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2023 LONG BEACH MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Terms of Competition

Play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf, Effective January 2023, the Local Rules as described in the Notice to Players distributed to players at the tournament site, and these Terms of Competition. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Term of Competition is the General Penalty.

THE COMPETITION: The lowest 64 aggregate gross scores from the 36-hole Qualifier will proceed to Bracket Play. In case of ties for the final spot(s) in the 64-player Bracket Play field, a sudden-death playoff will be held immediately following regulation play on Friday September 15. Single-elimination Bracket Round play will begin on Saturday September 16..

CODE OF CONDUCT: By submitting an entry for play in the Long Beach Match Play Championship, the contestant understands that he may be Disqualified by the Tournament Committee under Rule 1.2b at any time before or during the competition for unbecoming conduct, including, but not limited to:

Willful damage of the golf course or golf course property
Club throwing
Offensive, threatening, or unbecoming language or actions
Verbal abuse of LBGF staff, officials, volunteers, host club staff, or other competitors
Potential endangerment of others
Manipulation of scores posted for handicapping purposes or other acts of cheating

The contestant also understands that appropriate golf clothing must be worn at all times; no denim pants, short shorts, tee shirts, or tank tops, and that non-compliance with this dress code constitutes a breach of the Code of Conduct.

The penalty for breach of the Code of Conduct is a warning for the first offense and Disqualification for a second offense.

TEE TIMES & PAIRINGS: Qualifying Round One AND Round Two starting times will be posted on the Match Play Championship portal three days prior to the beginning of the tournament. Players will remain in the same groups for both rounds, with Round One starting times inversed for Round Two. At the conclusion of Qualifier play, the tournament bracket and Round of 64 pairings will be posted on the Championship portal by 8:00 PM on Friday September 15.

TIME OF STARTING: All players must be present at the proper tee, ready to play, at their scheduled time, or if starting times fall behind, when the starter calls the first player in the group to play. Any player not present and ready to play at the time the first player in the group is called to the tee, shall be penalized the General Penalty. If the competitor arrives more than five (5) minutes late for his assigned time he shall be DISQUALIFIED.

TEE MARKERS & HOLE LOCATIONS: All competitors will play from the BLUE tee markers during both Qualifying play and Bracket play. Flags indicate: red-front; white-middle; blue-back. Additionally, Hole Location Sheets will be available at the Starter’s table for all rounds of the Championship.

PRACTICE:

Model Local Rule I-1 is in effect, modifying Rule 5-2a in this way: A player must not practice on the competition course before or between rounds, with the exception being that competitors may play practice rounds on the tournament course during the days intervening between the first and second weekends of competition. Penalty for the first breach is the General Penalty, applied to the player’s first hole on that course; penalty for the second breach is Disqualification.
Model Local Rule I-2 is in effect, modifying Rule 5-5b is modified in this way: Between the play of two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just completed. Penalty for breach is the General Penalty.

CONFORMING EQUIPMENT LISTS: For driver heads, Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect (Model Local Rule G-1). For golf balls, Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect (Model Local Rule G-3). Regarding club grooves and punch-mark specifications, Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect (Model Local Rule G-2).

DISTANCE-MEASURING DEVICES: Hand-held or other devices (yardage or GPS devices) may be used, but ONLY to measure distance. Players using devices with features that gauge or measure other conditions in addition to distance (e.g. wind or gradient) must switch those feature(s) off during tournament play (Rule 4.3a). The General Penalty will be assessed for a first violation, and the player will be Disqualified for a second violation.

OTHER LOCAL RULES: The following Local Rules, found in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, shall be in effect:

Ground Under Repair Treated as Part of Nearby Obstruction:

White lines areas and the artificially-surfaced road or path they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1 (Model Local Rule F-3.1)
Where areas of damaged ground are right next to artificially-surfaced roads or paths and rutted or damaged areas adjacent to bunkers where maintenance equipment enters/exits they are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1 (Model Local Rule F-3.2)

Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens: Model Local Rule F-5 is in effect and is modified as follows – For a ball in the general area, relief is allowed when both the ball and the immovable obstruction lie in an area cut to fairway height or less.

