SECTION 2 BOYS GOLF

USGA RULES GOVERN PLAY.  All players are asked to familiarize themselves with USGA standards of play.  All coaches are asked to educate their players.  Local professionals are available to help with rulings.  The USGA RULE GUIDE is located on a button on this for easy access to clear rulings.  

All leagues and their entities will determine a qualifying round to be played by USGA standards throughout the season, to ensure that all rounds are deemed fair and accurate.  If a player or coach decides to play by rules that are not recognized by USGA or Local Course Play (as deemed by the course professional beforehand), the player is subject to a disqualification of that score from sectional play.  

NYSPHSAA FOLLOWS THESE SAME STANDARDS

CONGRUENTLY<> SECTION2 FOLLOWS THESE SAME STANDARDS, with "qualifying" being an extension of these rules, or "under the USGA umbrella".

"Qualifying rounds" currently include any round (that is played under USGA standards) that includes, but does not exceed 8 strokes over the set par for that course (per 9 holes).  Unfinished rounds (weather or darkness) are not submissable for Section Qualfying rounds, so please plan accordingly with your respective sites for play.  

LEAGUES have the freedom of how to determine their win/loss (stroke play, match play, etc.) - but must convey to their players that no player can adapt their score in match play to end a hole(concede score), or they will be disqualifying themselves from playing a valid round for sectional qualifying. In addition; NO COACH can adapt the playing conditions (forward tees, red stakes, undefined drop areas, "circle double par" "circle 10", etc) for pace of play.  To protect the sectional field, we cannot allow those participants to qualify under these standards of play, as they do not meet the criteria for competitive balance under NYSPHSAA play.

"Qualifying Home and Away Matches"

Clarification:

Qualifying home and away scores are currently in play, as long as USGA standards are followed during play.  A player can qualify (with 5 scores reported) with NO MORE than 3 Home Matches.  Each team has a defined 9 (front back, etc) that they regularly play HOME matches on.  In the case that a team is forced to another 9 on their HOME course for purposes of play, repair to course, or course congestion, this is considered a 'NEUTRAL' site.  This protects the teams and players that have 3 nines or even 4 nines available to them, and get pushed off of their regular HOME nine.  It is still a HOME MATCH, but for sectional qualifying purposes, this is considered a score that can be utilized as an "away" portion. 

IN THIS SITUATION: Coaches should be sure to note the qualifying score and where it was played upon submission to their respective site coordinator.

(see NAME SUBMISSION FOR ADVANCEMENT, below)

Examples of disqualification of qualifying standards of play are:

• Undefined drop zone areas added

• Concession of hole after match has holed out

• Playing Lateral Hazards where they are not defined by the course (playing "no OB")

• Circling a score limit

• Advancing beyond a water hazard without a defined course-used drop area

• Changing "par" on a hole

• Moving a ball to play it from an easier position to move play along

• Not taking appropriate penalties for scoring (as defined in the USGA rule book)

• A player who is labeled as "exhibition" by their coach cannot enter that round as a qualifying round for sectional play. (Over the allotted amount of players for league scoring)

NAME SUBMISSION FOR ADVANCEMENT:

SECTION 2 requests that all names submitted for continuance in Sectional play meet these requirements on 5 rounds (16 total can be played), and NO MORE than 3 rounds played at the players HOME NINE, which is the most frequently used 9-holes by the home team(see qualifying home and away matches, above).

TEAM QUALIFIERS:

Teams ans coaches can submit up to 6 names for advancement in Sectionals in all Classifications.  If a coach has more than 6 players qualify to move forward, they must pre-determine the names to be utilized for TEAM PLAY, but they are able to sumbit the other plyers qualifying in the INDIVIDUAL portion of the event.  No player can be substituted in/out for any reason once Sectional Tournament play begins.**

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS:

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS are allowed to compete for the 9 spots and 2 alternates for the SECTION 2 State Team.

NAME SUBMISSION FORMS CAN BE FOUND BELOW using the appropriate button provided.  These forms should be attested to by the Head Coach prior to submission.**

PREVIOUS QUALIFIERS:

See Basic Rules Governing Sectional Play (below)

**COACHES SHOULD PROVIDE 1 ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SITE COORDINATOR IF QUALIFYING 5 OR MORE ATHLETES.  2 ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUIRED IF QUALIFYING 8 OR MORE ATHLETES.

Sectional Guidelines for Players

• ❖  Sectional, ABCD Playoff and the State Qualifier are 18 hole rounds

TEAM PLAY;  Low players score for their team as listed below.  

Class A and B are allowed up to 6 players for a team, with low 4 players counting for team score.

Class CD is also allowed up to 6 players for a team, with low 3 players counting as a team score.

TIEBREAKER(S) 4 player example: 5th is first tiebreaker, 6th second tiebreaker.  If a team does not have a 5th or 6th player, they forfeit that tiebreaker.  If the teams are tied for any position after 6, the USGA tiebreak of second 9 vs par, first 9 vs par will be used, followed by handicap hole.  This aggregately will be across the entire SCORING team(4), and then low player vs low player  - until a tie is broken. 3 player example, same as above.

