MEMORANDUM TO PLAYERS

 

FORMAT, QUALIFYING PLACES, AND TIES

  • FORMAT.18-holes of stroke play
  • QUALIFYING SPOTS. 5 qualifying spots and 2 alternates
  • PLAYOFF. A hole-by-hole playoff will be used to break a tie for the final qualifying spot, first alternate, and/or second alternate. Announcements regarding a play-off will be made at the scoring area (beneath the awning adjacent to the pro shop) immediately upon completion of play.

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

  • Sunday, May 10 // Practice Rounds
  • Monday, May 11 // Qualifying Round
    • 6:30am.......................Practice facilities open
    • 8:00am-12:30pm.......Starting times - hole #1
    • 5:30pm.......................Playoff and/or awards presentation


STARTING TIMES

Click here to view this qualifier's starting times and groupings.

 

SCHEDULING PRACTICE ROUNDS

Practice rounds are available on Sunday, May 10 for $60, which includes a cart.

  • Traveling less than 60 miles? Call the pro shop - on or after Friday, April 24 - to schedule a tee time on a date of your preference: (518) 869-5101
  • Traveling more than 60 miles? You have first access to tee times on Sunday, May 10. Do not call the pro shop, instead register for a tee time using the link below, active Friday, April 24:
  1. Click  Practice Round Scheduling (Opens Friday, April 24 at 12pm) 
  2. Find your name in the search bar
  3. Select your tee time
  4. Contact the NYSGA with questions (see below)


YARDAGES
Black tee markers (see below) with a course rating and slope of 73.9/141.

STRACKALINE YARDAGE BOOKS

Strackaline offers a 20% discount on yardage books purchased through the NYSGA link.

 

WITHDRAWALS
If you must withdraw from this qualifier, notify the USGA immediately. To officially withdraw and view the refund policy, click here. Failure to do so may result in suspension from future USGA competitions.

ALTERNATES
Alternates have no status in this qualifier until notified by the USGA that they have been added to the field. The waitlist expires at 11:59 PM ET on Thursday, May 7 — alternates not added to the field by that time will be withdrawn. Once added, the NYSGA will follow up with a Player Information email. Alternates must not schedule a practice round until they have been officially added to the field.

 

STARTING YOUR ROUND
Players should report to the Hole #1 teeing area 10 minutes prior to their published starting time. Scorecards, hole locations/evacuation plan, Notice to Players (rules), and caddie bibs will be distributed by the starter during this time and are not available in advance.

 

PRACTICE FACILITIES & PRO SHOP
The golf shop and practice facilities open at 6:30am. The driving range is complimentary for all players on Sunday and Monday, range balls are available on the range.


PUSH CARTS
Are approved for this qualifier. The club has a limited supply of push carts available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Electric push carts are permitted if there is no seat attachment.

FOOD SERVICE

  • Halfway House (CASH ONLY), located between the 1st tee and 9th putting greens, will be open Sunday and Monday.
  • Restaurant (cash + credit) will be open on Sunday (May 10) and closed on Monday (May 11).
  • On-course snacks, water, and Gatorade will be provided by the NYSGA during Monday's qualifying round.


CADDIES
Players may bring their own caddie or carry their own clubs. There are no caddies available through the host club. A caddie is required to wear an NYSGA caddie bib, which will be provided at starting (see Starting Your Round).

 

LIVE SCORING ASSIGNMENT
One member of each group is required to enter hole-by-hole scores into the Golf Genius mobile app for live scoring. This may be a player, caddie, or spectator accompanying the group. The starter will ask for a volunteer during announcements, otherwise the starter will designate a scorer by lot. Please download the Golf Genius app in advance.

RAIN DATE
May 12, 2026

LOCAL RULES AND CONDITIONS
Listed below are a number of important Conditions of Competition and Local Rules for this qualifier.

  • USGA LOCAL RULES AND TERMS OF THE COMPETITION (HARD CARD). Click here.
  • GROOVE CONDITION. Players’ clubs must conform to current groove and punch mark specifications. Clubs manufactured before January 1, 2010 may not conform. If you are unsure whether a club qualifies, please consult with the USGA before your round.  See Model Local Rule G-2 (click here).
  • CONFORMING BALLS AND DRIVER HEADS. Visit the USGA website for a list of approved golf balls (click here) and driver heads (click here).
  • ONE BALL RULE. Is NOT in effect for any USGA qualifying rounds in 2026.
  • DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES. For all USGA qualifying rounds, the use of distance measuring devices to measure distance only is permitted.


PROHIBITING USE OF MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION (LOCAL RULE G-6)
During the stipulated round, players and caddies must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized by the Committee. The penalty for a breach is two strokes applied to the hole on which the breach occurred; if the breach occurs between holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

  • Exception: A player is always authorized to ride when operating under penalty of stroke and distance.


PLAYER/CADDIE USE OF GOLF CART
A disabled player or caddie may be permitted to use a golf cart as an accommodation to their ability. As required by the ADA, the USGA will evaluate such requests on a case-by-case basis. To learn more and to submit the required form, click here.

SPECTATOR CARTS
Spectator carts are not permitted, exceptions are made for those with a permanent disability. As required by the ADA, the NYSGA will evaluate such requests on a case-by-case basis. To request a spectator cart, please complete and return the required form, click here.

PACE OF PLAY
The NYSGA Pace of Play policy is adopted for this qualifier.

CODE OF CONDUCT
The NYSGA Code of Conduct is in effect for this qualifier.

EVACUATION PLAN
In the event of a discontinuance of play during the qualifier, players must adhere to the evacuation plan distributed by the Committee at starting tee and located on the reverse of the Hole Location sheet. Practice areas on the course are closed when play has been discontinued for dangerous weather conditions (one prolonged air-horn note). 

SHAKER RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB
802 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211

(518) 869-5101

Bill Sarver, General Manager

Mark Jorgensen, Head Golf Professional
www.shakerridge.com

OFFICIAL-IN-CHARGE
Jack Travers
New York State Golf Association
315.471.6979
jtravers@nysga.org

 

ENTRY POLICIES, PROCEDURES & INFORMATION