Embedded Files
2026-2027 SECTION HANDBOOK
UPDATED 7/15/26
IMPORTANT DATES 2026-2027 Season
IMPORTANT DATES 2026-2027 Season
8/24 FIRST DAY of TRYOUTS/Team Practices
8/26 FIRST FALL MATCHES CAN BEGIN
10/3 LAST DATE TO SUBMIT SCORE
2026 SECTIONALS::::
BOYS INDIVIDUAL, (top 72 and ties based on season differential (SD)) <all players, 2 days>
10/13 Day 1, no cut
10/14 Day 2, cut to 9 + 2 alternates, to represent Section 2 at the 2027 NYSPHSAA Individual Tournament
Fairways of Halfmoon, Black Tees (new). ~6300 yards, (70.2/127)
Tie breakers are done by on-course playoff if necessary
Boys TEAM (Classification Championships)
10/20 CD (100 max players, 25 max teams) Play UP TO 4 players, Score 3 (minimum to compete)
10/21 A&B (60 Max players, 12 max teams in each Classification) Play UP TO 5 players, Score 4 (minimum to compete)
Fairways of Halfmoon, Black Tees (new). ~6300 yards, (70.2/127)
Each classification (A, B, CD) will recognize a 1st place, runner up and third place team
Tie breakers are done by extra player first, then if still tied, USGA match of Cards.
***If a team does not have an extra player to score, the team with a full max roster will be awarded the higher place finish.
dates to be considered:
Labor Day 9/7/25 NO SCHOOL
Rosh Hashanah Dusk 9/11-Dawn 9/13
Yom Kippur Dusk 9/20 - Nightfall 9/21
Indigenous People's day 10/12 NO SCHOOL
State Level Tournaments:
Saturday, 6/5 thru Monday, 6/7/2027 - State Championship Tournament <<TIMES TBD>>
MILL CREEK GC, Churchville, NY (Section V)
DATE TBD - FEDERATION TOURNAMENT Bethpage Black in 2027 , Bethpage, NY
RULES GOVERNING SECTION 2 and NYSPHSAA
RULES GOVERNING SECTION 2 and NYSPHSAA
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
SECTION2 FOLLOWS THESE SAME STANDARDS or works "under the USGA umbrella".
Teams and individuals are restricted to the State Standard of 16 maximum matches (contests/events). A match, contest, or event is deemed complete if played under the stroke play or match play guildelines within their league season. An 18-hole event, provided that it is run on a day that student-athletes have no school can be counted as 1 event.
ROSTERS for all teams will be submitted the Head Coach of each team in the provided Reporting Form at the beginning of season play.
A "MATCH", "CONTEST" or "EVENT" is described as a 9-hole completed round in season long League or Non-league play, or an 18-hole round, provided that round is not played while school is in session..
All TEAMS and INDIVIDUALS are restricted to 16 Matches, Contests, or Events as per NYSPHSAA Guidelines
2026 PASSAGE and AMENDMENT to SECTION 2 BOYS GOLF BY-LAWS CONCERNING POSTSEASON PLAY
- passed 6/3/26 (15-6) in favor
TEAM and INDIVIDUAL postseason are now separate events, played without influence on one another.
"TEAM or CLASSIFICATION tournament qualifying round" (TQR) currently refers to 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 applicable for Team Qualfying Rounds, so please plan accordingly with your respective sites for play.
LEAGUES have the autonomy to determine their win/loss (stroke play, match play, etc.) - but must convey to their coaches and 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, both Individually and for TQR play. 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 any participants to submit a score under inferior standards of play, as they do not meet the criteria for competitive balance under NYSPHSAA and Section 2 guidelines.
In classifications A&B, TEAM tournament is played "Play 5 score 4" and is aggregate scoring for the low 4 players on each team.
In classification CD, TEAM tournament is played "Play 4 score 3" and is aggregate scoring for the low 3 players on each team.
Each classification will determine a first place, runner up and third place team.
THESE BULLET POINTS - as well as TIEBREAKERS - are outlined in more detail in BASIC RULES GOVERNING SECTIONAL PLAY
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"SCORE DIFFERENTIAL round" (SD) currently refers to any round (that is played under USGA standards) and its score submitted to parm, against the slope and rating of the course played. This is a round to submit forward for postseason play, and to determine the field for the individual stroke play tournament.
INDIVIDUALS cannot defer from USGA play for any reason, in order for their round to be considered in their SD average.
