A member of the Oregon Golf Association
The ICMGA is an established club entity, supported by the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) and Indian Creek Golf Course Management. The association was created in 1989 to provide a way for its members to establish an official USGA handicap and to conduct golf and golf-related social activities for the benefit, pleasure, education and recreation of all members. We are a non-profit organization, fostering relationship building by providing fun and equitable events and competitions.
Our mission is to grow participation and passion for the sport, while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. Obtaining a USGA handicap makes the game more enjoyable, equitable, and every golfer has an understanding of their potential ability. We will work hard to provide a framework for our membership to have fun through learning more about the game of golf.
We have scheduled weekday games (on Tuesdays) and flighted competitions on weekends. We will do our part to promote and encourage as much participation as possible, while adhering to the rules of golf.
Indian Creek Men's Golf Association
The board is comprised of volunteers that act as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They develop, organize, schedule, and promote events to create an enjoyable golfing environment. We endorse good fellowship and sportsmanship among the members in playing golf, and participating in our organized events. More details and information on the roles and responsibilities for our board/committee positions can be found in our Bylaws.
2024 NEWS : We are readying for another year. Has it been that long? Well, yes 2024 is upon us and the year of the Dragon will be fun, if nothing else. We have two new new board members added for this year (noted with asterisk below):
Officers - Roger Babb (President), Matt
Mesa (VP)*, Pat Connelly (Secretary), Jim Nichols (Treasurer)* & Rich Sabo
is our Handicap Chairman
As always, please reach out to any of our officers with your questions or concerns. All our officers are ready, willing, and wanting to make this season ahead
the best year to date. Having goals means trying to surpass a very successful 2023! We are anticipating more interest in our events, and as you review the
tournament schedule, please look to sign up early for the events. They will fill up and last minutes entries may mean
putting you on a waiting list.
Of course now is the time to renew your membership for 2024, so please download and fill out the signup form and drop off at the clubhouse,
or you can fill one out up at the clubhouse. Most importantly, double check that your email is correct.
Our dues for this year are $100 which includes your OGA dues and provides eligibility for our tournaments. There's an 'optional'
extra $25 for the hole-in-one insurance. You can download the form here:
2024 ICMGA Membership Form Download
Here are the dates for tournaments with descriptions and format information
Here we go for another Indian Creek Men's Club season! We encourage you to
play in as many events as possible. Tuesday's play continues to be well attended, and
we've added a wildcard to the mix for the fifth Tuesday of any given month.
Be on the lookout for a 3 club challenge!
For all our weekend tournaments, player scores will automatically be entered into the GHIN system, where applicable.
For these scheduled events, please do not post your scores via the GHIN app (or some other option). Also with all of our flighted
competitions, the tournament entry fees include Payballs and the Deuce Pot payouts. This serves to help getting the tournaments started on time
and in speeding up end of tournament processes/tabulations.
NOTE: All entry fees are subject to change. The
tournament chairs (listed for each event below) will confirmed all details in the regular event announcement email.
If you have any questions, please reach out to an officer.
All
tournament sign-up sheets are posted in the Men's club area inside
the golf shop on our bulletin board. Please be sure to have signed up
for any posted event two days prior (and by 4pm). This has always been the
cutoff, and we need people
follow this protocol. Last minute entries creates a bit of reorganization and more
scramble time for the tournaments directors. Plus based on these sign-ups, we work with the
club to arrange for the appropriate amount of tee times. Adding
players after the cutoff can cause disruption of the course's tee sheet, which is
normally full over the weekends. Thank
you for your cooperation in advance.
For all
our men's club tournament formats (on Tuesday or weekend play) players must
'hole-out'
on each hole. As opposed to match play, no concessions are permitted in
stroke play. Any golfer who doesn't hole-out on a hole, before teeing off
on the next hole, will be disqualified from that event. Similarly, in
two-man or team events at least one player must hole-out as well for the
score on each hole. In essence there are no such things as 'gimmes'.
Lastly, if you as a player use the term 'that's good' when
playing within your daily/regular group, it would serve you well to break
that habit. It could lead to
someone picking up their ball during tournament play, and that player penalized
or even disqualified.
