OGA Hard Card - General Rules and Conditions of Competition for the OGA Tour

The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. See applicable Notice to Players, Entry Application, and OGA Junior Golf Code of Conduct for additional Local Rules and Conditions. Complete text of Rules and Appendix I may be found in the current Rules of Golf.

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE PENALTY FOR BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE OR CONDITION IS:
MATCH PLAY – LOSS OF HOLE; STROKE PLAY – TWO STROKES

SECTION A: LOCAL RULES

1. OUT OF BOUNDS – Defined by the nearest inside points, at ground level, of white stakes and fence posts. Rule 27-1 Additionally, a ball which crosses a public road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course.

2. WATER AND LATERAL WATER HAZARD STAKES AND LINES – When a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When water hazards and lateral water hazards are bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.

3. GROUND UNDER REPAIR – Defined by white lines. Fire ant hills, french drains, and material piled for removal are deemed to be ground under repair.

4. SEAMS OF CUT TURF (SOD SEAMS) – The Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

5. WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS – have the same status as the roads and paths, that of obstructions.

6. EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH THE GREEN – Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

7. INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE – include cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificialwalls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in Notice to Players.

8. WOOD CHIPS & MULCH – are loose impediments, unless otherwise provided for in the Notice to Players.

9. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES – During OGA sanctioned Junior Golf Tournaments, DMD’s are not permitted. In OGA Adult Championships and OGA Tour events the Local Rule as prescribed by Appendix I is in effect.

10. ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE AREAS – When applicable, the Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I shall be in effect. See Notice to Players for notification of Environmentally-Sensitive Areas on the course.

SECTION B: CONDITIONS

1. LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS – Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

2. LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVER HEADS – Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

3. ONE BALL CONDITION is in effect only at the following OGA Championships: Men’s and Women’s Oregon Amateur, Men’s and Women’s Oregon Senior Amateur, Men’s Stroke Play.

4. TIME OF STARTING / OFFICIAL TIME – Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect. A player is deemed to be at the starting area when they are within the roped off area defined by stakes. If a site requires different conditions, the starting area will be defined in the Notice to Players. If a player has previously checked in with the starter he is still required to be at the starting area at the starting time scheduled by the Committee. The Official Time is defined by the clock located at the tee where a player is scheduled to begin the stipulated round. Exception: For OGA Tour events, see the Notice to Players.

5. SCORING AREA – At OGA Adult Championships the scoring area is defined by ropes, stanchions, or in their absence, the outside edge of the scoring tent. At OGA sanctioned Junior Golf Events and OGA Tour events, no official scoring area exists and the scorecard is deemed to have been officially returned when it has been dropped in the “scoring box” by the player even if he has not left the immediate area. If all OGA events, if a site requires different conditions, the scoring area will be defined in the Notice to Players.

6. PACE OF PLAY – The OGA Pace of Play Guidelines is in effect at all Adult Championships. For OGA sanctioned Junior Golf Tournaments, players will be notified in advance and/or at the Tournament when The OGA Pace of Play Guidelines is in effect. At OGA Tour events all scorecards must be returned within 5 hours. If a player returns a scorecard after 5 hours he may forfeit his right to both prizes and points so earned in the event.

7. DISCONTINUANCE OF PLAY – Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect. All practice areas are closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to cease doing so; failure to comply may result in revocation of entry.
Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged air horn or siren blast. All other types of suspension will be signaled by three short air horn or siren blasts, repeated. Resumption of play will be signaled by two short air horn or siren blasts, repeated.

8. CELL PHONES – The use of cell phones or a similar electronic device by a player or his caddie during a stipulated round is prohibited. Violation of this condition may lead a revocation of the player’s entry and a possible suspension from future OGA events. Exception: At OGA Tour events, a player may use a cell phone as a Distance Measuring Device provided the device complies with the Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I.

9. DRESS CODE – All players and caddies must adhere to the OGA and Host Club Dress Code through the Close of Competition. Any player or their caddie in violation of this Dress Code will not be permitted to start the competition. Player violation of the Dress Code during the competition may result in revoking of the player’s entry if the violation is not corrected without undue delay. A caddie may be prohibited from acting as the player’s caddie if the violation is not corrected without undue delay.

10. FOOTWEAR – Shoes with traditionally-designed spikes (regardless of composition) or spikes, regardless of design, where metal may come into contact with the course are prohibited during a stipulated round. Penalty for breach of this condition: Disqualification.

11. NO SHOW / WITHDRAWAL – A player failing to appear for an OGA Adult Championship or OGA Tour event without prior notification to tournament officials will be suspended for one (1) year from the date of the infraction. A player who starts and withdraws prior to the close of the competition and has not turned in his score card personally to a tournament official will result in the same one-year suspension as a no show. The OGA Junior Golf Code of Conduct is in effect for all OGA Junior Golf Events.

12. TRANSPORTATION – Unless prohibited in the Entry Application, during OGA Adult Championships, players are permitted to use motorized transportation. Spectator Carts are not allowed. Official carts are not allowed without prior approval of the Tournament Committee. During OGA Junior Golf, the optional condition as prescribed in Appendix 1 is in effect.

13. CLOSE OF COMPETITION – The competition shall be deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of an awards ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee. The result of a match has been “officially announced” when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.