Championship
information and policies
The following information is for the 2010
The
Utah Golf Association Championship program was created to offer all UGA members
the opportunity to compete in state championships against players of the same
ability. As you enjoy the opportunity of
competing in UGA events at various clubs throughout the state we ask that you
take the time to thank the host clubs manager, professional staff and
superintendent. Without each host clubs
efforts and generosities the UGA’s extensive schedule would not be possible.
Player
Responsibilities. Rule 6-1 states “The player and his caddie
are responsible for knowing the Rules and he conditions under which the
competition is to be played.” We
strongly recommend that all players take time read and understand the UGA hard
card and any local rules which may be in effect at each particular championship
site.
Eligibility. UGA Championships are open to all amateur members of
the UGA in good standing who meet the tournament specific eligibility
criteria. The UGA board of governors
reserves the right to reject an entry at anytime (including during the
competition).
Tournament
Registration. All registrations must be received by the UGA
with payment in full as of 4:00pm on the date of the closing deadline (post
marked registrations will not guarantee a players spot in the field). Late entries will not be accepted after the
deadline. Players may be added to a
waitlist after the deadline at the discretion of the UGA staff, all such
waitlists will be set in order of which the registrations are received.
Over subscribed field. All UGA
tournaments are filled in a first come first serve basis based upon the date
which a registration accompanied with payment in full is received by the
UGA. If a field becomes oversubscribed a
waitlist will be generated using the registration date.
Refunds and
withdrawals. If a player withdrawals prior to the
registration deadline the player will receive a refund minus a $20 cancellation
fee. After the deadline the player will
receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be
issued if a player withdrawals within two business days of the event. In team competitions, if a player needs a
substitute for his original partner after the field has closed; he must arrange to
get the substitute. Any substitute must meet all eligibility requirements of
the specified competition. The UGA must be notified of any substitutions prior
to the start of the tournament.
Age
eligibility. Senior –
A player must be 50 year s of age or older as of the first day of the
tournament. For those events with a
super-senior category the player must be 65 years of age or older as of the
first day of the tournament. In team
events, both partners must meet the meet age requirements to play in the senior
division or the team must play in the open division. A player may qualify for an event prior to
his 50th birthday. Mid-Amateur – A player must be 25 years
of age or older as of the first day of the tournament.
Handicaps. The
players USGA Handicap Index as determined through the UGA’s EZ Links handicap
program will be used in the calculation of the player’s course handicap for all
UGA events. If a player has multiple
Handicap Indexes the lowest will be used for course handicap calculations and
flight determinations. Handicap’s which
are calculated using software other than EZ Links will not be used for UGA
tournament purposes.
Dress Code. Players and their caddies must abide by the UGA dress
code for the event and by the dress code of the hosting facility. The UGA
encourages neat and clean clothing, and in some tournaments requires long pants
and prohibits jeans, levis, and denims. Each player is
responsible to know the dress code.
Appropriate length shorts are now acceptable for all competitors in the
Utah State Amateur.
Shoes: Shall comply with the host course policy.
Students. High school or college golf team members should check
with their coaches and/or their leagues governing body (UHSAA, NCAA, etc.)
regarding participation and the effect, if any, on their eligibility.
Amateur
Status. The UGA
abides by all Rules of Amateur Status as set forth by the USGA.
Spectators. Spectators are welcome at all UGA events as long as
they maintain proper golf demeanor while watching the event. This ensures all
players have the opportunity to perform at their very best. Spectators should
remain on cart paths or in the rough, and at least 10 yards away from players
during the play of a hole. There may be no communication between spectators or
players that could be deemed advice of any nature (Rule 8-1) during the round.
Spectators are not permitted to ride
in a player’s cart, as this privilege is reserved for caddies only. For medical
reasons, the Tournament Director may authorize a spectator to ride in his/her
own cart during UGA events; host courses may charge a cart fee to spectators.
If a spectator is riding in a player’s cart, the player will be warned and
asked to follow the UGA policy. If the player refuses, his entry will be
withdrawn.
Failure to
complete. In stroke play,
failure by a player to return his scorecard to the scoreboard official, or
withdraws during play without notifying an official and surrendering his
scorecard to that official, is considered a serious breach of etiquette and
unbecoming conduct. This can result in the player being suspended from future
UGA events. This also applies in match play if both players leave the course
without notifying the scoreboard official of the match result.
No Shows. If a player fails to show up for a starting time
without first contacting the UGA or host course he/she will be considered a no
show. A player who is a habitual no-show
will be suspended from all future UGA events until a letter of explanation is
drafted to the UGA tournament committee
Photos/Video. By submitting an application, the player agrees to
allow the UGA to use the player’s photographic/video image for any UGA media
related use.
Liability. By submitting an entry form and subsequently playing
in a UGA event, players agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the UGA
and its respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, and
assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities and losses,
including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and expenses
of litigation, arising out of any act of God, negligent act or omission of the
indemnifying party in connection with this competition. Contingent upon
successful entry into this tournament the participant agrees to all conditions,
policies, procedures and terms set forth in this booklet.
Utah State Amateur policies
and information.
The following
policies and information supplement the above UGA policies for the State
Amateur.
