MIDFLORIDA Junior Golf Tour

Charlie Matlock
James Pratt
Marc Zimmerman





Rules & Guidelines
MFJGT abides by the USGA Rules of Golf and local Club rules to provide a consistent and professional approach to the game.  All 18 hole tournament participants are required to play by these rules.  The only exceptions to some of these rules are provided for the 8-10 year old participants.  

• Format of Play
  
• General Rules & Policies
  
• Pace of Play
  
• Spectator Guidelines
  
• Rules for Players Ages 8-10
  

 
Format of Play
 
Division 8-10 must have an adult to assist in carrying his or her clubs, help in the instructional phases of the game, and keep the player’s score.  No pros or teachers of the children will be allowed to help; however, parents who are pros may help their sons or daughters.

PLAYING BRACKETS
Players start in the age bracket based on their birth date. A player who elects to move up to a higher age bracket may not move down in age division for the remainder of the year, including the Tournament of Champions. Players wishing to elect this option must state their intentions on the application. A junior in the older age of the age bracket who won his division in the previous year’s Tournament of Champions may elect to move up.
If a player wins twice, he/she has the option to move up to the next age bracket. Once a junior has moved up, if he fails to place 1st through 3rd in two consecutive tournaments, he/she may return to his previous bracket at the player’s request. Options to move back down in monthly tournaments must be clearly noted on the Tournament application.  No changes will be allowed on the day of a tournament. For the Tournament of Champions, the player must compete in his current age division unless he chooses to move up again to a higher age bracket for which he has qualified at any time during the year.
A player who wins twice in the higher age bracket can choose between moving up one more bracket, or remaining in the current bracket.
All rules apply to the division being played not the age of the participant. 

 Player of the Year  Points Breakdown for Tournaments
The following point system shall determine Player of the Year Honors in each age division.
1st-30 Points          4th-12 Points           7th-6 Points           10th-1 Point
2nd-20 Points         5th-10 Points           8th-4 Points          
3rd-15 Points          6th-8 Points             9th-2 Points
In all age groups, placing 1^st and 2^nd in any tournament automatically qualifies the player for the Tournament of Champions.


General Rules & Policies
1.  Junior membership to the tour shall be open to boys and girls who are at least 8 years of age at the time of the first tournament played by the junior and eighteen (18) years of age or younger on or before August 31 of that tournament year regardless of whether such individual has his/her 19^th birthday during said tournament year, whose applications for such membership are accepted by the Tournament Committee. Players must be enrolled and in good standing in a public or private school or registered in a home education program in the twelfth grade or lower, or shall have completed the school year as such a student if a tournament is held after the school year is completed.

2.  Membership dues are as follows: Junior Player $35 annual membership. Membership is paid to The First Tee of Lakeland.

3.  An entry fee ranging from $35-$70 per player, $5 discount for the second family player and $5 discount for each additional family player will be discounted for each tournament; all entries and fees must be received by the specified deadline. NO REFUNDS in the event of withdrawal, rainout, etc.

4.  USGA rules will govern all play except where it is necessary to apply local rules. Decisions of the members of the rules committee will be final in all matters concerning the interpretation and enforcement of the Rules of Golf and the tournament rules of the MIDFLORIDA Junior Golf Tour.

5.  All participants are guests at the host Golf Club. Participants are required to wear appropriate golf attire at all times while at the facility. Cut-offs, blue jeans, tank tops, leggings, and short short/skirts (more than 5: above the knee or less than 5” inseam) are not considered proper golf attire. Please use discretion. Boys must wear collared shirts tucked in at all times. Hats are to be worn forward. Boys may not wear earrings. Proper attire is required in order to appropriately represent MFJGT. Improper attire may result in a player not being allowed to compete. Tournament officials will enforce this rule. The tournament committee will review unusual hair or clothing styles.

6.  Spectators are expected to adhere to the same dress code as players.

7.  Time of Starting:  1^st and 10^th tee start tournaments—Note under Rule 6-3 and Optional Condition prescribed in Appendix 1 shall be in effect.  Shotgun start tournaments—Any player not registered at the tournament site 15 minutes prior to the announced tournament starting time will be assessed a 2-stroke penalty. Any player who has not completed registration at the tournament site by the announced starting time will be disqualified.

8.  All players must register at each tournament at the registration area. Scorecards will be distributed to contestants at the starting tee.  Scorecards must be exchanged among players within playing groups and scorecards must be signed and attested before they are turned in at the scoring table or scoreboard, as appropriate. All players must remain seated at the scorers table until released by scoring official.

9.  The use of caddies by tournament contestants is prohibited. Exceptions to this rule is the 8-10 year age groups. See rules specific to this group.

