Official Rules for The Annual Truesdale Myrtle Beach Putt-Putt Challenge Championship

In the Summer of 2009, I went on my first actual camping trip. I joined my wife's family in spending a week at the Pirateland Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Before you outdoor-types start criticizing me for never having been camping prior to then, bear in mind that my folks were not into sleeping in tents, foraging for food or using pine cones as toilet paper - or whatever it is that people who are actually into camping do when they go camping. We never went anywhere on vacation that didn't have accommodations complete with all the comforts of home as we'd either stay in a hotel or sometimes rent a condo. That said, this occasion wasn't exactly hardcore camping as we were staying in a camper equipped with air conditioning, a full kitchen, cable television, a bathroom, and WiFi (technically the WiFi came from the campground's facilities - even so, it was there and available). That was almost 4 years ago. I still haven't slept in a tent and to be perfectly honest with you I'm quite alright with that.

That initial camping experience was a marvelous event as I got to see and do things I'd never had the chance to take part in previously, such as sleeping on the floor of a camper while laying on an inflatable mattress. It was filled with firsts for my wife & I as we were still dating then but well on our way to making memories and traditions as a couple. One such tradition to be born out of this trip was a putt-putt competition. I don't recall how many rounds we played but Jill and I quickly realized that this was something we both loved as I think each of us has something of a competitive spirit. From those meager beginnings evolved what has now become known as the Annual Truesdale Myrtle Beach Putt-Putt Challenge Championship - or the ATMBPPCC for short.

The ATMBPPCC trophy - constructed by A1TROPHY (http://www.a1trophy.com)

Pretty sweet trophy, right? I designed it myself - I'd originally intended to make something rather absurd as there was a point during its development that the golf ball/club symbols on the second tier were going to be cows (yes, I'm serious). I'm happy that I went another route, needless to say, as it turned out even better than the conceptual artwork made it look. At some point I'd like to add to this by having a plaque made with panels that can be updated so that we can record who wins each year.

Suffice to say that what started out as a cheeky competition has taken on a slightly more serious vibe since we first began challenging one another to several rounds of mini-golf during our annual Myrtle Beach vacation. Surely something so grandiose as to be recognized by an actual trophy must have a set of official rules?

Right?

Well, no, to be perfectly honest with you. We just never wrote any down, although we had some loose parameters in mind while playing. That said, what follows is my attempt at laying down the law as it pertains to the ATMBPPCC.

ANNUAL TRUESDALE MYRTLE BEACH

PUTT-PUTT CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP

OFFICIAL RULES

FORWARD

It is declared this, the 1st day of May in the year of our Lord 2013, that from henceforth all Annual Truesdale Myrtle Beach Putt-Putt Challenge Championship (referenced as ATMBPPCC hereafter) activities shall be conducted according to the rules presented herein. The statements making up this document are considered fluid and may be added to, updated, adjusted or removed in the event that such action is deemed necessary.

FOUNDATION

1) The ATMBPPCC is to be held in no locale other than Myrtle Beach, SC.

2) The ATMBPPCC is an annual event, taking place once each calendar year.

3) The ATMBPPCC shall consist of a best 3-out-of-5 scenario. A warm-up practice round, the results of which will not count towards the final tally, may be played if a consensus of agreement is reached by the participants that it is needed.

COURSE SELECTION

Each round of the ATMBPPCC will consist of 18 holes and must be played at a course unique to that particular year's event. In other words, no course may be played twice in a single year. A course played in an earlier ATMBPPCC may be used in the current event and a course played during the current year may serve as host in subsequent competitions.

If a chosen putt-putt facility offers multiple courses, the course advertised or denoted as being the most challenging course available at said facility must be used for ATMBPPCC play. Should there be no signage or other notification regarding course difficulty, facility staff will be consulted and whichever course they proclaim to be most challenging shall be played.

PARTICIPATION

Robert Jonathan Truesdale and Jill Moak Truesdale are the only allowed participants in ATMBPPCC competition. In the event of offspring, any children Robert and Jill may spawn will be allowed to participate once they have displayed competency, interest and a general understanding for the game of putt-putt.

Other individuals may play with Robert and Jill while they are engaged in ATMBPPCC competition however the scores of these individuals will not figure into the final outcome of the ATMBPPCC.

Accompanying players may provide moral support and strategic assistance to Robert and Jill but they absolutely may not physically interfere with the competition in any way. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: Moving of balls, malicious handling of equipment and clubs, engaging in annoying conversation, and otherwise being a distraction from ATMBPPCC competition. Doing so will result in the offender being immediately thrown into the nearest water hazard and left for dead. Play of the current round may continue but the ATMBPPCC participant associated with the offending guest shall forfeit the current round to their competitor.

ETIQUETTE

In an effort to maintain high standards of play, it should be noted that any attempt to distract or otherwise interfere with an opposing player will result in the imposition of harsh penalties (see PARTICIPATION, second paragraph).

Good sportsmanship is to be observed at all times during ATMBPPCC play. It is permissible to express frustration, albeit to a point of understandability (for example, letting out a subtle "Dang!") and not complete outlandishness (for example, throwing your club while shouting something about the course architect's mother being from Tijuana). This also pertains to expressions of being a poor loser - buck up, princess, there's always next year. While there is no direct penalty for these actions, an opposing player may reserve the right to record whatever tirade(s) their counterpart decides to engage in for the purpose of future shaming (such as sharing said recording to various social media outlets).

SCORING, TIE BREAKERS AND DO-OVERS (AKA, "MULLIGANS")

For ATMBPPCC play, the standard scoring rules of putt-putt (as well as any unique declared rules of the course being played) shall be observed. Each stroke counts as one point with the winner of the round being the player with the lowest cumulative point total.

Each player will be allowed one do-over (aka, "Mulligan") per round. Do-overs are not transferable between players and cannot be accumulated over the length of ATMBPPCC play nor can they be held over from one ATMBPPCC to the next. A do-over may be initiated as the result of a poor shot, lost ball, etc. A do-over may not be applied to the 18th hole or any hole which reclaims balls.

If there is no stated out of bounds penalty at the course being played, a 2-stroke penalty shall be applied to the player's score on that particular hole should they make a shot which results in a ball going out of bounds. This scenario would be nullified if the player in question has an available do-over, should they choose to use it at that point.

Regarding out of bounds shots, a player making such a shot will be allowed to place their ball back onto the course at the nearest playable position of the hole in question. The ball shall be placed no further than the distance of one club-head from the retaining structure. The ball must be played from this position regardless of whether or not an obstruction to a player's ideal positioning is present.

If there is no per hole stroke maximum at the course being played, a per hole 6-stroke maximum shall be observed.

In the event of a tie score at the end of a round, the player with the most holes-in-one during that particular round will be declared the winner of the round. Should there be a tie regarding most holes-in-one, the winner shall be determined by a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors with best 3-out-of-5 rules in play.