NEW HAMPSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION
109th STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
JULY 9 – 14, 2012
CONCORD COUNTRY CLUB
CONCORD, NH
36-HOLE QUALIFYING FOLLOWED BY MATCH PLAY
Pre-qualifying Rounds
Stroke Play 18-holes
May 24 – Lake Sunapee Country Club (up to 72 players)
May 29 – Souhegan Woods Golf Club (up to 72 players)
June 5 – Nippo Lake Golf Club (up to 72 players)
June 13 – Stonebridge Country Club (up to 72 players)
June 19 – Canterbury Woods Country Club (up to 72 players)
June 25 – Campbell’s Scottish Highlands (Open to Junior Championship Players Only)
ENTRIES CLOSE MAY 16, 2012
OR
AFTER THE FIRST 360 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED
- Replacements will be taken at Prequalifying sites; see application for details
- Note policy changes in application
CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION
STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
ELIGIBILITY: Entries are open to males who are members in good standing of member NHGA Clubs who are legal residents of New Hampshire. An eligible non-resident can play in NHGA Championships if he has been a member in good standing of an NHGA member club for the last three complete golf seasons and has played a minimum of 25 rounds of golf at this club in each of the three seasons. A letter signed by the President of the member club must accompany his first entry, stating that the player complies with NHGA eligibility requirements. Entries are subject to approval or rejection at any time by the NHGA. Entrants must have an up-to-date NHGA/USGA GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 9.0 – GHIN index maximum does not apply to past champions or exempt players. Deadline for entries is May 16th postmark date or in-hand delivery at the office or when field of 360 is reached – post entries will be accepted if space is available.
PLAYERS EXEMPT FROM PRE-QUALIFYING FOR 2012:
Dan Arvanitis, Chelso Barrett, Ryan Brogan, Josh Chamberlain, Jim Cilley, MacKenzie Denver, Codi Daudelin, Chris Durocher, Dylan Evans, Ryan Friel, John Gimas, Pat Gocklin, Nick Kalil, Chris Kelloway, Josh Kibbe, Ryan Kohler, Bob Landry, Steve Lane, DJ Lantz, David Larrivee, Joe Leavitt, Nick MacDonald, Mike Mahan, Will McLaughlin, Bob Mielcarz, Jake Nutter, James Pleat, Phil Pleat, Damon Salo, Jaron Slattery, Jamin Somero, Craig Steckowych, Tim Strout, Jeff Sullivan, and Pat Taber.
SCHEDULE: The Championship will be held at Concord Country Club on July 9-14, 2012.
FORMAT: Competition will be held at several pre-qualifying sites and will be 18 holes at Stroke Play. The dates and locations of the pre-qualifiers are listed above. Non-exempt players must choose in priority order the DATE they wish to qualify and these will be filled on a first come first served basis, while maintaining consistent strength of field for each pre-qualifier. Transfer from one site to another after entries close will be allowed solely at the discretion of the tournament director. The number of qualifying places from each location will be determined by the Committee, with the same percentage being taken from each pre-qualifier. The low qualifiers and ties from all the sites along with the players exempt from pre-qualifying, will be eligible for the 36-hole qualifying at Concord Country Club on July 9th and 10th. If a playoff is needed for match play positions, it will begin Tuesday, July 10th immediately following qualifying rounds. Sixty-four players will begin match play on Wednesday, July 11th. If necessary, any matches that are all square after 18 holes will be decided by a hole-by-hole playoff on a hole or holes to be determined by the Committee.
ENTRY PROCEDURES: Entrants shall apply online or by printing out an entry form and mailing it to the NHGA office with the entry fee. Entry fee of $110 shall be paid by every player. Entry forms received after the first 360 applicants or after May 16th, whichever comes first, will be held by the NHGA office in the event of withdrawals (exempt players must enter by the date of the final pre-qualifier). Any late entry forms will be entered into the prequalifying field on a first-come first-served basis or the player may request to have the check returned. Replacements by otherwise eligible players will be taken at pre-qualifying sites on a first-come first-served basis. Entries by telephone, telegraph, e-mail, or fax will not be accepted.
ALTERNATES: Alternates will be accepted for the State Amateur Championship for players who withdraw after the starting times have been posted, and for players who do not show at the championship site, as determined by the NHGA Tournament Committee. Alternates will be determined by formula and an alternate list will be posted on the NHGA website following the final pre-qualifier.
