WESTERN OPEN
Grayhawk – Raptor Course
Grayhawk – Talon Course
****PLAYER INFORMATION****
PLAYER INFORMATION EMAIL
Please read this entire email carefully as it contains important and pertinent tournament information for the tournament this weekend.
STARTING TIMES & PAIRINGS
Round 1 starting times have been emailed to each Player and posted online at www.gcamtour.com. It is the responsibility of the Player to be at their assigned starting hole 10 minutes in advance of the starting time. The starters will have information to discuss and distribute to each Player in the group. Players/groups will not be paged or called to the tee. Players arriving to the tee at their starting time will be deemed to be late to the tee.
Each player will have a scheduled round on the Raptor Course and the Talon Course on Saturday and Sunday. Final Round starting times and pairings will be posted online and emailed out on Saturday afternoon. All final round starting times on Sunday will be between 7AM and 9AM.
ON-SITE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN
All contestants are required to check-in with the tournament committee upon arrival to the course in the "Champions Room" either on Friday or Saturday during the following times:
Friday from 3PM - 5PM
Saturday from 6AM to 8:30AM
Tour Players will receive their tee prize upon checking in as well as be provided an opportunity to enter the optional Skins Game and “Troops First Foundation” 50/50 raffle.
OPTIONAL SKINS GAME
As noted above, entry into the Skins Game is optional and will be handled only at check-in. The following Skins Game will be available:
$60 total buy-in which is broken down as follows
$20 Giant Skins Game ($10 each day)
$40 Flight Skins Game ($20 each day)
Total buy-in for Skins is $60 and must be paid in cash. No partial entries will be allowed.
TROOPS FIRST FOUNDATION 50/50 RAFFLE
The Western Open is excited to offer the “Troops First Foundation” 50/50 raffle. The benefitting charity is a non-profit organization whose benevolent mission is to develop, operate, and support s synergistic group of wellness, quality of life and sports-based initiatives in support of today’s military personnel.
The entry for the 50/50 raffle is $20 and there is no limit to the number of entries. On Sunday morning one lucky winner will be drawn and half the pot will go entirely and exclusively to the Troops First Foundation, with the other going to the lucky winner. The winner need not be present to win. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn by a player on Sunday morning. Our goal is to raise $1,600 to the charity and another $1,600 to the lucky winner!
TOURNAMENT CLUBHOUSE
The Main Clubhouse at Grayhawk Golf Club will be the site of check-in, scoring, and is the home clubhouse to both the Raptor and Talon Courses:
Grayhawk Golf Club
8620 East Thompson Peak Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-502-1800
PRACTICE FACILITY
The practice facility will open at 6AM on Saturday and Sunday. Range balls are included and are available during all phases of the competition.
Please note there are two practice facilities on property, the Raptor Practice Facility and the Talon Practice Facility. Players are requested to warm-up on the respective practice facility of the course you are playing that day.
AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORTATION/CADDIES/SPECTATORS
Spectators are welcome at all Major Championships provided the course allows spectators to walk the course and the spectators do not interfere with pace of play. Spectators are the responsibility of the player they are watching and must remain out of play and practice proper golf etiquette at all times.
Caddies are the responsibility of the associated player and are requested to practice proper golf etiquette. If there is an issue with the behavior of a spectator(s), or caddie(s), the individual(s) will be asked to leave the premises. Per Rule 6.1, the player incurs the applicable penalty for any breach of a rule by his/her caddie, including unsportsmanlike conduct.
Spectators and/or caddies are not permitted in a player golf cart at anytime during the stipulated round. Golf carts are for the sole use of the players, and there may only be two carts per group. Any spectator or caddy found riding in a player golf cart may result in the immediate disqualification of the player(s) who are associated with the violating spectator(s) and/or caddie(s) at Western Open. Please note that spectators/caddies may sit in a cart when it is parked at a tee or the green and ride on a space available basis from the green to the next tee.
TIES/PRIZING
An on-course playoff will determine the Western Open Champion in each flight if there is a tie for 1st Place, weather and time permitting.
The Western Open will reward (approximately) the top 25% of each flight with gift certificates. All Tour Players who are in the top third of their flight on Sunday are requested to stay in the scoring area. Prize fund distributions and an awards ceremony will take place for each flight as soon as the last scorecard is recorded for that particular flight.
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES
Distance measuring devices are permitted so long as the device has no feature on it such as slope/grade/wind.
