General Conditions

The Professional Golfers’ Association Tournament Procedures as defined in Part 6 of the PGA Regulations will be applicable. Your attention is drawn in particular to the following:

Tournament Rules Part 6B: 3.1. Association tournaments shall be governed by the Rules of Golf as published by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the PGA Conditions of Competition and Local Rules card as well as the additional Local Rules for each event, save that certain alterations and additions that may be deemed necessary and stipulated from time to time by the Executive Committee.

The Nottinghamshire PGA Honorary Secretary is the Tournament Director as defined in the PGA Tournament Regulations Part 6B: 2.1.

The Notts PGA Committee has the sole right to interpret the Conditions of Competition and reserves the right to rescind, alter or add to them from time to time. Such interpretation to be final.

The Notts PGA will not be liable for:

(1) Any loss or damage to any property of members and/or amateur players who will be solely responsible for the safety of all of their property together with making full and proper insurance arrangements in respect of the same, and
(2) All and any loss or damage (including consequential or indirect loss) howsoever, whensoever or wheresoever arising save in respect of death or personal injury due to the negligence of Notts PGA.

Conditions & Method of Entry

1. Entry Invitations will be sent out at regular intervals throughout the year.

2. Entries will be accepted from PGA Members Category AA / Category A and Registered Trainees Category T who are fully Subscribed Members or Honorary Members of the Notts PGA.

3. Entries from PGA Members who are holders or previous holders of European Tour Cards Category 1 to 11 and / or Tournament Player Categories (TP)or a Europro Tour Ranking Category will not be accepted unless approval is obtained from the County Committee.

4. Should there be sufficient Start Times available entries will also be accepted from PGA Members from other Regions/ Counties subject to the restraints detailed in the PGA Regulations Part 6A: 2.4.

5. Members should indicate on their entry form their preference for a starting time. If the Tournament Director is able this time will be allocated but since this will not always be possible a time may be allocated with a difference of 90 minutes either way.

6. Where a Professional / Assistant has entered an ‘higher ranking event’ for which their entry has yet to be confirmed, they are requested to indicate the situation at the time of entry to enable any Reserves to be forewarned as to the possibility of being included. If they subsequently wish to withdraw in order to play in the ‘higher ranking’ event they should advise as soon as possible.

7. A maximum of one Junior (under 18 at 1st January) per Team is allowed.

8. The Closing Date for Entries will be 14 days prior to each Pro Am unless otherwise advised. Late entries will only be accepted if Start Times are available.

1. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee Entry Forms are normally considered, in the first instance, from PGA Professionals / Assistants who regularly support the Notts PGA - provided their entries are received by the ‘closing date’.  Where entries exceed the available Start Times consideration is given to Registered Trainees ‘Playing Ability’ requirements. Exception - see below.

2. At the final two Pro Am’s each year, in order to safeguard qualification ‘positions’ for the following years Notts PGA Championships, priority for Start Times is given to Professionals / Assistants taken in order from the ‘Championship Qualification Table’ (as at the ‘Closing Date’) - who are the nearest reasonable equivalent to entry at 3 Pro Am Tournaments – provided their Entry is received before the Closing Date’.

3. All PGA Professionals / Assistants who wish to withdraw their Entry are requested to advise the Tournament Director as early as possible and at the latest 7 days prior to the date of the Pro Am. Failure to do so may result in their Team Entry Fee being forfeit. Disciplinary action in line with PGA Regulations Part 6B: 12 is also applicable.

4. PGA Professionals / Assistants / Registered Trainees are responsible for ensuring their Amateur Team Members are made aware of the 'Conditions of Competition'.

Vice Presidents

1. Professionals / Assistants must be aware that the Notts PGA endeavour to provide a place in a Pro Am if requested by a Vice President and should bear this in mind when inviting Amateurs to join their Team in view of the following paragraph.

2. Vice Presidents, who have not arranged to be included by a Professional /Assistant should contact the Honorary Secretary at the latest 14 days prior to the date of any Pro Am in which they wish to play. This will allow time for Professionals / Assistants to be contacted and if possible the necessary arrangements made for their inclusion.

