Complete Tournament Rules
Part I. Rules of Play
1. USGA Rules govern play in this event except as modified by these Rules. Course may post or announce additional rules, including rules that take into account prevailing weather or course conditions. No metal spikes allowed on the course. Women and Seniors may drive from the BLACK or SILVER tees. Everyone else must drive from the BLACK tees.
2. Play will commence with all teams starting simultaneously in a “shotgun” start. Every team will be assigned to a start at a different hole and expected to complete 18 holes from that starting point. For example, a team assigned to start at hole 4 would start and complete hole 4, go next to hole 5, then to hole 6, and so on, eventually ending play at hole 3.
3. Eligibility for Team Prizes requires a paid four player team consisting solely of amateur players. Only one player may have a handicap less than 8.0; no player may have a handicap less than 1.0; and the combined team handicap may not be less than 43.0. NKF reserves the right to verify handicaps prior to awarding any prizes. Every player must contribute at least three tee box drives to team’s score. Teams with players who arrive late, or depart early, may still qualify for Team Prize as long as each player contributes three tee box drives while present at the event. In event of an early departing player, no player substitutions allowed.
4. Players may register without a foursome. Event Staff will make reasonable efforts to combine players into Prize Eligible foursomes in time for the shotgun start. Eligibility for Individual Prizes is limited to amateur players who have paid to play in the tournament, with or without a foursome; but players with a handicap less than 3.0 are not eligible for Individual Prizes.
5. Player check-in begins at 7:30 am; and the shotgun start will be at 8:30 am. At least two team members must be present for shotgun start or entire team will be deemed scratched and ineligible for Team Prizes. Players arriving after shotgun start may join a team that started with less than four players. When no-shows are expected, Event Staff shall have discretion to recombine in order to maximize number of foursomes eligible to start.
6. This is a scramble format (sometimes called “captain’s choice”): each team member makes a drive attempt, with the team captain selecting one of the drives as the starting point for the team’s second stroke. The team’s second stroke for all team members is from the selected drive. The captain then selects one of those second strokes as the starting point for the team’s third stroke. Play continues in this manner until the ball is holed out. The team has a unified score in which only the captain-selected strokes count.
7. Every player must contribute at least three (3) tee box drives to the team’s score. This sometimes will mean the captain is not selecting the best drive as the starting point for the team’s second stroke.
8. Except for posted Cash Prize Holes, there are NO MULLIGANS. There are no practice swings, no gimmes, and no do-overs.
9. Determinations of Event Referee regarding scoring, measurement, and interpretation of the Rules of Play are final, binding, and not subject to appeal. The name of the Event Referee will be posted or announced immediately prior to the start of play.
The following Parts II-VI Govern Contest Rules. Prize Eligibility for all contests is defined in the Tournament Rules at Part I, Pars. 3 and 4.
Part II. Paid Mulligans
1. Individual players who are Prize Eligible may use Mulligan Tickets for use only at designated Contest Holes, and only in the manner described in Parts III and IV.
2. Mulligan Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at check-in or on the prize hole -- No IOUs for Mulligan Tickets.
Part III. Longest Drive & Closest to the Pin Contests
1. There will be one Par 3 hole in the event with a Closest to the Pin Contest.
2. There will be one Par 4 or 5 hole in the event with a Longest Drive Contest.
3. Cash Prizes are available only for players who are Prize Eligible.
4. Cash Prizes for Closest to Pin Contests, measured to one-eighth of an inch from hole center, are as follows:
5. In event of tie for first place in Closest to the Pin Contest, no Second Prize will be awarded. If two or more players get Hole in One in Closest to Pin Contest, Cash Prize will be reduced to $200 per winner (even if more than two winners).
6. Cash Prizes for Longest Drive Contest are $150 for First Price and $100 for the runner-up. In event of tie for first place in Longest Drive contest Closest to the Pin contest, no Second Prize will be awarded.
7. Longest Drive Contest is based only on drives that come to rest in the fairway or green. Balls that come to rest in the rough, in water, or otherwise out of play, will not be prize-eligible. Contest is based upon the line, as the crow flies, between the tee and the cup. Measurement is based upon how far the drive travels down that line towards the cup. (In other words, slices and hooks are not measured for actual distance from the tee or cup.) Drives hit beyond the cup will be measured as though landing an equal distance in front of the cup. Measurement for this contest is generally done by staking the fairway or green, rather than using a ruler.
8. ONE Mulligan Ticket may be used ONLY to take a second tee box DRIVE on each of these contests (one for Closest to the Pin and/or one for Longest Drive). Your best of the two drives is Prize Eligible. Paid Mulligans do not impair your team’s score; rather, paid Mulligans give your captain more choices for where your team may start its second stroke.
