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Official Rules |
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Rules of the Cadillac Invitational |
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Introduction
 All play in Cadillac Invitational tournaments is governed by
the USGA Rules of Golf, as amended by local rules and those
set forth below
regarding
the scramble format. As scramble play is not recognized in the
Rules of Golf, the organizers of the Cadillac Invitational have
established the following rules to govern Cadillac Invitational
tournaments conducted as scramble competitions. The following
rules apply solely to Cadillac Invitational Tournaments and
are not intended to alter or revise the USGA Rules of Golf.
Except as set forth below or otherwise modified locally, the
USGA Rules of Golf govern all play.
SECTION 1.
RULES OF PLAY
Scramble Format
All four members of the team shall hit one tee shot on every
hole. The team then selects one tee shot and continues play
from that point. This procedure is repeated until the ball is
holed out.
Three Tee Shot Requirement
Each player's tee shot must be used at least three times during
the 18-hole competition.
Where to Play From
Shots through the Green. Each team member must play his/her
shot from within one club length of the selected shot (except
when on the putting green). However, the ball may not be placed
closer to the hole. In addition, if the selected shot was in
the fairway, each member of the team must place his/her ball
in the fairway to play the next shot. Likewise, if the selected
shot was in the rough, bunker, water hazard, fringe, etc., each
member of the team must place a ball in, and play from, respectively,
the rough, bunker, water hazard, fringe, etc. In every instance,
each team member may place the ball. In other words, all balls
are played "up" or under "Winter Rules".
Team members may rake bunkers between shots.
Shots on the Putting Green. Once the team's ball has reached
the putting green, the ball should be marked and another spot
should be marked approximately 6 inches to the side, no nearer
to the hole. This will allow the team to mark the ball so that
all players can putt from the same spot without being disturbed
by the ball marker. Once a ball is holed out, play is completed
for that hole. Therefore, players should not putt out until
all players have attempted the putt from the selected position.
On the green, players may stand behind a teammate to help determine
the line. |
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SECTION 2.
TEAM FORMATION AND HANDICAPS
Handicap Requirements
Each team in the Cadillac Invitational must consist of four
amateur golfers whose combined USGA Handicap Indexes total 43.0
or higher. In addition, a team may only have one member whose
USGA Handicap Index is 8.0 or lower. All four team members,
however, may compete with USGA Handicap Indexes higher than
8.0. There is no maximum limit to each team's total USGA Handicap
Index.
Penalty for Violating Handicap Requirements
If a team or any of its members is found to have violated any
of the Cadillac Invitational handicap requirements, that team
shall be disqualified and shall not be eligible to receive any
prizes nor shall it be invited to attend the National Finals.
USGA Handicap Index
Cadillac Invitational golfers who have a USGA Handicap Index
must provide their GHIN (Golf Handicapping Information Network)
number (except in those states which are not on the GHIN System)
and present a USGA Handicap Index card to be verified upon registration.
Please note that the Cadillac Invitational handicap requirements
refer to the USGA Handicap Index and not the Home Course Handicap.
The USGA Handicap Index is the number with a decimal point on
each player's USGA Handicap card. The Home Course Handicap does
not contain a decimal point.
Cadillac Invitational Index
The local tournament committee or chairperson may provide a
golfer who does not have a USGA Handicap Index with a Cadillac
Invitational Handicap Index that may be used for the tournament.
The Cadillac Invitational Handicap Index will be determined
in accordance with the USGA's “Second Best Handicap”
system as follows: to create a player's Second Best Handicap,
the Tournament Committee simply asks each unhandicapped player
to submit his/her best three scores made on a regulation course
(one with a par of 68 or more) in the last 12 months. The scorecards
from these rounds must be attested by the golf professional.
The player's Second Best Handicap is the second best score he/she
has submitted minus 70 for men or 73 for women. For example,
if a male player submits scores of 92, 96 and 98, his Second
Best Handicap would be 96 (second best score) minus 70 (for
men) or 26.
Effective Date of USGA Handicap Index
The effective date of each Cadillac Invitational golfer's USGA Handicap
Index is the later of (1) the day the golfer registers and pays
his/her entry fee, or (2) the day sixty days prior to the tournament
date. The date of registration is defined as the date of payment.
Amateur Status
All participants in the Cadillac Invitational must comply with
the USGA Rules of Amateur Status. Any team which contains a
golf professional is ineligible to compete and win prizes. If
it is discovered that a team contains a member who is a golf
professional, that team shall be disqualified and any prizes
awarded to that team, or its members, shall be returned to the
tournament committee.
Player Substitution
If a team member has an emergency and cannot play, the team
may use a substitute player. The substitute must have a current
USGA Handicap Index which conforms to the event's team and individual
USGA Handicap Index requirements (see Rule 2.1). The USGA Handicap
Index must be verified by the Golf Committee before allowing
the substitute player to compete.
Handicap Misrepresentation
Any golfer who is found to have misrepresented his or her USGA
Handicap Index shall be disqualified. Furthermore, the Cadillac
Invitational reserves the right to suspend handicap violators
from future tournament participation. Flagrant infractions shall
be reported to the golfer's state golf association and the USGA.
