Scratch golfer or not, there's a flight for you

Competition

Players will compete in one of four Flights:

Championship Flight (players with a Handicap Factor of 4.9 or less)

A Flight (players with a Handicap Factor between 5.0 - 9.9)

B Flight (players with a Handicap Factor between 10.0 - 14.9)

C Flight (players with a Handicap Factor between 15.0 - 22.0)

Women on Tour
Women are welcome and encouraged to play on the GTA AM Tour. Women will be placed in the appropriate Flight based upon the average Women's Course Rating of the 24 different courses played on the 2013 GTA AM Tour. This typically translates to an additional 6 strokes on a female player's Handicap Factor.

All players must have an accredited Handicap Factor with Golf Canada and/or its provincial affiliates. Players can join the GTA AM Tour handicap club upon request, at the same cost as the GAO's Public Player Program.

Player Handicap Maintenance

All Tour players are required to maintain a CURRENT and ACCURATE Handicap Factor.

CURRENT
Players must post scores from ALL rounds played (nine or eighteen holes), ALL competitive events (other than GTA AM Tour events and ALL other rounds. The preferred method of posting scores is the Hole by Hole Method. Scores MUST be entered as soon as possible after the round has been played and no later than 48 hours after that round, unless under extenuating circumstances and with notification of such circumstances to Tour staff.

THE TOUR WILL ENSURE THAT EACH PLAYER'S TOUR SCORE WILL BE POSTED DIRECTLY TO HIS/HER RCGA HANDICAP FACTOR PROFILE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF EACH EVENT.

ACCURATE
For helpful information, including video tutorials, on how to post scores online, please visit: http://www.gao.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/1214/la_id/1.htm. All scores entered must be from the slope and rating for the correct set of tee blocks played. All Tournament Scores must be entered as Tournament Scores. All scores must be entered utilizing Equitable Stroke Control or ESC. For more information on ESC, please visit: www.gao.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/1214/la_id/1.htm

Players should be aware that, the RCGA method of calculating Handicap Factors, automatically compares players' regular scores against tournament scores. A reduction of a player's Handicap Factor will automatically be applied if the discrepancy between regular scores and tournament scores exceeds the calculated maximum. This reduction will be indicated as an "R" in the player's Handicap Factor.

IF A PLAYER'S HANDICAP FACTOR IS NOT CURRENT AND ACCURATE (as defined above) AND THAT PLAYER PLACES IN THE TOP 3 IN ANY EVENT, THE PLAYER WILL NOT RECEIVE PRIZES OR POINTS AND WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THAT EVENT. ADDITIONALLY, THAT PLAYER WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PLAY ANOTHER TOUR EVENT UNTIL THE PLAYER'S HANDICAP FACTOR MEETS THE AFOREMENTIONED TOUR CRITERIA.

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A CURRENT AND ACCURATE HANDICAP FACTOR WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE TOUR.

ATTESTED ROUNDS
Players should make best efforts to have all rounds Attested by another player. It is the goal of the Tour for each player to have a minimum of 50% of scores comprising their Handicap Factor record Attested by another player by July 31st, 2012.

Per Flight Yardages

Subject to the course, yardage for Championship Flight players will be between 6,600 and 7,000; for A Flight players will be between 6,400 and 6,800 yards; for B Flight players will be between 6,200 and 6,600 yards and for C Flight players will be between 5,900 and 6,400 yards.

Flights

Players must immediately notify Tour officials of movement of their Handicap Factor if that Factor moves outside of the range established for their current Flight. If a player does not immediately notify Tour officials of movement of their Handicap Factor beyond the limits of their current Flight, that player will be moved into a lower Handicap Factor Flight. The GTA AM Tour reserves the right to reassign players to a different Flight should his/her Handicap Factor change over the course of the season. Any player winning three events will be automatically moved to a lower handicap Factor Flight. Any player winning two events by five or more strokes will be automatically moved to a lower handicap Factor Flight. A player moved to a lower handicap Factor flight will remain in that Flight for a period of two Tour events or thirty days, whichever comes first. Flight movement procedures and impact on DELL Order of Merit are outlined in the Player Manual.