10.  The use of golf vehicles for riding by tournament contestants is prohibited. Penalty: disqualification.

11.  Pull carts are permitted unless prohibited by host facility.

12.  Use of tobacco, drugs, alcoholic beverages, or betting by contestants during any tournament is strictly prohibited. Violators will be disqualified. Cell phones and beepers are prohibited on the course.

13.  A two-stroke penalty may be assessed against any contestant for use of profanity or throwing golf equipment during any tournament. These actions may be grounds for disqualification from the tournament by the Rules Committee. In the event of damage to any part of the golf course, the player shall be disqualified from the event and, at the discretion of the Committee, may forfeit MFJGT membership.

14. The Maximum Allowable Stroke limit per hole is 10 strokes.  Once the player has hit their 10^th shot, he/she must pick up the ball.  When this procedure is used circle the score on the scorecard.

15.  If a player finds he cannot compete in an event for which he has registered, he must withdraw 24 hours prior to the event by contacting the YMCA Par 3. In the event of illness, call YMCA Par 3 prior to your tee time. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE GOLF COURSE. If you cannot compete and do not withdraw and are therefore a “no show”, the following action will be taken:

• You will not be accepted to participate in the next event.
  
• In the event of a second offense, either a no-card or no-show you will not be allowed to participate in any MFJGT event for the remainder of the year.
  

16.  For “no scorecards”, (i.e., no card turned in) players will be disciplined in the same manner as no shows (see #15).

17.  The number of winners eligible for awards within each age group will be determined by the Tournament Committee.

18.  Rain-Out Policy. Tournament results within each age group will be based on only those holes completed by all players within each age group, with the following minimum hole requirements for trophies to be awarded:

• Age brackets playing 9 holes must complete at least 6 holes.
  
• Age brackets playing 18 holes must complete at least 9 holes.
  

19. DETERMINATION OF WINNERS AND PLACES IN CFJGT EVENTS In the event of ties:   The first place winner within each age group will be determined by a sudden death playoff.  When a playoff is not possible for first place, or for determining second and third places, the following method will be used to determine the placing of players.  For 18 hole events, ties will be broken on the basis of the best score for the last 9 holes.  If the tying players have the same score for the last 9 holes, determine the place based upon the last 6 holes, last 3 holes and finally the 18th. hole.  If a tie still exists, the tie will be broken by lot.  For 9 hole events, ties will be broken on the basis of the best score for the last 6 holes.  If the tying players have the same score for the last 6 holes, determine the place based upon the last 3 holes, and finally the last hole.  If a tie still exists, the tie will be broken by lot.
WEATHER RELATED TERMINATION OF AN EVENT:  If the termination of an event is necessary due to weather the following procedure is implemented to determine a winner:  Tee times, one tee, 18 hole event:  If all competitors have completed the first 9 holes in the same age group, the winner shall be determined on the basis of the first 9 holes completed by all players.  When all players in an age group have not completed the same nine holes, there will not be a tournament winner in that age group. 
Tee times or multiple tee start for 18 hole event:  the scores will be determined on the basis of the first 9 holes completed by all players within an age group.  When all players in an age group have not completed the same 9 holes, there will not be a tournament winner in that age group.

20.  Decisions of the Committee will be final in all matters concerning the tournament rules and policies of the MIDFLORIDA Junior Golf Tour.

21.  Parents and other interested persons are encouraged to be spectators. Upon the written request of the Rules Committee, or any member thereof, the MFJGT Committee shall have the right to indefinitely suspend any parent or other spectator for any violation of the Tour’s Spectator Rules or for any unsportsmanlike behavior or other conduct which, in the opinion of the Committee, is inconsistent with the Tour’s purposes or is intended to interfere with the operation of the MFJGTand its committees. *See Spectator Rules.

22.  Lightning policy. All players are responsible for determining danger from lightning. At any point if you feel threatened by lightning, you should immediately head for safety. You are not required to wait for play to be suspended by the Committee. In the event that play is suspended by the Committee, ALL PLAY SHALL IMMEDIATELY STOP.  You do not have the option of completing the hole. Please review evacuation plan prior at tee off.

23. No metal or traditionally designed spikes are permitted. Penalty--disqualification.

*  If payment of membership dues and/or tournament entry fees will result in a financial hardship, said fees may, upon written request to the YMCA Par 3, Executive Director, be waived.
**  The member is responsible for any bank charges attributed to returned checks. Amount owed must be paid in full prior to the next event.


Pace of Play Policies
Rule 6-7 states in part, “the players shall play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines which may be laid down by the Committee” and thereafter prescribes penalties for slow play. (See note 2 under Rule 6-7). In order to prevent any such penalty we suggest that you carefully review the following guidelines.

