Schedules, Rules & Fees

1. Practice Facility Policy

It is the player’s responsibility to ensure that you are not hitting practice balls over the net and into play on hole #17. Balls flying over the net and striking a golfer could cause serious and permanent injury. Please exercise smart judgement and caution at all times.

The main reason for closing the range is due to the wetness & softness of the turf in the landing areas of the range. When the turf is exceptionally soft, range balls will “plug” into the turf and can be irretrievable by the range picker or even by hand. Over time, allowing the general membership to hit balls when conditions are such will result in a significant loss of range balls that can cost a significant amount of money. At all times, the practice range will be closed at the discretion of the Head Golf Professional and/or superintendent. The Professionals will be as lenient as possible when closing the practice facilities, and will keep the range open whenever the decision is questionable. At all times, it is expected that the Golf Professional Staff, as well as the rest of the club employees, observe the same guidelines and directions as the general membership.

2. Guest Policies:

1. Effective during the months of May, June, July and August, no member shall be permitted to have more than three (3) guests for golf without (advance) permission from the golf staff. Those members with more than one foursome may not tee off before 1:30 p.m. without approval. This time applies on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
2. Residents of Marion County and adjacent counties, who are not members in good standing of a regularly organized and recognized private golf club of Marion County or adjacent counties, may not be entertained as golf playing guests more than SIX TIMES between Memorial Day and Labor Day of any calendar year.

WEEKEND, FRIDAY AND HOLIDAY GUEST RULE: A member bringing three (3) or more guests for golf on weekends or holidays may not play until 10:00 a.m.; a member bringing three (3) or more guests for golf on Fridays must play before 11 a.m., or not until after 1:30 p.m. A member bringing only one or two guests may play at the regular time.

3. Any Social member or their spouses are entitled, at such times approved in advance by the golf professional, to play unaccompanied or with guests, with payment of golf green fee, up to five times each year. Athletic members and spouses are entitled up to 10 rounds per year.

3. Cart Policies:

1. Only licensed automobile drivers are authorized to lease and drive electric carts. Club members are responsible for themselves, family members, and their guests in regard to electric cart rules and regulations.
2. The golf course superintendent shall determine when the condition of the course permits use of electric carts and his determination shall be final.
3. Avoid parking in or running through damp or wet spots, or newly sodded ground.
4. Where, throughout the golf course, cart paths are available in the vicinity of tees and/or greens (and on all par-3 holes), all Highland members and their guests using golf carts are required to utilize said paths at all times. This policy shall apply to both the operation and parking of the golf carts in the vicinity of all tees and greens. Do not, under any circumstances, park your cart on the fairway in front of the green.  The Golf Committee may waive this policy for golfers who have difficulty walking from cart paths to tees and greens; to secure such a waiver, golfers must send a letter or email to the Golf Committee requesting the cart path waiver.  The Golf Committee will determine whether to grant the request and will advise the golfer and the Professional Golf Staff.  Golfers granted a waiver must see the Professional Golf Staff to obtain a flag to be displayed on their golf cart to designate the waiver.  Players who have not secured such a waiver prior to teeing off MUST observe the cart path policy near tees and greens and on all par-3 holes.
5. The lessee agrees to pay or reimburse Highland Golf and Country Club on return of said cart for all charges incidental to all breakages, shortages or damages, other than ordinary wear, to said cart during the term of the lease.
6. Under no circumstances may more than two (2) players ride in a golf cart. 
7. All golfers using electric carts will be charged for the number of holes played. If fewer than nine or eighteen holes are played, you must inform the golf pro staff as to the total number of holes played. You must inform the golf staff of your interest in leasing the cart for golf before going to the golf course. 
8. Use of golf carts, regardless of reason, must be approved through the Golf Shop staff.
9. Anyone failing to observe cart regulations will be denied use of a golf cart.

All employees to follow Electric Cart Rules posted in roster book per the use of the course; with the exception of necessary maintenance/preparation of the course for play or setup/teardown of the practice facilities by the professional staff.

