The Saginaw District Golf Association (SDGA) Invitational Tournament is a 54-hole stroke-play event, generally played Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the third or fourth weekend in June. The Rules of Golf, as established by the United States Golf Association (USGA), shall govern tournament play. In addition, the following local rules, eligibility requirements, and tournament procedures shall apply. These rules have been developed and modified throughout the history of the Saginaw District Tournament to promote fair and equitable competition and are subject to revision by the SDGA Board of Directors. Additional information, host-course local rules, and tournament-specific instructions may be provided prior to or during the tournament.
1. Purpose
The purpose of the Saginaw District Golf Association Tournament is to determine annually the best amateur golfers in Saginaw County.
2. Tournament Divisions
The tournament shall consist of two divisions:
Both divisions shall compete in three rounds over three days, with the fields being cut following the second round.
Players who are 50 years of age or older as of the first day of the tournament shall automatically be assigned to the Legends Division unless they elect to compete in the Open Division during registration.
Players may compete in only one division.
3. Eligibility, Residency and Amateur Status
The tournament is open to male and female amateur golfers who are residents of Saginaw County, Michigan, and who meet all applicable tournament eligibility requirements. All participants must maintain amateur status as defined by the USGA Rules of Amateur Status. For purposes of determining residency, Saginaw County must be the player's principal residence.
A college student from another county may qualify as a resident if they maintain a year-round principal residence in Saginaw County. Merely attending college within the county during the school year does not establish residency.
The SDGA Committee reserves the right to request documentation establishing residency, including a driver's license, voter registration, tax records, or evidence of ownership and occupancy of a residence within Saginaw County.
4. Registration Philosophy
The SDGA Invitational Tournament is intended to attract and recognize the area's most competitive amateur golfers.
Players who have earned exemptions under the published tournament rules shall retain priority admission when those exemptions are claimed during the designated exempt registration period.
Remaining positions in each division shall be filled by selecting the lowest-handicap eligible applicants using verified GHIN Handicap Indexes.
5. GHIN Handicap Requirement
All players seeking entry into the tournament, including exempt players, must maintain an active, verifiable USGA Handicap Index accessible through the Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN). Players must provide their official GHIN identification number during registration.
The GHIN Handicap Index shall be used to rank non-exempt applicants and determine which players receive the available positions in each division.
GHIN shall be the sole accepted handicapping system for tournament registration and player selection. Handicaps calculated through other applications or services, self-reported handicaps, unofficial scoring averages, and estimated handicaps shall not be accepted as substitutes for an official GHIN Handicap Index.
A player may establish and maintain a GHIN Handicap Index through the Golf Association of Michigan or another authorized golf association. The SDGA shall not impose a minimum number of posted rounds beyond those required to establish an official Handicap Index under the World Handicap System.
The Committee reserves the right to review scoring histories, verify submitted information, and request clarification regarding a player's handicap.
6. Exempt Registration
Exempt registration shall open approximately two-weeks prior to Memorial Day. Players who qualify for an exemption must complete their registration during this period, including providing their GHIN number and paying the applicable entry fee, to secure their guaranteed position. Following the close of exempt registration, the SDGA shall determine and announce the number of available positions in each division for general registration. Players who qualify for an exemption but fail to register during the exempt registration period become subject to the rules and requirements of General Registration.
7. General Registration
General registration shall open on Memorial Day and shall remain open throughout the announced period regardless of the number of applications received. All eligible applicants shall receive equal consideration, regardless of when they register during the general registration period. All applications must be completed online through the official SDGA registration process, including submission of the required information and full payment of the tournament entry fee.Submitting an application and paying the entry fee do not guarantee acceptance into the tournament.
8. Selection of Tournament Field
Following the close of general registration, the SDGA Committee shall determine the number of available positions in each division after accounting for players who properly claimed exemptions.
All remaining positions shall be awarded to eligible non-exempt applicants in ascending order of their verified GHIN Handicap Index, beginning with the lowest Index. The official Handicap Index as of the registration deadline shall be used for selection. Changes in a player's Handicap Index after the registration deadline shall not affect their selection status or alternate ranking, except where the Committee determines that submitted information was inaccurate or invalid.
