2018 State Golf Tournament Qualifier Information
May 29 – May 30


American Legion Golf Course, Marshalltown (Class 1A)  
Lake Panorama National Golf Course (Class 2A)    
Coldwater Links, Ames (Class 3A)   
Elmwood Country Club, Marshalltown (Class 4A)

NO outside food or beverage will be allowed at the State Tournament courses.  

STATE GOLF QUALIFIER ENTRY FORM
State Qualifying teams/individuals must submit a photo with name and grade identification of each person pictured by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 to Heidi Reed ([email protected]). Photos must be in jpeg or tif format…no cell phone pictures. Please write your school, class, and sport in the Subject line of the email when emailing your picture (ex: Smithville, 2A, Golf).

FORMAT
A 9:00 a.m. shotgun start will be used on Day 1. Tee times will be used on Day 2 starting at 9:00 a.m. (Panorama National will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Day 2). Tee assignments will be distributed at the coaches meeting each day.  The tournament is 36-hole stroke play.

TEE ASSIGNMENTS
The top five teams (based on team averages) will be paired together and the bottom five teams will be paired together for both days of the tournament.  Individual qualifiers will be grouped together both days of the tournament. Day 2 tee assignments are based on Day 1 scores. Golfers will not be paired with another golfer from their school.

TEAM TOURNAMENT
The team tournament is separate from the medalist tournament, although a player's score in the State Tournament shall count toward both the team and medalist results.

Each team may play six (6) participants, with the low four (4) of six (6) 18-hole scores counting for the team total.   Player personnel may be changed from the Regional to the State Tournament and subsequently changed from Day 1 to Day 2 of the State Tournament.  You must let the IGHSAU State Office know of changes from Day 1 to Day 2 of the State Tournament as soon as possible. At no time shall a team have more than six golfers from their school/team participating at the same time during state competition.

DRIVING RANGE FEES
Driving range fees for the two-day tournament will be $20 for qualifying teams and $10 for qualifying individuals. Driving range fees must be paid to the clubhouse prior to using the driving range on Tuesday. The driving range fees allow access to the range before and after competition on Tuesday and before competition on Wednesday.

PARTICIPANT ATTIRE
All participants in the State Tournament shall wear the same color and style school-issued collared/mock collared shirt.  Violation of this rule may result in disqualification of the golfer(s) in violation.

SOUVENIR PROGRAMS/MERCHANDISE STAND
The merchandise stand will be at each site one day ONLY.  It will be at Classes 3A and 4A sites on Tuesday, May 29th and at Classes 1A and 2A sites on May 30th.  State souvenir programs will be on sale both days at each site. Programs are $5.  

LIVE SCORING
Golfers will turn in their scores three times throughout the course.  There will be scorers on the tee boxes of the three holes to record the golfers’ scores. The live scoring link is located at IGHSAU.org in the Golf section.

SCORECARD SIGNATURES
At the conclusion of play, each golfer should TOTAL her score (9 and 18 holes) and write it on the scorecard. The scorer and the person whose score is being kept must sign the scorecard prior to turning it in to officials at the Official Scoring Area.  Golfers must turn in their own scorecard. COACHES–DO NOT hold all the team cards until all golfers are in.

COACHES MEETING
A coaches meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the clubhouse at all courses. This will be followed immediately by a player/coach meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Coaches will be given packets containing their coaching badges, program, tee assignments, player scorecards and informational sheet. The coaches meetings are mandatory for all coaches as rules for competition and local rules will be explained.  Failure to attend this meeting may result in disqualification of that team’s members.  It is the responsibility of each coach to attend and in turn carry instructions to their own golf squad.

Tuesday’s packets can be picked up prior to the 8:00 a.m. Rounds will begin both days at 9:00 a.m. (Panorama National will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Day 2). The tournament will not await arrival of coaches or players either day so plan accordingly especially with the abundance of road construction across the state.