We wanted to
also touch on the topic of 'questions' while implementing rules during
the course of tournament play. If the player in the group is unsure about a specific ruling, it is best (in these instances) to play two
balls in completing the hole. After your round, you'll be able to discuss with a committee member (or club representative) to determine and then apply the correct
score for the hole. Additionally, all rounds need to be accompanied by a completed, signed (both scorer and attested), and dated card. For these tournament cards, you do not
need to include 9 or 18 hole totals, just sign off on your hole-by-hole scores.
Be sure not to forget to circle your birdies and/or eagles on the card!
Rangefinders: Related to using rangefinders on the course during tournament play (Tuesday & weekends); please be sure to deactivate the 'Slope' setting/feature. If you are unable to deactivate this setting then that rangefinder cannot be used during our tournament play. Most of the newer rangefinders will have a button on the side to turn 'OFF' slope mode. If you have questions, please speak to an officer or club representative. Using this featuring, even if accidentally, will lead to disqualification.
All the news about the club, the course, the local scene, and our partners coming at you!
Welcome to our 'News' section. Here you will find important items and information for your periodical review. We will post up pertinent updates from the course management, our committee, some local color, as well as announcements from the OGA. If there is something you deem as 'news worthy' for our membership, we would certainly be pleased to post up here, so as needed contact a committee member.
Hole-In-One Eligibility - Full Year (March to March) - At the ICMGA officers' meeting earlier this year, it was decided to change the Hole-In-One eligibility period to a full calendar year. It was brought to our attention on multiple occasions, and it is now deemed that any hole in one (meeting the club's Bylaws) should be in the mix regardless of when it happened. Good luck to all and happy hunting for your 'Ace'.
Feedback and Support - We so appreciate feedback from our membership! Getting consistent and constructive input ensures that we are working together to provide the best golfing experience we can at Indian Creek. Additionally, we extend immense thanks to Indian Creek management and the entire IC team for their feedback and always thoughtful support of our club and events. The ICMGA Officers are always ready to hear your recommendations and ideas, so please let us know how we can improve any of our activities. Thank you all in advance!
Player Guidelines and Course Conditioning - Our spring season starts next week and we are looking forward to warmer weather. Just a quick reminder that part of the course maintenance belongs partially to us. Remember to fill your divots, fix ball marks, rake sand traps, and report unusual course conditions to the clubhouse. Again, make sure that the two sand bottles are full in your cart before your round and a good policy is to take one when leaving the cart to play a shot. The teeing areas also need our attention, so please be cognizant of seeding divots from the seed boxes provided. It's cool if even you seed the ones you did not make. Every par 3 has a seed box, and a few par 4's as well. As we know, caring of the course is part of our duties as members as we play the course.
Pace of Play - We here at Indian Creek are not immune to 'slow-play'. On a number of occasions this year the pace of play has impacted, not only the group that is falling behind, but all the following groups on the course. It's an important ongoing group responsibility...to be aware of your position in relation to other groups on the course. It should be a topic discussed on the first tee. Here are a few other tips and suggestions that will help any group keep pace. None of these include rushing or hurrying up, these are USGA guidelines to help you be more efficient with your valuable time and everyone else's. Thanks in advance from your ICMGA committee.
Start smart
Confirm your tee
time in advance and make it a point to arrive at the tee early with
your golf equipment in order, ready to play. Remember essentials like
extra balls, tees, gloves and appropriate clothing for the day’s
weather conditions.
“Tee It Forward” unless you are
consistently able to reach greens in regulation from the back tees
In other words, play from a set of tees that is comfortable for you –
one where you are more likely to hit lofted irons into greens instead
of hybrids or fairway woods. It is acceptable for players in the same
group to play from different tees. (The USGA Handicap System provides
a formula for adjusting handicaps from different tees.)
Try alternate forms of play to speed up your round
Match play, Stableford, best-ball and other formats are easy and fun
alternatives to individual stroke play because not every player has to
hole out on every hole. There are multiple resources online and in
print to learn about the many different golf formats. Try one out.
Minimize your time on the tee
On the tee it is
usually acceptable for players to “hit when ready.” You can also save
time by playing a provisional ball (Rule 27-2) if you think your
original ball might be lost or out of bounds.
Play 'ready golf'
This
basic premise will help keep your group moving on the course, but always be
respectful of the players in your group. Don't drive off ahead, or
become a distraction that potentially could put you or your playing
partner in harms way (or line-of-sight) from someone playing their
shot.
