ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
ELIGIBILITY:
Professionals
Active Tennessee Section PGA Professionals and Associates in good standing with the Tennessee Section PGA or other professionals who are not affiliated with the Tennessee Section PGA and are bona fide Tennessee residents. Tennessee Section PGA Members and Associates must be in good standing as of the entry deadline in order to participate as a Tennessee Section PGA Member. TPGA Members and/or Associates who are not in good standing, as well as other non-TPGA professionals, must enter as a non-TPGA professional.
Amateurs
Applications are open to amateurs who possess an active USGA/GHIN Handicap Index of 8.0 or less from a TGA member club or course. Amateurs must meet the USGA definition of an amateur golfer. Persons applying for reinstatement to amateur status are not eligible to participate as amateurs. All applications will be reviewed by the TGA to verify that each entrant has an official USGA Handicap Index from a TGA member club or course. Any amateur whose name does not appear on the TGA's handicap roster will be ineligible to compete as an amateur and their entry fee will be returned.
AMATEUR TO PROFESSIONAL STATUS:
A player who advances through qualifying as an amateur has until the player begins play of Round 1 of the championship proper to designate playing as an amateur or professional.
ENTRY FEES:
Amateurs
$200 for an exempt player
$115 to enter qualifying
Successful Amateur Qualifiers will pay an additional $135 totaling $250
Tennessee Section PGA Professionals
$300 for an exempt player
$115 to enter qualifying
Successful TPGA Qualifiers will pay an additional $235 totaling $350
Non-TPGA Professionals
$500 for an exempt player
$115 to enter qualifying
Successful Non-TPGA Qualifiers will pay an additional $435 totaling $550
NOTE: Successful qualifiers will be billed by the TGA if paid via Credit Card
NOTE: Entry fees include cart and practice range fees for the entire championship. Practice rounds are excluded. Although practice rounds are available at all qualifying sites, practice round fees are not included in the entry fee for qualifying and the TGA is not responsible for practice round rates at qualifying sites.
ENTRY DEADLINE:
All players, including those exempt, must file an application by the entry deadline - Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 5:00 p.m. CDT to be eligible to compete in the Championship. THE TGA WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE ENTRY APPLICATIONS.
SCHEDULE:
The competition will be in two stages, each at stroke play
- Qualifying: 18 holes for non-exempt entrants. All qualifiers are open to any competitor and treated equally with the same percentage of advancing players allocated to each qualifying site.
- Championship Rounds: 54 holes (Field - 144 players)
Monday, July 8 - Practice Round
Tuesday, July 9 - First Round, 18 holes
Wednesday, July 10 - Second Round - 18 holes (A cut of the low 60 scores and ties will be made following round two)
Thursday, July 11 - Final Round, 18 holes
QUALIFYING:
Each entrant, not exempt, shall compete in an 18-hole qualifying round at one of the locations listed on the Championship Information Page. Transfer to another qualifying location is permissible only before the entry deadline. Transfer after the entry deadline is not permitted. Contestants may enter only one qualifying round.
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS:
Irene Golf & CC - June 13, 2024
Blackthorn Club - June 17, 2024
Stones River CC - June 17, 2024
Three Ridges GC - June 19, 2024
Franklin Bridge GC - June 20, 2024
Black Creek Club - June 26, 2024
GreyStone GC - July 1, 2024
QUALIFYING PLACES, TIES, & SUBSTITUTIONS:
The number of qualifying places at each qualifying location will be determined by the Tennessee Golf Association based on the size of the field in relation to the total number of championship qualifying places available. Any ties for the last qualifying place(s) shall be decided by a sudden-death playoff immediately upon conclusion of the qualifying round. Alternate places decided during the playoff will be honored until the final qualifying spot is determined. At that point, any remaining alternate positions are determined by scorecard playoff. At 12:00 p.m. CDT on the day prior to the first round, the TGA reserves the right to re-order the Alternate Site List in order to better the fill the championship proper.
ACCEPTANCE OF PLACES/NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL:
A player who must withdraw before the championship must notify the TGA office at 615-465-6308 or the Official in Charge at the site of the event. If a player must withdraw during an event, he must notify the Official in Charge. If a player does not show for an event or fails to follow the above procedure, their actions may result in a one-year suspension from all TGA competitions. The said player forfeits all entry fees.
REFUNDS:
No refunds for any reason (except for illness or injury) will be issued after 5:00 p.m. CDT on the evening before the first round of the respective competition (i.e. qualifying round, championship, etc.). Requests for a refund due to illness or injury will be treated on a case by case basis and can include illness or injury of a spouse or child. All refunds will be subject to a $25.00 withdrawal fee.
CANCELLATION/EXTENSION OF PLAY:
If a lengthy suspension of play occurs during the final round or is likely to affect the final round, the TGA will discuss options with the host facility on the cancellation of the final round and/or shortening of the championship. For a match play formatted event, the original math play bracket will be completed, whether it be single or team play. This may require the cancellation of a stroke play round or the completion of a match play round(s) the day after the planned conclusion of the event. The TGA will discuss all of these options with the host club's staff.
PRIZES/PURSE/MEDALISTS:
All professionals returning a 54-hole scorecard will receive a portion of the professional purse. Crystal awards will be presented to the Champion at the Championship proper. The low amateur will also receive a crystal award. TGA will issue gift certificates to the top ten amateur finishers, which will be valid at the host golf course.
CURTIS PERSON, SR. TROPHY:
The champion's name will be placed on the Curtis Person, Sr. Trophy. The trophy was presented to the Tennessee Golf Association in honor of the legendary amateur golfer from Memphis. The trophy is on permanent display at Golf House Tennessee.
RULES OF GOLF:
Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf and the most current TGA Rules of Play Card. All questions shall be settled by the committee in charge of the competition, whose decision is final.
CART & CADDIE POLICY AT QUALIFIERS:
Spectator carts are permitted at qualifiers provided the host facility has enough carts to allow the renting of a spectator cart. Players will always take priority. The TGA is not responsible for the rates and availability of spectator carts at qualifiers.
CART & CADDIE POLICY AT CHAMPIONSHIP:
Cart fees are included in your entry fee for the Championship. Golf carts are reserved for contestants, TGA officials, and host club staff. Spectator carts at the championship are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Players may ride, carry their bag, or have a caddie at the Championship, however, no refunds will be given for unused cart fees, and players choosing to walk must adhere to the established Pace of Play policy. Only players may utilize carts, spectators may not utilize player carts.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
Contestants (and their caddies) are to observe proper golf etiquette at all times. Any abuse or disrespect of other players, TGA staff, officials, spectators, employees of the host facility, or any other persons conducting or attending the Tennessee Golf Association sponsored event can be grounds for disqualification from the event, and possible revocation of the right to enter future Tennessee Golf Association events. Such abuse may be verbal or physical or threat thereof and includes, but is not limited to: the use of obscene language or gestures, physical damage to property or equipment including that of the Tennessee Golf Association or host facility. Rule 1.2b
TGA DRESS CODE:
Contestants must wear appropriate attire. Gym shorts, cut-offs, shirts without collars, and denim shorts or pants are not acceptable. Mock turtlenecks are acceptable based upon the host club's policy. Shorts must be Bermuda in length. Tennessee PGA dress code governs TPGA members.
FOOTWEAR:
Traditional type spokes, regardless of competition, are prohibited at all qualifying rounds and at the championship proper. Penalty for breach of this condition of play is disqualification.