Any PGA Professional who misrepresents a handicap will be reported
to the PGA of America's National Headquarters. |
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SECTION 3.
THREESOMES AND INELIGIBLE TEAMS
Absent
Team Member
In the event a team member has less than four players, that
team is not eligible to win team prizes because it cannot meet
the requirement that each team use at least three drives from
all four players. Teams with less than four golfers should be
notified prior to teeing off that they are ineligible for team
prizes, however, failure to so notify shall not affect a team's
eligibility. Although three-person teams are non-competing,
the individual members of a three-person team are, however,
eligible to win individual prizes (longest-drive, closest-to-the-pin,
hole-in-one). All golfers in Cadillac Invitational events, whether
they are members of competing foursomes or non-competing threesomes,
are only permitted to take one shot from each ball location.
In other words, under no circumstances can a golfer take a second
shot at any time, on behalf of an absent team member or otherwise.
A Player Withdraws During Play
If a player withdraws before the team has used at least three
of that player's tee shots, the team shall be disqualified.
If a player withdraws after three of his shots have been used,
the team shall continue to play a three-person scramble with
each remaining player hitting only one shot from each ball location. |
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SECTION 4.
SCORING
Competition is "at
scratch"--without Handicaps
Once each team has been formed in accordance with the handicap
requirement set forth in Rule 2.1, the competition is conducted
without handicap strokes. This is called competing "at
scratch."
Host Golf Professional
is Responsible for Tabulating Scores and Resolving Rules or
Scoring Disputes
One of the responsibilities of the club professional at the
club hosting the event is tabulating the team's scores. In addition,
the host golf professional will be responsible for working with
the Tournament Committee to resolve any rules or scoring disputes.
To prepare the host golf professional for these duties, the
Tournament Committee MUST provide a copy of these rules to the
club professional in advance of the tournament. Tournament Chairmen
and the tournament staff liaison should also have a copy of
the rules on-site during the event.
Breaking Ties
In the event of a tie, the golf professional shall break the
ties by matching cards among the tied teams. The matching of
cards shall begin with the number Men's number 1 handicap hole
(not the first hole) and continue with the Men's number 2 handicap
hole, etc. until the tie is broken. This is the only acceptable
method for breaking ties at a Cadillac Invitational tournament.
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SECTION 5.
GOLF COURSE
Eligible Golf
Courses
Any high quality 18-hole golf course which does not discriminate
on the basis of race, gender or religion is eligible to host
a Cadillac Invitational tournament.
Golf
Course Set up
The golf course should be set up to be fair, yet challenging,
so that the competition identifies the best team. As a guideline,
the men's tees should be set up at 6,400-6,700 yards and the
women's tees at 5,600-6,000 yards. The host golf professional
or golf course staff may wish to set the course up shorter to
speed up play or because they set up “all their outings
at 6,000 yards.” This is not acceptable. The Cadillac
Invitational is a highly competitive national tournament. It
is not comparable to a corporate outing where a large percentage
of the golfers are playing their only round of the year.
At the Cadillac Invitational National Finals event, the courses
may be set up longer to better determine a National Champion.
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SECTION 7.0
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
Entry Fee
Refund
If a team is disqualified for a rules violation, no entry fees
will be refunded.
Player's Tee Shot Not Used
Three Times
A team shall be disqualified if it does not use each player's
tee shot three times.
Rain Outs
While every effort should be made to complete an 18-hole event,
the weather may not allow everyone to finish their round. If
the whole field does not complete 18 holes, the host professional
should help score the event using the following guidelines.
*Determine how many holes all the
teams have completed; scoring must be based on the same number
of holes. For example, if half the field played 13 holes and
half completed 12 holes, you have a 12-hole tournament and
only the first 12 holes completed by each team should be considered
in the scoring.
*Determine each team's score relative
to par for the appropriate number of holes. Scores must be
determined relative to par (i.e., how many strokes under/over
par) because each team will have played a different assortment
of holes with a different total par.
*If ties exist, the Golf Pro should
match cards based on the hole scores on common holes starting
with the lowest handicap hole.
Committees Decisions Are Final
Cadillac Invitational Tournament Committee decisions are final
and not subject to appeal. This rule does not prevent a Committee
from correcting an incorrect ruling and imposing or rescinding
a penalty.
Handicap Disputes Settled By Arbitration
All handicap disputes shall be settled by arbitration with
the USGA (or the governing state golf association) in accordance
with USGA Rules.
Caddies and Advice
While tournament committees or golf courses may employ forecaddies
for local tournaments, caddies are not allowed at Cadillac
Invitational events. USGA Rules define a caddie as “one
who carries . . .a player's clubs. . .and otherwise assists
him. . . .” As caddies are not permitted, Cadillac Invitational
participants are prohibited by USGA Rules from asking or receiving
advice from anyone other than their teammates.
Using Long Putter to Measure One Club Length
A team may use any club, including a long putter, in measuring
one club length as provided in USGA Rules.
One Ball Rule
The one ball rule is not in effect in Cadillac Invitational
tournaments.
Fourteen Club Rule
Players may not share clubs in Cadillac Invitational events.
Players sharing clubs will be considered in violation of the
fourteen club rule and will be disqualified. |
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