Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship

Tournament Policies

Tournament Policies

The Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association and the R&A govern play. These Local Rules and Terms of the Competition are in effect at all Local Qualifiers, Regional Qualifiers and the National Championship. See applicable championship or qualifying round Notice to Players for modifications or additions to these Local Rules and Terms of the Competition. Complete text of the Rules and Local Rules may be found in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, effective January 2022.

 

As long as there are players competing in a division, the JGNC Committee will award the respective qualifying spots per tournament. The NB3 JGNC is an open series and provides the same opportunities to all golfers across the country to play their way into the National Championship. If a division has 0 players registered, the JGNC Committee will decide if they want to allocate the remaining qualifying spots to other divisions. This decision is at the discretion of the JGNC Committee, and all factors will be evaluated before the decision is made. 

 

 

 

Tie Breakers

For Local Events ONLY

Tiebreakers for qualifying spots into the Regional Finals will be determined by a scorecard playoff. * NOTE this process is ONLY for qualifying spots into the 36-Hole Regional Finals. This will be determined by the following: 

  1. The qualifying spot(s) will first be determined by the overall round score of the competition

  2. If the tying players have the same score for the last round or if the competition consisted of a single round, we will determine the winner based on the score for the last nine, the committee will then go to the last six holes, then the last three and finally the score on the 18th hole. (when this method is used in a competition with multiple tee starts, the "last nine holes, last six holes, etc." are holes 10-18, 13-18, etc.) 

  3. If the players are still tied, the committee will go through the same procedure on the front nine. If the players’ scores are completely the same on every hole, then the committee will make the decision to invite all tied players to the National Championship. 

 

For Regional Finals ONLY 

Tiebreakers for qualifying spots into the National Championship will be determined by a sudden death playoff. Players will continue the playoff until all qualifying spots are determined. In the event that a playoff is not feasible (e.g. weather, darkness, or course is not available) matching scorecards will determine who qualifies. All tie breakers for any alternate spots will be determined by a scorecard playoff. The scorecard playoff will be determined by the following: 

  1. If the tying players have the same score for the last round or if the competition consisted of a single round, we will determine the winner based on the score for the last nine, the committee will then go to the last six holes, then the last three and finally the score on the 18th hole. (when this method is used in a competition with multiple tee start, the "last nine holes, last six holes, etc." are holes 10-18, 13-18, etc.) 

  2. If the players are still tied, the committee will go through the same procedure on the front nine. If the players’ scores are completely the same on every hole, then the committee will make the decision to invite all tied players to the National Championship. 

 

Alternates: In the event all players accept their spots into the National Championship, the Committee reserves the right to select alternates based on their discretion. The Committee will take all factors into consideration (i.g., player scores, course rating, and weather conditions). 

 

Ties after Rd 1 during Regional Final Contests: Tee times for any ties from Rd 1 during a Regional Final will be paired for Rd 2 using the First in, Last out method meaning the first player to finish with their round during Rd 1 will be paired last (latest tee time) out in Rd 2. 

 

 

Code of Conduct

The Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship (JGNC) prides itself in the quality of players, host facilities and community involvement of each of its events. In order to continue making our events enjoyable for everyone, the JGNC will not tolerate any behavior that is unbecoming of a junior golfer. Players in violation of the code of conduct with the JGNC may lose playing privileges as well as being liable to penalty strokes or disqualification. 

 

All JGNC participants are reminded to respect the host facility and their staff/golf course. Players are expected to repair ball marks on the greens and divots where needed. Players are also expected to rake all bunkers and care for the course throughout their tournament experience. 

 

Violations of the Code of Conduct include: 

  • Unsportsmanlike conduct which includes abusive language, cheating, club throwing, disrespect to volunteers/staff/officials or fellow competitors, and abuse of golf course property. 
  • Not adhering to the dress code of the host golf course 
  • Use or association of drugs or alcohol 
  • Conduct not becoming of a JGNC player, such as acting in anger or creating other distractions.
     

Code of Conduct Violation Penalties: 

  • The JGNC Tournament Committee may assess any or all of the following penalties based on the severity of the violation(s) 
    • Issue a one stroke penalty for each act of unsportsmanlike conduct on the golf course 
    • Immediate disqualification from the tournament at which the violation occurs 
    • Depending on the severity of the violation, a tournament disqualification may also result in disqualification from the next tournament or tournaments for which a player has been accepted. 
    • The JGNC reserves the right to suspend or revoke a player’s registration for a major breach of the JGNC Code of Conduct.

