Senior Amateur Championship

March 2, 2011

Dear Participant

Welcome to Southwest Florida’s premier golf experience at The Ritz-Carlton Members Club, Sarasota. When the best of ingredients are combined through skilled hands the result can only be something memorable.  The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club is just that, an acclaimed Tom Fazio golf experience, world class facilities, PGA Tour quality course conditions, all combined with the storied service and hospitality that has made The Ritz-Carlton famous.

This day in age, it is rare to find a place where your surroundings allow the pace of life to slow down a few notches.  Our golf club is pure golf, no homes, just golf.  The Members and Guests enjoy 125 different types of landscape and plant material rolling through evaluation changes as high as 55 feet; unusual for Florida.  The stage is set for a place where golfers can not only play our favorite game, but take a moment to soak up the outdoors in a unique environment.

We are privileged to have the opportunity to host 2011 Florida State Senior Amateur at our championship venue in this the 50^th playing of the tournament.  You’ll have the chance to walk the same fairways of the best golfers from around the state and nation, while taking pleasure in all that Sarasota’s top golf experience has to offer. 

Practice Rounds will be available starting April 1^st, 2011.  Fees are $35 for participants and $95 for guests of participants.  We do require use of a forecaddie before Noon, and applicable fees apply for caddie and gratuity. Limited quantities of lockers are available for overnight use by players requesting a locker; the club prefers not to store guests clubs during the course of the tournament. 

Our club invites you to watch the Masters on Sunday before or after your practice round.  Food and beverage specials will be available to the players Sunday through Wednesday.  Please feel welcome at our facility during the course of the week, you’ve earned your spot in this championship and we congratulate you for that.  Don’t hesitate to contact us in the golf shop at 941-309-2900 with any further questions or special requests.

We look forward to seeing you in April at The Ritz-Carlton:

In anticipation,

Glen Murray, PGA

Director of Golf Operations

The Ritz-Carlton Members Club, Sarasota

50^th Senior Amateur Championship

The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club

Bradenton, Florida

April 11-13, 2011

Championship Information

Memorandum to Contestants

On behalf of the FSGA, congratulations on qualifying for the 50^th Senior Amateur Championship.  We hope that you enjoy your experience in competing at a State Championship and take many favorable memories from your time at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Please take time to carefully read this 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, pre-registration and practice rounds, etc.).  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the FSGA Championship Department at (813) 868-5850 or championships@fsga.org.     

Pre-Registration Deadline

BY 3:30 PM, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6^th, EACH SUCCESSFUL QUALIFIER MUST:

Remit to the FSGA office, $200 for advance payment of Championship Fees.  Championship fees include cart fees, tee gift 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” section of the FSGA website at www.fsga.org.  Payment must be received by 3:30 PM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6^th, or you will be withdrawn from the Championship. Exempt players are automatically pre-registered with a complete entry

If we have received your payment for your championship fees by WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6^th, you have pre-registered for the Championship. 

Championship Format

54 holes of individual stroke play.  The field will be cut after the second round to the low 60 players and ties.   The lowest score for 54 holes will be the Champion in each division.

There will be a hole by hole play-off immediately following play in case of a tie.

Groupings

Initial groupings will be for two days; the field will be re-paired by score after the second round.  Round three tee times will start at 8:00 AM off of the first & tenth tees.  Tee times and pairings groups will be arranged and posted on the FSGA website at www.fsga.org  no later than Friday, April 1^st.

All competitors with a valid email address on file with the FSGA or who have provided a cell number for texting will have a link to the pairings emailed or a text message sent to them.

Practice Rounds

All players must take a cart and the cost of the practice round, including range balls and cart, is $35 plus tax. Only exempt and qualifying participants may play practice rounds. 

Practice rounds are available Tuesday, April 5^th – Saturday, April 9^th after 11 AM and on Sunday, April 10^th after 9 AM. Players playing a practice round before 12 PM must take a forecaddie. The forecaddie fee is $25 (so the practice round fee is $60 total), and the caddie gratuity recommended is at $20 plus per player based on the level of service.

Starting times for your practice round can be arranged by calling the club. The golf shop telephone number is (941) 309-2900.   

You may not make your practice round tee time before groupings are made.

Players will be allowed to practice after their practice rounds on Sunday and after each competitive round.  The practice facilities will close at 6:30 PM each day.  Any players playing a practice round before Sunday, April 10^th will be allowed to use the practice facility before that round only.

GPS and Range Finders Allowed

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.

Food and Beverage

Beginning on Sunday (practice round), April 10^th, The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club will have a tournament menu arranged for the players each day throughout the Championship, available for all players and spectators.  

Pace of Play

In order to accommodate 144 players, it is essential that the game be played at a brisk pace. During the Championship rounds 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. Under the allotted time, or
2. Within 15 minutes of the group ahead.
• 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 advise the group of their status.

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 shirt designed for golf is permitted.

Remember that you are a guest of The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf 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 Bradenton area.  The FSGA does not have a host hotel.   Click here for hotel information.

Registration

There will be a registration table set up in front of the men’s locker room at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club to pick up your tee gift and player information the day before the Championship from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  This is NOT a mandatory registration.  Tee gifts and player information will be available for pick up before the competitive rounds for players not playing a practice round on Monday. If we have received your payment for your Championship fees by Wednesday, April 6^th you have pre-registered for the Championship.

Additional Services

A limited amount of bag storage and lockers will be available for competitors on a first-come, first served basis. The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club will not be responsible for any lost items.

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.

The club does have an active caddie program.  If a player wishes to employ a club caddie, please contact the caddie master at 941-309-2917.  Players must make their own reservations if they wish to employ a caddie.

Carts

All players must ride during the Championship rounds.  

Payment

The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club accepts Cash, Visa/MasterCard & American Express as payment for all meals and other services.

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

Directions to The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, Bradenton

15150 70th Terrace East      
Bradenton, FL 34202 

(941) 309-2900

From Hotel - Fruitville Rd. EAST to I-75. NORTH on I-75 to University Pkwy. EAST on University Pkwy to Lorraine Rd. NORTH on Lorraine 2 miles to entrance.

From North/Airport – I-275 WEST/SOUTH to I-75 SOUTH. I-75 SOUTH to State Rd 70. EAST on State Rd 70 to Lorraine Rd. SOUTH on Lorraine 1 mile to entrance.

From South/Naples – I-75 NORTH to University Pkwy. EAST on University Pkwy to Lorraine Rd. NORTH on Lorraine 2 miles to entrance.