Refund Policy: 

To cancel a tournament registration – e-mail donnasmith@rmjgt.com with player name and tournament name/date. In the event of a cancellation prior to the deadline, funds will be returned to credit card used to make the purchase. ALL REFUNDS will be subjected to a $35 cancellation fee, per player, per entry.

Refund request Deadline is 12 PM (Noon), 5 days prior to Round 1 (Ex: Monday at 12 PM (Noon) before the following Sat-Sun tournament). Once the deadline has passed, NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN, unless one of the below requirements is met:
* Significant injury or illness to player (note from doctor required) preventing play on event date.
* Death of family member or close friend
* Qualification for national-level tournament (AJGA, USGA) or adult state amateur event. This does not include qualifiers, only the tournament themselves. Junior state-level tournaments and other local junior tour events are not included.

NOTE! There will be no consideration of a refund beginning at 7AM local time the day before Round 1 begins. No exceptions.

NOTICE TO PLAYERS

Play is governed by the current USGA Rules of Golf including Clarifications on the Rules of Golf. This information supplements the Local Rules and RMJGT Policies, Rules and Regulations and Pace of Play Policy. Posted course local rules do not apply.

CONDITIONS OF PLAY

Teeing Area

Care for Course

Please take the time to care for the golf course. Please replace divots, fix ball marks, and rake or smooth bunkers. 

Pace of Play

The pace of play is set at 4 hours 45 minutes. Please keep within one shot of the group ahead of you.

Format, Ties & Scoring
The Competition consists of 4 rounds of 9-hole stroke play. The scoring area will be outside by the pro shop or inside in the grill area. Once the player and marker(s) have signed the scorecard and given it to the committee, the scorecard is returned. If feasible, ties for first place will be decided by a sudden death playoff. Otherwise, a scorecard playoff consistent with RMJGT policies will be followed.

Rulings

If a Referee is not readily available, you may call Morgan Wilson or Jess Miller (cell numbers at bottom of page). You may play two golf balls under rule 20.1c(3). Before playing either ball, you must announce which ball’s score you want to use and you must report the facts to the Committee at scoring. 

LOCAL RULES / CONDITIONS OF NOTE

Out of Bounds (OB)

OB is identified by white stakes, fences, paved roads, sidewalks and certain cart paths. OB is defined by the course side edge at ground level of fence posts, paved roads, sidewalks and cart paths and by the edge of the higher grass indicating a property line. White stakes define OB when there is no fence.   

Penalty Areas:

Penalty areas may be identified by red stakes, water and dense vegetation. Penalty areas are defined by the mow line between the rough and the dense vegetation or the water. Areas of high native grass are not penalty areas. Areas of dense vegetation (trees, bushes, high grass, salal, ivy, etc. when growing closely together) are deemed to be penalty areas. All penalty areas are red.

OB and/or PENALTY AREAS are present on every hole. If you do not know or are not virtually certain (95% confidence or more) that your ball is in a penalty area, you may announce and play a provisional ball. If your ball is lost in a penalty area, you must take penalty area relief. If your ball is lost (not found within 3 minutes) or is OB, you must play your provisional ball or, if you did not play a provisional ball, return to the estimated spot of your last stroke and drop and play a ball from a relief area one club length in size no closer to the hole.

Abnormal Course Conditions (GUR)

GUR is the area from which optional free relief is available and is defined by white lines or colored stakes with rope. 

Automotive Transportation and Caddies 

Boys and girls ages 10 & under may ride carts. Caddies are allowed for all age groups; however, parents may not caddy for their child.

Immovable Obstructions (IOs)

IOs include paved, sand, gravel, or dirt cart paths (including adjacent curbs and worn areas), hole signs, sprinkler heads, grate covers, concrete pads, utility boxes, boulders and guy wires.

Additional Local Rules: 

• IOs close to Putting Green: You may take free relief from interference by immovable obstructions on or close to the putting green that are on the line of play. IO must be within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of your ball.
• If you putt your ball from the putting green and your ball hits you, your club used to make the putt or an animal defined as a loose impediment (worms and insects that can be easily removed), the stroke counts and you must play your ball as it lies.
• When taking back-on-the-line relief, you must drop your ball on the line and your relief area is one club-length in any direction of where your ball initially touched the course.
• If your club is broken or significantly damaged during a round by you or your caddie and you did not cause the damage from your abuse of the club, you may replace the club during your round.

