ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be an active IGA Member. Individual members are tracked through their enrollment at an IGA Member Club (via GHIN). Eligible entries must be female amateur golfers as defined by the USGA rules. Members of the IGA (thru an IGA Member Club) from out-of-state are eligible to compete.
FIELD: The field will be limited to the first 156 combined (between Men’s & Women’s Match Play) eligible entrants. There will be 32 guaranteed spots for the women.
Preferred entry will be made available from March 1st-March 31st to individuals who meet the criteria outlined below. Following that period entries will open on April 1st to all eligible IGA members.
Preferred Entry Criteria
1. All former IGA Women's Match Play Champions
2. 2023 IGA Women's Match Play Quarterfinalists
3. Top 10 & ties in 2023 Iowa Women's Amateur (Championship Division)
4. Top 5 & ties in 2023 Iowa Women's Amateur (Open Division)
5. All IGA Women's Player of the Year since 2019
6. All IGA Junior Girls' Player of the Year since 2019
7. All Senior Women's Player of the Year since 2021
8. 2023 Iowa Senior Women's Amateur Champion
9. 2023 Iowa Girls' Junior Amateur Champion
10. 2023 IGA Women's Four-Ball Champions (Championship Division)
11. 2023 Iowa Forever-39 Champion
12. 2024 Junior Girl's Four-State Team
FORMAT: Depending on the total number of entrants in the Women’s Match Play, the IGA will establish a bracket of either 8, 16, or 32. 18-hole stroke play qualifying on Tuesday will determine the seeds for match play.
Assuming a bracket of 32 the format will be as follows:
Tuesday, June 25 - 18 Holes Qualifying Round
Wednesday, June 26 - midmorning Round of 32
Thursday, June 27 - morning Round of 16
Thursday, June 27 - afternoon Quarterfinals
Friday, June 28 - morning Semifinals
Friday, June 28 - afternoon Finals
MEN’S MATCH PLAY: The IGA will be hosting the Men’s Match Play Championship concurrently with the Women’s Match Play Championship. There is a separate entry application for the Men’s Match Play Championship (available at www.iowagolf.org). The combined field for the men’s and women’s championships will be 156 players, with at least 32 guaranteed for the ladies.
PAIRINGS, TEE TIMES: Entry confirmation & pairings will be emailed from the IGA office after the entry deadline. Pairing information will NOT be sent via standard mail to those who do not provide an email address. Pairings will also be made available on the IGA website, www.iowagolf.org. The field will be paired at random for the qualifying round.
WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS: Entry fees will be refunded if the IGA office is notified on or before June 17. After June 17, fees will be refunded only in the event of injury or illness. There will be a $20.00 service charge on all refunds.
ENTRY FORM, FEE, and CLOSING DATE: Entrants are solely responsible for securing fees by the due date. Entries must reach the IGA office by 11:59 P.M., June 17 and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee ($125). You must enter online using a credit card at www.iowagolf.org up to the deadline or until a field limit is met, whichever comes first. Late, unsigned or incomplete applications are not acceptable and will be returned. There will be no exceptions!
WAITLIST: If a player exceeds the Handicap Index of 12.0, she is eligible to be added to a waitlist by contacting the IGA (email karli@iowagolf.org). If the field does not fill, players will be added to the field from the waitlist. The waitlist will be ordered from the lowest to highest Handicap Index.
CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES: Once the match play bracket has been announced or published any player(s) that withdraws from the competition results in a forfeit of their match (bracket remains as published). The IGA reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein as needed. This may include, but is not limited to, suspending play to a following day, or canceling current or future rounds. The decision of the Rules and Competitions Committee in any matter shall be final. Under any circumstances, all possible attempts will be made to complete the event in the scheduled number of rounds.
GOLF BALLS; DRIVER HEADS
Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls and driver heads on the most current USGA 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. The so-called “One-Ball Rule,” Model Local Rule G-5 will not be in effect.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: Proper golf attire is mandatory; the committee reserves the right to determine whether this requirement is met. Competitors may be required to change clothing to compete. Traditional ladies’ golf attire will be permitted. Blue jeans are NOT permitted.
PACE OF PLAY: Under Rule 5.6b(3) the IGA has adopted pace of play guidelines that include the maximum period of time allotted to complete a stipulated round, number of holes and/or strokes. These guidelines and the resulting penalties will be made available to every competitor in advance of the championship.
RULES OF GOLF: Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf. Local rules on scorecards do not apply. Decisions concerning the rules will be settled by the Rules Committee assigned by the IGA and those decisions will be final.
It is the policy of the Iowa Golf Association that, in a match play event, at least eight (8) individuals must enter an event to constitute holding such event. If seven (7) or less enter a championship it will be canceled. Entrants to such an event will be given the option to participate in another championship where eligible or receive a full refund on entry fees as soon as practical.