2024 Whistle Bear Men's League

Whistle Bear is our club.

• Act with integrity
• Be considerate of each other
• Care for the course and clubhouse 

The goal of the Whistle Bear Men’s League:

• Provide a friendly, competitive weekly event that is inclusive of all participants. In return we ask men’s league participants to act with integrity, be considerate of each other and support the club on the patio and in the Golf Shop.

League Entry Fees and Key Dates

• Season Entry Fee: Coming soon

Key Dates for 2024 Season

• Apr 24 - Men’s League Draft
• May 3 - Men’s Opening Banquet 
• May 8 – Start of regular season
• May 8 – Sep 18 Individual competition – 20 Weeks.
• May 8 – Aug 7 – Team regular season – 14 Weeks
• Aug 14 – Aug 28 -- Team playoffs – 3 Weeks
• Sep 25 – Men’s Closing Banquet & Titleist Shoot Out

Men’s League Rules

Rules of Golf

• Men’s League plays by Golf Canada rules of golf with the noted “WB Men’s League Local Rule” and Double Par MAX 
• KEY REMINDERS:
  • NO 3 PUTT MAX – Putt everything out until the ball is in the cup or you have reached double par
  • DOUBLE PAR MAX – Please pick up your ball once your have reached a score of double par to ensure that pace of play is maintained.

 WB Men’s League Local Rule:

• Lost Ball or Out of Bounds (not in a penalty area) – ALL STROKE and DISTANCE PENALTIES.
• ADDITIONAL OPTION - drop ball at nearest edge of FAIRWAY from point of entry – 2 (TWO) STROKE PENALTY.
• All regular GOLF CANADA rule options are still available.

Score Cards / Entering Scores

• Men’s League Starter will select a player from each group to keep score for the Men’s League 9 holes.
• NO restriction on Team Members playing together – Golf is a game of integrity played by gentlemen for fun.
• Men’s League Scores will be used as the basis for your Men’s League handicap. 
• The scorecard must be complete with players name and their team name. 
• Every scorecard MUST be signed and attested (2 player’s signatures– scorekeeper plus 1).
• All groups will place their Men’s League scorecards in a drop box located on the course post round.
• All players MUST enter their own Men’s League scores into Golf Canada for Regular Handicapping updates – This is key to ensure that you remain in compliance for all Club Handicap Events.
• Men’s League (via the Handicap Committee) reserves the right to adjust a player’s handicap as required.

Tee Boxes

• Players will have the option to play from either the blue, blue/white combo, or white tees.
• If a player wishes to play the blue/white combo or white tees, they must declare this before their first round of Men’s League, and must continue to use the same tee boxes for the duration of the Men’s League season.
• Note: Player’s handicaps will be adjusted based on the tee selection for the season. 
• Players who are NOT playing from the BLUE tee boxes are not eligible for Gross Player of the Week or Year awards.
• *Par 3 holes only - Blue and White Tees will be placed together EACH WEEK on the Men’s League 9 holes to allow ALL players to be included in the Closest to the Pin and Titleist Shoot Out contests. The WB Golf Shop will ensure the weekly setup is correct.

Men’s Team Draft

• A draft will be held prior to the season start date.  Please see key dates for details
• Teams lists will be available and announced prior to the start of the Men’s League season.  Your Team Captain will communicate with you via e-mail.
• Pre-Selected/Protected Players:
  • Each Captain will be allowed a total of 9 protected players (Captain plus 2 A, 2 B, 2 C, 2 D flight players).
  • Any player signed up can be protected. If protected player is selected by multiple teams, decision will be finalized by the following selection process:
  • Last year’s team get first right of refusal.
  • Allow selected player to choose team for the season.
• All players will be placed in the following groups prior to the draft based on their Men’s Day handicap:
  • A Flight
  • B Flight
  • C Flight
  • D Flight
• Remaining players will be drafted by Captains on the draft night to fill out their roster.
• Only players on the Official draft eligible list provided by the Golf Shop will be eligible to be drafted.
• Order of snake draft will be based on last year’s team standings at the conclusion of the playoffs.
• Draft order by flight – Pro, A, B, C, D, D, C, B, A….