9. Closest to Pin Contest must be observed from swing to measurement by Event Staff. Longest Drive Contest must be observed from swing to measurement by Event Staff. All measurements are based upon judgment of Event Staff.
10. NKF will mail Cash Prize to winners subsequent to the event.
Part IV. Putting Contest
1. Putting Prizes are available for players who are Prize Eligible.
2. Putting Contest is a stand-alone 19th hole and does not count towards team score. Put will be at least 35 feet from cup, with players required to start behind line specified by Event Staff.
3. Prizes for Putting Contest, measured to one-eighth of an inch, are as follows:
4. In event of tie for first place in Putting Contest, winner will be resolved by COIN TOSS. Winner of COIN TOSS will receive first prize, loser of COIN TOSS will receive second prize. In event of tie for second prize in Putting contest, second prize will be resolved by COIN TOSS; with winner of COIN TOSS receiving second prize and loser receiving honorable mention. Only one first prize will be awarded in Putting Contest. Only one second prize will be awarded in Putting Contest.
5. ONE Mulligan ticket may be used to take an extra put in the Putting Contest. Your best of the two puts is Prize Eligible.
6. Putting Contest must be observed from swing to measurement by Event Staff. All measurements are based upon judgment of Event Staff.
7. NKF will mail Putting Prizes to winners subsequent to the event.
Part V. Team Prizes
1. Team Prizes are available for foursomes that are Prize Eligible.
2. First Place Team members will each receive one pre-paid pass to play in the NKF Cadillac Classic at Whiskey Creek Golf Club, scheduled for June 2012. Direct purchase of tickets to this event are typically $500 or more per player.
3. The Second Place and Third Place Team members will each receive one pre-paid general admission pass to attend the DC 101 NKF Chili Cookoff, at DC’s RFK Stadium, scheduled for May 2012.
4. In event of tie for First Place, tie will be resolved by COIN TOSS. Winner of COIN TOSS will receive First Prize; other team(s) will be deemed the Second Place finisher in the tournament and will receive Second Prize. In event of tie for Second Place or Third Place, all tied teams will receive Second Prize.
5. NKF will mail Team Prizes to winners subsequent to the event.
Part VI. Raffle Prize Eligibility
1. Raffle Prizes will be drawn randomly from raffle tickets at the awards ceremony immediately following tournament play.
2. Raffle tickets may be purchased for $10 each prior to the start of the raffle drawing; it is not necessary to play in the tournament in order to enter the raffle.
3. All paid players in the event will receive one complimentary raffle ticket.
4. Mulligan tickets also convert at end of tournament play into raffle tickets, whether used for Mulligan or not.
5. Raffle winners need not be present to win, as long as contact information has been provided to NKF at time of ticket purchase.
Part VII. Weather & Course Closure Policies
1. Tournament will proceed as scheduled regardless of weather, unless Reston National closes due to risks to players and the facilities. Course closure decision is in sole discretion of Reston National’s management.
2. If course is closed prior to start of play or before majority of non-scratching teams have completed three holes of play, tournament may be postponed and rescheduled to next available Monday or Friday that is not otherwise in conflict with a previously scheduled NKF fundraising event. Rescheduled event may be moved to another golf course within Fairfax County, in discretion of NKF, if Reston National cannot accommodate the rescheduled event prior to June 1, 2012. We understand that some registered players may have scheduling conflicts for rescheduled date; registrations are transferable if you are unable to attend.
3. If course is closed after majority of teams have completed three holes (excluding teams that scratch prior to official course closure), tournament will be deemed completed and all Team Prizes will be awarded based on best team scores relative to par for holes actually played and prorated to an 18 hole game (e.g.: a team that shoots +2 after 9 holes will be treated as shooting +4.00 for the tournament; a team that shoots +2 after 7 holes will be treated as shooting +5.14 for the tournament). No other adjustments for hole difficulty, or number of holes completed will be made. Individual prize holes will be awarded to the extent of completion, even though some players may not have had an opportunity to participate at all prize holes.
Part VIII. Limited Refund Policy
1. Players and sponsors are reminded that this is a charity event; and that the charity will incur costs to host the event regardless of weather and regardless of turnout.
2. Player registrations are non-refundable except as stated below in Part IX.
3. Paid players who are unable to attend may transfer their registration to another player. Please notify NKF by phone or email of name of person who will be playing in your stead.
4. Sponsor and advertisement payments are non-refundable. Deadlines may apply to published materials (such as event brochure, hole signs, and website mention, as applicable). See website for rolling deadlines.
Part IX. Miscellaneous
1. These Rules may be amended at any time prior to the start of play. If an amendment to these Rules includes a reduction in any stated Cash Prize, previously registered players may withdraw from tournament with full refund. Any Rules changes after February 1, 2012, will be denoted by
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