Season's greetings from everyone at Mayacama! We look forward to a wonderful, festive December at the Club! Please take note of our slightly altered hours of operation below.

With more families and children on property during the holidays, we need to remind everyone to slow down and drive safely. Make it a peaceful and relaxing holiday season by allowing yourself more time to enjoy the scenic drive to and from the Club. We appeal to everyone to please observe the posted speed limits within both gates.

Faught Road Gate to Mayacama Entrance (25 mph)
Gatehouse to Swim & Tennis Entrance (35 mph)
Swim & Tennis Area (15 mph)
Maintenance Building to Clubhouse (25 mph)

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Mayacama Member Holiday Party
Sunday, December 13 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Gingerbread House Decorating
Sunday, December 13 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Mayacama Employee Holiday Party
Monday, December 14 | Club Closes at 4:00 pm

Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 24 | Club Closes at 4:00 pm

Christmas Day
Friday, December 25 | Course & Club Closed

New Year's Eve
Thursday, December 31 | Club Closes at 4:00 pm

New Year's Day
Friday, January 1 | Club is Open (start your New Year's resolution and play more golf)

MEMBER HOLIDAY PARTY

Clubhouse | Golf Shop | Spa
Sunday, December 13
4:00 - 7:00 pm Holiday Party
5:00 pm Kiddie Buffet Begins
6:00 pm Dinner Buffet Begins

The Wilhelm family would like to sincerely thank you for your active Club participation throughout the year by inviting you to our annual Member Holiday Party at the Club. The Member Holiday Party is also dear to Greg & Jennifer Hauck of Hauck Cellars so they have made this one of their official Vintner Events and donated all the wine to the party! Please join us in thanking them for their generosity.

You and your family will enjoy a festive open house of casual mingling with fellow Members, music, lots of sweet and savory nibbles, passed hors d'oeuvres, amazing wine, festive cocktails, and photo opportunities galore. We will have holiday crafts and ornaments to decorate for the kiddies to show off their artistic side.

Be sure to stop by the Golf Shop for chocolate & red wine pairing and their annual balloon sale with savings up to 40% when you pop the right balloon. Your Golf Staff will be on hand to assist you with any items from clubs, personalized golf balls, apparel, or equipment. We believe you will find the Golf Shop inventory the best it's ever been and positive you'll find many special things for your holiday gift list. Complimentary gift wrapping is available for your Golf Shop purchases throughout the holiday season.

Wander into the Spa Reception for a glass of white wine or hot apple cider and some holiday shopping until 6:00 pm. The Spa will also have a balloon sale with savings up to 40%. In addition to wonderful skin products, they have beautiful hand-made jewelry, purses, and belts by local artists. Complimentary gift wrapping is available for your Spa purchases.

Member Holiday Party - Complimentary
Kiddie Buffet (optional) - $20++ Per Person (Ages 2-12)
Dinner Buffet (optional) - $40++ Per Person (Ages 13+)
Register: 707 569 2900 or Online

Note: Bar & Grill menu unavailable after 4:00 pm. The Gingerbread House Decorating will be going on at the same time and requires a separate registration.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING

Clubhouse Dining Room
Sunday, December 13
4:00 - 7:00 pm

Throughout the evening, families will enjoy the holiday tradition of decorating a delicious pre-built gingerbread house with tons of frosting, oodles of candy, and a dusting of powdered sugar. This workshop is sure to bring out the creative side in kids of all ages. These sturdy and delicious gingerbread houses stay fresh and tasty for at least a couple of weeks. Each decorated gingerbread house can be taken home to admire through the holidays!

$40++ Per House (family and friends are welcome to team decorate)
Register: 707 569 2900 or Online

SCOREBOARD CALIGRAPHER

What do Mayacama Members and Rory McIlroy have in common? They both have had their names artfully featured on one of Zach Makilan's hand-lettered scoreboards.

