SDGA Rules and Procedures (Updated - 6.19.24)

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The Saginaw District Golf Association Invitational Tournament is a 54 hole event usually played Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the 3rd or 4th weekend in June.   USGA Rules apply during Saginaw District Golf Association sanctioned Tournament play. In addition, the following local rules and procedures are in effect for Tournament play as indicated. They have been determined and modified over the years of Saginaw District play to ensure fair and equitable competition, and are subject to revision. Additional information and local course rules will be provided at the Tournament itself. 

Purpose

The purpose of the Saginaw District Golf Association Tournament is to determine annually the best amatuer golfers in Saginaw County.

Division Determination

The Tournament will consist of two Divisions, the Open Division and the Legends Division.  Players 50 years of age or older as of the first day of the Tournament are automatically entered in the Legends Division, unless they elect to play in the Open Division during tournament registration.  Both the Open and Legends Division Tournaments will be 3 day, 3 round events, played concurrently, with each field being cut for the final day of competition. 

Eligibility/Residency/Amateur Status

Players may be male or female and must be residents of Saginaw County and have USGA amateur status. 

A college student from another county is considered a resident if he lives in the county year around. A college student is not considered a resident if he lives in the county during the school year and then lives outside the county during the time school is not in session. 

(The intent of the residency rule is to only include golfers who reside in Saginaw County in the Tournament. College students who are merely attending college in the county but have their residence outside the county are not eligible. Proof of the principal residence might include tax records with an in-county address, record of owning and occupying property in the county, driver's license address, voter registration address, etc.) 

Weather

In case of inclement weather, if the entire field is unable to complete 9 holes, the entire round will be cancelled. If the entire field completes at least 9 holes, but less than 18, the 9 hole scores will be used.  

Unless the tournament is cancelled in its entirety, entry fees will not be refunded if weather cancels full or partial round(s).

Equipment

The SDGA requires spikeless or softspike shoes. Penalty: Disqualification.

Time of Starting

A player must start at the time established by the committee (Rule 6.3) If a player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five (5 )minutes  of his starting time, in the absence of special circumstances, the penalty for failure to start is 2 strokes at the first hole.  After 5 minutes the player is disqualified.

Cell Phones

Cell phones may be used as a GPS Distance Rangefinder.  The phone function shall not be used on the course except for dire emergencies.  All cell phones MUST be in silent or vibrate mode at all times.

Distance Measuring Devices

The SDGA follows USGA Rule 4.3 with regards to distance measuring devices.  Cell phone GPS apps are allowed as long as distance is the only information provided. (rev. 8/1/2021)  Penalty is disqualification.

Pairings

Pairings are at the discretion of the SDGA Committee. 

Caddies

Caddies are allowed.  On any day of competition a player, having finished their round or any part of it, may not return to the course to caddy for another competitor.  Penalty: 2 strokes for each hole at which the breach occurred, 4 strokes maximum per round.

Practice

Players are prohibited from practicing or playing on the competition course before or between rounds. (Rule 7-1.b)

Riding Carts

All participants in both the Open and Legends Divisions may use riding carts with the following stipulations:​​​​​​

1) If two (2) players in a group elect to use a riding cart, the players must share the cart.  If all three (3) players in the group are riding, the host course will determine the single rider.

2) The cart is intended for the player OR the caddy but not both.

3) Spectators are not permitted in carts.

4) All carts will be purchased directly through the host course on a daily basis.  The host course determines the cost of the cart and will charge per rider.

General

This policy is based on the USGA Amateur Championship Pace of Play Guidelines.

The intent of this policy is to improve the quality of our tournament by making players accountable for their own pace of play, not for the committee to assess penalty strokes.

Timing, Checkpoints and Position

The SDGA's Pace of Play Policy is based on the following timing per hole including walking/travel.

Par 5:     17 minutes

Par 4:     15 minutes

Par 3:     13 minutes

There will be four (4) checkpoints at holes 4, 9, 13 and 18.  Each group is responsible for monitoring their own pace.  All players in a group that have missed a checkpoint are liable to penalty.

A group's completion time at each checkpoint is measured when the flagstick is replaced in the hole once all players in the group have holed out.

A group is out of position when:

a)     They are over the maximum allowable time for that checkpoint

AND

b)     They finish the checkpoint hole more than 15 minutes behind the group in front of them.