Preferred lies:

• General area – You may mark, lift, clean and place your ball within one club-length of its original lie, no closer to the hole. 

Pace of Play:

• Pace of play is set at 13 minutes for a par 3, 15 minutes for a par 4, and 17 minutes for a par 5.  In addition, time is allocated for holes with longer than normal walks from green to tee.  Normal walks would be 30 seconds or less.
• If your group is over its allotted time after finishing a hole and out of position with the group ahead, your group may receive its first slow play warning. Out of position is when your group arrives at a par 3 tee and the group ahead has teed off on the next hole, when your group arrives at a par 4 tee and the group ahead has left the green, or when your group arrives at a par 5 tee and the group ahead is on or has left the green.
• Your group will be given a certain number of holes to be back in position. Generally, this will be 2-3 holes, but circumstances may dictate more holes.
• If your group remains over its allotted time and out of position a second time, your group will be notified, and each player will be timed. The first player to play from the tee has 50 seconds to hit once there are no distractions.  Subsequent players have 40 seconds to hit. One “bad” time will result in a warning for the player. A second “bad” time will result in a 1 stroke penalty for the player. Subsequent “bad” times will result in 2 stroke penalties to the player.  

• Your pace of play status carries until the end of the round, meaning that if your group has one slow play warning, your next slow play incident will result in players being timed.

Rules Committee (text or call) – Morgan Wilson (206-992-4503), Jess Miller (214-213-2628) 

Texas & Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour Local Rules and Conditions of Competition

The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play unless stated in this document or by the Rules Committee verbally or in a Notice to Players. Complete text of Rules and Local Rules may be found in the USGA Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, effective January 2019; the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty (2 penalty strokes).

This version of the TJGT/RMJT Hard Card was adopted January 1, 2019 and will serve as the standardized hard card and complete list of Tour Local Rules that are in place for every tournament (even if they are not listed on the Tournament Rule Sheet).

TEEING AREA – The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where the front edge is defined by the line between the forward-most points of two tee-markers set by the Committee, and the side edges are defined by the lines back from the outside points of the tee-markers.

OUT OF BOUNDS – All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds. The boundary edge of the course extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. The boundary edge is defined by the course side edge by objects used for the boundary.

Rule 18 PENALTY AREAS – Penalty areas, which are bodies of water or other areas defined by the Committee where a ball is often lost or unable to be played. Normally, penalty areas will be identified by yellow or red stakes or lines. For one penalty stroke, you may use specific relief options to play a ball from outside the penalty area.

Rule 17 ONE BALL RULE: Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is NOT in effect.

Model Local Rule G-4. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (Including Immovable Obstructions, Animal Holes, Ground Under Repair and Temporary Water), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball – You may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when you have interference by an abnormal course condition or a dangerous animal condition. If your ball is in temporary water in a bunker or green or your line of play is intervened with by temporary water, you may take free relief at the nearest point of complete relief. If not available, you may take relief at the point of maximum available relief, which is where the temporary water least interferes with your intended stroke. For relief from a green, your nearest point of complete relief may be on the green or in the general area. This Rule also covers free relief when your ball is embedded in its own pitch mark in the general area.

Rule 16 SOD SEAMS – If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam (ground under repair) interferes with the player’s area of intended swing: (a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. (b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance.

AERATION HOLES – If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole (ground under repair): (a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule. (b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.

BALL DEFLECTED BY POWER LINE – If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line [or tower or a wire or pole supporting a power line] during the play of a hole, the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 for what to do).

RULE 20-1 PLAYING TWO BALLS – A player who is uncertain about the right procedure while playing a hole may complete the hole with two balls without penalty. The player must decide to play two balls after the uncertain situation arises. Before making a stroke at either ball, the player should choose which ball will count if the Rules allow the procedure used for that ball and must announce that choice to their marker or to another player in the group before making a stroke. The player must report the facts of the situation to the Rules Committee before returning the scorecard, even if the player scores the same with both balls. The player is disqualified if he/she fails to do so.

