Victorian Amateur Championship - 2010 Conditions

1.             GENERAL

1.1           Eligible players are male amateurs whose Australian Handicap at the time of entry does not exceed 4 strokes in accordance with the Australian Handicapping System.

1.2           The field for the Port Phillip Amateur/Victorian Amateur Championship will be limited to 168 male players.

1.3           The Port Phillip Amateur shall consist of 72-holes stroke play consisting of 18 holes on Friday December 10th; 18 holes on Saturday December 11th and 36 holes on Sunday December 12th.

1.4           The leading 72 male players plus ties after 36-holes will qualify to play in Rounds 3 & 4 of the 2010 Port Phillip Amateur.

1.5           Entry into the 2010 Port Phillip Amateur/Victorian Amateur Championship will be determined as follows:-

(i)            The top 30 players from the current year’s Ivo Whitton Trophy event (as at the close of entries) having a handicap of 4 strokes or better shall be automatically included in the Qualifying Rounds Draw upon receipt of tournament entry.

(ii)           All members of current State, Colts and Junior teams that represent each Australian State upon receipt of tournament entry.

(iii)            Leading 30 players from the Australian National Rankings list (as at the close of entries) upon receipt of tournament entry.

(iv)             10 players exempted to participate by the host clubs and the Victorian Golf Association.

(v)           All remaining positions in the Port Phillip Amateur will be filled on the basis of handicap with the exception that 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 as at the close of entry subject to elimination.

1.6           After 72-holes, the leading 32 players from the Port Phillip Amateur will advance to the Victorian Amateur Championship - Match-Play Rounds. 

1.7           Ties for the Victorian Amateur Match Play qualifying positions shall be decided by a hole by hole play-off immediately following the final round of the Port Phillip Amateur.

1.8           The leading player shall be the 2010 Port Phillip Amateur Champion and Victorian Medalist and receive a trophy. In the event of a tie, a hole by hole play-off will be conducted, players who have tied being eliminated as they fail to maintain equality.  In the event of a tie for runners-up not determined by the above play-off, the count back method recommended by Golf Australia will be used. The runner-up (as applicable) shall also receive a trophy.

1.9           The leading player and runner-up from the 36-holes played at Kingston Heath and the 36-holes played at Commonwealth shall also receive a trophy. In the event of a tie for any trophy, the count back method recommended by Golf Australia will be used.

  1.10        The Victorian Amateur Championship shall consist of successive rounds of match play with losers being eliminated and winners progressing to the next round.  The automatic draw shall be applied to establish the first round matches.  The first round, second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals shall be determined over 18 holes of match play.  The Final shall be determined over 36 holes match play.

1.11         Matches which are all square after the completion of 18 holes in the first round, second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals or are all square after the completion of 36 holes in the final shall continue until one player secures the advantage.

1.12         The winning player shall be the Victorian Amateur Champion and shall receive a trophy and hold the Victorian Golf Cup for one year.  The runner-up and semi-finalists shall also receive a trophy.

2.             VGA CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

2.1           Eligible players are those in accordance with Condition 1 above and who are the current holders, at the date of the competition, of the following Championships:-

Amateur Championship of Australia

Open Championship of Victoria

Amateur Championship of Victoria

Sand Greens Championship of Victoria

Country Championship of Victoria

Colts Amateur Championship of Victoria

Colts Country Championship of Victoria

Junior Country Championship of Victoria

Junior Amateur Championship of Victoria

Boys Amateur Championship of Victoria

Defending Champion of 2009 Champion of Champions

Victorian Junior Masters

Senior Amateur Championship of Victoria

Victorian Amateur Foursomes Championship

Australasian Amateur Foursomes Championship

2009 Ivo Whitton Trophy and Geoff Ogilvy Trophy

Victorian Golf League Championship

All affiliated Clubs (Member, Associate, VGL & Country)

Victorian Country District Golf Associations

2010 Ivo Whitton events (Senior)

Victorian Country District Champion of Champions

                Note: - It is not permissible for a nominated representative to be eligible for the Champion of Champions title in the place of a particular Champion who is unable to participate.