Penalties

The following penalties will be enforced as checkpoints are missed:

1st Missed Checkpoint:                                   Warning

2nd Consecutive Missed Checkpoint:     Liable to a 1-stroke penalty

3rd Consecutive Missed Checkpoint:      Liable to a 2-stroke penalty

4th Consecutive Missed Checkpoint:      Liable to Disqualification

Notification and Appeals

Any group that misses a checkpoint will be notified by a SDGA Official.  Generally, all players in the group will be liable for penalty but the SDGA Committee may specify which player or players are liable for penalty.

Appeals for exceptional situations will be considered by the SDGA Committee following the round in the scoring area only and must take place prior to turning in their scorecard.  Appeals may result in one or more players not receiving a penalty.

The entry fee is listed on the registration page and must accompany registration. 

Refunds will only be given if a participant notifies the Committee by email at saginawdistrictgolf@gmail.com no later than 8 am on the Friday before the tournament begins (one week prior to the start of the tournament).  Any other refunds are at the discretion of the SDGA Board of Directors.

Players will be registered for the tournament in the order that registration and payment is received. Registration will close either on the date specified at 4:00 PM or when each field is full whichever comes first. Players who meet Exemption Criteria will have an opportunity to register before general registration. 

Players can register on-line at www.saginawdistrictgolf.com.

If a player fails to return a score that is within 20 stokes of the cut for their division, future entries in SDGA competitions may be declined.

Exempt Registration:

There will be an early registration window for past participants who meet the exemption criteria described below.  Exempt players may also continue to register during general registration as well but registration will close once the field is full.  

General Registration:

All players may register during general registration.  Entries will be accepted until the specified date or when each field is full whichever comes first. We will also accept alternates for each division.  Alternates will be notified if they have a spot in the tournament no later than the Thursday before the tournament begins.

1)     The Open field is limited to 36 players.  The field will be cut to low 18 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead, for the final day of competition. 

2)     Players 50 years of age or older can elect to play in the Open Division or Legends Division (but not both) during tournament registration.

3)     The Open Division Champion receives the Joe Hart Trophy sponsored by The Saginaw News and is recognized as District Champion.

4)     The low scoring player 50 years of age or over playing in the Open Division receives the Fred Martin, Jr. Trophy sponsored by The Review and is recognized as the Senior Champion.  If no Open Division player over the age of 50 makes the cut, the 2 round totals will determine the Senior Champion. Ties will be decided by playoff (on-course OR scorecard beginning with the #1 handicap hole).

5)     The course will play from Championship Tees.

6)     Exemption Criteria: 

Open Division exemptions will go in the order listed to:

(1)   all Past Open Division Champions (lifetime);

(2)   anyone who has finished in the Top 18 during any one of the past three (3) SDGA Open Division Tournaments.

7)     Prizes/Prize Pool

a)     The Prize Pool for the Open Division will be approximately 2/3 of the total tournament pool.  The Board reserves the right to alter the distribution of the pool to guarantee appropriate prize pools for both the Open and Legends Divisions.

b)    The Senior Champion  will receive a bonus merchandise award in addition to any Open Division award.

c)     In no event will a golfer receive more than the maximum award established by the USGA to maintain amateur status.  Players who have not graduated from high school will be subject to the rules and restrictions of the MHSAA.

1)     The Legends Division field is limited to 18 players who are 50 years of age or older as of first day of Tournament.  The field will be cut to low 9 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead, for the final day of competition.

2)     Players 50 years of age or older can elect to play in the Open Division or Legends Division (but not both) during tournament registration.

3)     The Legends Division Champion receives the Ron Stelter Trophy and is recognized as the Legends Champion.

4)     The course will play from tees targeted at approximately 6300 yards.

5)     Exemption Criteria:

Legends Division exemptions will go in the order listed to:

(1)   past Open Division Champions who are eligible for and elect to play in the Legends Division.  This is a 5 year exemption, with one year being added for each additional Open Championship won.  The exemption time period will run continuously from the first year a past Open Champion elects to play in the Legends Division;

(2)   past Legends Division Champions for 5 years following the year of their most recent Championship;

(3)   anyone who has finished in the Top 9  during any one of the the past three (3) SDGA Legends Division Tournaments.

5)     Prizes/Prize Pool

a)     The Prize Pool for the Legends Division will be approximately 1/3 of the total tournament pool.  The Board reserves the right to alter the distribution of the pool to guarantee appropriate prize pools for both the Legends and Open Divisions.

b)    In no event will a golfer receive more than the maximum award established by the USGA to maintain amateur status.