1. Goat Golf is played strictly according to USGA Rules of Golf and is open to all members.
   
   
2. Goat Golf games are played at Match Play.
   
   
3. Members shall play each other based on their Club Handicaps, at Match Play.  Matches are played at full handicap with strokes assigned at the difference between the two handicaps.
   
   
4. Members must be ready at all times to defend their Goats, must not decline challenges and matches should be played within two weeks of a challenge. 
   
   
5. All Goat Matches must be single matches - played with a single opponent for a single Goat.  No matching of cards with players outside your own game, nor sweepstakes for Goat Medals are permitted.  The only exception is that players in the same foursome may play each other for their Goats.  In this case, the players are all taking part in the same game and each player has sufficient Goats or equivalents to cover his matches.
   
   
6. The winner of a Goat match does not have to receive the loser’s own Goat provided the loser has other Goats that he can and prefers to let go.  A loser must forfeit a Goat if he has one.
   
   
7. A member who holds a Goat from another successfully through two successive matches may thereafter decline further challenges from that member in order to engage in matches of their own making.
   
   
8. When a member loses his own Goat and has none left, he can still play others for their Goats, but he is a player of lesser standing.  When a Goat holding member challenges or is challenged by a Goatless member he has the right to set the stakes for the match.  Since the Goatless member has no Goat to lose, he must pay a fitting penalty should he lose.  The member challenged names the terms on which he will play, his contention being he risks a Goat, and has no possibility of winning one because his opponent is “Goatless”; therefore, he has the right to fix the terms on which he will play. It is suggested the terms for such a situation should be one new sleeve of golf balls (brand must be stated).
   
   
9. It is possible for two Goatless members to play each other providing they both originally possessed a Goat.  In this case both members are of equal standing and they must work out the terms of their match. The objection to both of the above situations is that neither of them brings the winner of the match any nearer to being the final champion.  In theory, a member could spend the whole season playing with Goatless members and if he won every match he would be no closer to being the champion.  Therefore, when a Goat-holding or Goatless Goat plays another Goatless Goat and wins, the Goatless one hands the victor the score card endorsed and dated by himself, and this score card is an IOU for a Goat Medal when the Goatless one can win a medal.  And if the Goatless one cannot win a medal during the season, the score card will count one tally for the victor in the contest to be champion.
   
   
10. Goat Medals or alternatives mentioned above must be delivered immediately at the close of the match.  A Goat debt must be settled at the end of the match and may not be passed between members.
    
    
11. The Goat Season begins April 1st and ends October 15th.  The participant with the most Goats at the end of the season will be declared the Champion Goat.  The Goat Committee will determine how many places will be paid and prize money for each place.
    
    
12. All disputes will be settled by the Commissioner of Goats whose decision is final.  The 2012 Commissioner of Goats will be Ian Patterson.

Contact the Golf Shop at 540.338.4653 ext 1 for more details or to sign-up.