Competition Policies

Certification of handicap index and flighting

A copy of your current handicap card, reflecting a handicap index based on 18 holes, must accompany your entry form (if submitting by mail) or should be mailed separately to GCSAA for online registrants. The USGA handicap index is used to verify eligibility for the National Championship and the Golf Classic. All indexes will be verified approximately 60 days prior to the competition and the index at that time will be used. Players must have a verified handicap or declare as a professional to be eligible to compete in the competitions. A letter from a course professional verifying handicap index will not be acceptable proof of handicap. For Canadian participants,The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) index will apply.

The tournament officials determine handicap ranges for the Golf Classic handicapped flights. Three senior flights are available and must be marked on the registration form in order to participate in a specific flight: Senior I (age 50-56), Senior II (age 57-64) and Super Senior (age 65+). If you are eligible and wish to compete in a senior flight, you must indicate this on your form. Otherwise, you will be placed in the flight based on your handicap index. All affiliate members and student members will be placed in the affiliate flight, regardless of handicap index or age.

Repeat Flight Winners

If a contestant has won or been the runner-up for two (2) consecutive years, that player will be subject to further handicap verification and review. The player will play in the current year to 80% of verified handicap, and be placed into the flight corresponding to the adjusted handicap. If it is determined that the player knowingly submitted an incorrect handicap, he/she will be subject to disqualification and/or ineligibility to compete in the GCSAA Golf Classic and Four-Ball. The tournament officials reserve the right to assign a player into any flight deemed appropriate.

Practice Privileges

Practice rounds at the host facilities are available at the competitor’s expense on Friday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 26. Tee time reservations will be available in January 2008. Practice rounds at The Independence Course at the Ginn Reunion Resort are limited to players registered in the National Championship. National Championship players, however, may play practice rounds at the Golf Classic host facilities.

Conditions and Schedules

The GCSAA Tournament officials reserve the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. The decision of the tournament officials in any matter will be final.

Play-Offs

National Championship

Overall champion—A sudden-death play-off will be conducted to determine the overall champion only, immediately following the completion of regular play. The reigning GCSAA champion, along with champions from the last five years, will receive an annual invitation to participate in the renowned Trans-Mississippi Golf Championship, where the likes of PGA TOUR professionals Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Dean Beman and Bob Tway, among others, have carried home the championship trophy.

Golf Classic

For flight winners and runners-up: Ties will be resolved by using the USGA tie-breaking system (pgs. 10-11 of the 2003 revision of “How to Conduct a Competition”). The tiebreaker will be resolved on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last nine holes, the winner will be determined on the basis of the last six holes, last three holes, and finally, the 18th hole. If the above does not break the tie, the procedure will be repeated for the front nine holes. If a tie still exists, it will be broken by lot.

For gift certificates: In case of ties for gift certificates, monies will be combined and divided equally among the players tied for a position. Ties for the last paid place in a flight will all receive a certificate in the amount of the last paid place.

Starting Times and Pairings

National Championship

Starting times and groupings for Round 1 will be available at check-in/registration at the Caribe Royale Orlando. Pairings will not be made available prior to the start of on-site check-in/registration. Round 2 and 3 (Final Round) starting times and groupings will be available at The 19th Hole on Sunday and Monday. Under NO circumstances will starting times and pairings be distributed over the phone. The player is solely responsible for knowing his/her starting time each day.

Golf Classic

Golf Classic participants will have a shotgun start each day. Groupings and hole assignments will be available at on-site registration for the Golf Classic. Round 2 (Final Round) groupings and hole assignments will be available in the lobby outside of the headquarters office located in the host hotel and during The 19th Hole on Monday. Under NO circumstances will groupings and hole assignments be distributed over the phone. The player is solely responsible for knowing his/her starting time each day.

Time of Starting; Late to the Starting Tee

National Championship

The optional condition for time of starting prescribed in Appendix 1 of the Rules of Golf will be in effect. If a player in the Championship is disqualified, he will be allowed to join his group at the completion of the hole the group is playing, turning in NO CARD.

Golf Classic

Competitors in all flights of the Golf Classic will be permitted to join their groups at the completion of the hole the group is playing. The competitor will record 0 points on all holes missed, but can report the remaining scores.

Quick links

National Championship Golf Classic and Four Ball Host Hotel & Social Events Competition Policies Chapter Team Competition Registration Tournament competitor search Tee time reservations