2010 Player Code of Conduct

Our primary goal is to promote juniors who are determined to grow their competitive edge, build character, display sportsmanship and gain confidence in golf and in life. The staff strives to make each tournament a memorable experience for every player. With our goals in mind, this tour can only run at a top level if we all participate in the success of it. Players need to display extraordinary effort, attitude and sportsmanship. We require admirable behavior before, during and following each and every tournament you participate in. The Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines for our junior golfers to follow throughout the tournament season and into the future. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to help our players become confident, mature individuals by understanding and learning from the consequences of their own actions.

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUGS:

Use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs, on or off the course, will not be tolerated and will be considered a violation of the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour Player's Code of Conduct. This violation will result in automatic disqualification and/or suspension from future events.

ETIQUETTE/ON-COURSE BEHAVIOR:

Serious breaches of etiquette can result in disqualification and/or suspension from future events. Violations include, but are not limited to:

Abusive, obscene and vulgar language
Disrespect shown to volunteers, course officials, golf professionals, staff and other competitors
Throwing clubs, violent and erratic club swinging, etc.
Mistreatment of the golf course in anyway
Advice from parents/spectators
Cheating

OFF-COURSE BEHAVIOR:

By now you have all had tournament experience and have been faced with witnessing or hearing about cheating on the course. Be proud of who you are and the great sport you love. Don't be tempted to improve your lie, move your ball, shorten your putt, or miscount your strokes. Hold the others in your group to your high standards.

We at Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour value our respected reputation. We expect all participants to conduct themselves in a mature manner, on and off the course, while participating in any Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour event. Serious breaches of off-course etiquette can result in disqualification and/or suspension from future events.

CHEATING:

The Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour will not tolerate cheating. If there is not a rules official present, it is your responsibility as a player to protect the integrity of the game.

Be honest about your score and the score of the player you are marking for
Do not seek advice from parents/spectators (ex. club choice, yardage, etc.)
Make sure you confirm scores at the conclusion of each hole. If there is a disagreement, retrace the player's shots prior to beginning the next hole.

ATTIRE:

Proper attire must be worn at all times during competition as well as during practice rounds. First violation will result in a verbal warning; second violation will result in disqualification.

Collared shirts or mock turtlenecks must be worn and tucked in at all times
Girls may wear sleeveless shirts, but they must have a collar.
If a hat is worn, it should be worn in the proper manner
No bare mid-drifts at any time

RMJGT LOCAL RULES & CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION:

At each tournament there is usually an additional set of rules known as the Local Rules Addendum that take into consideration the circumstances and condition of that particular golf course. Any changes and additions to these Local Rules will be provided on a Local Rules Addendum sheet at each event. All RMJGT tournament players are urged to become familiar with the RMJGT Local Rules and Conditions of the Competition. Please print out a copy and keep it in your golf bag for easy reference.

RMJGT HARD CARD:

All tournaments conducted by the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour are conducted under the USGA Rules of Golf and the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour Local Rules as listed below. Unless otherwise stated, penalty for the breach of a Local Rule is two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play. Any questions should be resolved before the scorecard is signed and turned in. Disregard any local rules printed on the course scorecard.