REFUND POLICY: Entry fee, less $10.00 service charge, will be refunded regardless of reason if the NHGA is notified by phone (603-569-3471) or email prior to close of entries. After the close of entries, fees will only be refunded if a replacement is available. In the event of injury or illness after the close of entries, refund will require written confirmation and will still be subject to a $10.00 service charge. No refunds will be made after the tournament date for any reason.
RULES OF COMPETITION: Play will be governed by the 2012-2015 Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA, by the NHGA Rules of Play (Hard Card – available at the starting tee), and by any Rules Addendums handed out at the respective site. Questions will be settled by the tournament director in charge of the competition as assigned by the NHGA and the tournament director’s decision shall be final. Consuming alcoholic beverages during play of the stipulated round will result in disqualification. Possession of alcoholic beverages, or use of cell phones and/or pagers by player or caddy during play of the stipulated round, may result in disqualification. The use of Distance Measuring Devices is allowed, and shall include cell phones when used exclusively for this purpose. Possession of any device capable of providing any information other than course layouts and straight distance (i.e. elevation corrections, club selections, etc.) will result in disqualification. Competition shall be deemed to have closed when the results have been officially announced.
PLAYER’S ACTIONS: Any player whose actions during any NHGA tournament are deemed by the Committee to be detrimental to the NHGA, to the tournament, or to the Host Club will be subject to penalties as determined by the Committee, such possible penalties to include removal from the tournament, and suspension from future NHGA events for a period of time to be determined by the NHGA Board of Directors.
CONFLICT WITH USGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Any player who has qualified for and committed to play in any USGA Championship beginning the Monday following the NHGA State Amateur Championship will be removed from the State Amateur field and will be sent a full refund of their entry fee, subject to the discretion of the NHGA staff. NOTE: This provision has been waived for players qualified to play in the 2012 US Junior Amateur Championship at Golf Club of New England.
STARTING TIMES: The player shall start at the time laid down by the Committee. Rule 6-3 will be in effect with regards to starting times. Starting times will be posted on our web-site at www.nhgolf.com. Players are responsible for knowing their starting times and being present and ready to play at the time laid down by the Committee.
NO SHOW POLICY: Any player who no shows for prequalifying rounds or stroke play rounds without notifying the NHGA prior to their starting time or who walks off the course during play other than for injury or emergency reasons will be subject to the following penalty: THE NHGA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD THE ENTRY FORM FOR ANY OR ALL NHGA EVENTS FOR ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE INFRACTION. Any player who qualifies for match play and who no shows for any scheduled match without notifying the NHGA prior to their starting time will be subject to the same penalty.
SCORE POLICY: Any player who shoots a score of 18 strokes or higher than the course rating during on-site qualifying rounds may be denied entry into the tournament the following year. During prequalifying, any player who shoots 10 or more strokes higher than the score needed to prequalify may be denied entry into the tournament the following year.
CADDIES AND CART TRANSPORTATION: Players may use caddies or cart transportation during play. Those players who wish to use carts are responsible for making their own arrangements with the host club. Golf carts are to be used by players and caddies only; any other person riding in the cart may be asked to leave the golf course at once. Spectator carts may be allowed for the Tuesday “march’, and/or Friday and Saturday matches, at the discretion of the Committee and pro shop. Spectator carts will also be authorized for those persons with disabilities, provided some written proof of disability is provided.
DRESS CODE & GOLF SHOE POLICY: Proper dress code of host club for all stages of the competition will be observed. Host clubs’ policies may prohibit the use of certain golf shoe spikes. In such cases, it will be a condition of the competition that such spikes will not be permitted for use at such clubs. The penalty for breach of this condition will be disqualification. The NHGA assumes no liability to players for this condition of the competition. By submitting this entry form and subsequently playing in the competition, players agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless NHGA and its respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, and losses, including without limitations reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and expenses of litigation, arising out of any negligent act or mission of the indemnifying party in connection with the tournament. Pictures of players may be displayed on the NHGA web-site; those players not wishing their picture to be used should notify the NHGA office at the time of application.
PRIZES: Champion: The winner will receive the championship trophy and bowl and merchandise credit. The Medalist(s) will receive a trophy and merchandise credit. Low Junior qualifier will receive the Ty Abate award. Merchandise credit will be awarded to match players reaching the Round of 16 matches.
THE COMMITTEE: The Committee in charge of the tournament will consist of the officials of the New Hampshire Golf Association in attendance.