TEAM GOLF 2014 COACHES’ MANUAL
TEAM GOLF: MISSION Team Golf is for junior golfers ages 7-14 with beginning level golf experience and offers an introduction to tournament play through 9-hole team stroke or scramble play competition. Team Golf serves as a fun, social, less stressful approach to tournament golf, and provides junior golfers with knowledge and skills that set the stage for a lifetime of golf enjoyment.
TEAM GOLF ELIGIBILITY Team Golf is open to all Colorado PGA Junior Members 14 years of age and younger. In order to play in a Team Golf: tournament, the player must be a member of the Colorado PGA Junior Tour and of a sanctioned COPGA Team Golf Team. COPGA Junior Tour membership is $50. Players may register for membership at www.coloroadopgajuniorgolf.com OR they may register through a PGA Certified Junior Facility for $30.
TEAM GOLF TOURNAMENT FORMAT Team Golf tournaments will consist of six (6) players from each Team. Each Team will be represented by a team of two (2) players in the following coed age divisions: 7-10, 11-12, and 13-14. NOTE: A Team may have more than one team of two represented in a division. The format for these events will a Two Person Scramble with each team being awarded a designated number of points based upon their finish in each division. The total number of points accumulated from their finish in each division will represent the Team’s overall point total for the tournament.
TEAM GOLF: POINTS STRUCTURE Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 +
Points 100 80 65 55 45 35 25 15 10 5
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ENTERING YOUR TEAM Each Coach will be responsible for making sure that each Team member is registered for a PGA Junior membership. Team members that are not registered for a PGA Junior membership will not be able to participate in Team Golf tournaments. Approximately three (3) weeks prior to all Team Golf tournaments, all coaches will be sent an entry form for the upcoming tournament. This entry form will include all of the appropriate deadlines which pertain to the tournament. Once your entry form is filled out with six (6) players/three (3) two-person teams (name and division) and the Team Name, please return the entry form via email to ediegel@pgahq.com or fax at (303)681-3992 before the roster entry deadline. If you have Teams that are comprised of players that are not in the same age group, they will play in the age division of the oldest player. The players will however play from the age/gender appropriate tees. Please note that all Team Golf tournaments will be capped at 96 players (16 Teams) unless noted otherwise prior to the entry deadline. Each coach will be eligible to enter one (1) Team on a first come first served basis. If a coach wishes to submit more than one Team, the coach must designate each Team as “A Team”, “B Team”, etc. The “A Team” will be entered into the event immediately and the “B Team” will be placed onto a waiting list until the Roster Entry Deadline has passed. If there is room for additional Teams following the Roster Entry Deadline, the COPGA will accept Teams from the waiting list on a first come first served basis until the event is full. Once your entry form is received, a member of the COPGA staff will add each player to the tournament’s invitation list. Players will have until 11:59 p.m. three (3) days prior to the tournament to register for the tournament. All players will be able to use their BlueGolf ID and password to register for the Team Golf tournament that they have been invited to. Please note that any player who does not register before the deadline will not be able to participate in the tournament. Roster Entries will ONLY be accepted as a full six (6) player team. If a roster is not full at the time of submission, the Team will be placed on the Waiting List and accepted after the roster entry deadline, if space permits. At the time of the Registration Deadline, players who are not paired may have to play as individuals. Team Golf tournament fees are as follows; Greeley/Ft. Collins area $25.00 Denver Metro Area: $25.00 Colorado Springs Area: $25.00
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RULES OF PLAY Team Golf Tournaments
Play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf and its Decisions. Play the ball as it lies. Team Golf WILL NOT adopt the new Groove Rules as a condition of competition for its tournaments in 2014. Players may have one caddie to carry their bag and equipment and give advice, but all players and caddies must walk the golf course. Participants and their equipment cannot be transported in motorized carts, except when going to their first hole or when returning from the last hole played. In addition to caddies, each Team is allowed one (1) Coach to provide advice during the round. The COPGA permits pull carts, however they will be allowed only at the discretion of the host facility. It is the players’ responsibility to obtain course policy. The pull cart policy for each tournament will be listed on the tournament information page. Participants must exchange score cards with fellow competitors / team in the group. Any player/team who has taken nine (9) strokes on any hole and has not holed out must pick up his/her ball and proceed to the next tee. Coaches may declare a Team member or Two-Player Team up to an older division. If a player declares up, he/she will still play from the age/gender appropriate tee assignments for the tournament. One (1) Stroke Maximum out of Bunkers: If a player fails to hit out of a bunker on their first attempt, they may drop one club length from their nearest point of relief outside of the bunker with NO penalty stroke added. Upon completion of the round, players must immediately proceed to the scoring area to return their score card. Participants are responsible for the correct hole-by-hole score and two signatures on the score card. Participants are responsible for knowing the Rules of Play and Notice to Competitors listed on the back of the score card. Pace of Play: Participants and spectators must keep up with the group in front of them at all times. For Team Golf events, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his/her play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used. A multifunctional device such as a PDA or Smartphone may not be used as a distance measuring device because additional applications on the device may have the ability to measure other conditions that would be in breach of the Rules and result in disqualification. All devices used must be of a handheld variety, carried by the player or his/her caddie. Use of GPS yardage systems installed on golf carts will not be permitted at any time. Spectators must not relay any yardage information displayed by a GPS system in a golf cart. A player who breaches this policy will be deemed to have violated the Code of Conduct and will be subjected to penalties. Additionally, players may choose to share their distance measuring device with his fellow competitor provided such action does not cause an undue delay. Players must NOT wear headphones during play. Please allow Coaches and COPGA staff to administer rulings. Spectators will be brought into a situation ONLY if the COPGA staff member asks for assistance. When on the course, spectators and players must turn off cell phones or turn ringers to the silent or vibrate mode. Respect host facility’s policy if cell phones are not allowed.
