The Rules and Regulations of The Shooters Golf Tour

General Introduction: Goals of the Shooters Golf Tour

The Shooters Golf Tour (SGT) is a developmental tour designed to afford golfers of all skills levels the opportunity to compete against their peers in a series of competitive tournaments.  The SGT was also designed with an active membership in mind.  The SGT’s future growth is driven by its members and is therefore shaped by the needs and opinions of those involved in our success.

Chapter 1: Responsibilities and duties of the Player's Board

The SGT Player’s Board was created as a means for our membership to voice concerns or ask questions regarding the tour.  It is a volunteer board that is made up of members of the SGT who have had experience in how the SGT works and is interested in maintaining the success of the tour.

The Player’s Board is also responsible for upholding SGT rules and regulations.  If a discrepancy arises on the course during play within a foursome, the Player’s Board will make the final decision to uphold all SGT/USGA rules.

Chapter 2: Responsibilities of the SGT Members

Our members are responsible for the integrity and application of all SGT/USGA rules.  All players must abide by these rules and encourage players within their foursome to adhere to them.  The SGT does not employ rules officials to follow each foursome.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of each member to ensure the integrity of these rules.  All SGT members are responsible for their own behavior on the course and in the clubhouse.  Proper etiquette should be maintained at all times.  It is not only important to your fellow competitors, but it is important to the future of our tour.  We cannot allow one player to jeopardize our status with the host courses that are critical to our scheduling process. Proper attire is expected.  Players are responsible for checking with the courses in order to find out their individual policies and abide by them.  The SGT dress policy follows the guidelines provided by most courses.  Appropriate attire must be worn at all times.  No Jeans, cutoffs or T-shirts will be allowed.

Chapter 3: Details of the Tour

The SGT has 12 tournaments, of which there will be 9 regular tournaments and 4 Majors, plus a 2 day Tour Championship.  There are 4 Flights plus a Seniors Flight (Age 50 and over) in which players can compete against their peers.  Guaranteed prizes will be paid out to the top 3 overall net scores as well as the top 2 finishers in each flight.  The tournament winner will also receive a trophy.  There is a payout to the player with closest to the pin (one on each nine).  The prizes is dependent on the number of members signed up prior to the first tournament and will be posted at that time.  There is an optional skins game at each tournament, as well as an optional Low Gross competition.  Prizes will be paid out for tournaments designated as a “major” will be higher than the money for regular season tournaments.  Players will be competing at each tournament for prizes as well as points that go towards the SGT Points Championship.

Chapter 4: SGT Handicap Rules:

The SGT follows USGA guidelines when establishing SGT handicaps.  Returning players (with a minimum of 5 tournaments played) have handicaps automatically established for the following year.  New players have four options to use in order to establish an SGT handicap:

Chapter 5: SGT Rules and Regulations

The Shooters Golf Tour (SGT) will follow strict USGA rules except in the following situations that are deemed to be Local SGT Rules at all tournaments.  Any changes to USGA rules have been made in order to expedite the pace of play.

1. SGT Out of Bounds/Lost Ball (not in a water hazard) Rule:
   The player may play a provisional ball
   Procedure - 1A.  The player must inform his fellow competitors that he intends to play a “provisional ball”, and he must play it before he or his fellow competitors go forward to search for the original ball.  If he plays another ball and fails to declare it a provisional ball, that ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance.  If the player is unable to find their original ball or the ball is found out of bounds, the player’s provisional ball becomes the ball in play and shall be assessed a penalty of one stroke.
   Procedure - 1B (Player chooses not play provisional ball).  The player may deem the ball out of bounds or lost and drop within 2 club lengths of the point where the ball is deemed to have gone out of bounds or is lost - no nearer to the hole.  If the player is unable to drop within 2 club lengths of that point, the player must drop at the first point in which the player has complete relief – no nearer to the hole.  The player shall be assessed a two stroke penalty.

