Celebration GC (16-18 & 13-15)

Parents Corner

            Recently we have had questions concerning what a parent is allowed to do to assist their son or daughter before, during and after play. Every junior tour has different policies and the Florida Junior Tour is no exception.

            Question: May I give my child a ride to their starting tee?

            Answer: Before and after the round you may transport your child anywhere. Once they have teed off (their stipulated has now started) you are NOT allowed to transport a player unless the Committee authorizes you do so. How do you know this? The committee will provide that information at registration or the starter may inform those parents with carts. However, when the Committee sounds the air horn – one long blast – for evacuation or your child has a medical reason you may transport them to the appropriate location. What you can NOT do is transport them back to the tee for a lost golf ball or because the golf ball is out of bounds. That is reserved for the Committee. If the Committee is not available the players must walk. However, you may take a golf ball to a player if they left their equipment forward and are out of golf balls to hit.

            Question: May I help search for any player’s golf ball?

            Answer: Yes, but do not touch it or move anything that could cause the golf ball to move. Identify a golf ball and inform the player so THEY can determine if is theirs.

            Question: Can I carry their water bottle, food, clothes they take off or need to put on as the weather changes?

            Answer: Yes, but we recommend that it be done between the play of two holes. It can be done anytime.

            Question: Can I tell them where their ball crossed a hazard line or advise them how to proceed (give a ruling because I am a rules expert)?

            Answer: Yes you may tell them where you think the ball crossed the hazard line; however giving them a ruling is dangerous and not advised. What if you are wrong and then they play from a wrong place because of your help – the player may be disqualified if they did not correct this error and it is determined to be a serious breach. Ultimately, the player is responsible for any breach of a rule and the player suffers the applicable penalty.

            Question: There are no cart paths, where do I drive?

            Answer: Stay parallel to the fairway and do not cross back and forth. That includes going to search for a player’s ball – get out of the cart and walk across.

WHAT YOU DO COULD INFLUENCE YOUR CHILD!

OTHER PARENTS OR PLAYERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, THUS THE PRECEPTION IS THAT YOU ARE VIOLATING A POLICY, A RULE OR GIVING ADVICE.

 PREVENT AN EMBARRSESSING SITUATION!!