When you son or daughter is scheduled to play in an NCGA Junior Tour tournament or any other tournament, there are a few things you and they should know in advance.
Tournament Format
The NCGA flights players by ability rather than age. This gives your child the opportunity to play with others of similar skill rather than being under or overwhelmed. Players with Handicap Indexes of 7.4 or lower will be placed in the Championship Flight. Players with indexes above that will be placed in the First Flight. If we have enough players with indexes of 7.5 or higher, we may create another flight. The yardages played will reflect this. In general the courses played will be in the ranges below:
- Boys Championship Flight: 6400 – 7000 yards
- Boys First Flight – 5700: 6400 yards
- Girls Championship Flight: 5700 – 6300 yards
- Girls First Flight: 5000 – 5700 yards
Occasionally there are younger shorter hitters who have achieved low handicaps on shorter courses. They might not be ready to play a longer course. If you have a younger child who might not be comfortable at these yardages, you might want to wait a year or two until he or she is ready for this length.
Because the NCGA pairs players by ability rather than age, it might happen that your child gets paired with players who are substantially older or younger. In general we try to make the pairings the first day with this in mind and try to keep a maximum age difference of three years for that day. But, due to players getting in off the wait list or a lack of players in that age range, it is not always possible. On the second day, players are paired by score. Therefore there is no way of ensuring any age range for play.
Starting Times and Tournament Information
The NCGA publishes starting times and Tournament Information sheets on our website approximately 7-10 days before the tournament. We will also send an e-mail to the address associated with the player’s account. Please make sure that you check this e-mail account regularly. Please read these documents carefully as they contain important useful information. We are constantly asked questions that are answered on the Tournament Information sheet because the parent or player didn’t read it.
Tournament Day
While many schedules are very busy these days, you should consider the day of a tournament to be dedicated to the tournament. Many times there are other events going on that day. We cannot accommodate requests for specific tee times so that you can make it somewhere else.
Remember that it is always the player’s responsibility to be at the tee on time and be ready to play. Failure to do so will result in a two-stroke penalty or disqualification. Therefore, always make sure you leave home with plenty of time to spare.
In an effort to keep costs and prices low, the NCGA is not providing any drinks or food at its tournaments in 2010. Therefore, you should be prepared with any drinks or food that your child might need. They will be available for purchase at the course.
Spectators must walk at all times so wear good walking shoes. If a spectator has a documented medical disability, accommodations can be made at NCGA tournaments. Please see the tournament director.
Second round starting times will be published shortly after the completion of the first round and will be available on our website. We also give copies to the pro shop at the course and you can call them. Since the first round is frequently over just before dark, the pro shop might be closed by the time pairings are available. So usually you won’t be able to call them until the next morning.
If the tournament has a shotgun start that day, players will be given local rules, hole-location sheets and scorecards at registration. If we have tee times, the players will receive these at their starting tee.
Registration
The NCGA Junior Tour has a registration table setup on day one of our tournaments. Players should come by the table to confirm their tee time and let us know they are onsite. Depending on the course, we may hand out range tokens at the registration table. Also, if it is a player’s first time with us for that calendar year, we will have a gift for them. There is NO registration on day two unless it is a shotgun start.
Electronic Measuring Devices
Both Laser Range Finders and Sky Caddie type devices are allowed at all NCGA tournaments as long as they do not measure anything other than distance.