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WMSGA Tournament Regulations
Regular weekly tournaments are eighteen-hole stroke play with full handicap. An established USGA Handicap
Index is required. Shot-gun tournaments are limited to 64 entries on 9-hole courses and 128 on 18-hole courses.
1. Eligibility: All WMSGA members in good standing;
2. Format: Determined by Tournament Committee;
3. Flights: The total field for each weekly tournament will be divided into thirds according to the current handi-
cap indexes. (Lowest third is Flight A, middle third is Flight B, highest third is Flight C). If the field is
not evenly divisible by three, the flights will be as close as possible to equal. An equal number of
places will be paid in each flight
4. Registration:
- Players shall register prior to start of tournament. All registered players must be ready to tee off at the
designated time.
- Applications may be submitted in two (2) ways: mail or on-line via forms found at www.wmsga.org.
1) Mail tournament application or send on-line form to the Administrative Assistant (AA) within
the open and close dates of each tournament as designated on the current tournament schedule.
2) If mailing the application please include one check per event made payable to WMSGA and a
stamped, self-addressed postcard. The postcard will be returned to you as confirmation of your
entry into the tournament. If the AA has your e-mail address, you do not have to enclose the
postcard.
3) Online Tournament applications may be submitted only after you have established a pre-pay
account. To establish an account refer to the “Prepay Option” section of this document.
5. Weekly Foursomes: Play for Regular Weekly Tee Time Tournaments: To enable carpooling, similar tee
times (within 30 mins.) may be requested, however, foursomes requests will be honored
only if handicaps are similar.
6. New!! Over-subscribed Tournament:
A. The AA will keep a list of draw outs in the order that entrants are drawn out. A drawn out player may
refuse the opportunity to play without any penalty and will still receive her refund. Players who are
drawn out of a tournament will be offered any vacancies as they arise, in the order they were drawn out
of the tournament. If this list is exhausted, the AA will then use the late entry list to fill any vacancies.
Players may or may not be assigned to a group with a similar handicap index. If the player was selected
from the draw out list, the AA will cash the check submitted with the application. If the player was
selected from the late entry list or is a “same day entrant” the player must present a check upon signing
into the event.
B. Once a member is drawn out of a tournament, she will be ineligible to be drawn out again for the remainder
of the current season and the entire following season. In a team event, if one team member is ineligible to
be drawn out, the rest of the team is exempt from being drawn out. Points are accumulated annually.
No points carry over from a prior season.
7. Late Entries: A player may call the AA the Friday (9am to 6pm) immediately before the tournament to fill
any vacancy and/or be added to a tournament when the field is not full. Vacancies will be filled
on a first call/first served basis (no email will be accepted). After Friday, the player (at her own
risk) may arrive at the tournament site on the day of play and fill any vacancy or no-show, if
available. Players may or may not be assigned to a group with a similar handicap index.
Players must present a check to the host Club Rep upon signing in. A member may be a late
entry two (2) times per season.
8. Player and/or Cart Cancellations:
- It is each person’s responsibility to cancel both play and cart reservations.
- If a player has to cancel, it must be done by 6pm on the Sunday before the tournament by calling
the host course, otherwise, the player is responsible for the cart rental (if reserved) and may be billed
by WMSGA for one half of the cost of a full cart plus a processing charge of $3.00 .
- In the event that verification is needed, please ask for the name of the person to whom you speak when
canceling and note the time and date.
- Failure to pay the amount billed within two weeks will render that member ineligible for the next
tournament and subsequent tournaments until the fee is paid.
9. Fees:
-
$23 Entry fee for weekly tournament.
-
Skins: Options competition for all tournaments except scramble formats. $5 fee per person per day.
-
No Charge Juniors for weekly tournament.
- Breakdown of weekly tournament fees: $15 user fee, $5 tournament fee, $3 administrative fee.
10. Prepay Option: Members must create a prepay account in order to apply for
tournaments on-line instead of by mail. The Prepay Account Application is
also on our website at www.wmsga.org (see below). It is necessary to
sign and mail the Prepay Account Application with a check to the AA.