Plan
your shot before you get to your ball
Once you are off the tee, think ahead. Determine
your yardage and make your club selection before it is your turn to
play. Very often, you can do this while others are playing, without
disruption. If you take your glove off between shots, have it back on
before it is your turn to play. Even a small step like this saves
time.
Keep your pre-shot routine short
Pick
your line of play once and trust yourself. Try to take no more than
one practice swing, then set up to the ball and play your shot. Most
importantly, be ready to hit when it is your turn. Be efficient after
your shot too. Start moving toward your next shot promptly.
Write your scores down on the next tee box
After completing a hole, get into your cart and drive immediately to the next tee box.
Now you can write down your scores on the last hole.
Aim to play in 20 seconds
From club selection to
pre-shot routine to execution, strive to hit your shot in 20 seconds
when it is your turn to play. Help keep play moving at a brisk pace.
Develop an eye for distance
You don’t have to
step off yardage for every shot. If you need to determine precise
distance, try to find a yardage marker before you reach your ball,
then step off the yardage on the way to your ball. Or, consider
investing in an electronic range-finder or global positioning system
for golf and use it when permitted by Local Rule. If others you are
playing with are not familiar with the course, the Rules permit
players to exchange yardage information without penalty.
When sharing a cart, use a buddy system
Don’t wait
in the cart while your cart-mate hits and then drive to your ball. Get
out and walk to your ball with a few clubs. Be ready to play when it
is your turn and then let your cart-mate pick you up. Or, drive to your
ball after you drop your cart-mate off and then pick him or her up
after you hit.
Be helpful to others in your group
Follow the flight of all tee shots, not just your own. Once in the
fairway, help others look for their ball if you already know the
location of yours. Volunteer to fill in a divot or rake a bunker for
another player if needed. Be ready to attend the flagstick for others.
Keep up with the group in front of you
Your
correct position on the course is immediately behind the group in
front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you. Arrive
at your next shot just before the group in front leaves the area in
front of you. If you are consistently not able to keep up and a gap
opens in front of you, invite the group behind you to play through,
irrespective of the number of players in the group.
Be
efficient on the putting green
Mark your ball and lift and
clean it when you arrive at the putting green so you will be ready to
replace it when it is your turn to play. You can usually line up your
putt while others are putting, without disturbing them. Leave your
clubs on the side of the putting green closest to the next tee, and
leave the green promptly after holing out. Wait until the next tee to
record your score.
Remember that picking up your ball
is permitted by the USGA Handicap System
If not in an
individual stroke play competition, it is generally 'OK' to pick up your
ball and move on to the next hole if you are “out” of a hole and want
to maintain pace of play. This applies in match play and many forms of
stroke play, including Stableford and best-ball play.
Don’t Have Time? Play Nine!
You won’t always have time in
your schedule for an 18-hole round of golf. But you can still enjoy
the game by playing nine. It’s fully compatible with both the Rules of
Golf and the USGA Handicap System. And when it comes to golf, nine is
better than none.
Toughest Hole - Odds & Evens
Recently, I was asked why the par three 15th hole has a lower rating
(therefore deemed easier) than the par three 5th hole here at Indian Creek. It's certainly a fair question, yet the
premise is based on a common misconception about the Stroke Index Allocation
(SIA).
By taking the stance that the 'toughest' hole on the golf course should be the No.1
handicap hole may be a good place to start.
The purpose of the ranking of the holes, is to determine where the higher handicapped player deserves the assistance of an extra stroke in order to tie/halve a hole with the low handicapper (during Match Play). That stroke should be assigned on the hole where the relative difficulty of the hole is more challenging for the higher handicapped golfer than the relative difficulty for the lower handicapped golfer. Plus now it's needed to factor in who and how a specific hole is being played. It may sound odd, but some holes are in fact easier for the higher handicapped player vs. the lower handicapper. This commonly is due to the higher handicapped player's landing zones (called 'fairways') are more forgiving and wider, and their tee shots are not constrained by a dogleg, bunkers, trees, or water, that indeed do come into play for the lower handicapped golfer. But what we are really wanting to just understand is the reason why the 5th hole is the No.9 handicap hole, and the 15th is the No.12 handicap hole.
