1. GOVERNING RULES Revised 6/08
1.1 All golf competition in the CIF Central Section, shall be conducted in accordance with the United States Golf Association (USGA) Rules along with local course rules, except where the rules conflict with CIF Central Section's Golf Advisory Committee and are approved by the Board of Managers.
1.2 The CIF-Central Section Golf Advisory Committee shall be composed of one representative from each league who shall be selected by their league president.
1.3 The Chairman of the Golf Advisory Committee is appointed by the CIF Central Section President.
2. GENERAL RULE
2.1 Interscholastic competition in golf shall be conducted on a team basis as a league activity.
2.2 Participants must at all times be under the supervision of a certified employee of the Board of Education.
2.3 Entry fees for all meets must be in accordance with current rules. (See Awards and Entry Fees Chart).
2.4 Medals and other individual awards shall be given in accordance with CIF Central Section Rules. (See Awards Chart).
2.5 All invitational meets must be conducted in accordance with all Central Section Rules and Procedure.
2.6 All invitational meets must be sanctioned by CIF-Central Section.
2.7 The host school at each match shall ask the coaches concerned to serve as a rule interpretation committee in conjunction with the home course professional.
2.8 In league competition, both medal and match types of play may be used, medal to determine total team score, and match to determine individual place winners.
2.9 Teams: For all competition on a dual match and league basis, teams shall be composed of no more than six players.
2.10 In qualifying meets above the league level, and in the Central Section finals, a team shall consist of six players, with the five best scores counting for team championship and place standing.
2.11 Golfers under school supervision, must so conduct themselves that they reflect credit to themselves, and to their school. Smoking, gambling, profanity, and the use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the course. "Club throwing" or any other un-sportsmanlike conduct as judged by marshals or tournament rules committee, is prohibited on the same course. Penalty for violation is: Disqualification.
3. CLASSIFICATION OF TEAMS
3.1 Competition up through the league championship tournament shall be limited to varsity and junior varsity.
3.2 Competition beyond the league level, shall be limited to varsity only.
4. SEASON OF SPORT
4.1 The season of the sport of golf is defined as that period which starts with the first interschool contest (interschool match, league contest, etc.) and ends with the last regularly scheduled league contest, except for those qualifying for the playoff contests.
4.2 The last day to start organized team practice for interschool competition will be specified by Central Section.
4.3 A school shall be limited to a maximum of sixteen (16) matches per season (excluding playoffs).
4.3.1 Maximum contests per week is two.
4.3.2 Maximum number of tournaments is two (excluding post season tournaments).
4.3.3 A tournament shall count as two. A tournament may count as one match instead of two, provided the tournament is limited to eighteen (18) holes or less.
5. AREA QUALIFYING AND SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS
5.1 Competition shall be limited to varsity only.
5.2 The date of the Section Championship tournaments will be as prescribed by the CIF Central Section Board of Managers.
5.3 The date of the area qualifying tournament will be the Monday just prior to the Section tournaments.
5.4 The location of the host area for the Section Championship tournament will be rotated each year from North to South to Central. The assignment of the host league and school will be made by the respective League Commissioner.
5.5 The host leagues for the area qualifying tournaments will be determined by the Section Commissioner, approved by the Board of Managers and league hosting responsibility should be rotated annually. The assignment of the host school will be made by the respective League Commissioner.
5.6 Host Director's Responsibilities
5.6.1 The selection and assignment of marshals to accompany each group of players around the course. Possible sources of marshals could come from individuals who are members of the host golf club, coaches who attend the tournaments and other interested townspeople. A sheet noting the rules of play on the course should be prepared for all officials and entrants.
5.6.2 Appointment of a committee of three to serve to interpret disputes and course rulings. ( Avoid using participating team coaches for this committee to eliminate any potential prejudice or bias in decision making). This committee should confer with the club professional prior to beginning of the tournament, but rulings during that course of play must come from the committee.
5.6.3 See that scores and tournament results are posted in a convenient area for observation by spectators and entrants after they finish play. Also, final results are to be sent to participating schools and the CIF Central Section.
5.6.4 Directors of the area qualifying tournaments shall telephone, fax or e-mail tournament results to the director of the section championship Tournament immediately after scores and places are determined.
5.7 Coaches are not permitted to play during area qualifying or Section Final tournaments.
5.8 At private Country Clubs, there will be no practice rounds allowed 14 days prior to the Section Area or Section Championship Tournaments. All players, including members of the private club must abide by this rule. The penalty for violation is disqualification from the tournament. (Note:- The driving range and putting green may be used during the 14 day time period.) (Approved, Board of Managers, Apr. 2007)
5.9 The use or possession of electronic devises including, but not limited to cell phones; walk-man; i-pods; MP3 players; two way radios; text message devises; and yardage measuring devises( Personal GPS ) is illegal. Participants found in possession of such devises will be disqualified.
5.10 Area Qualifying Tournament Play
5.10.1 One less than half of league schools having golf teams will qualify from the league to the area qualifying tournament. Leagues with an odd number of schools will round up to attain their number of entries. (Each team will consist of six players). In addition, the ten low medalists will also qualify. Each league will determine how the medalists shall be qualified. (If the league uses playoffs as a means of determining the team championship and also the medalists, the individual medalists who ties, will also be allowed to enter the area meet). If an individual qualifier to the area individual medalists tournament must be replaced, the substitution would be determined by the order of finish in the league tournament. (11th place 1st sub, 12th place 2nd sub, etc.). Maximum score that will be allowed to qualify for Boys Area meet is 90 and for Girls the maximum score to qualify is 105. (Approved, Board of Managers Apr. 2007) NOTE: Any team member who qualifies for the Area competition is also included in the individual competition.