• ❖  USGA, and applicable local rules, govern play at all times

• ❖  No cell phones for any communication purposes

• ❖  Range finders are allowed - No Slope or Wind calculations should be utilized.

  • ➢  You must be willing to share this information with fellow competitors, this is not "advice".

  • ➢  Range finding apps on cell phones are allowed 

• ❖  Non-motorized push or pull carts are allowed. Players with approproate NYSPHSAA paperwork completed for motorized carts are allowed (injury or otherwise)

• ❖  Players should keep their own score and that of their fellow competitors, but the official scorecard is
  kept by the marker, as is the Live Scoring (Golf Genius)
  ➢ Scores will be verified and the official card signed by all competitors at the completion of the round, coaches will submit the signed card, there will be no adjustments once the card is signed, only disqualifications if necessary based on the score entered.  Players signing for a hole by hole score only, not total.  Players who sign for a hole LOWER than actual (with signed card) will face DQ.  Players signing for a hole by hole score found to be HIGHER than actual, are mandated to take the higher score.

• ❖  Play the ball down unless instructed otherwise by the Section 2 Golf Committee or the course professional prior to play

• ❖  Any rulings on the course must be made by the players ➢ Markers may not advise players, but rather suggest that they speak with their playing competitors.  Protect the field.

■ Use Rule 20.3 if there is doubt as to procedure after players have discussed the ruling. Protect the field.

• ❖  Respect the golf course, we are guests of the facility

Sectional Guidelines for Coaches

• ❖  Be prepared to walk 18 holes with your assigned group

• ❖  Introduce yourself to the competitors. Ask for the name of the golf ball they are playing and stress that it
  be marked for identification

• ❖  Record the competitors’ scores on your card, and enter into cell phone.  Please use cell phone for score entering only during your round, saving battery life and staying connected with your group.

• ❖  Be familiar with the difficult landing areas of the golf holes and be a “fore caddy” at these holes.

• ❖  Coaches may not make rulings, however, encourage the competitor to use a second scored ball if he/she is doubtful as to their procedure
  ➢ If necessary, a ruling will be made by the Rules Committee, in consultation with the professional.

■ Remind competitors to talk to each other before making a ruling

• ❖  Please assist in looking for lost balls

• ❖  Do not lift a ball.  You are allowed to mark position of the ball in the interest of speeding up play.

• ❖  Do not attend the flagstick

• ❖  Encourage that divots be replaced, ball marks fixed and traps raked

• ❖  Encourage play to keep moving, especially if a group falls behind

• ❖  Handle unsportsmanlike conduct immediately with a verbal warning. If the conduct persists, tell the
  competitor you will be reporting the facts to the golf committee
  ➢ Make a note on paper what was demonstrated by the competitors, the time, and the place

• ❖  Connect with your group immediately at the completion of the round ➢ Do not let them stop to talk to friends and parents.

➢ Verify scores and have the competitors sign the official score card

TOP 20 WILL BE DETERMINED BY SCORE AND ALL PLAYOFFS WILL BE DETERMINED ON DAY 1 THROUGH USGA MATCH OF CARDS.

TOP 9 AND 2 ALTERNATES WILL BE DETERMINED THROUGH PLAYOFF HOLE IS WE ARE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE COURSE TO DO SO.  IF NOT, THE PLAYOFF SPOTS WILL BE DETERMINED THROUGH USGA MATCH OF CARDS.

PREVIOUS SEASON STATE QUALIFIER(S) RULE (adopted, 2018)

Any player who has represented the Section in a previous season has an automatic "bye" into the ABCD Playoffs, and can be added to the number of qualified players for this part of the tournament, should they not meet the score set in Sectional play to continue.  

These players, with qualifying scores to continue, DO NOT CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF PLAYERS PER CLASSIFICATION WHO WILL MOVE ON to the playoff round from their classification.  For example, if Class B has 40 players entered, and 25% of their classification make the playoffs, they will not receive 11+ players moving forward if a PREVIOUS STATE QUALIFIER or QUALIFIERS fall in the roster of advancing names for that classification.

2024-2025 SECTION 2 BOYS GOLF COMMITTEE

LEAGUE:                                     REP(s):                                    CONTACT:

ADIRONDACK:                 Justin Nassivera                    jnassivera@granvillecsd.org

COLONIAL:                          Tom Gladd                            tgladd@voorheesville.org

FOOTHILLS:                       Tim Jones                              tjones@gasd.org

PATROON:                           Pat Austin                              paustin@schodack.k12.ny.us

SUBURBAN: Steve Smith                       ssmith@bethlehemschools.org

WASAREN:                            Dale Long                              rdlong4@yahoo.com

WESTERN AC:                      Rick Thaxter                         rethaxter@hotmail.com

SECTION COORDINATOR    Ben Smith bsmith@niskyschools.org

SECTIONAL SITE COORDINATORS:

A: TBD

B: TBD

CD: TBD