TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 1 Tournaments
The YCAGA conducts a tournament program which may consist of the following tournaments: The Spring Better Ball of Partners, The Interclub Championship, The YCAGA Senior Championship, The York County Amateur Championship, The Mid-Amateur Championship (rotational basis with LANCO & Harrisburg District), The Champion of Champions Championship, York Open, York Senior Open and The War of the Roses Challenge. All but the York Open, York Senior Open & the War of the Roses will be on a rotation schedule so as to give all clubs the opportunity to host the Championships.
Section 2 Tournament Eligibility
The tournament elgibility is listed below for each tournament.
Spring Better Ball - Entries are open to all male amateur golfers who have an established WHS.
Interclub Championship - Entries are open to all male amateur golfers who have an established WHS handicap at a member club, are a resident of York County with a verifiable handicap from a WHS authorized club or association, and all past champions of a YCAGA Championships (Senior, County Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Junior, or Champion of Champions) who have a WHS handicap and have retained their amateur status, regardless of club affiliation or residence
Senior/ Super Senior Championship - Entries are open to all male & female amateur golfers who have an established WHS handicap at a member club, are a resident of York County with a verifiable handicap from a WHS authorized club or association, and all past champions of a YCAGA Championship (Senior, County Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Junior, or Champion of Champions) who have a WHS handicap and have retained their amateur status, regardless of club affiliation or residence
Amateur Championship - Entries are open to all male amateur golfers who have an established WHS handicap.
Mid-Am - This tournament is currently hosted every 3 years by the YCAGA. Entries are open to all male amateur golfers who have an established WHS handicap.
Champion of Champions - This is an invitation only tournament, in which a player (male or female) earns an invitation by winning the YCAGA Seniors Championship, York County Amateur Championship, YCAGA Junior Championship, Mid-Amateur Championship, or winning a Club Championship or a Senior Club Championship.
Section 3 Rules & Procedures
General: All details relating to entries, pairings, stating, scoring, and the play of the game shall be handled by the Tournament Committee with the aid of the Executive Committee and the host professional.
Rules of Play: All tournaments conducted by the YCAGA shall be played under the Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association.
a.) All local rules or modifications to the USGA Rules of Golf shall be approved by the Rules Committee and the Tournament Committee and such local rules and/or modifications shall be posted in a conspicuous location at the tournament site. In addition, it shall be mandatory that a rules sheet is printed for each tournament and at least one copy of this rules sheet is given to each pairing of contestants.
Code of Conduct: A player’s entry may be withdrawn from a competition at any time, including during the competition, at the discretion of the YCAGA for a violation of the Code of Conduct.
a.) Competitors may be in violation of this Code of Conduct if they engage in abusive language, club throwing, disrespect of volunteers or officials, abuse of the golf course, use of controlled substances during tournament play, not adhering to the dress code during tournament play, leaving the course during a competitive round without notifying an official, vandalism, abusive behavior to employees of host facilities, and otherwise failing to conduct themselves in keeping with the game's traditions, which include respect for fellow competitors.
b.) Proper attire is required at all times primarily dictated by the rules at the host golf facility. The dress code generally prohibits short shorts, cargo shorts, non-collared shirts, denim shorts and jeans. In tournament play, all hats/visors must be worn with the brim forward and all shirts must be tucked in. Players should always be aware of the dress requirements of each event in which they compete and dress accordingly. Metal spikes are prohibited in all YCAGA events.
c.) The YCAGA Code of Conduct Sub-Committee may assess any or all of the following penalties based on the severity of the Code of Conduct violation:
1. Issue a written letter of warning to the player. In the event that the competitor violating the Code of Conduct is a junior, the written letter of warning will be issued to both the competitor and his or her parents.
2. Rejection of entry or entries of the player including during the competition. In the event that a player’s entry is rejected during a competition due to a violation of the YCAGA’s Code of Conduct or Tournament Policy, there will be no refund of the player’s entry fees.
3. Suspend the player's eligibility for future events for a specified period or for an indefinite period. In the event of suspension, the player and a parent or guardian (in the event of a junior) will be required to submit a written account of the Code of Conduct violation to the YCAGA Code of Conduct Sub-Committee within 30 days of the suspension. The Sub-Committee will review all submitted materials and then recommend the length of the suspension to the YCAGA Executive Committee for final determination. Decisions of the Executive Committee will be final without appeal. YCAGA may refuse to accept entries in tournaments it sponsors, from players who have violated the Code of Conduct at tournaments sponsored by other associations and organizations.
Conduct of Event:
a.) The Tournament Director shall oversee all aspects of each tournament and shall be in charge of all personnel who assist in the conduct of the tournament.
b.) The Tournament Director shall be responsible to see that the pairings and times published on the official pairing sheet are strictly followed in the starting of contestants. He or she shall carry out to the letter the rules of the Tournament Committee governing lateness.
c.) The Tournament Director shall designate a rules official, official starter, and scorekeeper.
Size of Tournament Field:
a.) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to alter tee times and/or pairing configurations if they deem it is in the best interest of the event to do so. These may include tee time interval changes, pairings in foursomes, two-tee starts, etc. These changes will be made only in the event where the size of the field will not conveniently accommodate the prescribed tee time intervals.
b.) It is the intent of the Tournament Committee to accommodate every player who enters an event by the entry deadline (in events where the field size is not limited). Such a contingency plan will allow the Tournament Committee to accommodate more players without sacrificing the integrity of the event.
