PGA Tournament Guidelines

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

• USGA Rules shall govern all play except where modified by local rules.

• Specific tournament rules will vary from event to event. All contestants in Indiana PGA events will receive a rules of play sheet.

• No tournament shall be held at any golf club or course unless the head golf professional is a PGA Member (Class A) or registered apprentice.

• All decisions shall be made by the Tournament Committee, whose decision is final.

• The Indiana Section PGA reserves the right to accept or reject entries at any time for any reason.

• Entry fees must accompany entry forms. All checks shall be made payable to the proper association which is noted on the entry form.

ALL COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS SHALL BE MADE DISCREETLY TO THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE.

REGISTRATION FEES

Any Registration Fee at any tournament shall not exceed the amount of $55.00. The Registration Fee is to include carts and driving range balls.

POLICY ON REFUNDS

POLICY FOR ALTERNATES

Alternates for tournaments may show up at the tournament site. If there are “No Shows” the “No Show” will be replaced with an alternate as the alternates appear on the alternate list.

POLICY ON CONDUCT

The following actions are regarded as violating the Player Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated. Any violation witnessed by or reported to the IGA-PGA staff will be brought to the attention of the PGA Tournament Committee and / or the PGA Board of Directors who will determine the penalty to be imposed. The penalty will be determined by the offense, but might include fines and / or suspensions.

• Club throwing / club breaking

• Damage to or littering the property of the course or the IGA-PGA.

• Blatant profanity or any profanity directed at the rules officials, other competitors, spectators, sponsors, staff, volunteers or others.

• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages during tournaments.

• Practice round violation: It is recommended that players not hit more than one ball to the green. Please be courteous to the property of the host club and not use the fairway as the range.

• Participants should always use restroom facilities when needed.

• Any other conduct deemed by the Tournament Director to be disrespectful to other competitors, the club or tournament staff.

NO SHOW POLICY

All competitors are required to notify the Section Office of their withdrawal from a tournament prior to the event. If it is necessary to withdrawal after 5:00 PM of the day before the tournament, competitors are asked to notify the golf course. The PGA Tournament Committee or the Tournament Director will call offenders of this policy. Multiple time offenders will be brought to the PGA Tournament Committee and competitors may be subject to fines or suspensions.

POLICY ON SLOW PLAY

The Indiana PGA tournament staff will be utilizing a two checkpoint system to monitor and apply penalties for slow play. The complete details of this system is available on our Web site, www.indianagolf.org and will be posted at each tournament.

CELL PHONE POLICY

Cell phone use is prohibited during a stipulated round, with the exception of areas such as the clubhouse or parking lot, when you are not interfering or delaying play. First violation is a two-stroke penalty and the second violation is disqualification.

POLICY ON DRESS

All male participants in Indiana PGA events must wear slacks and shall not wear shorts during any tournament round(s). Female participants in Indiana PGA events may wear culottes, walking shorts or golf shorts that constitute acceptable clothing worn by women in connection with participation in professional golf tournaments. All participants are required to present a neat appearance, appropriate to a professional golf tournament in clothing and grooming. Jeans and t-shirts are not acceptable. Anyone not conforming to this policy will not be allowed to play. This policy applies to all practice rounds associated with an Indiana PGA event.

Amateurs participating in Indiana PGA events will be required to adhere to the same dress code. Amateurs participating in the following events may wear shorts: Pro-Superintendent, Pro-President, Pro-Junior, 4-Man Team, Senior Pro-Am and Las Vegas Pro-Am. Professionals and apprentices are encouraged to check with host professionals on dress codes when playing in Pro-Members.

Caddies are expected to be neat in appearance with respect to clothing and personal grooming. Shirts with collars are required. T-shirts, tank tops, cut-offs, gym clothes and jeans are examples of attire that does not meet this requirement. Shorts of an appropriate length are acceptable. The official in charge of the event shall decide whether this requirement has been met.

NON-CONFORMING BALLS / CLUBS

The IGA-PGA recognizes the USGA as the governing body of the Rules of Golf. In accordance with USGA Rules, the IGA-PGA will not allow any participant in Indiana Golf Association, Indiana Section PGA or Indiana Golf Foundation events to use a non-conforming golf ball or a non-conforming golf club. Should the use of non-conforming equipment take place in an IGA, Indiana PGA or Indiana Golf Foundation event, the participant shall be disqualified. A current list of non-conforming golf balls and clubs can be viewed online at www.usga.org under 'Equipment.'

