2021 USGC KING’S CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Local Rules & Conditions of Competition
The United States Golf Challenge is conducted under the Rules of the United States Golf Association©, the Rules and Regulations of the USGC™ and these Local Rules.
Players are reminded that under Rule 5-2b practice on the competition course the day of a round is prohibited.
In addition, testing the surface of any putting green on the course by rolling a ball or otherwise testing the surface is prohibited. Penalty – Disqualification
Players are permitted to play a practice round on a competition course at the conclusion of rounds 1 and 2.
LOCAL RULES
TEES OPEN DIVISION - BLUE TEES
SENIOR DIVISION - WHITE TEES
WOMEN - ORANGE TEES
Per the Hole Yardage sheet previously supplied
SPECIAL CONDITIONS –
Drop Zones – No drop zones on either course.
Cart Path Relief:
- Roads, Paths – White Lines: Asphalt and artificially surfaced road sand paths have the same status as roads or paths, and thus they are obstructions and not Ground Under Repair.
Yardage Markers:
- All sprinkler heads are marked to the center of the green
Suspension of Play:
- An automatic lightning horn will sound:
- Immediate Stop: One prolonged note of the siren
- Normal Stop: Three consecutive notes of the siren
- Resume Play: Two short notes of siren
Players are reminded that, if at any time they are concerned about lightning, they may suspend play and seek shelter.
WEATHER – Every effort will be made to complete the competition should any round suffer from such inclement weather, or conditions that would prevent the completion of the round. However, the Committee, at its sole discretion, may adjust the length of the competition.
RULINGS or EMERGENCIES: Call the USGC staff at 317-903-6907, 630-244-8324 or 618-578-9949. Any other use of a cell phone during the stipulated round will result in a penalty per the USGC Rules and Regulations. Use is defined as the phone ringing audibly, the player making an outgoing call other than as allowed above or connection to the internet.
A cell phone may be used as a range finder as long as the restrictions above are adhered to.
TIME OF STARTING: The player must start at the time established by the Committee. If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Otherwise, the penalty for breach of this Rule is disqualification. Rule 5-3a.
OUT OF BOUNDS: Roads – Defined by outer edge of road. A ball that crosses a road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course. Other - Defined by inside points, at ground level, of white stakes, lines, boundary fences and/or roads. Rule 18.
SPRINKLER HEAD Rule is in effect: See Appendix F-5. (Ball within 2 club lengths of sprinkler, sprinkler within 2 club lengths of green.)
Yellow Penalty Areas: Defined by yellow stakes and/or lines. When both stakes and lines are present, the stakes identify the penalty area and the lines define the penalty area margin.
Red Penalty Areas: Defined by red stakes and/or lines. When both stakes and lines are present, the stakes identify the penalty area and the lines define the penalty area margin.
OBSTRUCTIONS: Relief without penalty shall be given for the following immovable obstructions: (1) artificial cart paths, (2) buildings, (3) fans, (4) crosstie steps and (5) crosstie walkways.
TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS: (1) Starter Tents, (2) Signage, (3) Scoring Tents. Local Rule as described in Appendix F-23 shall be in effect.
INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE: Includes (1) cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees, (2) liners in bunkers, (3) artificial walls & steps in penalty areas, (4) tree wells.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR: Defined by white lines. Fire anthills and French drains are deemed to be ground under repair. Rule 16.
PRACTICE BETWEEN HOLES PROHIBITED: A player must not play any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played. If a practice stroke is played on or near the putting green of the hole last played, the player shall incur a penalty of two strokes at the next hole, except in the case of the last hole of the round, he incurs the penalty on that hole.
SCORING/SCORECARDS: Digital Scorecards will be used for scoring. All players must download the Golf Genius App from their Android or iPhone app store. Printed instructions and a video will have previously been emailed to each player. Just like a printed scorecard, each player or team will be the Marker for another player or team. Each team must turn in their score at the scoring area with the entire group immediately after completing the final hole. A team is deemed to have turned in their score once it has been verified and they have left the scoring area.
TIE BREAKER: Teams tying for 1st place shall commence a "sudden death" play-off beginning at a hole designated by the Host Professional. If a “sudden death” playoff is not possible (as determined by the Host Professional), a “score card” playoff will be used to break the tie in accordance with Appendix 5A-6 of the Rules of Golf using each team’s total score for the 3rd round.
CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION
Player Conduct: Players and/or their guest(s) shall conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times. Any excessive display of anger, vulgar language, club throwing, alcohol abuse, illegal drug use, lack of golfing etiquette or disrespect to a fellow player or any other individual may be grounds for disqualification from the event.
Pace of Play: Rule 5-6 states, in part: “The player shall play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines which may be laid down by the Tournament Committee.”
Pace of Play shall be 4½ hours or 15 minutes per hole. The following pace of play guidelines and slow play penalties have been adopted.
A group will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, they (a) exceed the allotted time allotted per hole or (b) reach any place where there is an open par-3 and the tee box of the next hole is open, fails to clear the tee of a par 4 before the preceding group clears the putting green or (c) when the preceding group is on the putting green of a par-5 hole when the group in question is on the teeing ground.
It is the responsibility of each player to be aware of his group’s position on the golf course. Players will be subject to being timed until back in position with the group ahead or back on the allotted time of 15 minutes per hole. Rules Officials ARE NOT required to warn groups prior to being timed.
The timing of a player’s stroke will begin when it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction. Any time spent determining yardages will count as time taken for the next stroke. On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to mark, lift, clean and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments on his line of putt. A player will have 40 seconds to play a stroke when being timed.
Players and groups are encouraged to play ready golf whenever possible.
One timing exceeding the allotted time to play a stroke – the player will receive a warning. Second Offense: one stroke penalty. Each subsequent offense: two strokes. Players who have received a bad time warning or penalty are subject to being timed even if that player’s group is no longer out of position.
Play ball as it lies: Unless modified in writing by specific Local Rules, there will be no preferred or improved lies in any part of the competition.
Limitation on Balls: The ball each player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the United States Golf Association.
Penalty for breach of condition: Disqualification. The responsibility of playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player must put an identification mark on his ball and alert his fellow competitors of such. The one ball rule is NOT in effect.
Grooves: The Condition of Competition concerning grooves for elite players is NOT in effect for the United States Golf Challenge.
Range Finders: Range finders conforming to Rule 4 are allowed. The device must not be used for any purposes that are prohibited under Rule 4.
Electronic Devices:
CELL PHONES - A mobile phone may be used to call for rulings to the Tournament Director or Pro Shop. Any other use of a cell phone during the stipulated round will result in a penalty:
First Offense - 1 stroke
Second Offense – 2 strokes
Third Offense – Disqualification
Use is defined as the phone vibrating or ringing audibly, the player making an outgoing call other than as allowed above or connection to the Internet.
A cell phone may be used as a range finder as long as the restrictions above are adhered to.
I-PODS/MP3 Radios of any type etc.
Such devices will only be permitted on the driving range and putting green before and after tournament rounds. Such devices are not allowed during competition.
DISCLAIMER
The United States Golf Challenge reserves the right to refuse entry to any player for any reason.
Participants in the United States Golf Challenge are responsible for any damage or injury they cause to the golf course and/or property of the golf course or any person(s) on the golf course property.
All decisions of the United States Golf Challenge are final.