2.2           The Championship will be played over 72 holes stroke play, concurrently with the Port Phillip Amateur.

2.3           In the event of a tie for the VGA Champion of Champions title, joint winners will be declared.

2.4           The winning player shall be the Victorian Champion of Champions and shall receive a trophy.  The runner-up shall also receive a trophy.

 

3.             VICTORIAN COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP

3.1           Eligible players are those in accordance with Condition 1 above and who are 18 to 23 years of age as at December 10th, 2010

3.2           The Championship will be played over 72 holes stroke play, concurrently with the Port Phillip Amateur.

3.3           In the event of a tie for the Victorian Colts Championship, joint winners will be declared.

3.4           The winning player shall be the Victorian Colts Champion and shall receive a trophy.  The runner-up shall also receive a trophy.

 

4.             CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE

4.1           Port Phillip Amateur

The Championship Committee shall consist of representatives of the Commonwealth & Kingston Heath Golf Clubs and nominated VGA Council/Staff

4.2           Victorian Amateur Championship

The Championship Committee shall consist of representatives of the VGA Council/Staff and the Woodlands Golf Clubs.

4.3           In the absence of the full Championship Committee at either the Port Phillip Amateur or the Victorian Amateur Championship, such members thereof as may be present at any time may give a decision and any decision shall be deemed the 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 of, 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.

5.             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 attached form should be used for this purpose. 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 contain the GolfLink number or a verified handicap record for each player.

6.             RULES

The competition shall be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf as adopted by R&A Rules Limited, 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 relevant Championship Committee whose decision shall be final.  In addition, all players are required to adhere to the Association’s Code of Conduct for the duration of the Championship.

7.             DRAW AND STARTING TIMES

All draws will be made by the relevant Championship Committee. The draw for the 1st and 2nd rounds of the Port Phillip Amateur (two-tee starts am/pm) will be sent to all competitors via email. In addition copies of all draws will be posted on the VGA Website (www.golfvic.org.au) and the Sandbelt website (www.sandbelt.com). The draw for the final 36 holes of the Port Phillip Amateur (using 2 multi-tee starts) and Victorian Amateur Championship – Match Play Rounds will also be posted on the Sandbelt and VGA website.

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 appointed to play.  It may also alter the starting time for any player.  However, it is a condition of the competition that, in 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 loss of the first hole in match play or 2 strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification.

8.             HONORARY MEMBERS

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

9.           PRACTICE

No practice shall be permitted on either Commonwealth, Kingston Heath or Woodlands courses prior to the Port Phillip or Victorian Amateur.

10.           NATIONAL REPRESENTATION

When representation in an Australian Team precludes a Victorian golfer from competing in the Port Phillip Amateur, that person or persons will be drawn automatically in the Victorian Amateur Match-Play rounds commencing at the No. 1 position. 

11.           DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

The use of distance measuring devices is permitted at Commonwealth, Kingston Heath and Woodlands. However, players are NOT permitted to use distance measuring devices that are designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his/her play (EG: gradient, wind speed, temperature etc) regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used. Any player found in breach of this condition is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification.

12.           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.

13.           DRESS STANDARDS

Players and caddies must observe the dress standards and any course requirements of the host club.

14.           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 may utilise mechanical locomotion to transport a player/caddie in the interests of pace of play where necessary without penalty.

15.            GOLF FOOTWEAR

All players are required to wear golf footwear in accordance with host club policy.  Accordingly at all event venues, no player is permitted to wear shoes with metal or traditionally designed spikes.  Penalty: disqualification.

16.           DRUG TESTING

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

17.           DATABASE OF COMPETITOR’S DETAILS

17.1         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.

17.2         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.

17.3         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.

17.4         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.