Eligibility Information
ELIGIBILITY:
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. Players must be at least 25 years of age on or before October 16, 2024.
Amateurs must meet the USGA definition of an amateur golfer. Persons applying for reinstatement to amateur status are not eligible.
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 and their entry application and entry fee will be returned.
ENTRY DEADLINE:
All players, including those exempt, must file an application by the entry deadline - Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 5:00 p.m. CDT to be eligible to compete in the Championship. THE TGA WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE ENTRY APPLICATIONS.
Entry Fees:
$250 for an exempt player
$125 to enter qualifying
Successful qualifiers will pay an additional $175 totaling $300.
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.
Successful qualifiers will be billed by the TGA if paid via Credit Card
SCHEDULE - 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 - 111 players)
Tuesday, October 15 - Practice round
Wednesday, October 16 - First Round, 18 holes
Weather permitting, round two starting times will be recreated based on round one scores
Thursday, October 17 - Second Round, 18 holes
A cut of the low 30 scores & ties will be made following the second round
Friday, October 18 - Final Round, 18 holes
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS AND DATES
The Golf Club of Bristol - August 26, 2024
Colonial Country Club - August 27, 2024
Willow Creek Golf Club - August 27, 2024
Cleveland CC - September 4
Towhee Club - September 5
All qualifying dates are subject to a maximum field of 78 participants. If a qualifying location has more entrants than can be accommodated, entrants will be unable to register for that desired qualifier.
ACCEPTANCE OF PLACES/ NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL:
A player who must withdraw before the championship must notify the TGA office 615-465-6303 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 up for an event or fails to follow the above procedure, their actions may result in a one-year suspension from all TGA competitions. 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. The TGA will discuss all of these options with the host club’s staff.
PRIZES AND MEDALISTS:
Crystal awards will be presented to the Champion at the Championship proper. The TGA will issue gift certificates to the top ten finishing contestants which will be valid at the host golf course.
JOHN ATKINS TROPHY:
The Champion’s name will be placed on the John Atkins Trophy. The trophy was presented to the TGA by the Atkins family in honor of John Atkins, a Past President of the Tennessee Golf Association and tireless supporter and promoter of the game. 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.
QUALIFYING:
Each entrant not exempt shall compete in an 18-hole qualifying round at one of the locations. 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 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 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 pm, on the day prior to the first round, the TGA reserves the right to re-order the Alternate Site List in order to better fill the championship proper.
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 rates and availability of spectator carts at qualifiers.
CART & CADDIE POLICY AT CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Cart fees are included in the entry fee for the Championship proper. Golf carts are reserved for contestants, TGA officials, and host club staff only. Spectator carts or caddie carts are not permitted at the championship proper. 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.
CONDUCT CODE:
Contestants (and their caddies) are to observe proper golf etiquette at all times. Any abuse or disrespect of fellow competitors, TGA staff, officials, spectators, employees of the host facility, or any other persons conducting or attending a Tennessee Golf Association sponsored event can be grounds for disqualification from the event, and possible revocation of 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. R&A USGA Official Guide to the Rules of Golf 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-type in length.
FOOTWEAR:
Traditional type spikes, regardless of composition, are prohibited at all qualifying rounds and at the championship proper. Penalty for breach of this condition of play is disqualification.
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION; BROADCASTING:
The TGA may arrange for (i) promotion of the Championship, for radio, internet, and television broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship or excerpts thereof in any and all media throughout the world, whether now known or hereafter developed, and (ii) the design, manufacture and sale of merchandise which commemorates or memorializes the Championship throughout the world. By this application, the player consents to the use by the TGA, or persons authorized by the TGA, of his name, likeness, voice and references to him and photographs and other images of him and his play connected with his appearance in the Championship, or any portions thereof, in connection with such media promotion, broadcasting, and other exhibition and publication of the Championship and design, manufacture and sale of commemorative merchandise. The TGA may utilize the rights granted it hereunder in connection with the promotion and/or commemoration of the 2019 Championship as well as future Championships, other TGA Championships and the TGA.