For the second consecutive year, Mayacama Golf Club Assistant Professional and PGA Member Zach Makilan has been selected as the as the Main Scoreboard Calligrapher for the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open at Silverado in Napa. Shown here with assistance from Mayacama Golf Club’s Brian Hill, Makilan is recording second round scores at the Frys, the first stop of the PGA Tour’s 2016 Fedex Cup season. The hand-lettered Main Scoreboard is the centerpiece of every PGA Tour event, and features hole-by-hole scores for the entire field of 144 players. After the 36-hole cut, Zach’s work begins anew as he removes the score sheets for the first two rounds and then creates in his own hand-lettered style a new board for the 82 players who make the cut and play the weekend.

We always acknowledge that Zach’s Mayacama Scoreboards are “tour-quality” creations, and this is further proof of his talent and creativity to produce a score board worthy of the highest level of competition.

TAYLORMADE DEMO DAY

Saturday, December 5
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Come take the new TaylorMade M1 line of drivers, fairway woods, and rescues for a test drive. They will also have their new PSI irons and Tour Preferred Wedges. The same clubs that Jason Day used to win the 2015 PGA Championship. Appointments are not required.

HOLIDAY BALLOON SALE

Saturday & Sunday
December 12 & 13

The Golf Shop is offering great savings on your holiday shopping with our annual Balloon Sale on Saturday, December 12th and Sunday, December 13th. Once you have selected your items to purchase, then select a balloon to pop to receive your discount. Discounts will range from 10-40% off!

RULES OF GOLF CHANGES EFFECTIVE 1/1/16

Every four years, revisions are made to the Rules of Golf. The objective of the four-year cycle is to monitor developments in the game and respond with changes that keep the best interest of the game in mind. The R&A and USGA collaborate closely throughout the four-year cycle in order to implement those changes and improve the clarity with which the Rules are written. The revisions that go into effect in 2016 reflect four years' work by the Rules of Golf Committees of the R&A Rules Limited and the USGA.

We have listed the Principle Changes in the Rules here that will go into effect beginning in January. We have also included a link to the USGA’s  Resources on the 2016 Rules of Golf to further assist you on clarification to these changes in particular, and to the Rules of Golf in general. And shortly we will have complimentary copies of the Rules of Golf Book available in the Golf Shop. Please stop in the Golf Shop to pick up your copy. Everyone should carry a copy in their golf bag! And as always, feel free to call on a Member of your Professional Staff should you have any questions regarding the Rules of Golf.

Anchored Strokes
Rule 14-1b Anchoring the Club
Of all the new changes for 2016, none has received more attention that Rule 14-1b "Anchoring the Club". This new Rule has been introduced to prohibit "anchoring" the club, either directly or by use of an “anchor point” during the making of a stroke. The challenge of making a stroke lies in the forward movement of the club with the intent of striking the ball. Anchoring the Club during a stroke alters that challenge. This is not an equipment Rule, but rather one to prohibit the "type" of stroke a player might make. The USGA Website Link has a detailed video that shows exactly which stroke types are permitted and which ones are prohibited.

Rule 14-3 Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment; Abnormal Use of Equipment
There is an interesting "statement of principle" that has been introduced to this Rule which explains what guides the governing bodies in determining whether use of any item is a breach of Rule 14-3. Specifically, the governing bodies are guided by the principle that "success should depend on the judgment, skills and abilities of the player" in determining whether use of any artificial device or item of equipment is in breach of the Rule.

There is also an adjustment to the penalty for a player's first breach of Rule 14-3 during a stipulated round. It has been modified from disqualification to loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for a first-time breach. Thereafter, a player will be disqualified should he breach the Rule for a second time during a stipulated round.

Distance Measuring Devices
Distance Measuring Devices have become such a part of the game now. Previously when the use of Distance Measuring Devices was permitted, only devices that measure "distance only" were permitted. Beginning in 2016, if a Local Rule permitting Distance Measuring Devices is in effect, players will not be in breach of Rule 14-3 for using a Distance Measuring Device that includes other features that gauge or measure slope or other conditions that might affect his play, provided that those features are not used. If those other features are used, the player is in breach of Rule 14-3 and will receive the loss of hole penalty in match play or two strokes in stroke play for the first breach. For any subsequent breach, the player will be disqualified. 

