REGION XII
MEN'S DIVISION REGULATIONS
GOLF – DIVISION III
I. CODE OF CONDUCT
A. The NJCAA Code of Conduct (Article XX) and the NJCAA Sportsmanship Policy (Article XVIII) will apply to all Region XII contests.
II. QUALIFYING POLICY
A. Any school having to forfeit 50% or more of its conference games or events due to NJCAA or State Association sanctions and/or has not qualified by the conclusion of the last regular season conference game or event played will not be allowed to participate in post season play.
III. DRESS DECORUM
A. Game attire for all bench personnel, other than uniformed players, must be a college issued warm-up suit, or business casual apparel unless weather does not permit. All other team personnel must wear appropriate institutional collared shirts, shorts &/or slacks (no denim/jeans), shoes and socks (no sandals, flip-flops). Head gear must be worn in an appropriate manner. No changing into game uniforms at the bench area. Must use locker room or restroom facilities away from the general public.
IV. GOLF REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
A. Tournament site:
1. Colleges or organizations wishing to host the NJCAA Region XII Championship Golf Tournament must submit a written bid to the Region XII Athletic Directors. Bids are accepted at the Fall meeting of the Region XII Athletic Directors in odd-numbered years. Bids are to serve as host for two years.
2. The Region Director will place all bids or requests before the Athletic Directors for action. Once accepted, the agreement to host begins with the Spring season of the next even-numbered year.
B. Qualification of teams and medalist for competition:
1. Teams must play a Spring regular season schedule in order to be eligible for the championships.
2. If there are eight or fewer teams competing at the Division III level in the Region, the Region XII Championship will be open to all Division III teams.
3. If there are more than eight teams competing at the Division III level in the Region, teams must compete at the sub-regional level to determine qualifiers for the Region XII Championship.
a. MCCAA Colleges: 60% of the number of competing teams shall qualify from the sub-regional, with fractions rounded up (ex: 5 teams=3 qualify, 4 teams=3 qualify, 3 teams=2 qualify, 2 teams=both qualify).
b. OCCAC Colleges: 60% of the number of competing teams shall qualify from the sub-regional, with fractions rounded up (ex: 5 teams=3 qualify, 4 teams=3 qualify, 3 teams=2 qualify, 2 teams=both qualify).
c. The host team automatically qualifies.
d. Individuals who are not members of the qualifying teams but who finished in the top ten of the individual standings in the sub-regional will qualify.
e. In the event of a tie for the final qualifying spot, team or individual, there shall be a playoff to determine the qualifier. In the event of a tie for the team spot, all six players from each team participate in foursomes until the tie is broken.
C. Tournament Dates:
1. The Region XII Championships shall be scheduled annually on the second weekend in May. The tournament shall be scheduled on either a Friday-Saturday, or Saturday-Sunday format.
2. The tournament course shall provide times for teams to have a practice round on the day before the start of the tournament. Participating teams are permitted to practice on the tournament course at any time before the event begins at the discretion of the course.
D. Entries
1. The Tournament Director (host team coach or his designee) shall send entry information to all member colleges with preliminary time schedules, rules and details pertinent to the tournament (i.e. host hotel information, recommended restaurants in the vicinity). The information must be mailed to the head coaches of all Division III teams and posted online on the appropriate web sites.
2. Participating teams and coaches should be notified no later than April 20.
3. Teams must respond to confirm their participation and eligibility to participate no later than May 5.
4. The entry fee shall be $275, paid by the school upon arrival at the Championships. The fee includes three rounds of golf and two lunches.
E. Tournament Structure and Rules
1. The Championships shall consist of 54 holes of medal play golf. The first day shall consist of 36 holes of play and the second day 18 holes of play. In the event of inclement weather, the format is subject to change.
2. Teams shall consist of a minimum of four players. Teams may enter no more than six players. No substitution may be made once the tournament begins.
3. The team score shall consist of the low four individual scores of each 18-hole round. The team with the lowest score at the completion of the Championship shall be the champion.
4. In the event of a tie for the team championship or runner-up position, there will be an on-course playoff consisting of all six players from each of the tied teams. Players shall be grouped equally in three- or four-person playing groups. Coaches shall accompany the groups and record the scores. Play will begin on the designated hole and continue until the low four scores on a hole breaks the tie.
5. In the event that the Championships are interrupted by inclement weather and unable to continue, the Championship shall be decided by the scores of the last completed nine holes, providing that all players played the same nine holes. If the playing field was split over the two nines (two tee start), then the Championship shall be decided at the last completed 18-hole round.
6. In the event that a full round cannot be completed due to darkness and if all of the players have not completed at least 14 holes, the round is considered a “washout”. If all of the players have completed at least 18 holes, the round may be completed the next morning, following by that day’s round (if any). Players who intentionally play slow to force a cancellation shall be penalized two strokes. If slow play continues, the players involved may be disqualified. Decisions concerning penalty strokes, disqualification, suspension of play and cancellation of a round shall be made by the Tournament Committee.
