GENERAL:
The Section Tournament Committee Chairperson, in performing his/her duties attending the general affairs of Section tournament activity, works in reference to and is guided by those factors of the PGA of America’s tournament regulations and the Illinois Section, PGA of America Tournament Committee. These regulations are currently recognized as a part of the mandatory provisions of the government of the Association in the conduct of tournament activity. No Section can act in any way at variance with the Association in these respects.

The tournament activity of the Section is conducted primarily to serve the interest and welfare of the members of the Illinois Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. The Illinois Section tournament activities consist of a schedule of officially sponsored, co-sponsored and sanctioned events, unless special designation for a given event is authorized by the Section’s Tournament Committee. Each of these events is played under the established rules and regulations that are applicable to the character of the event.

RESPONSIBILITY:
1. Competitions sponsored, co-sponsored and sanctioned by the Illinois Section are governed by the most recently published USGA Rules of Golf. All Professionals are responsible for knowing the Rules of Golf and the conditions of the competition in which they are entered including the provisions stated herein.

2. Every effort shall be made to avoid pairing together professionals employed at the same facility in an event scheduled by the Illinois Section, PGA of America unless the event format and/or rules specifically permit otherwise.

3. A player is responsible for all personal charges incurred at the host facility and entry fees paid to enter an event. The Illinois Section, PGA of America will guarantee payment to the host facility for any outstanding debts, but the player subject to those charges is responsible to the Illinois PGA Section for prompt payment, within 30 days of notification. If full payment of the outstanding obligation is not made within this period, eligibility for all Illinois PGA Section events will be suspended until the outstanding debt(s) to the Section have been paid.

ELIGIBILITY:
1. Professionals eligible to compete (providing the applicable rules of the event being played will permit) in Illinois Section sponsored, co-sponsored or sanctioned events, must be a Member, approved Apprentice or approved player in good standing of the Illinois PGA Section. “GPTP Suspended Apprentices” are ineligible to compete in these events.

Apprentices employed within the boundaries of the Illinois Section must complete an annual re-certification program to keep their Section playing privileges. Each year, two points (a combination of service or participation) must be earned by Apprentices who are already registered and for those who register before June 30 of the previous year; One (1) point is required for those Apprentices registering between July 1 and the Fall meeting of the previous year; Apprentices registering after the Fall meeting need not earn any points.

A participation point may ONLY be earned by attending a Spring / Fall Section or Chapter meeting within the current year or the previous season.

Service points are awarded for serving as a clinic instructor at an Illinois PGA, Illinois Junior Golf Association or Illinois PGA Foundation event. Apprentices may also participate in an event/clinic at their facility, provided the PGA member with the most authority at that facility signs off and has sufficient documentation to support the participation.

The Illinois Section Apprentice Re-certification program will conform to the guidelines of the PGA Professional Development Program. The re-certification period will be from the date of the previous year’s Fall Meeting through December 31 of the current calendar year. This program commences January 1, 1997.

2. All tournaments must be approved and scheduled by the Illinois Section Tournament Committee in which Illinois PGA Section Members, approved Apprentices, or approved players are to participate. In being processed by this route, they then become a part of the officially sanctioned Illinois Section schedule of events, and qualify for inclusion on the yearly schedule and may also now carry the important designation of being an Illinois Section sponsored, co-sponsored or sanctioned event.

3. During the play of an Illinois Section sponsored, co-sponsored and sanctioned event, another tournament not scheduled or sanctioned by the Section - that an approved player is eligible for - may not be participated in by Illinois Section Members, approved Apprentices or approved players unless such non-Illinois Section event is being played on a course outside the established boundaries of the Section. Suspension from play in Section events and/or appropriate fines may be levied against violations of this regulatory rule.

NOTE: Special permission or sanction permitting play in such an unscheduled event may be granted only at the discretion of the Section Tournament Committee, and only in cases of extenuating circumstances, should there be a conflict within the boundaries of the Section.