Scoring in Stroke Play
Rule 6-6d Wrong Score for Hole
No longer will a competitor be disqualified for returning a score for any hole lower than actually taken when this is due to failure to include one or more penalty strokes that, before returning his score card, the competitor did not know he had incurred. Instead, the competitor incurs the penalty  prescribed by the applicable Rule and an additional penalty of two strokes for each hole that the competitor has committed a breach of Rule 6-6d (Wrong Score for Hole). This revision is listed as an Exception to Rule 6-6d. This is a limited exception, and in all other cases, the player will be disqualified if he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken.

Ball Moving After Address
Rule 18-2 Ball at Rest Moved by Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
Rule 18-2b (Ball Moving After Address) has been withdrawn. This means that when a ball moves after a player has addressed it, the application of a penalty under Rule 18-2 will be based purely on whether or not the player caused the ball to move. If the player caused his ball to move, he will incur a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced. If he didn’t cause it to move, then the ball will be played from its new location unless some other Rule applies.

Click For Helpful Links
Changes to the Rules of Golf 2016
Rules Revisions & Clarifications

CHANGES TO USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM FOR 2016

In addition to the changes to the Rules of Golf, the United States Golf Association announced key changes to the USGA Handicap System which will take effect on January 1, 2016. Of those key changes, the one with the most immediate impact to the majority of golfers will be the change regarding posting rounds when a player plays alone. No longer will players who play alone be able to post those rounds for handicap purposes.

Playing Alone and Necessary Peer Review
To further support the key System premise of peer review, scores made while playing alone will no longer be acceptable for handicap purposes. This change underscores the importance of providing full and accurate information regarding a player’s potential scoring ability, and the ability of other players to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a posted score. Good news for Mayacama Members is that playing as a Single in the company of a Caddie does not constitute “playing alone”, so a score played under that condition is eligible for posting.

Definition of a Tournament Score
Additional guidance is provided to Committees conducting competitions regarding the definition of a tournament score, placing greater emphasis on "significant events". The definition excludes fundraising events and regular league play, in favor of designated competitions such as a member/guest or club championship, local amateur tournament or national qualifying and competition.

Adjusting Hole Score
A revised decision provides clarity for acceptable scores in limited situations where the player has not played a hole(s) under the Rules of Golf, but his or her score would be sufficiently accurate for handicap posting purposes. Three areas covered under the examples include: 1) where the Local Rule is not in effect, but a player chooses to use a Distance Measuring Device or preferred lies; 2) where a player does not wish to cause undue delay; or 3) where the situation is outside of the player’s control, such as an incorrectly marked golf course.

Posting Scores When a Player is Disqualified
To improve alignment with the Rules of Golf, the revised Handicap System is clearer about what scores are acceptable when a player is disqualified. In general, a score is acceptable for handicap purposes even when a player fails to hole out, or apply a Rule that affects the rights of another player. If the disqualification breach is determined to provide an advantage for the player, the score is deemed unacceptable for handicap purposes.

Anchoring and Posting
A new reference concerns a player who anchors the club while making a stroke during a round and fails to apply the appropriate penalty or an adjusted hole score (Section 4-2). Since the score would not be reflected as playing under the Rules of Golf, it would be unacceptable for handicap purposes. (Section 5-1: Acceptability of Scores)

Committee Responsibilities
In an effort to assist the Handicap Committee with its responsibilities, this revision addresses a player with a temporary disability or permanent disability who has a Handicap Index that is no longer reflective of his/her current potential ability. In the particular instance cited, the Committee will no longer assign a local handicap (denoted with the letter "L" for local use only), but instead will issue a (temporary) modified Handicap Index (denoted by the letter "M"). This change supports the portability of a disabled player’s handicap, so that it can be used outside the player’s home club.

FAQ'S - "PLAYING ALONE" AND POSTING

What constitutes not playing alone?
As long as someone accompanies the player during the round (e.g., fellow competitor, opponent, caddie, marker for a tournament, friend riding along in a cart) the player is not playing alone.

How many holes can a player play alone to post the score?
The player must be accompanied for at least seven holes for a nine-hole score or 13 holes for 18-hole score. This is consistent with Section 6-1 of the Handicap Manual and the minimum number of holes played under the Rules of Golf. For the holes played alone (not accompanied), the player would treat these as not played under the Rules of Golf and post according to “par plus” any handicap strokes the player is entitled to receive.