7. Players may be penalized for failure to observe proper etiquette. Such penalties should be disclosed on the Tournament Rules sheet given to all players prior to the start of the Championships.
8. In the event of a tie for the Region Medalist or for an individual national tournament berth, there will be a playoff on the course.
9. Ties for All-Region medals shall be broken by a scorecard tie breaker, considering first the score of the back nine of the last nine played, then the last six of the last nine played, then the last three if still tied. If the tie is not broken, the same procedure shall be applied to the front nine holes of the last playoff round.
10. Players may not use caddies or motorized carts on the course unless special permission is granted by the Tournament Committee based upon medical reasons and a recommendation from a physician.
a. Exception: A player who has attained the age of 55 and qualified for the Regional Championships may, upon request, utilize a motorized cart during the tournament.
11. Players are prohibited from returning to the course after completion of play except to participate in a playoff. The penalty for violation is two strokes added to the individual’s score. Players are permitted to congregate behind the finishing green to watch teammates finish.
12. A two-stroke penalty will be assessed for missing an assigned tee time. If a player arrives late and any member of that group has putted out on the first hole, the player is disqualified.
13. Pairings will be made by the Tournament Director and posted at the host course the day before play begins, and posted on the appropriate web site. Playing groups will include no more than one player from a school. In the event of an uneven number of individuals, attempts should be made to play a “marker” in the group. If a marker is not available, a foursome will be created by combining groups. Twosomes are not permitted on the course.
14. Each player shall keep an official scorecard for each round. Players shall exchange scorecards on the first tee. At the completion of each round, each player will verify his own card and both the scorekeeper and the player will sign the card. The player will then turn in the scorecard. This card will represent the official score and will be used in accordance with the tournament and USGA rules. Players should consult the rules committee with any questions requiring rulings before turning in the scorecard. In the second round, players should exchange cards with a different member of that playing group so that no player is keeping the same person’s score that he kept in the first round.
15. If there are fewer than nine teams, play should begin on the #1 tee. If nine teams or more are competing, play should begin on #1 and #10.
16. Non-metal spikes are the required footwear for all players.
17. All players must be supervised by the person designated by the college as the head coach, or designated representative. Players may not participate without a coach or designated representative present at the championships.
F. Awards:
1. Team Regional Champion - plaque
2. Team Regional Runner-up – plaque
3. Regional Medalist – plaque
4. All-Regional Medals
5. Coach of the Year – plaque
G. Tournament Director Duties
1. The Tournament Director shall manage the Regional Championships by the policies of the NJCAA and the USGA.
2. A Tournament Rules Committee shall be established and include the Tournament Director, the coaches of the participating teams, and the head pro of the host course (if available).
3. The Tournament Director shall secure a host course for the Championships at a facility that will permit every eligible participant to compete.
4. The Tournament Director will be responsible for distributing information about the tournament, confirming participation and scheduling the competition.
V. NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
A. Division III- Region XII will be allowed the maximum number of participants as permitted by the NJCAA Golf Bylaws. Determination of the teams and individuals will be as follows (Note: the number of teams refers to the number of schools from Region XII that file Division III golf eligibility rosters with the NJCAA:
1. Five or fewer teams:
a. The Regional Champion team
b. The Tournament Medalist, if not a member of the Champion team
2. Six-to-10 teams:
a. The Regional Champion team.
b. The top five individual scorers not members of the Champion team. If the Champion team can field only four players for the National Championships, the top six individual scorers will qualify.
I. If four of these scorers are from the same team, that team shall qualify for the National Championship; and the Tournament Medalist, if not a member of either team, will also qualify for the National Championship.
3. 11-to-15 teams:
a. The Regional Champion and runner-up teams.
b. The top five individual scorers not members of the Champion or runner-up teams. If either or both teams can field only four players for the National Championships, additional individual scorers will qualify up to the limit of 15 team and individual participants.
I. If four of these scorers are from the same team, that team shall qualify for the National Championship; and the Tournament Medalist, if not a member of any of the qualifying teams, will also qualify for the National Championship.
4. 16 or more teams:
a. The Regional Champion and runner-up teams.
b. The top individual scorers not members of the Champion or runner-up teams to a maximum total equaling the total number of teams in the region minus the number of participants on the Champion and runner-up teams.
5. Any ties for the last qualifying spot, team or individual, shall be broken by an on-course playoff.
VI. ALL REGION XII TEAMS
A. The All-Region Team will be determined in the following manner:
1. Three participating teams = 3 All-Region members
2. Four participating teams = 4 All-Region members
3. Five participating teams = 5 All-Region members
4. Six-to-eight participating teams = 6 All-Region members
5. Nine-to-11 participating teams = 8 All-Region members
6. 12 or more participating teams = 10 All-Region members
B. The Region XII Coach of the Year will be the head coach of the Regional Champion team.
VII. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Use of Tobacco Prohibited:
1. The use of tobacco products by any coach, player, official or other individual involved in the conducting of any NJCAA sanctioned or sponsored regular season or post season play is prohibited within the confines of the playing area. Any individual not in compliance shall be disqualified from further participation in that contest.
Revised 7/13
53