Golf Balls and Clubs: Only golf balls that have been tested and are on the current list of USGA Conforming Golf Balls may be used. All clubs must meet USGA specifications. Penalty - Disqualification.
Pace of Play: Rule 6-7 will be enforced as per RMJGT Pace of Play guidelines.
Embedded Ball: Anywhere "through the green", a ball that is embedded in its own pitch mark, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as nearly as possible to the spot where it lay, but not nearer the hole. Reference Exception 1 for where relief can be taken.
Out of bounds is fixed by a white line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds. All public roads are deemed out of bounds and if not otherwise marked, the nearest edge of the concrete/asphalt or curbing shall be the boundary. If a ball crosses a public road and comes to rest on another part of the course, it is deemed out of bounds.
Ground Under Repair: Areas enclosed with white lines. French drains are also considered ground under repair.
Water Hazards/Lateral Water Hazards: Defined by yellow lines and/or yellow stakes. Stakes identify, lines define. When a water hazard or a lateral water hazard is defined only on one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.
White lines tied into obstructions are part of that obstruction.
Permanent elevated power lines and cable: If a ball strikes such a line or cable, the stroke shall be cancelled and must be replayed without penalty.
Late to tee: If a player arrives ready to play at the starting tee within 5 minutes after the assigned starting time, the penalty is loss of the first hole in match play, or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Later than 5 minutes results in disqualification.
Suspension of play for a dangerous situation: As per rule 6-8 and Appendix 1-4, all practice areas are closed during a suspension for a dangerous situation. Suspensions for a dangerous situation shall be signaled by one prolonged air horn blast. All other types of suspension shall be signaled by several short blasts.
Doubt as to Procedure: (In stroke play only) If during the play of a hole a competitor is doubtful of his rights or procedure, he may, without penalty, play a second ball as outlined in Rule 3-3. Prior to proceeding, the player should announce he is invoking the rule and declare which ball he intends to score with. The player is also required to report his procedure to the committee.
Integral Parts of the Course: Includes cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees, liners in bunkers, railroad ties and other support walls when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided in Local Rules Addendum
Temporary Immovable Obstruction: Local Rule in Appendix 1 is in effect.
Newly Sodded Areas: If a ball lies in or touches a sod seam, or the seam interferes with the player's area of intended swing, the player may, without penalty, lift the ball and clean it and drop the ball as near as possible to where it originally lay, not nearer the hole, where it avoids interference by the condition and is not in a hazard or on a putting green. Relief should also be granted if the seam interferes with the player's area of intended swing.

PACE OF PLAY:

The pace of play at our events is very important to us. We are discouraged by six hour rounds as much as you are. To try to alleviate pace of play issues, please keep in mind the amount of time allotted for each hole:

par 5: 18 minutes
par 4: 15 minutes
par 3: 12 minutes

At the start of every event, the starter will announce the amount of time you are allotted to play the course. If the first group plays longer than the alloted time, they will be considered "out of position". For all of the groups following to be considered "out of position", they will have failed in two ways. First, they will have taken longer than the allotted time to play and an entire hole will be open ahead of them. We will notify a group when they are out of position and will give them a chance to regain their position. If a ruling or ball search has delayed the group causting them to become "out of position", the group wil be expected to regain their position within two holes. If they fail to regain their position, they will be subject to penalty.

Once we have realized that a group is "out of position", monitoring will occur by a Rules Official or other RMJGT Staff Member. Each player is expected to play a shot in no longer than 40 seconds, excluding play on the putting green. Timing will begin once the player has reached his/her ball, it's his/her time to play and there are no distractions. Determining yardages will be considered as part of your shot and will be included in the timing.

Penalties for being "out of position":

1st violation: verbal warning
2nd violation: 1 stroke penalty
3rd violation: 2 stroke penalty
Additional voilations: disqualification

CELL PHONE POLICY:

Use of cell phones by players, parents or spectators will not be permitted at any time during tournament play. IPOD and MP3 Players are not permitted either. If a player violates this policy, they will be disqualified.

MEASURING DEVICES/RANGE FINDERS:

Measuring devices and range finders are allowed in all Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour events.

CADDY POLICY:

Most of our events will not allow caddies, however, we will provide opportunities throughout the year for juniors to experience working with a caddy. Please refer to the specific tournaments information page to see if caddies are allowed.

STROKE LIMIT POLICY:

There is no stroke limit in the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour.

WEATHER DELAY/CANCELLATION:

In the event of inclement weather, the RMJGT staff will sound one long air horn. At that point, play needs to stop immediately and shelter needs to be found. An event will only be cancelled if the players' safety and well being is threatened or if the course becomes unplayable.