Note: If a player plays nearly all holes accompanied but just a few alone, the holes played alone are calculated using "par plus", keeping in mind the maximum that can be played alone in a round eligible for posting is two holes for a 9-hole score and five holes for an 18-hole score. Some examples would be starting out alone and joining up with a player(s), or starting out accompanied and finishing the round alone. 

Click For Helpful Links
Changes to Handicap System 2016
Handicap Manual

HANDICAPS AND "THE CLUB"...A COMMENTARY

By Ted Antonopoulos

For this commentary, the term "Club" doesn’t necessarily refer to Mayacama Golf Club specifically. It could be any "Golf Club" or "Golfing Society" that exists wherever our current USGA Handicap System is in effect.

The USGA Handicap Reference Guide’s opening statement declares the primary purpose of the Handicap System. It states:

"Every player wants to enjoy a fair match on any golf course. The USGA Handicap System™ is the best method to allow all players to compete fairly on any course."

Sadly there are those who seek ways to circumvent the system. And there are others who wish to find ways to punish those who have intentions of using the Handicap System to gain a significant edge over their opponents or fellow competitors in a competition or even in every day play.

The game of Golf is self-regulating. Rarely are referees present when the game is being played, and players are left to govern themselves according to the Rules and the proper playing of the game. Players are often called upon to call penalties on themselves, even when the infraction may have gone unnoticed by anyone else.  Since its beginning, the game of Golf has relied on integrity, honesty, and courtesy as part of its structure. This is why "our Game is different"! This is precisely why "Clubs" were formed in the first place...peers playing the game with like-minded peers. Yet with modern society comes diversity, and with that diversity the make-up of Clubs and Golfing Society has changed with that. Still, the one thing that Golf Clubs and Societies have, or should have in common, is the desire to uphold the spirit of the game.

Like any system, our current Handicap System has its flaws. And one of the latest changes to the system, that of no longer accepting scores to be posted when the player plays alone, is an attempt to regulate and validate those scores posted for "peer review". One of the two essential elements of "peer review" is that Members of a Golf Club must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play together. Playing alone does not in and of itself give one's fellow Members the ability to gain an understanding of a player's potential ability and to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a score that has been posted. This is the primary reason that the change of no longer accepting scores to be posted when the player plays alone is implemented.

This will certainly affect some Members who enjoy going out and playing the game alone, and who prior to this change were able to post those scores for handicap purposes. And for those players, I sympathize with you. I too enjoy a late afternoon round of golf played alone, and up until now have been posting my scores, partly to record them for handicap purposes but also to record the number of rounds that I play and for stroke average calculations. But I understand the reasons why the decision was made to no longer permit the posting of those scores. Who is there to attest those scores? What about playing a second ball for practice, or taking a second putt for practice? That would result in a penalty according to the Rules of Golf because of practice during a round of golf. But who among us would apply such a penalty? Posting a score for Handicap purposes when playing alone gives a player who is seeking a way to take advantage of the "system" a clear path on which to alter his handicap, either higher or lower...yes "Hollywood Handicaps" are just as easily affected! Another factor in playing alone vs. playing with peers, either in a tournament or in a friendly game, is the added pressure one can feel that they would not when playing alone.

I liken this situation to posting scores as "Tournament Scores" when the Match Play format is used. In our match play events, we are always encouraging players to pick up if they are out of the hole in order to maintain a proper pace of play. Similarly we encourage players to concede their opponent's next stroke when they themselves are facing a "big number" on a hole with no chance of winning that hole. So what should a player put down when their next stroke has been conceded? The answer is to record what you "most likely would have made" had you finished playing the hole. But here again, this leaves the player with the advantage of falsely influencing their handicap, i.e. "He gave me the 2-foot putt for par, but I’ve missed a few of those putts lately, so I'll just give myself a bogey". Really? That is a perfect example of how a player can circumvent the system, and another reason why we do not post Match Play scores, where a player is not required to hole out, as a Tournament Score. By the way, when posting what you "most likely have made on the hole" use your best judgment and keep in mind the spirit of the game. It’s based on what you would do 50% of the time. So I feel that if I am conceded a 4-foot putt for par, I will record a par because I would likely make that putt 50% of the time. If I am conceded a 25-foot putt for birdie, I will record a par because I likely would not make that 25-foot putt 50% of the time.

