The Prairie Invitational
Hallbrook Country Club | July 26-28
⭐ New Entry Process. Invitations to apply were sent on February 1, 2021. Applications open March 2, 2021 – April 15, 2021. Applications will be processed beginning on April 16, 2021. ⭐
Eligibility
Invitations may be extended to: 1) amateur female golfers who have an active and up-to-date World Handicap Index® not exceeding 15.0 under the World Handicap System, and 2) professional female golfers who are members of the PGA, LPGA, or a women’s professional tour. The event is limited to 84 invitees. If the tournament is not full on June 1st, entries will be opened to any player meeting the handicap index requirements.
A place in the field of 84 players is reserved for the following players who have applied to play before the application period closes on April 15, 2021.
2020 Champion – Rachel Stous
2019 Champion – Sarah Bell
2018 Champion – Emma Whitaker
2017 Champion – Kristen Samp
2016 Champion – Kayla Eckelkamp
2020 Players Gross Champion – Beth Grant
2020 Players Net Champion – Sheri Rehmer
2020 Players Gross Runner-Up – Lois Deeter/Harley Hiltibrand
2020 Players Net Runner-Up – Barbara Cusick
2020 Low Senior – Martha Linscott
2020 Low Junior – Madison Slayton
2020 Open Top 10% – Audrey Judd
2020 Open Top 10% – Katy Winters
2020 Open Top 10% – Megan Lucas
2020 Open Top 10% – Gianna Augustine
2020 Host Club Champion – Mary Larson
Host Club Professional – Cassie Auxier
2021 Kansas Women’s Amateur – TBD
2021 KC Junior Girls’ – TBD
2021 KC Girls’ Match Play – TBD
2021 KC Wm’s Match Play – TBD
2021 KS Junior Girls’ Champion – TBD
2021 KS Girls’ Match Play – TBD
2021 KS Wm’s Mid-Amateur – TBD
*exemptions for current year’s champions will be granted to the highest finisher not currently registered if the champion is already in the field
Divisions
Open Division: professionals and amateurs desiring to play from a Championship yardage of 6000-6300 yards. Amateurs must have an active handicap index not exceeding 5.0. There is no handicap index requirement for professionals. The Open Division is a 54-hole event with a cut to the low 18 and ties after 36 holes.
Opal Hill Division: amateur golfers with a handicap index between 5.1 and 15.0 playing from the traditional forward tees. The Opal Hill Division is a 36-hole event with prizes for both gross and net scoring. To be eligible for net prizes in the Opal Hill Division I competitors must have posted ten scores in 2021 prior to July 1, 2021.
Players whose handicap index becomes eligible for the Open Division after registration may move into the Open Division so long as space is available in that division and must pay the $25 difference between the entry fees.
Entries: Application, Fee Closing Date
Players may apply to play in The Prairie Invitational online or by contacting Central Links Golf directly (Note: Members with a valid USGA Handicap Index from a golf association that does not use GHIN may contact CLG directly to enter). The entry fee of $150 for the Opal Hill Division or $175 for Open Division must be paid at the time of registration, but the credit card transaction is not processed until the application to play is approved.
The application period is open from March 2, 2021 through April 15, 2021. The Prairie Invitational Committee will process applications on April 16, 2021 for both the Open Division and the Opal Hill Division. Exemptions will be processed first, followed by invited players based on World Amateur Golf Ranking, performance in USGA championships, participation in CLG or the player’s local state/regional golf association championships, collegiate or other national championship participation, and handicap index.
The entry fee includes: all tournament rounds of golf at Hallbrook Country Club, Players’ Reception on Sunday evening (if feasible), prizes and player gift. Entries close at 11:00 p.m. CST on July 19, 2021. Players may still register directly through CLG after entries close as there is space available.
Refunds: See policy at www.centallinksgolf.org
Schedule
Players Reception and Registration is Sunday evening, July 25th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please join us in celebrating our champions, sponsors, and players. A short program will take place at 7:30 p.m. See below for information on purchasing extra tickets for caddies and others who may be travelling with you.
Starting times will begin at 7:30 a.m. on #1 and #10 tees on Monday and Tuesday. Starting times will begin at 7:30 a.m. on #1 tee only on Wednesday. Awards for the Opal Hill Division will be presented following completion of play on Tuesday. A cut to the low 18 players and ties in the Open Division will be made at the completion of play on Tuesday. Awards for the Open Division will be presented following completion of play on Wednesday. All players making the cut will receive a prize at the completion of play.
Playoffs for First Place in either the Players Gross Division or the Open Division will take place as soon as all scores from the division have been posted by the official scorer. All other ties in the Open Division will be split. All prizes in the Players Net Division are subject to results of the Players Gross Division – players may not win a prize in both the Gross and Net Division and will be awarded the highest prize for which they are eligible.