Rule 20.1c LATE TO TEE – Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.3a: Disqualification, except in these three cases: Exception 1 – Player Arrives at Starting Point, Ready to Play, No More Than Five Minutes Late: The player gets the general penalty applied to their first hole. Exception 2 – Player Starts No More Than Five Minutes Early. The player gets the general penalty applied to their first hole. Exception 3 – Committee Decides that Exceptional Circumstances Prevented Player from Starting on Time. There is no breach of Rule 5.3a and no penalty.

IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF PLAY – If the Committee declares an immediate suspension of play, all players must stop play at once and must not make another stroke until the Committee resumes play. All practice areas are CLOSED during suspension for dangerous situation until the Committee declares them open.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7b: Disqualification. PRACTICE: Prior to and after a round in stroke play, a player may practice on the designated practice areas. Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is modified in this way: A player may not practice on the competition course before or between rounds. Model Local Rule I-1.2 · Penalty for first breach of this rule is the general penalty. · Penalty for second breach of this rule is disqualification.

PRACTICE BETWEEN HOLES: Between the play of two holes, a player must not make any practice strokes on or near the putting green of the hole just completed or test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball. Model Local Rule I-2. · Penalty for breach of this rule is the general penalty.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT is defined as profane, vulgar and/or abusive language audible to others; carelessly and/or deliberately throwing clubs; verbalizing with intent of intimidation; or exhibiting behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play. If the golfer's action warrant, penalty may be disqualification.

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT – Range finders (all types such as GPS, watches, etc.) are the ONLY electronic equipment allowed, and must not measure elevation changes or interpret distance or directional information. The penalty for violations of this policy is a general penalty if the infraction occurs on only 1 hole; if the infraction occurs over multiple holes, the player will be disqualified.

TRANSPORTATION –During a round, a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized or later approved by the Committee.

Model Local Rule G-6 SHOT LIMIT – There are NO shot limits for any event on the TJGT or RMJT. All players must hole out on every hole, without exception.

SCORING AREA and SCORECARD RETRUNED – Only Junior Golfers playing in the tournament, Rules Officials, and Committee Members may enter the Scoring Area. The scorecard is returned once the player and marker(s) have signed the scorecard and given it to the committee. Once the scorecard is returned NO changes can be made.

TJGT/RMJT POLICIES/NOTICE TO PLAYERS PACE OF PLAY – Players will be given 40 seconds to play a shot once it is their turn If a player/group is deemed to be off-pace, the following will occur: (1) The group will be warned by a rules official they are out of position, and given a certain number of holes to get back on pace (usually 2-3 holes). (2) If the group fails to get back on place, each player will be notified and put on the clock, having 40 seconds to hit their shot. (3) One bad time will result in a warning; a second bad time will result in a 1-stroke penalty for the player. Subsequent bad times will result in a general penalty (2 strokes) (4) Gross negligence of the pace of play may result in a disqualification. The Rules Committee will, at its discretion, take into account any time-altering factors such as host course problems, weather conditions and any unforeseeable time obstacles.

PLAYER/SPECTATOR INTERACTION POLICY – Players and spectators are to have minimal interaction during play. Spectators are allowed to discuss water, food or medical needs and may carry equipment other than golf clubs for a player. Spectators may assist in looking for a lost ball, but otherwise must stay on the cart path or rough, may not walk in the fairway and must stay a reasonable distance off the green during tournament play. Players are not to walk with or engage in conversation with spectators. If a spectator is observed walking with, talking to or giving advice (or appear to be) to a player: (1) Rules officials may decide to issue an official verbal warning to the player and spectator. (2) Upon second or subsequent observances, a Rules Official may decide to remove the spectator from the golf course. Spectators are not allowed to comment or assist on any rulings on the golf course under any circumstance. If a spectator views a perceived rules violation, they may alert a rules official, and the rules official may decide to address the group, but no action will be taken against a player based solely on a reported violation by a spectator. It is the players’ responsibility to police their group and be aware of all rules. If a spectator is deemed to be behaving in an inappropriate manner for any reason – language, attitude, improper course etiquette, violating policies, etc. – he or she will be asked to leave the course by TJGT/RMJT staff and course officials. The spectator may also be denied access to the course the following day, at TJGT/RMJT staff discretion. Player Responsibility – The player will also be expected to understand and operate under the Player/Spectator Interaction Policy. The player will be expected/required to keep away from spectators, limit conversations with spectators and, in the instance of a spectator overstepping or violating above policy, communicate to the spectator their potential violation of the policy. If a player is found or believed to be in violation of the policy: (1) Rules officials may decide to issue an official verbal warning to the player and spectator. (2) Upon second or subsequent observances, a Rules Official may decide to issue the player a general penalty upon each observance, if it is deemed that the player is actively participating in conversations with a spectator despite Rules Official warnings, actively seeking advice or otherwise repeatedly violating the Player/Spectator policy.