Rules Governing Competition

All play on The GTA AM Tour will be subject to The Rules of Golf as approved by the R.C.G.A, January 1, 2012. All players should be well versed in the Rules of Golf. Golf Canada certified Tour Rules officials will be on site during the course of play. If a situation arises where an official is not readily available, ask your fellow competitors for their assistance and if necessary play a second ball to keep play moving (Rule 3-3). As soon as possible, notify a Rules Official and obtain the correct ruling.

Players will be provided with a Player Manual containing all policies and procedures of the Tour including Local Rules, Conditions of Competition and a Pace of Play policy.

Pace of Play

Playing time should be approximately four hours and fifteen minutes. Course marshals and Tour Rules officials will be on-course monitoring the pace of play. Players found to be out-of-position, and/or behind the expected place of play, will be given a warning; a second warning will result in a two stroke penalty; a third warning will result in disqualification. All players will be provided with a Pace of Play policy in their Player manual and are expected to be familiar with The Tour policies and procedures prior to the start of every event.

Tee Times/Check In/Late Policy

Requests for early or late tee times should be made to Peter Norrie (peter@gtaamtour.com) at least 8 days prior to an event. Players are required to check in at The GTA AM Tour registration table at least 30 minutes prior to his/her tee time. Players are also required to be at the starter's tent at least 10 minutes prior to their appointed tee time. Any player arriving late for their appointed tee time will be subject to a penalty or disqualification.

Scoring/Order of Finish

Each player must submit his/her scorecard signed by himself/herself and his/her marker. Failure to turn in a correctly signed scorecard will result in disqualification. Any player who completes his/her round but does not turn in a scorecard will be disqualified from that event. If a player "no cards" a second event, he/she will be ineligible for all remaining events.

In the event of a first place tie, Flight winners will be determined by a mandatory playoff. Players will begin a "sudden-death" playoff immediately following the completion of play for a given Flight. The playoff will take place on the first available hole as designated by the Tournament Director. For example, a playoff to determine the winner of the Championship Flight could be held while players from other Flights are still completing their round.

All other standings will be decided by matching cards (see The Rules of Golf, Appendix I, Section 10-C) on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the players involved in a tie have the same score for the last nine, then the last six holes, last three holes and finally the 18th hole will be used to determine the winner. If the players are still tied, scores for the front nine will be used.

In the event a playoff cannot be conducted, the method for determining all other standings will be used.

Cancellations/No Shows

A player may withdraw his entry in a specific event up to fourteen days prior to the event and not be charged a late withdrawal fee. Cancellations received less than fourteen days prior to an event will be charged a minimum administrative fee of $75. However, if the host course does not provide a refund, the player will be charged the full price of the green fee.

Any player who does not show for his/her tee time at a scheduled event will be subject to a minimum $125 charge. However, if the host course does not provide a refund, the player will be charged the full price of the green fee. If a player is a 'no-show' at two events, without notifying Tour staff, he/she will be suspended from play until further notice.

Rain Policy

In the case of inclement weather, The GTA AM Tour will make a decision regarding the event at the course and not beforehand. Please arrive for your scheduled tee time. Weather conditions can and do vary drastically.

The policy for The GTA AM Tour is the same as that of the PGA Tour - play will continue as long as the course is playable. In regards to thunder and lightning, the Tournament Director will notify all players to stop play immediately and proceed to the clubhouse. Should you see lightning and the course has not sounded a stop play horn, head for shelter immediately.

If the event is cancelled due to inclement weather, a rain cheque will be issued for use during the current season. However, if some holes are played, rain cheques are issued at the discretion of the host course. Please be assured that Tour staff will do everything possible to satisfy members with a fair decision.

For every event that is cancelled due to inclement weather, the 24 event Ontario Tour will be reduced by one. The Order of Merit will remain your best eight events.

Dress Code

Proper golf attire is required at all times. Denim fabric articles of clothing (e.g. blue jeans) cargo pants/shorts, tank tops, rugger/jogging pants, tights, leotards and other tight fitting pants (i.e. Spandex) and similar casual attire are not permitted in GTA AM Tour events. Metal spikes are not allowed in any Tour events.

Electronic Devices

A player may use a hand held electronic device to obtain distance information only. However, using such a device to obtain additional information such as gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc., is prohibited. Such action would be in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification.

Other than for obtaining distance information, cell phones, pagers and other electronic communication devices are strictly prohibited during play. Penalty for breach of this rule is disqualification.