Competition Policies

Certification of Handicap Index

A copy of your current handicap card, reflecting a handicap index based on 18 holes, must accompany your entry form (if submitting by mail) or should be mailed separately to GCSAA if you register online. The USGA handicap index is used to verify eligibility for the National Championship and the Golf Classic. All indexes will be verified approximately 60 days prior to the competition and the index at that time will be used. Players must have a verified handicap or declare as a professional to be eligible to compete in the competitions. A letter from a course professional verifying handicap index will not be acceptable proof of handicap. For Canadian participants, The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) index will apply. The tournament officials determine handicap ranges for the Golf Classic handicapped flights. Three senior flights are available and must be marked on the registration form in order to participate in a specific flight: Senior I (age 50-56), Senior II (age 57-64) and Super Senior (age 65+). If you are eligible and wish to compete in a senior flight, you must indicate this on your form. Otherwise, you will be placed in the flight based on your handicap index. All affiliate members and student members will be placed in the affiliate flight, regardless of handicap index or age.

Repeat Flight Winners

If a contestant has won or been the runner-up for two (2) consecutive years, that player will be subject to further handicap verification and review. The player will play in the current year to 80% of verified handicap, and be placed into the flight corresponding to the adjusted handicap. If it is determined that the player knowingly submitted an incorrect handicap, he/she will be subject to disqualification and/or ineligibility to compete in the GCSAA Golf Classic and Four-Ball Mixer. The tournament officials reserve the right to assign a player into any flight deemed appropriate.

Practice Privileges

Practice rounds at the host facilities are available at the competitor’s expense on Friday, Jan. 30, and Saturday, Jan. 31. Tee time reservations will be available in January 2009. Practice rounds at Kiva Dunes are limited to players registered in the National Championship. National Championship players, however, may play practice rounds at the Golf Classic host facilities.

Starting Times and Pairings

National Championship - Starting times and groupings for Round 1 will be available at check-in/registration at the Perdido Beach Resort. Pairings will not be made available prior to the start of on-site check-in/registration. Round 2 and 3 (Final Round) starting times and groupings will be available at The 19th Hole on Sunday and Monday. Under NO circumstances will starting times and pairings be distributed over the phone.

Golf Classic - Golf Classic participants will have a shotgun start each day. Groupings and hole assignments will be available at on-site registration for the Golf Classic. Round 2 (Final Round) groupings and hole assignments will be available at the host hotel and during The 19th Hole on Monday. Under NO circumstances will starting times and pairings be available prior to the event or distributed over the phone. The player is solely responsible for knowing his/her starting time each day.

Official Rules and Regulations

Official rules and regulations for the National Championship and Golf Classic will be available in the 2009 event program, which will be mailed to participants in January.

Event Deadlines

Registration for the National Championship, Golf Classic and the Four-Ball Mixer opens Wednesday, Oct. 1, and the deadline for registrations and cancellations will be Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at 5 pm (central standard time). All deadlines will be strictly enforced. All players must complete the enclosed registration form or register online and pay the appropriate fees. Only one entry may be filed per player. The tournament officials reserve the right to disqualify anyone who submits more than one entry and/or falsifies information. A waiting list will be established if a full field of applications is received prior to the deadline. All waitlisted applications, and all applications received after the close of entries, will be returned and the fee refunded after the Dec. 1 deadline.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Full and/or partial cancellation requests must be received in writing by the entry deadline of 5 pm (central standard time), Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, to receive a refund. After Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, entry fees will be refunded only in the event of injury or medical emergency, if requested in writing by the first day of competition. No refunds can be given after the start of competition. Substitutions will not be accepted after Dec. 1. Please note that a $25 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds. Written cancellations should be sent to:

GCSAA Golf Championship
Attn. Heidi Elser, Tournament and Meeting Planner Manager
1421 Research Park Drive , Lawrence, KS 66049

Fax: 785.832.4477 or e-mail to: helser@gcsaa.org