TERMS OF COMPETITION

• 1. COMPETITION PROCEDURES

  1.1 The Goldfields Classic is scheduled to be played over 54-holes stroke play for A grade and 54-holes stableford for B grade at Ballarat, Buninyong and Midlands Golf Clubs.
  
  1.2 The field for the championship will be limited to 160 male and female players. In the event of entries exceeding the number of available places a reserve list will be created once entries are full.
  
  1.3 The male player with the lowest stroke score after 54 holes shall be the Goldfields Classic Men’s Champion.
  
  1.4 The female player with the lowest stroke score after 54 holes shall be the Goldfields Classic Women’s Champion
  
  1.5 All ties shall be decided by count-back as recommended by Golf Australia except for the overall gross event which will be decided by sudden death play-off in the event of a tie.
  
  1.6 The top 4 players after 36 holes in the open age order of merit gross event for both men and women shall be compulsorily drawn to play together on the final day in a PM time slot. This must be adhered to for a player to qualify to win the open age order of merit event.

• 2. ELIGIBILITY

  Eligible players are amateur golfers whose GA handicap or overseas equivalent at the time of entry does not exceed 27.0 (men) and 36.0 (women) in accordance with the World Handicap System.

• 3. ENTRIES

  3.1 The entry fee is $135.00 (inc. GST).
  
  3.2 All entries will be through the registration portal via the link above
  
  3.3 GA shall have the right to refuse the entry of any person without being required to give any reason for such refusal.
  
  3.4 The draw for the competition will be sent to players and available at above approximately one week prior to the event.

• 4. PRIZES:

  This tournament is a counting event for the Victorian Open Age Order of Merit.

  • Men’s Open Age Order of Merit (Chris Tatt Trophy)
    54-Hole Gross – Champion, Runner-up & Third
  • Women’s Open Age Order of Merit (Helen Pascoe Trophy)
    54-Hole Gross – Champion, Runner-up & Third
  • Men’s A Grade Net
    54-Hole Net – Champion, Runner-up & Third
  • Women’s A Grade Net
    54-Hole Net – Champion, Runner-up & Third
  • Men’s B Grade Stableford
    54-Hole – Champion, Runner-up & Third
  • Women’s B Grade Stableford
    54-Hole – Champion, Runner-up & Third
  • Junior Gross and Stableford Champion over 54 holes
  • Senior Gross and Stableford Champion over 54 holes

  Daily prizes for the above events.
  Prizes subject to change depending on final numbers.

• 5. CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE

  The committee shall consist of Golf Australia representatives and the match committee of the club upon whose course the rounds are being played. In the absence of a full championship committee, such members thereof, as may be present at the time, may give a decision so given shall be deemed to be a decision of the full championship committee. In the event of bad weather, or for any other reason, the championship committee may shorten the competition, appoint another day or days for completion of, or may transfer play to another course. Protests must be made to the championship committee not later than 10 minutes after the conclusion of each round.

• 6. REFUND POLICY

  Any entrant may withdraw and have their entry fee refunded providing notification is received within five days prior to the commencement of the event. Under no circumstances will entry fees be refunded after this date unless players can provide Golf Australia supporting documents regarding their withdrawal from the event (i.e., Medical Certificate). In the case of an event not being completed (for example due to weather delays) refunds will not be provided.

• 7. MOTORISED TRANSPORT

  Competitors are permitted to ride in or on a motorised vehicle during any round of the tournament.
  Carts must be booked with the host club and if limited carts are available, preference will be given to those that require usage for medical purposes.

• 8. CLUBS AND BALLS

  List of Conforming Driver Heads: Model Local Rule G-1 is in effect. Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of Local Rule: Disqualification.
  List of Conforming Golf Balls: Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect. Penalty for breach of the Local Rule: Disqualification.

  Note: An updated List of Conforming Clubs and Balls is available on www.randa.org

• 9. PRACTICE (RULE 5.2)

  In stroke play, Rule 5.2b is modified in this way: A player must not practise on the competition course before or between rounds. Exception: All recognised practice areas within the bounds of the course may be used by players for practice on any day of the competition.

• 10. PACE OF PLAY (Rule 5.6)

  In the absence of mitigating circumstances, a group is liable to be timed if it is in excess of the time allowed and in the case of second or subsequent groups, out of position. From the commencement of timing, if any player exceeds 50 seconds on a ‘first to play approach shot (including Par 3 tee shot), seconds if it is a tee shot or ‘second or third to play shot’, they shall be deemed to have had a bad time.

