TOURNAMENTPOLICIES,
ELIGIBILITY,
RULESANDREGULATIONS
TOURNAMENTPOLICIES
TournamentPolicyBoard
TheTournamentPolicyBoardshallconsistoftheBoardofDirectors,theTournament
Committee,andtheTournamentDirector.TheSectionPresidentshallappointthe
TournamentChairman.TheTournamentCommitteewillberesponsibleforthescheduling,
conducting,andhandlingofanyissuesinallSectionevents.TheSectionTournament
Directorwillactasaclearinghouseforalltournamentdates.
TournamentEligibility
TheprivilegeofparticipatinginGulfStatesPGA(GSPGA)eventswillbeextendedtothose
GulfStatesPGAMembersandApprentices(whenapplicable)whoareinactive
classificationsandgoodstanding,andLifeMembers.Thefollowingeventshavespecific
eligibilityrequirements:
• MSPGAInvitational
AMATEURS:AllAmateurmembersoffacilitiesemployingMississippiPGA
Professional(s);oranyAmateurswhoreceivespecialinvitationsfromthe
TournamentCommittee.
PGAPROFESSIONALS:AllMississippiPGAMembersandApprenticesinactive
classificationsandgoodstanding,andLifeMembers.
AcceptanceNote:Intheeventofafullfield,allAmateurswillbenotifiedoftheir
statusintheChampionshipsaftercloseofentries.Amateurswillbeacceptedinto
thefiledbasedon(1)prioryearparticipationand(2)USGAhandicapindex.
OnlineRegistration/EntryForms
Onlineregistrationandentryforms(ifapplicabletotournament)forGSPGAeventswillbe
availableonlinethroughthetournamentscheduleatgspga.com.
MembershipMeetings–SectionChampionship,SeniorSectionChampionship,MSand
LAPGAChapterChampionships,AssistantChampionshipSixProChampionship
InconjunctionwiththeSectionChampionship,SeniorSectionChampionship,MSandLA
PGAChapterChampionships,AssistantChampionship,andtheSixProChampionship,a
MembershipMeetingwillbeheldataconvenientlocation.
Pairings
FormostGSPGAevents,pairingswillbedoneatrandom.FortheSectionChampionship,
theProfessionalChampionship,SeniorSectionChampionship,andtheAssistant
Championship,thefirstroundpairingswillbedoneaccordingtotheappropriatefinal
PlayeroftheYearPointsstandingsfromthepreviousyear.Subsequentroundpairingsin
theseeventswillbemadeaccordingtoscore.Tieswillbebrokenusingthefirstin/lastout
procedurethroughthescoringsystem.
PlayoffProcedure/BreakingofTies
IndividualEvents
Intheeventofatieforfirstplace,thefollowingeventswillhaveasuddendeathplayoffto
determineawinnerandfirstplaceprizemoney:theSectionChampionship,Professional
Championship,SeniorSectionChampionship,AssistantChampionship,MSandLAPGA
ChapterChampionships,theMackelCup,andMSPGAInvitational.
TeamEvents
Trophies
Inthecaseofatieforfirstplace,fortrophiesonly,ascorecardplayoffwillbeheldusingthe
USGArecommendedtiebreakmethod.Thewinningteamwillbedeterminedonthebasisof
thebestteamscoreforthelastnineholes.Ifthetyingteamshavethesameteamscorefor
thelastnine,thewinningteamwillbedeterminedonthebasisofthelastsixholes,last
threeholesandfinallythe18thhole.
Last9holes–#10–18
Last6holes–#13–18
Last3holes–#16–18
Purse
Alltieswillbecombinedandsplitforpursepurposesonly.
MackelCup
IntheeventofatiefortheMackelCup,theteamthatwonthepreviousyear’sMackelCup
wouldretaintheCup.
(3)SectionExemptionSpots–OpenQualifying–PGATOUREvents
TheGulfStatesPGAreceives(3)exemptionsintoPGATOUROpenQualifiers.Each
exemptionrequiresa$450entryfeeandallowsaplayertoskipthePre-Qualifier.These
spotswillbegiventothefirst(3)playerswhoregister.Ifmorethan(3)playersregister
before(enterdate)at5:00pmCT,thespotswillgotothehighestrankedplayersbasedon
theattached(previousyear’s)SectionPOYpointslist.Ifanyspotsremainavailableafter
(enterdate)thentheywillbegivenoutonafirstcome,firstservebasis.PGAMembershave
firstrightofrefusalfortheseexemptions.
