Zambesi Gold Senior PGA Championship   18-20 April 2024

 

PLAYER INFORMATION

 

Entries close 18:00hours on 27th March 2024

 

1.       Venue:

 

Parys Golf Estate

 

2.       Format & Conditions of Entry

 

           All members of the Senior Tour in good standing are eligible to enter as well

           as Members of the PGA of SA who are 50+ years of age.

 

The event will be played in accordance with the rules and regulations as set out by the R&A, in a 54-hole stroke play event for SA Senior Tour and PGA member professionals, who are 50 years of age or older on 18 April 2024, with 18 holes being played on each of the days of, 18th,19th & 20th April 2024 respectively. It is a Sunshine Senior Tour branded Order of Merit tournament incorporating a contract with the PGA of SA.

 

The field size will be limited to a maximum of 54 professionals and 54 amateurs with all players playing off the same teeing ground and course set-up on the respective competition days.

 

The Pro-Am's will be held on 18th and 19th April from 10:00am-11:57am and only the professionals play on Saturday morning, 20th April from 7am-9.54am.

 

There will be no cut for professionals after 36 holes, but only the top 25 senior professionals and ties for 25th place will earn money from the published Prize Fund. Only those who complete the 54 holes, will be eligible for a share of the prize fund of R100 000 minimum.

 

3.        Conditions, Exemptions and Pre-Q for Entry into the Starting Draw

 

  • All professionals who enter must check their exemption status on the SA Senior Tour Website www.seniortour.co.za or through the Tournament Director (TD), Pat Lowth (082 490 4027). Entries must be made via email to entries@seniortour.co.za by the closing date.
  • Players’ may also enter via the Senior Tour website on the registration page for the event.
  • Players are required to sign in at the registration table on arrival at the course.
  • A condition of entry for a Senior Professional is that he MUST enter with an amateur partner. The Senior Tour does not guarantee amateur entrants for professionals.

 

                       This is a limited field size Pro-Am.

 

  • The Exemption Criteria for SAST Members is in force through the Category and ranking listings for senior professional members of the Senior Tour. The starting field size is 54 professionals. (50 exemptions plus 4 Pre-Qualifiers) 
  • The PGA will receive 12 player exemptions by way of a contract with SAST.
  • Therefore, only 38 SAST members will be exempt into the starting line up with 4 Pre-Qualifiers. If the PGA exemptions are not taken up, these spots will revert to the SAST Ranking and Exemption List.
  • All entrants who are not exempt to the main draw; if the total entrants exceed 54, the entrant may be required to play in a pre-qualification round to gain access to play in the main event. Please check the entry category/ranking criteria. Entrants may request clarification from the TD at close of entries.
  • The pre-qualification venue is Parys Golf Estate on the morning of 17th April 2024. A minimum of 4 spots, will be available from the pre-qualification round to the main draw. In the event of a tie for the 4th spot, this will be decided by sudden death in extra holes. The Pre-Q will take place at the above venue over 18 holes’ stroke play.
  • Extra spots that become available through withdrawals from exempt entrants after 27th March 2024 will be allocated to the Pre-Q event. Alternate positions (reserves) from the Pre-Q will be published on the website and draw.

 

4.       Practice Day and Practice Facilities

 

There is no official practice day, but all players may book practice times through the Club at a green fee cost. Players’ may use the practice driving range at their own cost.

 

5.       Registration

 

All senior professional competitors are required to register with the SA Senior Tour by 18.00 on Monday 15th April 2024. This may be done by telephone/SMS/email to the Senior Tour Tournament Director on 082 490 4027 or by email: td@seniortour.co.za

 

6.       Entry Fee, Withdrawals and Refunds

 

  • The Entry Fees: All Professionals-R800.00, All amateurs-R750.00 per day. Entrants’ must comply with the terms and conditions of entry above and produce a copy of a proof of payment if required. (Please quote your name as reference for your payment).
  • Entries close – 27th March 2024 at 6pm.
  •  Senior Professionals must enter as per the SAST Rules and Regulations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  • Withdrawals BEFORE 18:00 hours on 27th March 2024, a full refund will be possible.
  • Once payment has been accepted by 27th March 2024, all competitors will be sent a sms or emailed a confirmation of entry. Professionals will not be allowed to pay their entry fee on the day of the event. Should no entry fee be received by the 11th April, the player(s) will not be included in the draw.
  • All withdrawals must notify the Senior Tour entries department (email: admin@seniortour.co.za): cell no: 076 377 9830 or 082 490 4027.
  • If a player is absent on the tee without notification, NO Refund will be given and a fine may be imposed. The Tournament Committee will decide on refunds from withdrawals after the closing date for entries on medical and compassionate grounds only.
  • Once an entrant has teed off, refund of entry is not possible under any circumstances.
  • If a member has any 2024 subscriptions outstanding, from an arrangement already made with the FD, the full amount will be collected from any prize money won.
  • If an entrant is late on the tee, when called upon to start, in the first round of the event, the player shall be disqualified after an absence of 5 minutes and substituted by the next available alternate player from the Pre-Qualifiers. The R&A rule 5 will apply for duration of the tournament.
  • Alternate players from the qualifiers must register and/or withdraw as per this document and the Rules and Regulations of SAST.

