Policies & Procedures: Junior Tour

THE 2023 IOWA PGA JUNIOR TOUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All events are subject to change at any point based on any proclamations by Federal, State and/or Local Officials throughout the season due to COVID-19.  The Iowa PGA Staff reserves the right to change this as well based off of the policies that our host facilities are while administering golf events.

​Please be patient with us; we will do the same for you.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL JUNIOR TOUR EVENTS

Juniors who are 18 and younger by June 3, 2023 are eligible. However, High School graduates are eligible for tournament play only during the summer immediately following their graduation, even if they are not yet 19 years old.

ENTRY PROCESS

You may find schedules and event TIP (tournament information pages) online and by logging into your Player’s Club Account. Find Full Schedule– Junior Tour under the Tournaments tab.  You need to click on the info link for the event you wish to register for and click the “register now” link. Make sure you read and understand all details as there is a cancellation fee and policy for each event.

  • Click on the age division you would like to compete in. This is the age division you will be accruing Player of the Year points for.
  • You MUST enter your credit card number in order to be registered for the event (our staff will not be able to take credit card information over the phone). A confirmation screen will appear once you are completely registered. DO NOT quit the process until you reach this screen. If you do not finish, you will NOT be entered into the event.
  • Tournament deadlines will occur 4 days prior to the tournament. Registration will open back up until 12:00 pm the day before to fills spots.

The Iowa PGA does NOT guarantee a spot for every member in every tournament. Each tournament has the potential to reach maximum capacity before its entry deadline. Once a tournament has been filled, a waitlist will be created. Once the waitlist has been filled, entries will no longer be accepted. You may also log into your Player’s Club Account to view your information and make changes.  See Player’s Club Account button above to login. The Player’s Club Account button on are also available on most Junior Tour/Pee Wee Tour web pages. This page has additional links to view Major, Ace, Eagle, Birdie, and Parent Junior.  You can also change the schedule page you are viewing in BlueGolf by clicking SEARCH FOR TOURNAMENTS in the upper right hand corner or any BlueGolf schedule page.

Some of the great features available inside the Player’s Club Account include:

  • You can see events you have already registered for.
  • You can sign up for multiple events at one time.
  • You can see past results and past seasons if you have been a member for many years.
  • You can view your Player of the Year points and how you stand against the rest of your division.
  • You can track and enter other rounds and stats.
  • You can create your Profile to look and include whatever you would like.
  • You can also create/use the Public Profile to share this information with coaches.
  • You can LOG OUT if you have multiple children on the tour and log back in with the other junior’s information.
  • And lots of other great features!

BLUEGOLF SYSTEM TIPS

Bluegolf is sensitive when it comes to siblings accounts. Here are some tips to help with frequently asked questions during this process.

  • Log in and out of each PLAYER’S CLUB ACCOUNT
    •  If you don’t log out of the Player’s Club Account it may keep you logged into on account when you are trying to get into another account.
    • There is a dropdown menu on the top right hand corner. Click that and choose the log out option in order to log out of an account.
    • To login use the Player’s Club Account login box and type in the players account you would like to access username and password.
  • Same Email
    • Bluegolf is sensitive if you register with the same Main Email for each sibling. If you are trying to access one account it may pull up the other account.
    • In order to avoid this it is easiest to register with different Main Emails for each account.
    • It is easiest to register with the player’s email as the main email for their account if they have one. If the player doesn’t have an email account try to use different email accounts for each child.
    • If you use the players email as the main email enter the parent/guardian’s email in the Parent Email field.
    •  If you have two email accounts you would like the emails to be sent to add the second one to the Second Parent Email field.
    • Every email your son/daughter receives will be cc’d to these email accounts, so you will still receive them.
    • If you are a returning member need to change the email accounts because they have the same main email you may edit your file to change this. You can also call our office at (319) 648-0026, and a staff member can edit your file as well.

CANCELLATION POLICY

  • Cancellation deadlines will occur 4 days prior to the tournament at 11:59pm. If you withdraw from the tournament after the deadline you will NOT receive a refund.
  • There will be a $5 processing fee for any cancellation in 9-hole divisions and a $10 processing fee for any cancellation in 18-hole divisions – FOR ANY REASON.
  • Players can also credit their account for the entire entry fee to be used for another event at a later date. No processing fee will be charged if you credit your account when cancelling. All credit must be used during the season. If you do not use your credit by the end of the season it will be donated to the Iowa PGA Foundation Burkart Scholarship on your behalf. You will receive a tax deduction receipt.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

  • No refunds will be given after 4 days prior to the event. Players may cancel out of an event by logging into their Player’s Club Account, or contact the Section office at (319) 648-0026. Please note, this policy is only for events where entries are accepted by the Iowa PGA Office.
  • If an individual chooses to withdraw from any other tournament on the Junior Tour schedule where entries are not taken through BlueGolf, please contact the tournament director for that event prior to the deadline for entry. The tournament director’s contact information will be available on each of the tournament entry forms. It is essential to call and withdraw from an event so the next junior on the waiting list can be informed of the open spot.

