ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
ELIGIBILITY:
Applications are open to teams of amateurs who possess a combined active USGA/GHIN Handicap Index of 20.0 or less from a TGA member club or course. Senior Amateur players must be at least 55 years of age on or before July 11, 2023. Entrants in the Super Senior division must be at least 65 years of age on or before July 11, 2023. Amateurs must meet the USGA definition of an amateur golfer. Persons applying for reinstatement to amateur status are not eligible.
All applications will be reviewed by the TGA to verify that each entrant has an official USGA Handicap Index from a TGA member club or course.
ENTRY FEE:
$450 per team
Entry fees include cart and practice range fees for the Championship. Practice rounds are excluded.
FIELD:
36 Senior Teams & 18 Super Senior Teams
ENTRY DEADLINE:
All players must file an application by the entry deadline - Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 5:00 p.m. CDT to be eligible to compete in the Championship. THE TGA WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE ENTRY APPLICATIONS.
PRIORITY LIST FOR ACCEPTANCE OF ENTRY APPLICATIONS
Any player within the following categories or on the waitlist must have registered prior to the entry deadline of Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The following priority list will be used to determine entry into the championship field:
- All past TGA Four-Ball, Senior Four-Ball, and Super Senior Four-Ball Champions
- Any team that made it to the match-play portion of the previous year's TGA Four-Ball, Senior Four-Ball, or Super Senior Four-Ball Championship.
- Date of received entry into the championship.
Note: Priority status gained in either Senior or Super Senior Championship will only apply to that championship. (Ex. Past Champion in Senior Four-Ball will not provide priority in the Super Senior Four-Ball.
The TGA will reserve 36 teams for those competing in the Senior Divison and 18 teams for those competing in the Super Senior Division. Entry Applications for the Senior Amateur and Super Senior Amateur will be accepted based on the priority list. If the Senior Division has reached 36 teams and there are openings available within the Super Senior Division, those openings may be filled to accommodate the Senior Division (vice versa). Entrants will be notified immediately after the entry deadline as of their status in the field.
SCHEDULE:
Monday, July 10: Practice Round
Tuesday, July 11: First Round, 18 holes
Wednesday, July 12: Second Round, 18 holes (Teams will be repaired by score; super senior division will start first)
(A cut of the low 8 teams in the Senior Division and low 4 teams in the Super Senior Division will be made following the second round of stroke play to determine teams advancing to match play. If a tie for the final match-play positions occurs, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the round. Ties during the stroke-play portion of the competition will be decided by scorecard matching (last 9, last 6, last 3, #18 etc.) to determine ties for seeding. If necessary, the results of a playoff for the final bracket position(s) will be reflected in determining seeding.)
Thursday, July 13: Senior Match Play Round of 8 (a.m.), Senior Match Play Semi-Finals (p.m.) & Super Senior Match Play Semi-Finals (a.m.)
Friday, July 14: Senior Match Play Finals (a.m.) & Super Senior Match Play Finals (a.m.)
ACCEPTANCE OF PLACES/NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL:
A player who must withdraw before the championship must notify the TGA office at 615-465-6308 or the Official in Charge at the site of the event. If a player must withdraw during an event, he must notify the Official in Charge. If a player does not show for an event or fails to follow the above procedure, their actions may result in a one-year suspension from all TGA competitions. The said player forfeits all entry fees.
SUBSTITUTION OF PARTNERS:
A team that must make a substitution before the championship must notify the TGA office 615-465-6308 or the official in charge at the site of the event. Substituted players must meet all eligibility requirements set forth in this championship.
The substitution of players is permitted until 3:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 10, 2023.
REFUNDS:
No refunds for any reason (except for illness or injury) will be issued after 5:00 p.m. CDT on the evening before the first round of the respective competition (i.e. qualifying round, championship, etc.). Requests for a refund due to illness or injury will be treated on a case by case basis and can include illness or injury of a spouse or child. All refunds will be subject to a $25.00 withdrawal fee.
CANCELLATION/EXTENSION OF PLAY:
If a lengthy suspension of play occurs during the final round or is likely to affect the final round, the TGA will discuss options with the host facility on the cancellation of the final round and/or shortening of the championship. The TGA will discuss all of these options with the host club's staff.
PRIZES AND MEDALISTS:
Crystal awards will be presented to the Champions and Runners-up of both the senior and super-senior divisions. The TGA will issue gift certificates to the top four finishing teams in the senior division and top two teams in the super-senior division which will be valid at the host golf course.
JOE CHALMERS TROPHY:
The winners of the TGA Senior Four-Ball Championship will have their names placed on the Joe Chalmers Trophy. The trophy is on permanent display at Golf House Tennessee.
RULES OF GOLF:
Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf and the most current TGA Rules of Play Card. All questions shall be settled by the committee in charge of the competition, whose decision is final.
CART POLICY:
Cart fees are included in your entry fee for the Championship. Golf carts are reserved for contestants, TGA officials, and host club staff. Spectator carts at the championship are prohibited during stroke-play qualifying. Spectator carts may be allowed by the host facility after match play has begun. Players must have their golf bags on the motorized golf cart throughout the championship.
CADDIES:
Caddies are NOT permitted for this Championship.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
Contestants (and their caddies) are to observe proper golf etiquette at all times. Any abuse or disrespect of other players, TGA staff, officials, spectators, employees of the host facility, or any other persons conducting or attending the Tennessee Golf Association sponsored event can be grounds for disqualification from the event, and possible revocation of the right to enter future Tennessee Golf Association events. Such abuse may be verbal or physical or threat thereof and includes, but is not limited to: the use of obscene language or gestures, physical damage to property or equipment including that of the Tennessee Golf Association or host facility. Rule 1.2b
TGA DRESS CODE:
Contestants must wear appropriate attire. Gym shorts, cut-offs, shirts without collars, and denim shorts or pants are not acceptable. Mock turtlenecks are acceptable based upon the host club's policy. Shorts must be Bermuda in length.
FOOTWEAR:
Traditional type spokes, regardless of competition, are prohibited at all qualifying rounds and at the championship proper. Penalty for breach of this condition of play is disqualification.