Participants in Northern California Golf Association tournaments must read the following information. Players are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations concerning participation in NCGA events.
Conditions of Play
The Northern California Golf Association reserves the right to decline or withdraw any entry at any time. Any person whose entry is accepted shall be subject to the rules and conditions of play set forth by the NCGA. Any act of unsportsmanlike conduct, including but not limited to the use of obscene or abusive language, will be cause for disqualification. NOTE: The NCGA will not make any provisions for a player asking for special consideration due to other commitments. In other words, make it your lone project for the day.
Official Time
The clock at the tee (1st or 10th) where the player begins his/her stipulated round is the official time of starting. Starters will not page players in advance of their starting time. Players should report to the tee one starting interval prior to their starting time.
Tournament Eligibility
NCGA tournaments (except the NCGA Junior Championship) are open to amateur golfers who are members of a current NCGA member club in good standing. This includes being in compliance with the Handicap Certification Program. Members of clubs that are not in compliance will not be allowed to participate in NCGA tournaments. The USGA’s definition of an amateur golfer is the standard of the NCGA. Applicants must have a current numeric index (CI) listed on the master report of the month of entry closing and meet all the eligibility requirements for the event they are entering. Any member who has not established a current numeric index is ineligible. For club events multi-members can only represent ONE club.
Tournament Entry Deadlines
All NCGA tournaments may be entered at any time provided the entry is received by the entry closing date. For those entering ONLINE, registration must be completed by 12 MIDNIGHT, day of close. The closing dates are located on the tournament calendar. Entries should be mailed at least 7 working days prior to the closing date to assure mail delivery. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. THE NCGA DOES NOT ACCEPT TELEPHONE, FAX, E-MAIL OR WALK-IN ENTRIES.
Mailing Your Entries/Qualifying Certificates
All mailed entries must be received through the NCGA Lock Box in San Francisco. Address to: Northern California Golf Association, Department #44323, P.O. Box 44000, San Francisco, CA 94144-4323. To overnight entries you must use the United States Post Office Express Mail ONLY. All other carriers will not deliver to a P.O. Box. ENTRIES MAILED DIRECTLY TO THE NCGA OFFICES WILL BE RETURNED.
Online Registration
Available for all events at www.ncga.org. When registration is completed, a player’s credit card will be charged the full qualifying fee. If a player withdraws, he/she will receive a refund less a $5.00 online service fee. If the player qualifies for the championship proper the credit card will be charged once more for the championship fee. The registration process MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT or your entry will be date stamped for the next day and be rejected.
Tournament Information
Information concerning course assignment, pairings, starting times, etc. will be e-mailed to the player or each team member approximately 10-14 days prior to the event and also posted on the NCGA website (www.ncga.org). If you do not have an e-mail address the information will be mailed to the address on your entry. If you have not received your information within seven days of the event, it is YOUR responsibility to contact the NCGA Rules & Competitions Dept. DO NOT CALL MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
Tournament Entry Fees
Entry fees for all tournaments cover GREEN FEES ONLY at the qualifying and/or championship sites. They DO NOT include golf carts. Golf carts, whether optional or mandatory, are the individual player’s responsibility unless otherwise specified for a particular event.
Handicap Adjustments
The NCGA reserves the right to adjust a player’s handicap prior to any net competition based upon previous performances in NCGA events.
Course Handicaps
The current index as of the qualifying and/or championship date is used to determine the player’s course handicap for most NCGA tournaments. Refer to tournament description.
NCGA Membership
When filling out your entry application, it is important that you list your NCGA membership number and club number (found in the back of the Bluebook under Golf Course/Club Listings). NCGA club numbers begin with 53 or 63. All other club numbers are invalid. If you have changed clubs between the time you sent in your application and the tournament, it is your responsibility to notify the Rules and Competitions Department of the change. Additionally, you must have a current NCGA numeric index at the time of the entry closing date. If you are representing a team, you must be a member in good standing of that club. FOR CLUB EVENTS, MULTI-MEMBERS CAN ONLY REPRESENT ONE CLUB. NCGA membership is not official until a member’s name and numeric index are on the club’s master report.
Withdrawls
To withdraw for any reason players MUST notify the NCGA Rules and Competitions Department at (831) 625-4653. Failure to notify the NCGA will cause the player to be listed as a NO SHOW resulting in a ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION FROM ALL NCGA EVENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE INFRACTION. A player who only contacts the course and NOT the NCGA will incur the suspension.