Start Times

1. The Honorary Secretary will endeavour to publish Start Times at the latest 10 days prior to each Pro Am.

2. Teams are requested to collect their Scorecards at the latest 10 Minutes prior to their Start Time.

3. Time of Starting - Rule of Golf 6.3 and the PGA Tournament Rule Part 6B: 26 are applicable. Note – The Start Time as published determines any penalties.

The Note to Rule 6-3a is also applicable - If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole to be played in match play or two strokes in stroke play. Penalty for lateness beyond five minutes is disqualification.

Stipulated Round / Handicap Requirements

1. All Pro Am’s will be played over 18 Holes.

2. Professionals / Assistants will play an individual Stroke Play Competition (except at the Xmas Pro Am).

3. WPGA Members receive a yardage allowance – see PGA Tournament Rules Part 6B: 14.

4. Pro Am Tournaments will be Best 2 from 4 Medal unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

5. The Handicap Stroke Table as published at the Course being played will be applicable at each fixture.

6. The Handicap Limit for all Gentlemen Amateurs is 20 and for Lady Amateurs 24. All Amateur Players must have an active Handicap from an EGU Affiliated Club to which a Handicap Allowance of ¾ will be applied.

7. Lady Amateurs receive ‘courtesy’ shots - based on the difference of the Men’s & Ladies SSS of the Course being played - up to a maximum of 2 shots. The courtesy shots are added after taking the ¾ Allowance of their Handicap.

Adverse Weather Conditions

1. Your attention is drawn to PGA Tournament Regulations Part 6B: 4 & 5 as regards adverse weather conditions.

2. In particular the following will apply:

(a) If in the judgment of the Tournament Director adverse weather conditions or any other occurrence beyond the control of the Association renders the commencement or continuation of the Tournament impracticable play shall be suspended.

(b) If it becomes necessary to suspend play for a period during a Tournament the Tournament Director will cover the course informing players of the suspension. To signal a suspension of play the following signals will be used:

Dangerous situations (for example, lightning) one prolonged blast of the siren shall be sounded. On the blast of the siren, players must discontinue play immediately (each player may lift his ball but only after marking the position in which it lay). Play shall not continue until the Tournament Director has ordered a resumption of play.

Non-dangerous situations (for example, heavy rain or wind) three consecutive blasts of the siren shall be sounded (repeatedly). Players shall discontinue play immediately, unless they have commenced play of a particular hole, in which case they may (at their discretion) complete the hole that is being played (following which they shall immediately discontinue play). Should a player decide to discontinue play immediately whilst his ball is in play, he may lift his ball but only after marking the position in which it lay.

(c) In the event of a hole or holes becoming flooded or otherwise unfit for play the Tournament Director may authorize the cutting of a fresh hole or holes even if a round is in progress if it is considered that by doing so the Tournament may be saved.

(d) Play will remain suspended until such time as the Tournament Director after consultation with the Notts PGA Committee Members present and any Sponsors considers that play can be continued.

(e) As soon as conditions allow play to be resumed, the Tournament Director will cover the course again (to determine whether or not play should be resumed) and play will be resumed immediately as soon as two short blasts on the siren are sounded.

(f) For the avoidance of doubt, play shall remain suspended until such time as the Tournament Director after consultation with the Notts PGA Committee Members present and any Sponsor determines otherwise. If play is to be abandoned altogether for the day the Tournament Director shall advise players accordingly.

(g) In the event of a round being cancelled because of unplayable conditions the tournament may be reduced to a stipulated number of rounds or holes to be played if an additional day is impracticable for the tournament to continue. For detailed guidance refer to PGA Regulations Part 6B: 5.4.

Local Rules of Golf

1. The Conditions of Competition & Local Rules as published by the PGA are applicable.

2. The Local Rules in force at the Course being played will also be applicable provided they do not conflict with PGA Tournament Rules.

3. The Notts PGA have also introduced the following Local Rules for both Professionals & Amateurs:

• Embedded Ball - Through the green a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. Exception: A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule.

• Aeration Holes - Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids such situation.

