Terms and Conditions

Management

The championships shall be conducted under the management and control of the Tournament Committee, whose decisions on all matters relating to the tournament shall be final. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to make amendments or changes as required prior to and during the Championships.

Opening and Closing Date

Entries will open on 31st January 2024 and close on 31st August 2024, if not fully subscribed prior to this date. The championships will be limited to 360 golfers. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to refuse entries once the championship capacity is reached. Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Eligibility

Entry is open to male and female amateur golfers over the age of 55 years as at the commencement of the tournament who are financial members of a veterans group affiliated with the AVGU and have a current GA Handicap.

Partners – who are not Veteran’s Association Golfers

Partners of entrants who hold a current GA Handicap are eligible to play on all days but are not eligible to win any prize at the event.

Rules

Play will be conducted in accordance with the Royal and Ancient Rules of Golf as available at https:/www.randa.org/ and the Local Rules and Temporary Rules applicable at the courses at which the Championships are being played.

4BBB Medley Stableford

A 4BBB Medley Stableford competition will be held on Monday 21st October 2024 for all entrants. Partners may be nominated on the entry form, or the tournament committee may allocate partners if needed. This event will be held at Loxton Golf Club, Berri Golf Club and Barmera Golf Club.

Men’s and Ladies AVGU Championships

The AVGU Championship for both men and women will each be played over 54 holes as a stroke event for grades A, B and C, in conjunction with a medley Stableford competition for each grade as well. Players may elect to withdraw from stroke and play stableford only during the event. In the event of a player not completing all 54 holes in the Stroke event e.g. picking up the ball before completing a hole, the player is no longer eligible for the stroke and net Championship event.

Championship rounds will be conducted on Tuesday 22nd October, Thursday 24th October and Friday 25th October 2024 at Loxton, Berri, and Barmera golf courses. Each player will play once at each course. Golfing partners, and spouse golfers as nominated on the entry form will be drawn to play on the same course as their partner but not in the same playing group, and irrespective of grade, unless otherwise requested. Couples will be located on the course where highest graded player is due to compete.

Grades

Provisional Championship grades for men and women will be determined by GA Handicaps on Monday 23^rd September 2024. Players will remain in their allocated grade for the duration of the Championship. Grades for the AVGU 2023 Championships are expected to be as follows, but may be subject to change at the discretion of the tournament committee:

Men

A Grade: -8 to 13.9,  B Grade: 14.0 to 19.9 C Grade: 20.0 – 36

Women

A Grade: -8 to 21.9,  B Grade: 22.0 to 45

Handicaps

Handicaps for all players will be as of Tuesday 22^nd October 2024 and will remain the same for the 54 holes, subject to slope adjustment of the course being played. For daily events, handicaps may be adjusted as determined by daily Golf Link assessment. Maximum handicaps will be 36 for men and 45 for ladies.

Mi-Score/Cards and Protests

Must be lodged within 15 minutes of the completion of the player’s round on the day. The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final. Doubt as to procedure during play – rule 20.1c(3) of the Rules of Golf applies.

Ties and Championship Prizes

Should there be a tied score in either of the above Championships the winners will be decided by a countback of total scores in the final round, then the second round, then the first round. If still tied, a standard countback will be held on the final round. All other tied scores shall be decided in countback order.

No Player can win more than one Championship prize. Winners of the championship major trophies (Overall Gross and Nett Stroke cannot win a grade trophy) and will be ineligible to win ancillary 54-hole Stableford competitions.

Transport-Private Car use is Recommended.

Transport to and from the Golf Courses in the Riverland on each day of the National Championship event is the responsibility of each participant or visitor and is not organised by your tournament committee. Buses are not provided to the golf courses from your accommodation or the towns in the Riverland area. Private car use is recommended for the journeys between the towns of Barmera, Berri and Loxton and the golf courses involved.

Bus transport will be used for the social program tours and presentation dinner.

Golf Equipment Storage

The Barmera, Berri and Loxton Golf Clubs are unable to store any participant’s golf equipment overnight at their facilities. In line with recently developed Golf Australia policies, the charging or storage of any battery containing golf equipment for visitors at the golf facilities is prohibited. This policy particularly applies to lithium battery powered walk-behind golf carts, which have been identified as a fire risk when charging.

Bad Weather

It is a condition of competition that, in potentially dangerous situations play must be discontinued immediately following a suspension of play by the Tournament Committee. Procedures for discontinuance of play will be notified by the individual clubs in their Competition Conditions or Local Rules. If any conditions occur which prevent the completion of any round of the scheduled events on any day, on any course, that round for the affected grade, shall be cancelled.

If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, the player shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such penalty, as provided in Rule 33 – 7.

Golf Carts Usage

As the availability of golf carts will be limited, the committee reserves the right to prioritize motorized cart usage for medical conditions (a doctor’s certificate may be required). To drive a motorized cart, competitors must have a current driver’s licence and have previous experience driving a golf cart. In the event of an accident, the driver is responsible for the costs to repair the cart and any property damaged as well as being liable for any personal injury claims. A waiver must be signed prior to usage.

Motorized Golf Carts Usage

Golfers are welcome to bring your own cart to each course, which may then be shared with one other event participant as specified in the draw by the tournament committee.

Due to the possible limited availability of hire golf carts at each course, the committee reserves the right to prioritize hire motorized cart usage for medical conditions (a doctor’s certificate may be required). To drive a motorized cart, competitors must have a current driver’s licence and have previous experience driving a golf cart. In the event of an accident, the driver is responsible for the costs to repair the cart and any property damaged as well as being liable for any personal injury claims. A waiver must be signed at each course prior to usage.

Mobile Phones

Golfers may carry a mobile phone on the golf course to use the MiScore App and to use in case of an emergency. Participants are reminded that the mobile phone must be on silent.

Dress Code

All competitors should be smartly attired both on the course and in the club house. Men’s shirts must have a collar. Shorts and slacks should be tailored (no cargo pants/shorts). Women may wear Bermuda shorts. Track suits and the like, abbreviated denim or boxer shorts, tee shirts, singlets and tank tops, denim jeans or thongs are not permitted on the courses or in the club houses. Soft spikes are mandatory.

Dress for the Presentation Dinner is smart casual.

Cancellation by Entrant

Applications for refund of entry fees received in writing before 1 July 2024 will be refunded in full.  Applications for refunds received in writing prior to 21^st September 2024 will be subject to a $100 cancellation fee. No refund will be provided for cancellations after 21^st September 2024. It is recommended you take out suitable travel insurance at time of booking. Refunds for cancelled accommodation and travel etc will be subject to the standard terms and conditions of each provider.

Unavoidable Abandonment of Tournament

Should circumstances beyond the control of the Tournament Committee require the abandonment or curtailment of the tournament, the Tournament Committee may deduct from registration fees before refunding the balance an amount reasonably necessary to defray its actual costs to that point.  In the interests of transparency, any such recovery will have been endorsed by the the AVGU as fair and reasonable in the circumstances.

Publicity/Promotion

The Tournament Committee may arrange media promotion and publicity before, during and after the Championships. Competitors assent to pictures of them appearing and being used for purposes determined by the Tournament Committee.

Indemnity Disclaimer

By signing the Indemnity Disclaimer on the tournament entry form or registering online, competitors agree to participate in the tournament at their own risk. To the extent permitted by law, the Tournament Committee, sponsors, host golf clubs and other suppliers of goods and services accept no liability for any death, injury, property loss or damage incurred during or arising out of any aspect of the conduct of the championship.

For more information, Email: admin@avguchampionship2024.com.au