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2024 NSW OPEN – TERMS OF COMPETITION

1. THE CHAMPIONSHIP: The Championship will be decided by stroke play over 72 holes at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club – 18 holes on each of Thursday 14th, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November, 2024.

2. COMPETITORS: 144 competitors shall be eligible to compete comprising those exempt from qualifying and place winners in the qualifying competitions. The leading 60 professional scores after 36 holes and any tied for 60th place, including all amateur players on an equal or better score, shall qualify for the third and fourth rounds; the remainder shall be eliminated.

3. CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE: The Championship will be under the management and control of the Championship Committee, consisting of one representatives of Golf NSW, one member appointed by the host club, and one member appointed by the PGA of Australia. In the absence of the full Championship Committee, such members thereof as may be present at any time may give a decision and any decision shall be deemed the decision of the full Championship Committee. The Championship Committee reserves the right to vary any condition of this event.

4. RULES: The Championship will be played under the auspices of the PGA of Australia, in accordance with the PGA of Australia Member Regulations Handbook. This will include The Rules of Golf, as adopted by R & A Rules Limited, Local Rules and Conditions of Competition (PGA Tour Hard Card) as published by PGA Tour, and such additional Local Rules as approved by the Championship Committee.

5. TIES: In the event of a tie or ties for the Championship, unless the Championship Committee otherwise determines, play shall continue over such holes as the Championship Committee shall decide, players being eliminated hole by hole as they fail to maintain equality with others or other until the winner is determined.

6. BALL: It will be obligatory for all competitors in the Championship and in the qualifying round (if required) to play with a ball which is named in the current R&A and/or USGA Approved Lists. Copies of these lists are available from www.randa.org. Penalty: Disqualification. Balls with identical markings to be used: Throughout a stipulated round, the balls a player uses must be of the same brand and type as detailed by a single entry in the current list of Conforming Golf Balls. Penalty: Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum per round: Four strokes.

7. DRIVING CLUBS: Any driver the player carries must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft that is named on the current list of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the R&A. Penalty for making stroke with club in Breach of Condition: Disqualification.

8. GROOVE AND PUNCH MARK SPECIFICATION: For all Championship rounds, the player’s clubs must conform to the groove and punch mark specifications in the Rules of Golf that are effective from 1 January 2019. The penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of the Condition: Disqualification

9. DRAW AND STARTING TIMES: A draw for each day’s play will be made and published. Players shall start at the time and in the order arranged by the Committee.

10. PACE OF PLAY: Pace of Play will be administered in accordance with the PGA of Australia’s Pace of Play Policy as outlined on the PGA Tour Hard Card (Section 4).

11. COURSE MARKERS: During practice or during the Championship a player (except as appointed by the Championship Committee) shall not place on the course, or cause to be placed on the course, any artificial marker or other device designed to indicate course measurements. A player in breach of this condition shall be disqualified.

12. TROPHIES: The winner shall receive the Championship Gold Medal. The leading amateur in the Championship shall receive the Amateur Championship Medal.

13. PUBLICITY: Golf NSW, the PGA and Murray Downs Golf & Country Club arrange publicity before and during the Championship in the press, by live and recorded radio and television broadcasting, by filming, and in electronic form. The players assent to references to them and pictures of them in practice and play appearing and being used for commercial purposes by the PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and Concord Golf Club. All rights for televising live, television recordings or for any visual or electronic reproduction of the Championship are reserved only to the PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and Concord Golf Club and may only be made under licence.

14. MOTORISED CARTS: Competitors and their caddies are not permitted to ride in or on any form of locomotion during any round of this Championship unless authorised by the Championship Committee. Penalty: Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – four strokes.

15. CADDIES: Caddies must wear the caddy clothing, if so provided.

16. DRUG TESTING: All competitors are subject to drug testing by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for banned substances as laid down in Golf Australia’s Anti-Doping Policy. Any competitor infringing this policy, or refusing to take a test, may be disqualified. Visit www.asada.gov.au for more information.

17. ENTRIES:
17.1. All entries shall be subject to the approval of the Championship Committee who reserves the right to accept or refuse any entry without giving any reason for the decision which shall be final.
17.2. Nominations are accepted at face value, on the basis that information contained therein is correct and up to date. Should this subsequently be proven not to be the case, the Championship Committee reserves the right to deem any competitor ineligible – at any time prior to or during the Championship.
17.3. All amateur competitors in the NSW Open agree to conform to the PGA of Australia Members Regulations.

18. EXEMPTIONS FROM QUALIFYING: Exemptions from qualifying will be granted to the following players:

(a) Up to eighteen (18) players from the NSW Open Qualifying Series of Tournaments (the leading 3 players (not otherwise exempt in PGATA exemption category 12 or higher at close of entries) who finish in the Top 15 and ties at each of the 6 Qualifying Series Tournaments *

(b) A minimum of 86 PGATA Professionals

(d) Eight (8) Pre-Qualifying Positions

(e) Fourteen (14) Exempt players at the discretion of Golf NSW *

(f) Twelve (12) Tournament Invitations *

* Any unallocated positions in these categories will revert to PGA Tour of Australasia to allocate to its Tournament Exemption Categories to fill the field to 144 positions. Should the PGATA have exhausted its exemption categories the spots will be allocated to pre-qualifying.

** Any unallocated positions in this category will revert to (g) Tournament invitations in the first instance and if unused will revert to PGA Tour of Australasia Exemption Categories.

19. PRE-QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS: If more than 144 tournament entries are received, Pre-Qualifying (minimum 8 positions) will be held at cluBarham on Monday 11th November 2024. Should the number of entries exceed the courses’ capacity, entrants on the higher handicaps shall be balloted out. Entrants may nominate the course at which they wish to compete. Golf NSW will attempt to place the competitors at the preferred course but reserves the right to alter as necessary.

20. REGISTRATION: All competitors must register at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club prior to 5pm Tuesday 12 November 2024. The Championship Committee reserves the right to waive this condition in special individual circumstances.

21. PRIZEMONEY: Minimum prizemoney of AUD$800,000.00 will be distributed to professional golfers in accordance with the distribution formula of the PGA of Australia as provided in the PGA Membership Regulations Handbook.

22. FORMAT: There will be a Pro-Am component prior to the four day Championship Proper, on Wednesday 13th November 2024. For further details click on www.pga.org.au where information will be posted as it becomes available.

24. DATABASE OF ENTRANT’S DETAILS: The personal data contained in this Entry Form is permanently retained by Golf NSW. This data may be utilised by Golf NSW or its sponsors for the distribution of correspondence, in both electronic and hard copy means. From time to time players may be sent entry forms, event literature, the Golf NSW e-news, or marketing material by the sponsor(s) of Golf NSW events, or information about events conducted by golf clubs affiliated with the Golf NSW or golf clubs affiliated with a NSW District Golf Association. Upon receipt by Golf NSW of a written request a player may either have access to their details, or have their details deleted from the database.

25. GAMBLING: All competitors agree to abide by the PGA of Australia’s regulations, as outlined on the PGA of Australia’s website.