Tournaments > Rules & Policies
Notice To All Competitors In PWGA Tournaments
Dress And Conduct Code For PWGA Tournaments
General PWGA Tournaments Rules
PWGA Pace Of Play Policy
NOTICE TO ALL COMPETITORS IN PWGA TOURNAMENTS
THE RULES OF THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GOVERN PLAY
Unless otherwise specified, the penalty for the breach of a rule or condition is two strokes in Stroke Play.
1. Golf Balls:
Only brands of golf balls on the USGA’s latest list of Conforming Golf Balls may be used. Penalty : Disqualification.
2. Practice:
Before a round or play-off on any day of a stroke-play competition, a competitor must not practice on the competition course or test the surface of any putting green on the course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface. When two or more rounds of a stroke-play competition are to be played over consecutive days, a competitor must not practice between those rounds on any competition course remaining to be played, or test the surface of any putting green on such course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface. Penalty : Disqualification. Between the play of two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played. Penalty: 2 strokes, applied to the next hole.
3. Undue Delay:
A player must not unduly delay play (Rule 67). Penalty : 2 Strokes
4. Doubt as to Procedure:
In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful or the correct procedure during the play of a hole she may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls. After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking further action, the competitor must announce to her marker or a fellow competitor that she intends to play two balls and which ball she wishes to count if the Rules permit. If she fails to do so, the provisions of Rule 3-3b (ii) apply. The competitor must report the facts of the situation to the Committee before returning her score card. If she fails to do so, she is disqualified. Do not sign scorecard until issue is resolved by the Rules committee.
5. Out of Bounds:
Where white stakes or fence posts are used, the nearest inside points at ground level establishes the OB line. When white lines are used, the line itself is OB. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.
6. Ground under Repair:
Ground enclosed by white lines is ground under repair. The lines are in such ground. Exception: White lined areas tying into artificially surfaced road or paths are declared to have the same status as the roads or paths, i.e., they are obstructions, not ground under repair. Penalty : Relief without penalty is provided under Rule 242b (i).
7. Water Hazards/Lateral Water Hazards:
Water Hazards are defined by yellow stakes and/or lines. Lateral Water Hazards are defined by red stakes and/or lines. Stakes and lines are in the hazards. Where both stakes and lines are present, lines define the hazard.
8. Permanent Elevated Power Lines and Cables:
If a ball strikes a permanent elevated power line, the player must disregard that stroke, abandon the ball and play another ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule 20-5
9. Embedded Ball Relief:
Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.
10. Lightning Suspension of Play:
The signal for suspending play due to a dangerous situation will be a prolonged note of the siren. However, a player may discontinue play if she believes there is a danger of lightning, even though the Committee may not have specifically authorized it by signal.
11. Close of Competition:
A competition is closed when the result has been officially announced.
12. Time of Starting (Note to Rule 6-3a):
If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole to be played in match play or two strokes in stroke play. Penalty (for lateness beyond five minutes): Disqualification.
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DRESS AND CONDUCT CODE FOR PWGA TOURNAMENTS
DRESS:
Players must be properly attired both on the golf course and the premises of the club. Players must adhere to the dress code of the particular golf course that is the tournament site. A player violating this dress code will not be permitted to start the competition. A violation of the dress code by the player during the stipulated round must be rectified without undue delay or the player will not be allowed to continue play.
CONDUCT:
A. Participants shall maintain proper course etiquette, and play the game in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
B. Foul language or inappropriate behavior is cause for disqualification.
C. Any violation or dispute shall be brought to the attention of the tournament committee before signing the score card.
D. The tournament committee has the authority to disqualify a player or players for the round played.
E. The executive board has the authority to suspend a player or players from PWGA Tournaments for violation of the conduct code.
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GENERAL PWGA TOURNAMENT RULES
USGA Rules shall govern all play. Local Rules may be adopted by PWGA; however, no local rule may supercede a USGA rule of golf. Obtain tournament rules before playing.
No conceded putts allowed.
No automatic two putt greens.
The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines established by the committee.
Upon completion of game (including a no‑return card) promptly return accurate and attested score cards to tournament committee.
At the conclusion of the tournament, all participant scores shall be posted as a “T” score by the Tournament Committee.
No caddies or spectators will be allowed at any Playday or Major Tournament unless specifically authorized in the flyer for that tournament.
To be eligible to participate in major tournaments, a member must have a handicap index of 40.4 or less computed from 20 scores. She must be a member of PWGA in good standing as of the eligibility date indicated on the Tournament Flyer. A maximum of 144 players with the lowest index will be accepted in the Championship Tournament.
Entry blanks for major tournaments must be filled out and returned with entry fee before closing date. Entries postmarked before opening date will be returned. No more than two entries per envelope will be accepted. See back of Handbook for entry forms. The flyer will be at your club approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the tournament. Fill out entry form; send on correct date to designated address on form. Mailing information can also be found on our web site closer to opening date and on the announcement flyer.
STROKE PLAY:
When a player is doubtful of her rights, she may announce her intent to play a second ball. She must declare which ball is to count for score, hole out both balls and report to the Rules Committee.
MATCH PLAY:
In Match Play, if a dispute or doubt arises between the players on any point, in order that a claim may be considered, it must be made before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground.
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Rule 6-7 The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play. The responsibility for maintaining the pace of play belongs with the player. If you keep up with the group in front of you, there will be no pace of play issue. If you fall behind, you are expected to play efficient golf and get back into position. If you have a lost ball or ruling which gets you out of position, it is your responsibility to get back into position as soon as possible.
OUT OF POSITION:
A group is out of position if: when approaching the tee on a par 3 hole, there is an empty hole ahead of you; when approaching the tee on a par 4 hole, the hole is empty or the preceding group is leaving the green; when approaching the tee on a par 5 hole, the preceding group is on the green.
When a group is out of position, they will be given a verbal warning that they are out of position and expected to get back into position within the next two holes. If a group doesn’t get back into position, individual players may be monitored or timed for failing to comply with the pace of play policy. Each player is expected to play any stroke within 40 seconds during timing of the player’s stroke. Timing will begin when a player has had a reasonable opportunity to reach her ball, it is her turn to play and she can play without interference or distraction. Time spent walking backward or forward to determine yardages, taking practice swings or changing clubs once one has been selected for play, will count as part of the time taken for the stroke.
On the putting green, timing begins after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and place or re-place her ball, repair her ball mark and other ball marks on her line of putt, and remove loose impediments on her line of putt. Time spent taking practice strokes and looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.
PACE OF PLAY PENALTIES:
Any player in a group being timed, who exceeds the applicable time to play a stroke, will be advised as soon as possible. The following are the penalties, in sequence, for any player being timed who takes more than 40 seconds to play a stroke when it is her turn to play.
1st timing of more than 40 seconds—warning
2nd timing of more than 40 seconds—one stroke
3rd timing of more than 40 seconds—two strokes
In an extreme case of abuse of the pace of play policy, a player may be disqualified if the committee deems such action warranted.
A player who disputes the penalties assess by a rules official, may take the issue to the rules committee upon completion of the round and before signing and returning her scorecard.
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