GENERAL GOLF INFORMATION

  1.  SEASON DATES

February 23............................................................................................................... Practice Starts

March 16.............................................................................................................. First Contest Date

May 12............................................................................................................................ Cutoff Date

May 18-19....................................................................................................... State Championships

  2.  STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS INFORMATION

a.     Athletic Directors, Coaches and Spectators – Detailed information regarding the 2009 Golf State Championships will be posted on the OSAA website (www.osaa.org/golf) on Tuesday, April 21.  It is essential that participating teams and individuals access this information prior to the state championships.  Included will be information regarding tee times, course rules, parking, maps, coaches meetings, souvenir merchandise, etc.

b.    District Meet Directors – Detailed information regarding District Meet Director responsibilities, including the state championship entry form, will be posted on the OSAA website (www.osaa.org/golf) on Tuesday, April 21.  Each District Meet Director must submit all state championship entries electronically.

  3.  STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS LOCATIONS

6A Girls and 5A Girls

Trysting Tree Golf Club

34028 NE Electric Road

Corvallis, OR  97333

6A Boys and 5A Boys

Emerald Valley Golf Course

83301 Dale Kuni Road

Creswell, OR  97426

4A Boys and 3A/2A/1A Boys

            Quail Valley Golf Course
            12565 NW Aerts Road
            Banks, OR 97106

4A/3A/2A/1A Girls

Eagle Crest Resort - Ridge Course

1522 Cline Falls Road

Redmond, OR  97756

  4.  QUALIFICATION FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

a.     The qualification formula from districts to the state championships is as follows for each classification:

1)     Teams:  Top two teams from each district.

2)     Individuals:  Top three individuals from each district not members of qualifying teams.

3)     Ties:  Any ties for final team or individual qualification spots shall be broken by the district prior to submitting the official state championship entry to the OSAA.

  5.  AWARDS

a.     Trophies – Champion through fourth place trophies will be awarded in each classification.

b.    Medals – Medals will be presented to the champion and second place teams in each classification.  Medals will also be presented to the top ten individuals at each state championship who will be recognized as members of the U.S. Bank/Les Schwab Tires All-Tournament Team.

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION RULES OF GOLF

Order a 2008-2009 USGA Golf Rules Book at www.osaa.org/forms/0809rulesbookorderform.xls or contact the OSAA at 503.682.6722 for more information.

For more information about USGA rules, visit www.usga.org/playing/rules/rules.html

OSAA GOLF POLICIES

1.  OSAA ADOPTED RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS – The 2008-2009 USGA Rules of Golf shall prevail except as modified by local rules.

2.  PARTICIPATION LIMITATIONS – (OSAA Handbook, Participation Limitations)

a.     Team – A school team shall not play in more than 20 nine-hole rounds at each level of competition, exclusive of the varsity district tournament and state championships. There is no limitation on the number of schools that may participate in a golf match.  Any time a student participates representing his/her school, it shall count toward the school’s team limitation.                      (Revised Fall 2007)

b.    Individual – A student shall not compete in more than 20 nine-hole rounds, exclusive of the varsity district tournament and state championships.

c.     Clarifications

1)     Q.   May a JV team from one classification participate against a varsity team from a lower classification?

A.   Yes. Each team counts the participation as one contest at the level, i.e. JV or varsity, of that team.  For example, if a 3A school is sponsoring a varsity tournament, JV teams from 4A schools could attend and compete as part of their JV schedule.

2)     Q.   May a JV team participate against a varsity team from the same classification?

A.   Yes, but the contest would count as a varsity contest for both schools.  Any contest between two teams in the same classification shall be considered to have taken place at the level, i.e. JV or varsity, of the higher-level team unless written permission is received from the Executive Director prior to the contest.  The Executive Director will consider granting an exception only in emergency situations and with league approval.

3)     Q.   May a school enter two teams in a tournament designating one as Varsity (Team A) and the other as JV (Team B)?

A.   Yes, but the tournament will count as two varsity matches for that school when calculating participation limitations.

