QUEEN CITY LINKS LADIES League Policies & Procedures

GENERAL POLICIES Applies to all QCLL leagues. Scroll down further to see league-specific rules for Meadow Links & Hickory Woods respectively.

Arrival & Check-In

Plan to arrive at least 15–20 minutes before your tee time to check in at the pro shop and get your cart. Arriving early is a courtesy to your group and keeps the evening running on time for everyone.

Tee off at your scheduled tee time. Do not tee off more than 5 minutes before your scheduled tee time unless your entire group has arrived and is ready to play together. If you're unsure, check the WhatsApp group or wait at the tee box.

Communication

General logistics & information will be communicated via email at the start of the season. During the season, most league communication — weekly updates, sub requests, weather notices, and day-of logistics — happens in the QCLL WhatsApp group for your league. Your confirmation email will have a link to the WhatsApp group chat. Please join the group before the first week of play and keep your notifications on during league days.

Mulligan Policy

Each player receives one mulligan per round, on tee shots only. If you use your mulligan, you must play the second shot — not the better of the two.

Maximum Score — Double Par

To keep the round moving and protect everyone's enjoyment, the maximum number of strokes on any hole is double par. When you reach that number, pick up your ball and move to the next hole. There is no shame in this — it is the smart play and the considerate one.

Here's what double par looks like in practice:

  • Par 3: Maximum strokes is 6. If you've taken 6 strokes and haven't holed out, pick up.

  • Par 4: Maximum strokes is 8. If you've taken 8 strokes and haven't holed out, pick up.

  • Par 5: Maximum strokes is 10. If you've taken 10 strokes and haven't holed out, pick up.

Picking up does not mean you failed — it means you're a good playing partner.

Pace of Play

Keep up with the group in front of you — this is the single best thing you can do for pace of play. Be ready to hit when it's your turn. Limit yourself to one practice swing. Record your score at the next tee box, not on the green you just finished.

Golf Etiquette

  • Be quiet and still when a playing partner is preparing to hit or putt.

  • On the putting green, do not walk on another player's line — the imaginary path between her ball and the cup. Walking on this line can disrupt the surface of the green and affect how her ball rolls.

  • No phone conversations during the round. If it’s not an emergency, please don’t have phone conversations.

  • Keep socializing light while others are preparing to hit. There is plenty of time for good conversation between shots and after the round!

  • Please resist going off early. Some members are coming straight from work and need every minute.

Sub Policy

If you cannot make your league night, notify your playing partners by texting in the WhatsApp group as soon as you know. The group will work together to find coverage. Sub fee amounts and arrangements are league-specific — see your league section below.

Weather

When the course is open, the league is expected to play. If weather becomes dangerous during your round and the course sounds the weather horn, all players must return to the clubhouse immediately. Play resumes only when course staff gives the all-clear.

HICKORY WOODS GOLF LEAGUE League-Specific Policies

Course: Hickory Woods Golf Course
Day & Dates: Wednesdays, May 20 – July 29, 2026
Tee times: Approximately 6:12 PM · 6:21 PM · 6:30 PM
Tees: Gold tees · Players age 65+ may move forward to the orange tees

GHIN Handicap Requirement

All players must maintain an active USGA GHIN handicap to participate. If you don't have one yet, set up your account at getahandicap.usga.org and set Hickory Woods as your home course in the GHIN app. The annual fee is approximately $40.

Weekly Scoring & Games

Tee times and scoring are managed through Golf Genius. Scores are official and contribute to season-long standings and weekly game payouts.

Weekly games rotate throughout the season — examples include least putts, closest to the pin, and longest putt.

Posting Your Score When You Use a Mulligan

The USGA's World Handicap System recognizes that mulligans happen in recreational golf. Their guidance is straightforward: rather than throwing out an entire round because of one re-hit, you replace the score on that hole with net par — meaning par plus or minus any handicap strokes you receive on that hole.

In practice, use your best judgment. Ask yourself honestly: did that mulligan materially change my score on the hole? If your re-hit still led to a similar result — you made a double bogey either way — post what happened. If the mulligan turned a hole that was going sideways into something significantly better, replace that hole score with net par when you post in GHIN. The goal is a handicap that honestly reflects your game. Most players know the difference, and we trust you to apply that judgment fairly.

Additional Local Rules

Gimme putts: If your ball lies closer to the hole than the distance from the lip of the cup to the bottom of your putter grip, count it as holed and pick up. This keeps pace of play moving on the green.

Flagstick: May remain in or be removed — your choice every time. No penalty for hitting the stick. If your ball wedges between the flagstick and the cup, it is considered holed.

Embedded ball: Take free relief if your ball is embedded in the fairway or rough. "Embedded" means any part of the ball is below ground level. You may also fluff your ball in the rough where it lies.

Accidental contact: No penalty if you accidentally touch your ball during a practice stroke or while setting up. Simply replace the ball where it was. No penalty if your ball hits you or your equipment after a stroke — play it where it ends up.

Missing a stroke: If you swing and miss, it counts as a stroke.

Sub Policy — Hickory Woods

Post in the WhatsApp group as soon as you know you need a sub. Subs pay $28 directly to the player they are covering for. If you find your own sub, post her name and the date in the group so everyone is informed.

Hickory Woods Course Policies

  • Single rider carts are not available during league play. Maximum two carts per foursome.

  • Outside alcohol is not permitted. Drinks are available at the clubhouse bar and turn window.

  • A league night is considered complete once the first group in the league finishes hole nine.

  • Makeup or pre-play rounds are available Monday–Thursday between 1:30–3:30 PM, subject to available tee times.

  • If a league night is cancelled, a makeup date is added to the end of the season. The league will play the opposite nine holes the following week.

  • League play is not held on Memorial Day or July 4th.

  • Cart fee rain checks are honored only if the league's first group completed 4 or fewer holes before the rainout.

MEADOW COURT LADIES GOLF LEAGUE League-Specific Policies

Course: Meadow Links & Golf Academy, Winton Woods Day & Dates: Tuesdays, May 5 – July 28, 2026 Tee times: 5:50 PM · 6:00 PM Format: Practice and community league — no handicap required, no official scoring reported

Scoring

This is a practice and community league. No official scores are reported or submitted. Players are encouraged to keep their own score for personal tracking and growth, but there are no formal standings or season-long competition.

The double par maximum still applies (see General Policies above). Pick up when you reach double par — it keeps the round moving and enjoyable for your whole group.

Sub Policy — Meadow Court

Post in the WhatsApp group as soon as you know you need a sub. Sub fee details to be confirmed — check your welcome email or reach out to hello@queencitylinksladies.com with any questions.

Meadow Links Course Policies

  • All starting times are for foursomes only.

  • Recommended pace of play is 2 hours for 9 holes.

  • League play is guaranteed regardless of weather unless the course has been closed by management. Rainouts are not made up unless an extension is requested and approved in writing before July 15, 2026.

  • All rainchecks must be used before the end of the season. No refunds on rainchecks.

  • Local and USGA rules apply.

Questions? Reach Mary at hello@queencitylinksladies.com any time.

By participating in a QCLL league, you agree to the QCLL Terms of Use and your applicable course's policies and procedures.