Burke Lake Women's Golf Club Organizational Rules
Updated February, 2026
A.The annual spring meeting will be held in March. The Executive Board will notify members of the place and time.
B. Rosters, complete with email addresses and phone numbers, will be provided via email to each member. A member may request that their personal information not be included in the roster when filling out the application. Additions, corrections, and updates will be issued as needed.
C. The playing season will be weekly on Mondays beginning with the first Monday in April and ending the last Monday in October, with the exception of Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Columbus/Indigenous People Day. The End of Season Tournament will take place in the September/October time frame.
D. All weekly rounds will consist of 18 holes from the Red tees to be considered a "completed round". Each member must play at least 8 completed rounds between Opening Day and through the week prior to the tournament to qualify for the End of Season Tournament.
E. Over 80 Option:
Members who are over 80, or who will reach the age of 80 during the season, can move their tee position within 20 paces from the forward tee (Red) closer to the flag. If you choose this option, it is in effect the entire season.
a. Players must use a tee to play their tee shot
b. The rule will be in effect during regular play and on tournament days
c. Players using this rule are eligible for prizes at the end of year
d. Be sure your teammates know that you will be teeing off 20 paces from the Red tee.
F. Nine holes may be played, but will not constitute a completed round, and thus will not be eligible for handicapping or prizes. Nine-hole play will be eligible for chip-ins and birdies during the regular season.
G. Tee times are typically between 6:30 AM-10:20 AM but are subject to change based on sunrise, if Burke Lake Management requests a change, or if our membership enrollment requires more or fewer tee times to be scheduled.
H. Score Card Recording and Submission:
Every player must keep her own score card, even though not all score cards will be submitted after the round. Recording procedures vary slightly depending on the number of players in a group. In all cases, player names should be entered alphabetically as Last Name, followed by First Initial, and the submitted scorecard must be signed by the scorer, and attested (or witnessed) by all players on that card. And, please, write legibly.
1. If playing in a foursome: Scoring is conducted as two (2) twosomes. Each player records their scores as well as those of their scoring partner. After entering the last name and first initial, skip a line, then enter the second player’s name. The first line is to record the total score for the hole for the first player, the second line is to record their number of putts for the hole. The second player’s scores are recorded the same way, so all four card lines are used. After the round, players compare score cards for accuracy, make any corrections, and select the most readable card for submission. After entering scores in the computer, both players sign the card and submit it.
2. If playing in a threesome: Each player records their scores as well as those of the other two players. Players’ names are entered on individual lines without skipping. The total hole score for a player is entered into the top, left-hand area of the score box, then the number of putts is entered into the lower, right-hand corner of the box. Again, after the round, players compare score cards for accuracy, make any corrections, and select the most readable card for submission. After entering scores in the computer, all three players sign the card and submit it. A round must be completed with at least one other member, and the score card must be signed and witnessed to be eligible for tournament prizes/championships. Exception: you may play with a non-member if no other member of the Club is available to play. Both signatures are still required on the score card. The round will qualify for prizes, completed rounds, and handicap purposes. This exception does not apply to the End of Season Tournament.
I.BLWGC plays “Ready Golf” meaning that whoever is ready should play next to keep the pace moving. Each group should be ready to tee off when/shortly after the group ahead of them leaves the green. Each golfer should be ready to tee off first at least a couple of times during each round. If you are teeing off last on every hole, you are not playing ready golf. If there is an empty hole between your group and the group in front of you, your group is playing too slowly. Be ready to putt, and don’t spend an excessive amount of time lining up every putt. Note that the Burke Lake goal is maximum 10 minutes per hole. Guidelines for “Ready Golf” can be found on the clubhouse board, BLWGC website and on the Documents menu in the scoring software.
J. If someone in your group becomes ill or must leave before the round is completed, that person’s score is not entered into the computer, but their scorecard must be stapled to the submitted card at the end of the round. If they are playing in a twosome, the remaining golfer should join with the other twosome so that all cards are signed.
Under normal circumstances, groups should not play through groups in front of them. One exception would be if a group needs to pause because of an illness, injury, or other emergency. The pausing group may then ask the following group(s) to play through as needed until the pausing group can resume play. Consideration for the health and well-being of our fellow golfers is paramount.
K. Birdie pins are awarded to any golfer who gets birdies throughout the season except for the Shotgun and Halloween Tournaments. Make sure your partner also signs the card and the birdie sheet. One birdie pin is given for each hole, during any given season, or a total of 18 pins possible per season. Birdie pins will also be awarded to those playing nine holes – note that this is the only time that a 9-hole card should be submitted and attested. Birdie pins, included with your $35 membership fee, are optional but do not have to be accepted.
L. If applicable, fill out the birdie, chip-in and hole-in-one sheet. One other person on the scorecard must sign this form.
M. If you are unable to keep your reserved tee time, please make the change in the Sign Up Genius. If this change is last minute on Sunday afternoon, evening or Monday morning, please contact the clubhouse to let them know of your change in schedule. The number is 703-323-1641 #4. We are guests of Burke Lake Golf Course. They are giving us the courtesy of reserving Monday morning slots for us.
N. When questionable weather occurs during the regular season and the course is open, if at least two members complete a round, it will be counted as a round played, and included as one of the rounds required to compete in the end-of-season tournament.