Relief From Seams of Cut Turf: Model Local Rule F-7 is in effect and is modified as follows – Relief is for lie of ball only.

Damage by Animals: Model Local Rule F-10 is in effect and is modified as follows – Relief is for lie of ball only.

All Roads and Paths Treated as Obstructions: Model Local Rule F-17 is in effect.

Prohibiting or Restricting Use of Audio and Video Devices: Model Local Rule G-4 is in effect.

Replacement of Club that is Broken or Significantly Damaged: Model Local Rule G-9 as prescribed in the Clarifications to the 2019 Rules of Golf is in effect.

SECOND BALL: Rule 20.1c(3), which authorizes play of a second ball when doubtful of your rights or procedure does not apply in Match Play, where Rule 20.1b stipulates how to resolve Rules issues.

CADDIES: Caddies are allowed, under the following conditions:

Caddies may drive or ride in the cart of the player for whom they are caddying, unless by so doing they would displace another player in the group. The golf course reserves the right to limit to two carts per group
Caddies must not hold up play or challenge Rules Committee or Tournament Officials' directions.
Caddies may not give a "playing lesson" during the tournament or hold up play in any manner. Caddies may be asked to leave by the Rules Committee or Tournament Director if a delay occurs due to their actions.
Individuals designated as Caddies are subject to the provision of Rule 10.3c for any breach of the Rules of Golf.

SPECTATOR CARTS: Spectator carts will not be allowed during the tournament, with the sole exception being that of carts requested due to physical handicaps or medical conditions, assuming sufficient carts for course play. In those instances, proof of disability (e.g. a doctor’s note, handicapped driver hangtag, placard, etc.) must be presented to a Festival staff member at Tournament Headquarters onsite. The handicapped spectator will then be given a golf cart placard to bring to the golf shop to secure a cart rental.

PROMPT PACE OF PLAY: Rule 5.6b states "A round of golf is meant to be played at a prompt pace.” Accordingly, the Committee has established the following Local Rules: A group is deemed out of position when starting the play of any par 4 or par 5, which is clear of all players, and the elapsed time for the round averages 15 minutes or more for the holes completed. In such case, all players in the group shall be notified that they are being observed and timed. A player is subject to penalty if his group is out of position, has been informed that they will be timed, and takes more than 40 seconds to play ANY stroke. Penalties for failure to maintain a prompt pace are as defined: First offense – warning; second offense – one stroke; third offense – two additional strokes; fourth offense – Disqualification.

SCORECARDS: With respect to Qualifying rounds, signed and attested scorecards shall be returned, without delay, to the designated scoring area following the stipulated round. Once the player has exited the designated scoring area, the card is deemed officially submitted. With respect to Bracket play rounds, the winning competitor in each match is required to appear in the designated scoring area upon completion of the match, with a single scorecard that displays the agreed-upon results of the match.

CLOSE OF COMPETITION: The Qualifying Competition is closed when the Match Play bracket and pairings have been posted. The Match Play Competition is closed when awards have been presented.

PLAYOFF: In case of ties within the Qualifying field, seeding will be determined by a card-off, employing the countback method of successively comparing: (1) the final 9 holes; (2) the final 6 holes; (3) the final 3 holes; (4) the final hole. The exception to this is if there is a tie for the final place(s) in the 64-player bracket-play field. In that instance, the players involved in that tie will take part in a sudden death playoff to determine the final seed(s). The playoff will start on a tee designated by the Committee, and will begin within five minutes of the determination that a tie exists.

PRIZES: In accordance with USGA Rules regarding the definition of amateurs, all prizes will be awarded in the form of gift cards or vouchers that may be redeemed for their market value of goods or services. No cash prizes will be awarded. Prizes will be awarded to each player who wins a bracket-round match, and will be successively larger for further progression in the field.

POSTING SCORES: Following each of the two rounds of Qualifying play, the Long Beach Golf Festival Committee will use USGA-approved software to post competitor’s gross scores to the GHIN system, which will update player Handicap Indexes according to WHS calculations and procedures. All scores will be posted as “C” scores (competition scores).