The Prairie Invitational
Oakwood Country Club | July 22-24
⭐ Entry Process - Event is full.
Staff Contact:
Doug Habel
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 May 15, entries will be opened to any player meeting the handicap index requirements.
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 competitors must have posted five scores in 2024 prior to July 1, 2024.
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 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. The entry fee of $175 for the Opal Hill Division or $200 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 5, 2024. The applications will be processed on April 15, 2024 for both the Open Division and the Opal Hill Division. Exemptions will be processed first, followed by invited players, 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 Oakwood Country Club, Players’ Reception on Sunday evening, prizes and player gift. Entries close at 11:00 p.m. CST on July 1, 2024. 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 21st from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please join us in celebrating our champions, sponsors, and players. 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 Opal Hill 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 Opal Hill Net Division are subject to results of the Opal Hill 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 Oakwood Country Club. Professionals will receive cash prizes. A playoff will be conducted for first place. All other ties will be split.
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 Oakwood 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. All 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 five scores in 2024 prior to July 1, 2024. 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.
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 $75 includes cart. Each participant may receive only one practice round at this rate and must call the Proshop to make the tee time. Times limited to after 2pm.
Dress Code
Please be respectful of Oakwood City 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.
Hotel Information
Click Here
Need assistance? Reach out to Book Your Block at guestdocs@bookyourblock.com.
Terms of the Competition
Visit http://www.centrallinksgolf.org/competitions/conditions-of-play/ for complete information on terms of the competition.