In conjunction with the Dixie, North Florida and South Florida Sections of
the PGA of America, the Florida State Golf Association will be conducting the
2009 Florida Open Championship. The 2009 Florida Open will be held July 17-19 at
Quail Valley Golf Club and John's Island West in Vero Beach. Florida Section
Professionals and amateurs can qualify for the tournament at local qualifiers.
Exemptions are available through State Amateur Championships & PGA Section
Events.
Founded by Tom Fazio and Nick
Price, Quail Valley was sculpted with elevations ranging from 30 to 40 feet.
Abundant wildlife and wide-open spaces are another unique feature at Quail
Valley. The 18-hole West course at the John’s Island Club features 6,828 yards
of golf from the longest tees for a par 72. Designed by Tom Fazio, the West golf
course opened in 1969.
ELIGIBILITY: See definitions
below
In General
(definitions down below), all entrants must be a
Resident of Florida and either a:
- PGA Member (includes PGM Program participants) in good
standing in the Dixie, North Florida or South Florida Section of the
PGA of America (excluding A-3's) and who is either a Lifetime
Member of the PGA of America or has been employed at
a Florida Golf Club, Indoor or Outdoor Practice Facility or Retail Sporting
Goods Store for a minimum of 14 weeks
of the current year (since January 1st) as of the date of the close of
entries, or
- Non-PGA Member Head or Assistant Professional
employed at a Florida Golf Club or Outdoor Practice Facility for a minimum
of 14 weeks of the current year (since January 1st) as of the date of the
close of entries (see work responsibilities below), or
- Amateur (or an amateur awaiting reinstatement) with a
current USGA Handicap Index©
not exceeding 6.4 under the Men's USGA Handicap System
Definitions
Resident of Florida is 1) a person who maintains his
permanent legal place of abode, where physical presence and possessions are
maintained, for a period of not less than four consecutive months prior to last
day of the Championship; or 2) a student who physically attends a high school or
college in Florida at any time during the four months prior to the last day of
the Championship; or 3) a student who graduated from a Florida high school and
who attends an out-of-state college but remains a legal dependent of a parent or
guardian who meets the Florida residency requirement; or 4) military personnel
based in Florida on active duty, their spouses, and dependent children as of the
date of close of entries
Head or Assistant Golf Professional (Non-PGA Members) is
a person employed a minimum of 32 hours per week and paid by a golf professional
or the club in the category of teacher, shop manager or assistant (which means
spending at least 20 hours a week in duties of club repair, merchandising,
handicapping records, inventory control, bookkeeping or tournament operations)
Conditions of Play
Entries are subject to rejection at any time (including during the event) by the
FSGA. The reason for rejection may include false statement of eligibility or
handicap index, improper attire and/or unbecoming conduct. Any person whose
entry is accepted shall be subject to the Rules and Conditions of Competitions
set forth by the FSGA.
The Championship results may determined by reverting to the
results after 36 holes. The Committee will do everything within its power to
complete the event over 54 holes. In the event the Championship is shortened to
36 holes as a result of inclement weather or force majeure, the top 60 and tied
players will be awarded either cash or gift certificates.
ENTRY FEE:
|
Qualifying Fee
|
Championship |
Exempt |
Professional
|
$80 |
$250 |
$300 |
| Amateur |
$80 |
$150 |
$200 |
EXEMPT PLAYER'S FEE: $300 for Professionals, and
$200 for Amateurs. Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those
individuals eligible for exemption. (See below)
ENTRIES CLOSE: 6/10/2009 @ 4:30 p.m.
ESTIMATED PURSE: $75,000 (see estimated purse
pay-out Click here)
1st Place - $12,000
EXEMPTIONS: Players in the following categories will be
eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry and eligibility requirements
and file a complete entry. (NOTE: Blank entries will be filed by the FSGA for
players who become exempt after the close of entries)
PROFESSIONALS
- Florida Open Champions the last five years
- Professionals finishing in the top ten and tied of last
year's Florida Open
Championship
- Host Club's Representative
- Current year's SFPGA Open Champion
- Last year's SFPGA Professional Champion
- Current year's Southeast PGA Classic Champion
- Last year's NFPGA PNC Champion
- Last year's Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Champions
- Last year's Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Senior (regular
division)
- Champions
Last year's Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Chapter Champions
- Current Dixie and NFPGA Section Match Play Champion
- Last year's Dixie PGA Professional Champion
- Last year's Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Senior Player of
the Year
- Last year's top five and tied on the final Dixie, NFPGA and
SFPGA Section Player of the Year Points List
AMATEURS
- Amateurs finishing in the top ten and tied of last year's
Florida Open
- Current year's Amateur Champion
- Amateur Champions the previous two years
- Last year's top five and tied Amateur Championship finishers
- Last year's top five and tied on the final Player of
the Year Points List
- Last year's Senior Player of the Year
- Last year's Mid-Amateur Champion
- Last year's Boys Junior Champion (16-18 age division)
- Last year's Junior Player of the Year
HANDICAPS: Amateur
with a current USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 6.4 under the Men's USGA
Handicap System (or an amateur awaiting reinstatement)
QUALIFYING: 18 holes stroke play at 15 sites.
LOCATION: TRANSFERRING:
Players may submit one entry for the Florida Open and choose the site at which
they will attempt to qualify. However, if any site requires adjustment
(including , but not limited to, the receipt of more entries than can be
accommodated), players will be transferred to another site based on their
preference listed on the entry application ad date of receipt of entry
application (i.e. later applicants will be subject to transfer).