Have to confess from my 26 years of playing the course, I do believe the 15th hole to be more challenging than the 5th hole. However, when looking at those two holes side-by-side, the 5th hole does have more areas to get into trouble for the higher handicapper, and the statistics agree. The below section on assigning handicaps to the holes will help to shed more light on this topic, but important to note that the 15th hole is being evaluated in relation to the difficulty of all the other holes on the back side (and the 5th hole to all other holes on the front). So while this higher number is based on this process/comparison, it is rated lower than two of the par fours on that side. The 5th hole is rated the fifth toughest on the front, with holes 1, 4, 8, & 9 having a lower rating. So, the 5th hole, given there's more trouble in play, does seem to warrant the tougher rating, plus the green complex is tricky for sure.
So let's now review the process of assigning handicaps to the actual holes. First off, we need to determine what the 'toughest' hole is on the course. For most layouts this is usually the longest par four, and for Indian Creek this would be our 1st hole (at 411 yards), and yet it's the No. 3 handicap hole. Why you might ask? Well, we need to look more closely at what the statistics say about the average scores on all holes and they point to the 4th hole. But isn't that a par five? Yes indeed, but the reason it's the No. 1 handicap hole is that trouble lines the entire length of the hole (and more importantly) on the right. Add in that the approach to the green has more hazards to the right and behind the green (yikers!), it quickly can become a nightmare. It is the No. 1 handicap hole on the course because the average golfer plays the ball from left-to-right (did I mention trouble is lurking on the right?). More balls going in the hazards equals higher scores, which earns the 4th hole the designation of the No. 1 handicap hole. Again, it may in fact not be the 'toughest' hole on the course, but the relative scores next to par display differently. In my book the par four 12th hole is still right up there as one of the toughest holes on the course. Given all the shots are normally into the prevailing Westerly winds; the length from the back tees; and its wonderfully designed four tiered green (yes four!), all contribute to making this hole wildly challenging.
You've probably noticed that the handicap numbers are all ODD for the front nine, and then all EVEN on the back nine. Another mystery? A better question is to ask is...why not just assign the holes in sequence of difficulty and abide by the statistics? So the answer is we need to spread out the stroke allocations on all the holes to provide equity for Match Play. Splitting the nines into ODD and EVEN numbers avoids consecutive low stroke index holes. Ok, so the 4th hole is assign No.1, and so now we need to assign the other eight holes on the front side. This is done by determining the relative difficulty between those other eight holes, and then assign them the No. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 handicap rating accordingly. We do the same allocation on the back nine. The most difficult hole on the back side (according to statistics) is aptly the 12th hole, just slightly ahead of the 17th hole. So by default it becomes the No. 2 handicap hole and the remaining holes are assigned (again based on the relative difficulty between them) the No. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 handicap hole designations.
Hope this article was informational, if not at least a fun read. If you'd like to publish something to our news page, please reach out to an ICMGA officer.
All the staff at the golf shop can assist with your questions.
Indian Creek Golf Course is located in the Columbia River Gorge. Outstanding views of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood provide a unique visual setting for many of the holes. While the course is not overly long, our prevailing westerly winds do pose a significant challenge for each player's club selection. The poa annua greens at the course are noted here in the Northwest as 'exceptional', and roll fast and true. The grounds crew and course superintendent do a wonderful job of maintaining the course.
The setting is perfect for your 'Gorge' golfing excursion, group gatherings, or just taking in the sights. There is a putting green, golf range for hitting balls, an incredible new practice & new putting area (along side the 18th fairway), and the golf shop has everything you need to play a 9 or 18 holes.
Located on the property is the very popular Divots restaurant, which has wonderful views of the course and the surrounding mountains. There is indoor and outdoor seating with exceptional menus for either lunch or dinner. Divots is ready to take care of you, and it should be noted that they have years of experience in hosting special events (weddings, birthdays, larger parties, etc.). Feel free to contact them to discuss your needs. There is also a daily 'Happy Hour' with an accompanying special menu starting at 3pm!
