The Midlands Golf Club

The rules of the Tagaytay Highlands and Midlands game of golf shall be modeled on those currently adopted by the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Local rules are likewise to be followed. These are printed on the back of the scorecard, in handouts, or posted on club bulletin boards.

• COURTESY ON THE COURSE
  • Consideration For Other Players
    1. Players should play without undue delay.
    2. No player should play a shot until the players in front are out of range.
    3. Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them to pass as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball may not be found easily. They should not continue play until the players called through have passed and are out of range.
    4. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.
  • Behavior During Play
    1. No one should move, talk, or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke.
    2. The player who has the honor should be allowed to play before his or her opponent or fellow competitor tees his or her ball.
• PRIORITY ON THE COURSE
  • A single player has no standing and should give way to a match of any kind.
    1. Any flight playing a whole round is entitled to pass a flight playing a shorter round.
    2. If a flight fails to keep its pace on the course and loses more than one clear hole from the players in front, it should allow the flight following to pass.
• CARE OF THE COURSE
  • Playing out of bunkers
    1. Before leaving a sand trap or bunker, players should ensure that their caddies rake and smooth over all footprints and depressions left behind.
  • Restore divots, repair ball-marks and damage by spikes
    1. Through the green, a player should ensure that any turf cut or displaced by him is replaced at once, pressed down, and sanded by their caddies. Ball-marks must be carefully repaired on sight. Damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes should be repaired on completion of the hole.
  • Damage to greens – flagsticks, clubs, etc.
    1. Players should ensure that when playing on the putting greens, no damage is done to it, and that neither they nor their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it, whether in handling the flagstick or in removing the ball from the hole.
    2. Players should not drag their golf shoes to avoid spike marks on the putting surface.
    3. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green.
  • Golf Carts
    1. Notices designating parking areas should be strictly observed. When the players are on the greens, the carts should be parked on the side of the green leading to the next tee.
    2. At all times, golfers shall ensure that they do not drive over soggy areas or grounds under repair to avoid damaging the course.

• The golf course is open at 6:00 a.m. daily. As much as possible, a golf game should be finished by sunset or 6:15 p.m., whichever comes first.
  • Members, spouses, children of members, and their accompanied guests can use the golf course subject to by-laws and such restrictions as management may decide.
  • There must be at least one club member in every flight; and only foursomes, threesomes, and twosomes are allowed to play on weekends and holidays. Solo flights on weekends and holidays are discouraged; however the starter may decide to find the lone golfer a flight to play with.
  • Fivesomes are strictly prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
  • Golf professionals (teaching or tour pros) may accompany a member provided he or she shows proof or license duly issued by the PGAP (Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines) or USPGA. No green fees are to be collected if and only if it is determined that said professional will not play and will only teach golf. However, necessary charges apply if he or she plays a round of golf. On-course sessions are allowed only on weekdays and never on weekends or holidays.
  • Rain checks (a ticket for the remaining part of the game to be played on a later day) are issued to golfers who have started to play but are unable to finish their game due to inclement weather.
  • The fees or rentals charged are for 9 or 18 holes only. For extended games or when more than 18 holes are played, additional fees will be charged to the golfer.
  • If, in the opinion of the management, lightning or thunderstorms pose a threat to the safety of the golfers and caddies on the golf course, the alarm is sounded by means of a siren. All persons out in the golf course are advised to go immediately to the nearest shelter and to remain there until the all-clear signal is given.
• A tournament initiated by a member at the Tagaytay Highlands golf course for his or her association, organization, or friends may be held on any day of the week except for holidays. For the Tagaytay Midlands courses, it may be held on any weekday except for holidays.
  • The tournament proposal or request must be submitted at least one month before the event.
• Proper golf attire should always be worn while on the golf course.
  • Soft-spiked golf shoes are mandatory.
  • For men, shirts with collars and golf shorts or slacks are mandatory.
  • Denims are strictly prohibited.

• Guests are not allowed to play unless introduced and accompanied by a member.
• A member may bring up to four guests to play on weekdays and up to three guests to play on weekends and holidays.
• The member shall be responsible for all acts and charges incurred by his or her guests.

Players may not share clubs except in special competitions.

• Checking control of play
  • Control of play shall be in accordance with such regulations as management may promulgate from time to time. It shall be the duty of every member to check the pace of golfer’s traffic before starting play on the golf course.
• Sequence of play
  • All players commencing a round of golf in normal weather conditions shall start on the first or tenth tee and shall play each hole thereafter in proper sequence.
• Marshal
  • The marshal shall have the power to vary, suspend, or modify the control of play if, in his opinion, circumstances warrant such action.

• Regulations
  • Time sheets regulating play on the golf course may be applied at any time at the discretion of management. When time sheets are in force, no player whose name does not appear on them may play on the golf course except after the last group of players has started their 2nd set of nine holes.
• Manner of booking
  • A member or his or her dependents can book a time slot on the time sheet.
  • Bookings may be done personally at the front office or via telephone.
• No-shows on reserved stipulated date
  • Should any player of his or her party be unable to play on the stipulated date for any reason whatsoever, it is the responsibility of the player to inform the club of such cancellation at least one day before the stipulated date of play. The club may impose late cancellation or no-show penalties and charges as it sees fit.