4. Pace of Play Policy:

Slow play will not be tolerated. Slow players will be asked to allow faster players to play through. Any open hole ahead entitles the players following to play through. However, during peak times, two-ball matches and three-ball matches do not have the right to play through a four-ball match. 
Subject to the foregoing, pace of Play is critical to the enjoyment of the game of golf at Highland. It is expected that during off-peak times the pace of play on the golf course will be 3 hours and 50 minutes. During peak times the expected pace of play will be 4 hours or less.  Special consideration is given to Saturday, Sunday, and holidays mornings as well. To ensure an enjoyable pace of play for all golfers throughout the day, it is expected the first morning groups will play their round in 3 hours and 30 minutes. Members will also be expected to observe traditional golf etiquette in regards to pace of play, and if a group is consistently holding up another group behind them they are expected to step-aside and let them play through no matter what their pace of play might be.

5. “Open Play” Policy:

Highland observes an open play policy for all those with golf privileges at the club. Any golfing member or any immediate family member of a golfing member has general access to the golf course at any time. However, within the framework of open play at Highland; the club also recognizes and facilitates the following different organized groups who come together for the purpose of participating in golfing tournaments and events.
 
Generally speaking, no golfers will be allowed to tee off ahead of or in front of a scheduled morning event. This time is needed for golf course maintenance staff to prepare the golf course for the day’s play.
 
All open play should begin on #1 tee. No golfer is allowed to tee off #10 without speaking with a member of the Golf Professional staff. Any group who begins their round on #10 will not be guaranteed a position on #1 tee when making the turn. The group should check with the Professional staff when making the turn, and if needed will be required to reserve a spot on the waiting list if activity on the 1st tee warrants it.
 
Members should contact a member of the Professional staff with questions about when the golf course will be open on certain days. The Professional staff will do their best to accommodate as many golfers as possible onto the golf course, while ensuring the enjoyment and quality experience for all of those who are using the course each day.
All recognized groups will be granted 1st Priority on the golf course during their scheduled events. Once their group has been accommodated and has finished using the tee, the Golf Professional staff will open play for the rest of the golfing membership behind the scheduled event already on the golf course.
 

6. Waiting List Policy:

WHEN ACTIVITY AT THE FIRST TEE WARRANTS A WAITING LIST, ALL MEMBERS OF A GROUP (MINIMUM GROUP OF 3) MUST BE PRESENT FOR THE GROUP TO SIGN UP. WHEN THE GROUP HAS THE HONOR, IT MAY NOT TEE OFF WITH FEWER THAN 3 PLAYERS. IF IT CANNOT MEET THIS REQUIREMENT, THE GROUP MUST BE PLACED AT THE END OF THE WAITING LIST. ANY EXCEPTION WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CLUB PROFESSIONAL STAFF MANAGING THE WAITING LIST.

7. Fivesome Policy:

Groups of more than four (4) will be permitted between the day after Men’s Closing Day event and the day before Men’s Opening Day event the following year. Beginning Opening Day until Closing Day, groups of more than four (4), but no more than five (5), may be permitted by express permission of a member of the Golf Professional Staff only if, in the staff's judgment, a group of five will in no way impede the play of other groups. The Golf Staff has absolute authority in allowing groups of five during these designated time periods. Any group of five (5) failing to get permission from the Golf Staff will be required to break up into two groups and allow the faster groups behind them to play through.

The Professional staff will NOT approve 5-somes when other players are waiting and available to form 3-somes or 4-somes and/or at any time when the Professional Staff is actively running a waiting list on the 1st tee. 5-somes will not be approved during traditionally busy times for play, i.e. Saturday & Sunday morning or Friday afternoons.

When an approved 5-some is on the golf course, they must be aware that they are required to either allow other groups to play through whenever a trailing group is waiting on them regardless of the pace at which there 5-some is playing. Or, they may choose to break up into two groups in an effort to speed up play.

In circumstances when a 2-some and 3-some are on the golf course, and believe they can combine into a 5-some without affecting pace of play, they may do so, subject to the paragraph above (either allow through-play or break back up into 2 groups if another group is waiting).