Tournament Pairings:
a.) Pairings and starting times shall be made by the Tournament Committee. Patron Sponsors will receive preferred tee time status upon request. The pairings and starting times published on the official pairings sheet shall be final. There will be no substitution, no exchanges, and no deviations from this official list, other than as allowed in Section 4 above.
b.) In the event that two contestants are absent from a group in either a three’s pairing or a foursome pairing, the Starter shall break the next following pairing, and shall start the four or six players as two groups of two or three couples as close as possible to the original starting times.
c.) Regardless of the situation, under no circumstances shall a contestant be granted a time different from the originally assigned to him on the official pairing sheet.
d.) When pairings are done on-site for multi-day events, players will be paired according to score (high to low). The Tournament Committee reserves the right to alter this if circumstances warrant. Pairings will be determined by the summary board on a last-in, first-out basis.
Lateness For Starting Time (Rule 6-3):
a.) USGA Rule 6-3 (Time of Starting and Groups) shall apply to all late starters. In the absence of circumstances which warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, if the player arrives at his/her starting point, ready to play, within five minutes of his/her starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is two-strokes in stroke play instead of disqualification.
b.) It is the responsibility of the player to be at the starting tee at his/her designated starting time. The YCAGA staff will not be responsible for seeking out players in order to ensure that they are ready to play at their designated tee time.
c.) Team: If no member of the team is on the tee at the scheduled tee time, the team will be assessed a two (2) stroke penalty for each ball which is to be counted in the event; i.e., one (1) better ball event – two (2) stroke penalty; two (2) better ball event – four (4) stroke penalty. After the five (5) minute grace period has passed, the late team member(s) will be allowed to join his team on the tee of the next hole that they are scheduled to play. If the team (at least one member for each ball, which is to be counted) is not present within the five (5) minute grace period, the team shall be disqualified. If the team show up after the five (5) minutes, they will be allowed to play but will not be eligible for any prizes.
Slow Play: The YCAGA stresses the importance of promoting awareness among its Player’s to maintain an acceptable pace of play in its events. The following procedures will apply to all YCAGA events.
a.) The four stroke rule will be in effect for all events. If a group is four strokes behind the group in front of them they are out of position. Example: Group walking off a par 4 hole and group behind is teeing off, they are out of position. Group walking off tee after playing a par 3 and the group behind is teeing off on the par 3, they are out of position.
b.) When a group is out of position, and are being timed, any player in the group who incurs a “bad time” will be assessed the following penalties.
1. First offense: Warning
2. Second offense: One (1) stroke penalty
3. Third offense: An additional one (1) stroke penalty
4. Fourth offense: Disqualification
c.) “Bad times” are defined as follows: When a player takes more than 45 seconds to play a stroke when it is clearly that player’s turn to play (i.e. when the player arrives at his/her ball, or if a second shot, when the fellow competitor’s ball is clearly at rest) and the player can play without interference or distraction. During any given round “bad times” are cumulative (i.e. they will stay with the player even if the group gets back into position and then falls out of position later in the round.)
d.) Any player who is penalized shall be immediately informed after playing from the teeing ground of the next hole or, in the event of a penalty during play of the last hole of the round, at the scoring table.
Discontinuation of Play:
a.) A competitor shall not discontinue play, except in those cases where he suffers a sudden illness or in cases of bad weather.
b.) The Tournament Committee may authorize the suspension of play because of a dangerous situation and/or unplayable conditions. Such suspension of play shall be signaled by one prolonged blast of the siren/horn; Resumption will be signaled by three short blasts of the siren, repeated.
c.) In a one day event, if weather conditions (rain or the like) cause discontinuation of play before the complete field has finished, the following policy will apply:
1) If 75% of the starting field has completed play and it will be unfeasible for the others to do so on that day the Tournament pay out shall be re-calculated on the basis of the number of completing play. Those participants unable to complete play shall be deemed non-competitors and will be refunded their entry fee less and fees required by the host club. If less than 75% of the starting field completed play, the event bell be postponed or canceled. A “No Card” and “Disqualification” are considered part of the field while a “Withdraw” is not.
d.) In shotgun start events, on a single course, where a rain delay makes the completion of 18 holes an impossibility, winners be determined by taking the maximum number of holes everyone in the field has played, and determine scores in relation to par for the holes each group has played. A minimum number of nine (9) holes must be completed by every group in order for this policy to be in effect. If one group fails to complete at least nine (9) holes, there will be no winners for the event. The YCAGA will have the discretion to work with the host club in determining any refunds or rescheduling.
e.) In Point, Senior Point and War of the Roses Point events, 100% of the field MUST complete play of the event in order for points to be awarded. During multi-day events, if the entire field cannot complete the event, the tournament will be reduced to the last completed round that the entire field completed.
Playoffs:
a.) Unless otherwise specified, there will be a playoff for first place in the gross division of all Championships. The Interclub Tournament will only host a playoff for the Team Event. In the event of a tie in the Individual portion of the Interclub, the Tournament Committee will have established the method for determining the winner prior to the event. Before the start of play, the Rules Sheet shall state the playoff procedures for each event. Playoff plans may be altered at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. All other ties will split, with the player cashing in only one division, wherever he earns the larger prize.
b.) Players are responsible for being present at the designated time for any playoff. The YCAGA is not responsible for getting players to the designated tee for a playoff. In cases where two or more players are involved in a playoff, any player(s) not showing at the designated tee at their appointed time lose their right to complete for first place, and all such individuals will spit second place (even though one or more players did show but did not win the playoff).
Handicaps:
a.) The maximum allowable handicap (unless otherwise specified) will be 36.
Carts/Caddies:
a.) A caddie or electric/gas cart may be used by a contestant or he/she may elect to carry their own bag.
Section 11 Cancellation Policy
Cancellation prior to the release of the pairings, will be refunded less a $5.00 processing fee with the exception of a confirmed medical condition or family emergency. Once pairings are released cancellations will be refunded only for confirmed medical condition or family emergency.
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