During the End of Season Tournament, if two players or more are able to complete a round, the round will count if all members with a tee time for that day cannot complete the round due to inclement weather, Please note, if a golfer makes an individual decision at the last minute that she personally no longer wishes to golf that day due to weather or course conditions, she must cancel with the starter. (703-323-1641 #4)
O. Handicaps will be carried over from the previous year. The scoring system will establish a handicap for new members after the first three completed rounds. The ceiling on handicaps is 54.
P. Membership dues will be prorated at 50% of the full season rate for those joining BLWGC after June 30.
Q. To participate in the End of the Season Tournament, golfers must have completed a minimum of 8 games throughout the season. Flights will be determined at the end of August based on net scores with handicap for those eligible golfers. During the tournament play, two of the best three net scores with handicaps are recorded for each eligible golfer when determining the Tournament Champion and flight winners. Please note, the purpose of using handicaps for this tournament is to put everyone on “equal” footing. The purpose of our league is to enjoy the game of golf and encourage continued participation in our league.
Golfers may participate in the End of Season Tournament if they have not completed 8 rounds during the season, and their scores will be in the system for handicap purposes, but their score will not be included in the tournament.
A Club Champion will be determined based on the lowest average scratch during the regular season. Golfers must have golfed a minimum of 8 games to be eligible for Club Champion.
R. The finances of the club are to be audited annually by a member of the club appointed by the Board.
S. The Executive Board (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) and committee members will have the privilege of advanced tee time sign up. They may sign up one other Board member or committee member only (not a general member). Every member, not just Board members or committee chairs, can sign up one other person once Sign Up Genius is available to the general membership.
LOCAL CLUB PLAYING RULES
Updated February, 2026
1. During the regular season, a 9-stroke limit is in effect, i.e. a player may not take more than 9 strokes on any hole. If your ball is not on the green after five strokes, place your ball on the green, one putter head from the edge, in the original line of flight incurring a one stroke penalty. Your next stroke (putt) is your seventh with a maximum stroke count of 9.
Please remember that Burke Lake Golf Course guidelines are 10 minutes per hole.
2. HOLE #6 – If your ball lands in the flower beds behind the green, a free drop is allowed one club length from your nearest point of relief but no closer to the hole.
3. HOLE #11–If your ball goes into the water hazard on a tee shot, your options of play are:
a. Re-tee from the tee box OR
b. Proceed to the opposite side of the water hazard and place your ball one club length from the water hazard and in the line of where the ball entered the hazard (your drop area). With either option you are hitting THREE having incurred a penalty stroke.
Note: Under Option a. if your ball again goes into the water, you will incur a second penalty and be hitting FIVE. If it takes two strokes to enter the hazard, you are hitting FOUR in drop area, etc.
If your ball lands on the bridge, you are entitled to free relief. Move the ball one club length from your nearest point of relief but no closer to the hole.
If your ball goes into the creek bed to the left of the bridge and lands on the rock area on a tee shot or subsequent shots, you can move it. Drop a ball in the line of flight, one club length from your nearest point of relief but no closer to the hole incurring a one stroke penalty.
If your ball enters the ditch left of the rock bed and the ditch is dry, you may hit from the ditch (no penalty) OR you may drop a ball in the line of flight, one club length from nearest point of relief but no closer to the hole incurring a one stroke penalty. This same rule applies when the ditch is wet.
If your ball lands in the flower beds behind the green, a free drop is allowed one club length from your nearest point of relief, but no closer to the hole.
4. HOLE #16 – If your ball goes into the water hazard on a tee shot, your options of play are:
a. Re-tee and play from the tee box OR
b. Proceed to the other side of the water hazard and drop a ball in the line of flight one club length from the water hazard.
With either option, you are hitting THREE having incurred a one stroke penalty.
5. Lost balls – If you cannot locate your ball within three minutes, you may drop another ball in the area where the first ball landed incurring a one stroke penalty. The ball may not be dropped onto the fairway. The ball should be in the line of flight of the original ball!
(Leaves Rule – after September 1st, if the ball is lost in the leaves and in the rough, you may drop another ball without penalty in the area where the lost ball landed. If the ball lands in the leaves on the fairway, you may drop another ball in the area where the ball landed without penalty.)
6. Unplayable/Poor Lie. If your ball lands in the fairway in an unplayable or poor lie (e.g., casual water, sprinkler head, hardpan, rocks, roots) you may move the ball to the nearest playable position but no closer to the hole without penalty.** If a ball lands in the rough and considered unplayable and you choose to move it, there is a one stroke penalty.
7. Only in the fairway, you may pick up the ball to left, clean and play replacing the ball within a 3-inch area of where it landed.
8. Each season, Fun Tournaments are held in October. No score cards are submitted. No Hole in One or Birdies pins are given due to the nature of the fun tournaments. All play during the fun tournaments is dictated by the nature of the tournament. Instructions will be given by email and a copy will be available in the clubhouse. If you don’t wish to participate in the fun tournament, please schedule your game outside of BLWGC tee times for that Monday.
*If you would like to download a phone app for USGA Rules of Golf, January 2026, just google and download, “USGA rules of golf app.