Revised: June, 2016 SECTION I. SEASON LIMITATIONS GOLF (BOYS & GIRLS) GUIDELINES A. Opening date- determined by the IHSA B. Length of season terminates with State Tournament SECTION II. SCHEDULE A. Number of contests one (1) versus each conference school with total contests in agreement with IHSA limitations. B. Boys: Two (2) divisions (River and Valley). Girls: One (1) division. C. Type duals or triangular if schools can host D. Make-up procedures first available open date with mutual agreement of schools involved. E. All Conference schools must play one crossover match with a team in the other division. This could be a dual match or part of a triangular match. SECTION III. LEVELS OF COMPETITION A. Levels two (2) Boys Varsity and Sophomore and two (2) Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity. B. Team membership there will be up to eight (8) players entered in each match at each level. SECTION IV. GAMES AND CONTESTS MANAGEMENT A. Length of contest nine hole matches whenever possible. Medal play using four (4) scores at each level. In case of a tie from first four (4) scores, the scores of player number five (5) will be used. In case a tie still remains, the scores of player numbers six (6), seven (7), and eight (8) will be used, one at a time, in an attempt to break the tie. Should the total result in a tie, the match shall be considered a tie with proper team point awarded. In the event of unplayable conditions, which may occur during dual meet competition, the meet will be considered official if each group has completed a minimum of the same five (5) holes. In this event, the best four (4) five-hole scores will determine the winner. If each group has completed six (6), seven (7), or eight (8) holes, the scores for all players for the least number of holes played will determine the winner. B. Starting time 4:00 pm. Unless a change of schedule is sent. Play may begin earlier if teams are available. C. Uniforms appropriate golfing attire. D. Approved equipment-no mechanical carts may be used and pull carts may be used unless prohibited by the golf course. No caddies allowed. Medical exceptions are exempt pending mutual agreement between coaches. E. Order of events determined by host school
F. General rules USGA / IHSA / local rules apply. G. Dressing facilities and towels not provided. H. Scorecards provided by the host school. I. The host school s golf coach will contact the visiting school s golf coach at least two (2) days prior to the scheduled contest to provide information regarding the phone number of the golf course, the course location, tee time and additional details as required. J. Visiting teams do not pay greens fees. K. Every effort should be made to reschedule a match postponed by severe weather. L. By mutual agreement the site of duals meets may be changed to the opposite site. M. All controversies shall be settled by mutual agreement of the coaches. N. Individual points will be awarded to the top 4 scores in dual meets. 1st place = 4 points, 2nd place = 3 points, 3rd place = 2 points, 4th place = 1 point. Any divided point totals less than 1 will equal.5 for all players involved. If any ties occur in the top 4 scores, add the point value for those places together and divide by the number of players to determine the points earned. On point splits less than 1 please round up or down to ½ point. Do not use a fraction other than ½. Example: Team A #1 shoot 36, Team A #2 shoots 38, Team A #3 shoots 40, Team B #1 shoots 37, Team B #2 Shoots 40, and Team B #3 shoots 40. Points will be awarded as follows: Team A #1 shoots 36 = 4 pts., Team B #1 shoots 37 = 3 pts., Team A #2 shoots 38 = 2 pts., Team B #2 shoots 40 =.5 pts., Team A #3 shoots 40 =.5 pts., Team B #3 shoots 40 =.5 pts. O. Players are eligible for conference points if a school team fills at least three (3) players. P. No outside school will be invited to an Up-State 8 conference dual meet. However, by mutual consent double duals with another conference opponent may be scheduled by the athletic director if necessary. Thus a medalist could earn eight points that day if he/she was the low score against both schools. Q. If a dual meet is not played during the season, Holes 1-9 of the conference tournament will count as the dual meet, and medalist and team points will be awarded. R. Forfeits are counted as No Contest ; and crossover points do not count for Championship points. SECTION V. CHAMPIONSHIP DETERMINATION A. Combination of points earned from dual meets and conference tournament. a. Dual meets zero (0) points given for each dual meet win b. One (1) point given for each dual meet tie
c. Two (2) points given for each dual meet loss B. Tie determination co-champions are recognized. C. Crossover points do not count towards championship points. SECTION VI. CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT A. The conference tournament shall be held the week prior to the IHSA Regional Golf Tournament. The next day shall be the rain date, rescheduled at the same course if possible. B. Entries and levels of competition eight (8) entries for each level, consistent with the regular season UEC schedule. C. Format of meet eighteen (18) hole medal play on neutral course. Neutral course means no team may host a match at this venue, but could play a match as a visiting team on the conference tournament course. The host school is determined by alphabetical rotation. D. Rules Committee head coaches of each school plus one local pro. E. Playing schedule playing schedule announced at the meeting prior to play. Play will be grouped according to (9) hole average score in a wave format. Minimum of 3 players per group, no player from the same team allowed to play in the same group. F. Team Scoring: Total of low four (4) scores at each level will determine team score. In case of a tie, the conference tournament points will be determined according to rule (A) under Section IV. These points will be