3.  INTERRUPTED CONTESTS – (OSAA Handbook, Interrupted Contests)  Contest shall be continued from point of interruption.  In accordance with the game rules, it should, if feasible, be discontinued after completion of play on a hole.  If not feasible, each player shall lift his/her ball after marking the spot on which it lies.  Play will resume from that spot unless teams mutually agree otherwise or there are athletic district rules that apply.

4.  CONTESTS – SPORTSMANSHIP – CROWD CONTROL – (OSAA Handbook, Rules)

a.     Sportsmanship Responsibility – The high school principal, coach and other responsible officials of each member school shall take all reasonable measures to insure that the school's students and supporters maintain a sportsmanlike attitude toward all events so that events may be conducted without unreasonable danger or disorder.  When a petition is filed alleging violation of this Rule 3-2, the Executive Director may, at his/her discretion and with concurrence of any two Executive Board members, postpone any pending event which the Executive Director has reason to believe cannot be conducted without an unreasonable danger of disorder.  All such protests shall be referred to the Executive Board, which shall proceed as provided in Rule 4.  In addition to any other action the Executive Board may take regarding a protest alleging a violation of this Rule 3-2, the Executive Board shall have the power to cancel or re-schedule the event involved, or to impose conditions on conducting it.

b.    Sportsmanship Violations / Penalties – When the students, staff or supporters of any member school engage in unsportsmanlike conduct, disorder or infliction of damage to persons or property in connection with any festival, meet, contest or tournament sponsored by this Association, the Executive Board may treat such acts as a violation by the school of the Rules of the Association.  Any school whose students, supporters, rooters or partisans take part in riots, fights, pilfering, painting or any other unsportsmanlike conduct shall be subject to penalty.

5.  GUIDELINES FOR LIGHTNING SAFETY – (Excerpts from NFHS Sports Medicine Handbook)

a.     Recognition

Weather can be monitored using the following methods:

Monitor Weather Patterns – Be aware of potential thunderstorms by monitoring local weather forecasts the day before and the morning of the practice or competition, and by scanning the sky for signs of potential thunderstorms.

Flash to Bang – This method is used to assess how far away lightning is striking.  It is determined by counting the number of seconds it takes to hear a clap of thunder after witnessing a flash of lightning.  The number of seconds is then divided by five to get the distance, in miles to the lightning flash.  Generally, a 30-second or less flash to bang count suggests removal of the athletes from the field to a safe shelter.

National Weather Service (NWS) – Weather can also be monitored using small, portable weather radios from the NWS.  The NWS uses a system of severe storm watches and warnings.  A watch indicates conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop in an area; a warning indicates severe weather has been reported in an area and for everyone to take proper precautions.

b.    Management

Evacuation – If  lightning  is  imminent  or a  thunderstorm  is  approaching,  all  personnel,  athletes  and spectators should evacuate to available safe structures or shelters.   A list of the closest safe structures should be announce and displayed on placards at all athletic venues.

Thirty-minute rule – Once lightning has been recognized, it is recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning is witnessed or thunder is heard.  Given the average rates of thunderstorm travel, the storm should move 10-12 miles away from the area.  This significantly reduces the risk of local lightning flashes.  Any subsequent lightning or thunder after the beginning of the 30-minute count should reset the clock and another count should begin.

c.     Prevention

In order to prevent lightning related injuries, it is important to formulate and implement a proactive, comprehensive lightning emergency plan.  The plan should include:

·         Advance Planning

·         A systematic approach for monitoring local weather conditions

·         Education of staff to recognize sign of nearby lightning activity

·         Criteria for suspension and resumption of play

·         Evacuation plan including nearby safe shelters

·         Periodic review and practice of the plan by appropriate high school personnel

6.  CADDIES – Competitors are not allowed to use caddies.

7.  ATTIRE – All participants must be properly dressed.

a.     Boys – No jeans, denim slacks, gym sweats, or T-shirts. Walking shorts must be mid-thigh length.  Sport caps must be worn bill forward.  Shirts with collars, turtleneck or mock turtleneck only.  Soft spikes may be required on some courses.

b.    Girls – No jeans, denim slacks, gym sweats, or T-shirts.  Walking shorts must be mid-thigh length.  Sport caps must be worn bill forward.  Halter tops, tanks tops, bare mid-drift, tube tops or shirts with spaghetti straps are prohibited.  Soft spikes may be required on some courses.