Once a member has established a prepay account she will not have to mail her
tournament entry applicatin(s), she will simply submit a completed on-line form.
At the end of the tournament season, any remaining balance in a member’s prepay
account will be rolled over to the next season. If a member’s balance is in excess of
$30, she may request a refund check be issued by the treasurer.
11. Guest Policy: Any WMSGA member may bring a female non-member guest to a regular weekly tourna-
ment. A guest will pay the $23 entry fee and will compete for prizes if she has a USGA
handicap index. If the guest does not have an index she may compete at scratch. A junior
would pay no fees but she would be eligible for prizes. If the tournament should be over
subscribed and draw outs are necessary, guests would not be able to play. A member may
bring only one guest per tournament and a person may be a guest only one time in a season.
The sponsoring member will submit a weekly tournament application for her guest to the AA
(including the guest’s GHIN # when possible) within the open/close dates of the tournament.
12. Dress Code: Proper attire is mandatory for WMSGA tournament play. Proper attire is the standard of the
host golf club.
13. Grievance Policy:
- WMSGA member notifies the grievance committee chair or member.
- The member will put in writing a signed grievance (including details, date, time and place of the
incident).
- Committee will set a date to meet with person(s) accused.
- Committee will meet with accused and hear her response to complaint.
-
Committee will decide on sanction, if any. Refer to Bylaws, Conduct Clause, Section 2.
14. Slow Play: USGA® Rules apply.
15. Scorecards: The Committee shall issue a scorecard for each competitor containing the competitor’s name.
A marker (another player in the playing group) keeps the competitor’s score. At the end of the
round, the competitor checks her official scorecard for correctness of each hole and settles any
disputes. The marker and the competitor both sign the card and the competitor personally
returns the card to the designated area or person in a timely fashion. (USGA rule 33-5)
16. Prizes:
-
A point system will be used to award prizes for weekly WMSGA tournaments. Locally sponsored contests
(pins, 2-ball, etc) will be paid through the host pro shop.
1) For purposes of the point system, the tournaments for the year (with the exception of the State
Championship and the Senior Championship) will be divided into two separate sections--the
regular season and the post season.
> Regular Season - All tournaments from the beginning of the season (except the State
Championship and Senior Championship) through the last tournament before the
annual meeting will be included to determine the point value for the regular season.
Those vouchers will be distributed at the annual meeting.
> Post Season - All tournaments starting with the annual meeting tournament through
the October tournaments will be used to calculate the point value of the post season
tournaments. Those vouchers will be mailed to the winners after the last tournament.
2) Even though the prize vouchers do not have expiration dates, WMSGA requests that vouchers
be redeemed by December 1st of the next year.
3) Vouchers are to be redeemed for merchandise only, at WMSGA member clubs. Players may not
receive change back when paying with a voucher. Vouchers are not to be applied toward the
cost of club dues, assessments, user fees, cart fees or food. Complying with these restrictions is
essential to protect the integrity of USGA rules and maintain the amateur status of all WMSGA
members. This is a reminder to all players and golf shop personnel to be sure the USGA
amateur prize system rules will be followed.
B. Annual gross and net vouchers shall be awarded for the first, second and third low averages for the seven
best tournament scores. The State Championship shall count as one tournament in the seven events. If
the participant meets the requirement, any or all of the three championship scores may be used as one of
the seven best scores. The voucher for each category will be for the following amounts: 1st Gross/Net-$50;
2nd Gross/Net-$35; 3rd Gross/Net-$25.
C. A voucher of $25 shall be awarded annually to the player who participates in at least seven tournaments
and reduces her handicap index the most, determined by the USGA formula for determining most
improved player.
