Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour 2018/19 Policies

TOURNAMENT CONDITIONS

IGT = IGT Challenge Tour   BET = Big Easy Tour

  1. Tournament Entry Fee

IGT Challenge Tour: R1600

Big Easy Tour: R750

  1. Format

All tournaments will be held over 54 holes, with a N-player cutline after 36 holes.

IGT

N = The number of players (and ties) to 66% percent of the field to a maximum of 60 players and ties who will proceed to the final round in summer and 50 players maximum winter.

Big Easy

N = 30 and ties who will proceed to the final round for R75,000 prize Pool.

N = 40 and ties who will proceed to the final round for R100,000 prize Pool.

  1. Tournament Field

IGT

Tournament field size will be restricted to a total of 160 players in summer, 132 players in autumn/spring and 120 players in winter.

Big Easy

Tournament field size will be restricted to a total of 120 players for all Big easy Events excluding Tour Championship.

  1. Membership

An eligible member of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour 2018/19 will be regarded as a Full Member for the current Official Season upon receipt of a completed membership application form and membership fee.

Membership of BET processed as per normal by Sunshine Tour – general regulations.

Membership of IGT processed as per normal by IGT. Click here for IGT Membership info

IGT players participating in joint venture on invitation basis, if they want money to count on BET order of merit then take up affiliated membership (R1000).

  1. Eligibility

IGT

The IGT Challenge Pro Tour events are open to all professional and amateur golfers from South Africa and International.

Amateurs must have an official handicap of 4 or less.

There are no restrictions on nationality or gender.

Age restriction is 16 years. Players younger than 16 can apply to play on the Tour.

Please note players under 18 years must play as amateur. (No Exceptions)

The IGT Challenge Pro Tour reserves the right to refuse participation to anyone. Evidence of playing ability may be required.

Big Easy

Category 0a: Maximum of 4 amateurs included in the field

Category 0b: The leading 10 and tied BET members, who are not otherwise exempt, will qualify to play in the next Big Easy Tour Order of Merit tournament

Category 1a: Winners of the Big Easy Tour Order of Merit from 2015 – 2017 (who are eligible for membership)

Category 1b: Winners of 2017 & 2018 Big Easy Tour sanctioned tournaments (who are eligible for membership)

Category 2: Maximum of 20 MENA Tour Invitations

Category 3: Top 30 available players off the Final 2017 Big Easy Tour Order of Merit who are eligible for membership

Category 4: 2018 BET members and Affiliate members earning more than the 30th placed player off the Final 2017 BET OoM

Category 5: Leading 30 & ties players from the 2018/2019 Sunshine Tour Qualifying School & leading 15 & ties players from the 2018/2019 Vusi Ngubeni Q School, staggered

Category 6: Players outside top 100 who have earned money, and played at least 6 tournaments, on the 2017-2018 Sunshine Tour Final OoM

Category 7: Sunshine Tour “5-year members” on the BET who are outside the top 100 on this year’s Sunshine Tour final order of merit

Category 8: Players in positions 31 – 60 from the 2018/2019 Sunshine Tour Qualifying School & players in positions 16 – 30 from the 2018/2019 Vusi Ngubeni Q School, staggered

Category 9a: The leading 5 and tied IGT members, will qualify to play in the next Big Easy Tour Order of Merit tournament

Category 9b: IGT members fill the field up to the maximum advertised size (i.e. 120)

Notes:

The IGT members fill the field up to the maximum advertised size (i.e. 120) and will be done on the following basis;

  1. Ties

In the event of a tie for first place, the winner will be decided by a hole by hole playoff. If there are more than 2 players contending in the playoff, those other than the winner will share second place.

  1. Taxes

Non-residents only. All prize funds will be subject to a 25% tax rate under the law for withholding tax for non-residents.

  1. IGT Electronic Card for Amateurs (Only on IGT Challenge Tour)

The IGT card offers you free debit transactions at any shop/store that accepts MasterCard.

For the latest balance enquiries on your card go to www.whatsonmycard.com or SMS* your 16-digit card number, without spaces to 34543.

The card cannot be used for cash withdrawals at an ATM.

  1. Prize Money

IGT

Prize money paid out will be as per the breakdown listed in IGT Challenge Tour Prize Money Breakdown section of these Regulations or as otherwise published on the tournament notice board

Payout will be 25% of the field and the last payout is R1000. IGT reserve the right to alter the % at events and will be published on the notice board.

Amateur can win up to a maximum of R6,000 in the form of a IGT electronic voucher

In the event that a player is disqualified or withdraws, he shall not be entitled to claim prize money for that tournament.

Big Easy

The prize pool to be published on web site for each event.

The top 30 gets paid with 30th place R1000

Amateur do not win prize money on Big Easy Tour.