Coaches will wear wristbands issued by the State Office. Qualifying teams are given two wristbands for certified, school-appointed coaches to use and individual qualifiers are given one wristband for a certified, school-appointed coach to use. This is to clarify who is permitted to give instruction to players on the course. Only coaches wearing the wristbands may communicate with players, which can occur from tee to green and from green to tee. No communication shall occur once the golfer and the golfer’s ball are on the green. Coach wristbands must be worn and visible at all times.

RULES OFFICIALS
PGA rules professionals will serve as the rules committee. Players must seek rulings from rules officials, not coaches.

CELLULAR PHONES, ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND RANGE FINDERS
Use of cell phones, iPods, smartwatches or any other electronic device by participants during the competition shall result in disqualification.  Range finding devices are allowed for use by players and coaches during the State Tournament provided they are only used to measure distance. Parents are not to provide distance information to golfers.

GOLF CARTS
One golf cart will be provided for each head coach of a team each day of the State Tournament.  Coaches of individual qualifiers will not be provided a golf cart, but can rent one for a reduced price.  INDIVIDUAL COACHES MUST CONTACT LISA BRINKMEYER BY NOON ON THURSDAY (5/ 24) IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE A CART SO IT CAN BE RESERVED ([email protected]). If you do not contact Lisa by noon on 5/24, you will not have a cart reserved for the State Tournament.  Only coaches are allowed to ride in the carts.

SPECTATOR CARTS
PLEASE PASS THIS ONTO YOUR SPECTATORS.  Spectators will be allowed to rent the remaining golf carts on a first come, first serve basis at each location. Spectator carts cannot be reserved prior to the State Tournament. If a spectator is in need of a cart due to a physical disability (doctor approved), they must provide Lisa Brinkmeyer ([email protected]) with a doctor’s note stating a medical need for use of a cart by noon on Friday (5/25) to reserve a cart.  Otherwise, they are able to rent a cart on a first come, first serve basis.

BREAKING TIES FOR STATE
1. Team Competition:  The 5th team player scores of day (2) will be compared.  If a tie still exists, compare the scores of the 6th player of day (2). If a tie still exists, compare the scores of the 5th player of day (1).  If a tie still exists, compare the scores of the 6th player of day (1). If a tie still exists it will be broken by a sudden death playoff.  The coach will name four (4) players who will play in the playoff.  All four scores will count.  Starting holes will be determined prior to the meet.  If a team has only four golfers they will lose the tie-breaker since a fifth player’s score is not available.

2. Medalist Competition: Ties for State Medalist are determined by a sudden death playoff with starting hole/s posted prior to play. For individual play, ties beyond first place are determined by a card back, starting with the number one handicap hole.

AWARDS
Team trophies will be awarded to all participating teams.  Medals will be given to the champion and runner-up team members and the top 10 individual finishers (and ties for 10th). Each state participant will receive a participation plaque, which will be given to their coach at the completion of the tournament. The Awards Ceremony will be held Wednesday after scores are totaled.

PLAYER REGULATIONS
Motorized carts and caddies are prohibited. Use of non-motorized pull or push carts are allowed throughout the entire season.  Requests for use of a motorized golf cart during postseason competition must be due to a disability, and will be evaluated by the IGHSAU on a case-by-case basis. Transitory illnesses and injuries (actual or expected duration of six months or less) do not qualify under the ADA as a disability and thus would not qualify for use of a motorized cart.  Athletic directors must submit the request for golf cart use and documentation from the golfer’s physician stating the disability and the extent to which it prevents the golfer from walking during competition.  Upon receipt of the request, the IGHSAU will notify the school in writing of approval or declination

Coaching Tee to the Green – School-appointed, certified golf coaches are allowed to coach their golfer up until the golfer and golfer’s ball are on the. Coaches may not assist or instruct a player regarding any putting on the green.  If any part of the golfer’s ball is on the actual green, the ball is considered on the green. Once the golfer arrives at the green (no delay by the golfer) with her golf ball on the green, the coach can have no more communication with her until all golfers in the group have holed out.

Spectators must remain on the cart path or in the rough and must stay adjacent to the golfers at all times.

No practice putting is allowed on the course, including the putting green, after competition has begun.

