For Men’s Night this week, we’ll be playing our Stableford format on the Front 9. Points will be awarded based on the standard Stableford scoring breakdown using 100% of individual Front 9 handicaps.
Net Double Bogey or higher: 0 points
Net Bogey: 1 point
Net Par: 2 points
Net Birdie: 3 points
Net Eagle: 4 points, and so on.
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. For this week (and for all Men’s Nights for the near future), there will be no entry fee and only Points Chase points will be awarded.
MGA 2-in-30 Handicap Policy
For all MGA events for the remainder of the 2023 season including Men’s Nights, all participants must meet the MGA 2-in-30 handicap posting policy. If a participant does not meet this requirement on the date of an event, the player who has not posted two 18-hole or combined rounds in the last 30 days will play as scratch (0 handicap). If any MGA member is unable to meet the 2-in-30 posting requirement for reasons of travel, work, injury, sickness, or the like, they may submit an appeal in writing to the MGA Handicap Committee at [email protected] to request a temporary exemption from the requirement.
Over the weekend, both the A-Team and Senior A-Team had matches which were competed both home and away. On Saturday, the A-Team took on Brenton Bay in a 1st round matchup of the MSGA bracket and earned 6 points in a hard fought 6-12 loss. We’re already looking forward to our Summer A-Team matches which start July 8th.
In the WMGA Senior A-Team Tournament, coming off a fantastic 6.5-5.5 win last weekend over Fort Belvoir GC, the NGC Senior A-team took on CC of Fairfax on Sunday. After an epic showdown that ended 6-6, a 3-way tiebreaker in the group advanced our Senior A-Team into the Final 8 to take on Belle Haven CC next Sunday. Well done Senior A-Team — Keep it rolling vs. Belle Haven!
Thank you to all the NGC staff who helped to make the matches we hosted at home a great success!
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Play It Again Tournament
We are counting down to the registration deadline for our 1st MGA weekend tournament of the 2023 season, the Play It Again Tournament, which is set for this Saturday, April 22nd. For this tournament, each player’s handicap is used to determine how many mulligans will be allotted during their round. Using their allotted mulligans, each player records their best possible gross score, low score wins. Rule of 75 (Age + Handicap >= 75) applies for gold tee players. Please sign up using the online registration link.
MGA Play It Again: Saturday, April 22rd — 9:00 AM shotgun start
Cost: $20 for full members / $40 for weekday members — All players must be MGA Members
Sign-ups are now open for our season-long, NCAA-bracket-style, 2023 MGA Match Play Tournament. The bracket will be set via a random draw on Thursday, May 4th. The field will be limited to the first 64 entrants so please sign up ASAP using the online registration portal. All players will be responsible for scheduling their own match dates and times in coordination with their opponents once the brackets have been drawn.
Complete information and guidelines for the 2023 MGA Match Play Tournament can be found here: https://mga.golf/match-play
Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 4th at 5:00 PM
For Men’s Night this week, we’ll be playing our Stableford format on the Front 9. Points will be awarded based on the standard Stableford scoring breakdown using 100% of individual Front 9 handicaps.
Net Double Bogey or higher: 0 points
Net Bogey: 1 point
Net Par: 2 points
Net Birdie: 3 points
Net Eagle: 4 points, and so on.
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.
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NGC Vibe
Overall, it was a great weekend of golf at NGC and it was awesome to see all our members truly enjoying the golf course we all love. A-Teams, Skins, E9(E18?!), tendies, H vs. W, and camaraderie — long live Tantallon!
31 players came out for a Chicago showdown on the Back 9 on a beautiful day at NGC. When all the scores had been counted, Derek Ward demolished his Chicago hurdle with an exceptional gross 33 on the back to reach +6 Chicago points and take 1st place for the week.
For Men’s Night this week, we’ll be playing our Chicago format on the Back 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. For this week (and for all Men’s Nights for the near future), there will be no entry fee and only Points Chase points will be awarded.
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 4/13
For this week, all Men’s Night competitors play the Back 9 using 100% of their 18-hole course handicaps converted to Chicago starting points. There is no entry fee for Men’s Night this week and only Points Chase points will be awarded to the top 1/3rd 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 the ball down EVERYWHERE and RAKE AND PLACE for all bunkers. If your ball ends up in a bunker, you may lift, clean, rake and place within the bunker taking as much relief as necessary to place your ball on a playable bit of sand, no closer to the hole.
Balls marked on the green may be replaced to the side of any aeration holes, no closer to the hole.
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. Additionally, tire tracks, bare areas immediately adjacent to cart paths, and bare areas larger than a club length should be considered Ground Under Repair. DROP within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
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 payout and placement consideration.
Weekly Poker after Men’s Night 🃏
For this season, we hope to make a Thursday night game of hold’em a fixture of the post-round festivities. A 5-6:00 PM start for cards being dealt is a best estimate and $20 is the standard buy-in for the cash game.