  1. Orders of Merit

To be eligible for the Order of Merits, players must be members in good standing of the IGT Challenge Tour. (Membership fully paid up).

All Order of Merits will use a points-based Order of Merit

IGT Race to Q-School 2017

For the month of March, April and May we will use the IGT Race to Q-School Order of Merit of the 2017 season for Big Easy events Category 9b:  IGT members fill the field up to the maximum advertised size (i.e. 120)

IGT Rankings 2018

From June 2018 we will use the IGT BET Rankings Order of Merit to fill up the spaces for category 9b.

Order of Merit (OoM) Points are awarded for each event.

Where players tie, the points will be shared.

Minimum of 3 events to be played.

IGT Race to Q-School

Top 15 on the final 2018-2019 IGT race to Q-School order of merit gain entry into 2019 Sunshine Tour QS Final Stage

Road to Sunshine Tour

Non members who are exempt for BET tournaments, and who want their money and Top 10 finish (to get into the following event), to count on the BET Road to Sunshine Tour OoM, are required to take up Affiliate Membership at R1000 subs

Player would need to play at least 6 events on the Road to Sunshine Tour sanction tournaments to be eligible for the Order of Merit.

  1. Entry Regulations

Each Player wishing to enter a Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour 2018/19 Approved Tournament shall either:

  1. i) Enter online via the Members’ or
  2. ii) Telephone the Entries Department on 078 3300 440; or

iii) Email the Entries Department on admin@igtgolf.org: or

  1. iv) Enter in person at the Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour 2018/19 office on-site.

Entry Closing Date

Entries must be received by the Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour 2018/19 by midnight South African time on the closing date listed in the Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour calendar (normally Friday, 2 days before the start of the tournament).,

  1. Payment Methods & Terms Of Payment

Payable in full prior to the member’s commencement of the tournament he has entered.

Payments can be made by EFT (Please contact IGT for Bank details), Cash or Credit/Debit cards at event registration.

REFUNDS and TRANSFERS of entries are only given in special circumstances at the discretion of The Tour.

  1. Tournament Withdrawals

Any player wishing to withdraw during the tournament shall notify the tournament director and a medical certificate to be sent to IGT admin@igtgolf.org within 7 days.

  1. Tournament Registration

Players will receive an entry confirmation for the events via email and SMS two days before event. ONLY Players who want to withdraw must reply within 2 hours from receiving message.

  1. Driving Range

Driving Rang is open an hour before first tee time and an hour after last tee time. Please note that this might differ from course to course.

  1. Practice Regulations

Any player wishing to play a practice round prior to an event must arrange a tee time directly with the golf club. Players practicing at the venue are obliged to pay the relevant green fee asked by the club. Club regulations must be strictly adhered to at all times.

In respect to your fellow competitors; during practice rounds, have only one ball in play. Players are permitted however to hit several chips and putts on and around the greens provided that they do not hold back the pace of play.

  1. Dress Code

Players must wear formal golf attire during tournament and practice rounds. Shirts with collars and trousers or appropriate golf shorts must be worn at all times on the golf course. Shirts must be tucked into the trousers/Shorts. Collarless shirts and denim are not allowed on the golf course. Also, please ensure that all dress material is neat and tidy and that shoes are well polished. Failure to follow such conduct may incur a player up to R1000 in fines.

  1. Alcohol Consumption

The consumption of alcohol on the course during any tournament round is not permitted. Penalty R1000 will be charged and player will be disqualified.

  1. Tournament Rules of Golf

All competitors should secure a copy of the IGT Challenge Tour Conditions of Competition and Local Rules card (which is referred to as the “Hard Card”). This explains any rule that affects or modifies a rule of golf. They are not reprinted herein as they are subject to change and alteration. The rules governing play shall be:

  1. a) the Rules of Golf as approved by the R & A Rules Ltd;
  2. b) the current IGT Challenge Tour Conditions of Competition and Local Rules;
  3. c) the Additional Local Rules of the host club as approved by the Tournament Director.

    20. Caddies

Players are not obliged to take a caddie and can carry their own bag.

Players can use their own caddie or use local caddies.

Players may use pull trolleys. Electronic pull carts is not allowed.

A caddie is the responsibility of the member by whom he or she is employed.

A person who acts as a caddie for a member will be subject to the regulations applicable to caddies for the duration of that tournament.

All payments due to a member’s caddie are the sole responsibility of the member. Such payments are to be made in an agreed manner between the member and the caddie. All disputes arising out of such agreements are to be resolved by the member prior to the conclusion of the tournament. It is recommended that members enter into a written contract with the caddie he employs.

  1. Yardage Books

Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour 2018/19 will produce their own yardage books. The yardage book will be available at R40 at the Golf Club ProShop before event.