No predetermined maximum Handicap Index shall be established for either division. The Handicap Index necessary for selection will depend on the number and quality of applicants.
9. Tiebreaking Procedures for Selection
If two or more applicants have identical current Handicap Indexes and their ranking affects selection into the tournament or placement on the alternate list, the following procedures shall apply:
First Tiebreaker: Low Handicap Index
The SDGA shall compare the players' official Low Handicap Indexes as reported through GHIN. The player with the lowest official Low Handicap Index shall receive priority.
Second Tiebreaker: Random Drawing
If players remain tied after comparing Low Handicap Indexes, or if one or more tied applicants do not have an established and verifiable Low Handicap Index, the applicable positions shall be determined through a random drawing conducted by the SDGA Committee.
10. Tournament Entry Fees and Payment
The tournament entry fee shall be published on the official SDGA registration page. All players, including exempt players, must pay the full entry fee when registering. Registration shall not be considered complete until payment has been received. Payment shall be collected through the SDGA's designated online payment processor.
11. Alternate Lists
Following selection of the tournament field, the SDGA shall establish the following alternate lists:
Alternates shall be ranked according to the same Handicap Index and tiebreaking procedures used to select the tournament field. The entry fees of designated alternates shall be retained until the tournament begins. If an opening occurs, the SDGA Committee shall contact alternates in their established ranking order to fill the available position. Alternate lists shall remain active until the start of the tournament.
12. Registration Notification and Refunds
Following completion of the selection process, applicants shall be notified of their status as:
Applicants who are neither accepted into the field nor designated as alternates shall receive a full refund promptly following the selection process.
Alternates who do not receive a position in the tournament shall receive a full refund once the tournament begins.
All refunds shall be processed through the SDGA's designated payment system.
13. Withdrawals and Refund Policy
Players accepted into the tournament who subsequently withdraw shall remain subject to the SDGA's established withdrawal and refund policy.
Refunds will be issued only if a participant notifies the Committee by email at saginawdistrictgolf@gmail.com no later than 8:00 a.m. on the Friday one week before the tournament begins.
If an accepted player fails to withdraw before this deadline, their entry fee shall be converted to a donation to the SDGA, and a tax acknowledgment shall be provided.
14. Future Evaluation of Registration and Exemptions
The SDGA shall evaluate the effectiveness of its registration and selection process annually. Information reviewed may include the total number of applicants, the quality of the applicant pool, the Handicap Index distribution of the selected field, the number of exempt players, and the number of qualified applicants not selected. This information may be used to evaluate future changes to field size, exemption criteria, qualifying procedures, or other aspects of tournament administration.
15. Field and Cut
The Open Division shall be limited to 36 players. Following the second round, the field shall be cut to the low 18 players and ties, plus any player within 10 strokes of the lead. All players making the cut shall be eligible to participate in the final round.
16. Division Eligibility
Players under 50 years of age shall compete in the Open Division.
Players age 50 or older may elect to compete in the Open Division rather than the Legends Division during registration.
17. Championship and Senior Awards
The Open Division Champion shall receive the Joe Hart Memorial Trophy, sponsored by The Saginaw News, and shall be recognized as the Saginaw District Champion.
The lowest-scoring player age 50 or older competing in the Open Division shall receive the Fred Martin, Jr. Trophy, sponsored by The Review, and shall be recognized as the Senior Champion.
If no Open Division player age 50 or older makes the final-round cut, the lowest 36-hole total among eligible players shall determine the Senior Champion. Ties for the Senior Championship shall be decided by playoff, either on the course or by scorecard beginning with the No. 1 handicap hole, as determined by the Committee.
18. Tees
The Open Division shall compete from the host course's Championship Tees.
19. Open Division Exemptions
Exemptions shall be awarded in the following order of priority:
Players must complete registration during the designated exempt registration period to secure their guaranteed positions. Exemptions remain subject to the tournament's residency, amateur-status, age, and GHIN registration requirements.