NOTE: PGA of America, USGA, or CDGA Tournament dates are not to be considered unscheduled or unsanctioned in respect to these matters outlined herein above. Any Tournament appearing on the Official IPGA Tournament Calendar is considered a sanctioned event.

4. Any Illinois Section Member, approved Apprentice, or approved player, finding himself/herself in any of the above dilemmas should call this matter to the attention of the Section Tournament Chairperson for advice and guidance to avoid penalties or embarrassment.

5. Class A-3 Members are not be eligible to compete in any Section member, apprentice, or team event unless the entry form of the event(s) specify otherwise.

CONDUCT:
1. The behavior of the Professional contestants at Illinois Section and/or PGA of America tournaments shall be carefully observed by the Tournament Committee. (Refer to Rule 33-7/8)

2. The Tournament Committee will review reports of inappropriate behavior and, if deemed appropriate, will file a grievance with the Section in accordance with the PGA of America Code of Ethics procedures.

3. The following acts specifically will not be tolerated:
A. Malicious damage to a golf course, whether intentional or accidental; or any damage to any other part of the facility’s course or equipment.
B. Personal complaints; criticisms or complaints involving PGA sponsors, host facilities, golf course or players must be made only to the Tournament Committee in private or writing.
C. Dishonored checks and non-payment of outstanding obligations. See “RESPONSIBILITY” above.
D. Any Illinois Section PGA Member or Apprentice, whether a contestant or not, using loud, crude language or who engages in excessive drinking at the site of an Illinois Section tournament (before, during or after the actual competition) shall be subject to review.
E. Purposely throwing or breaking golf clubs, or any acts unbecoming to a professional golfer to include, but not limited to, not using their best efforts while playing golf or disrespect for the game.
F. Conduct unbecoming a professional which shall include not presenting a neat appearance in both clothing and personal grooming.

4. Filing of Grievances: Individuals who wish to have the professional conduct of a professional during an IPGA tournament subject to review by the Tournament Committee are to notify the Committee Chairman in writing within 10 days of the close of the event.

5. Players disqualified from a Tournament MAY be required to pick up immediately and leave the golf course.

DRESS CODE:
The Illinois PGA has adopted the dress code policies of the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour for male and female contestants respectively in all Section sponsored, co-sponsored and sanctioned events. The dress code policy for the Tours at the time of the Illinois Section event shall be in effect. It is the responsibility of the competitors to know the details of and comply with this condition of the competition. A competitor who plays a stroke during a stipulated round in breach of this policy shall be disqualified from the event.

During team events in which an amateur is part of the professional’s “side” or team, the AMATEURS are to comply with the dress code of the host facility. It is the responsibility of the professionals competing in the event to be aware of the facility’s policy and inform their amateur teammate(s).

Caddies are to wear a shirt and shoes at all times and must comply with the host facility’s rules for guest caddies or, if no such policy exists, the caddies must comply with the facility’s dress code for playing guests.

The Committee may, when deemed appropriate, modify this dress code policy for an event, round or part thereof.

SLOW PLAY POLICY:
The first group of an event or tee schedule with three (3) competitors will be expected to play at a pace equivalent to 13 minutes for par 3’s, 14 minutes for par 4’s and fifteen minutes for par 5’s. This translates to an 18-hole pace of four hours and twelve minutes. For each player in excess of three (3) in a group, the time per hole increases by one (1) minute and likewise, one (1) minute less for each player less than three (3). The first group may be placed “On the Clock” and in addition to the provisions of #2 below, will be expected to regain their position relative to the Pace of Play clock or be subjected to a subsequent penalty. Being placed on the clock will result in an automatic demerit.

A group found to be the equivalent of two full shots and a putting green behind the group in front of them AND which is not on the schedule per pace of play chart established by #1 above, shall be approached by a tournament official and informed that their group is out of position and that the group is now “On The Clock”. This will serve as the only warning for each competitor prior to being penalized for subsequent slow play. Following this official warning, all players in a group will be timed. If, on any shot, from the time it is clearly his/her turn to play, a player takes more than forty (40) seconds to play his/ her shot; he/she will be penalized as follows.

