Men's Golf Association at NGC

Men’s Night 4/2 — Chicago Front 9

For our opening Men’s Night of 2026, we’ll be playing our Chicago format on the Front 9. All players play from white tees and Rule of 75 players (age + handicap >= 75) may play golds. Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in all completed cards to the Pro Shop.

Chicago Format: Players start with a negative number of points (based on 18-hole course handicaps) then add positive points during their round. The idea is to get from the negative to the positive, clearing your “hurdle” by as many points as possible.

0 & 1 handicaps start with -20
2 & 3 start with -19
4 & 5 start with -18
6 & 7 start with -17
8 & 9 start with -16
10 & 11 start with -15
12 & 13 start with -14
14 & 15 start with -13
16 & 17 start with -12
18 & 19 start with -11
20 & 21 start with -10
22 & 23 start with -9
24 & 25 start with -8
26 & 27 start with -7
28 & 29 start with -6
30 & 31 start with -5
32 & 33 start with -4
34 & 35 start with -3
36+ start with -2 points

During the round, positive points are added on the following basis using gross hole scores:

• Double Bogey or worse = 0 points
• Bogey = 1 point
• Par = 2 points
• Birdie = 4 points
• Eagle = 8 points
• Albatross = 16 points

Competition Rules for Men’s Night 4/2

• For this week, all Men’s Night competitors play the Front 9 using 100% of their 18-hole course handicaps converted to Chicago starting points. Points Chase points will be awarded to the top one-third of the field.
  
• Men’s Night rounds may be played at any time on Thursday with an accompanying MGA member. All players play from white tees and Rule of 75 players (age + handicap >= 75) may play golds. Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in completed cards to the Pro Shop.
  
• We will be playing LIFT, CLEAN, and PLACE in your OWN FAIRWAY, one club-length, no closer to the hole. All BUNKERS will be played as GROUND UNDER REPAIR. If your ball ends up in a bunker, you may either rake and place within the bunker or take free relief outside the bunker. To take relief, you must find the nearest point of complete relief outside the bunker and DROP from within one club-length of that point, no closer to the hole.
  
• All Holes — Shots that land in play but cannot be found because the ball has plugged may be replaced (by dropping a replacement ball) without penalty at the most likely landing spot as determined by the consensus of the player’s fellow group members. For this rule to apply, you must be virtually certain of your landing location and this landing zone cannot be within one club-length of a penalty area or out of bounds.
  
• Hole #5 — take all necessary relief for “temporary” water and mud. Drop within one club-length of the nearest unaffected area, no closer to the hole.
  
• Balls marked on the green may be replaced to the side of any aeration holes, “Dollar Spot”, dead patches, “Crabgrass” weed patches, and/or fungus/disease, no closer to the hole. Additionally, “Dollar Spot” areas, dead/diseased patches, or “Crabgrass” weed patches on the green may be considered Ground Under Repair from which putting-line relief may be taken, no closer to the hole. The maximum relief distance for putting green relief is one club-length from the current ball position on the green.
  
• Bare areas larger than one club-length in your own fairway (or connected to your own fairway), bare areas immediately adjacent to cart paths, and tire tracks should be considered Ground Under Repair. DROP within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. Additionally, netting in re-sodded areas, drain trenches, and exposed rocks added as topper for drainage systems should be considered Ground Under Repair from which free relief may be taken, no closer to the hole.
  
• Tall grass and unmaintained sections of the course may be played as penalty areas. These areas include: the hill between the cart paths for the 4th and 5th holes, right of the 7th hole fairway, the hill between the 7th and 8th holes, surrounding the back and left of the 11th green, right of the 13th fairway and surrounding the 13th green, right of the cart path on the 14th hole, on the hill between the 14th and 16th holes, right of the 15th hole and surrounding the 15th green. In the case you do not find your ball in these areas, follow the standard red penalty area dropping procedure.
  
• This week’s format allows for the completion of a 9-hole round that is valid for handicap posting purposes. Men’s Night scores must be posted promptly to your handicap account. Any player who places but has not posted will have their score disqualified from placement consideration.

The MGA Season Starts with Men’s Night this Thursday, April 2nd! 

We have officially made it to the opening week of the 2026 MGA season! To get things started this Thursday, we’ll be playing our Chicago format on the Front 9. All players play from white tees and Rule of 75 players (age + handicap >= 75) may play golds. Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in all completed cards to the Pro Shop.

Men’s Night Groups 

Men’s Night rounds can be played at any time on Thursdays with a fellow MGA member. Groups are usually formed on the fly, with players who arrive around the same time heading out together. While most members play their Men’s Night 9 around 3:00 PM, we typically have players on the course throughout the day — some going off earlier in the morning or afternoon, and others later into the evening.

This Thursday, several MGA Board members will be around the club and course for most of the afternoon to introduce themselves to new members and help connect players into groups. We’re also hoping to keep the camaraderie rolling after the rounds this season with poker and other clubhouse shenanigans.

GHIN Handicaps

All Men’s Night play (and MGA tournament play) is with handicaps which means all players will need an active GHIN handicap account. If you do not have a GHIN account, let us know at [email protected] and we’ll help you get one set up with the club. Starting April 15th, we will maintain our 2-in-30 posting requirement for 2026. To compete in MGA net competitions with your GHIN handicap, players must maintain 36 holes of posted scores (either full 18 or 9-hole scores) from NGC in the last 30 days or contact [email protected] for an exemption. See the “Season Specific Guidelines” within the MGA Handicap Rules & Procedures. 

Chicago Format for Thursday 

Players start with a negative number of points (based on 18-hole course handicaps) then add positive points during their round. The idea is to get from the negative to the positive, clearing your “hurdle” by as many points as possible.

0 & 1 handicaps start with -20
2 & 3 start with -19
4 & 5 start with -18
6 & 7 start with -17
8 & 9 start with -16
10 & 11 start with -15
12 & 13 start with -14
14 & 15 start with -13
16 & 17 start with -12
18 & 19 start with -11
20 & 21 start with -10
22 & 23 start with -9
24 & 25 start with -8
26 & 27 start with -7
28 & 29 start with -6
30 & 31 start with -5
32 & 33 start with -4
34 & 35 start with -3
36+ start with -2 points

During the round, positive points are added on the following basis using gross hole scores:

• Double Bogey or worse = 0 points
• Bogey = 1 point
• Par = 2 points
• Birdie = 4 points
• Eagle = 8 points
• Albatross = 16 points

Upcoming MGA Schedule

• April 2nd — First Men’s Night of the 2026 Season
• April 4th — A-Team Match vs. Swan Point @ 12:30 PM
• April 9th — Masters Men’s Night & 2025 Champions Dinner: Masters themed Men’s Night with MGA Awards & Appetizers
• April 18th — MGA Play It Again Tournament: Sign-ups now open!

Complete 2026 MGA Schedule