Individual Format

• Players will be divided into four flights, based on their current handicap.
• A league handicap will be used going forward and will be calculated on your Men’s League scores only.
• If you were a Men’s League participant last year, we will use your Men’s League handicap from the previous year to start the 2021 season
• All flights will be updated WEEKLY by the Golf Shop, based on your current Men’s League handicap. It will be online on our scoring platform and available on the first tee
• NOTE: If a player is new to Whistle Bear and/or does not have a Men’s League handicap, they will be assigned an initial Men’s League handicap-based on Golf Canada data or a review with the Golf Shop.

Weekly Prizes

• Low Net for Flights A, B, C, and D - $50.
• Low Gross for Flights A, B, C, and D - $50.
• You must have a valid handicap to win the weekly Net Prize.

Yearly Prizes

• Low Net for the year will win a commemorative prize
• Low Gross for the year will win a commemorative prize
• A minimum number of 14 rounds (70%) during the regular season must be played

Closest to the Pin

• There will be two Closest to the Pin prizes each week
• Each Closest to the Pin winner qualifies for the Titleist Shoot Out at the end of the season.
• There is not a limit on how many times an individual can with Closest to the Pin, but only a single attempt will be allowed at the Shoot Out.  A random draw of participants will round out the Shoot Out to a total of 40 participants.

Men’s League Hole-in-One Club and Skins Option

• Any player that records a Hole-In-One during Men’s League play will have their name added to the Hole-in-One list.
• Hole-in-One MUST be made on the active 9 holes for the specific week.
• At the end of the year, all players on the list will split $1,000 in Golf Shop Credits.
• Gross Flighted Skins – (Optional) 
• Yearly entry fee for Skins is $100 ($5/week per player added to weekly flight skin pot)
• Each week flighted skins will be paid out for each successful gross skin per flight.
• Any carry-overs from a flight will be added to the following week’s flight skin pot.
• You are only competing against players in your flight. 

Team Format

Regular Season

• There will be 8 teams featuring 200+ players.
• The top 18 players scores (approximately 65% of players per team) will count each week towards their team’s score.
• The 6 lowest gross scores and 12 lowest net scores will be used for each team’s score. All other non-counting scores will be considered “useless bastards”
•  The team with the lowest total score for the week will be awarded points as per below:
  • 15 points – 1st place
  • 11 points – 2nd place
  • 8 points – 3rd place
  • 6 points – 4th place
  • 4 points – 5th place
  • 2 points – 6th place
  • 1 point – 7th place
  • 0 points – 8th place

The Pearle Cup Playoffs

• Playoffs will be 3 rounds, single knockout format with a consolation bracket.
• Teams will be rewarded for their regular season performance by beginning the playoffs with a Net Team Score, based on their order of finish from the regular season (Pearle Cup is akin to the Fedex Cup standings & playoffs. The variance across 18 counting scores with 14 being net, is negligible and recognizes an advantage for regular season performance).
• First-Round (Quarter Finals) - Regular season standings and starting score
  • 1st place (-7)
  • 2nd place (-6),
  • 3rd place (-5),
  • 4th place (-4),
  • 5th place (-3),
  • 6th place (-2),
  • 7th place (-1),
  • 8th place (0)
• Second-Round (Semi Finals) - Reseeded based on regular season rank and starting score
  • Top seed (-3)
  • 2^nd seed (-2)
  • 3^rd seed (-1)
  • Final seed (0)
•  Final Round (Championship - Reseeded based on regular season rank and starting score
  • Top seed (-1)
  • 2^nd Seed (0)
• Round 1 Quarter Finals – Q1 (1 vs 8), Q2 (2 vs 7), Q3 (3 vs 6), Q4 (4 vs 5)
• Round 2 Championship Semi-Finals – Winners of Quarter Finals (highest seed vs lowest seed)
• Round 2 Consolation – Losers of Quarter Finals (highest seed vs lowest seed)
• Round 3 Championship Final – Winners of Championship semi final matches, (semi final losers play for 3 / 4 place)
• Round 3 Consolation Final – Winners of Consolation semi final matches, (consolation semi final losers play for 7 / 8 place)