• First Offense: one (1) stroke penalty and a $50.00 fine.
• Second Offense: two (2) stroke penalty and a $100.00 fine.
• Third Offense: Disqualification from the tournament.

All players in a group placed on the clock will receive one demerit.

A player may receive two (2) demerits during the course of the tournament season. Upon receiving a third (3rd) demerit, the player will receive a $25.00 fine. This fine shall be paid before playing in his/her next tournament. With each subsequent demerit, the fine will be doubled, with a maximum penalty being $100.00.

NOTE: demerits are cumulative during the season.

Clocks will be used for the 2007 season on holes: #1 tee, #5 green, #9 green, #10 tee, #14 green & #18 green.

Time of starting and ending shall be written down on the scorecards. The ending time will be when the group places the flagstick in the hole at the end of the round.

Starters will be cognizant of the time of starting. Never early, but if late, that fact will be duly noted on the scorecard.

ALTERNATIVE SPIKE POLICY:
It is a requirement of the Illinois PGA that all individuals (and their caddies) participating in any IPGA sanctioned, sponsored or co-sponsored event wear spikeless/non-metal (alternative spike) golf shoes. The use of spikeless/non-metal golf shoes may result in the participant slipping on wet or damp surfaces (inclusive of but not limited to turf areas, wooded areas such as bridges and pathways, etc.) and reduced traction on non-level areas on the course. As evidenced by the participant's entry form into the event, the participant acknowledges that potential dangers relative to the use of spikeless/non-metal golf shoes have been disclosed to the participant and participant agrees to assume the risk of sustaining an injury arising from or attributable to the use of spikeless/non-metal golf shoes at the event site. The participant here releases the IPGA and the Illinois Section's Officers, Directors, Members, employees, successors and assigns (the "Indemnified Parties") from any and all claims for loss and damage, inclusive of, but not limited to personal injury, whether or not caused by participant's use of spikeless/non-metal golf shoes at the event('s) premises in connection with the tournament. The consideration for this release is the permission granted by the Section to the participant to participate in the golf tournament. This release binds not only the participant, but also the participant's spouse, heirs, legal representatives and assigns. If a competitor or his/her caddie is found to be in violation of this policy after making a stroke during his/her stipulated round, the competitor will be disqualified from the event.

WEATHER GUIDELINES:
1. Guidelines for governing the suspension or cancellation of a round in tournament play:
A. SINGLE DAY EVENT: A total of 60% of the field must complete the round.
2. All efforts will be made to complete the round on the scheduled day. The remainder of the field will complete the round the following day if arrangements can be made with the facility. If this is not possible, the event is cancelled.
3. Upon cancellation of an event, the entry fee, MINUS a 20% administrative fee, will be refunded.
4. Any competitor that was not given the opportunity to complete their round in an event which is NOT cancelled, will receive a full refund. The event purse and pay-out will be adjusted to reflect this expense and the reduction in the overall field size.
5. In an event in which Player of the Year points are to be awarded (including Assistant, Senior, or other), 100% of the field must be given an opportunity to complete the round in order for the points to be distributed.
B. MULTI-DAY EVENT: A total of 50% of the field must complete the round for the event to be suspended. Any amount less than 50% of the field will cancel a round. Upon suspension the committee will determine, depending upon conditions, whether they can complete the suspended round the following day and then have ample time to play a subsequent round. If this is not possible, the round is cancelled. Any cancellation of first round or subsequent rounds drops the tournament to either 18 for a 36-hole event or 36 for a 54-hole event.
C. LIGHTNING DELAYS: Field is to be held until 30 minutes from the last bolt to restart.

COURSE PREPARATION AND SET-UP:
The length of the competition course for Illinois Section events is to be established keeping in mind the nature of the event, the skill of the field, the predicted weather conditions, and the condition of the course itself. In general, courses should be set to a length consistent with that which the better player who frequents the facility would typically play.

