The Tennessee Golf Association

If an entrant submits an entry application and their residency comes into question, the TGA reserves the right to request that the entrant provides sufficient proof of residency. This may include, but is not limited to, copies of Driver’s License, Voter Registration, and other documentation the TGA deems fit to confirm residency.

Listed below is the official language regarding the residency requirement for TGA championships:

Legal Residency Criteria: An individual is considered to be a resident of Tennessee when said individual, (a) maintains his/her primary residence (domicile) in Tennessee and (b) he/she has a current Tennessee Driver’s License (if applicable) and is registered to vote in Tennessee in local, state and national elections (if applicable).

Junior Criteria: An eligible junior is an 18-year-old or under who has not started college and is a dependent of a parent or legal guardian who meets “Legal Residency Criteria”.  An eligible junior is not required to have a current USGA Handicap Index^® issued by a TGA member club unless otherwise stated on the championship entry form. Note: Juniors must meet all other eligibility requirements listed on the official championship entry form.

Military Criteria:Active duty members of the United States Military are eligible to participate in TGA championships if they are stationed in Tennessee or Fort Campbell, KY as of the last scheduled day of the event and meet (a) in “Legal Residency Criteria”. The driver’s license and voting provisions are waived. Note: Active military must meet all other eligibility requirements listed on the official tournament entry application.

College Student Criteria: A college student is considered a resident of their parent(s)/guardian(s) “Legal Residency Criteria” as stated above unless said student (a) has no dependency on his/her parents and (b) lives full time in Tennessee.

Note: If an entrant submits an entry application and their residency is questioned, the TGA reserves the right to request that the entrant provide sufficient proof of residency. This may include, but is not limited to, copies of Driver’s License, Voter Registration, and other documentation the TGA deems fit to confirm residency. Entrants who the TGA suspects are no longer residents of Tennessee but still have a Tennessee Driver’s License and voter registration may be asked to submit other documentation to confirm their legal residency.

ELECTRONIC MEASURING DEVICES
The Local Rule permitting the use of electronic measuring devices is in effect for all TGA championships and qualifying rounds. This Local Rule MAY be in effect at TGA Player of the Year Point Events, but the decision to allow these devices is left up to the Committee in charge of those competitions. Contestants in Point Events are encouraged to consult the Committee in charge of the event with regard to the use of electronic measuring devices.

REFUND POLICY
No refunds will be issued after the entry deadline except for illness or injury.  To receive a refund due to illness or injury, the request must be made in writing and accompanied by a doctor's statement.  For a refund before the entry deadline, a $15.00 withdrawal fee will be charged to anyone withdrawing from a tournament for any reason except for illness/injury with doctor’s statement.

QUALIFYING SITE CHANGE
The TGA will allow players to switch qualifying rounds, but only before the entry deadline for that respective championship. To switch qualifying rounds before the entry deadline, the player should contact the TGA Office at (615) 790-7600 and make a request.

QUALIFYING SPOTS
The TGA determines the number of qualifying spots at each qualifying location based on the following equation (sample below is for explanation only). Each qualifying site will have the same percentage of qualifiers as all other sites for that respective championship.

Total Number of Players   in Championship		144
Total Number of   Exempt Players		44
Total # of Qualifying    Positions Available		100	(144 total players - 44 exempt players)
Total Number of    Qualifying Entrants		350
Percentage of Qualifiers   from each qualifying site		0.285 or 28.5%	(100 qualifying positions available divided by 350 qualifying entrants)
	Number of Players in Qualifier	Number of Qualifiers  (# of players multiplied by 0.285)	Final Number of Qualifiers
Site #1	78	22.23	22
Site #2	58	16.53	17
Site #3	35	9.98	10
Site #4	70	19.95	20
Site #5	49	13.97	14
Site #6	60	17.10	17
Totals	350		100