Definition of “Out of Position”
The first group to start will be considered to be out of position if, at any time during the round, the group is behind the prescribed schedule.

Any following group will be considered to be out of position if it: a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and b) reaches a par 3 and the hole is clear, fails to clear the tee of a par 4 hole before the preceding group clears the putting green, or arrives at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green.
Note: Both a) and b) must apply for a group to be out of position.

When Group Is Out of Position

If a group is out of position, a red card will be displayed by a Tournament Rules Official to the entire group. This will signify an automatic 1 stroke penalty, however, each player will have the right to challenge at the completion of play. They will then be observed on subsequent holes until they are back in position.

Monitoring
Any player in the group out of position and who takes more than 40 seconds to play a stroke has a bad time and will be subject to penalty.

Timing
The timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he has had reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction.

Except on the putting green, if a player has reached his ball, it is his turn to play and there are no distractions, timing will begin after he has had reasonable time to select his club. Any time spent walking for determining yardage will count as time taken for the next stroke.
On the putting green, timing will begin after the player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his ball, repair ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments on his line of putt. Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.

Rulings and Other Incidents
If a ruling or some other legitimate delay occurs which causes the group in question to lose its position, that group is expected to regain its position within a reasonable time.  

Spectator Guidelines
The MIDFLORIDA Junior Golf Tour (MFJGT) will rigorously enforce spectator rules in conjunction with the MFJGT tournaments. These spectator rules are consistent with those of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), and other national junior tours and national junior tournaments. Because the MFJGT is a training ground for this arena, enforcement is with these national organizations.
A violation of the spectator rules will result in penalty strokes or disqualification for the junior participant involved. It is the junior golfer’s responsibility to make sure spectators do not cause a violation.
Rules which must be followed:
1. The junior participant is not to receive any advice from spectator (parents, relatives, and friends). Some examples of advice are:

• Verbal communication with the participant.
  
• Hand signals to the participant, including gestures to influence player decisions.
  
• Providing participants with written material
  
• Positioning yourself as a spectator to assist the junior participant with aim or alignment.
  

 2. Penalties can and will be assessed based on the appearance of communication, even if no actual advice may have been given. Spectators who need to talk with participants (ie. for health reasons, sunscreen, water etc.) should do so at a time in front of other spectators and/or other participants so there is never one-on-one situation between the spectator and the participant.
 
 3. Whenever possible, spectators are requested to stay 25 yards from the participants to the side of fairways, tees, and greens. Please do not follow directly behind the participants, as this often prevents the next group from being able to hit their shots.
 
Exceptions: Players in 8-10 year old division must have caddies. 
 
SPECTATOR DRESS CODE
 
TO BE ALLOWED ON THE COURSE AS A SPECTATOR, YOU MUST be attired in accordance with the CFJGT dress code. This is the same dress code required of our players. Appropriate golf attire must be worn--tailored slacks or shorts, collared shirts for men, tucked in at all times.
 
Examples Of INAPPROPRIATE Attire:
Blue jeans, bike shorts, leggings, tank tops, tee shirts, midriff tops, halter tops, sports bras, short shorts or skirts (more than 5” above knee or less than 5” inseam), hats worn backwards and earrings for males.
 


Rules for Players Ages 8-10

• The Maximum Allowable Stroke limit per hole is 10 strokes.  Once the player has hit their 10^th shot, he/she must pick up the ball.  When this procedure is used circle the score on the scorecard.

• No riding in carts during play. Players may ride from green to tee to speed play.

• Ball in bunker-2 strokes out of sand maximum. If ball is still in sand after two strokes, move outside of bunker, no closer to the hole. Do not add a third stroke for moving ball out of sand. No penalty for grounding club in sand, but instruct the player in the proper method of play. When this MFJGT procedure is used, the final score on the hole must be circled.

•  Caddie may stand behind player’s line and stay there during shot.

• Parent or caddie must keep score for player and check scores with other parents after each hole

• When crossing a water hazard the player may drop on the other side after hitting two shots in the water. For example, a first shot is hit in this water. A ball is dropped on the near side with penalty. The third shot goes into the water. The ball is then dropped on the far side with a penalty stroke. The golfer is now hitting his fifth shot.  Lateral water and out of bounds played by official rules. When this MFJGT procedure is used, the final score on the hole must be circled.

 

• Whiffs count, but accidental touching or moving of ball does not.

•  For the youngest age group, the emphasis is on enjoying the game and learning the rules and etiquette of golf. Parents or caddies should work together to show good sportsmanship and show their players how to accept winning and losing.