As we continue with the 2023 MGA season, we are putting a pause on the $10 charge for Men’s Night buy-ins until the club is able to restock the pro shop and reopen our equipment accounts for orders using our existing credit book balances. During this period, Men’s Night results will not include credit book payouts and will be for Points Chase points only. Please continue to check in with the pro shop before your Men’s Night round (especially if you are taking a 9 or 18-hole cart). We very much hope that the credit book system of award distribution for MGA events can be restarted soon!
Men’s Night 4/13 — Chicago Back 9
For Men’s Night this week, we’ll be playing our Chicago format on the Back 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 4/13
For this week, all Men’s Night competitors play the Back 9 using 100% of their 18-hole course handicaps converted to Chicago starting points. There is no entry fee for Men’s Night this week and only Points Chase points will be awarded to the top 1/3rd 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 the ball down EVERYWHERE and RAKE AND PLACE for all bunkers. If your ball ends up in a bunker, you may lift, clean, rake and place within the bunker taking as much relief as necessary to place your ball on a playable bit of sand, no closer to the hole.
Balls marked on the green may be replaced to the side of any aeration holes, no closer to the hole.
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. Additionally, tire tracks, bare areas immediately adjacent to cart paths, and bare areas larger than a club length should be considered Ground Under Repair. DROP within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
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 payout and placement consideration.
For Men’s Night this week, we’ll be playing our Chicago format on the Back 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:
Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday for our 1st Men’s Night and Champions Dinner — it is this group of guys who all truly love golf that makes NGC such a special place! A huge thank you to all the staff who made last night absolutely awesome. The food was amazing and the camaraderie facilitated by hanging out in the clubhouse with the Masters to watch was perfect. A special thank you to Mary Ann who bought Azaleas (and added an Azalea drink for the night!) — your love for NGC always shows and we all love you. Congratulations once again to all our 2022 MGA Champions and we look forward to a fantastic season of champions in 2023!
On the course, 36 players came out for a Match Play battle vs. Tiger’s Front 9 at Augusta and, after all the strokes were counted, 3 men tallied 13 points to share 1st place honors. Well played Ed Clarke, Sam Bowmer, and Jack Sullivan — please send Stephen Ames some notes on how to play Match Play vs. Tiger! And in the 3-way tie for 1st place, it took the 3rd level of tiebreakers (first player to 2-up) to determine that Jack Sullivan won the Masters Coin. Thank you again to Mr. Masters, Matt Doherty, for his continued generous donations of Masters prizes (and remarkable stories)!
In the side-contests, Kyle Armstrong put on a strong performance winning the Long Drive with an absolute bomb off #1 and the Ball-Skip, skipping it to the crest of the back tier on #7.
When it came to the Chipping Contest, it was the tiny island itself that won the day! No attempts found 100% dry land. We’ll have to wait until another day before the island-chip can be conquered.
Finally, in the Putting Contest, one man reigned supreme with a fantastic effort to 8.5 inches. Well done Oral Pottinger on taking home the Putting Contest victory, $40 credit book, and the Masters coin!
In a strong start to a shuffle-up-and-deal tradition we hope to keep rolling through most (all) Men’s Nights this season, contemplation of condensed tourney formats for emergency purposes were discussed and laughs were had all around. Kevin Dick, with a strong final hand, was able to come out as the big winner on a truly memorable night at NGC.
Men’s Night 4/6 — Match Play vs. Tiger’s Opening 9 at The Masters
For each hole on the Front 9, you’ll compare your net score to Tiger’s on his live Front 9. Each time you tie him, you’ll earn 1 point. Each hole you beat him you’ll earn 2 points. When Tiger’s score (relative to par) is better than your net score on a hole, you get 0 points.
Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in completed cards to the Pro Shop.
Side-Contests for Masters Men’s Night
Before, after, or during your Men’s Night round, the following side-contests will be set up and all Men’s Night participants are encouraged to partake! Signage and markers for the side-contests will be in place by noon on Thursday (but Men’s Night rounds may be played earlier).
Drive: On #1 — longest drive in the fairway wins.
Ball-Skip: Across #7 pond — 2 chances per Men’s Night participant, closest to the pin wins. Bring a couple shag balls.
Chip: To the mini-island in #9 pond — 2 chances to hit our tiniest target (and keep the ball dry). Again, bring a couple shag balls.
Putt: Long putt on the putting green — best of 2 chances. Who can make a 40 footer (or 2) to win a Masters coin?
Champions Dinner
We are on rain or shine tomorrow for the Champions Dinner with the hors d’oeuvres buffet starting at around 5:30 PM. We hope to see you there for food, camaraderie, and celebration!
Competition Rules for Men’s Night 4/6
For this week, all Men’s Night competitors play the Front 9 using 100% of their Front 9 course handicaps.
Men’s Night rounds may be played at any time on Thursday with an accompanying MGA member. Please check in with the Pro Shop before you tee off. All players play from white tees and Rule of 75 players (Age + Handicap >= 75) may play golds.