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TEAM GOLF EVENT SCHEDULE Team Golf will host approximately one (1) event per week throughout the Denver/Metro area, Greely/Ft. Collins area and Colorado Springs from May through August and approximately (2) events per month September through October.
TEAM GOLF SUBSITUTION POLICY Team Golf will accept player substitutions, past the registration deadline, on an emergency basis only. Coaches must notify Erin Diegel via phone at 303-667-3102, prior to the event. Substitutions will not be permitted without prior notification. The COPGA must receive payment from the player or coach prior to play in the form of cash, check, or charge. Substitutes will not be allowed to participate until payment is received. On-site payment for emergency substitutions only is permissible.
BREAKING TIES No tie breaker will be applied for ties within an age division and all points will be equally shared. For example, if there is a tie for first place in the 7-10 division (two (2) Teams have a Team score of 45), each team will receive 90 points (sum of first and second place points divided by two). If there is a tie for first place (total Team points), the Team’s total strokes from each division will be used to determine the winner. If after proceeding with this method the winning Team has yet to be determined, matching score cards using the total Team strokes from the 9th hole will be used to break the tie.
AWARD DISTRIBUTION At the conclusion of each tournament, each member of the first, second, and third place team will be awarded a medal.
SPECTATOR GUIDELINES Spectators will be encouraged to attend Team Golf tournaments, however, the COPGA Junior Tour requires all spectators to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Spectators should stay one shot ahead of the group they are following. This allows spectators to follow errant shots and help identify where golf balls come to rest. Spectators are allowed to aid in the search for lost golf balls.
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Spectators should not give rulings, please seek a Coach or COPGA rules official if the need arises. Spectators should stay on cart paths. In the absence of cart paths, spectators should stay in the rough. Please stay off fairways, tees and greens. Spectators are allowed to carry medicine, drinks, food, umbrellas, etc. for players.
SPECTATOR GOLF CARTS Spectator golf carts will be available at the discretion of the host facility. If spectator golf carts are permissible: Players may not ride or have their golf clubs transported in golf carts except when being transported to their starting hole, back to the clubhouse from their finishing hole, during a suspension of play or when authorized by the Rules Committee. Spectator carts must remain on the cart path at all times. Only two riders are allowed in a golf cart at one time.
CADDIE POLICY Caddies are permitted and each player may have one caddie to carry their equipment and give advice. However, the Junior Tour requires all caddies to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Caddies may not ride or have golf clubs transported in golf carts except when being transported to their starting hole, back to the clubhouse from their finishing hole, during a suspension of play or when authorized by the Rules Committee. Proper dress attire is required of all caddies. Each host facility may have additional rules and dress code requirements that must be adhered to by all caddies. Proper attire includes collared shirts or mock turtlenecks (host golf course permitting), slacks, shorts, tennis shoes, caps and visors. Should a golf course have a stricter dress code, its policy will take precedence. The dress code prohibits denim, short shorts, cut-offs, swimsuits, sandals, clothing containing offensive slogans, language or pictures, clothing describing or advertising alcohol, tobacco, or other drug references. The use of smoking or chewing tobacco products and alcohol by caddies is not permitted. The Colorado PGA Junior Tour reserves the right to suspend and/or ban any caddie from one or more events. Failure to comply with the stated caddie guidelines may result in the immediate removal from the host facility and/or suspension of playing privileges for the Junior Tour member.
