Golf Genius ::

The event

Scoring will be 72 holes of single stableford with GA handicaps and local slope ratings taken into account to calculate Daily Handicaps. We will use each players’ individual scores for each day and tally them into a 72-hole score to determine the winner of the SGA International.

Grades: Grades are determined according to divisions made between GA Handicaps. Players remain in the grades in which they started the tournament, irrespective of changes to their handicap during the event. There will be an A-Grade and B-Grade champion.

SGA International Rules

The winner of the tournament is the player with the highest aggregate stableford points
To avoid any data/technology issues, paper scorecards will be used each day. These will be labelled with your name, handicap and the appropriate tees for the day.
At the completion of play each day, cards are to be promptly submitted to the SGA scorers with names, signatures, stroke and stableford scores for each hole all clearly shown (If you are unsure about stableford scoring, please consult your playing partner, or see SGA staff after the round who will help you.) The player and marker must both sign the scorecard. These will then be loaded by the staff into the Golf Genius leaderboard that evening.

Handicaps

The handicapping committee for the event will be made up of SGA’s on-site hosts, and SGA Handicapper (from afar) Paul White. Players’ GA Handicaps and course slope and scratch ratings will be referenced to determine Daily Handicaps. Any adjustments to handicaps during the tournament will be applied with the intention of maintaining a level playing field for all entrants to ensure a fair and equitable tournament. Matthew Pitt is the Chairman of the handicapping committee and will be advising from afar throughout the week.

GENERAL INFO

Pace of play: Players are reminded that maintaining a good pace of play is extremely important. Please:

● Play Ready Golf at all times.

● Pick up your ball if you have scratched a hole.

● Prepare for your shot while your partners are playing.

● Move quickly between shots.

● Keep up with the group in front.

Splitting ties: Players are reminded that there will be no play-offs, and countbacks will be used to separate tied scores.

Weather: If there is storm activity during play and the possibility of lightning, sirens will be sounded on the course and players are to mark their balls and return to the clubhouse.

Conditions of Play

All players, in entering, have agreed that they have read and accept the terms & conditions of entry and conditions of play.
Unless noted otherwise, Play for the men is from the white tees in rounds one & three, and from the blue tees in rounds two & four. The ladies will play from the ladies’ tee markers each day.
Local rules are on the back of the scorecard and are in play.
Giving and/or asking for advice is not permitted, including to and from teammates, as competitors are playing their own round in the individual event. Information on rules, or matters of public information, such as the position of a hazard or flagstick, is not advice. The penalty for giving or asking for advice is two strokes. See Rule 8 for more information.
To maintain the pace of play (and as a courtesy to other players) please pick up your ball when you have scratched on a hole.
Please swap cards with your playing partners from opposing teams. After your round, please check your stroke & stableford scores very carefully before signing and submitting your card. One player from each group must enter players' scores for each hole into the Golf Genius app on their smartphone. Leaderboards up to 14 holes will be available for all to view through the Golf Genius app.
Please submit cards promptly to event delegates after play.
Golf distance measuring devices (including apps delivered on mobile devices) are allowed in the SGA Championships.
If you are in doubt regarding a rule, check the Rules of Golf and/or inquire with your fellow competitors on your situation.
If you require a ruling, please contact SGA or the pro shop.

Rules to note
17.1d: Relief for Ball in Penalty Area (Water Hazards)
Yellow stakes: When it is known or virtually certain that a ball is in a yellow penalty area and the player wishes to take relief, the player has two options, each for one penalty stroke:
(a) The player may take stroke-and-distance relief by playing the original ball or another ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
(b) The player may take back-on-the-line relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in a relief area based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through-point of entry. The point of entry is a point on the course chosen by the player that is on the reference line through the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the yellow penalty area. There is no limit on how far back on the line the reference point may be. The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and may be in any area of the course, except the same penalty area. In choosing this reference point, the player should indicate the point by using an object (such as a tee).

For Red Stakes/Lateral Water Hazard:
When it is known or virtually certain that a ball is in a red penalty area and the player wishes to take relief, the player has three options, each for one penalty stroke:
(a) The player may take stroke-and-distance relief.
(b) The player may take back-on-the-line relief.
(c) The player may take lateral relief (red penalty area only). The reference point for taking lateral relief is point of entry, which is the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the red penalty area. The relief area is two club-lengths from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and may be in any area of the course, except the same penalty area. drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard.

18.2b: Ball Out of Bounds; Ball Not Found Within 3 Minutes: If a ball is lost or out of bounds, and the player has NOT already played a provisional, the player may implement Model Local Rule E-5 (Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball OOB). This option allows the player to drop in a large area between the point where the ball is estimated to have come to rest or gone out of bounds and the edge of the fairway of the hole being played that is not nearer the hole. The player gets two penalty strokes when using this relief option. This means that the relief is comparable to what could have been achieved if the player had taken stroke-and-distance relief. This Local Rule cannot be used for an unplayable ball, or for a ball that is known or virtually certain to be in a penalty area.

18.3: Provisional Ball: If a ball may be lost or out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally in accordance with Rule 14.6. The player must inform their marker or a fellow competitor that they intend to play a provisional ball, and must play it before they or the partner goes forward to search for the original ball.