PGATOUREventExemptionSpots
TheGulfStatesPGAreceives(1)exemptionspotintoPGATOURevents.Thefollowing
winnerswillreceivethisexemptionasdetailed:
• E-Z-GOSectionChampionshipChampion–thefollowingyear’sZurichClassicof
NewOrleans
• GulfStatesPGAProfessionalChampionshipChampion–thefollowingyear’s
SandersonFarmsChampionship
TheGulfStatesPGAreceives(1)exemptionspotintotheMississippiGulfResortClassic’s
OpenQualifier(ChampionsTourevent).ThisspotwillbegiventothewinneroftheSenior
PlayeroftheYearPointsListfromthepreviousyear.Thereisa$150entryfeeforthisspot.
RULESANDREGULATIONS
USGARules,HardCard
PlaywillbegovernedbythecurrentUSGA/R&ARulesofGolf,thecurrentGulfStatesPGA
Hard,andwhereapplicable,anyLocalRules,conditions,anddefinitions.
LateEntries
UndernocircumstanceswillanentryintoaGSPGAeventbeacceptedaftertheentry
deadlinehaspassed.
Cancellation
PriortoDeadline:Participantsmaywithdrawfromaneventpriortoanentrydeadline.
Therewillbea$10administrativefeeappliedtoallrefunds.
AftertheDeadline:Participantswhoproperlywithdrawfromaneventbynotifyingthe
TournamentCommitteeaftertheentrydeadline,butbeforetheirappointedstartingtime,
willbegrantedrefunds.Therewillbea$10administrativefeeappliedtoallrefunds.
Conduct
ThebehaviorofPGAMembersandApprenticesatGSPGAeventsmustalwaysbe
consideredbecomingofaPGAProfessional.Actionsthatareconsiderednotbecomingofa
PGAProfessionalinclude,butarenotlimitedto:conductshowingdisrespectforthehost
professional,thehostclub,theSectionTournamentStafforGulfStatesPGARules
Officials/Starters,anysponsors,thePGACodeofEthics,thetraditionaletiquetteofgolf,
failuretocomplywithfacilityortournamentpolicy,actionsthatcausehardshipor
embarrassmenttothemembersofthehostfacility,oranyactionbroughttotheattention
oftheTournamentCommitteeintheformofaformalcomplaint.
TheTournamentCommitteewilltakealldisciplinaryactions.Complaintsmustbemadein
writingtotheTournamentCommittee,statingnames,dates,andfullparticulars.Anyfines
arepayabletotheGulfStatesPGA,andmustbesenttotheSectionOfficewithin45daysof
thefirstroundoftheevent.AnyappealstotheTournamentCommitteeandBoardof
DirectorsmustbemadeinwritingandreceivedattheSectionOfficewithin10business
daysofviolationnotification.
AlcoholicBeveragePolicy
Consumptionofalcoholicbeverageswillnotbeallowedduringthecourseofplayinthe
SectionChampionship,ProfessionalChampionship,SeniorSectionChampionship,MSand
LAPGAChapterChampionships,andtheAssistantChampionship.Anyviolationwillresult
inimmediatedisqualification.Thisincludesanytimewhenplayhasbeensuspendedand
playersarestillonpropertywaitingtoresumeplay.Ifplayissuspendedandwillnotbe
resumeduntilthefollowingmorning,playersarenotrequiredtoadheretothispolicy.
PaceOfPlay
Paceofplaywillbemonitoredbythepostedpaceofplaytimingcharts(atcertainevents).
Thesechartswillbepostedintheclubhouseandonthe1sttee.
DressCode
PGAProfessionalsmustalwaysbeproperlyattiredatallGSPGAevents.Jeansare
prohibited.PGAProfessionalsmaywearshortsorskortsatanyGSPGAevent(excluding
TOURQualifiersandtheChildren’sHospitalPro-Am).PGAProfessionalsareresponsible
forattireoftheirAmateurswhomaywearshortsorskorts,whicharemid-thighorlonger.
Non-Participants
Anynon-participantmustbemadeawareofthefollowing:1)thegolfcartsinthe
competitionarefortheuseofcompetitorsonly.Thenon-participantsmusteitherwalkor
rentacartoftheirown.However,ifthereisanopenseatonacart,thenon-participants
mayoccupyit.Ifthenon-participantthatdoesanythingthatisdeemedtobewithinthe
USGA/R&ARulesofGolfdefinitionofaCaddie,thatpersonisdeemedtobethat
participant’sCaddiefortheentireround;2)allsocialfunctions(lunches,awardparties,
etc.)areforcompetitorsonly;unlessotherwisenoted.
IncompleteRound
TheTournamentCommitteewillbeinchargeofdecidingwhatisthemostappropriate
actionwhenatournamentroundcan’tbecompleted.
Purse/PrizeBreakdown
AllGSPGAeventswillpay1/3ofthefield,andallprofessionalwinningswillbemailed.The
hostprofessionalwillberesponsibleforpreparinggiftcertificatesfortheamateursand
havingthegolfshopopensotheymayberedeemed.
(SeetheattachedaddendumforPurseBreakdownPercentagesByPlacesPaid.)