20. Open Division Prize Pool
The Open Division prize pool shall generally represent approximately two-thirds of the combined tournament prize pool. The SDGA Board of Directors reserves the right to adjust the distribution to maintain appropriate prize pools for both divisions. No award shall exceed applicable limits established under the USGA Rules of Amateur Status. Players who have not graduated from high school shall be subject to applicable MHSAA rules and restrictions.
21. Field and Cut
The Legends Division shall be limited to 18 players who are 50 years of age or older as of the first day of the tournament. Following the second round, the field shall be cut to the low 9 players and ties, plus any player within 10 strokes of the lead. All players making the cut shall be eligible to participate in the final round.
22. Championship Award
The Legends Division Champion shall receive the Ron Stelter Trophy and shall be recognized as the Legends Champion.
23. Tees
The Legends Division shall compete from tees targeted at approximately 6,300 yards, subject to the configuration of the host course.
24. Legends Division Exemptions
Exemptions shall be awarded in the following order of priority:
Players must complete registration during the designated exempt registration period to secure their guaranteed positions. Exemptions remain subject to the tournament's residency, amateur-status, age, and GHIN registration requirements.
25. Legends Division Prize Pool
The Legends Division prize pool shall generally represent approximately one-third of the combined tournament prize pool. The SDGA Board of Directors reserves the right to adjust the distribution to maintain appropriate prize pools for both divisions. No award shall exceed applicable limits established under the USGA Rules of Amateur Status.
26. Weather and Incomplete Rounds
In the event of inclement weather, if the entire field is unable to complete nine holes, the affected round shall be cancelled. If the entire field completes at least nine holes but fewer than 18 holes, the nine-hole scores shall be used. Unless the tournament is cancelled in its entirety, entry fees shall not be refunded when weather causes cancellation of full or partial rounds.
27. Equipment
The SDGA requires spikeless or soft-spike golf shoes. Metal spikes are prohibited. Penalty: Disqualification.
28. Starting Times
Players must begin their rounds at the starting times established by the Committee, in accordance with USGA Rule 5.3a. A player arriving at their starting point ready to play within five minutes after their assigned time shall receive the general penalty of two strokes on the first hole, absent exceptional circumstances. A player arriving more than five minutes late shall be disqualified, subject to the exceptions provided under the Rules of Golf.
29. Cell Phones
Cell phones may be used as GPS distance-measuring devices, provided their use complies with USGA Rule 4.3. All cell phones must remain in silent or vibrate mode during tournament play. Voice calls are prohibited on the competition course except in emergencies.
30. Distance-Measuring Devices
Distance-measuring devices are permitted in accordance with USGA Rule 4.3. Players may obtain distance information but may not use prohibited functions that provide information such as elevation adjustments, effective playing distance, wind measurements, or club recommendations. The applicable penalties shall be those prescribed under USGA Rule 4.3.
31. Pairings
All tournament pairings and starting times shall be established at the discretion of the SDGA Committee.
32. Caddies
Caddies are permitted during tournament play. A player who has completed all or part of their own competitive round may not return to the course to serve as a caddie for another competitor on that day. Penalty: Two strokes for each hole during which the breach occurs, with a maximum of four strokes per round.
33. Practice
Players are prohibited from practicing or playing on the competition course before or between tournament rounds, except as specifically authorized by the SDGA Committee. This restriction is administered under USGA Rule 5.2 and the applicable Local Rule.
34. Riding Carts
Riding carts are permitted in both the Open and Legends Divisions, subject to the following conditions:
Any tournament-specific cart requirements shall be announced before play begins.
35. Out of Bounds and Lost Balls
The SDGA does not utilize the optional Local Rule permitting players to drop in or near the fairway for a ball that is out of bounds or lost. All lost balls and balls hit out of bounds shall be handled under the USGA's stroke-and-distance procedure. A player must add one penalty stroke and replay from the location of the previous stroke, subject to the applicable Rules of Golf. Players are strongly encouraged to play a provisional ball whenever there is reasonable uncertainty whether the original ball may be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds.