5.10.2 Tie Breaking Procedure: Host course consenting, individual ties for 1st place will be decided by a sudden death playoff beginning on Hole #1. All other place ties will be broken by using the guidelines established by the USGA in Rule 33.6. Cards will be matched to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last 9 holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last 9 holes, determine the winner on the basis of the last 6 holes, the last 3 holes and finally, the 18th hole. If this method does not produce a winner, the same procedure should be applied to the 1st nine holes.
To break team ties, the score made by the sixth team member shall be added to the other five to determine the team placement. If this does not break the tie, then the addition of the scores of the six team members using the method established in USGA Rules pertaining to how to decide ties, as stated above, shall be used to determine the team placement.
5.10.3 Medal play over 18 holes.
5.10.4 Tee-off from #1 and #10 tees provided the tournament director can obtain permission from the course professional. If not, the tee-off will be from #1 tee. A shotgun start may be used, if deemed necessary by the host golf professional.
5.10.5 In team play, the total of the best five scores of a six-man team will count toward team standing. (See 5.9.2 regarding use of the 6th man in breaking team ties).
5.10.6 Spectator rule---Parents/ spectators may not communicate with players. when ever possible, spectators must be not closer than 100 feet from players and at no time should they be in front of the group they are following. Spectators must not follow groups from the fairway, but must follow via the rough whenever possible. Violation of the spectator rule will cause disqualification of the player. For the purpose of this rule, a golfer who finishes his/her round and returns to the course will be considered a spectator. An initial warning will be given to all spectators at the beginning of the tournament and with every group that tees off.
5.11. Central Section
Championship Tournament Play
5.11.1 There shall be two tournaments; the first to determine a team championship and the second to determine the low medalist or individual championship. The Team tournament shall be play the week after the area tournaments and the Individual tournament the next week. The top two teams, no matter which division they are in qualify for the Southern California Regional tournament. The top twelve, who are not on a team that has qualified for the Southern California Regional tournament, will qualify for the Southern California Regional Individual Championships.
5.11.2 The two top Division 1 teams and the top Division 2 team and fifteen individuals and ties from each qualifying area tournament shall be entered in the section final tournaments. A wild card team that shoots 380 or better (for Boys) and 425 or better (for Girls) may also be entered into the finals, if it is not one of the top two teams. Team members' scores at the area qualifying tournament will be tabulated in selecting the fifteen (15) low medalists.
5.11.3 The fifteen (15) low medalists and ties shall qualify from each area qualifying tournament for the section individual tournament for low medalists. If an individual qualifier to the section individual medalist tournament must be replaced, the substitution should be determined by the order of finish in the area tournament. (16th place, 1st sub, 17th place, 2nd sub, etc.).
5.11.4 Host course consenting, individual ties for 1st place will be decided by a sudden death playoff beginning on Hole #1. All other place ties will be broken by using the guidelines established by the USGA in Rule 33.6. (Cards will be matched to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last 9, determine the winner on the basis for the last 6 holes, the last 3 holes and finally, the 18th hole. If this method does not produce a winner, the same procedure should be applied to the 1st nine holes of play.
5.11.5 Each competitor MUST attest and sigh his/her score card prior to the score being officially posted.
To break team ties, the score made by the 6th team member shall be added to the other five to determine the team placement. If this does not break the tie, then the total of the scores of the six team members using the method established in USGA Rule 33.6 as stated above, shall be used to determine the team placement.
5.11.6…Spectator rule--- Parents/ spectators may not communicate with players. when ever possible, spectators must be not closer than 100 feet from players and at no time should they be in front of the group the are following. spectators must not follow groups from the fairway, but must follow via the rough whenever possible. Violation of the spectator rule will will cause disqualification of the player. For the purpose of this rule, a golfer who finishes his/her round and returns to the course will be considered a spectator. An initial warning will be given to all spectators at the beginning of the tournament and with every group that tees off.
5.11.7 Spectator use of golf carts is strictly up to the management of the golf course.
6. AWARDS
6.1 A school trophy will be awarded to the winning team in the area qualifying and to the winner and runner up teams in the section Team Championship tournament, Division 1 and Division 2.
6.2 Individual medals will be awarded to the top fifteen low medalists in both the area qualifying and the Section Championship tournaments 1st place - Gold, 2nd place - Silver and 3rd place through 15th places - Bronze.
7. FINANCES
7.1 Entry fees for both the area qualifying and Section Championship tournaments, shall be as prescribed by Central Section, $5.00 per player. Additionally, some golf courses may charge addition fees for use of the facility. Fees generally range between $15 & $20 per player and may include a lunch.
7.2 Entry fees should be reserved for tournament costs to the host school and CIF for medals, marshal carts, and other incidentals.
7.3 Losses are to be prorated back to the participating schools based on the number of entries.
7.4 Host schools must submit financial statements, and tournament results to the CIF Central Section office within two weeks after tournament date.
EJECTIONS
8.1 Ejections and Appeals
First ejection
Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next CIF contest. The next contest could be the second game of a doubleheader or even the next season of sport. Athletes competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible in both sports.
Second ejection
Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next two CIF contests. The next contest could be the second game of a doubleheader or even the next season of sport. Athletes competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible in both sports.
Third ejection
Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next 365 days. Any appeal must go to the Section Commissioner
APPEALS PROCEDURE- First and Second Ejection
Unless otherwise specified, an appeal of an ineligibility of a player or coach may be made, in writing, through the player or coach’s site administrator to the Central Section Commissioner or his or her designees for consideration of reinstatement. The Section Commissioner and or his or her designee will convey results to all schools involved. ( Approved by Board of Managers-Apr. 2004)
06/17/08