PACE OF PLAY POLICY
Please familiarize yourself with the Pace of Play policy below as it will be strictly enforced.
The Am Tour policy leaves the responsibility for maintaining the pace of play where it belongs, with the player. Efficient pace of play is a huge factor of a successful and positive Am Tour experience for all participants in accordance with Rule 6-7 of the USGA® Rules of Golf.
Lead Group(s):
The first group(s) must finish their first nine holes within the maximum allotted time established by the committee (typically, this time will be 2 hours 10 minutes). If the lead group finishes over the maximum allotted time after nine holes, each player in the group will be assessed a 2-stroke penalty on their 9th hole.
The first group(s) off each tee must also finish 18 holes within the maximum allotted time established by the committee (typically, this time will be 4 hours 30 minutes). Failure to finish under this maximum allotted time for 18-holes will result in a 2-stroke penalty, which will be assessed to the score on the final hole of play.
Exception:
If the lead group(s) are held up by public play that was sent out before them or that began on the opposite tee, they will be exempt from the pace of play penalty(s) if they finish over their maximum time but within 14 minutes of the group ahead of them
Following Groups:
A 2-stroke penalty will be assessed to any group failing to complete their 9th hole within 14 minutes of the group in front of them AND over their maximum allotted time
A 2-stroke penalty will be assessed to any group failing to complete their 18th hole within 14 minutes of the group in front of them AND over their maximum allotted time
Players are advised of the following:
- Rules officials are not required to notify a player and/or group that they are behind. This is the responsibility of the group and each individual player in that group
- Each group is responsible for monitoring its own pace. Being in position means to be immediately behind the group in front of you.
- As a courtesy to each player, the pace of play policy will be reiterated on the starting hole
- As a courtesy to each player, the maximum allotted time will be on your official scorecard
- If a player is penalized three (3) times during the season that player will be suspended from tournament play for a minimum of six (6) months
CONCERNED PLAYERS AND APPEALS
A player concerned about slow player(s) in a group should first remind that player of the pace of play policy and encourage them to play more efficiently. The concerned player may, before or after penalties are assessed, request an Official to monitor the group. If a player is identified as holding up the pace of the group, penalties may be applied to that player and rescinded from the others. Appeals for exceptional situations will be considered only in the scoring area after the completion of the round and prior to the return of a player’s scorecard.
RULES OF PLAY
Play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf. Local rules in effect will be found on tthe Notice to Contestants sheet distributed to players at the starting hole.
PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT
By submitting an entry for any Golf Channel Amateur Tour event, the contestant understands that his/her participation is at the sole discretion of the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. A contestant may be removed from any competition at the discretion of the GCAT staff or committee at any time before or during the competition. Incidents of unbecoming conduct or actions deemed to be detrimental to the image of the Golf Channel Amateur Tour or the “spirit of the game” are grounds for such removal and suspension/expulsion from the Tour. These include, but are not limited to:
1. Willful damage of the golf course or golf course property
2. Club throwing or unnecessary club tossing
3. Offensive or unbecoming language
4. Public criticism of golf course or verbal abuse of GCAT staff, officials, host club staff, or other contestants
5. Potential endangerment of others.
6. Conduct deemed unbecoming
DRESS CODE
All Tour Players and caddies/spectators are expected to abide by the Tour dress code (collared shirt or similar golf shirt tucked in) with hats being worn with the bill being in the front. No denim or athletic, gym, cycling, tennis, or running shorts are allowed.
TEEING GROUNDS
The following are the approximate yardages for each flight. Approximate hole-by-hole yardages for practice purposes are posted on the tournament information page.
Raptor and Talon Courses
Back Tees (Raptor/Talon Tees) (approximately 6600-6700 yards)
Championship Flight
Palmer Flight
Palo Verde Tees (approximately 6300-6400 yards)
Senior Championship
Senior Palmer
Senior Hogan
Hogan Flight
Sarazen Flight
Terra Cotta Tees (approximately 6000-6100 yards)
Jones Flight
Snead Flight
Senior Sarazen Flight
Heather 1 Tees (approx. 5700 yards)
Ladies in Palmer, Hogan, Sarazen Flights
Heather 2 Tees (Approx 5400 yards)
Ladies in Jones and Snead Flights and Senior Sarazen Flight
CONTACT
Joe Wagner
Joe.Wagner@golfchannel.com