “X”. If a player decides not play a hole (for example the match is completed at 3 and 2 and they decide not to play the last two holes) the score, for handicap purposes will be par plus any handicap strokes they are entitled to receive. Those scores should also be preceded by an “X”.   4. All matches must be completed on the day played. Matches tied after 18 holes will continue until conclusion, with the exception of the elements. (From hole number 1 onwards). Once a match has started then the match must be completed unless the weather conditions are agreed by both players to be unplayable. If there is not an agreement between the 2 players on this then the match must continue. If the match has been suspended it is to start on the same hole as it had been suspended on and must still be completed by the specified date. Current golf course playing conditions on the day of the match are accepted as the rules of play.   5. Players listed at the top of the draw are responsible to instigate the contact for arranging the match. Players on the bottom of the draw are responsible to play on the earliest and most opportune day for BOTH players. Both players are responsible to play the match inside the prescribed dates. Should the match not be completed by the deadline date the tournament director will contact the two participants regarding the reason for the delay. A player may default himself, allowing his competitor to advance. If the two competitors do not agree on the player to advance the TD will then discuss the reason of the delay with the Match committee and the Head Professional. Should the committee deem the match “DEAD”, the match will be decided by a “toss of a coin”. The Head Professional, witnessed by a member of the Committee   will perform the “coin toss”. The player on the top of the draw will be heads; the player on the bottom will be tails. The decision of the Match Committee is then final.   6. All “Official” match play scorecards must be turned into the pro shop and signed by both players.