Prizes
Open Division: amateurs and professionals will compete in the Open Division for the Overall Champion, Runner-Up, Low Junior, and Low Senior trophies. Amateurs will receive gift certificates to the golf shop at Hallbrook Country Club. Professionals will receive cash prizes. A playoff will be conducted for first place. All other ties will be split. Professionals may not receive cash prizes and gift certificates.
Opal Hill Division: The champion of both the gross and net division will receive a trophy. 25-30% of the Opal Hill Division field based on the number of entrants will receive a gift certificate to the golf shop at Hallbrook Country Club. Gift certificates will be awarded for both gross and net scoring. Net scoring will be based on 95% of the player’s handicap following the World Handicap System recommendations. A playoff will be conducted for the Gross champion. All other ties will be awarded with a bias for gross scoring. Players may not receive prizes and/or gift certificates for both gross and net scoring. To be eligible for net prizes in the Opal Hill Division, competitors must have posted ten scores in 2021 prior to July 1, 2021. The Committee reserves the right to modify a player’s handicap index for net scoring purposes in the event a player’s score in the first round is significantly below her handicap index.
Rules of Golf; Competition is Final
Play will be governed by The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA. Questions will be settled by the on-site Rules Committee, whose decision will be final. The competition is final when the Championship trophy has been presented.
Equipment
All golf balls and clubs must conform to USGA specifications. Any unusual equipment or devices, such as gloves, unusual tees, alignment aids, braces, and the like are prohibited by the Rules of Golf.
Caddies
Caddies are allowed for this event and the actions of the caddie during the round are the responsibility of the player (Rule 10.3c). This is the default position for caddies for Central Links events, but availability may vary from event to event or any other factors affecting this policy. Caddies are allowed to ride on and operate the golf cart, provided space is available. Central Links Golf has a strict 2 carts per group policy and the carts are reserved for the players first. If a group has more than one caddie, arrangements must be made within the group to accommodate the cart policy.
Transportation
Golf carts are available for all players and are included in the entry fee. There is a two cart per group limit. Players/Caddies are not permitted to rent additional carts beyond the two cart per group limit. Pace of play checkpoints will not be altered for competitors who choose to walk.
Cart availability is not guaranteed for spectators. Spectators should be prepared to walk. A small number of carts will be reserved for disabled spectators. Documentation should be provided to the championship committee to qualify for rental of one of the reserved carts. These carts are issued on the date of play on a first come-first served basis.
Cart rules during the competition are subject to the discretion of the golf course superintendent at the host facility based on course conditions and may change without notice at any time during the competition. ADA requests for special exceptions to this rule are handled on a case-by-case basis and will be granted provided they would not alter the fundamental fairness of the competition by providing a player with an advantage over other players.
Practice Round & Practice Privileges
Practice rounds are permitted, but not included in the tournament fee. The host facility has graciously agreed to permit practice rounds at a rate of $30 to walk and $50 to ride. Each participant may receive only one practice round at this rate.
Participants in the Kansas City area may email Kyle Capps (kcapps@hallbrookcc.org) for practice rounds beginning June 29th. Practice rounds may be played beginning on July 6th after 1pm. Kansas City-area residents are encouraged to play practice rounds in advance prior to July 25th if possible. Practice round times may be scheduled one week in advance.
There are limited times available for practice rounds beginning at 1pm on July 25th. Participants will be required to be placed in a group for practice rounds on July 25th, and this date is reserved for players only. Players may call to reserve a starting time for July 25th beginning on July 21, 2021.
Hallbrook Country Club Golf Shop – 913-345-1011
Dress Code
Please be respectful of Hallbrook's Dress Code outlined below. Any players not adhering to the Dress Code will be asked to change or leave.
All persons using the golf course and practice areas must wear attire deemed appropriate for golf including golf shirts and golf shoes. The following are not permitted:
- T-shirts, tank tops, sports jerseys, or any type of shirt with printed phrases or slogans.
- Men's shirts are to be tucked in.
- Shorts, skirts, skorts, etc., shorter than mid-thigh length.
- Leggings are acceptable, assuming they are worn under approved shorts, skirts, skorts, etc.
- Blue jeans/shorts, cargo-style pants/shorts, and swimwear including board shorts.
- Golf caps worn upside down or backwards; please remove when indoors.
Range
The range will be available at 6:30am each day. The range will close on Monday 30 minutes after the final starting time. Short game practice facilities will be available following play on Monday, and players should supply their own balls for use at that time. There will be no transportation available to get players to the short game area. The range will be available following play on Tuesday for players who advance to Wednesday’s round in a designated area.
Terms of the Competition
Visit http://www.centrallinksgolf.org/competitions/conditions-of-play/ for complete information on terms of the competition.