WMSGA Prize Structure
|
Players
Per Div. |
1st
G/N |
2nd
G/N |
3rd
G/N |
4th
G/N |
5th
G/N |
6th
G/N |
7th
G/N |
8th
G/N |
9th
G/N |
10th
G/N |
|
2 to 8 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
9 to 16 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
17 to 24 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
25 to 32 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
33 to 40 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
41 to 48 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
49 to 56 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
57 to 64 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
|
65 to 72 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
|
73 to 80 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
17. Cancelation of Play: In case of bad weather, the club pro, the greens keeper and the tournament
chairwoman, and any members of the Executive Board, together, shall judge if play
should be cancelled the morning of the tournament.
18. Refund Policy: There shall be NO REFUNDS except when:
1) A player cancels within 9 days of the opening date (for tournament entry) of the
tournament;
2) The tournament is cancelled before start of play;
3) The field is oversubscribed and the member is not able to play as a substitute;
4) A player must cancel and contacts the AA by 6 PM on the Sunday before the
Tuesday tournament and if the AA is able to fill that slot, the canceling player’s
check will be shredded;
5) The member desires to have a tournament that has been cancelled (by WMSGA or
the host course) or an oversubscribed tournament, count for Championship
eligibility. It is the responsibility of the member to request that her entry
check not be refunded (shredded) and that she wishes to have that tournament
counted as one of the 3 tournaments needed to play in the WMSGA Championship.
She must notify the AA of this request by telephone no later than the date
of the cancelled or oversubscribed tournament.
6) The policy regarding a rained out shotgun tournament is that if play is suspended
and not able to be resumed, the $5 tournament (prize) fee will be allocated to the
Junior Golf Fund.
19. Returned Check Policy: Bank fee and administrative fee must be paid within 30 days of notification by the
treasurer.
20. Participant Requirements:
A. Participants must be rated as amateurs and pay annual dues to WMSGA.
B. All WMSGA members agree to hold the WMSGA, its agents and servants, harmless and free from all
claims, demands and liabilities originating out of any loss or damage suffered by said members in
connection with any tournament entered.
C. Juniors:
1) A junior golfer is an amateur golfer who has not yet reached her 18th birthday.
2) Each year WMSGA will sponsor one junior, who meets the requirements, to attend the USGA
Junior Tournament. Sponsorship shall not exceed $500. Any interested junior may apply to
the President of WMSGA. If more than one junior applies for sponsorship, the lowest handicap
index at the time of application will be chosen. If lowest applicants’ handicap indexes are within
two strokes of each other at the time of application, the juniors will play an 18-hole playoff at a
course chosen by the Tournament Committee Chair, not to be the home course of either junior.
3) There will be a WMSGA Representative to the MPA sponsored Junior Girls’ Tournament held
each year.
4) If a junior is selected for the Tri-State team, her entry fee and housing will be paid by WMSGA.
5) A junior who plays in MSGA sponsored events may count those events to fulfill the 3 tourna-
ment requirement for the Women's Maine Amateur.
21. Handicaps:
A. Indexes used are to be issued by each person’s home club under the USGA handicap system.
B. All scores achieved on a course during its “active season” are to be used for handicap determination
according to the USGA rules. Even though an area has an “inactive” season, scores made by a player
in an area where the season is “active“ shall be submitted to GHIN year-round for handicap purposes
or entered at their home club prior to the start of the “active“ season.
C. Handicap indexes are unlimited for membership, but a maximum index of 36.4 shall be used for all
WMSGA sponsored tournaments.
D. Handicap indexes will be converted to the course handicaps that apply to the host golf course. WMSGA
follows the USGA recommendation of adjusting handicap allowances in team events in order to produce
fair and equitable competition. The USGA acknowledges that in some forms of play, it is equitable for
players to use their full handicap while in some forms of TEAM COMPETITION; the higher handicap
team would have an unfair advantage if full handicaps are used. The following tournaments are
affected by handicap adjustments as follows:
1) Metropolitan-each member will receive 90% of course handicap
2) BB of 2-each member will receive 95% of course handicap
3) Scramble-50% of team’s course handicap to be determined by
A player = 20%, B = 15%, C = 10%, and D = 5%
4) 2 BB of 4-Each member will receive 95% of course handicap.
