NATIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

RULES & TOURNAMENT FACT SHEET

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

 

With 2021 being the inaugural year for the National School Golf Championships, golf is now officially reintroduced into the school curriculum via the Ministry of Education. The Bahamas Golf Federation and Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, in conjunction with The Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture and The Ministry of Education, will be hosting the championships, thereby ensuring that golf will become a Core Sport in the country.  With this being done, the junior golfers will be recognized as student athletes and become eligible to apply for golf scholarships from the government of The Bahamas, as well as other sports scholarships being offered. 

 

 

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

 

The Tournament Committee shall be responsible for the organization and playing of the Championships. The Tournament Committee is as follows:

  1. Tournament Chairman (TC), Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, Chair of the Junior Division, Bahamas Golf Federation
  2. Tournament Coordinator (TCO), Georgette Rolle, Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy
  3. Tournament Director (TD), Lynford Miller, President, Bahamas Golf Federation
  4. Chief Rules Official (RO), Riccardo Davis Jr., Bahamas Professional Golf Tour

 

 

DIVISIONS

 

Boys Lower Primary (Grades 1-3)- Teams of a minimum of three male junior golfers in grades 1-3 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 8 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Girls Lower Primary (Grades 1-3 )- Teams of a minimum of three female junior golfers in grades 1-3 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 8 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Boys Upper Primary (Grades 4-6)- Teams of a minimum of three male junior golfers in grades 4-6 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 12 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Girls Upper Primary  (Grades 4-6)- Teams of a minimum of three female junior golfers in grades 4-6 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 12 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Boys Junior High (Grades 7-9)- Teams of a minimum of three male junior golfers in grades 7-9 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 15 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Girls Junior High (Grades 7-9)- Teams of a minimum of three female junior golfers in grades 7-9 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 15 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Boys Senior High (Grades 10-12)- Teams of a minimum of three male junior golfers in grades 10-12 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 18 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

Girls Senior High (Grades 10-12)- Teams of a minimum of three female junior golfers in grades 10-12 representing their school and who are not older than the age of 18 by the first qualifying round which is being held on March 22nd, 2021. The competition is stroke play. Each division shall also have an Individual player leaderboard which will consist of both team players and individual players.

 

 

NATIONAL SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIERS

There are four days of qualifying for schools within their respective divisions as follows.  

 

  • Primary Private, Small and Home Schools
    • Boys Lower Primary, Grades 1-3 - Monday, March 22, 2021 
    • Girls Lower Primary, Grades 1-3 – Monday, March 22, 2021
    • Boys Upper Primary, Grades 4-6 – Monday, March 22, 2021
    • Girls Upper Primary, Grades 4-6 – Monday March 22, 2021

 

  • Public Primary Schools
    • Boys Lower Primary, Grades 1-3 - Tuesday, March 23, 2021
    • Girls Lower Primary, Grades 1-3 – Tuesday,  March 23, 2021
    • Boys Upper Primary, Grades 4-6 – Tuesday, March 23, 2021
    • Girls Upper Primary, Grades 4-6 – Tuesday, March 23, 2021

 

  • Public Junior and Senior High Schools 
    • Junior Boys, Grades 7-9 – Wednesday, March 24, 2021
    • Junior Girls, Grades 7-9 – Wednesday, March 24, 2021
    • Senior Boys, Grades 10-12 – Wednesday, March 24, 2021
    • Senior Girls, Grades 10-12 – Wednesday, March 24, 2021

 

  • Private Junior, Senior, Small and Home High Schools
    • Junior Boys, Grades 7-9– Thursday, March 25, 2021
    • Junior Girls, Grades 7-9 – Thursday, March 25, 2021
    • Senior Boys, Grades 10-12 – Thursday, March 25, 2021
    • Senior Girls, Grades 10-12 - Thursday, March 25, 2021

 

NATIONAL SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS (Finals)

 

The 2021 championship finals will be held for one day of a 9-hole competition. The top five overall teams from the qualifying rounds per division will advance to the finals. If a public school or private school is not represented in the finals, the top public or private school will receive a buy into the finals. If both public and private are represented in the top 5, the 6th in line will get the buy in. 

 

Individual Category 

The individual category will consist of the top five finishers on the individual division leaderboard from all qualifiers. 

 

 

 

RULES

 

Eligibility

Teams of junior golfers will be selected by their schools for the team championships. Any school that does not have sufficient players, can allow their golfers to play in the individual category. 

