All tournaments conducted by the Texas Junior Golf Tour are conducted under the USGA rules of golf and the rocky mountain junior golf tour local rules as listed below. At each tournament there is usually an additional set of rules known as the local rules addendum that take into consideration the circumstances and condition of that particular golf course. All TJGT tournament players are urged to become familiar with the TJGT local rules and conditions of the competition. Please print out a copy and keep it in your golf bag for easy reference.
Texas Junior Golf Tour Hard Card can be viewed here. Disregard any local rules printed on the course scorecard.
PACE OF PLAY POLICY
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 resort 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 tournament committee will, at its discretion, take into account any time-altering factors such as host course problems, weather conditions and any unforeseeable time obstacles.
COMPLETION OF A ROUND
A player’s round will be deemed complete when all off the following criteria are met:
1) All scores for the player and marker have been entered into the scoring app and/or written on the official scorecard
2) Reviewed scores with each other and the tournament scoring official in the tournament scoring area
3) The player and marker have clicked “Complete Round” and “Attest & Complete” in the scoring app and/or signed the official scorecard
Under this Code of Conduct, all players are required to be present in the scoring area for the completion of their round, and to do so within 15 minutes of holing out on the final green. If a player fails to report to the scorers table, the following will occur:
1) First offense – the General Penalty (2 strokes) will be applied to the player’s score on the final hole.
2) Additional offenses – the player will be Disqualified from the competition.
3) If the committee feels a player has purposefully ignored committee instructions regarding post-round scoring, the committee may elect to forego the General Penalty and immediately Disqualify the player from the competition.
At any time, the committee may take into consideration any extenuating circumstances that may have prevented a player/group from arriving to scoring within the 15 minute time limit (or at all) when determining if a penalty will be assessed.
GENDER AND AGE DIVISION POLICY
Players participate in sex-separated tournaments in accordance with his or her assigned birth gender (gender as listed on the birth certificate). The TJGT reserves the right to request proof of birth gender at any time if birth gender details come into question. For any questions or special circumstances regarding gender, please contact TJGT Executive Director Travis Measley at travism@tjgt.com.
Players will be slotted into the appropriate age division for a given event based on their date of birth at the day the tournament begins, as listed on their player profile. For example – a player that is 14 years old on May 1 will be in the 11-14 age division for any event with the first round on May 1, even if the player turns 15 on May 2. The TJGT reserves the right to request proof of DOB at any time if age/date of birth details come into question.
Notable exception – for the yearly Tour Championship, boys who earn an invitation for their performance while in the 11-14 division may be still allowed to compete in the 11-14 division after turning 15, at the discretion of the TJGT staff.
TIEBREAKER POLICIES
As long as weather/light/golf course availability is safe, all ties for 1st place in any division will be settled by a sudden-death playoff. In the event of a tie for any other places in which awards are given out, ties will be broken using the TJGT’s method of scorecard playoff (as recommended by the USGA), outlined below:
- Using holes 10-18 of the final round. If players are still tied, tiebreaker will then go to holes 13-18, then 16-18, then just hole 18.
- If players are still tied, the above process will be repeated using holes 1-9 of the final round.If players are still tied, the above process will be repeated for holes 10-18 of the first round, then holes 1-9 of the first round if players are still tied.
- In the event that 2 players still remain tied, a coin will be flipped to break the tie.
In the event of a sudden death playoff for first place with more than 2 players, if, after a hole, first place has been decided but the other players remain tied, the above scorecard playoff method will then be implemented to determine 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc places.
Example: if in a 3-way playoff, 1 player makes par and the other 2 make bogey, the player that made par is the champion, and the two that made bogey are subjected to a scorecard playoff for 2nd place. If, in a 3-way playoff, however, 1 player makes birdie, 1 makes par and 1 makes bogey, then those players will be 1st, 2nd & 3rd accordingly.
SPECTATOR 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 or near the cart path or rough, and may not walking in the fairway and must stay a reasonable distance off the green during tournament play. Please review the full TJGT Player/Spectator Policy for the specific Player/Spectator Interaction Policy.
CADDIE & PULL CART INFO
CADDIE POLICY
There are no caddies on the TJGT tour unless specifically allowed on the tournament’s information page. AJGA PBE Junior Tour Caddie Policy at selected TJGT events allowing caddies: A player may provide his own caddie or have one provided to him at player’s own expense. A player is not required to employ a caddie for any stage of the tournament. Players and Caddies must walk.
PULL CARTS POLICY
Pull Carts are allowed for all age divisions provided the host course permits. All players/parents are advised to check with each individual course. The ultimate responsibility resides with the player.
TJGT Staff emphasizes safety when a player is being shuttled and pulling a pull cart. It is recommended to fold up the pull cart and place in the shuttle to prevent potential injury. TJGT will not incur liability or responsibility for the damage to any pull cart or player as a result of pulling a pull cart when being shuttled.
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES
The TJGT allows players to utilize any type of distance-measuring or GPS device at tournaments that follow USGA Rule 4.3. You can view a PDF regarding Rule 4.3 here that outlines specifics.
Permitted distance measuring devices include range finders, GPS watches, yardage books (physical or digital), golf GPS devices and apps on a player’s mobile device that provide distance information.
TJGT DRESS CODE
(1) Required dress at the golf course: Hats/visors must be worn with brim forward. Collared shirts or mock turtlenecks (host golf course permitting) must be worn and tucked-in at all times. Fashion shirts without collars must have sleeves. Any sleeveless shirt must have a collar. Shirts must not rise above the belt line at anytime during the golf swing. Shorts must be no more than five inches above the knee or the inseam of the shorts must measure at least five inches. All TJGT events require players to wear Soft Spike golf shoes or other golf course appropriate footwear.
(2) Prohibited dress at the golf course: Yoga pants or leggings (unless covered by shorts or a skirt), tank tops or spaghetti straps, sleeveless or racerback tops without a collar, plunging necklines, men’s athletic-type sweat pants/joggers/workout gear, gym shorts, denim shorts, short-shorts, cut-off shorts, gym shorts and jeans. Undergarments must be concealed/covered up at all times, regardless of top or bottom style. Any article of clothing promoting adult products such as alcohol, nicotine, smoking products, etc. are not prohibited.
LOCAL RULES/SHOT LIMIT
USGA Rules of Golf will govern all tournament play. Local rules will be discussed with players before the round begins. TJGT utilizes the local scorecard to ensure all local rules are visible to all players. TJGT rules, hard card and spectator policies are always posted on the tournament information page.
There are NO shot limits at any TJGT Event unless specifically addressed by tournament rules officials upon the beginning of a round. At Qualifier and Elite Series Events, the TJGT may institute a CUT policy when deemed appropriate, and reserves the right to remove a player from a TJGT event at any time for non-competitiveness.
It is suggested that players seeking entry into Qualifier Series events shoot an average score of under 100, and Elite Series events, an average score of 90 or lower.