The USGA Handicap System is by no means perfect, but it's the only one that we have. It differs significantly from the system used in Europe, where players maintain Handicaps through "Medal" (Stroke Play) Competitions only. Like the Rules of Golf, hopefully we will one day have one system that governs the game where handicaps are concerned. In the meantime, when changes are made to our system, they are done so with fairness and the integrity of the game at the forefront. This new change will certainly affect those who enjoy a solo round of golf, and for those players, I truly can understand your frustration with the change. I am one myself. But this change is made with the continued intent of "allowing all players to compete fairly on any course".

Look for more clarification on the USGA Handicap System over the coming months and as always, please call on a Member of your Professional Staff should you need clarification on the system, posting, or any other issues related to the Handicap System.

The Spirit of Golf
Golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING ONLINE

Are you unable to make it up to the Club for your Holiday Shopping? Are you having trouble finding that perfect gift? Visit our online Golf Shop on the Member’s Only website to see offerings from brands such as Bobby Jones, Brooks Brothers, Club Glove, Donald Ross, Dunning, Fairway & Greene, Fore Kids, Golftini, J.Lindeberg, KJUS, Sterling Cut Glass, and Zero Restriction to name a few. Orders can be shipped to any address.

FEATURED THERAPIST - CRYSTAL CUSKELLY

Crystal Cuskelly is originally from Ogden, Utah and moved to California spring of 2013 to work at Mayacama! For as long as she can remember Crystal has been passionate about massage therapy and has been a licensed therapist since 2010. In addition to her love for massage therapy at Mayacama, Crystal manages a Chiropractic office during the week. Bones and muscles work hand-in-hand together and so she feels like her two career choices compliment one another. Crystal believes that chiropractic care and massage therapy contribute to happier and healthier people. Contact the Spa to make an appointment with Crystal!

Crystal's New Year's Resolution Suggestion: Stretch Every Muscle - Every Day!

SPA SPECIAL

Create a Gift Package for those you love…INCLUDING YOURSELF! For the month of December, come into the Spa and customize a package of treatments. Buy 4 treatments and receive the 5th free! You are welcome to turn these treatments into gift certificates for your loved ones or use them all for yourself throughout the year!

Appointments: 707 569 2920 or [email protected]

**Did you know you can send unaccompanied guests to the Spa? We'll make your favorite people feel like part of the Mayacama family while we pamper them! Just have them reference your name when calling for an appointment. Gift certificates for treatment at the Mayacama Spa make wonderful gifts for your family and friends!

We also have complimentary gift wrapping throughout the year for your Spa purchases.

MEMBERSHIP REFERRAL PROGRAM

The Mayacama Referral Program awards Members with a Club Credit when they refer a new Member to the Club. If you would like to refer someone to explore Mayacama Membership, please send your referrals to [email protected] and your Club Representative will be happy to extend to them an invitation to Membership on your behalf.

Referral Rewards:
Social Referral - $350
Signature Referral - $350
Charter & National Referral - $1,000
Residence Membership Referral - $10,000

Click here to view all the different ways you could spend a $10,000 Club credit!

For information on all membership and ownership opportunities at Mayacama, please contact our sales team at 707 569 2950 or [email protected].

LET US KNOW

The Mayacama Connection brings you news and updates about Mayacama Golf Club and the wonderful events we have planned for you and your family. We hope that this newsletter and the website reflects our passion for making Mayacama the best Club in the country. We very much want to hear your comments or suggestions. Feel free to drop us a note at [email protected] and we will be glad to follow-up. Thank you in advance for your time, consideration, and input.

If you need assistance to log on to the Members Only Website, please contact Claire Thomas at [email protected]. Please note that all menus and event activities listed are subject to change. Cancellations for any events or Spa treatments made less than 24 hours in advance and no-shows will be charged in full.

Mayacama | 1240 Mayacama Club Drive | Santa Rosa, CA 95403
www.mayacama.com