 

Awards

  • No awards will be given for the qualifying rounds held on Monday through Thursday. 
  • Medals shall be presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for the finals held on Friday.
  • A floating trophy will be presented to the winner of each division on Friday.

 

Format

The “Championships qualifiers and finals” are 9-hole competitions in which a minimum of three and a maximum of five competitors per school per division play as partners, each playing their own ball. The three lowest scores of the partners, is the team score for the round. Eight (8) strokes is the maximum score per hole.

 

Golf Course

The “Championships Competition” will be played on one particular golf course. The course for 2021 will be at the Bahamas Golf Federation facility in the Sports Center Complex. 

 

Covid-19 Protocols

No one will be allowed on the premises without a mask.

Covid-19 Protocols must be followed at all times. 

 

 

 

CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION

 

Substitution - Player substitution can only be made for any team up to the first tee time.

 

Ties - In the event of a tie there will be a one-hole playoff.

 

Rounds – The qualifying and/or final round will consist of 9 holes (1 round); however, should circumstances make it impossible to complete 9 holes the qualifier may be determined by the results of 7 holes but on no account less. 

 

Tees – Four set of tees will be used during the competition. The Senior Boys and Girls shall play from the longest tees. The maximum yardage for these divisions will be 150yds. The Junior Boys and the Junior Girls will play from the second longest tees. The maximum yardage for these divisions will be 125 yds. The upper elementary (Grades 4-6)  Boys and Girls will play from the third longest tees. The maximum yardage for these divisions will be 100yds. The lower elementary  (Grades 1-3 ) Boys and Girls will play from the fourth longest tees.  The maximum yardage for these divisions will be 50 yds. 

 

Coaches and Advice – Each team may have a person designated to give Advice.  However, no Team may have more than one person giving Advice. The one designated to give Advice must visibly wear the identifying badge, which will be provided to each Team by the Tournament Committee. Coaches are not allowed on the putting greens.  

 

Team – A group of three to five girls or boys 

 

Pull/Push Carts – Players must walk at all times. Players are allowed to use pull or push carts. 

 

Trophies - The school winning the Championship trophy in their division shall have custody and responsibility for it until the next championship is played.

 

Uniforms -  Should consist of a golf shirt, skirt, pants, skorts (skirt with shorts underneath) or shorts. Jeans are not  allowed. Appropriate shoes include golf shoes or tennis shoes. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to disallow a team from participating in the competition for not conforming to the dress code as stated above.

 

Rules of Golf - The championships shall be governed by the rules of golf as laid down by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews or the United States Golf Association together with such local rules as may be agreed by the Rules Committee.

 

Entry Date - A school intending to compete in the Championships must submit to info@fourteenclubsgolfacademy.com an application completed in the prescribed form, no later than 5 days prior to the commencement of the Championships. If an entry application  is received incomplete or late, participation of that team shall be at the discretion of The Rules Committee. 

 

Entry Fee – For 2021, there is no entry fee for the tournament. 

 

Spectators – According to the Competent Authority, spectators are not allowed due to Covid-19 safety protocols. All persons other than coaches, players, volunteers, and the tournament committee are considered to be spectators.

 

Team Pictures - The school coach should make every effort to have team pictures taken prior to warming up for play. There will also be photography done throughout the event by the press and private photographers. By participating in these championships, you are hereby agreeing to the use of all photography and media.

 

Check-In - The player should present themselves to the check in table. The coach should give the players instructions as to what to do or where to meet after they check in. Upon check-in, each player will have their headshot taken against the tournament backdrop.  Each player will be given instructions on how to find the starter’s tent. 

 

Preparing for your tee time - Please assemble at the Starter’s Tent 30 minutes before the tee time. Players will be paired with their scoring marshal, and begin transport out to their starting hole. 

 

School Coach  He/She shall act for the school and ensure that these Rules Standards and Protocols are understood and maintained by the teams. They shall: 

  • Keep the school advised of the progress of the tournament and arrangements for and the running of the qualifier and championships.
  • Visit the tournament venue at least twice prior to the date of the event and review the check-in procedures, format, and general flow of competition including but not limited to:
    1. The outline of the 9-hole golf course
    2. The general practice areas
    3. How to secure practice balls on the day of competition 
    4. The process of getting the students out to the holes to begin play. 
    5. The process of getting the students back in from the holes after play. 
    6. Location of the Starter’s tent 
    7. Location of the score verification tent
    8. Location of bathrooms throughout the golf course.
    9. Review the format of the tournament