REPORTING RULES VIOLATIONS – If a player witnesses a rules violation, they must promptly alert the player in question and/or a Rules Official as to the possible infraction. Rules Officials and/or the Rules Committee will do everything within their power to immediately resolve rules violations and assess proper penalties during the round. Any rules violations that cannot be immediately addressed or solved by a Rules Official will be addressed at scoring and the proper penalty will be enforced. If a player witnesses a potential rules violation and fails or declines to alert their group or a Rules Official before the player in question returns his or her scorecard, the Committee may disqualify the player under Rule 1.2a if it is decided that this was a serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game. Rule 20.1c If there is disagreement within a group as to a rules violation and a Rules Official is not present, the player in question may play two balls under Rule 20-1, and a ruling will be given at scoring (or as soon as possible, as long as pace of play is not affected). Rules Officials/the Rules Committee are instructed to gather all possible information regarding a possible rules violation and issue a ruling in accordance with USGA Rules and this document. In the event that a Rules Official/Rules Committee truly cannot determine if a violation occurred, the Rules Official/Committee will issue no penalty to the player in question.

SIGNING FOR AN INCORRECT SCORE – If a player signs for a score lower than their actual score, other than when they inadvertently failed to include a penalty of which they were not aware, they will be disqualified per USGA rules. Once a player has returned a properly signed scorecard and leaves the scoring area, their score will be considered final. Competitors not in the player’s group and/or spectators are not permitted to attest the score of another player; however, the scoring official may consult with them if done to consider all information available to the player. If a player believes a competitor’s score to be incorrect after the fact, he or she must address it with said player, and said player is required to report the inaccuracy of their own score to the scoring official. 

Caddies are allowed at Rocky Mountain Junior Tour Tournaments EXCEPT for the RMJT Cup. Caddies will not be allowed to be parents. The Caddie Fee is $55 once per year and applies to the RMJT allowed tournaments.

A “caddie” is one who assists the player in accordance with the Rules, which may include carrying or handling the player’s clubs during play. Caddies may be any of the following – sibling, friend, swing coach, etc., but all will be held to the same standard, regardless of golf experience. Not Parent. 
(*Exception is for 10&Under division; parents are allowed to caddie for 10U only*)

Caddies must have a good understanding of the USGA Rules of Golf and any penalties endured by the Caddies will be assessed to the player.

Players must register for Caddie option with RMJT and you will receive your official BADGE at the first event you attend.  (Caddie fee follows the player during season).

POLICIES:

Caddies will be allowed to assist with the player’s clubs and equipment

Caddies will be allowed to clean a player’s club and/or golf ball

Caddies will be allowed to give players advice

Caddies will be allowed to assist a player in any way on the green

Caddies MUST assist pace of play, not hinder it. Players with caddies will be held to the same pace of play policies, standards and punishments as those without.

The RMJT reserves to right to remove a caddie at any time if there are behavior issues that are damaging to the player, the group or the RMJT.  The RMJT also reserves the right to deny a player the right to use a caddie in Round 2 (or subsequent rounds) if severe pace of play issues present themselves in Round 1.

You may click HERE to purchase an annual Caddie Registration.  Your RMJT account dashboard will show if you already have a current Caddie registration.