WASHINGTON STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
92nd MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
GAMBLE SANDS, BREWSTER, WASH.
AUGUST 7-9, 2018
Host Club
Gamble Sands
200 Sands Trail Road
Brewster, WA 98812
(509) 436-8323
http://www.gamblesands.com/
GGID for USGA TM App: WSGAMENSAM18
REGISTRATION
All contestants must register with the WSGA at Gamble Sands, outside of the pro shop, prior to playing in the championship. The following hours of registration have been scheduled:
MONDAY, AUGUST 6: 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7: 7:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
STARTING TIMES/PAIRINGS
Round 1 and Round 2 pairings will be released on July 30. The WSGA will re-pair contestants for Round 3 according to score with the leaders teeing off last.
Starting times will be emailed to players and posted online.
PREFERRED STARTING TIME REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
SCHEDULE
54-hole stroke play competition. All players will start on Hole #1.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7: Round 1: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8: Round 2: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Hosted lunch for players following round
• The field will be cut to the low 60 players and ties
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9: Round 3: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Contestants re-paired by 36-hole scores, with the leaders teeing off last.
• Awards ceremony with hosted hors d’oeuvres will begin immediately following completion of play.
COURSE YARDAGE
Course yardage is subject to change based on weather/course conditions but this is a good guide for those that wish to play practice rounds from a similar yardage. Hole by hole yardages are included at the end of this document. Course Yardage: 6,957 yards, par-70
PRACTICE ROUND
Contestants may play one complimentary practice round prior to the championship. Tee times for out of town contestants will be available on Monday, August 6 from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Local contestants may schedule their practice round during the two weeks prior at the discretion of the golf shop. Starting time reservations may be made by calling the Gamble Sands golf shop at (509) 436-8323 beginning July 18. When making reservations, contestants must identify themselves as a WSGA Men’s Amateur Championship participant.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE (No Host)
A no-host breakfast buffet will be available each morning in the Danny Boy Grill from 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. The breakfast is included for players staying in the Inn at Gamble Sands and is $10.95 (plus tax) for guest and players not staying onsite.
The All Day Menu is available each day from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Outpost snack par, located near hole #10 green, will be open each day from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
ACCEPTED PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card and personal checks are acceptable forms of payment in the golf shop and restaurant.
CONTESTANT’S BBQ
A Western BBQ Buffet lunch, hosted by the WSGA, will be held in the Danny Boy Grill on Wednesday, August 8 as players finish their round.
LOCKER ROOM
A locker room will not be available.
HOURS OF OPERATION
The golf shop will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The driving range will be open from 6:15 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
WARM UP RANGE BALLS
Warm up range balls will be provided at the driving range during each day of the championship, courtesy of the WSGA.
CLUB CARE AND STORAGE
Overnight club storage will not be available.
PULL CARTS
Contestants who use pull carts must not take them close to putting greens or across tees. Contestants must take pull carts around the outside edge of all greenside bunkers and around all tees.
CADDIES
Contestants seeking a host club caddie can call Brian Benitz in the Gamble Sands pro shop to check availability. Contestants may provide their own caddies. Caddies will be required to wear a caddie bib, provided on the starting tee.
AUTOMOTIVE CARTS
The use of automotive transportation during the championship is not permitted.
SPECTATOR CARTS
To provide an equal championship platform for all competitors, the use of carts by spectators is not permitted at any time by the WSGA.
CHAMPIONSHIP ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED SPECTATORS
The WSGA is committed to providing an enjoyable spectator experience for people with disabilities at WSGA Championships. Requests from spectators seeking transportation onto the golf course due to a permanent disability, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), must be submitted to a WSGA staff member on site. While spectator carts are not allowed, the WSGA will make every effort to accommodate these requests by assigning a WSGA volunteer driver based on availability. The driver will transport the spectator to viewing locations throughout the golf course, not shot-by-shot or hole-by-hole.
Spectators with transportation needs should contact the WSGA Championship Department at (206) 526-1238 prior to the championship so that arrangements can be made to have a driver on site.
