The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series does not wish to apply penalties for Unreasonable Delay; Prompt Pace of Play. However, we insist that, in the interest of all, the pace of play be reasonable. We believe that, it would be reasonable for a group of four (4) players to take NO more than 15 minutes, on average, per hole. Meaning an 18-hole round should be completed in less than 4 hours and 30 minutes and a 9-hole round should be completed in less than 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Rule 5.6 of the USGA Rules of Golf encourages prompt pace of play:

• Players should recognize that their pace of play affects others and they should play promptly throughout the round (such as by preparing in advance for each stroke and moving promptly between strokes and in going to the next tee),
• A player should make a stroke in no more than 40 seconds (and usually in less time) after the player is able to play without interference or distraction, and

Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.6

Penalty for first breach: One penalty stroke

Penalty for second breach: General Penalty

Penalty for third breach: Disqualification

If the player unreasonably delays play between two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

Minnesota PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series on-site administrators will be monitoring the Pace of Play of all groups. We sincerely request your cooperation. If all competitors will cooperate, each event will be a more pleasant experience for everyone.

DEFINITION OF OUT OF POSITION
The first group to start will be considered out of position if, at any point in the round, the group is taking more than the allotted time to play each hole as established by the Committee. Any following group will be considered out of position if they: (a) exceed the allotted time to play each hole and (b) reach the tee of a par 3 hole that is open and free of play, or fail to clear the tee of a par 4 hole or a par 5 hole before that hole is open and free of play.

NOTIFICATION OF PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION
Any group out of position will be notified that they are out of position and will be subject to individual timing. 

TIMING OF PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION
Other than on the putting green, the timing of a competitor's stroke will begin when the player has had a reasonable opportunity to reach their ball, it is their turn to play, and they can play without interference by another player or another ball. Time spent determining yardage will count as time taken for that stroke.

On the putting green, the timing will begin after the competitor has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean his/her ball, repair his/her ball mark and other ball marks on their line of putt and remove loose impediments on the line of the putt. Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as time taken for that stroke.

- Pace of Play Tips -

Our goal going into the season is to educate and inform our members on ways to continually improve pace of play. We realize that there are many factors that can affect the pace of play on any given day, however the bottom line is that slow play affects not only the players in the tournament, but it also affects the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series Staff, the host facility and parents of the players.

• Be ready to play when it is your turn

• Walk briskly between shots

• Walk directly to your golf ball; do not follow others unless assisting in search for a golf ball

• Don’t step off yardage for every single shot; develop an “eye” for distance

• Be efficient with your pre-shot routine

• Play a provisional ball if you think the original ball might be lost outside of a water hazard or out of bounds

• When on the putting green, place your bag in a position that will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee

2022 MN PGA JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM – CODE OF CONDUCT

The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Program takes great pride in the quality and conduct of its players, host facilities and spectators. To make the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Program enjoyable for everyone, ALL participants, caddies and spectators need to adhere to a set of guidelines known as the Code of Conduct.

JUNIOR GOLFER/CADDIE CODE OF CONDUCT:
Before, during, or after the operation of a Minnesota PGA Junior Golf tournament, violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Unsportsmanlike conduct, including abusive or profane language, cheating, bullying, throwing and/or breaking clubs, disrespect to MN PGA JR staff, volunteers, caddies or other players, or abuse of golf course property/staff (not raking bunkers, replacing divots or repairing ball marks on the green, etc.)
• Use or association with drugs or alcohol, smoking, vaping or chewing tobacco products
• Conduct not becoming of a MN PGA JR player, such as acting in anger or creating other distractions
• Gambling
• Using electronic devices (smart phones, PDA’s, smart watches, tablets and hand-held devices that can serve a function other than measuring distances are not permitted to be used in any capacity)
• Seeking or accepting advice from anyone while competing on the course
• Or any other conduct unbecoming a junior golfer as deemed by tournament staff

JUNIOR GOLFER/CADDIE CODE OF CONDUCT PENALTIES:

The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf staff may assess any or all the following penalties based on the severity of the player’s or caddie’s Code of Conduct violation:

• Issue a verbal or written letter of warning to the player or caddie
• Enforce a one-stroke penalty
• Enforce a two-stroke penalty
• Disqualify the player from the tournament where the violation occurs
• Remove the caddie from the tournament where the violation occurs
• Suspend the player and / or caddie for a portion of the tournament series or any number of tournament series remining in the year
• Suspend the player’s membership indefinitely
• Suspend the caddie’s privileges indefinitely

SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT:

Before, during, or after the operation of a Minnesota PGA Junior Golf tournament, violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Verbal or physical abuse, threatening or disrespecting a fellow spectator, caddie, junior golfer, volunteer, MN PGA Junior Staff or other persons conducting, participating in, hosting or attending a MN PGA Junior Golf event
• Cause physical damage to, or loss of, property or equipment of any of the parties set forth above, or the host facility
• Obscene language
• Intervening in the normal course of play as determined by the MN PGA Junior Golf Staff
• Giving advice to anyone in the competition who is playing on the course  (Rule 10.2a)

SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT PENALTIES:

Any violation of one or more items in the Spectator Code of Conduct is grounds for immediate removal of the parents, guardian, or spectator and / or player from the tournament and host facility and may result in the loss of privilege to participate in MN PGA Junior Golf tournaments for the spectator and / or player indefinitely.

Also, the MN PGA Junior Golf staff may assess any or all the following penalties based on the severity of spectator’s Code of Conduct violation:

• Issue a verbal or written letter of warning
• Enforce a one-stroke penalty to their player

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  Enforce a two-stroke penalty to their player
• Spectator removal from tournament

The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series does NOT confirm your entry into a tournament by mail or phone. You will receive email confirmation of entry into a tournament after the Tournament Selection Process has taken place. ALL CONFIRMATIONS FOR EVENTS WILL BE SENT OUT BY EMAIL.

We will start emailing out confirmations for events that you received through the Tournament Selection Process by email the week of May 9th. Entries will recieve email confirmation of a charge to their credit card after their entry has been accepted. You will not be charged for the event until after the Tournament Selection Process has taken place and you will only be charged if you do receive the event through the Selection Process.

Proper golf attire is required at all tournaments.  Players must be neat in appearance with respect to personal grooming and clothing.  T-shirts, tank tops, short shorts and blue jeans will not be acceptable. 

Each host facility may have additional rules and dress code requirements that must be adhered to by all participants.

The MN PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series shall be responsible for the safety of all individuals associated with the tournament relative to lightning danger and it shall be the duty of the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Staff to monitor weather conditions during the tournament to determine if play should be suspended due to the danger of lightning at, around or near the host facility. The host facility superintendent shall have sole and absolute discretion to declare the course unplayable or unsafe, due to weather conditions or otherwise, except for lightning which shall be the responsibility of the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Staff.

The MN PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series reserves the right to cancel or delay a tournament in the event of inclement weather or other incidents. The MN PGA Junior Golf Staff will monitor weather conditions before the tournament, and will notify players of any delays or cancellations by e-mail and on the tournament information page. Please do not call the MN PGA Junior Golf office for this information. If weather forces a tournament to be cancelled we will work first to reschedule the tournament to a future date. If that is not an option, the tournament will be cancelled.

We leave it up to the host facility if they will rent or not rent spectator carts out at our events.  

The host facility has the right to sell spectator carts for a fee at their discretion, and spectator carts will be rented on a first-come-first-served basis. 

The host facility has the right to NOT allow ANY spectator carts at an event that we run at their course.

Spectators on-site will be required to maintain proper social distance of at least 6 feet from everyone

The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series encourages spectators and parents to attend events and requires spectators and parents attending to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Spectating is a privilege, NOT a right.

All spectators must:

·         Walk only on the cart paths (walk in the rough when cart paths are not available)

·         May not interact with participants and should remain at least 25 yards away from the competitors they are following

·         Turn cellular phones on silent or vibrate while on the golf course

All spectators must NOT:

·         Talk with the players

·         Give rulings or advice

·         Interfere with any group on the golf course

* Please note that all spectators are allowed to assist in a search for lost golf balls, as long as NO advice is given. Spectators are also permitted to carry food, beverages, umbrellas, etc., and seek the help of MN PGA Junior Rules Officials.

Interaction with competitors can be considered Advice and Other Help (Rule 10.2) and may result in penalty and/or disqualification for the competitor. 

The MN PGA Junior Golf 'Sota Series reserves the right to ban any spectator or spectators from one or more events.