Sunday, March 12, 2017

2017 Tournament Policies

Changes for 2017 are highlighted in yellow.


1. Registration: Each tournament will have an open registration period. The full tournament fee must be included with the tournament application. Applications must be postmarked no later than the final day of registration. If the deadline for registration has passed, and you wish to play, please call to find out if there are openings.

2. Volunteers: This is an all-volunteer organization. Please make volunteers’ jobs easier by being on time with applications, requests, questions, etc. Volunteers do not need to pay membership dues unless they are competing in tournaments. Volunteers are needed and welcome to serve as starters, registrars, spotters, rangers, scorers, etc. Expenses incurred by volunteers will be reimbursed.

3. Communication:
     a. All information will be posted on this website: JustGolfTournaments.blogspot.com. If you subscribe to the website (free subscription), all information will go straight to your e-mail.
     b. If you need to reach the tournament director, please contact Linda Miller:
     E-mail: LLMillerGolf@gmail.com
     Home: 609-267-8630
     Cell: 609-784-2550

4. USGA Rules: All tournaments will be governed by USGA rules.

5. Local Rules: Local rules and course information for each tournament will be posted on the website prior to each tournament. Players are expected to print a copy of the rules for reference at the tournament.

6. Players Needing Partners: Players may submit single applications for team events. The tournament director will pair singles together, and will notify players as soon as a partner is found.

7. Withdrawal:
     a. Notification: Players who must withdraw from tournaments should notify the tournament director as soon as possible. In a team competition, if a single player withdraws and his partner finds or needs a substitute, that information needs to be communicated immediately to the tournament director.
     b. Refunds: The full tournament fee will be refunded until ten days before a tournament (three days for medical or other unforeseen emergencies). Players who withdraw within ten days (within three days for emergencies) will receive a refund of the tournament fee minus $10.

8. Tournament Cancellations: Call the golf course for possible weather-related cancellations on the day of a tournament. Call Linda’s cell phone if you withdraw or are running late on the day of a tournament:
609-784-2550

9. Tournament Prizes:
     a. $10 of the tournament fee per competitor will be used for prize money.
     b. Prizes will be in the form of gift certificates to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
     c. A minimum of 30% of the field will receive a prize.
     d. Unless otherwise specified, all tournaments will award gross and net prizes.
     e. Prize distribution will be approximately 30% gross and 70% net.

10. Tie-Breakers:  The recommended USGA tie-breaker will be used to break ties for first place (compare back nine total: if still tied, then last 6 on back, last 3 on back; compare front 9 total: if still tied, last 6 on front, last 3 on front; and finally hole by hole beginning with the #1 handicap hole). The same method will be used if more than two teams are tied for the last prize. All other ties will remain as ties and receive equal prize money.

11. Tee Policy for the Men
Men will have a choice of tees (standard or senior) whenever feasible, except the Championship. Yardage and rating information will be provided prior to each tournament, and recommendations will be offered regarding tee selection (based on the distance a player customarily hits his drive). Players will be informed prior to each tournament how many net strokes they will lose if they choose to play from the shorter tees.

Eligibility for gross prizes will be limited to those players who choose to play from the standard tees. All players will compete for net prizes.

12. Handicap Reductions: Players or teams that place first overall net will have their full Course Handicap reduced by two strokes in all subsequent tournaments. Second and third place overall net finishers will have a one-stroke reduction. Stroke adjustments are cumulative for two years on a rolling basis. Players do not lose strokes if they have not won prize money. The Handicap Adjustment Chart showing handicap reductions is posted under JUSTGOLF LINKS, and is updated after every tournament.

13. Maximum Course Handicap: 18 for men; 24 for women. This means that no man will receive more than 18 strokes in a tournament, and no woman will receive more than 24.

14. Eligibility for Club Championship: Players must compete in at least one JustGolftournament in 2017 to be eligible to compete for the Club Championship.

15. Pairings: Individual players or teams will not be paired with members of their same club or with JustGolf members whom they customarily choose as partners. The reason for this policy is twofold:        
     a. to provide opportunities for players to meet new people; and
     b. to provide for uniformly fair competition.

16. Tipping: $2 is included in the cost of each tournament to cover tips. This will guarantee the bag boy $1 per bag at the start and finish of each tournament. If the money does not get used for tips, the surplus will be added to the prizes.

17. Distance-Measuring Devices: Players may use a distance-measuring device to obtain distance information only. If you use your device to measure other conditions (e.g., elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), you are in breach of Rule 14-3. The penalty is two strokes for the first offense, disqualification for a subsequent offense.

18. Cell Phones: Cell phone usage is prohibited on the golf course, except for emergencies or rules questions. Please add Linda's cell phone to your contact list: 609-784-2550.

19. Caddies: Players are not permitted to use caddies.