36. Rules Committee and Procedures
SDGA personnel on the golf course are not necessarily members of the official Rules Committee and should not be asked to provide binding rulings during play. When a player is uncertain how to proceed, the player should complete the hole with two balls in accordance with USGA Rule 20.1c(3), where applicable, to avoid unnecessary delays. The player must report the circumstances to the Rules Committee at the scoring table immediately following the round and before returning the scorecard.
37. Player Responsibility and Protection of the Field
Players are responsible for knowing and applying the Rules of Golf, protecting the competitive field, and maintaining the integrity of the tournament. Players are expected to address Rules questions within their group when possible. When uncertainty remains, players should follow the applicable two-ball procedure and obtain a ruling from the Rules Committee before returning their scorecards. Players must accurately record and certify their scores in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
38. Tournament Performance Standard
A player who repeatedly returns 18-hole gross scores that are 18 or more strokes above the applicable Course Rating for the tees played, or whose performance in a single round falls substantially below the expected competitive standard, may be subject to review regarding their eligibility for future SDGA tournaments.
The Committee may consider a player's GHIN scoring history, previous tournament performance, playing conditions, and other relevant circumstances when evaluating future eligibility.
A performance review shall not automatically result in future ineligibility, and the Committee's authority to remove a player or decline future entries is not limited to circumstances involving the performance threshold.
The Committee shall have final authority over tournament administration, player eligibility, and matters not otherwise addressed by these published rules, consistent with the applicable Rules of Golf.
39. Committee Authority
The SDGA Tournament Committee reserves the right, at its discretion, to deny or revoke a player's entry, remove a player from the tournament, or decline future entries when it determines such action is in the best interests of the tournament.
Reasons for such action may include, but are not limited to, player conduct, pace of play, Rules compliance, scoring accuracy, failure to complete a round or return a scorecard, inaccurate or misleading handicap information, or demonstrated inability to meet the competitive standards of the event.
40. General
The SDGA Pace of Play Policy is based on USGA Amateur Championship pace-of-play guidelines.
Its purpose is to improve the quality of tournament play by encouraging players to remain accountable for their pace, rather than simply imposing penalties.
41. Hole Timing Standards
The SDGA shall use the following maximum timing guidelines, including walking and travel time:
Par 5: 17 minutes
Par 4: 15 minutes
Par 3: 13 minutes
42. Checkpoints
There shall be four checkpoints, located at the completion of holes 4, 9, 13, and 18. Each group is responsible for monitoring its own pace of play. A group's completion time at each checkpoint shall be measured when the flagstick is replaced after all players in the group have holed out.
A group shall be considered out of position when both of the following conditions apply:
All players in a group missing a checkpoint may be subject to penalties.
43. Pace of Play Penalties
The following progressive penalties shall apply for consecutive missed checkpoints:
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
44. Notification and Appeals
Groups missing a checkpoint shall be notified by an SDGA Official. Generally, all players in the group shall be liable for the applicable penalty. However, the SDGA Committee may determine that only specific players are responsible for the delay. Appeals based on exceptional circumstances shall be considered by the SDGA Committee following the round. All appeals must be presented in the scoring area before the player returns their scorecard. The Committee may waive a penalty for one or more players when circumstances justify doing so.
45. Merchandise Awards
Players qualifying for merchandise awards shall have an account established at the host course's pro shop. No player shall receive an award exceeding the limits applicable under the USGA Rules of Amateur Status. The SDGA Committee shall notify prize recipients when merchandise credits become available and of the deadline for redemption.
46. Tournament Trophies
The following trophies shall be presented in recognition of tournament achievement:
47. Revisions and Interpretation
The SDGA Board of Directors reserves the right to review and revise tournament rules, eligibility requirements, exemption criteria, and administrative procedures.
Changes affecting previously earned exemptions shall be addressed in a manner that respects the published rules under which those exemptions were earned.
The SDGA Committee shall be responsible for interpreting and administering these Rules and Procedures, subject to the authority of the Board of Directors and the applicable Rules of Golf.
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