There is no true QUALIFYING SCORE in INDIVIDUAL PLAY, A player's best 8 scores across a season are used to calculate their SD.
SD average is determined individually, and is recognized as the player's average of their best 8 rounds played vs slope and rating of any course within a maximum of 16 matches (differential). Only the top 8 rounds are added and then utilized towards a SD average.
All players in the section who have completed a minimum of eight 9-hole rounds are competing for the top 72 places and ties across the entirety of Section 2, to determine their place in the event.
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"Qualifying Home and Away Matches"
Within the passage of the 2026 postseason amendment; all sites can be played and submitted, regardless of site being "home" or "away" for any team, so long as the 9-hole site has a reputable and recognized USGA Slope and Rating.
There is no maximum as to how many times a site can be utilized as to SD (score differential - individual) or TQR (team qualifying round - rule of 8).
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REPORTING FORMS
Leagues or Teams may wish to utilize their own individualized form for Team play.
All coaches will have a mandated reporting form supplied to them from the Section - to submit and calculate their player's SD andf TQR to determine Sectional postseason play.
The reporting form will be electronic in nature.
The reporting form has been updated and can be amended to meet current conditions, if it becomes obsolete in its function for any reason.
Every head coach is individually responsible to report the 6 scores that are being submitted for SD and TQR in a timely manner. It is requested by the committee that these scores are submitted within 24 hours of each match being completed (no delay).
Every coach, upon submitting the scores for each player, is responsible for the supervision of play, handing rulings forward to their scoring groups in a timely manner, and to the accuracy and attestation of their player's scores. It is everyone's resaponsibility, coach and player alike, to make sure that scores are coming in accurately, and that the qualifying standards of play are met - in every contest played.
Examples of disqualification of qualifying standards of play are:
Undefined drop zone areas added
Concession of hole after match has holed out (by any player at any time)
Playing Lateral Hazards where they are not defined by the course (playing "no OB")
Circling or adhering to a score limit
Advancing beyond a water hazard without a defined 'course-used' local drop area
Changing "par" on a hole
Moving a ball to 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 SD round for sectional play. (Over the allotted amount of players for league scoring)
Matches played against a team that does not have a full roster of players, unless marked anmd attested by a coach in each group
TEAM QUALIFIERS:
Teams and coaches can submit up to 5 names for advancement in Sectionals in Classifications A and B. Teams must have a qualifying 3 players to submit a team of up to 5 players. 12 teams is the maximum field in each classification, final seeds TBD by low team SD average (low 4 players).
Teams and coaches can submit up to 5 names for advancement in Sectionals in Classification CD. Teams must have a qualifying 2 players to submit a team of up to 4 players. 25 teams is the maximum field in this classification, final seeds TBD by low team SD average (low 3 players).
Electronic forms will be used for submission
INDIVIDUALS:
INDIVIDUALS are allowed to compete for the 9 spots and 2 alternates for the SECTION 2 State Team, via season long score differential.
THE TOP "72 and Ties"* CUT will be used to determine the field to play in the INDIVIDUAL portion of Sectional play
A "waitlist" will be established and utilized, porivdied the tournamwent has withdrawls 24 hours before play.
Electronic forms will be used for submission
PREVIOUS INDIVIDUAL SECTION 2 STATE PLAYERS:
If a player has represented the State Team in the past, they will be admitted as a roster candidate into the the Section 2 individual tournament; provided they have completed a full season of events (8 or more), and that they are outside the top 72 of all players submitted in SD AVG.
If the player finishes their season inside the Top 72, the field does not grow in size. This is only for use in situations where the former State player has 'missed the cut' during regular season play.