added with dual meet points to determine conference champion. Points will be awarded as follows: 1 st = 0, 2 nd = 3, 3 rd = 5, 4 th = 7, 5 th = 9, 6 th =11, 7 th = 13 8 th = 15, 9 th =17, and 10 th = 19. G. Individual Scoring: Top twelve (12) finishers in conference would receive points: 1 st place 12 points 7 th place 6 points 2 nd place 11 points 8 th place 5 points 3 rd place 10 points 9 th place 4 points 4 th place 9 points 10 th place 3 point 5 th place 8 points 11 th place 2 point 6 th place 7 points 12 th place 1 point H. If the tournament is suspended, only the varsity will return to play on the makeup date. If less than nine (9) holes have been played by all players, the tournament will be canceled and restarted on the assigned rain makeup date. If more than nine (9) holes are completed before the suspension, the tournament will resume at the start of the 10 th assigned hole. If the rain date is canceled, the conference (division) champion will be determined by dual meet records. If a tie still exists, co-champions will be recognized. I. Ribbons will be awarded for the top ten individual places during the conference tournament. Ties for the top ten conference tournament places will be broken by using the scorecard method and working backwards from hole 18 to hole 1
until the tie is broken. If a tie still remains after an 18 hole scorecard playoff duplicate medals will be awarded. Ribbons will be provided by the host school. J. Equipment regulation equipment provided by each player. K. Officials rules committee. L. Rules to be followed USGA/IHSA/local rules. M. Artificial Devices: Players are prohibited from playing music with/without headphones, cell phones, artificial devices, or any unusual equipment that might assist a player in making a stroke. N. Measuring Devices: Players or coaches may use USGA approved measuring devices during the state series competition. Players or coaches may share distance information with those they wish to do so. Sharing distance is not considered giving advice. The USGA does not publish a list of approved measuring devices. In general, GPS devices and range finders-provided each example only displays point to point distances without adjustment for any other factor, are acceptable. However, devices or applications that can be used on cell phones or tablets are prohibited. Devices that during a round would allow a player to communicate with another player or coach is prohibited. O. The conference host for that season will be the official secretary/recorder for the conference season team and individual points. P. Starting time will be determined by the home course; however a 9:00 a.m. starting time is desirable due to travel accommodations. Q. Coaches will supervise the course during tournament play. SECTION VII. ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM A. A combination of dual meet individual points and points from the conference tournament will determine the top individual players who will make up the all conference team. B. Boys (Valley): 12 members plus ties with six teams, Boys (River): 14 members plus ties with seven teams. Girls 18 members with nine teams (one division) plus ties. C. All-Conference golf team 12 members plus ties for boys and 9 members plus ties for girls. D. The all-conference team will receive medals. E. A player, because of injury or illness who has not participated in the conference season or tournament, may be added to the all-conference team with a majority vote of the coaches. F. The player earning the most points from the season and the conference tournament will be the Conference Most Valuable Player. G. All Conference Honorable mention certificates can be awarded at the discretion of the coach. SECTION VIII. COACHES MEETING A. Pre-season meeting will take place before the first week of the season. B. Post-season meeting held on day of Conference tournament.
C. Review by-laws (suggestions for change every other year) SECTION IX. SPECTATOR CONTROL All spectators must stay off the fairways, greens, and tee boxes a minimum of 75 feet from all competitors. The following exceptions are: traffic congestion points (such as bridges), competitor/spectators searching for lost balls, providing creature comforts (adding or removing jacket, providing beverages or snacks), and between nine of an 18 hole round. Communication between spectators and participants shall be limited to laudatory or encouraging comments. Communication between participants and spectators shall be limited to appropriate responses (i.e. thanks), requests for comfort (i.e. please hold my jacket ), or requests for help in searching for a lost ball. Coaches should follow the same rules as spectators, except that they are permitted to coach their player(s) from the green to tee of every contest as outlined by the IHSA terms and conditions. Penalties: 1 st offense: warning from coaches and observer 2 nd offense: for spectators and coaches removal from course for players 1 stroke penalty (can only be called by a coach or member of rules committee) 3 rd offense: for players disqualification (can only be called by a coach or member of rules committee) Coaching: For the entire state series, the head coach and one assistant coach will be allowed to coach anywhere on the course except the putting green. Coaches must, however, wait until the last player on the green putts out before communication takes place on the next hole. Coaches must not delay teeing off on the next hole. Both the head coach and the assistant coach must meet the IHSA coaching by-laws and be listed on the school s list List of Participants. Additional specifics are available on the IHSA Guide for Coaches SECTION X. SCORE REPORTING A. The school hosting the conference tournament will be compiling all team and individual points for the season. B. The school hosting a dual or double dual match will email or fax scores to the school hosting the conference tournament.