Signup membership form for the 2024 season
This year, as promised, our fee structures have stayed the same for our members. We have also kept the Hole-In-One (optional) entry fee the same at $25. If you have any questions, please contact one of our officers. Please double check your contact information, and especially your email address, as this will be the primary method used to contact and inform you of any updates to this year's gatherings and/or events. Click on the link here below to download the PDF form. Please fill out and submit to a club representative in the golf shop (personal checks are preferable):
Games and formats for playing Tuesdays in 2024
Tuesday Play will have a block of tee times available starting at 11:00am (i.e.: “the Block”). Some or all groupings for Members playing during the Block will be determined by a draw. Draw will occur at 10:50 am. Members can generally expect to be able to make their own groups on any Tuesday, except for the Fourth Tuesday. Members making their own groups must generally have a tee time within 1-hour on either end of the Block, but special circumstances will be considered. The Combo or White tees will generally be available to use every Tuesday. KP's and/or Deuce Pots will be played from whatever tees you are playing. Normally there will be a Deuce Pot if there are no designated KPs. Games to be played for Tuesday Play are generally pre-determined, but special circumstances leading to low turnout, such as weather conditions and Holidays, may dictate a need to substitute a game to maximize participation and payouts. The games designated to be played each Tuesday are described below. Good luck and play well!
Entry into a Tuesday Play game is via envelopes at the Golf Shop. Write your name on the envelope for the game you want to be in and insert the entry fee for that game into the envelope. Pot entry is not required to play, but is required to win a prize.
POT entry fees are: $10.00
PAYOUTS: 100% of POT will be paid out. Roughly 30% of the field gets paid, and payout will occur after the last group is in the clubhouse.
Below is a link to our association's rules and operational statements:
ICMGA officers and Indian Creek club representatives met in January of this year (2024) to review, make changes, and update the club's event calendar for this season. Again, we are always open for suggestions on how these guidelines and provisions might be improved upon. Please feel free to contact any of the association's officers or a club representative. It is important to note, that during tournament play, taking any relief that involves moving or touching your ball, that is deemed 'in-play', requires confirmation with at least one other player in your group, prior to implementing any such relief. Really any time you intend to touch your ball while it's 'in-play' should only be done after notification of the other players in your group.
NOTE: We have added sprinkler-head relief guidelines (see Bylaws), along with a new local rule for the in-course safety fences on the 16th hole. As related to the safety fences, while these have always been deemed as 'immovable obstructions', we have expanded relief. These safety fences are located in three different areas at the 16th hole: The first two are located around the 17th tee box area, and the next runs along the path used when driving from the 16th green to the 17th tee box. A free ball drop is now permitted if your group determines that the player's ball enter the ivy and cannot be found. The player can drop without penalty within one club length (this would include swing relief from the fence first), no nearer the hole. However, it does not allow for 'line-of-sight. If a protection fence is still in your line-of-sight after taking relief, then you must play around it.
If you have general questions on the interpretation of any of our local rules, please contact an ICMGA officer or a club representative. Additionally if you have any questions regarding your handicap, or have issues posting scores, please contact the Handicap Chairman.
Results of our 2024 Weekend Warriors will be posted here!
Below we will post our tournament winners for 2024. If you've won or placed in an event and don't see your name here, please contact one of the committee members. We will get you posted up on the "boards" pronto. Deuce and Payball winners will not be posted, only players and their winning Net or Gross score.
Tournament Winners For 2024 Season |
Member Names | ||
Red-White-Black Saturday |
Gross Scores Tyler Jacobs & Peter Voigt - 71 Travis Carratt, Mitch Huru, & Kevin Morgan - 74 |
Net Scores Dave Hindahl - 68 Steve Tessmer & Brian Fallow - 71 Mike Kern & Patrick Connolly - 72 |
|
Masters Par 3 Tournament Wednesday |
Gross 1st
Place Gross 2nd Place |
Net First
Place Net 2nd Place |
|
Masters Tournament Saturday |
Gross Winners
|
Net Winners | |
Spring Handicap
Saturday & Sunday |
Overall Net Champion | ||
A-Flight
|
B-Flight
|
||
C-Flight | |||
Match Play May | |||
Club Championship
Friday-Sunday (3 days) |
|||
A-Flight |
B-Flight |
||
C-Flight |
|||
Two Man Scramble |
Gross Winners
|
Net Winners |
|
Fall
Handicap Saturday & Sunday |
Overall Winner: | ||
A-Flight
|
B-Flight
|
||
C-Flight | |||
We will post up here all aces for the 2024 season
Note: Year calendar switchover starts March 1st
Just a quick reminder to make sure when submitting your membership dues, that you checked the box on the membership form for the H-I-O insurance. Good Luck!!
Member Name | Club Used | Date | |
Hole #5 | |||
Hole #8 | |||
Hole #10 | |||
Hole #15 | |||