ALTERNATE POLICY
There are two ways for an alternate to get into a championship. The first and most common is if a player from the same qualifier withdraws. For a respective qualifying round, the Official in Charge of the qualifier will determine Alternates 1-4 by scorecard playoff using the USGA's recommended method of breaking ties (this is available in the USGA Rules of Golf Booklet). While Alternates 1-4 are determined and will be listed on our website, virtually everyone that attempted to qualify at a respective site is an alternate for that site. To show how this works, let's take the example above using Site #1. Of the 78 players attempting to qualify, 22 of them will qualify and move on to the championship. Four (4) more players will be noted as Alternates 1 through 4. If one of the 22 qualifiers from this site withdraws, the first alternate will be offered that spot into the championship. If two of the 22 qualifiers withdraw, then the second alternate will get in and so on. For example, if five of the 22 players withdraw from this site then the fifth alternate will get in from this site (this will also be determined using the same scorecard playoff as before). The same scenario would also exist if an alternate declines the spot in the championship. For example, if the first alternate at Site #1 is unable to play in the championship, that spot will remain within Site #1 and will be offered to the second alternate and so on. In all cases, if a qualifier withdraws, their spot in the championship will remain within the site in which they qualified. This is due to the fact that each qualifying round has their own respective set of conditions (weather, yardage, difficulty of course, etc.) and it would be impossible to equate one qualifying round to another so since all of the competitors within a qualifier competed against each other under the same conditions, it is only fair that the number of qualifying locations that are determined (using the formula above) remains constant.

The other way that an alternate can get into a championship is if an exempt player withdraws. Using the example above there are 44 exempt players. The TGA will determine an order by which the spots are rotated amongst the qualifying rounds. This rotation is based on the Number of Qualifiers that is determined (column 3 above) and which qualifier would have received another qualifying spot if more players had signed up at that qualfier (i.e. which decimal place is closest to 0.5, but not over). Once this is determined the process reverts back to the lowest decimal number under 1.0. Here is an example of how this process works using the example above. As with the process above, once a qualifying spot is made available to a site it remains within that site (i.e. an alternate from Site #1 declines, the spot remains in Site #1 and does not rotate to Site #6; a second exempt player must withdraw for Site #6 to get an alternate in).

1. Site #1 (22.23)
2. Site #6 (17.10)
3. Site #3 (9.98)
4. Site #5 (13.97)
5. Site #4 (19.95)
6. Site #2 (16.53)

TEE TIME REQUESTS
The TGA will accept requests for certain tee times (i.e. first group, last group, etc.), but will not accept grouping requests if players would like to be paired in the same group. However, if players are traveling together, the TGA will work to pair players within one or two groups of one another. In all instances, the TGA will make every effort to comply with these requests although it does not guarantee that all requests will be honored.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
The safety of players competing in Tennessee Golf Association (TGA) competitions is a top priority for the TGA. In the event of inclement weather, TGA officials on site will make every effort to suspend play and bring players off the golf course prior to any approaching inclement weather. In an effort to detect potential inclement weather and lightning, TGA officials will, first and foremost, use any weather or lightning detection systems that are owned and operated by the host facility. If this is not available, officials will use any weather-related websites or outside data that is readily available to them. The TGA also subscribes to the DTN WeatherSentry Service and this weather detection service will be used at all championship.

CART POLICY
Golf carts are reserved for contestants, TGA officials, host club staff and host club officers. Spectator carts at the championship proper and all qualifying rounds (if applicable) are STRICTLY PROHIBITED.Only contestants are allowed to drive or ride in golf carts (reserved for contestants) during the stipulated round. Caddies must walk at all times. However, the player’s bag may be on the golf cart or carried by the caddie. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION: First Offense – Warning (in match and stroke play), Second Offense – In match play, at the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred. Maximum deduction per round: Two holes; or in stroke play, two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes. Match or stroke play – In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole. In all cases, the use of any unauthorized transportation must be discontinued immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.

PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION; BROADCASTING

he TGA may arrange for (i) promotion of the Championship, for radio, internet and television broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship or excerpts thereof in any and all media throughout the world, whether now known or hereafter developed, and (ii) the design, manufacture and sale of merchandise which commemorates or memorializes the Championship throughout the world. By this application, the player consents to the use by the TGA, or persons authorized by the TGA, of his name, likeness, voice and references to him and photographs and other images of him and his play connected with his appearance in the Championship, or any portion(s) thereof, in connection with such media promotion, broadcasting, and other exhibition and publication of the Championship and design, manufacture and sale of commemorative merchandise. The TGA may utilize the rights granted it hereunder in connection with the promotion and/or commemoration of the 2010 Championship as well as future Championships, other TGA Championships and the TGA.