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 and  must have reached their 50th birthday on or before September 3rd, 2024. Members of the IGA (thru an IGA Member  Club) from out-of-state are eligible to compete.

 

EXEMPTIONS: Not available in 2024, but beginning in 2025, the defending champion is exempt from the 18-hole  qualifying round. The defending champion may choose to compete in the qualifying round to earn medalist honors but is assured of no lower than the #2 seed in Match Play. 

 

FIELD: The field will be limited to the first 104 combined (between Men’s & Women’s Senior Match Play) eligible entrants. There will be 16 guaranteed spots for the women. 

 

FORMAT: Three-day event. The entire field plays an 18-hole qualifying round at scratch the morning of the first day.  The low 8 in the regular division proceed to the Championship Bracket. Places 9-16 proceed to the First Bracket. A  scorecard playoff will determine the final spot(s) for bracket(s) in the event of a tie. There will be no consolation  brackets established. 

 

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, September 3 - morning shotgun - Stroke Play Qualifying 

Wednesday, September 4 - morning - Quarterfinals 

Wednesday, September 4- afternoon - Semifinals 

Thursday, September 5 - morning - Finals 

 

The IGA will adhere to the schedule listed above unless otherwise directed due to weather or other factors.  Contestants will be informed in advance of the start of the Championship if such change is needed. 

 

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 be made available on the IGA website, www.iowagolf.org. The field will be paired at random for the qualifying round. 

 

PRACTICE PRIVILEGES: Practice rounds are at the discretion of the host course in terms of starting times and fees.  Players are responsible for scheduling their own tee times with the host club. Practice privileges are limited to  entrants only. 

 

WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS: Entry fees will be refunded if the IGA office is notified on or before August  26. After August 26, 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 and returning entry forms and fees by the due date. Entries must reach the IGA office by 11:59 P.M., August 26, and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee ($125). You must enter online using a credit card at 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. 

 

CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES: 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 Tournament 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 in order to compete. Shorts are permitted,  provided they are Bermuda length or longer. T-shirts, tank tops, gym shorts, sweatpants, and blue jeans are NOT  permitted. 

 

PACE OF PLAY: In accordance with 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.