Championship Prize

• The Championship team will be awarded the Pearle Cup and every player will be recognized on the plaque in the Men’s locker room
• Each member of the team will receive a commemorative prize
• Each member of the team will have a seat at the closing banquet head table and enjoy a special menu chosen by the team.

Men’s League Events

Men’s League “On the Patio” / VAIRS LOUNGE

• The goal of the WB Men’s League is to encourage participation, friendship with a healthy dose of competition.
• It is also a weekly  time to enjoy good times with friends (old & new) over a drink or a meal all the while supporting our pro shop, our patio and our club
• With one of the biggest men’s league around, we want to ensure this applies to all regardless of what time of day they play on Wednesday’s.

Men’s League Menu

• There will be a special Men's League dinner menu each week. These dinner options will vary, will offer a range of price points and be available each Wednesday.

Free Beverage Voucher

• Each week on the first tee, you will receive a voucher for a free beverage – pop, juice or alcoholic beverage
• Beverage vouchers must be used that night and must be redeemed on the patio or at the take-out Window

'Skills' Challenge -  Weekly

• All Men’s League participants are automatically included in a random elimination draw. Every Men’s League participant will get an opportunity to win a ‘skills’ challenge.
• Every week each captain will choose 2 players from their team to participate. Once they have participated, the captain will take them off the list.
• While it is an individual ‘skills’ challenge, it will introduce team vs team rivalry.
• The team captains manage the list to ensure everyone gets an opportunity to play. If you can’t participate in the challenge, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to tell your Captain – not sure who your captain is, ask the Pro Shop. Your captain will then choose someone else for that week and reschedule you.
• The number of weekly participants will be divided equally (1 to 2 per team depending on # of total participants) to ensure every member gets an opportunity over the 20 weeks of competition. You will know at least a week before your turn depending on how your captain sets it up. What you will not know is the ‘skills’ challenge. We will spin that night and also factor in covid protocols. It could be anything, putt perfect, patio chip, corn-hole, throw a ball of the balcony, or an on-course challenge.
• The captain will attempt to replace players for the week with another player on their team
• ‘Skills’ challenge will take place each week at approximately 7:30pm - 8 pm on the patio or on-course.
• All selected players for the week will attempt the ‘skills’ challenge.
• A prize of $500 in Golf Shop credits will be awarded every Wednesday. 
• If multiple players tie in a week, the prize will be split equally
• Any Player who has not participated will have an opportunity to compete in Week 19 or 20

Chase the Ace – Weekly (Optional)

• Chase the Ace is a progressive game where 3 participants will be chosen each week for a chance to select a card from half of a standard deck of 52 playing cards that will include the Ace of Spades. Half a deck to provide more opportunities to win over the season. Choose the Ace of Spades and you win the progressive jackpot.
• The Ace of spades will be shown before being placed in the deck each week
• The starting jackpot amount will be announced each week when you purchase your tickets
• Chase the Ace tickets will be sold every week on the first tee. Participants must advise a member of the Golf Shop Team for weekly entry
• Cost is $5 per entry - to be applied to your member account.
• Members can enter as many times as they like each week
• Chase the Ace winnings are for paid out in Golf Shop credits.
• Chase the Ace proceeds are split 50/50, where the winner takes home 50% of the pot and the remaining 50% goes towards funding our Men’s League. We run the men’s league as a not-for-profit – what we charge goes right back to prizes and beverage vouchers for you.