U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying
USGA Qualifying
October 6, 2020
QUALIFYING MEMORANDUM TO PLAYERS
HOST CLUB
Chris Isaacson, Director of Golf
176 Wine Valley Rd
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 525-4653 – Golf Shop
CHAMPIONSHIP PORTAL
To access the portal from a mobile device using USGA Tournament Management App, login using the GGID: USFOURBALLQ-WV
COURSE YARDAGE: Course yardage is subject to change based on weather/course conditions. Hole-by-hole yardages are posted on the portal HERE
Course Yardage: 7,110 yards, par-72.
FORMAT/QUALIFYING PLACES: Four-Ball stroke play competition conducted over 18 holes. The field of 40 sides will compete for 1 qualifying place and two (2) alternate positions into the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship to be played at Chambers Bay in University Place, WA on May 22-26, 2021.
PRACTICE ROUND AVAILABILITY: Players may play one hosted practice round prior to the qualifier. Practice rounds will be available at any time on weekdays and after 12:00 p.m. on weekends. All contestants must call the Wine Valley golf shop at (509) 525-4653 to make arrangements.
STARTING TIMES: Available on the Washington Golf website (wagolf.org) and on the Qualifying Portal. Online scoring will also be available on the website and portal during qualifying. Tee times will be from 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. off Hole #1.
PLAYOFF: In the event of a tie for the last qualifying place or for the order of alternates, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff to determine the final qualifiers and the 1st and 2nd alternate if necessary. All announcements regarding the play-off and start time will be made via text message/email, the practice facilities are reserved for players in contention only.
WAIVER: Before arriving on-site, please be certain that you have signed and returned WA Golf’s COVID-19 Participant Release and Waiver that will be sent to you electronically after the close of entry. If you have not signed the waiver in advance, you must do so at Player and Caddie Registration upon arrival to the course. All players and caddies must sign WA Golf’s COVID-19 Participant Release Waiver prior to participating.
MASK REQUIREMENT: Players and caddies are required to wear a facial covering while at registration, the tee, scoring and in any other public areas.
REGISTRATION & SCREENING: Players and caddies will need to register with WA Golf upon arrival at the golf course. Players and caddies will be subject to answer a health screening and travel questions related to COVID-19. Players and caddies must register before heading to the practice facilities or starting tee. All players and caddies must adhere to a temperature check on the starting tee and not register above 100.3* Fahrenheit.
HAND SANITIZER: All players will be provided with a bottle of hand sanitizer at Player Registration.
GOLF SHOP/LOCKER ROOM: Golf shop open from 6:30 a.m. – dusk. No locker rooms.
PRACTICE FACILITIES/RANGE BALLS: Range balls will be hosted on the driving range beginning at 6:30 a.m.
CADDIES: Caddies are permitted, although host club caddies will not be available.
CARTS: Players must not ride on any form of transportation during a stipulated round unless authorized by the Committee. Spectator carts are not permitted.
HOLE MODIFICATIONS: Flagsticks will be used with a modification (Flag Assist) to not allow the ball to fall all the way to the bottom of the cup.
FLAGSTICKS: For the health and safety of all players and caddies, the flagstick may not be removed from the hole or touched during play.
Exception: When a flagstick is at rest in the hole and is not centered, the flagstick may be touched only to center it, and this may be done only before a stroke is made (that is, the flagstick may not be “attended” during the stroke or while the ball is in motion). When doing so, a sanitizing wipe should be used to minimize risk to the player or caddie.
BUNKER RAKES: Bunker rakes are not permitted due to current public health guidelines and have been removed from the course. After making a stroke from a bunker, players and caddies should attempt to smooth any disturbed areas with their feet and/or a golf club.
Disturbed areas in bunkers are ground under repair from which relief is available from interference to the lie of the ball and the area of intended swing only (see Rule 16.1).
When relief is available, free relief may be taken by dropping and playing a ball from the bunker within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief (Rule 16.1c(1)), or relief may be taken outside the bunker for one penalty stroke by using the back-on-the-line relief procedure (Rule 16.1c(2)).
A “disturbed area” includes sand in a bunker that has clearly been disturbed by a player, caddie or other person, and includes areas where smoothing has occurred.
PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TYPES OF SHOES: The Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-7.
GOLF BALLS/DRIVER HEADS: Only brands of golf balls on the most current List of Conforming Golf Balls and driver heads on the most current List of Conforming Driver Heads may be used. Updated lists may be found on the USGA website at www.usga.org or by contacting the USGA Equipment Standards Department at (908) 234-2300. See Model Local Rules G-1 and G-3.
The one ball Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. See Model Local Rule G-4.
GROOVES: In Qualifying and in the Championship proper, the Local Rule as prescribed by
Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-2.
UNDERSTANDING THE GROOVES LOCAL RULE
DMDS: The use of conforming distance-measuring devices (DMD) will be permitted in Qualifying and in the Championship proper of all USGA Amateur Championships. For more information, visit UNDERSTANDING DMDs.
PACE OF PLAY: It is a condition that player must play without undue delay and in accordance with guidelines established by the Committee. PACE OF PLAY GUIDELINES
EVACUATION PLAN: In the event of a discontinuance of play during the qualifier, players must adhere to the evacuation plan distributed by the Committee.
CODE OF CONDUCT: As set forth in the USGA application, the code of conduct applies to all USGA Qualifying and Championships.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: Players must be neat in appearance with respect to personal grooming and clothing.
FOOD SERVICE: Food service will be available in the restaurant beginning at 6:30 a.m. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack items will be available as well as beverages. The restaurant will remain open until play is completed.
AWARD CEREMONY: Silver Medals will be awarded to lowest side.
OFFICIAL IN CHARGE:
Scotty Crouthamel
Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
Washington Golf
(206) 849-0549 - Cell phone
If it becomes necessary to withdraw prior to the date of the competition, please contact Scotty Crouthamel at scrouthamel@wagolf.org or (206) 849-0549 and the USGA at champs@usga.org or (908) 326-1950.