BOYS SECTION COMMITTEE
BOYS SECTION COMMITTEE
2026-2027 SECTION 2 BOYS GOLF COMMITTEE
LEAGUE: REP(s): CONTACT:
ADIRONDACK: Justin Nassivera jnassivera@granvillecsd.org
COLONIAL: Jack O'Keefe okeefej@troycsd.org
FOOTHILLS: Anthony Mucilli mucillia@bpcsd.org
Mike Yeager yeagerm@sgfcsd.org
PATROON: Pat Austin paustin@schodack.k12.ny.us
SUBURBAN: Steve Smith ssmith@bethlehemschools.org
Ben Smith bsmith@niskyschools.org
WASAREN: Tim Sheehan tsheehan@mechanicville.org
WESTERN AC: Grady Gawrys ggawrys@duanesburg.org
SECTION COORDINATOR Ben Smith bsmith@niskyschools.org
SECTIONAL SITE COORDINATORS:
A: SMITH,b, LESCAULT
B: SMITH,b, LESCAULT
CD: SMITH,b, SHEEHAN
BASIC RULES GOVERNING SECTIONAL PLAY
BASIC RULES GOVERNING SECTIONAL PLAY
Sectional Guidelines (transition 7/26)
TEAM PLAY
❖ Team Classification post-season play is defined as a one-day 18 hole round, unless weather deems otherwise. There are three recognized classifications in Section 2 ; A, B, and CD. Team Sectionals can be played at any course that each Class Coordinator chooses and submits to the Section. The site needs not be uniform to the other Classifications. All classification coaches can utilize Mixed Competition provided the school does not have a Girl's Golf team. (see Mixed Comp Forms)
➢ A maximum of 12 teams are allowed entry into Class A and Class B Team Sectionals, with a cap of 5 players maximum per team
~Teams may enter field with a minimum of 4 players, after 3 of their respective players have met the "Rule of 8" (8 over or better in 5 sanctioned season matches, regardless of site played.
~Teams can decide not to attend sectionals
➢ A maximum of 25 teams are allowed entry into Class CD Team Sectionals, with a cap of 4 players maximum per team
~Teams may enter field with a minimum of 3 players, after 2 of their respective players have met the "Rule of 8" (8 over or better in 5 sanctioned season matches, regardless of site played.
~Teams can decide not to attend sectionals
❖ Low players score for their team as listed below.
Class A and B are allowed up to 5 players for a team, with low 4 players counting for team score(aggregate stroke play)
Class CD is also allowed up to 4 players for a team, with low 3 players counting as a team score(aggregate stroke play)
TIEBREAKER(S) : In Class A & B, 5th player's score to par is first tiebreaker, in Class CD, 4th player's score to par is tiebreaker. If a team does not have an extra player, they forfeit that tiebreaker. If the teams are tied for any position after the final player, the USGA tiebreak of aggregate (scoring players only) 'back 9' vs par, last 6, last 3 vs par will be used, followed by front 9/6/3, followed by handicap hole. AGAIN - 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, but may be used for distance measuring
❖ 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".
❖ Non-motorized push or pull carts are allowed. Players with appropriate NYSPHSAA paperwork completed for motorized carts are allowed (injury or otherwise) - "Section waiver completed" - see your league rep for access to a sectional waiver reqest.
❖ Players should keep their own score and that of their fellow competitors, This is the official player scorecard. No player should be scoring their own score only.
➢ Live scoring is utilized but is unofficial until the tournament officials deem it to be so.
➢ Scores will be verified and the official card(s) signed by all competitors at the completion of the round.
➢ There will be no adjustments made to the card 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 - any modifications to play will be conveyed - on both a rules sheet, and in discussion and presentation - prior to play beginning.
❖ Any rulings on the course must be made by the players
➢ if using Marking volunteers, Markers may not advise players as to procedure, but should suggest that they speak with their playing competitors if their is doubt as to procedure.
➢ All players should protect the field by applying appropraite USGA rules throughout the competition.
■ Use Rule 20.3 if there is doubt as to procedure after players have discussed the ruling.
❖ Respect the golf course, we are guests of the facility
Sectional Guidelines for Volunteer or Assigned Markers (Modified, 2026)
❖ 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 for them to announce that ball prior to play.
➢ Ball should be marked individually for identification
➢ If a provisiaonal is utilized in play, player(s) should announce the difference in ball, or us a different marking
❖ 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 communuicate with competitiors in their group other before touching a ball in play, advancing procedure of any kind, or 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
PAST RESULTS
2025 ABCD Qualifier, Fairways of Halfmoon
2024 ABCD Qualifier, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: 2024ABCDPLAYOFFS
2024 Class A Sectional, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: 2024CLASSASECTIONALS
2024 Class BCD Sectional, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: 2024BCDSECTIONALS
2023 ABCD Qualifier, Fairways of Halfmoon
2023 Class A Sectional, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: ASECTIONAL23
2023 Class BCD Sectional, Fairways of Halfmoon
2022 ABCD Qualifier, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: ABCDQUALLY
2022 Class A Sectional, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: 22CLASSASECTIONAL
2022 Class BCD Sectional, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: 22BCDSECTIONAL
2021 State Playoffs, Fairways of Halfmoon LOGIN GGID: 2021SECTION2
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