NO SHOW POLICY

Any player who “no shows,” or fails to participate in an event that he/she has registered for, will be issued a status of “NS” on his/her account. Any player that has two or more “no shows” during the season may be suspended from any Iowa Junior Tour/Pee Wee Tour event for the week following the second “NS” without a refund. If this is a continuous problem, the Iowa PGA Section reserves the right to suspend the player’s membership without a refund.

NO CARD POLICY

Every competitor must return a signed scorecard, even if the card is marked “no card.” It is not sufficient to merely tell someone at the scoring table you are “no carding.” If a competitor tees off, he/she must turn in a scorecard. If a competitor “no cards” two or more times throughout the summer, he/she may be suspended from the next Iowa Junior Tour event without a refund.

WALK UP POLICY

The Iowa PGA Section will NOT accept any Junior Tour member who has not pre-registered by the deadline for a tournament in any case. A member may be put on a waiting list for an event and the Iowa PGA office will contact him/her if a spot has opened. The Iowa PGA staff will continue to add players as late as possible and you will receive an email and/or phone call if you are able to be added up to one day prior to the event. DO NOT go to the tournament site and expect to play; you will not be accepted into the tournament.

RULES & REGULATIONS:

CODE OF CONDUCT

Violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to, abusive language, club throwing, abuse of the golf course, cheating, disrespect of volunteers, officials, and/or host staff, use of any tobacco products, drugs, or alcohol, not adhering to the dress code, leaving the course during a competitive round without permission of a tournament official, or any other conduct deemed unbecoming of a Junior Tour member. This includes showing consideration to other players – for example, playing at a prompt pace, looking out for others safety, not distracting while others play thier shots and assisting with knowledge of the rules, looking for golf balls, etc.  Proper attire is required at all times at each Iowa Junior Tour event. Failure to comply may result in disqualification. Each host facility may have additional rules and dress code requirements that must be adhered to by all Junior Tour participants and spectators. Proper attire includes nice shirts, slacks, shorts, golf skirts no shorter than three inches above the knee (girls only), golf or tennis shoes, caps, and visors. It is also encouraged that participants wear sunscreen. The dress code prohibits short shorts, cut-offs, swimsuits, sandals (other than golf-spiked sandals), clothing containing offensive slogans, languages or pictures and clothing describing or advertising alcohol, tobacco, or other drug references. The Iowa PGA suggests participants present themselves in a positive manner while representing the Iowa Junior Tour by wearing all hats with the brim forward and tucking in all shirts. Any breach of the guidelines listed above will result in the following consequence(s) based on the severity of the violation:

  • Warning – violator will be asked to make adjustments to behavior, change clothing or make adjustments so the policy is satisfied (i.e. tuck shirt in, turn hat around, stop inappropriate behavior, speed up pace of play, etc.)
  • Enforce a two-stroke penalty
  • Disqualify the player from the tournament in which the violation occurred
  • Suspend the player for the remainder of the season
  • Suspend the player’s membership indefinitely

CHARACTER 

All Iowa Junior Tour Members and Spectators are encouraged and asked to be respectful of other players, volunteers, PGA and course staff as well as the course and facility at all times. Please assist where and when possible. Help look for lost balls, with general course knowledge and yardage, be friendly and have fun.

SPECTATOR POLICIES

The Iowa PGA encourages spectators and parents to attend events and requires spectators and parents attending to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Spectating is a privilege, not a right.

ADVICE (Rule 8-1) is any counsel or suggestion which could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of club, or the method of making a stroke. In addition, any conversation between payer/spectator may be construed as advice. This includes any conversation between player/spectator in their native language. In either instance, penalty for breach of this rule is two strokes.

