ELIGIBILITY: Applicant must be an active IGA Member. Individual members are tracked through their enrollment at an IGA Member Club (via GHIN). Eligible entries must be male amateur golfers as defined by the USGA rules and must be residents of the State of Iowa. He must have an up-to-date Handicap Index® not exceeding 10.0 under the World Handicap System™. A Handicap Index must be issued from an IGA Member Club which is licensed to use the World Handicap System. College players from out-of-state who maintain a residence in Iowa during the summer must assure the IGA that they are not competing in a championship of a similar nature in another state during the same year.
EXEMPTIONS: The players in the following categories who meet all eligibility requirements and file a proper entry application by the deadline (July 1) will be entered in the championship.
1. Top 20 and ties in 2023 Iowa Amateur Championship
2. Top 20 & ties in 2023 Iowa Player of the Year
3. All former Iowa Amateur Champions
4. Top 10 & ties in 2023 Iowa Senior Amateur
5. Top 5 & ties in 2023 Senior Player of the Year
6. 2024 Iowa Junior Amateur Champion
7. Quarterfinalist in 2024 IGA Match Play
8. Top 10 & ties in 2024 Iowa Mid-Amateur
9. Any USGA qualifier from 2023 or 2024, incl. U.S. Open Local
10. Current Iowa High School individual State Champions; all classes.
11. Up to five (5) exemptions as determined by Host Club
12. All Former Iowa Player of the Year Winners since 2005
13. All Former IGA Match Play Champions since 2005
14. All Former Iowa Mid-Amateur Champions since 2005
15. Former IGA Four-Ball Champions since 2020
16. All Former Iowa Senior Amateur Champions
17. Final Four from 2023 Senior Match Play Championship
18. Top 5 & ties in 2023 IGA Junior Player of the Year
19. Up to five unrestricted IGA Committee exemptions
REGIONAL QUALIFYING: All entrants, except exempt players, must qualify in an 18-hole Regional Qualifying event. Each site will be limited to 72 entrants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
DATE LOCATION CITY
July 8 Terrace Hills GC Altoona
July 9 Ellis GC Cedar Rapids
July 10 BVU Golf Club at Lake Creek CC Storm Lake
FIELD LIMIT: 132 players at the final site.
PRACTICE PRIVILEGES: Practice rounds are at the discretion of the host course (including qualifying sites) in terms of starting times and fees. Players are responsible for scheduling their own tee times with the host club. Practice privileges are limited to entrants only.
WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS: Entry fees will be refunded if the IGA office is notified on or before July 1, 2024. After July 1, fees will be refunded only in the event of injury or illness. There will be a $20.00 service charge on all refunds. Entrants that are on the waitlist and do not get into the championship or qualifier will get a full refund.
ACCEPTANCE OF PLACES; NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL: If a player has entered and subsequently decides not to compete, he must notify the IGA office promptly. Failure to comply may disqualify a player from future IGA-conducted competitions.
FEES: Entrants are solely responsible for securing and returning entry forms and fees by the due date (July 1).
ENTRIES — FORM, FEE, CLOSING DATE: Entrants are solely responsible for securing fees by the due date (July 1).
WAIT LIST: Once the limit for either the exempt players or qualifier site limits has been reached, a waitlist will be established.
All entries must be finalized by 11:59 PM, July 1, and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee ($100- qualifier or $200 -exempt). You must enter online using a credit card at iowagolf.org up to the deadline or until a field limit is met, whichever comes first. Late applications are not acceptable, there will be no exceptions! Players who successfully qualify for the Championship will be charged an additional $100 ($200 total). If a qualified player withdraws, they will be replaced with the first alternate from their site. If an exempt player withdraws, they will be replaced by an alternate selected from a qualifying site based on the ratio of spots/ participants at the qualifying sites. (The first alternate from the qualifying site with the worst ratio will be placed first on this list).
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS- 132 players
Sunday, July 28 – First Round, 18 holes - play in groups of 3
Monday, July 29 – Second Round, 18 holes - play in groups of 3
36 HOLE CUT — Cut to the low 60 & ties
Tuesday, July 30 – Final Round, 18 holes - play in groups of 2
CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES: The IGA reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein as needed. This may include but is not limited to, suspending play to a following day, or canceling current or future rounds. The decision of the Tournament Committee in any matter shall be final. Under any circumstances, all possible attempts will be made to complete the event in the scheduled number of rounds.
GOLF BALLS; DRIVER HEADS
Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls and driver heads on the most current USGA List of Conforming Driver Heads may be used. Updated lists may be found on the USGA website at www.usga.org or by contacting the USGA Equipment Standards Department at (908) 234-2300.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: Proper golf attire is mandatory; the committee reserves the right to determine whether this requirement is met. Shorts are permitted, provided they are Bermuda length or longer. T-shirts, tank tops, sweatpants, and blue jeans are NOT permitted.
PACE OF PLAY: In accordance with Rule 5.6b(3) the IGA has adopted pace of play guidelines that include the maximum period of time allotted to complete a stipulated round, number of holes and/or
strokes. These guidelines and the resulting penalties will be made available to every competitor in advance of the championship.
RULES OF GOLF: Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf. Local rules on scorecards do not apply. Decisions concerning the rules will be settled by the Rules Committee assigned by the IGA and those decisions will be final.