Date:               July 2, 2018

To:                   U.S. Amateur Qualifying Contestants

From:              Brent Whittaker, OGA Director of Tournament Operations

Subject:          United States Amateur Qualifying

 

 

2018 U.S. Amateur Qualifying – Eagle Point, Ore

Eagle Point Golf Club

Eagle Point, Ore

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

 

Welcome to the 2018 United States Amateur Qualifying!

 

Enclosed you will find your pairing and starting times for the 36-hole competition on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

 

There are 66 amateur players at the Eagle Point, Ore site competing for Two (2) spot into the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif., August 13 – 19, 2018. However, in the event of a tie for the final qualifying spot or any alternate positions, a sudden-death playoff will commence immediately following the return and verification of all scores.

 

Additional player information:

Round one starting times: Click Here             Round two starting times: Click Here

 

Qualifying Yardages: Click Here                        OGA Pace of Play Guidelines: Click Here

 

USGA Local Rules and Conditions of Competition: Click Here

Hydration Awareness: Click here

 

Practice Round: Players may call the Eagle Point golf shop at 541- 826-8225 to make arrangements. Practice rounds can be made on a space available basis beginning Monday, July 9 and after 12 pm on Saturday and Sunday July 14th and 15th. Contestants are eligible for one complimentary practice round.  Practice rounds are for contestants only and will not be extended to guests, caddies, or family members. 

 

Golf Clubs: In Sectional Qualifying as well as in the Championship proper, the player’s clubs must conform to the groove and punch mark specifications in the Rules of Golf effective from January 1, 2010. The Condition of Competition is available for review on the entry application.

 

The USGA and The R&A have created a reference resource called the Informational Club Database to assist golfers in determining whether their irons, wedges, hybrids and fairway woods comply with the Rules of Golf effective from January 1, 2010 and are permissible for play under the groove condition of competition, which is in effect for all USGA Amateur Championships. For information about and to access the database, please use the following link: http://www.usga.org/InfoClubsDB/intro.html. Additionally, for other information regarding the groove condition, please use the following link: http://www.usga.org/grooves/. Finally, for information regarding the conformance status of clubs not listed or for any other questions regarding the condition, please contact the USGA Research and Test Center at (908) 234-2300.

Player Club Testing is available for all USGA Amateur Championships. Please use the following link: http://www.usga.org/equipment/testing/InviteForOpenClubTesting/ for more information.

 

The USGA strongly suggests that all players verify the conformance of their clubs well in advance of their scheduled qualifying competition. It is the player’s responsibility, not the USGA’s responsibility to ensure that his clubs conform. Waiting until the day of the competition is the fault of the player. The Committee is under no obligation to test the club the competitor may play. However, if it is later determined that the club is non-conforming, including after the competition has closed, the player will be disqualified.

Infographic regarding Clubs: Click Here

 

Distance Measuring Devices:  In Sectional Qualifying and in the Championship Proper, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, windspeed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3. 

For more information: Click Here

 

Golf Balls: Only brands of golf balls on the USGA’s latest list of conforming balls shall be used.  The “One Ball Rule” shall be in effect.

 

OGA Pace of Play Guidelines: The OGA Checkpoint pace of play policy will be in effect for this Qualifier and strictly enforced.  Please become familiar with the attached guidelines and contact the OGA office with any questions regarding pace of play prior to your qualifying round. 

 

Practice Range: The driving range will be open at 6:30 a.m. on July 17th.  Range balls will be located on the driving range for contestants.

 

Caddies: Contestants are on their own to make arrangements for a caddie.  Please note that players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round.  The optional condition prescribed in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf shall be in effect. Caddies will not be allowed to use a golf cart.

 

Dress Code: Proper attire must be worn at all times.  Proper attire does not include spandex body wear, cutoffs, running shorts, short-shorts, tank tops, tee shirts, or denim of any kind.  Neat and clean pants, slacks, cords, or appropriately hemmed, tailored shorts are acceptable, as are sweaters and golf shirts with a collar.  Shoes must be worn at all times.

 

Spikeless Shoes: It is a condition of this competition that metal or traditionally designed spikes are prohibited.  This includes alternative spikeless products, which are partially comprised of metal, when such metal comes in contact with the turf.  The penalty for breach of this condition is disqualification.

 

Performance in Qualifying: If a player fails to return a score within 10 strokes of the Eagle Point Golf Club rating of 74.2, an entry filed by him for a future USGA Championship may be declined, unless the player can document that he is capable of competing at the national championship level.  Also any player who “No Cards It” due to poor play will be held to Rule 6-6b (Signing & Returning Card) and will receive a stroke letter from Golf House.  If a player withdraws for the same reason, he is also subject to the same letter.

 

Best of luck to each of you.

 

Brent Whittaker

OGA Director of Tournament Operations