2023-2024 GCJGF Player Handbook
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SHOES:
Playing members and caddies must wear proper shoes for golf. Shoes fitted with spikes must have non-metal spikes i.e., soft spikes. Metal Spikes are not allowed. Flat sole sneakers are permitted.
CELL PHONES, EARBUDS AND HEADPHONES:
The use of Cell Phones, Earbuds, Headphones, or a similar device that requires the use of Earbuds is prohibited. Penalty for violation of this rule is: Disqualification. Cell phones may be used to Check-in for a tournament, record a player’s scores as the Marker, check your own score for each hole as recorded by your Marker, contact a GCJGF Official, receive emergency text from GCJGF, view weather conditions or obtain yardages.
PULL CARTS:
Pull Carts are permitted to be used by players in all flights providing they are allowed by the Host course.
Caddies in the Gold Tour tournaments are allowed to use a pull cart in divisions where caddies are permitted, and the host course allows pull carts.
Pull carts must not be taken onto the green or the collar of the green and must be placed in a position to expedite exiting the green to go to the next hole.
ELECTRIC OR GAS CARTS:
Caddies are not permitted the use of an Electric or Gas Golf Cart unless authorized by the Tournament Director. Caddies using a gas or electric cart must meet the conditions of the ADA or have a letter from a physician stating that a cart is required while they are being treated for a temporary condition.
PLAYING RULES:
USGA Rules of Golf, Rules on the GCJGF Hard Card and any Local Rules established by the Tournament Rules Committee’s Notice to Competitors.
Players must abide by all Rules and Regulations for each event. A Notice to Competitors is viewable on the website, under Info, for the tournament and a copy will also be provided to each tee time group for the current tournament. Ask the Starter for a Hard Card keep it in your golf bag for reference.
Playing groups and tee times will be posted on the Internet and emailed to each player (usually on Wednesday morning prior to the tournament) and no later than 6:00 PM on the Friday prior to the tournament unless conditions require a change in time. Second round tee times for Platinum Tour players will be posted and emailed as soon as the 1st round scores are recorded and posted.
Tee Times are subject to change and players should check the website and their email messages for changes the night before, or morning of, a tournament. Players should also check the GCJGF website on the day of a tournament in the case a tournament must be canceled.
Players are requested to check-in for a tournament by using the GCJGF APP upon arrival at the course and no later than 30 minutes prior to the assigned tee time. Please help us by using the GCJGF App.
ALL players MUST be in the Teeing Area and ready to hit their shot when their tee time is announced. Order of play on the pairings list has no bearing as to being present for your tee time.
A player that is late but arrives at the teeing area within their assigned tee time and before their division has completed teeing off will be assessed a general penalty (2 strokes). A player arriving after the division has completed teeing off will be disqualified and entry fee will not be refunded.
Player’s tee time may be adjusted in the event a player or players are not present. Players on the tournament waiting list will be substituted for a missing player based on the waiting list order for the division.
Entry fee for the originally scheduled player will not be refunded.
Gold Tour players arriving late for registration, when a player from the tournament waiting list is not available, will be permitted to play providing the division has not completed teeing off.
The late player will be assessed a 2-stroke penalty. A player arriving after the division has completed teeing off will be disqualified and entry fee will not be refunded.
Rule 5.3a: Any player arriving at his/her starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his/her starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Exception 3; the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification. Note: All players in a group must be present at the assigned tee time and not according to the order of play.
CADDIES:
Gold Tour players (18-Holes) 11 & Up must carry their clubs or use a pull cart.
Gold Tour players in divisions Boys 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 (9-Holes), Girls 7-9, 10-12, may have one parent or guardian caddie.
Contact Executive Director: (954) 480-3122 one week prior to the event to receive permission for a non-parent or guardian to caddie. Complete the non-parent caddie form at the registration table.
Caddies must be at least 18 years of age.
Download Caddie Permission Form
Caddies are caddies; instructions are to be kept to a minimum and are not to delay play. The player has 40 seconds to prepare for and hit their shot when it’s safe for them to play their shot.
Caddies should NOT tee up a ball for a player; let the player do it.
The Caddie MAY NOT mark, lift, drop, or place a ball. The player is the only person that can perform these functions.
Caddies are not permitted to assist the player once the player’s ball is on the putting surface of the green. (LOCAL RULE) See below.
Once the player’s ball is on the putting surface:
- Player may not receive any advice;
- Only one caddie in the group is allowed on the putting surface of a green at a time and only for the purpose of attending the flag stick for the players and directing the order of play;
- Caddies are to take turns attending the flag stick;
- Players are encouraged to continue putting unless they will be standing in the line of another player’s putt or playing in a match play event. Note: Players are not required to continue putting;
- See USGA Rules of Golf regarding “Advice.”
RIDING OR SITTING IN A GOLF CART:
Players may not sit or ride in Golf Carts at any time except for a course evacuation or when authorized by GCJGF Officials. Penalty: 2 Stroke Penalty is to be added to the score on the hole where the violation occurred; continued violations: Disqualification
Any player that is transported on the back of an electric or gas golf cart in the golf bag area will result in the immediate disqualification of the player. The use of a cart will be immediately suspended for any parent/caddie/spectator that allows anyone to be transported on the back of a cart.