E. General Handicap Information
1) All home and away scores, including and especially tournament scores, must be promptly
entered into the GHIN System. The AA will post your WMSGA tournament scores to GHIN.
DO NOT post them at your home club.
2) NEW!! All team events are the responsibility of the individual to post as non-tournament scores.
3) If at least 13 holes are played, the remaining un-played holes, for handicap purposes, shall
be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes that the player is entitled to receive on the
unplayed holes. (USGA Handicap Rule 5-2b)
4) If a player starts but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke, she shall record for
handicap purposes the score she most likely would have made. (USGA Handicap Rule 4-1)
F. Two nine-hole scores shall be combined for a score and entered for handicap purposes. When combining
two nine-hole scores for handicap purposes, the USGA Course Rating is the sum of the two nine-hole
Course Ratings (or the average of the two USGA Course Ratings for the two 18-hole courses) and the
USGA Slope Rating is the average of the two slope ratings.
G. Two nine-hole rounds, once combined, should be identified with a score type of “C.” Seven holes must be
played in order for a nine hole round to be an acceptable score for handicap purposes.
22. Obligations of Host Course Rep: Each Club Representative whose club is hosting a tournament will be
given detailed guidelines at the beginning of the season in preparation
for that tournament. She will be contacted by the AA prior to the
tournament for guidance.
23. Amendments: The Executive Board shall have the power to amend these tournament rules subject to
review by the Association. Notice, in writing, of any proposed changes must be sent to the
Secretary one month prior to the meeting. The Secretary must notify each board member
in writing two (2) weeks prior to the meeting. Such amendments voted by the Executive
Board may take effect immediately and after they have been in effect through one season,
must be ratified by the Association at its next meeting. A two-thirds negative vote of
members present will nullify such amendments.
24. WMSGA Local Rules: The Rules of the USGA govern play, as modified by the WMSGA. The complete text
of Rules and Appendix 1 may be found in the current Rules of Golf.
A. WATER AND LATERAL HAZARD STAKES AND LINES-when both stakes and lines are used to define water
and lateral hazards, stakes identify hazards, lines identify margins.
B. GROUND UNDER REPAIR-usually defined by white lines. French drains are deemed to be Ground Under
Repair, even though unmarked.
C. EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH THE GREEN-local rule as prescribed in Appendix I shall be in effect.
D. PREFERRED LIES-In all tournaments (except State Championship and Senior Championship), you
may mark, lift (by hand, not move by club), clean and place within 1 foot (12 inches) not nearer the hole, in
your own fairway. The position of the ball must be marked before lifting and may be placed only once.
Course hosting Championships will determine whether to allow preferred lies or not.
E. HOST CLUB’S LOCAL RULES-local rules posted at clubs or on club scoreboards shall NOT be in effect if
contrary to anything posted herein or if contrary to anything posted by WMSGA at the tournament site.
F. DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE (Rule 3.3)-Facts of the situation must be reported to the Committee before
competitor returns her scorecard.
G. It is important for all participants to protect the field by seeing that rules are followed within their own
foursome. If there is a rule dispute, a member of the Rules Committee participating in a tournament could
participate in any discussions of rules issues, but should not make a ruling on a rule dispute. The Club Pro,
in that case, should make the decision on the rule after gathering the facts from the participants directly
involved in the situation in question. If there is a question about interpreting the rule, the club Pro or
his/her designee may call the USGA. The decision of the Pro or the Rules Official not participating in the
tournament is final.
H. WMSGA has adopted a Local Rule that allows players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only
(such as the Sky Caddie and Bushnell Pinseeker) during WMSGA tournaments. A device that gauges or
measures other conditions (wind or gradient) will not be permitted and would be in violation of Rule 14-3,
for which the penalty is disqualification. (See Decisions on the Rules of Golf: 14-3/0.5.) Measuring devices
and the information they provide can be shared with fellow competitors although players are not obligated
to share their devices or information.
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