  1. Conflicting Tournaments

Sunshine Tour players are not allowed to play on an IGT Challenge Tour event when there is a Sunshine Tour event in the same week. Week runs from Monday to Sunday. No exceptions will be made from The IGT Challenge Tour or the Sunshine Tour.

  1. Media Rights

Television, radio, film and all other electronic media rights include the right to broadcast, display, publish or otherwise exhibit (in any manner howsoever) in all and any forms of media (including, but not limited to, television, radio, motion picture, print, video, CD, DVD, interactive media of any kind, multi-media, internet, website, mobile telephony and communication and other similar opportunities) the proceedings, or any part thereof, at all IGT Challenge Tour sanctioned tournaments or any other golfing related event conducted in conjunction with, or sanctioned by the IGT Challenge Tour;

All rights referred to, all photographic rights and all rights in all statistical and scoring data and information shall be granted and assigned to the IGT Challenge Tour, which accepts such grant and assignment. For the avoidance of doubt, it is a condition of membership that all members grant and assign such rights to the IGT Challenge Tour and each member will be deemed to have done so on taking up membership. As a result of the grant and the assignment, all such rights shall be the property of and expressly reserved by and to the IGT Challenge Tour, and any use thereof without the express written consent of the IGT Challenge Tour shall be prohibited.

  1. IGT Disclaimer

The IGT Challenge Tour is not responsible for any items lost, stolen or damaged at a host or secondary facility.

Participants in The IGT Challenge Tour are responsible for any damage they cause to the golf course and/or property of the golf course.

SECTION A – LOCAL RULES

The following Local Rules, together with any additions or amendments as published by the Committee at each golf course, will apply until further notice to all Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour 2018/19 tournaments.

  1. OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 27)

Beyond any wall, fence or white stakes defining the boundary of the course.
Note:

1- Where out of bounds is defined by white stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports) the line joining the nearest inside points at the ground level of such stakes or posts defines the boundary. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies over such line.

2- Where any continuing or adjoining white line is in existence it defines the boundary. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies on or over such line.

3- A ball which crosses a road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds even though it may lie on another part of the course.

Only Ball A is in Play

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. WATER HAZARDS (Including Lateral Water Hazards) (Rule 26)

Water Hazards are defined by yellow stakes or yellow lines. Lateral Water Hazards are defined by red stakes or red lines. When both stakes and lines are in existence, stakes identify the hazard and lines define the margin.

Stakes identify the hazard only and the lines (red or yellow) define the hazard margin. If no lines the hazard start where the ground breaks

Note: Dropping Zones for Water Hazards

Where there are dropping zones for water hazards, a ball may be played under Rule 26, or a ball may be dropped in the dropping zone nearest to where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard under penalty of one stroke. When dropping a ball in a dropping zone, the dropped ball must not be re-dropped if it comes to rest within two club-lengths of the spot where it first struck a part of the course even though it may finish outside the boundaries of the dropping zone or nearer the hole.

  1. GROUND UNDER REPAIR (Rule 25-1)

a) All areas bounded by white or blue lines or blue stakes.
b) Grass covered cable trenches.
c) French drains (stone-filled drainage ditches).
d) Seams of Cut Turf – Page 145
e) Any erosional damage in bunkers caused by running water (wash-outs).
f) The ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage, including areas where spectators or other traffic has combined with wet conditions to affect materially the ground surface, but only when so declared by an authorized member of the Committee. When immediately adjacent to an obstruction, such an area is part of the obstruction

      4. ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS – Rule 25-1 Note:

a) Interference by a hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird with a player’s stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under Rule 25-
b) Relief is available for the lie of ball or area of intended swing from any painted yardage spot situated in any closely mown area through the green.

  1. EMBEDDED BALL

Relief extended to “through the green” – Page 142.
Additional exception: A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in the face of a bunker that consists of stacked turf.
A ball is embedded when the ground is broken.

  1. TURF PLUGS ON PUTTING GREEN

On any putting green, turf plugs of any size have the same status as old hole plugs and may be repaired under Rule 16-1c.

  1. STONES IN BUNKERS – P145

Stones in bunkers are deemed movable obstructions and may be removed.

  1. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS (Rule 24-2)

a) White lined areas adjoining any areas defined as immovable obstructions are to be regarded as part of the obstruction and not GUR.
b) Decorative landscaped areas (Flowerbeds/shrubberies and the like) surrounded by an obstruction are part of that obstruction.
c) Matts that are secured and plastic cable ramps covering cables.
d) Non-permanent bridges erected for players or spectators.
e) All Artificially surfaced paths and roads

  1. INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE

a) Wires, cables, wrapping or other objects where they are closely attached to trees or other permanent objects.
b) Retaining artificial walls and pilings when located within water hazards

  1. PERMANENT ELEVATED CABLES

If a ball strikes an elevated power line or cable, the stroke is cancelled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule 20-5 (Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made).