  The time allowed will be determined by the Committee and will be available prior to play. Out of position is defined as being more than the starting interval behind the group in front.

  A player whose group is timed will have a bad time carried forward in the round even if the group subsequently arrives back in position or within time.

  PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
     1. Bad Time - Verbal warning from referee and told that if they have a further bad time, they will be penalised;

  Stroke Play
  
     2. Bad Times: One Stroke Penalty
     3. Bad Times: Additional Two Penalty Strokes
     4. Bad Times: Disqualification
  
  Note:

  • It is not necessary for players to be advised they are being timed.
  • Timings will be taken from the moment it is deemed by the Official that it is the player’s turn to play.
  • In exceptional circumstances, an individual player, or two of the three players in a group, may be timed.

  When Timing Commences:

  Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player's stroke will begin when it is their turn to play and they can play without interference or distraction. Reasonable time spent by the first player to play in determining their yardage will not count as time taken for the next stroke.

  On the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to mark, lift, clean and replace their ball, repair damage to the green, and remove loose impediments on their line. Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.

• 11. Distance Measuring Device

  In accordance with Rule of Golf 4.3a(1), a player may obtain distance and direction information by use of a distance-measuring device. The provisions of Rule 4.3 apply in relation to Use of Equipment.

• 12. SUSPENSION OF PLAY (RULE 5.7)

  The following signals will be used to suspend and resume play:

  • Immediate stop for imminent danger – one prolonged note of a siren
  • Stop for a non-dangerous situation – three consecutive notes of a siren
  • Resumption of play – two consecutive notes of a siren
  • Note: When play is stopped for imminent danger, all practice areas will be immediately closed.
• 13. RETURNING OF SCORE CARD

  A player’s scorecard is officially returned to the Committee when the player has left the recording office/area with both feet.

• 14. RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION – COMPETITION CLOSED

  When the championship trophy is presented to the winner, the results of the competition are officially announced, and the competition is closed.

• 15. ANTI-DOPING POLICY

  The GA anti-doping policy applies for this event. The GA anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, effective from 1 January 2021, and can be found by Clicking Here.

• 16. DATABASE OF COMPETITOR’S DETAILS

  The personal data contained in this entry is permanently retained by Golf Australia. This data may be utilised by Golf Australia or its sponsors for the distribution of correspondence, in both electronic and hard copy means. From time-to-time players may be sent entry forms, event literature, the Golf Australia e-newsletter, or marketing material by the sponsor(s) of Golf Australia events, or information about events conducted by Golf Australia-approved bodies. Upon receipt by Golf Australia of a written request, a player may either have access to their details, or have their details deleted from the database.

  For further details, please refer to our privacy policy by clicking here.

• 17. CODE OF CONDUCT

  All entrants are bound by GA’s Code of Conduct ("the Code"). A copy of the Code is available by clicking here. Any breach of the Code may be recorded on the Central Register of the Code ("the Register"). The Register may be accessed (and published from time to time) by any State Association or GA for the purposes of administering Competitions or state championships, events, competitions, practice sessions or major activities conducted or sanctioned by a State Association, or any State Association or GA codes of conduct and/or other related matters.

• 18. LEGAL POLICIES (E.G. MATCH FIXING POLICY)

  All entrants are bound to comply with all of GA’s legal policies. These policies relate to the golfer’s behaviour and the behaviour of their associates during the tournament. Any breach of these policies may result in the competitor being withdrawn from the competition and subject to investigation and disciplinary proceedings. Depending on the nature of the offence, the competitor may also be subject to criminal charges arising from their conduct. It is the duty of the competitors and their associates to familiarise themselves with the relevant policies and ensure they comply. Click here to view GA’s Legal Policies.

• 19. IMAGES

  GA may arrange for promotion of the Championship, for radio, internet and television broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship or excerpts thereof in any and all media throughout the world, whether now known or hereafter developed. By this application, the player consents to the use by GA, or persons authorised by GA, of their name, likeness, voice and references to them and photographs and other images of them and their play connected with their appearance in the Championship, or any portion(s) thereof, in connection with such media promotion, broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship. GA may utilise the rights granted it hereunder in connection with the promotion of this Championship as well as other GA Championships and GA. The cooperation of players with authorised representatives of the media is required, provided that no pre-Championship activities outside of those activities which are part of the Championship will be required and provided that the player's Championship play is not unreasonably interfered with.