8. Dress Code Policy:

Throughout the year on the golf course (including the practice areas), golfing attire of the type sold in the pro shops of private clubs in the Indianapolis area is appropriate. Men will wear collared shirts, mock turtle or turtleneck shirts or sweaters at all times. Blue jeans, tube tops and halter tops are not permitted. The Golf Pro and Staff are responsible for enforcing the Highland Dress Code on the golf course. Any dispute as to what constitutes proper golfing attire will be resolved by comparison with items sold in the Highland Golf Shop. All golfers must keep shirt tails tucked inside their shorts or slacks.

9. Junior Golfer Policy:

Junior golfers must register with the golf shop before playing golf. Juniors age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Juniors age 13 and over must register with the Golf Professional staff before starting their round. It will be the Professional Staff’s policy to allow juniors under the age of 18 to play at any time ONLY WHEN they prove that they can follow and observe the same pace of play policies as the rest of the golfing membership. If they demonstrate they cannot meet the pace requirements then the Professional Staff will inform them and/or their parents that they should play during off peak times.

During the months of June, July and August, junior golfers will have first priority on Wednesday mornings. Only one nine will be used. The other nine can be used for open play. Occasional changes to schedule will be posted.

​10. Employee Policy:

Employees are required to follow all rules and regulations for member play listed in the Roster Book. This pertains to but is not limited to Range use,
Cart availability on course, and course/range closures. You MUST register yourself and guests in the Golf Shop before starting play. This will enable us to identify and locate quickly anyone in case of emergency. This will be a mandatory sign in - guest name, date, Club affiliation and Club number.

11. Tuesday is 9-Hole Women's Day

Members of this group will have first priority on the golf course on Tuesday mornings.

12. Thursday is 18-Hole Women's Day

Members of this group will have first priority on the golf course on Thursday mornings.

13. Effective OPENING DAY through CLOSING DAY

The golf course and bag room will be open at noon on Mondays. On Mondays in April before Opening Day and Mondays in October after Closing Day, the bag room may open at noon if the weather forecast dictates that it should be. During the off season, the golf course, bag room and golf shop will be CLOSED on Mondays. Greens aerification will also effect Monday course closings. These dates will be posted in advance and are subject to change.

14. After Closing Day and prior to Opening Day

On days when the golf course if open for play, all members must check with the pro shop if planning to play during times normally restricted to them during the regular golf season.

15. When the golf course is open for play

Only golfers and their caddies will be permitted on the course. Pets are not permitted on the golf course. Walkers and joggers are not permitted on the course for exercise when the course is open for play as well.

16. Practice on tees, greens or fairways will not be permitted

All players are charged with replacing divots, repairing ball marks on the green and raking all sand bunkers.

17. No one may tee off the #10 tee at any time, without permission of the Golf Pro Staff.

18. Only dues-paying golfing members are eligible for members-only tournaments.

19. United States Golf Association rules shall govern play except where modified by local rules listed on the scorecard or tournament rule sheet.

20. Lightning Detection System:

When the sirens are triggered, it is imperative that all individuals on our premises, including golfers, swimmers, tennis players, employees, etc. take shelter immediately. The siren will be a long blast lasting approximately 7-8 seconds and it may sound two or three times in this manner. The system is also designed to sound an "all clear" signal to indicate it is safe to resume play. The system will automatically sound the all-clear siren when there have not been any lightning strikes recorded in a ten-mile radius for a period of at least fifteen minutes. Therefore, when the sirens are triggered by lightning, there will be a delay of at least fifteen minutes and in most cases, probably longer, before play can resume. The signal for the resumption of play will be several two-tone blasts of the horn. Please do not attempt to return to the golf course (or tennis court, swimming pool, etc.) until the all clear siren has been sounded.

21. Handicaps:

Each member's handicap will be computed on the BlueGolf System, through the IGA-PGA handicap program, utilizing the World Handicap System adopted by the R&A and the USGA. This program computes your U.S.G.A. handicap. A U.S.G.A. handicap is computed from the lowest 10 8 score differentials of the player's last 20 rounds and is updated daily. You MUST post all of your scores in order to obtain a fair and accurate handicap. All scores, regardless of course played, must be entered through the IGA app or into the computer for handicaps as long as the course you have played is in its “active season”. Our active season for posting your scores at Highland is March 1st – November 15th.