2009 Victorian Mid Amateur Conditions

1. The Championship

1.1 Eligible players are male amateurs who are aged from 30 to 54 as of 14th October 2009 and whose Australian Handicap at the time of entry does not exceed 18 strokes in accordance with the Australian Handicapping System.

1.2 The Championship is scheduled to be played over 54 holes stroke play, 18 holes each on Wednesday 14th October, Thursday 15th October and Friday 16th October 2009.

1.3 The field for the Championship will be limited to 168 players.

1.4 In the event of entries exceeding the number of available places in the Championship, a ballot will be undertaken with players on the highest handicaps subject to elimination.

1.5 A total of 72 players will qualify to compete in the 3rd round.  The field will comprise:-

(i)            the 36 players (plus ties) with the lowest stroke scores.

(ii)           the remaining places will be made up of players with the lowest nett scores.

1.6 The player with the lowest stroke score after 54 holes shall be the Victorian Mid Amateur Champion and shall receive a trophy and hold the Victorian Mid Amateur Trophy for one year.  The runner-up and third place-getter shall also receive a trophy.

1.7 The player with the lowest nett score after 54 holes shall be the Victorian Mid Amateur Handicap Champion and shall receive a trophy and the Victorian Mid Amateur Handicap Medallion.  The runner-up and third place-getter shall also receive a trophy.

1.8 In the event of a tie for the Victorian Mid Amateur Championship, unless the Championship Committee otherwise determines, play shall continue over such holes as the Championship Committee shall decide, players being eliminated hole by hole as they fail to maintain equality with other or others until the winner is determined.

1.9 In the event of a tie for the Victorian Mid Amateur Handicap Championship, it shall be decided by a countback as recommended by Golf Australia .

1.10 No player may win more than one trophy in the Victorian Mid Amateur Championship and the Victorian Mid Amateur Handicap Championship. 

2. 2009 Victorian Mid Amateur State Teams Event

2.1 The 2009 Victorian Mid Amateur State Teams Event will be played concurrently with the 2009 Victorian Mid Amateur Championship.

2.2 Teams consisting of two male amateur players will represent each Australian State accepting an invitation to participate by the VGA.

2.3 All players participating in the 2009 Victorian Mid Amateur State Teams Event must be eligible to participate in the 2009 Victorian Mid Amateur Championship in accordance with Condition 1.1 above and be entered in accordance with the procedure outlined in Condition 4.

2.4 A player will be eligible to only represent the State that his home club is affiliated with, irrespective of his permanent place of residence.

2.5 The teams will be selected by their respective Men’s State Golf Body and submitted to the Host State prior to the first day of the Championship.

2.6 For each round of the Championship, the stroke scores from each team’s players shall count as the team score.

2.7 Any player(s) representing a nominated State Team in the 2009 Victorian Mid Amateur State Teams Event not qualifying as per Condition 1.5 (i) and (ii) above, shall play in the 3rd round in addition to the 72 qualifying players.

2.8 The team with the lowest aggregate stroke score from all rounds of the Championship will be the Victorian Mid Amateur State Teams Event Winners.

2.9 In the event of a tie for the State Teams Event, it shall be decided by count-back on the basis of the final round team score.

3. Championship Committee    

The Championship Committee shall consist of representatives from the VGA Council, The Sandhurst Club and the VGA Director of Golf.  In the absence of the full Championship Committee, such members thereof as may be present at any time may give a decision of the full Championship Committee.  The Championship Committee reserves the right to vary any condition of this event. In the event of bad weather, or for any other reason, the Championship Committee may shorten the competition, appoint another day or days for completion or, may transfer play to another course. Protests must be made to the Championship Committee not later than 10 minutes after the conclusion of each round.  The decision of the Championship Committee will be final in all matters relating to the Tournament.

4. Entries             

Entries will be restricted to amateurs, who are members of clubs for the Victorian Golf Association, or of golf clubs registered with such State or Overseas Associations as are affiliated with or recognised by this Association, or of clubs affiliated with the Victorian Golf League and Registered Golfers.  The Championship Committee shall have the right to refuse the entry of any person without being required to give any reason for such refusal.  Entrance fees must be paid at the time of entry.  Any entrant may withdraw and have his entrance fee refunded providing that notification is received by the time that entries close.  All entries must be accompanied by either a current handicap record verified by the club or GolfLink Number.  Entries shall only be made on the entry form issued by the Victorian Golf Association.

5. Rules

The competition shall be played in accordance with the R & A Rules Limited, Scotland , together with such local rules as are in force on the course over which the competition rounds are being played.  If any dispute arises on any point, it shall be decided by the Championship Committee whose decision shall be final.  All players are required to adhere to the Association’s Code of Conduct for the duration of the competition.

6. Draw and Starting Time

A draw will be made by the Championship Committee.  The Committee has the power to amend the draw or substitute another player for any competitor who is not at the tee at the time for any player. However, it is a condition of the competition that, in the absence of circumstances which warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, if the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play within five minutes of his starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is two strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification.

7. Honorary Members

Competitors will be made Honorary Members for the day, of the club upon whose course the rounds are being played.

8. Practice

Any arrangements for practice rounds MUST be made with the host club concerned. Practice balls are available for purchase in the Pro Shop during the event.

9. Motorised Transport

During play, it is prohibited for a player or his caddie to ride in or on a motorised vehicle unless specific written permission has been granted by the Championship Committee.

Penalty: 2 strokes for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – 4 strokes.

Procedure when breach discovered: Use of any unauthorised form or transportation must be discontinued immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred.  Otherwise the player is disqualified.

Exception: Rules Officials and/or Championship Committee members may utilise a motorised vehicle to transport a player/caddie in the interests of pace of play where necessary without penalty.

10. Pace of Play

Rule 6-7 will be strictly enforced.  Each group must maintain its position on the course with respect to the group preceding them.  Any group with a clear hole in front of them will be considered out of position.  Penalties will be issued to individuals in such groups who by their pace contribute to such delay.  Warnings may not be issued prior to penalties.

11. Dress Standards

Players and caddies must observe the dress standards and any course requirements of the host club. Any player not adhering to the Host Club’s dress regulations will be prohibited from playing.  Any caddie not adhering to the Host Club’s dress regulations will be requested to leave the course. Players and caddies not complying to these requirements will also be subject to action in accordance with the Association’s Code of Conduct.

12. Drug Testing

All Competitors are subject to drug testing by the Australian Sports Drug Agency for banned substances as laid down in Golf Australia’s Doping Policy.  Any competitor infringing this policy or refusing to take a test, may be disqualified.

13. Database of Competitor's Details

13.1 The data contained on an entry form submitted by an entrant for a VGA event is permanently retained by the VGA within its database of competitor’s details.

13.2 This database is operated to assist with the management of current and future VGA events.  From time to time the VGA may also allow a sponsor/s to utilise the information contained in this database for its/their own purposes.

13.3 From time to time players may be sent entry forms or event literature for either VGA events, or events conducted by VGA-approved bodies, and accompanying material.

13.4 Upon receipt by the VGA of a written request, a player may either have access to their details, or have their details deleted from the database.