Requests due to temporary injuries or impairments will not be granted.
Only spectators who have complied with the above procedures and met the requirements will be permitted to ride. Every possible effort will be made to ensure that spectators with permanent disabilities are able to view the competition.
PRIZES
All prizes will be awarded according to 54-hole stroke play (gross) scores. In addition to the below awards, a $5,000 merchandise payout will be distributed to top finishing players. All merchandise credit is good in the Gamble Sands golf shop and should be used within one year.
Champion: WSGA crystal trophy
Runner-up: WSGA crystal trophy
Top-10: WSGA crystal medallion
AWARDS CEREMONY
An awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 9, and will begin immediately after the completion of final round play (approximately 4:00 p.m.). The WSGA Championship crystal will be presented at this time.
EXEMPTIONS
The 2018 WSGA Men's Amateur Champion will receive an exemption into the 2019-2023 WSGA Men’s Amateur Championships, the 2019 PNGA Men’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 WSGA Champion of Champions. The champion will also receive an invitation to be a member of the 2018 Hudson Cup Team at Overlake Golf & Country Club on October 17-19, 2018, the 2019 Sahalee Players Championship and the 2019 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship.
PERFORMANCE POINTS LIST
Points for the WSGA Men's Amateur are allocated as follows: Champion, 125 points; Runner-up, 100 points; Top 5 players, 75 points each; Top 10 players, 50 points each; Top 15 players, 25 points each; Top 20 players, 15 points each.
GHIN SCORE POSTING
The WSGA will post and transmit the adjusted scores for all players on the USGA GHIN System for handicapping purposes.
DRESS CODE
The WSGA expects all contestants and their caddies to wear suitable attire on the host club property throughout the duration of the championship, including practice rounds. Suitable attire does not include cutoffs, short shorts, tank tops, jeans, or denim of any kind or color, tee shirts, sweat pants or unkempt clothing of any kind. Contestants must wear neat and clean slacks, Bermuda or walking shorts. Shorts must be of appropriate length and must adhere to the dress policy of the host club. Golf shirts with collars or golf mocks are mandatory. Hats and visors must not be worn in the clubhouse. Shoes and socks must be worn at all times. Sandals of any kind, even sandals with soft spikes, are not allowed on the golf course at any time, including practice areas. If additional measures are required by the host club, they will be communicated to all contestants prior to the championship and must be adhered to. Gallery must adhere to the host club dress code policy. Failure to adhere to the dress code may result in disqualification and removal from the course.
FOOTWEAR
Shoes with the traditionally-designed spikes (regardless of composition, i.e., ceramic, plastic, etc.) or spikes, regardless of design, comprised either entirely or partially metal (if such metal may come in contact with the course) are prohibited during the stipulated round. Penalty for breach of this condition: DISQUALIFICATION
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES
In all WSGA Championships, a player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. 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., elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14.3
CONDUCT CODE
Unacceptable conduct or behavior on the golf course or anywhere on club property will not be tolerated and may be grounds for immediate disqualification, at any time, from any WSGA event. The following are examples of unacceptable conduct or behavior:
- Loud, abusive and/or profane language
- Intentionally throwing and/or breaking equipment or the like (club, ball, etc.) in anger or frustration
- Intentionally damaging host club, WSGA, and/or fellow contestant property
- Abuse of any kind of host club officials, volunteers or staff, and/or WSGA volunteers, staff or fellow contestants
- Public criticism of host club, officials, volunteers or staff, and/or WSGA volunteers, staff or fellow contestants
- Intentionally engaging in a criminal act
- Engaging in activities that result in the potential endangerment of others
- Intentionally violating the Rules of Golf
- Intentionally violating stated club policy
- Violation of WSGA Dress Code
- Violation of WSGA Footwear Policy
The Committee in charge of the competition shall be the sole judge of determining Conduct Code violations.
WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY
All refunds prior to the entry deadline are subject to a $10 administrative fee. Refunds are not available after the closing deadline except for documented and approved medical reasons. Refunds approved after the closing deadline, and up until round one pairings are released, are subject to a $25 administrative fee. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED AFTER ROUND ONE PAIRINGS HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
During play of the championship, a “Withdrawal Form,” available from a WSGA staff member, must be completed by any competitor withdrawing. Entrants who unofficially withdraw, by not filling out a form or without sufficient reason, may not be granted entry into any future WSGA championship for a minimum of two years.
PACE OF PLAY
STROKE PLAY - Revised (2018)
Rule 6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play states: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play.”
Summary
When a group is out of position at any check-point, the players in the group are subject to penalty under these guidelines.
Check-points will be on completion (flagstick in the hole) of either the, 4th, 9th, 13th and 18th holes, or the 5th, 9th, 14th and 18th holes. Exact checkpoint locations will be determined prior to the start of each event. Players will be notified of checkpoint locations on the starting tee.
Allotted Time: Flagstick in the Hole
Maximum times to play will be determined for each day of the championship by the on-site Championship Committee. Maximum times to complete each hole will be printed on each competitor’s scorecard. Competitors will be advised, prior to starting, of that day’s maximum time to complete the round. It is the group’s responsibility to finish each check-point within the times outlined on the scorecard or within position of the group directly in front of them. When a group falls behind – regardless of the reason – it must regain its position. Time for ball searches, rulings, and walking time between holes is included in the allotted time.
Definition “Out of Position” – Stroke Play
First Group Only: The first group is out of position if it takes more than the allotted time to complete a check-point hole (see check-point time on scorecard).
All Following Groups:
A following group is out of position if it:
- Takes more than the allotted time to complete a check-point hole and
- Completes play of a check-point hole more than 14 minutes after the preceding group completed play of that hole.
Group Out of Position
The first time a group is out of position at a check-point hole they will be issued a warning. When a group has been notified of its first breach, that group is expected to regain its position before reaching the next check-point. If that group is out of position at the next or any subsequent check-point, the group may incur the following penalties:
• 1st breach* – warning
• 2nd breach – one stroke penalty
• 3rd breach – two stroke penalty
• 4th breach – disqualification
* If a group clears the 3rd check-point without any breaches, but is out of position at the 4th check-point, the potential penalty for each player in the group is one stroke.
Any group that is out of position is subject to being monitored by a Rules Rover.
Player’s Rights
Any player may appeal the penalty at scoring.
A player concerned about a non-responsive fellow-competitor in his/her group should request a Rules Rover to monitor the group in case the group is/or becomes subject to penalty under these guidelines.
Final Determination Regarding Breach / Review Process
All breaches will be reviewed at scoring by the Pace of Play Committee. If the player/group appeals the penalty, the Pace of Play Committee will consider only the following in an appeal:
(a) The player was delayed by the Committee; or
(b) The player was delayed by a circumstance beyond the control of the player or the group; or
(c) The player was delayed by another player in the group.
A player who was out of position during his/her round and who elects not to consult with the Pace of Play Committee to determine whether he/she was in breach of these guidelines is considered to have been in breach of these guidelines and to have incurred a penalty or penalties according to the above schedule of penalties. If a group is subject to penalty, all penalties will be applied to the check-point hole where the breach occurred.
CAMPERS AND R.V.'s
Campers and/or recreational vehicles may not be parked for use as overnight accommodations on golf course property without prior approval from the host club.
ONSITE PLAYER LODGING
(509) 436-8323
200 Sands Trail Road
Brewster, WA 98812
$189.00, plus tax | Double Queen or Single King
Includes breakfast buffet each morning
OFFSITE PLAYER LODGING
Howard*s on the River
(877) 923-9555
245 Lakeshore Drive
Pateros, WA 98846
*No Group Rate*
$195.00, plus tax | Double Queen or Single King
25 minutes from Gamble Sands
12 Tribes Resort Casino
(844) 526-8600
28968 Highway 97
Omak, WA 98841
*No Group Rate*
$120.00, plus tax | Double Queen or Single King
35 minutes from Gamble Sands
(Revised 7.30.2018)