POLICY ON GOLF CARS / CADDIES

Only competitors are permitted to ride in the golf cart. Any competitor allowing a caddie, or spectator to ride on a golf cart will be subject to penalty.

SPIKELESS / NON-METAL GOLF SHOE REQUIREMENT RELEASE OF LIABILITY

It is the requirement of some host clubs that Spikeless / Non-Metal golf shoes are worn. While at these clubs, it is required that all individuals wear spikeless / non-metal golf shoes. This requirement is a policy of the Host Club and is not a policy of the Indiana Section PGA. The use of spikeless / non-metal golf shoes may cause the participant to slip or experience reduced traction on wet, damp or uneven terrain. The participant hereby releases the Indiana Section PGA and their officers, directors, members, employees, successors and assigns (the "Indemnified Parties") from any and all claims for loss or damage, inclusive of but not limited to personal injury, whether or not caused by participant's use of spikeless / non-metal golf shoes at the Host Club's premises in connection with the tournament.

POLICY ON REFUNDS

Golf professionals and amateurs participating in professional events are entitled to full refunds when withdrawal from any Indiana PGA event is made prior to the tournament deadline date. Anyone wishing a refund when withdrawing after the tournament deadline date must appeal to the tournament committee in writing. Entrants shall inform the Golf Office of their withdrawal.

POLICY ON STARTING TIMES

Starting times for Indiana Section PGA events will be made by the Tournament Committee, Tournament Administrator and/or the Executive Director and will be made available to participants prior to the event. Starting times so posted are final.

ONE prolonged note signals a suspension for a dangerous situation and all players SHALL DISCONTINUE PLAY IMMEDIATELY. If a player fails to discontinue play, he shall be disqualified. All practice areas shall be closed during a suspension for a dangerous situation until the committee has declared them open for use. THREE notes signal all other suspensions, players have the option of finishing out the hole they are playing or they may discontinue play. TWO notes signal a resumption of play unless other wise declared by the committee. signal all other suspensions,

POLICY ON CARD PLAYING

It is felt that card playing is a matter of individual responsibility and its propriety may vary from club to club. In general the Tournament Committee frowns on card playing at the site of any competition and feels that abusing a privilege such as this can injure the Association and cause embarrassment to the host golf professional. For this reason, card playing by groups of golf professionals on the premises of a tournament site shall only be allowed when authorized by the host golf professional. Warnings shall be given to those who abuse this policy and if the warning goes unheeded, violators shall be subject to disciplinary action.

POLICY ON GAMBLING

The USGA is clear on its policies on gambling. The Indiana Section PGA concurs with these policies. The Tournament Committee feels that when players engage on betting on themselves or on their teams that they will do so in a discreet manner that will not in any way or manner cause embarrassment to the host club or golf professional or the Association. Anyone who abuses this policy shall be warned; and if the warning goes unheeded, violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

APPEALS FOR RULES INFRACTIONS

The penalized player(s) may make appeals to the Tournament Committee who will hear all the facts and either uphold the decision or overrule. In all instances, the decision of the Tournament Committee is final.

APPEALS FOR POLICY INFRACTIONS

Appeals may be made by the penalized player(s) to the Tournament Committee who will hear all the facts and either uphold the decision, overrule, or in some cases, refer the situation to the Indiana PGA Board of Directors for administration. In the latter case, the normal appeal procedure as outlined in the Constitution and By Laws of the PGA of America will take precedence.

SANCTION/CONFLICTING EVENTS

Championship events conducted by the Indiana Section PGA are sanctioned by the Section. During the play of an Indiana Section PGA event, at a given club or course, another tournament not scheduled or sanctioned by the Section, where prize money or compensation is awarded to the golf professional, may not be participated in nor hosted by Indiana PGA Members, Approved Players, or Apprentice Head Professionals unless such non-Indiana PGA Section event is being played outside the established boundaries of the Section.

Special permission permitting play in or hosting a conflicting event may be granted only at the discretion of the Indiana Section PGA Tournament Committee. Requests must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Chairman at least 30 days prior to the date of conflict.

PGA Tour, USGA, National PGA, Indiana Golf Association events played opposite Indiana Section PGA events are not considered to be in conflict.

A player who participates in or hosts a conflicting event, without prior consent, will automatically be disciplined as follows:

• First Offense $200.00 fine.

• Second Offense $200.00 fine and suspension of playing privileges for one year from the date of the offense.

• Additional offenses, failure to pay fine or abide by the terms of the suspension will constitute a violation of the PGA Code of Ethics and therefore subject the offender to suspension from the PGA.