Examples of Advice:

  • “Hit your 7-iron”
  • “Take an unplayable lie”
  • “Keep your head down”
  • Hand signals

Public information such as yardage and Hole Location is not considered advice

SPECTATORS MUST:

  • Remain a 30 yards from the players throughout the round. Staying on the cart path is encouraged.
  • Stay one shot ahead or even with the group they are following. If you are walking behind the group you are holding up the group behind them and might get hit into. If you are one shot ahead of the group this allows spectators to follow errant shots and help identify where the ball comes to rest. Spectators are allowed to aid in search of golf ball, but immediately return to rough or cart path 30 yards away once the ball has been found.
  • Spectators may carry food, beverages, umbrellas, etc., and seek the help of Iowa PGA Staff and/or Tournament Director on site.
  • Turn cell phones on silent or vibrate while on the golf course

SPECTATORS MUST NOT:

  • Give rulings or advice. Please seek a rules official if the need arises. If there are no rules officials around please play a 2nd ball and proceed under the doubt of procedure rule (3-3).
  • Spectators are not allowed to rake bunkers for players. Only Caddies and players may rake the bunkers.
  • Spectators are not to get involved in scoring matters, (including rulings) unless requested by the Iowa PGA Staff and/or Tournament Director on site.

CHEATING AND DISHONESTY POLICY

The Iowa Junior PGA has a Zero Tolerance Cheating Policy:

  • Any Player who witnesses a fellow competitor cheating or committing a rules infraction should notify their playing group and confront the player who committed the infraction IMMEDIATELY. If the situation cannot be resolved among the group player should request the assistance of a rules official/tournament director. If not immediately available players should discuss situation at the scoring table before turning in their scorecard.
  • Iowa PGA Staff and/or Tournament Directors will monitor and enforce cheating and rules infractions. Penalties and disqualification will be distributed as necessary.
  • If an Iowa PGA Staff and/or Tournament Director witnesses cheating or a rules infraction, they will approach and disqualify that player immediately.
  • Players will be subject to penalties and/or automatic removal from the program with no refunds if any spectator is caught cheating for them.

Penalties for cheating will be as follows, depending on the severity of the situation.

  1. 2 stroke penalty.
  2. Immediate disqualification from event and notification to parents of the situation.
  3. Immediate disqualification from event and removal from next event with no refund.
  4. Indefinite suspension from the Iowa Junior Tour and Iowa PGA Section sanctioned events.

PACE OF PLAY

Rule 6-7 of the USGA Rules of Golf States: “The player shall play without undue delay and accordance with any pace of play guidelines which the Committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground the player shall not unduly delay of play.”

The Iowa PGA Junior Golf Staff will be monitoring pace of play of all groups. If all competitors will cooperate, each event will be a more pleasant experience for everyone.

Note 1: If the player unduly delays play between holes, he/she is delaying the play of the next hole and the penalty apply to that hole.

Note 2: For the purpose of preventing slow play, the Committee may, in the condition of a competition (Rule 33-1) lay down pace of play guidelines including maximum periods of time allowed to complete a stipulated round, a hole, or a stroke.

The Iowa PGA Junior Golf staff does not wish to apply penalties for undue delay. However, in the interest of all, the pace of play be reasonable. It would be reasonable for a group of (3) players to take 15 minutes, on average, per hole. Meaning an 18-hole round should be completed in less than 4 hours and 30 minutes, and a 9 hole round should be completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

PACE OF PLAY TIPS

Our goal is to educate and inform our members on ways to continually improve pace of play. The Iowa PGA Junior Golf staff realizes that there are many factors that can affect pace of play on any given day however the bottom line is that slow play affects not only the players in the tournament, but it also affects the Iowa PGA Junior Golf Staff, the host facility, and parents of the players.

​Play “Ready” Golf. This is where order of play is based on who’s ready, not who’s away.

  • Move with purpose; walk fast between shots.
  • Place your bag across from you, not behind you when you get to your next shot.
  • Members of a group should not travel as a pack. Each member of the group should walk directly to his or her own ball.
  • Use the time you spend getting to your ball to think about the next shot.
  • Play a provisional ball if you think the original ball might be lost or out of bounds
  • Begin reading the green and lining up putts as soon as you reach the green. Don’t wait until it’s your turn to start the process of reading the green. When it is your turn you will be ready to step right up to the ball and putt.
  • When on the putting green, place your bag in a position that will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee.

USE OF PUSH/PULL CARTS

Manual push/pull carts are allowed for all Iowa PGA Junior Tour Tournaments. The use of motorized golf carts or push/pull carts is prohibited.

CARE FOR THE COURSE

All players are expected to maintain, as well as improve, the condition of the golf course and its surrounding areas by replacing divots, repairing ball marks, raking bunkers, picking up and disposing of trash, etc. Players are asked to fix at least one extra pitch mark in addition to their own on each green for the sake of the golf course. The clubhouse should also be left in the same or better condition than it was before the tournament i.e. pick up your trash and throw it away, and push your chairs in at the clubhouse.