Exception: A stroke that results in a ball striking an elevated junction section of cable rising from the ground must not be replayed.

  1. MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – DEFINITIONS

Examples include but are not limited to, free standing advertising boards, drink dispensers, all cameras and their tripods, and TV microphones.

  1. TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS P147 – DEFINITIONS

Examples include but are not limited to: clocks, advertising boards and hole number distance indicators situated around teeing grounds and advertising boards fixed to other temporary immovable obstructions. All scoreboards are a temporary immovable obstructions.

Note: Through the green, when a player ball lies in, on or under a temporary immovable obstruction or so close to that obstruction that it interferes with his stance or area of intended swing and relief is required, he may proceed under any of the options available under the Rule, or if dropping zones have been marked, as an additional option, he may drop the ball, without penalty, in the nearest dropping zone.

  1. ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT OF A BALL ON A PUTTING GREEN RULE 18-2, 18-3 And 20-1

These Rules are Modified as follows: When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.

The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1. This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental.

Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.

  1. EXCEPTION TO RULE 6-6d

If a competitor returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken due to failure to include one or more penalty strokes that, before returning his score card, he did not know he had incurred, he is not disqualified. In such circumstances, the competitor incurs the penalty prescribed by the applicable Rule but there is no additional penalty for breach of Rule 6-6d. This exception does not apply when the applicable penalty is the disqualification of the competition.

SECTION B – CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION

The following Conditions shall apply under Rule 33-1 until further notice to all Big Easy IGT Co-Sanctioned Tour 2018/19 tournaments.

      1. SPECIFICATION OF CLUBS AND THE BALL

a) List of Conforming Driver Heads (Page 154)
Any driver the player carries must have a club head, identified by model and loft that is named on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by R&A.
Exception: A Driver with a club head that was manufactured prior to 1999 is exempt from this condition. The penalty for making a stroke with the club in Breach of Condition – Disqualification.

b) Specification of the Ball (Note to Rule 5-1)
i) List of Conforming Golf Balls – Page 155
ii) One-Ball Condition – Page 156
(Exception: This condition does not apply to Professional or Amateur players in any pre-tournament Pro-Am or Approved One-Day Event or Amateurs partnering Professionals players in a Pro-Am tournament).

  1. PACE Of PLAY (Note 2 To Rule 6-7) Page 158

In the absence of mitigating circumstances, a group is liable to be timed if it is in excess of the time allowed and in the case of second or subsequent groups, out of position.

The time allowed will be determined by the TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR or CHIEF REFEREE and will be published on the official notice board. Out of position is defined as being more than the starting interval behind the group in front.

From the commencement of timing, if any player exceeds 60 seconds, he is deemed to have had a ‘bad time’.

A player whose group is timed will have a bad time carried forward in the round even if the group subsequently arrives back in position or within time.

Penalty for Breach of Condition:

1st bad time – Verbal warning from Official
2nd bad time – Verbal warning and a R300 fine.
3rd bad time – One Stroke Penalty and an additional R500 fine.
4th bad time – Disqualification

Notes:

1- Players will not be advised that they are being timed.

2- Timings will be taken from the moment it is deemed by the Official that it is the player’s turn to play.

3- In some circumstances, an individual player, or two players within a group of three, may be timed instead of the entire group.

  1. SUSPENSION of PLAY Due To A DANGEROUS SITUATION (Note To Rule 6-8b) – Page 158

Discontinue play immediately: one prolonged note of siren.

Discontinue play: three consecutive notes of siren, repeated.

Resume play: two short notes of siren, repeated.

  1. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

Distance measuring devices without slopes are allowed on course during tournament rounds.

A player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. A multifunctional device, such as a smartphone or PDA, may be used as a distance-measuring device. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3.

  1. PRACTICE

Practice Between Holes (Note 2 to Rule 7) – Page 159 are not allowed. This condition does not apply to pre- tournament Pro-Am or Match-Play tournaments. N.B. This prohibition includes rolling a ball on the putting green of the hole last played.

  1. TRANSPORTATION – Page 159

Players and caddies must walk at any time during a stipulated round (Exception: When permitted to ride by The Tournament officials).

  1. HOW TO DECIDE TIES

In the event of ties for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death play-off to determine the winner. If there are more than 2 players contending in the playoff, those other than the winner will share second place.

  1. RESULT OF THE COMPETITION – COMPETITION CLOSED

When the final results sheet is placed on the official notice board, the result of the Competition is deemed to have been officially announced and the competition closed.

  1. RECORDING AREA, SCORECARD RETURNED

The recording area may include but is not limited to temporary buildings, tents or permanent rooms. Others may be defined on the official notice board. A scorecard will be deemed returned when a player has completely left the recording area.