With the possibility of rain in the forecast, an overall assessment of course playability / availability throughout the day will be used to determine if there has been enough time for Men’s Night play to count submitted scores for an official result.
We will be playing the ball down EVERYWHERE. As the exception, 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.
Balls marked on the green may be replaced to the side of any aeration holes, no closer to the hole.
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. Additionally, tire tracks, bare areas immediately adjacent to cart paths, and bare areas larger than a club length should be considered Ground Under Repair. DROP within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
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 payout and placement consideration.
The most anticipated date of the entire golf year is nearly upon us…the 1st Men’s Night of the MGA season!
For our 1st Men’s Night this Thursday, April 6th, we’ll be playing Match Play vs. Tiger’s opening Front 9 at Augusta as well as conducting several Masters-inspired Side-Contests. Our Champions Dinner will take place following Men’s Night rounds with food starting around 5:30 PM. All MGA members are welcome, especially all the new MGA members for the 2023 season. We’ll have the 2022 MGA Champions trophies to hand out so we hope to have a great turnout.
To really ramp up the excitement, our very own Masters insider, Mr. Matt Doherty, has graciously donated 2 commemorative Masters coins that will be awarded to the Men’s Night winner as well as the winner of the Putting Contest to be held on the putting green. Thank you Mr. Doherty!
Side-Contests for Masters Men’s Night
Before, after, or during your Men’s Night round, the following side-contests will be set up and all Men’s Night participants are encouraged to partake! Signage and markers for the side-contests will be in place by noon on Thursday (but Men’s Night rounds may be played earlier).
Drive: On #1 — longest drive in the fairway wins.
Ball-Skip: Across #7 pond — 2 chances per Men’s Night participant, closest to the pin wins. Bring a couple shag balls.
Chip: To the mini-island in #9 pond — 2 chances to hit our tiniest target (and keep the ball dry). Again, bring a couple shag balls.
Putt: Long putt on the putting green — best of 2 chances. Who can make a 40 footer (or 2) to win a Masters coin?
Main Event: Match Play vs. Tiger’s Opening 9 at The Masters on 4/6
For each hole on the Front 9, you’ll compare your net score to Tiger’s on his live Front 9. Each time you tie him, you’ll earn 1 point. Each hole you beat him you’ll earn 2 points. When Tiger’s score (relative to par) is better than your net score on a hole, you get 0 points.
The example below shows the breakdown of points earned vs. an example Front 9 for Tiger:
In this example, a net par on the 1st hole would earn a tie with Tiger for 1 point. A net par on the 2nd hole would gain you 2 points. And a net bogey on #3 would be worth 0 points.
Points will be awarded using 100% of individual Front 9 handicaps. All players play from white tees and Rule of 75 players (age + handicap >= 75) may play golds. Men’s Night rounds may be played at any time on Thursday with an accompanying MGA member. Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in all completed cards to the Pro Shop. Fore please, MGA Men’s Night now driving!
*If for any reason Tiger does not complete the Front 9 holes at Augusta on Thursday, we’ll use defending champion Scottie Scheffler’s Front 9 score.
1st Men’s Night & Side-Contests: Match Play vs. Tiger — play anytime on Thursday, April 6th Champions Dinner: Hors d’oeuvres buffet starting at 5:30 PM
As we approach the eve of our 2023 MGA season, we have some huge thank yous we’d like to send out for all those who have helped get us set up for a great year!
Thank you to John and all his maintenance staff for all their hard work on the course, especially all the aeration work over the last 2 weeks!
Thank you to Mary Ann, Christine, Chef Lois, Tsehaye, and Rahel for helping us get set up for the Champions Dinner this week and the season to come, for the opening of the new pro shop, and for all the work you do on a daily basis to make NGC the place we all love!
Thank you to Pete, Donnee, Milton, Tiffany, and all the pro shop staff for keeping all the trains running on time — fantastic to come to the course and see you in the new pro shop!
Thank you to Leo Goff, Bill Buffington, Chuck Roster, and Jim Ewalt for their work getting the course marked yesterday and ready for tournament play!
And finally, thank you to Vivianne Couts for being our on-course ornithologist and sharing the photo below of the new baby eagle in the nest near #12 tee!
MGA Handicap Reminders
Moving into the start of the season, all MGA players will need active handicaps in the GHIN system to participate in net scoring events (Men’s Nights & weekend tournaments). Starting April 15th, All participants must meet the MGA 2-in-30 handicap posting policy. Please email us at [email protected] if you need to get your GHIN account set up and we’ll help facilitate this with the club. As we’re all posting casual-play rounds at the club, the updated 2023 MGA Handicap Rules & Procedures: NGC Local Rules can be found here. We’ll keep these local rules updated throughout the season with any changes or course conditions considerations.
Upcoming Events
4/6: 1st Men’s Night & Champions Dinner — All MGA members invited! 4/22: MGA Play It Again — Sign up online here.