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.