Tennessee Section of the PGA of America

This manual is designed to publish all tournament policies and procedures set by the Membership of the Tennessee Section PGA. Understanding these guidelines will make your tournament participation more enjoyable. Please contact the section office for further clarification of these policies or if you have any questions.

The Tennessee Section of the PGA has over 500 members and apprentices who are eligible to compete in Section Events. Participation in these events is a benefit of membership that should not be taken lightly. In any event, you should always remember that you are a guest of the host facility and should act in a professional and gracious manner. When the event allows golf professionals to bring amateurs or additional team members, the professional is responsible for their guests actions and can be held accountable. All members of the Tennessee Section should pride themselves on how they conduct themselves on and off the golf course.

- TPGA Section tournaments will require that participants be Members or Apprentices of the Tennessee Section and in good standing. A grace period of 180 days will be allowed for unemployed members. Each tournament will have specific eligibility requirements that will be posted on the entry form.  All players must meet the eligibility requirements by the entry deadline. 

- Entries for all events will be accepted on-line through the www.golfhousetennessee.com website.  Players are encouraged to use the online feature when registering for events. Entries will be subject to the same entry requirements as stated in this manual.

- Deadlines for tournaments will be published on every entry form. Typically, they fall the Tuesday or Wednesday prior to the event at 5:00 PM (CST). Tournaments may be limited by number of entries or on specific dates. NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR ANY REASON. Staff will not accept entries or checks in the field for delivery to Golf House Tennessee. It is solely the players responsibility to ensure that the entry is received prior to the entry deadline.

- An entry is “received” when the completed entry form and payment is “in hand” at the tournament office prior to the deadline or an online confirmation number is received. If the deadline is 5:00 PM (CST), an entry received at 5:01 PM (CST) is late and will not be accepted. No exceptions will be made.

- TPGA is not responsible for the U.S. Postal system or private mail carriers.

- Credit Card Payments - Credit cards are an additional option for method of payment for TPGA Professionals. If credit cards are declined, the card holder will be informed as soon as possible and his/her entry will not be recognized as accepted until proper payment is received.

- Faxed Entries -  In selected cases where a participate is clearly unable to utilize the on-line entry process a faxed entry may be accepted using the TPGA general entry form.  A valid credit card number and expiration date must accompany all faxed entries. The TPGA is not responsible for illegible or incomplete fax transmissions. Fax confirmation reports do not indicate confirmation of entries received. Unless the player receives confirmation or contacts the Tournament Department directly, consider the faxed entry not received. It is the players responsibility to confirm receipt of all tournament entries.

- If a participant needs to withdraw from an event, he or she must contact the TPGA Tournament Department as soon as practicable. During an event, if a player wishes to withdraw he/she must notify a member of the Rules Committee or an official representative to avoid any fines or suspensions.

- Prior to Deadline - Participants may withdraw from an event prior to an entry deadline. There will be a $15 administrative fee applied to all refunds.

- The behavior of Professionals in TPGA Tournaments shall be held to the highest standard. Any conduct which shows disrespect to the Tournament Committee/Director, the PGA Code of Ethics, or traditional etiquette of golf shall constitute grounds for disqualification from an event and/or disciplinary action by the TPGA Board of Directors.

Unless otherwise stated, in all Section tournaments a tie for first place in the Professional Division shall be resolved by a sudden death playoff on the same day as the Tournament’s final round, starting at the hole designated on the local rules sheet or otherwise determined by the Official in Charge. All other ties will be grouped and prizes equally divided.

- In Tennessee Section, Sanctioned and Chapter events, including official practice rounds, Chapter Pro-Ams, Chapter play days, and P.A.T.’s, Tennessee PGA professionals will observe the PGA of America’s Universal Dress Code. Male participants must wear slacks and participants shall not wear shorts or denim anywhere on club property. Female PGA participants may wear culottes, walking shorts, or golf shorts which constitute acceptable clothing worn by women in connection with participation in professional tournaments (denim is not considered acceptable clothing for women). All PGA participants will be required to present a neat appearance, appropriate to professional golf tournaments in both clothing and grooming.