   If a ball is lost or is out of bounds, the player must drop within 2 club lengths of the point where the ball is deemed to have gone out of bounds or is lost - no nearer to the hole.  If the player is unable to drop within 2 club lengths of that point, the player must drop at the first point in which the player has complete relief – no nearer to the hole.  The player shall be assessed a two stroke penalty.

2. SGT Water Hazard/Heather Rule: Unless a drop area has been designated for use by the SGT, a ball hit into a water hazard may be: (a) played as it lies; (b) dropped within two club lengths from the point at which the ball crossed the margin of the hazard – no nearer the hole; OR (c) dropped behind the hazard - without limit to distance – on a line that keeps the point at which the ball crossed the margin of the hazard between the desired drop point and the flag.  The player shall be assessed a one stroke penalty in all cases.
3. SGT 60 Second Search Rule: The SGT has a 60 second rule for all lost ball searches. If you have not found your ball after searching for 60 seconds, you must drop a new ball according to the “SGT Out of Bounds/Lost Ball Rule”.  The player shall be assessed a one stroke penalty.
4. SGT Pace of Play Rule:  At the completion of the 18th hole, if your group is slower than 17 minutes behind the group ahead of you, you will be in breach of the SGT Pace of Play Rule.  It is the responsibility of all players in the group to try to remedy slow play before getting to the end of the round.  If a group falls outside of 17 minutes they will be given the opportunity to state their case to the Tournament Official for not being penalized and he will decide whether to penalize the players 2 strokes.  This opportunity will only be allowed on the day of the tournament so that we will be able to get the results posted online in a timely manner.  The Players Board reserves the right to penalize or warn a player or group based on their slow play.  If a single player continues to be the cause of slow play, he will forfeit his membership and tournament fees and be removed from the SGT.  IMPORTANT NOTE: This rule is meant to penalize foursomes that cause backups and create slow play.  A foursome will not be held responsible for the groups ahead of them, so as long as that foursome is keeping pace (within 17 minutes) of the group ahead.  So please make assurances that your foursome keeps relative pace with the group ahead.  It is requested of us by the course to finish rounds in a timely manner and most courses feel that 4 hours and 45 minutes is well within the limits of responsible play by players competing on their courses.   Therefore we still want players to be conscious of their overall time, but it will not be a factor that the Players Board uses for levying penalties.  Therefore, we will still be providing timers to each foursome set at 4 hours and 45 minutes to give you an idea of your pace.
5. Assignment of tee-times for Slow Players - The SGT will reserve the right to assign slow players to the back of the tee-time list for the following tournament if they are found to be in breach of the pace of play rule as ruled by the Players Board.  If it is determined at an event after penalties are assessed that specific individuals were the cause of the slow play, they will automatically be placed into the last tee-time slots for the following tournament they compete in.  If in the following tournament they can show that they've rectified the cause of their slow play they will be placed back into the random tee-time drawings going forward.
6. SGT Ready Golf Rule: Please play “ready golf” and forgo honors on the tee and in the fairway.  If it is your turn to hit, it is expected that you will be at your ball and ready to go (not sitting in the cart at your partner’s ball).
7. SGT Par 3 Rule: If a back up occurs on a par 3 hole, please waive up the group behind you.  Once the group behind you hits up, play out the hole and move on to the next tee.
8. Upon completion of SGT Round: All players are required to turn in their scorecards immediately following the completion of their round. Each card must be signed by the scorer and the player to ensure accuracy of the scores posted. If a players fails to do so, then that player will be disqualfied.
9. Common USGA rules:
   1. No more than 14 clubs in your bag.
   2. Be sure you can identify your ball from others.  If you can’t positively identify it as yours – it’s considered lost (1-stroke penalty).
   3. Tee off within 2 club lengths behind the front edge of the tee-markers.
   4. On the putting green - If your ball is moved by someone else or another ball played from off the putting green, you may replace it as close to its original spot as possible without penalty.
   5. Any ball at rest on the putting green may be lifted but its position must be marked.
   6. Replace all divots / Rake all sand traps / Repair all ball marks on greens.
   7. Do not step on the line of another player’s putt.
   8. Do not play until you are sure the group ahead of you is out of the way.