CODE OF CONDUCT The COPGA Junior Tour takes great pride in the quality and conduct of its players, host facilities, and sponsors. The Junior Tour requires all members to adhere to a set of guidelines known as the Code of Conduct. The purpose is to help all Junior Tour participants grow and mature by understanding and accepting the consequences of their actions, both on and off the golf course.
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Violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to: abusive language, club throwing, cheating, disrespect of volunteers, officials and host staff, abuse of the golf course, use of smoking or chewing tobacco products, drugs or alcohol, not adhering to the dress code, leaving the course during a competitive round without permission of a COPGA official, or any other conduct deemed unbecoming of a COPGA Junior Tour member. Proper attire is required at all times at COPGA Junior Tour events. Failure to comply may result in disqualification. Each host facility may have additional rules and dress code requirements that must be adhered to by all Junior Tour members and spectators. Proper attire includes collared shirts or mock turtlenecks (host golf course permitting), slacks, shorts, golf or tennis shoes, caps and visors. Should a golf course have a stricter dress code, its policy will take precedence. It is also suggested that participants wear sunscreen. The dress code prohibits denim, short shorts, cut-offs, swimsuits, sandals, clothing containing offensive slogans, language or pictures, clothing describing or advertising alcohol, tobacco, or other drug references. The COPGA Junior Tour strongly suggests participants present themselves in a positive manner while representing the COPGA by wearing hats with the brim forward, tucking in all shirts, and removing any earrings (males).
The COPGA Junior Tour Committee may assess any or all of the following penalties based on the severity of the Code of Conduct violation: a) Issue a verbal or written letter of warning to the player and his/her parent/guardian. b) Enforce a two-stroke penalty. c) Disqualify the player from the tournament where the violation occurs. d) Suspend the player for a portion of the series or the remainder of the series and/or year. e) Suspend the player’s membership indefinitely.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK By entering and competing in a Colorado PGA Junior sanctioned tournament, you assume all risk and danger incidental to the game of golf and release Colorado PGA Junior Tour sanctioned tournaments and competitions and their host sites, sponsors, host organizations, Colorado PGA, participating players, and all agents thereof from any and all liabilities resulting from such cases. You grant permission to the Colorado PGA to utilize your image or likeness incidental to any live or recorded television or other transmission or reproduction in whole or in part of any Colorado PGA event you attend. You agree not to transmit or facilitate transmission of any account, description, picture, or reproduction of any Colorado PGA event, including, without limitation, scoring related data, without the specific advance written permission of the Colorado PGA.
TEAM GOLF TOURNAMENTS
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DIVISIONS Coed 7-10 (two (2) Team members playing Four-Ball Stroke Play OR Scramble Coed 11–12 (two (2) Team members playing Four-Ball Stroke Play OR Scramble Coed 13–14 (two (2) Team members playing Four-Ball Stroke Play OR Scramble NOTE: If a Team does not have enough players on its roster to field a team in each age division, they may have multiple teams compete in one age division. YARDAGE GUIDELINES Boys 7-10
Orange Cones
1,600 yards
Boys 11-12
Yellow Cones
2,000 yards
Boys 13-14
Blue Cones
2,400 yards
Girls 7-10
Orange Cones
1,600 yards
Girls 11-12
Orange Cones
1,600 yards
Girls 13-14
Yellow Cones
2,000 yards
*Please note that tees and yardages are subject to change depending on each host facility.
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TEAM GOLF YARDAGE GUIDELINES Blue Cones Divisions: Boys 13-14 Approximate Total Yardage = 2,400 yards Par 3 Range = 90-130 Par 4 Range = 275-325 Par 5 Range = 350-400 Standard Setup Example (Par 36) Par 3 - 100 Par 3 - 120 Par 5 - 350 Par 5 - 400 Par 4 - 250 Par 4 - 260 Par 4 - 280 Par 4 - 300 Par 4 – 290
Yellow Cones Divisions: Boys 11-12 & Girls 13-14 Approximate Total Yardage = 2,000 yards Par 3 Range = 70-110 Par 4 Range = 200-250 Par 5 Range = 300-350 Standard Setup Example (Par 36) Par 3 - 75 Par 3 - 100 Par 5 - 325 Par 5 - 350 Par 4 - 200 Par 4 - 220 Par 4 - 240 Par 4 - 250 Par 4 - 250
Orange Cones Division: Boys 7-10, Girls7-10, Girls 11-12 Approximate Yardage = 1,600 yards Par 3 Range = 50-100 Par 4 Range = 150-200 Par 5 Range = 250-300 Standard Setup Example (Par 36) Par 3 - 60 Par 3 - 90 Par 5 - 250 Par 5 - 300 Par 4 - 150 Par 4 - 150 Par 4 - 175 Par 4 - 180 Par 4 - 200
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