Women competitors are to play as near as possible to a length 90% that of the men on a hole by hole basis (not total course). In setting the women’s tees, the tee selection on a given hole is to be made first for the men, then the 90% is to be applied to that length. If no such tees exist at that length, the nearest point available for the tee location (forward or backwards) is to be used so long as the nature of the shot to be played is preserved (i.e. forced carry, angle of approach, etc.). In selecting the women’s tee locations, the preservation of the shot-making characteristics are to take precedent over the 90% length provision.

For both men and women, occasions may arise when it will be virtually impossible to reach par 4 greens in two (2) strokes when played into the wind or when fairways are softer than desired. Provided players are not required to carry hazards in such cases, the Illinois Section Tournament Committee believes that this fosters additional shot making ability.

Tee placement on par three’s will be varied to encourage a broad shot selection. Hole placement will be selected according to the type and length of shot that is to be played into the green. The green's turf condition, contour(s) and forecasted weather are to be taken into consideration. There may well be times when a shot cannot be played towards or cannot come to rest near a hole placement due to the player's preceding stroke, lie of the ball, weather, course conditions or contour of the green. Again, this places a desirable premium on accuracy and judgement.

There will be times when unpredicted weather conditions or other factors render a hole’s set-up unfair. Those cases will be isolated but nonetheless unavoidable. Observation and constructive criticism on the preparation and set-up of courses are welcome and should be directed to the Illinois Section Tournament Chairperson and Tournament Director.

OVERSUBCRIBED EVENTS:
Every Illinois PGA event has an established field limit and this limit shall be published with the entry. If an Illinois Section sanctioned event is oversubscribed, per preset field limitations, the following shall be the order that players will be withdrawn in dated order by last received, from the playing roster for the specific event as has been approved by the Executive Committee, Illinois Section, PGA of America:

1. Apprentices
2. Members

WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY:
Unless otherwise stated on the entry form, the following refund policy applies to all Illinois PGA events:

Withdrawal prior to closing date: FULL REFUND, MINUS AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $10.00.

Withdrawal after closing date:

1. Refund request form must be completely filled out and returned to the Section office to be reviewed at the next scheduled Tournament Committee meeting.
2. If a request form is not received at the Illinois PGA Section office within 48 hours of the completion of the event for which the refund is being requested, all rights to a refund will be forfeited.
3. The Tournament Committee will review all refund request forms on a case-by-case basis, and determine whether or not a refund will be granted. All decisions made by the Tournament Committee will be final.
4. Upon the close of the Sections fiscal year, all non-refunded tournament entry revenue shall be carried forward into the next fiscal year and allocated to tournament purse(s) at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Refund request forms and a Tournament Committee meeting schedule will be provided on the tournaments page on www.ipga.com.

Note: A competitor will not be eligible for a refund if: (1) The competitor “no shows” at an event, AND (2) fails to notify the Section Office or the on-site event staff prior to their assigned starting time, when giving such notice would have been practical.

TEE TIME REQUEST POLICY:
Each IPGA Professional will be allowed two (2) starting time requests in a given year. Requests may be made for an a.m. or p.m. start only, not for a specific time, starting tee, or pairing. Requests must be written on the front of the tournament entry form, including the reason for the request, and submitted prior to the event closing date.

ELECTRONIC MEASURING DEVICES:
The Illinois Section will allow the use of devices that measure distance only in all 2006 IPGA sanctioned events (e.g., Stroke Plays, Pro-Specials, etc.) Use of such devices will be prohibited in the Section CPC, Senior CPC and Assistants’ Championship. The use of devices that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player's play, (e.g., wind, temperature, gradient etc.) regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used, is not permitted. (Rule 14-3/0.5). A competitor in breach of this policy shall be disqualified.

PROHIBITION OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES:
In all Illinois Section individual and professional-only team events, contestants and their caddies are prohibited from using electronic devices which can be used for incoming and/or outgoing communications during their stipulated round. Any electronic device which is powered-on is deemed to be in use. A competitor in breach of this policy shall be disqualified.