CHAMPIONSHIP FEE: Players who advance to the
Championship through local qualifying must pre-register and remit the
appropriate Championship Fee online at
www.fsga.org. Payment must be received
by Monday, July 13 by 12:00 PM or the individual will be withdrawn from the
Championship. Championship fee includes lunch, golf, cart fees and range
balls for all competitive rounds plus a player badge and tee gift.
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT: Fifty-four holes of individual stroke play. All
players play eighteen holes each at Quail Valley Golf Club and John's Island
West on Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th. The field will be cut to the
low sixty and ties after thirty-six holes. The final eighteen holes will be
played at Quail Valley Golf Club. The lowest score for 54 holes will be the
Champion. If necessary, there will be a three hole aggregate score play-off for
champion. If the play-off results in a tie, play will immediately continue, hole
by hole. It is the player’s responsibility to be present for any playoff.
Championship field will receive Lunch and Range
Privileges all 3 days.
CART AND CADDIE POLICY:
Qualifying Round - Players have the option of walking or they may rent a cart. Only a player or
his caddie may ride in a cart but not both at the same time unless an open seat is available. (cart fees at
qualifying site not to exceed $25 per player)
Championship Rounds -Cart fees are included in the Championship Fee for all competitive rounds of the
Championship. Players may ride, carry their bag or have a caddie at the
Championship, however no refunds will be given for unused cart fees and players
choosing to walk must adhere to the established FSGA Pace of Play Policy.
Practice Rounds - Cart
fees, if charged, are the responsibility of the player.
PRACTICE ROUND AND PRACTICE FACILITY INFORMATION:
Practice rounds will be available to the
competitors, one week in advance. Practice rounds are restricted until 12 PM on
the weekend prior to the Championship. The cost of practice rounds are $25 plus
tax. To schedule at tee time at Quail Valley Golf Club call (772) 299-0093,
or to schedule a tee time at John's Island West call (772) 231-8615.
Players will be responsible for direct payment of any fees for the practice
rounds.
You
may not make your practice round tee time before groupings
are made. Groupings will be made on Wednesday, June 10th and faxed to the club
that morning.
Players will be allowed to practice after their practice round on Wednesday &
Thursday and after each competitive round.
RULES OF GOLF; CLOSE OF
COMPETITION, MISCELLANEOUS
In General (See
legal, fine print version see below)
- USGA Rules Apply
- Distance Measuring Devises may
be used
- Conforming golf ball and
driver heads is in effect
- Spikeless - traditional spikes
are prohibited
-
One-Ball Rule is NOT in effect
USGA RULES APPLY
Play is governed by the current
United States Golf Association "Rules of Golf" and by the Florida State Golf
Association. The competition is deemed to have closed when the winner has been
announced.
CHAMPIONSHIP PACE OF PLAY:
Click here to read the Championship Pace of Play Policy.
HARD CARD; LOCAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS:
Click here to read the Hard Card and additional Conditions of Competitions.
CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES: Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, caddie and spectator and
other policies.
ALTERNATE PROCEDURES:
Click here here for alternate procedures.
ACCOMMODATIONS: The FSGA does not have a host
hotel, please click on the hotel icon for hotels in the Vero Beach area.
ON-SITE REGISTRATION:
There will a registration table set up at
Quail Valley Golf Club to pick up your tee gift and player information the day
before the Championship from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
This is NOT a mandatory registration. Tee gifts and player information
will be available for pick up before the competitive rounds for players not
playing a practice round on Wednesday. If we have received your payment for your
Championship fees by Friday, July 10th you have pre-registered
for the Championship.
DRESS CODE: Proper
attire for competitors and caddies is required at all times at the golf
facility. Failure to comply may result in withdrawal of entry. The dress code
prohibits tank tops, T-shirts, denim shorts, jeans and short shorts. Bottom
shorts must be no more than approximately four inches above the knee (as a
measuring rule, shorts must come below the fingertips when arms are held to the
side). All hats must be worn properly. Collared shirts or shirts specifically
designed for golf must be worn and tucked in at all times. This code supplements
any course or club guidelines, which shall take precedence.
REFUNDS, NOTICE OF WITHDRAWALS:
Requests for entry refunds received prior to entry closing date will be honored
(less $20 per entry administrative fee). Requests received after the closing
date will be honored (less 50% of entry fee). No requests will be honored
within 48 hours of the first scheduled tee time. Requests for refunds or Exempt
or Championship fees prior to the pre-registration deadline will be honored
(less $20 per entry administrative fee). No requests will be honored after the
pre-registration deadline.
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION;
BROADCASTING: By participating in
FSGA Events you grant the FSGA and those acting with the FSGA, permission,
authority and the permanent rights to use your name or likeness for publicity
and promotional purposes. Participants understand that all Media, including
film, photographic prints, audio or digital files are the exclusive property of
the FSGA. Participants in FSGA events waive their rights to inspect or approve
all media produced by the FSGA and those acting on the FSGA's behalf.
Participants waive their permanent rights to compensation for use of their name
and likeness by the FSGA.
METHOD OF PAYMENTS: Quail Valley Golf Club accepts
cash and
Visa/MasterCard for payment, and John's Island West accepts cash,
Visa/MasterCard and American Express for method of payment.
Thomas Murray wins the 63rd Florida Open Championship shooting a tournament total of 10-under par 206 at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach on July 17-19.