 

 

 

Spectator Policy

With the exception of caddies, all spectators need to stay out of the fairways and off of greens and tees during play. It is ok to gather near tee and greens to watch, but we ask that they stay on the cart paths or rough while walking the course.

 

Spectators may not interact with participants at any time on the golf course, except in the case of an emergency. Any conversation between a spectator and participant will be subject to penalty under Rule 10.2 (Advice).

  • Only exceptions allowing spectators to interact with players during a round include handing them sunscreen, food, beverage, or any health emergency.  This should always be done in front of another spectator or tournament official.

 

Spectators are not allowed to give a player a ride under any circumstances during the player’s round. This includes driving players back for lost balls or from green to tee. The JGNC staff will select shuttle holes prior to the start of the tournament. The only time a spectator can shuttle is at an authorized shuttle hole. Any time a player takes a ride from a spectator that is unauthorized, he/she will incur a 2-stroke penalty. In the event of a course evacuation for inclement weather, spectators can shuttle players to safety. 

Spectators will be subject to removal from the golf course for the following breaches of etiquette:    

  • Repeat offenses of interacting with players after being warned by Tournament Committee
  • Rude, vulgar or other inappropriate comments or gestures.
  • Verbal or physical harassment of players, volunteers, officials or fellow spectators.
  • Distracting a player or causing any disruption of play.
  • Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, unsafe or illegal in nature.
  • Failing to follow the instructions of a JGNC Tournament Committee official, volunteer or host personnel.

 

 

 

Caddie Policy

The NB3 JGNC will allow caddies for the Boys 10-11 & 12-13 and Girls 10-11 & 12-13 Divisions throughout ALL Events. CADDIES for the 10-11 age group are MANDATORY while caddies for the 12-13 age group are optional. Players must declare a caddie prior to the start of their round. Caddies will not be allowed for the 14-15 & 16-18 divisions for both boys and girls.

 

Purpose of Caddies: Caddies may carry a player’s clubs, give advice, and offer help during the round but there are limits to what the Caddie is allowed to do. The player is responsible for the Caddie’s actions during the round and the player may incur a penalty if their Caddie breaches the Rules.

 

Actions Allowed by Caddies:

  • Caddies will be allowed to transport the player’s clubs and equipment.

  • Caddies will be allowed to search for a player’s golf ball.

  • Caddies will be allowed to clean a player’s golf ball.

  • Caddies will be able to give players advice.

  • Caddies will be allowed to use motorized carts ONLY if they have been approved by the NB3 Tournament Committee.

  • Caddies will be allowed to transport a player only when shuttle holes have been designated on the Notice to Competitors, during evacuation/restart or back to a previous spot in order of play in accordance with Rule 20-5 and then back to where the player was picked up.

 

Actions Prohibited by Caddies:

  • Caddies are NOT ALLOWED to deliberately stand on or close to the extended line of play behind a player while the player is taking his or her stance and until the stroke is made.

  • Caddies are NOT ALLOWED to over-coach their player causing them to take longer than 40 seconds to play their shots. Per our pace of play policy, after any individual warning given to the player, they are subject to penalty strokes for multiple warnings and no clear effort to improve their pace time.

  • Caddies are NOT ALLOWED to use personal cell phones for reasons other than live scoring or emergency situations

 

Breach of Policies and/or rules by Caddies:

1st Offense= Official Warning from a NB3 JGNC official

2nd Offense= Subject to 1-stroke Penalty

3rd Offense= Subject to 2-Stroke penalty for each prohibited action and/or Removal from the Golf Course

 

 

Gaining a Caddie During the Round or Switching Caddies During the Round: 

Once the player tees off on his or her first hole the player may not gain a Caddie or switch Caddies during the round (unless authorized by Tournament Officials). A Caddie must be designated prior to the first tee shot. First Offense will be a 1-stroke penalty and any additional breach will be a 2-stroke penalty per breach.

 

This policy is in effect as of January 1, 2023. The NB3 JGNC has the authority to eliminate or modify this policy at any time.