WSGA

The following information that any person desiring to participate in a Wisconsin State Golf Association event or championship must be aware of prior to entering and/or participating. It is the responsibility of each participant to know the rules and policies that govern all WSGA competitions.

Conditions of Competition

The Wisconsin State Golf Association (WSGA) reserves the right to accept or reject any entry submitted. Any person whose entry is accepted shall be subject to the rules and conditions of play set forth by the WSGA. The WSGA reserves the right to shorten any competition due to weather or other conditions warranting such action. Any act of unsportsmanlike conduct, as written in the WSGA Conduct Policy, will be cause for removal from tournament. The WSGA will not make any provisions for a player asking for special consideration due to any other commitments.

Conduct Policy

By submitting an entry, or by participating in any WSGA competition, the player understands that his participation is at the sole discretion of the WSGA. The player’s entry may be rejected for any event, at the discretion of the Official in Charge, at any time before the close of the competition. These include, but are not limited to cheating; willful destruction of golf course or WSGA property; abusive language or conduct towards WSGA and/or host facility staff, volunteers, or other players; club throwing and/or physical endangerment of others; offensive, excessively loud behavior; repeated withdrawals or no cards during or after completion of round; inappropriate golf attire; or other conduct deemed to be unbecoming or detrimental to the WSGA.

Should an incident occur, the official in charge shall submit a report to the WSGA Tournament Committee. Future sanctions may range from suspension from future WSGA events to not being eligible for WSGA team competitions and/or player awards. This may also include losing exempt status for future year(s). The decision to reject an entry during an event by the official in charge is final. However, any further action taken will be at the discretion of the WSGA Tournament Committee. The decision of this board may be appealed to the WSGA Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final.

Tournament Eligibility

Entries are open to amateur golfers who are currently Associate Members of the WSGA at the club from which they are playing, and whose club is a current member club of the WSGA. The player’s Handicap Index must not exceed the limit set forth on any tournament application. WSGA tournaments may be entered at any time beginning at 9:00 AM – Tuesday, February 14th, 2023, provided the entry is received on or before the entry closing date and the field is not full. Any application that is received by the WSGA prior to the posted date above will not be accepted. Online registration for all WSGA tournament and championships is available online at wsga.org. You will find a description of each tournament, along with the entry closing dates on each tournament page. The WSGA does not accept entries by telephone or email. Late entries may be accepted within 48 hours of posted deadline date. There will be an additional $30 service fee applied to all late entries. Entries with insufficient funds, expired or declined forms from payment will be considered incomplete and unacceptable and will be withdrawn.

Tournament Information

Information concerning course assignment, groupings, starting times, etc., will be emailed and/or texted approximately 7-10 days prior to the event. If you have not received your information within seven days of the event, it is your responsibility to check the WSGA website for pairings or contact the WSGA Tournament Office. Please do not call more than seven days prior to the event.

Email/Text Messaging

Starting times and pairing information will be sent to players via text message and email, but only if the players set his/her WSGA member account to opt in to receive this information. A player who chooses to get information via in text message will still receive information via email, if that player has provided their current email address. Event information will be posted on tournament info page, emailed, and texted only.

Handicaps

Each player who wishes to play in a WSGA sanctioned event must be a current WSGA member with an active handicap Index. The player’s current Handicap Index, as of the qualifying date and/or Championship date is used to determine the player’s Course Handicap for a relevant “Net” tournament. The WSGA reserves the right to adjust a player’s Handicap Index prior to the start of a competition entered, or during that competition, if warranted.

Qualifying

Unless a player submits a statement of reason for transferring to another qualifying site that is acceptable to the WSGA, all NON-EXEMPT players must qualify at a local qualifying site. Allocation of the number of qualifying spots for each qualifying site will be prorated by the total number of entries and posted before the qualifying round. The WSGA reserves the right to transfer qualifiers, if necessary.

Footwear

To ensure good playing conditions in WSGA tournaments, the wearing of shoes with traditional spikes or spikes where metal may contact the course is prohibited. Model Local Rule G-7 is in effect. Shoes much always be worn during competition.

Score Posting

It is the sole responsibility of each player to post all scores, tournament or otherwise, in their handicap records. The WSGA Tournament Staff will inform contestants at the tournament site if the WSGA will be posting scores directly into each contestant’s handicap record.

Mobile Scoring

All scores MUST be submitted electronically using the WSGA App. There will be no “traditional” scorecards used for submitting scores at the event, but will made available for all players/teams.

• One player from each group will be assigned to score for the entire group.
• The player keeping score will receive instructions from WSGA staff prior to the start of the round.
• It is recommended that players still keep track of scoring on their own scorecard.
• At the conclusion of the round, all players will verify scores with the electronic scorer for the group.
• Once scores for the group have been verified, the electronic scorer will submit those scores electronically and the scores will be considered official.
• In the event of a rules situation, players involved will be allowed to discuss such issue with WSGA official in scoring area.

Withdrawals/No Shows

Players who have applied to participate in a WSGA event and wish to withdraw for any reason must notify the WSGA Office at (414) 443-3560 prior to the event. If withdrawing on the day of the event, call the course you are assigned to play. Players who fail to follow this procedure will be listed as a “No-Show”. Repeated no-shows by a player may lead to rejection of player’s entry in future events.

Cancelation & Refunds

Once a player/team has been accepted into the event, that player/team is considered an active participant in that tournament. Should an active player/team wish to withdraw from the event, the player’s/team’s entry fee, minus a $20.00 service fee, will be refunded if the player/team cancels online or notifies the WSGA office at any time before the close of entries for the event.

After the close of entries, the players/teams entry fee, minus a $50.00 service fee, will be refunded if the player/team cancels online or notifies the WSGA office before the start of the competition.

No refunds will be given for an event that is shorted to a lesser number of holes but still completed. Every effort will be made to reschedule an event that was canceled due to inclement weather. If an event is canceled, the players/team entry fee is subject to partial or full refund depending on circumstances and at the discretion of the WSGA and host facility.

Dress Code

All players must be neat in appearance with respect to personal grooming and clothing. All makes are required to wear shirts with collars and sleeves, and either golf slacks or knee-length shorts that are neat in appearance. Non-acceptable clothing includes the following: short shorts, athletic shorts, tennis shorts, cut-off shorts, jeans, jean shorts and tank tops and the like. Headwear must be worn in a traditional manner, with the bill facing forward. Golf shirts should be tucked in. Caddies, when permitted, are also expected to abide the WSGA Dress Code. The Official in Charge will decide whether the requirement has not been met and will withdraw the entry of a player who does not comply.

Spectator Carts

When golf carts are permitted in tournaments conducted by the WSGA, their use is limited to transporting players (if permitted) and/or their caddies and their clubs. Spectators are prohibited from using golf carts. Walking spectators are always welcome at WSGA tournaments, unless prohibited by the host facility.

Electronic Distance Measuring Devices

A player may obtain distance information by use of a distance measuring device. If during a round, a player uses a device to measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., elevation, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a(1). Electronic measuring devices are not allowed at all Open USGA Qualifying events and Championships.

Pace of Play

Each player who enters a WSGA Tournament Championship or USGA Qualifying event conducted by the Wisconsin State Golf Association agrees that, by entering, he or she will abide by the WSGA Pace of Play Policy, which is published on the WSGA website, and all tournament information pages.