 

7.       Catering

 

A Grab & Go snack and soft drink will be available to all players for their own account after 9 holes in the round without causing undue delay.

 

Snacks will be available free of charge at the Pro-Am prize giving. A cash bar is available for the needs of competitors for their own account.

 

8.        Caddies, Motorised Carts, Trolleys

 

There are NO caddies available at the Club during the event.

 

Further, players, visitors entering the estate will require ID presentation at the security entrances. No caddies are permitted in the clubhouse at any time during the tournament, unless permission is granted, as per the Golf Club rules.

 

Carts numbers are limited. If required, all tee time groups will only be allowed two carts per group in the Pro-Am and day 2 for professionals only; therefore, sharing may be necessary. Caddies may accompany the player on his/her cart.

 

Players may elect to ride, walk, and play.

 

There will be no motorised transport to ferry players from greens to tee areas where there ‘long distances’ are involved. Cart course.

 

9.       SA Senior Tour Rules and Regulations/Additional Local Rules

 

All SA Senior Tour rules, terms and conditions apply.  A full list of the event Rules and Regulations and Additional Local Rules will be available on the venue notice boards, as well as from the starters on the 1st & 10th tees. Competitors are specifically asked to note:

a)         One ball rule is applicable for senior professional competitors only.

b)         Prohibitions on practice putting for senior professionals only.

c)         Play suspensions in a dangerous situation requires an immediate stop in play by all players.

d)         Pace of play – please refer to your SAST “Hard Card’.

 

            In the event of any weather delays the results of the tournament will be decided by

            the TD.

 

10.       SA Senior Tour/Golf RSA Staff/Tee-Time Draws

 

           There is SA Senior Tour staff and office bearers on the Event Committee. (Pat

           Lowth, Neville Clarke, Angus Dickson).

 

           Pat Lowth is the Tournament Director and his decision on event matters will

            be final.

 

           The draw for the first round will be made available on the website and at the

           Club notice board from 8pm on 16th April 2024. Pre-qualifiers will know their

           times on 17th April 2024 at 6.30pm. An SMS will also be sent to all competitors

           advising of the same and before each subsequent round.         

                                  

11.      Play Off and Completion of the Event

 

In the event of a tie for first place, the players’ will be required to play in a sudden death format until a winner is established. Hole:18 repeated, if necessary, until a winner is apparent.

 

           Winners, in the event of a tie(s) for the Team Pro-Am section will be decided by

           a count out/count in;

  • Best last 9 holes (holes 10-18)
  • Then best last 6 holes (13-18)
  • Then best last 3 holes (16-18)
  • Odd holes 1-18, 9-18, last 3(one of these)
  • In another way by the TD if the above remains unsolved

          

           The event will be considered closed by the TD when all scores are

           recorded and a winner has been established. A minimum of 18 holes’ is

           required to determine a winner in the senior professional section.

 

If the Pro-Am day is not completed, the TD will decide on further procedures and details after consultation with the event committee as to the prize giving allocation.

 

12.      Prize giving

 

           Prize giving for the Pro-Am's on 19th April 2024 will take place as soon as

possible after the completion of play.

 

There is compulsory attendance required by all senior professionals in the prizes of Pro-Am prize giving. Violation: R500.00 fine.

 

The player recording the lowest score for 54 holes or the player successful in the play-off will be named the Zambesi Gold Senior PGA Champion. The Legends Tour has accepted that the winner of this event will gain exemption into the Senior PGA event to be held at Trump International Resort later this year.

 

In the event of a tie(s) for the amateur Pro-Am prizes, these will be done by scorecard count outs as decided in point 11 above by the TD.

 

13.     Pro-am Event

This will take place on 18th and 19th April 2024.

  • 54- exempt senior professionals will team up with 54 amateurs in teams of two and play in Four Balls. (108 PLAYERS MAXIMUM)
  • Amateur entry fee: Entry fees are to be paid by 17th April 2024 directly to the Senior Tour as per the terms and conditions of this event.
    Should no entry fee be received by the due date, the player(s) will not be included in the draw.
  • The team competition is Better Ball Stroke Play where the senior professional competitors play off a scratch handicap and their amateur partners (male or female) off their official club handicaps, adjusted to the Parys Golf Club handicap differential list. The Better Ball score is recorded on each hole. Ladies may play from the forward tees as per the golf course design and their scorecard stroking. Professionals under 50 years of age and amateurs without a handicap, who enter, play off their last registered handicap.
  • The senior professional competitors must record their gross score on each hole played.
  • Prize Giving: Team prizes to 3rd place each day, plus closest to the pin on all short holes and a longest drive (18th hole), for amateurs only.
  • Table snacks will be available at prize giving for all Pro-Am participants. Dress smart casual.

 

 

 

The management and staff of SAST, hope you all have a wonderful and enjoyable experience and thank you for your participation.