State
Amateur Qualifying. A player may
only register for and compete in one of the available qualifiers. If a player fails to advance to the
championship proper he will not be eligible to compete at another site. Please note that all qualifying sites are
limited to the first 84 players, if a players desired
site it full he may choose to be placed on the wait list (determined in
registration date order) or he may register for another site on a space
available basis. Players will not be
placed on a wait list if they are currently active in another qualifying field.
Qualifying ties: There
will be playoffs immediately following play at each site to determine the final
qualifying spots. Players must be
present, ties will not be taken.
State Am alternate information. Four
alternates will be determined from each qualifying location. Alternate order will be determined by 1) the
playoff for the final spot, or 2) if there is no playoff for the final
qualifying spot or the playoff does not include all potential alternates the
order will be determined by a scorecard playoff using the USGA recommended
method (back 9 total score; if still tied total of last six holes; if still
tied total of last three holes; if still tied last hole score; if still tied
order will be determined by lot). Please
note that in the instance of a two tee start the back 9 means holes #10-18
regardless of the players starting hole.
Sites will also be ranked in random order for the championship
allocation schedule in the event that an exempt player withdrawals from the
championship. Once the alternate order
is selected players will be contacted by a UGA staff member if a spot becomes
available.
How
alternates will advance to the Championship:
1) If a player qualifies for the State Amateur and
subsequently withdrawals the next available alternate from that players
qualifying location will be selected. If
the four alternates from the players qualifying location are unavailable or have
already been placed in the field the next available alternate on the
championship allocation will be selected.
2) In the case that an exempt player withdrawals from the
championship the first available alternate from the championship allocation
schedule will be selected.
State Am Dress Code. Golf shirts (including mock neck) are required.
Players may wear golf shorts of the appropriate length. No
tank-tops, t-shirts, denim, levis, or sandal style
golf shoes are allowed. All other dress codes which have been
dictated by the club must be adhered to. These rules apply to all levels
of the state amateur including regional qualifying.
State Am
cart policy. Caddies are
permitted. Caddies must also adhere to the State Amateur dress code and
are required to wear a golf shirt. Carts are permitted but only one seat
per player/caddie are allowed throughout the
tournament. Spectators are not allowed to ride in the players
cart.
Rules of Golf and Conditions of Play
The
Rules of Golf 2010-2011 govern play. The
Local Rules and Conditions of Competitions for 2010 Utah Golf Association
Tournaments and Championships (UGA Hard Card)
and any site specific notice to players will supplement the Rules of
Golf. Host course local rules are not
applicable, unless they are specifically listed on the notice to players. The committee, whose decision is final, shall
settle any questions.
Group Pace
of Play policy. The Utah
Golf Association utilizes a group pace of play policy in all stroke play rounds
of our championships as authorized by Rule 6-7, Undue Delay; Slow Play.
When group penalties are in effect for a qualifying or championship round each
player will receive a course specific time sheet explaining the event’s policy
times and parameters. The policy’s goal is to reduce the average round
time in all UGA events, thereby increasing the satisfaction level of all
participants. The UGA policy will closely model similar policies already
in effect throughout the country including the one that is used by the USGA in
their amateur championships.
Electronic Measuring Devices. The UGA Rules and Tournament Committees have approved
the use of distance-measuring devices by Local Rule (allowed by Decision
14-3/0.5) in all 2010 UGA Championships.
UGA Local Rule for Distance-Measuring
Devices: For all UGA events, a player may obtain distance information by
using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated
round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or
measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient,
wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which
the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such
additional functions are actually used.
Cell Phones
and Pagers. A player
may only use devices that do not make an audible noise. If his cell phone
or pager does make an audible noise (including vibrations which can be heard)
during the stipulated round the penalty is: First offense – warning;
Subsequent offense – Disqualification.
Automotive
Transportation. Permitted in all UGA
events unless otherwise noted on the event’s notice to competitors.
When prohibited, the optional condition prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
Please note the definition of caddie and equipment when using carts. If a
course hosting agreement requires paying cart fees, players may still walk
and/or use a caddie. All drivers must have a valid driver’s
license. All players, both walkers and riders, are required to maintain the
pace set for the competition. Spectators are not authorized to ride in a
player’s cart.
Score
Posting. For
handicap purposes, the UGA will post all applicable tournament scores to the
GHIN Handicap service. In most match play or four-ball events, players are
required to return a scorecard with actual or most likely scores for holes
played (when a stroke or hole is conceded, or when a player picks up). Holes
not played will be scored at par plus any handicap strokes. The computer will
calculate this automatically, allowing the score to be posted.
Conduct. Unbecoming conduct by a player or his caddie, reported
to the Rules Committee before, during or after a competitor’s round, may be
cause for rejecting a player’s entry or action under Rule 33-7. Objectionable
conduct includes club throwing, foul language, abuse of the golf course or
course property, abuse of officials, alcohol/drug impaired behavior, or any
conduct unbecoming a gentleman. Players may also be suspended from
playing in future UGA tournaments.
Caddies. Players may bring their own caddie. UGA dress code and
conduct requirements apply to caddies. Caddies are not necessarily extended all
the courtesies of the host golf club.