• In order to regulate control of play, all players on the golf course shall observe the following:
• Tee-off shall be in the order of the full flight of players arriving at the tee box. flight of players arriving at the tee box. Those who have completed nine holes should have alternate priority over those just starting to play.
• Players must follow the directions of the starter whenever one is on duty. Permission to tee-off on holes number 1 & 10 may only be given by the starter.
• For the Tagaytay Highlands golf course, only the starter, upon clearing with the golf services supervisor, golf director, or general manager, may give permission to tee-off on hole number 5 in the event that weather conditions (such as extreme fog) render it impracticable to tee-off on holes number 1 & 10. In this case, the starter shall make arrangements for the players to be taken to hole number 5.
• In the event that players who started from hole number 1 catch up at the tee of hole number 5 with players who are starting there, priority in teeing-off shall be given to those who started from hole number 1.

• Caddie fees
  • Caddie fees, which shall be set by management from time to time, shall be paid in cash or caddie chits.
• Availability of caddies
  • Members must employ a caddie whenever one is available. No players are allowed on the course without a caddie. Only those registered on the caddie roster are allowed to perform such duties on the course.

• The use of golf carts provided by the club is optional on the Tagaytay Midlands courses. On the Tagaytay Highlands course, however, the use of golf carts is mandatory from holes number 2 to 9 and 11 to 18. Play is not allowed if none of the players can drive a cart or if there are no golf carts available.
• Golf carts must carry no more than two to four persons with their golf bags, depending on the type of golf cart used.
• All players shall pay the required fees for the use of golf carts. Management may amend such fees as it deems fit.
• Golfers shall take good care of golf carts under their charge. Carts must be driven only on the car path of both golf courses, and the driver of the golf cart must exercise extreme caution along steep paths. He or she must depress and set its parking brake before dismounting. When parking downhill, the wheels must be turned toward the curb to preclude any runaway carts. Golfers shall promptly report any damage noted before and/or after use.
• Players who cause damage to the golf cart shall be liable for the cost of repairs. They shall also be responsible for any damage caused by the caddies authorized by them to drive their golf carts.
• Placing of feet against the windscreen is strictly prohibited.
• Golfers rent and use golf carts at their own risk. The Club, its officials, and staff shall not be held liable for any damage or injury caused or suffered.

The club handicap of players shall be based on the USGA Handicap System. The golf services office shall maintain a handicap register, which is updated every month.

• Score card and penalty
  • A player shall submit a card every time he plays a round of 9 or 18 holes and the following information should be recorded on the scorecard for each round:
    1. Member’s name or spouse’s/dependent’s name and membership number Date round played Score for 9 or 18 holes
  • Failure to comply with Article 14 Section (a) of the golf rules may result in a card with the net score equivalent to the lowest round played being submitted on the member’s or his or her dependents’ behalf. Repeated failures to comply with this by-law may result in disciplinary action being taken.
• Score card return
  • Every score card returned must be signed by the member or his or her dependents concerned and countersigned by a marker.
• Failure to Return Score Card
  • Any member or his or her dependents failing to make a return in accordance with paragraph (a) of this rule for a period exceeding 12 months shall have his or her name placed on the non-competitive members’ list until such time as he or she returns 5 completed 18-hole rounds.

Management may, at its discretion, revise (upwards or downwards) and/or suspend the club handicap of any member at any time.

Eligibility for club competitions shall be opened to all members in good standing and in accordance with the classification specified by the tournament committee.

Competitors taking part in a club competition shall have priority on the golf course and other players must permit competitors to play through on request.

• Unless otherwise specified in the rules of competition, the following tiebreakers shall be used:
  • In match play competitions – If a match finishes all square, that match shall continue in the same sequence as the first 18 holes until one side has gained a hole. Then the match shall have been won. In handicap play, strokes shall again apply as in the 18-hole round.
  • In stroke play competitions – the club count-back system shall be as follows:
    1. 18-hole competition
       • The club count-back system shall start with holes 10 to 18, and if there is still a tie, with 13 to 18 and 16 to 18, in that order, and thereafter similarly on the first 9 holes.
    2. 36-hole competition
       • The count-back system stipulated in paragraph (a) of this rule shall be followed for the last 18-hole play first, and if there is still a tie, it shall be applied to the first 18 holes.
       • The foregoing rules are subject to change and may be amended or superseded from time to time as circumstances may warrant and as management may deem appropriate.

• The management shall have full powers and control over the driving range and may open, close, or reserve range and may open, close, or reserve the same for particular periods as it deems fit.
• Users of the driving range are subject to the terms and conditions governing its usage.
• Members and their guests shall at all times conduct themselves with decorum while in the Driving Range.
• Littering is strictly prohibited.

Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• The ball fees are to be signed for at the front office by members using the driving range.
• Chits shall be issued stating number of buckets desired and should be presented to the driving range attendants.
• The management reserves the right to revise the range fee as it deems fit.

• It is the responsibility of members to register their guests at the front office and sign for their range fees. They are also responsible for their guests’ conduct at the driving range.
• Range chits are valid only on the date of issue.

Users of the driving range must be properly attired as prescribed in the club’s golf rules. Sleeveless shirts, tank tops, collarless T-shirts, denims, and beachwear are prohibited on the driving range.

• Bays at the driving range may not be reserved except by management.
• Play on the driving range is on a first-come-first-served basis. If the bays are full, the players must take their turns when the bays become vacant.
• All play shall be from the stance mats of the driving range bays.
• Only driving range balls provided by the driving range attendants are permitted for use on the range.
• Range balls are not to be used on the golf course. No player should collect any balls from the range.
• Players shall not play from the turfed area in front of the driving range.
• Children under 12 years old are not permitted at the driving range, unless they are under adult supervision or the tutelage of the golf instructor.

• The resident golf instructor shall be available to give lessons at the driving range upon request.
• Members wishing to avail of the golf instructor’s services may do so by contacting the front office.

The club shall not be liable for any loss of or damage to property or any injury suffered by or caused to members and their guests when practicing on the range.