PlayeroftheYearPointsSystem
(SeedocumentsforPlayeroftheYearPoints)
TournamentYardages
InGulfStatesPGAsanctionedevents,maleparticipantswillplaythegolfcourseatalength
of6,600–7,100yards.Femaleparticipantswillplayatayardagethatisintherangeof
78%–85%ofthemaleyardage.SeniorPGAMemberswillplaythegolfcourseatalength
thatisintherangeof85%–92%oftheregularmaleyardage.TheTournamentDirector
reservestherighttoplaythegolfcourseatashorterlengththantheminimumyardage
requirementsifcourseconditionsand/orcoursesetupmeritthisdecision.
WeatherDelays
Beforethestartofanytournamentround,theTournamentCommitteereservestherightto
implementPreferredLies(closelymownareasorthroughthegreen)duetocourse
conditions.
Ifthereisadelayduringplayduetoinclementweather,thefollowingtimingperiodswill
befollowedtoallowforwarmup(practiceputting,hittingballs)beforeplayresumes:
• 30minutesorlessdelay=10minutesforwarmupandtogetinposition
• 30minutesormoredelay=20minutesforwarmupandtogetinposition
Inthecaseofaweatherdelaywheretheroundcouldbecanceled,variousfactorswillbe
takenintoaccount.Iftheeventisachampionship,alleffortswillbemadetocompletethe
stipulatednumberofrounds.Factorssuchasweatherforecasts,courseconditions,timeof
delay,numberofplayerslefttofinish,andSuperintendentandProShopstaffsizewillbe
takenintoaccount.Otherfactorscouldbediscussedaswell.
Iftheeventisnotachampionship,theTournamentCommitteewillfindatimewhenitisno
longerconceivabletofinishtheroundbaseduponanumberoffactors.Beforetheround
beginsinanon-championshipevent,theTournamentCommitteewillidentifyatimewhen
theroundneedstobecanceledduetoasevereweatherdelay.Thistimewillbebasedon
whentheroundstarted,howlongthedelayhasbeen,weatherforecasts,courseconditions,
numberofplayerslefttofinish,SuperintendentandProShopstaffsize,andlengthofdrive
homeforplayers.Otherfactorscouldbediscussedaswell.Ifplayersstartedoffof#1tee
onlyandhavefinished9holes,oncethetournamentiscanceled,thetournamentwillbe
deemeda9holetournament.Ifthetournamentisashotgunstartandiscanceled,the
TournamentCommitteeandanysponsorsreservetherighttorescheduletheeventorhave
ablinddrawforthewinners.
Iftheeventisa36holechampionshipandthereisweatherforecastedforround2,before
round2begins,theTournamentCommitteereservestherighttomakeround2two
stipulated9holerounds.Ifonlyone9holeroundiscompletedbyentirefieldinround2,
thetournamentwillbescoredasa27holeevent.Ifround2hasnotbeenstarted,anditis
notfeasibletogetinevent9holes,theeventwillbeconsideredan18holeevent.
GSPGA SECTION PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Section Championship
1st
600
2nd
540
3rd
520
4th
500
5th
480
6th
460
7th
440
8th
420
9th
400
10th
380
11th
360
12th
340
13th
320
14th
300
15th
280
16th
260
17th
240
18th
220
19th
200
20th
180
21st
160
22nd
140
23rd
120
24th
100
25th
80
Field
60
GSPGA Prof. Champ.
1st
450
2nd
405
3rd
390
4th
375
5th
360
6th
345
7th
330
8th
315
9th
300
10th
285
11th
270
12th
255
13th
240
14th
225
15th
210
16th
195
17th
180
18th
165
19th
150
20th
135
21st
120
22nd
105
23rd
90
24th
75
25th
60
Field
45
PGA Tour Events
field
35
make cut
+150
top 20
+300
win
+1000
Web.com Tour Events
field
30
make cut
+100
top 20
+225
win
+750
PGA Professional Champ.
field
0
make cut
+75
top 20
+150
win
+600
Major Championships
field
75
make cut
+300
top 20
+600
win
+2000
Chapter Championships
1st
300
2nd
270
3rd
260
4th
250
5th
240
6th
230
7th
220
8th
210
9th
200
10th
190
11th
180
12th
170
13th
160
14th
150
15th
140
16th
130
17th
120
18th
110
19th
100
20th
90
21st
80
22nd
70
23rd
60
24th
50
25th
40
Field
30
Participation points are awarded for any Pro-Pro, the Three Pro Championship, and Six Pro Championship.
DOES NOT INCLUDE: Section Championship, Professional Championship, Trustmark Invitational, Chapter
Championships, and the SPS.
Participation points awarded based on # of rounds completed. A player must sign and return a correct scorecard for each
round in order to receive the points.
15 points – 1 round event
30 points – 2 round event
45 points – 3 round event