- USGA Rules are always in effect. If you are uncertain of a ruling, play 2 balls and write the score down for each. A determination of the rule will be made by the Tour Director and Head Pro at the end of play.
- 3 Minute Ball Search In Play - Play a Provisional ball whenever in doubt.
- Putts must be holed out completely! Even if the flag stick knocks the ball out. Pins may be removed.
- Playing Conditions: Announced before the Start of Play.
- Sand Traps/Bunkers: "If Cart Path Only" - FREE RELIEF IN BUNKER BY LIFT AND PLACING BALL, SMOOTH SAND TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES, Placing it back within 1-Scorecard. "If Not Cart Path Only" players may get FREE Relief from Washouts, Wet Mud, Water in the Bunkers & Foot Prints (Showing a Partner in the Group to agree), they may smooth the area and place it back within 1-Scorecard. **When we play it Down, remember the Bunkers aren't 100% "Free Relief", having a plugged shot or tough lie doesn't mean you get the Free Relief. /
- Remember to review the rules when you visit another Amateur Tour, they may not allow the same relief.
DROP ZONES (BALL DROP) - As an option, drop area (Forward Tee Box) are provided on Par 3’s with water for balls entering lateral water hazards from teeing areas. A one stroke penalty applies if this option is used.
STONES IN BUNKERS - Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions.
WASTE AREAS - If any, noted prior to the start of play.
AERATION HOLES - Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.
RULE 3-3 - DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE - In stroke play only, when during play of a hole a competitor is doubtful of his rights or procedure, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls. After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking further action, the competitor must 1) announce to his marker or a fellow-competitor that he intends to play two balls and 2) which ball they wish to count if the Rules permit. The player MUST report the facts of the situation to the Rules Committee before returning his/her scorecard. If they fail to do so, he is disqualified.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR - is defined by white lines. Fire ant hills and french drains are ground under repair. White-lined areas tying into cart paths are part of those obstructions. Sod seams (not the sod itself) are deemed to be ground under repair, and relief is available under Rule 25-1 if the ball lies in or touches a sod seam or the sod seam interferes with the area of intended swing. All seams within the sodded area are considered the same seam.
Embedded Ball: General Area, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground may be lifted, without
penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course within the General Area.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR AND SODDED AREAS - Defined by white lines. White-lined areas tying into cart paths are part of those obstructions.
Fire anthills and french drains are ground under repair. A ball coming to rest in a newly sodded seam or edge may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which is not in either condition. Relief is granted for the ball only and not the stance. The nearest point of relief may be on the sod itself. All edges and seams are considered the same condition.
ONE-BALL RULE IS IN EFFECT - The ball the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the United States Golf Association. Players must have a marking on the ball they place in play. Note: The GWAT National Championship is played with the One-Ball Rule in effect. (Model Local Rule 8:G-4).
OUT OF BOUNDS - is defined by the inside points of white stakes at ground level, by the inside points of fence posts at ground level and by the inside edge of paved roads and beyond. Relief is not allowed from stakes or fences that mark OB.
Fire Ants and Snakes - When a player’s ball is near a fire ant mound or a snake that interfere with a player’s stance or swing they are entitled to relief using Rule 25-1b (Ground under repair).
SUSPENSION OF PLAY for DANGEROUS SITUATION - Signaled by 1 long air horn blast. All play must cease immediately. All practice areas will be closed during a suspension of play, until the Committee has declared them open again. ** View the LIVE Scoring for any messages from the Tour Director **
Director & RULES COMMITTEE - Tour Director official-in-charge has final authority on any rulings.
Triple Bogey Max Score except Champ Flight. When you reach Triple-Bogey, please pick up.
Tournament Rules:
If it’s not in this weeks rules, then don’t assume it’s allowed just because we had it once before. Players should listen to the
announcements before the tournament begins.
Abnormal conditions are animal holes, ground under repair (GUR) immovable obstructions or temporary water. General Area Relief / Limits on Location of Relief Area: - Not be nearer the hole than the reference point - Complete relief for: Lie, Stance, Swing
F-4 Extensive Damage Due to Heavy Rain and Traffic Purpose. When heavy rain has resulted in many areas of unusual damage to the course (such as deep ruts caused by vehicles or deep footprints caused by spectators), and it is not feasible to define them with stakes
or lines, the Committee has the authority to declare such unusual damage to be ground under repair.
Model Local Rule F-4
“Ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage, including areas where spectators or other traffic
have combined with wet conditions to alter the ground surface materially, but only when so declared by an
authorized referee or member of the Committee (Tour Director).
Players should play two balls, and report the situation to the tour director. (Taken a photo on the course of the
situation is allowed)
Flights will compete for VISA Gift Cards today.
- All first-place ties (for all events) will be decided by sudden-death playoff on the course. If more than two people are tied for first, the playoff ends as soon as a first-place winner is determined. The playoff winner receives the trophy and the first-place prize.
- The remaining participants’ places will always be based solely upon the scorecard playoff format listed below.
1-Day event tiebreaking:
for prize purposes outside of first-place (i.e., second, third, fourth, etc.), will be determined using the following USGA Matching Scorecards system:
back nine; best total of last 9 holes, last 6 holes, last 3 holes, and finally the 18th hole / if sill tied, front nine; last 6 holes, last 3 holes,
9th hole.
2-Day event tiebreaking: for prize purposes outside of first-place (i.e., second, third, fourth, etc.), will be determined in the following
manner: / Day 2 total, Day 1 total, Day 2 back nine, Day 2 front nine, Day 1 back nine, Day 1 front nine if a winner is still not determined through the above processes, a tie will be declared and the prizes will be split between tied players.
GWAT will not replace any lost gift cards after a tournament is played
To maintain the integrity of each flight, the Golfweek Amateur Tour Index Committee (comprised of the Tour President and five Local Tour Directors) will review instances where members return a score that indicates their actual playing performance exceeds that of their current flight. If this occurs the Local Tour Director will contact the Committee prior to awarding flight prizes. The committee
will then: Evaluate the playing record of the individual (including but not limited to the number of rounds on Tour for established players versus rookies with few rounds, etc.) ; Determine whether the player will be disqualified from the event (during 2-Day tournaments, the Committee will not make a final decision until after both rounds have been completed) ; Share the final decision with the player and his/her Local Tour Director.