8.  CARTS

a.     Motorized Carts – Except as required by applicable law, participants may not use motorized golf carts in OSAA-sanctioned competitions.  The OSAA will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, any request to use a motorized golf cart in OSAA-sanctioned competitions due to a claimed disability.  This request must be made in writing prior to the competition.

b.    Pull Carts – Participants are allowed to use a pull cart in OSAA-sanctioned competitions.

9.  ELECTRONIC DEVICES / CELL PHONES / BEEPERS – Players, coaches and spectators should not take any electronic device onto the course, including cell phones and/or beepers, which may make an audible noise.  Please make sure that any such device does not distract other players.  If a player uses such a device to give or ask for advice in breach of Rule 8-1, then he/she is considered to be in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification.

10. RANGEFINDERS and other ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES – Per Rule 14-3, the OSAA prohibits the use of any artificial device or unusual equipment during a competitive round for the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions.  These devices are allowed during practice rounds. 

11. COACHING POLICY – Based on the results of a statewide golf coaches survey in the Winter of 2006, the OSAA changed its golf coaching policy effective with the Spring 2007 season.  One of the biggest concerns expressed by those who voted against changing the policy was the impact this new policy would have on pace of play.  Please remember that advice given under this policy should be done in a private manner and may not unduly delay play.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this regard.

Advice – In addition to the provisions of Rule 8-1, the Note under Rule 8 of the USGA Rules of Golf will be in effect.  Thus, each school may appoint one person (head coach, assistant coach, etc.) to give advice to, or ask for advice from, participants representing that school each day of the competition provided that:

1)     Only one person is appointed to give advice to, or ask for advice from, participants representing that        school each day of the competition;

2)     The person is identified to the games committee before the start of the competition each day;

3)     The person does not give advice to, or ask for advice from, another school’s participants or coaches;

4)     The advice not be given during the playing of a hole but rather from the time a participant holes out on a   hole until they tee off on the next hole (or during a suspension of play); and

5)     The advice is given in a private manner and does not unduly delay play.

Penalty for breach of condition

By a participant – two strokes

By a coach – two strokes will be added to the coach’s school’s score

12. SPECTATOR POLICY – Spectators must stay on cart paths or in rough and at least 30 yards from any competitor during play.  Spectators may not communicate with participants from the time a player begins his/her round until his/her scorecard is handed in.  Spectators may provide a participant with food, towels, umbrellas, rain suits, etc., during a round.

13. PREFERRED LIES GUIDELINES – The following is the official Oregon Golf Association position regarding the establishment of a Local Rule at OGA Member Courses to deal with unpleasant course conditions. Playing the ball as it lies should be in force if at all possible though the following two Local Rules may be used when the Committee determines that extreme course conditions prevent the proper playing of the game.

Note that the Rules of Golf provide two options that are materially different from one another. If conditions require the Committee to extend relief outside of closely mown areas* only Option #1, Cleaning Ball is available – Option #2, Preferred Lies/Winter Rules is not an option under the Rules of Golf outside of closely mown areas*.

a.     Option #1 – Cleaning Ball Appendix I, Part B/4b:

Through the green* (or a more restrictive area, e.g. on the 6th – 10th holes) a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty.

Note: The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under this Local Rule – see Rule 20‐1.

b.    Option #2 – Preferred Lies/Winter Rules Appendix I, Part B/4c

A ball lying on a closely mown area* through the green* (or specify a more restrictive area, e.g. at the 6th hole) may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within (define distance [e.g. 6”, one club length]) of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20‐4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20‐3d applies. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.

If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local Rule, no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULES:

MATCH PLAY – LOSS OF HOLE; STROKE PLAY – TWO STROKES

*Definitions:

a.     Through the green is the whole area of the course except:

1.  The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and,

2.  All hazards on the course.

b.    Closely mown area means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

Should you have any questions regarding the position above, please contact the Oregon Golf Association.