Policies & Procedures
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility requirements to join the Southwest Seniors Golf Association (SWSGA) are as follows:
*Must be a male
*Must be of age 50 or older (or will turn 50 in the current calendar year)
*Must have a handicap index of 12 or better
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Membership dues are $125 per year, and are valid for one year from date of joining.
NON-MEMBER FEES
Non-members may play in tournaments for an additional $25 at each event. This non-member fee will be applied to membership dues if the player joins within one year of first participating. Payment of the $25 non-member fee in five tournaments within a 12-month period will constitute full annual membership dues payment, with the first tournament participation marking the date which annual dues began. If annual renewal of dues is not received by due date, member is deemed a non-member on said due date. Subsequent payment of dues, whether it is full annual dues or partial non-member dues, marks the beginning of a new calendar year.
MEMBERS REFERRAL BENEFIT
Any member who refers a new member to join will receive a $25 credit that may only be applied to his next dues payment. The referring member's name must be indicated on the new member's application form.
Each monthly mailing will include a Membership Dues renewal form for all members whose dues will expire by the end of the following month. If a member has earned a referral credit, the amount due will be changed on the form to reflect the credit.
MEDICAL DUES EXTENSION
If a member becomes unable to participate due to a medical reason, he may request an extension of his annual dues. The member must submit in writing his request for a dues extension and the medical reason for such request, and dues may be extended upon Committee approval.
TOURNAMENT RULES
USGA Rules will apply in all events, amended only by Local Rules included on the Notice to Contestants placed on each cart at each event.
Proper golf attire shall be worn at all SWSGA events. Collared shirts must be worn, and no denim is allowed.
Use of mobile phones and pagers is not permitted during tournament play, except to report an emergency, or to call an official for a ruling.
TOURNAMENT ENTRY POLICIES
Pre-payment of the tournament entry fee and, if applicable, the non-member fee, is required for all events. The deadline for tournament entry payment is the Friday before each event. Participants who have not pre-paid by the entry deadline are subject to exclusion from tournament pairings, or to a late-payment assessment on tournament entry fee.
TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION POLICY
Tournament cancellation less than 24 hours prior to any event will result in loss of entry fee.
There are no refunds for tournament entry fees. Tournament cancellation more than 24 hours prior to an event will result in the entry fee being credited for a future event. Credit must be used within next 3 events, or will be forfeited.
When a credit is to be used for a future event, notification of the intent to use the credit must be submitted in writing.
TOURNAMENT PRIZES
Purse breakdown depends on number of players. The number of winning teams and winning individuals is determined by size of field, and the number of players in each age group, respectively. Ties for last payoff spots shall be settled by a scorecard playoff. Winners shall be determined on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the tying teams or individuals have the same score for the last nine holes, then winners shall be determined on the basis of the best score for the last six holes, then the last three holes, and finally the 18th hole.
Amateur winners shall be paid with a gift card (from Van's Golf Shops). Professional winners, Optional Cash Pool winners, and Hole-in-One (or Deuce) Pot winners shall be paid with a check from the SWSGA.
Individual amateur contests include winners in low gross scores and low net scores in 3 age groups. Age groups are defined by ages 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over. An amateur may win in low gross or low net individual contests, but not both. A winner in both low gross and low net will be paid from the division that pays the most dollar value only.
Individual professional contests include winners in low gross in 3 age groups. Age groups for professionals shall be as equal in size as possible. Therefore, age ranges for each group will vary from month to month, depending on the ages of participating professionals.
OPTIONAL CASH POOL AND HOLE-IN-ONE POT
An Optional Cash Pool is offered at each event. Cost to enter the Optional Cash Pool is $20, with $1 going to the Hole-in-One Pot. 60% of the remaining Optional Cash Pool pays low gross score and low net score winners (30% for gross, 30% for net). Players can win in low gross or low net, but not both (5/18/2011a winner in both low gross and low net will be paid from the division that pays the most dollar value only). 20% of the Optional Cash Pool pays gross skins, and 20% of the pool pays net skins. Players may win both gross and net skins on same hole. Gross and net skins pools are separate pools, so skins in one pool may be of different value than those in the other pool.