- Motorized Transportation - Players will be permitted to use motorized golf carts in Section Events. (Maximum of two carts per group)

- Walking Policy - Players may walk in Section Events. Walking participants will be required to maintain the proper pace of play which has been established for the competition. The use of motorized pull carts or traditional pull carts are not permitted in Section Events.

- Caddies - Participants may solicit the use of caddies in Section Events. All Tournament Policies and Procedures will apply to caddies (except TPGA Dress Code).

Spectator Carts will not be permitted in any TPGA Section Event, unless authorized by the TPGA Tournament Committee / Director prior to the event. For all other events, Spectator cart policies will be determined in conjunction with the Host Club/Course’s policies.

- Purses for TPGA events will be established and posted prior to the final round of any event. Typically, 50% of the field will receive purse prizes. Under no circumstances will more than 50% of the field be paid. First place money has been recommended to be 18% of the total purse.

- Senior Age Divisions - In stroke play events, players may participate in separate senior divisions. It is recommended the age breakdowns should be divided equally. All senior players will automatically be in both the regular tournament and senior division, unless separate senior tees are used, in which case seniors must declare their division prior to play.

- “B Division” - A “B Division” may be established in selected two-day team events. In case of a rainout of either day the “B Division” will be eliminated unless the entire “B Division” has completed play. Normally the “B Division” will constitute the bottom 25% of the field.

- Amateur Payout - As per the USGA Rules of Golf regarding Amateur Status, an amateur may receive gift certificates totaling not more than $750 in each TPGA event.

The consumption of alcohol during the stipulated round of TPGA point events is not permitted.

1st Offense - Warning
2nd Offense - Written documentation from board to individual
3rd Offense - Fine levied by TPGA Board

- In selected events, Senior Tees will be used for professionals over the age of 50. Although competing from separate tees, senior professionals will compete for the same purse. These yardages will be approximately 3-5% shorter than regular course length. Events where senior tees will be used include (but not limited to):

Pro-Official
Pro-Assistant
Pro-Pro
Pro-Junior
Pro-Superintendent
Senior Section Championship

- Senior Section Championship will have a Super Senior Tee for Ages 65 & above and will play for the same purse. Senior CPC qualifiers MUST play from the back tees.

- Rule 6-7 of the Rules of Golf states: “The player shall play without undue delay.”

- Out of Position - The first group will be considered out of position if, at any point in the round, the group is taking more than the allotted time to play any hole. Any following group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and (b) reaches the tee of a par-3 hole and the hole is clear, fails to clear the tee of a par-4 hole before the preceding group clears the putting green, or arrives at the teeing ground of a par-5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green. NOTE: Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be out of position.

- Monitoring - Any group not in position will be alerted of the fact and requested to play at a faster pace. Any such group will be monitored, i.e. the time that each player takes to play a stroke will be recorded. Any player in a group out of position who takes more than 40 seconds (50 seconds in the case of a player who is first to play (1) and approach shot, (2) on or near the putting green or (3) from the teeing ground of a par-3 hole) to play a stroke he/she will be advised of the fact and told that, if he/she exceeds the time limit on one more shot (total of 2), he/she will automatically incur a penalty of one stroke under Rule 6-7 (optional condition). Should the player exceed the time limit on a subsequent stroke (total of 3), the penalty is two stokes. Should the player again exceed the time limit on a subsequent stroke (total of 4), the penalty is disqualification.

First Offense - Warning
Second Offense - One (1) Stroke
Third Offense - Two (2) Strokes
Fourth Offense - Disqualification

- Timing - The timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he has had a reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play, and he could play without interference by another person or ball.

Except on the putting green, if a player has reached his ball, it is his turn to play and there are no distractions, he will be allowed a reasonable amount of time to select his club after which the timing will begin. Thus, any time spent in walking backward or forward for measuring purposes will count as part of the time for the next stroke.

On the putting green, the timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift and clean his ball, repair his ball mark, and remove loose impediments on the line of putt.

