1 - Setup of the Game

Creating the Course

All competing players are encouraged to have a hand in course design.

• Courses may be easily set up and modified with stakes, which designate “home” for each hole.

• A dedicated course may be established using cups with flags.
• A Tee box is established by marking the forward points of the box with any objects (rocks, logs, etc.) and the width between the Tee markers is to be determined by the terrain and space available.
• A stake or cup placed in an open area at least 25 yards from the tee area serves as the target.
• A ball striking the stake or entering the hole is considered home for that hole, and the total shots by each team or player on that hole is recorded on a score card.
• DOWNLOAD THE SCORE CARD

Some Suggestions for Creating the Course:

• Vary the length and difficulty level of each hole.
• Utilize obstacles and natural topography to encourage creative shot making.
• Holes of more than 150 yards are not encouraged as this may place a burden on the sharing of clubs and break the desired social connection inherent in the game.
• Skill level and age of players should be taken into account when establishing the difficulty of the course.

2 - Player, Teams, Format of the Game

• Course may be played in teams of 2 or by individual players.
• Team play is traditionally played using alternate stroke or ‘best ball’ format. Experience illustrates that relationships between playing partners are often illuminated during the course of a round.
• A player is chosen by each team to tee off on the first hole and the team member follows up with play from wherever the ball lays. From that point forward, throughout the game, shots are taken by alternating players without exception.
• Players laying furthest from the ‘hole’ are always first to play.
• All players should be encouraged to familiarize themselves with the names of the clubs, and their distance/loft attributes, as clubs are shared between up to 10 players per match.
• A club steward will be chosen to make sure all clubs are accounted for and back in the bag after each game.

Player, Teams, Format of the Game

• In order to help resolve disputes, it is recommended that an arbiter be designated prior to the beginning of play, who is recognized as logical and fair minded.
• The eldest player determines the starting order of play.
• The team or player with the lowest score after completing the course is deemed the winner.
• If the score is tied after completion of the course and the consensus of the players is that a winner should be determined, a “sudden death” playoff will ensue. Play is begun within one club length of the finishing hole and play is resumed in reverse order of the course until a player wins a hole.

3 - Rules of the Game

1. If a ball is deemed to be in the line of another player’s ball, at the discretion of that player, he or she may chose to mark the ball with a coin or other flat appropriate inanimate object, or may invoke the Stymie Rule (too bad, play around or over me).
2. Hitting another ball with your own is part of the game, however striking another ball may never put that ball out of play.
3. The AG ball floats and may be played from out of the water. Such an endeavor is encouraged and admired in the game of Adirondack Golf.
4. A two stroke penalty is incurred for moving a ball out of water.
5. If the penalty is taken, a drop from shoulder height to an area adjacent to the point where the ball lays in the water should be chosen if not closer to the hole.
6. Rock rule: For the sake of club preservation, if a ball lays against or close enough to a hard or rigid object such as a rock, the player may move the ball and replace it in any direction no more than 1 foot from the object. This is a discretionary rule and the game arbiter should be consulted.
7. Club Preservation: To encourage an intact playable wooden club to be enjoyed by generations and to promote a fun team/family experience, losing one’s temper and either throwing a club in anger or otherwise abusing a club will result in a 2 stroke penalty as determined by the arbiter.
8. To encourage creative shot making and playing the ball as it lays, there is a two stroke penalty for moving a ball from a challenging or perceived unplayable lie. This is a discretionary
   rule and the game arbiter should be consulted because Rule #3( the Rock Rule) may apply.
9. To continue play after taking an unplayable lie penalty, a drop from shoulder height is permitted to an area at least, but not limited to, 1 club length behind the spot where the ball was picked up relative to the hole.
10. Lost ball rule: A 3 stroke penalty is incurred for a lost ball.
11. In the instance of a lost ball, a replacement ball may be played by dropping from shoulder height to an area adjacent to where the ball was lost.
12. If a replacement ball is not available, the player forfeits the game.
13. Motion Rules: Player must wait for his/her ball to come to a full stop before striking.
14. If a player moves the ball while addressing it, a one stroke penalty is taken.
15. If an animal (most likely a dog) takes a ball while that ball is in play, it must be lovingly coaxed away and played from the point of retrieval, or where the animal drops it.
16. Out of Bounds Rule: These are not enforced unless the play encroaches on another party’s unfriendly property that the players have not been offered/authorized access to. It is advised that AG players make friends with neighbors and abutters in order to mitigate any potential out of bound disputes.
17. 8b–Balls played into unfriendly territory must be moved back to the point of entry to that property. No penalty is incurred for this ‘out of bounds’.
18. 9c–The No Mas Rule: Stroke limits per hole are to be determined at the beginning of play. It is recommended that a no mas score should not be more than 12 strokes per hole, as spirits should be tested but not broken.
19. No “Gimmes” are allowed in Adirondack Golf, and all play must continue until the ball is home.
20. Inclement Weather: Play is continued in any and all weather conditions, excepting ones that are considered dangerous (ie., lightening, flooding, hail), in which case the game may be suspended and then resumed.
21. If a situation arises that is not covered in the rule book and no consensus can be reached amongst the players the youngest player shall have the deciding vote.

Lefthanders-As the current selection of clubs that can be used by left handed players consists only of the Higgins Bay ‘two way’ and the ‘Tupper Lake’ putter, a left handed player is entitled to receive a two stroke compensationfor every 6 holes played. Full sets of Adirondack Golf left handed clubs will be available by Sept 09.

4 - Player Etiquette and Arbitration of Disputes

Proper etiquette is encouraged but if it doesn’t come naturally, some suggestions follow:

• Be sure no one is in path of swing before swinging.
• At the point where a player has set up over his ball, and is preparing to swing, talking and other distractions are not allowed.
• As players approach the stake, a player from an opposing team will be designated to be the judge as to whether a player’s ball has indeed struck the stake at any place or at any speed.
• To encourage brisk play, taunting of a slow player is encouraged after a two minute period and after proper forewarning.
• Verbally harassing one’s playing partner is encouraged, but only if done in the proper spirit of fun. Seriously escalating issues between partners should be resolved privately.
• There is no dress code for Adirondack Golf

The USAGA is the official sanctioning body for Adirondack Golf. The Executive Governing Committee reviews the rules of the game at it’s annual meeting at Tupper Lake, NY.
Sand play can abraid the finish on the wooden club and it is advised that players wait for the AG green X set which will be available by Spring 2010 for sand play.