Amateur Match Play Championship

16^th Amateur Match Play Championship

                                Sawgrass Country Club

East/West Course

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

August 9-12, 2007

www.sawgrasscountryclub.com

Memorandum to Contestants

On behalf of the FSGA, congratulations on qualifying for the 16^th Amateur Match Play Championship.  We hope that you enjoy your experience in competing at a State Championship and take many favorable memories from your time at the Sawgass Country Club.

Please take time to carefully read through this packet of information.  There are several important pieces of information contained here, some of which require action by you, by a certain time (e.g. hotel reservations, practice rounds, etc.).  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the FSGA Championship Department at (813) 632-3742 or championships@fsga.org.        

Registration Deadline

By 3:30 PM, Thursday, August 2^nd, each player must:

All qualifying players must remit to the FSGA office, $125 per team for advance payment of Championship fees at Sawgrass Country Club.  Championship fees include tee gift, cart fees and range balls for all competitive rounds. Players may send a check to the FSGA office or pay by credit card online through the My FSGA Account at www.fsga.org.  Payment must be received by 3:30 PM Thursday, August 2^nd, or you will be withdrawn from the Championship. Exempt players are automatically pre-registered with a complete entry. Exempt players will only be charged the $160 Championship fee.

Failure to meet this deadline will result in withdrawal of your entry.  The place will then be offered to an alternate.  We stress that all exempt and qualifying players must meet the deadline of 3:30 PM, Thursday, August 2^nd. 

Championship Format

18 holes of individual stroke play on Thursday (seeding round). Match play will begin on Friday morning.  Ties for seeds will be broken randomly.

Tee times & Groupings

Tee times and pairings groups for the seeding round will be arranged and posted on the FSGA website at www.fsga.org  on or before July 21st. All competitors with a valid email address on file with the FSGA will have a link to the pairings emailed to them.

Practice Rounds & Practice Facilities

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship.  Practice rounds will be restricted until after 1:00 PM on the weekends.  Only exempt and qualifying participants may play practice rounds.  Each player is allowed one practice round.

All players must use a cart and the cost of the practice round, including range balls and cart, is $35 plus tax.  Starting times for your practice round can be arranged by calling the club.  You may not make your practice tee time before groupings are made. Groupings will be made on Tuesday, July 21^st and faxed to the club that morning.  The Sawgrass Country Club golf shop telephone number is (904) 273-3720.

GPS and Range Finders

In this competition, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance ONLY. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.”

Sawgrass Country Club

The Membership, Management and the Board of Directors of Sawgrass Country Club would like all of you to enjoy your experience during the Amateur Championship.

·         Players are to change their shoes in the locker room; not in the parking lot.

·         Players are encouraged to use the services of the clubhouse including the buffets and grill room for food and beverage as well as the locker room and its services.

·         Gentlemen are prohibited from wearing their hats while in the club house.

·         Sawgrass Country Club strictly prohibits the use cell phones on the golf course and in the club house. Leave your cell phone in your car.

·         Yardage books will be available for purchase in the golf shop.

Lunch Buffets

Beginning on Wednesday (practice round), August 8^th, Sawgrass Country Club will have a soup, sandwich  & salad buffet each day throughout the Championship available for all players and spectators at the cost of $15.00 per person. Player will also have the ability to order off the club’s menu.

Dress Codes

Gentlemen are required to have shirts tucked in and hats worn properly while on the golf course.  The wearing of a mock turtle neck shirts designed for golf is permitted.

Remember that you are guests of Sawgrass Country Club. Entries are subject to rejection or withdrawal at any time (including during the event). The reason for rejection may include improper attire and/or unbecoming conduct.

Accommodations

Click on the link for hotels in the Ponte Vedra Beach area.  Then click on the hotel icon.  The FSGA does not have a host hotel.  www.fsga.org/championships/schedule.asp?y=2007.

Pace of Play

In order to accommodate 64 players, it is essential that the game be played at a brisk pace which may be defined as 4:12 in groups of three during the seeding round.  The pace of play will be monitored.  If and when it should become necessary to give each player in the group a penalty for slow play, we hope they will react with the understanding that we do it in the best interest of the Championship and the other players.  The pace of play for the Championship will be posted on the Notice to Players.

The FSGA pace of play policy utilizes a two checkpoint system.

• Players will not receive warnings.
• Each group is responsible for monitoring their own pace.
• To avoid penalty, groups must complete each checkpoint hole:

1. Within 15 minutes of the group ahead, or
2. Under the allotted time.
• Checkpoints will be on holes #9 and #18.
• All players in a group are subject to penalty.

Position with Group Ahead – To stay within 15 minutes of the group ahead, players should never have an open hole and they should be in the fairway on par 4’s and 5’s when the group ahead leaves the green.

As each group completes a checkpoint hole, a Checkpoint Official will signal a color-coded card indicating the group’s status.

Caddies/Spectators

Spectators are always welcome at FSGA Championships.  However, only players are allowed to ride in carts.  If a player employs a caddie, the caddie must walk and the player’s clubs must remain on the golf cart.

Carts

All players must ride during the Championship rounds. 

Registration

There will be a registration table outside the pro shop prior to the first round. All contestants are requested to check in. You will receive a tee favor and tournament information at the registration table.

Charges

Sawgrass Country Club accepts cash, Visa/MasterCard and American Express for payment.

Spike Policy

It is a condition of the Florida State Golf Association that shoes with traditionally designed spikes (regardless of composition, i.e. ceramic, plastic, etc.) or spikes, regardless of design, comprised either entirely or partially of metal (when such metal comes in contact with the surface of the putting green) are prohibited.  Penalty for breach of this condition: Disqualification.

Thank you and Good Luck!!

FSGA Championships Committee