Will be presented to the active Tennessee Section member or Life Member who is not classified as an A-3 and has not entered more than 12 PGA Tour events. The award will be based on points earned in designated events announced at the start of the season.Note: Points for POY, Senior POY, and Challenge Cup Matches will be compiled from designated events for a set period of time. 

Regular Player of the Year

Level I

Points awarded to top 20 finishers.

Breakdown:  300, 240, 216, 204, 192, 180, 168, 156, 144, 132, 120, 108, 96, 84, 72, 60, 48, 36, 24, 12

1.         TPGA Section Championship

2.         TPGA Professional Championship

3.         TGA State Open Championship

Level II

Points awarded to top 20 finishers.

Breakdown:  150, 120, 108, 102, 96, 90, 84, 78, 72, 66, 60, 54, 48, 42, 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 6

1.         Ira Templeton Chattanooga Open

2.         Coca-Cola Classic

3.         City of Crossville Team Championship honoring Bobby Nichols

4.         Harold Eller Pro-Am

5.         Millstone Pro-Am 

Level III

Points awarded to top 20 finishers.

Breakdown:  50, 40, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2

1.         Bobby Nichols Ironwood Classic

2.         Chapter Championships from previous year (NEW starting in 2009)

Bonus Point Category 

TPGA Professionals competing in the following events will receive 25 POY points. Plus, 50 POY points for making the 36 hole cut and an additional 100 POY points for a win.

1.         Knoxville Open (Nationwide TOUR)

2.         Chattanooga Classic (Nationwide TOUR)

3.         St. Jude Championship (PGA TOUR)

4.         US Open Championship

5.         US Women’s Open

6.         PGA Championship

7.         British PGA Championship

8.         *Professional National Championship (NEW)

9.         **TGA State Open (NEW)

            **bonus points only awarded for making the starting field.

* To be eligible for the PNC bonus points, professionals must have qualified through the Tennessee Sectional Qualifier.

Senior Player of the Year (Age 50 and over)

Level I

Points awarded to top 10 finishers.

Breakdown:  50, 36, 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8, 4

1.         TPGA Senior Section Championship

2.         Baneberry Senior Open

Level II

Points awarded to top 10 finishers.

Breakdown:  25, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2

1.         Ira Templeton Chattanooga Open

2.         Coca-Cola Classic

3.         City of Crossville Team Championship honoring Bobby Nichols

4.         Bobby Nichols Ironwood Classic

Bonus Point Category

TPGA Professionals competing in the following events will receive 20 POY points. Plus, 25 POY points for making the 36 hole cut and an additional 25 POY points for a win.

1.         US Senior Open Championship

2.         PGA Seniors’ Championship

3.         British Senior Open

4.         TPGA Section Championship (50 pts for win only)

5.         *Senior PGA Professional National Championship (‘08)

6.         **TGA State Open Championship

            **5pts for competing, 10 pts for 36-hole cut, 35pts for win. 

* To be eligible for the Senior PNC bonus points, professionals must have qualified through the Tennessee Sectional Qualifier.

Assistant Player of the Year (A-8’s and all Apprentices)

Level I

Points awarded to top 10 finishers.
Breakdown:  30, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2

1.         TGA State Open Championship

2.         TPGA Callaway Golf Assistants Championship
3.         Assistant's Match Play Championship (1-8 places determined)

Level II

Points awarded to top 10 finishers.

Breakdown:  15, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

1.         Ira Templeton Chattanooga Open

2.         Coca-Cola Classic

3.         City of Crossville Team Championship honoring Bobby Nichols

4.         Ironwood Classic

5.         Harold Eller Pro-Am

6.         Millstone Pro-Am

7.         Previous Year’s Chapter Championships (NEW starting in 2009)

Bonus Point Category

TPGA Professionals competing in the following events will receive 10 POY points. Plus, 15 POY points for making the 36 hole cut and an additional 30 POY points for a win.

 
1.         *TaylorMade-adidas Assistants National Championship (‘08)
2.         **TGA State Open

*To be eligible for the Assistant’s National Championship bonus points, professionals must have qualified through the Tennessee Sectional Qualifier.