Online Withdrawls
Players that enter online may also withdraw online before 12:00 p.m. Monday prior to a tournament that starts on Thursday; or before 12:00 p.m. Wednesday prior to a tournament that starts on Monday. After that, players must contact the NCGA directly.
Substitutions
Allowed prior to qualifying only, except for Zone events and Team Match. For Club Events Only: All substitutions must be made by the tournament chairman or a club official ¾ not the player. A player withdrawing needs to contact his club and then the official will contact the NCGA with their substitute. Note: No substitutions will be accepted for any Thursday qualifiers after 5:00 p.m. the previous Tuesday.
No-Shows
A player who does not show up and does not notify the NCGA shall receive a ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION FROM ALL NCGA EVENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE INFRACTION. This includes team/club events. NO SHOWS also include a player who starts and withdraws prior to the close of the competition and has not turned in his scorecard personally to a tournament official. Failure to comply will result in the same one-year suspension.
Refunds
Refund less $5.00 if requested prior to closing date. NO REFUNDS WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. MAILED/PAPER ENTRIES: 50% refunds given after closing date BUT PLAYER MUST NOTIFY the NCGA by Monday at 5:00 p.m., prior to a tournament that begins on Thursday; or by Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. prior to a tournament that begins on Monday. ONLINE ENTRIES: After closing, a 50% refund will be honored up to Monday at MIDNIGHT, prior to a qualifying tournament or a championship that starts on Thursday; or by Wednesday at MIDNIGHT, prior to a tournament that begins on Monday.
Dress Code
PLAYERS and CADDIES must be properly attired both on the golf course and premises of the club. Blue jeans, designer jeans, T-shirts and tank tops are prohibited. Golf shirts must be worn and shorts must be no shorter than mid-thigh (no jean shorts). DRESS CODE IS THE SAME FOR MEN AND WOMEN. This dress code will be used at all NCGA tournaments in conjunction with any additional dress code restrictions of the particular golf course you are assigned. A player or caddie violating this dress code will not be permitted to start the competition. A violation of this dress code by either the player or his caddie during the stipulated round must be rectified without undue delay or the player will not be allowed to continue play or the caddie will not be allowed to perform the acts of a caddie.
Spectators
Walking spectators are always welcome at NCGA Championships. However, for qualifying events, contact the assigned course regarding its policy. SPECTATORS ARE PROHIBITED FROM USING GOLF CARTS.
Golf Carts
When golf carts are permitted in a USGA/CGA/NCGA event, its use is limited to transporting players and/or their clubs. When a player is prohibited from riding, the player’s caddie is also prohibited from riding. Only two carts are permitted per foursome.
Cellular Phones
The use of cellular phones or similar electronic devices by a player or his caddie during a stipulated round is prohibited. Failure to observe this condition of the competition may result in disciplinary action including withdrawing a player’s playing privileges for the rest of the championship or for the same event the following year.
Incomplete Rounds in Qualifiers
When weather conditions or darkness threaten to suspend play during a NCGA qualifying event, the following procedure will be used to determine the qualifier from that site. Play will consist of two stipulated rounds of nine holes each. If the entire field completes 18 holes, qualifying will be based on the total score for the two stipulated rounds. If the entire field completes nine holes only, the qualifying score will be based on the nine-hole stipulated round. If this is an individual net competition, the player’s score will be his gross score minus any handicap strokes he is allowed on that nine.
NCGA Women Competitors
Net Competitions
Women will compete from the forward tees in all NCGA Events. Final course handicaps will be adjusted based on the difference between the men’s and women’s course ratings. Differences of .5 or greater will be rounded upward.
Scratch Competitions
When men and women compete in a NCGA scratch competition, they will play from separate tees. Whenever the prepared teeing grounds permit, the women’s yardage will be set at 88-92% of the men’s yardage. When setting the golf course, the men’s tees will be set at the yardage most appropriate for the competition. After the men’s tees are set, the committee will attempt to reach the 88-92% guideline for women’s tees while preserving similar shot values.
Qualifying Spots
The number of spots available at each qualifying site will be determined based on the number of entries received prior to the entry closing date for each event listed. Final number of spots per qualifying course will be available from the committee on the day of qualifying.
Entries on the Website
All NCGA non-club events and CGA entries, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CGA NET AMATEUR, may be printed from our website under “Tournaments”. To enter by mail, print the entire entry including all policies and procedures. Fill out completely, sign and mail to our lock box with the entry fee to be received by the close date. Late and incomplete entries will be returned without action. You are highly encouraged to register online rather than printing and mailing your entry.