Any rule violation on the course should be called by a player.  The rule violation should be brought to the attention of the entire threesome/foursome before the alleged violator has COMPLETED THE HOLE ON WHICH THE VIOLATION OCCURRED AND LEFT THE GREEN.  After a rule violation has been declared, the Rules Committee shall be consulted immediately, or the player may finish the hole with two balls: one played as if no rule violation occurred one played as if a rule violation did occur.  The Rules Committee shall then hear the violation as soon as possible.

Decorum.  If a player is guilty of unsporting conduct or demeanor, her coach and a rules committee member shall be notified.  If the player is guilty of a subsequent offense, the rules committee may disqualify the violator.

Alcohol or tobacco products are NOT permitted on the course or in student accessible areas of the facilities.

USGA Rules are followed unless published in the IGHSAU manual.

The ball will be played down during the tournament series, with the tournament manager retaining the right to invoke a local rule pick, place and clean if course conditions warrant.

Continuous putting shall be employed whenever possible.

Coaches may not leave the grounds during the competition.  Any coach not present during the tournament will force disqualification of the entire team.

WATER/FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Outside food and beverages will not be allowed at the State Golf Tournament sites.  Teams and spectators are not allowed to bring food, coolers, beverages onto the course. The clubhouse will have food prepared for golfers to “grab and go” for lunch. Golfers should move to the front of the line to ensure pace of play is not affected.

The IGHSAU encourages players to make pre-meet preparations and have beverages or an empty bottle in their bag to refill if needed. The IGHSAU allows a coach or parent to hand beverages/food to their player/daughter on the course, with every effort being made for this to occur between green and tee or near the clubhouse. No golf instruction should occur between the golfers and parents at this time.

GREEN FEES
The IGHSAU pays green fees of State participants.

WEATHER
If either day’s round cannot be completed due to weather, the tournament will become an 18 hole, one-day tournament.  Weather delay procedure – Several hits on the horn, immediately mark your ball, do not hit another shot and go directly to the clubhouse or mid-course shelter.  Summer Rules will be used unless the course conditions warrant otherwise.

SCOREKEEPING
Scorekeepers will NOT be used at the State Tournament.

PRACTICE ROUNDS: Practice rounds are permitted anytime at state tournament courses, prior to day one of the State Tournament. The IGHSAU does not govern loss of school time for State Tournament practice round play. Arrangements must be made with each course concerning tee times. The rates below are for girls’ high school golf teams and the school-appointed coaches ONLY. Family/friends accompanying golfers for practice rounds will not receive rates listed below.

American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown (Class 1A)     641-752-1834
Practice Round Rates: $15.00 to walk. Carts are $15/person
These rates are available all day, every day. **This is a site for the IHSAA State Golf Tournament. The course will be closed all day May 24 and until approximately 3:00p.m. on May 25. Driving range will be open until 7:00 p.m. on Memorial Day. Please call the Pro Shop for available tee times.

Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora (Class 2A)    641-755-2024
Practice Round Rates: $15.00 walk. Carts are $20/person
These rates are available all day, every day with the exception of Memorial Day weekend.  The above Junior rate will only be available for tee times before 12:00 p.m. on Memorial Day weekend.  Tee times may not be available after 12:00 p.m. on Memorial Day due to a tournament. Please call the Pro Shop for available tee times.

Coldwater Golf Links in Ames (Class 3A)             515-233-4664
Practice Round Rates: $20.00 walk. Carts are $15/person
The above junior rates are available weekdays and after 12:00 p.m. on the weekends and during Memorial Day weekend.  Please call the Pro Shop for available tee times.

Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown (Class 4A)        641-753-8111
Practice Round Rates: $20 to walk. Carts are $16/person
Players must reserve practice rounds through Jay Giannetto, Elmwood PGA Professional.  The golf course will not be available for practice rounds on Memorial Day, however teams will be allowed to walk (not play) the course after 6:00 p.m. The putting green will be available for use on Memorial Day after 6:00 p.m.  **American Legion Golf Course driving range will be open until 7:00 p.m. on Memorial Day.

Congratulations on qualifying for the State Golf Tournament!

Lisa Brinkmeyer
Assistant Director
IGHSAU Golf Administrator