At each monthly event, one dollar ($1) of every $20 entry in the Optional Cash Pool will go into the Hole-in-one Pot. If a player makes a hole-in-one (gross only), he will win the pot, and a new pot will be started at the next event. If no player makes a hole-in-one, the pot will carry over to the next event. Only Optional Cash Pool participants are eligible to win the Hole-in one Pot. If the pot is not won before our December event, then it will become a "Deuce Pot" at that event, whereby all players who score any gross deuces (2's) at the year's final event will split the pot.
PAIRING REQUESTS
Members may request (and are encouraged) to play with a non-member (guest). However, a member may request to play with the same non-member only one time in a 12-month period. When a member requests to play with a non-member (or vice-versa), it is considered a 2-way request from both the member and the non-member. In other words, neither player may request to play with that same player within a 12-month period.
Other pairing request policies are as follows:
Members may not request to play with other members.
Members may not request to play with more than one non-member at an event. Non-members may not request to play with more than one non-member at an event.
Pairings are made on the Saturday prior to each event. After legitimate pairing requests are accommodated, pairings are randomly computed by Tournament Manager software. Pairings are then e-mailed to members and to non-member participants.
HANDICAPS
Handicaps are calculated monthly by Handicap System software, and only scores for SWSGA events are used in calculations. Each player's last 8 scores are used, and the 3 highest scores are dropped. Then, 96% of the average over par is the player's handicap. A minimum of 5 scores is needed to calculate a handicap after a player joins the SWSGA. A player will keep the handicap he reported at his first event until a 5th score is obtained, unless he scores lower than his reported handicap, in which case his handicap will be manually lowered. After a player has played in 5 events, the 2 highest scores are dropped. After a player has played in 8 events, the 2 highest scores are dropped. Golf course slope and rating are used in the handicap calculation for each event. The maximum handicap the SWSGA will allow a player to have after 5 events with the SWSGA is 14.
SCORING
After completion of the round, each competitor is responsible for checking his score for each hole and settling any doubtful points with the team and/or the Committee. The scorecard marker must ensure that all team members have signed the scorecard, and then must place the scorecard in the Committee scorecard box within 6 minutes after completion of play. No alteration may be made on the scorecard after it has been placed in the Committee scorecard box.
PACE OF PLAY
Players must play without undue delay and in accordance with pace of play guidelines established by the Committee. If a team falls out of position, an official shall issue a warning. If pace of play (i.e. team position) is not improved within 40 minutes (or 3 holes), the team score shall be assessed a 2-stroke penalty on the hole the team is playing after the 40 minutes have elapsed, unless otherwise specified by the tournament committee.
FAILURE TO COMPLETE A HOLE
For improved pace of play, it should be noted that if a player does not complete a hole, he is still eligible for the closest-to-pin competitions, and (if he entered the cash pool) is still eligible for gross and net skins, and the Hole-in-one Pot. If a player does not complete a hole, he will not be eligible for low gross or low net scores. The Committee recommends that, if a player's score will not help his team score, he should not complete the hole, and enter an 'X' for his score on that hole.
The SWSGA tournament software will not allow a score of 'X' on a hole. So if a player does not complete a hole, he will have a triple bogey entered for his score. The software will automatically adjust the entered score to the maximum score allowed (per USGA policies) depending on the player's handicap.
PLAYER CONDUCT
Conduct "unbecoming of a SWSGA member" will not be tolerated. Any conduct deemed inappropriate shall be properly dealt with by the Committee, and may result in membership termination.
TED KING TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (T of C)
Players on the top 2 winning teams at each event of the year will qualify for the end-of-the-year Ted King Tournament of Champions (T of C) to be held in early January of the following year. Also, the top 2 individual winners in their age groups (for professionals and amateurs alike) will qualify for the T of C.
Each qualifier for the T of C must be a fully paid member on the date of the T of C in order to participate in the T of C.
SWSGA STEERING COMMITTEE
The SWSGA has a Steering Committee comprised of 7 professional and amateur members, with a maximum of 4 professional or 4 amateur committee members. The Steering Committee is responsible for setting forth SWSGA policies and procedures, for creating and adhering to an annual budget, and for general administrative guidance. Committee officers include a President and a Secretary/Treasurer.
Committee members meet once a month. Each committee member must attend at least 8 meetings per year, and play in at least 6 SWSGA events per year.
SWSGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The SWSGA has and Executive Director who handles all administrative responsibilities for every tournament and for the general monthly administration of the association. All correspondence should be directed to the Executive Director, and he/she will contact and involve the SWSGA President and/or the Steering Committee as needed.