•        Distance Measuring Devices – In accordance with the Note to Rule of Golf 14-3 – in Notts PGA Pro Am’s a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, windspeed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.

Prizes / Determination of Winners

30.Professionals / Assistants prize monies will be awarded for 1st to 5th places. Where sufficient funds are available the prize monies may be extended. In the event of Ties prize monies are shared accordingly.

31.Pro Am Team Prizes will be provided for 1st to 5th places. Where sufficient Teams have entered and funds are available the prizes may be extended.

32.Optional sweepstakes will be held for Teams placed in the next 4 additional places 'outside' the Pro Am prizes referred to above and for Amateurs who score a ‘2’ on any hole.

33.Pro Am Team results - Ties are decided by a count back over the last 9 holes. In the event of further ties over the last 6, last 3, last 1, last 12, last15, and so on until a result is reached.

34.Attendance at Prize Presentations (PGA Tournament Regulations Part 6B: 16) -

1. • Give apologies and nominate a deputy (who cannot deputise for another Professional / Assistant)

   • Accept responsibility if the nominated deputy fails to attend.

36. PGA Regulations with respect to dress code at Prize Presentations will be applied.

Order of Merit

 

37.Professionals / Assistants:

• Order of Merit Points for Professionals / Assistants will be allocated following each Pro Am on a basis determined by the County Committee.

• In the case of tied scores the points are shared.

• The total Order of Merit Points from all Pro Am's will be added to the Points earned at the Notts PGA Strokeplay, Notts PGA Matchplay and Notts Championship to determine the winner of the annually awarded Order of Merit Trophy.

• In the event of a tie at the end of the ‘year’ for the Order of Merit Trophy a play off will be arranged on a neutral Course. The Committee will decide the type of competition to be played.

• • Order of Merit Points for Assistants will be allocated following each Pro Am on a basis determined by the County Committee.

  • Only Registered Trainees (T) or Category A Professionals (qualified 3 years or less) are eligible for Order of Merit Points in this category. Holders and previous holders of European Tour Cards Category 1 to 11 and / or Tournament Players Categories (TP) are excluded.

  • In the case of tied scores the points are shared.

  • The total Order of Merit Points from all Pro Am’s will be added to the Points earned at the Notts PGA Assistants Strokeplay and the Notts PGA Assistants Matchplay to determine the winner of the annually awarded Assistants Order of Merit Trophy.

  • In the event of a tie at the end of the ‘year’ for the Assistants Order of Merit Trophy a play off will be arranged on a neutral Course. The Committee will decide the type of competition to be played.

39.Vice Presidents:

• Order of Merits for Vice Presidents based on the Pro Am Team Score will be calculated following each Pro Am on a basis determined by the County Committee.

• In the case of tied scores the points are shared.

• The total Order of Merit Points from all Pro Am's will determine the winner of the annually awarded Vice Presidents Order of Merit Trophy.

Christmas Pro Am

1. A Christmas Pro Am will be held annually. All Professionals on that day will take a prize instead of cash. The Committee will determine the type of competition. The Christmas Pro Am will not count towards the Order of Merit.

2. The Christmas Pro Am Competition will be Best 2 from 4 Stableford unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

Dress Code

1. The Dress Code of the Golf Club hosting the Pro Am will take precedence and must be adhered to at all times.

2. The standards of the Notts PGA are required to be maintained particularly as regards punctuality, etiquette and dress. PGA members are required to abide by PGA Regulations and are requested to encourage their Amateur Team members comply with the following standards:

   • No Golf Shoes, hats/caps or waterproofs in the Clubhouse.

   • No football shirts, shirts without collars or sleeves.

   • Shirts to be tucked into the waistband.        

   • No denim jeans or jackets, combat style or ‘cropped’ trousers, jogging / shell suits or similar.

   • No trainers or open sandals without socks.

   • Tailored shorts to just above the knee, with knee length socks may be acceptable on the Course but not necessarily in the Clubhouse.

   • White sports socks may be acceptable on the Course but check the Golf Club dress code.

   • If a Prize is to be collected the wearing of a Jacket, Collar and Tie (or high neck polo shirt) is to be encouraged.