POLICIES/PROCEDURES

DAKOTAS TOUR Policies & Procedures

For Players & Tournament Directors

2013

MISSION STATEMENT

The Dakotas Tour was founded to provide quality golf events for Amateurs and Professionals in the Upper Midwest. While most events are operated at the local level, all events will strive to provide a unique golf experience for the amateur participants, along with a professional atmosphere, that allows players of all skill levels to compete. The Dakotas Tour’s pro-am structured events will provide competitive pro payouts that are at least equal to the professional entry fees, allow for professional and amateur friendly formats, and be conducted in a professional and exemplary matter.

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

a.       The Dakotas Tour will maintain a strict no-tolerance policy on any behavior unbecoming of a professional. Professionals are expected to treat all amateurs and fellow professionals with courtesy and respect at all times.

 

b.      This is a Pro-Am based tour that relies on the amateur’s participation and enjoyment as well as the professional’s skill and conduct.

 

c.       Conduct such as verbal abuse of any players, volunteers, or staff; vulgar language, club throwing, or damage to the golf course or golf course property is considered a violation. Violations also include the use of illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs, cheating, withdrawing without good cause, improper dress, not maintaining financial responsibility, and any other unprofessional behavior. Violations could result in penalty shots, fines, and/or disqualification from one or all events conducted by the Dakotas Tour.

 

d.      Any serious violations, as determined by the Executive Director, can result in automatic suspension and fines at any time. The length of any suspension shall be determined by the Dakotas Tour Executive Director. If a course(s) has been damaged due to a violation the cost of repairing the damage must be paid in addition to any fines. Any disputes will be decided by the Executive Director in which his decision will be final.

 

e.       The Dakotas Tour will honor the suspension of any professional by any golf-governing body or professional tour.

 

f.        Players are expected to adhere to the Rules of Golf at all times and protect the field from those who do not.

 

DRESS CODE

Slacks are required, however, on a site-by-site basis Bermuda length shorts may be allowed. No denim is permitted. All shirts must reflect appropriate attire, preferably collar shirts or mock turtleneck golf shirts, and must be tucked in at all times. Tee-shirts are not permitted. All hats must be worn forward. Caddies may wear Bermuda length shorts. Caddies must abide by all other player dress code regulations. Caddies may not wear sandals, flip flops, or golf shoes with spikes. Tennis shoes or teaching shoes are preferred. Players are responsible for their caddies. The Dakotas Tour is a “soft-spike” only tour; no metal spikes are permitted.

 

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cell phones is prohibited on the golf course except for emergencies or to contact the host golf shop. I-Pods or other like devices will only be permitted on the practice areas before and after tournament rounds. They are not allowed during competition.

 

A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a competition round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.

 

 

ENTRY FEE POLICY

Players may enter events directly by contacting each site or on-line with a credit card through The Dakotas Tour website(www.thedakotastour.com). Players can download entry blanks for some events from our website and send, fax, email, or phone them to each site. Entry fees are set by each site. Contact each event for particulars.

All players wishing to play any event on the Dakotas Tour must pay the Tour Membership fee via the website. This fee must be paid  before they are considered officially entered into any event.

It is a Code of Conduct violation to not maintain financial responsibility including the payment of entry fees.

 

PROFESSIONAL REFUND POLICY

Any professional withdrawing from an event within the 5-day window prior to the official start of the event will be subject to a $50 minimum administration fee. Otherwise refunds will be made at the discretion of each event and be made after the event is concluded.

A player will be subject to a possible Code of Conduct violation if he withdraws from an event without good cause within 48 hours of the event’s start. A player no-showing for an event is subject to a Code of Conduct violation and may not be refunded any of his entry fees.

 

EXEMPT PROFESSIONAL POLICY

The Top-40 players from the previous year’s Bonus Points List will be exempt players. This allows them special exemptions from qualifying at events with qualifiers. Each event’s exempt list will include the Top 40 players from the previous year’s Bonus Points List, the top ten place winners from the previous year, and all previous winners from that event. Other exemptions are extended at the discretion of each site. Non-exempt professionals can receive an exemption at an event with a qualifier by finishing in the top eight places at the prior major event and be pre-entered in the next event.

 

CARTS AND CADDIES

All players are permitted to use golf carts or pull/push carts. Two carts per foursome and two people per cart are allowed. Caddies may ride based on availability; players have priority on riding. All carts must be kept on the path around all tees and greens and will abide by the golf course’s cart policy; failure to do so will subject the professional to a possible fine. Walking is allowed as long as the event’s pace of play guidelines are being followed.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PAYOUT GUIDELINES

Each event may distribute the professional purse using a fair and equitable payout distribution. The following guidelines must be adhered to by all events when determining the distribution:

 

a.       At least 100% of the professional entry fee must be paid back in the professional purse.

 

b.       Last place money must equal 1% of the professional purse or the professional entry fee, whichever is greater. In the event of a tie for the last place check, the overall total paid to all who tied for that place must at least be equal to one of  the above options.

 

c.       At least 1/3 of the professional starting field should be paid. (see item c in Tournament Guidelines below).

 

d.      The posted professional purse may be reduced due to late tournament withdrawals that are not filled, unless the purse is guaranteed.

 

 

 

TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES

 

The following guidelines are to ensure consistency from tournament to tournament and shall be followed by each event:

 

a.       USGA Rules of Golf govern all play except where modified by the Local Rules. An event’s Local Rules should be posted/published before the start of the event.

 

b.      The USGA 2010 CONFORMING GROOVE rule WILL be enforced. For a list of conforming equipment please check the USGA website data base at: www.usga.org/InfoClubsDB/index.asp

 

c.        In compliance with the PGA Tour/Nationwide Tour, The Dakotas Tour will adopt their rule to facilitate the cut-line for any event that uses one. That rule says that 'the cut line does not change once it has been posted if player withdrawals or is disqualified unless it is for cheating. If the elimination of players by the above manner, after the cut-line has been posted, affects the 1/3 of the field payout rule, that rule will be not be in effect.

 

d.      Hole locations sheets are available at the Tournament Directors’ option.

 

e.        Multi-day events shall ensure that players have at least one morning and one afternoon starting time during the first two days (unless using a single shotgun). If using multi-tee waves each player shall start at least once on #1 tee and once on #10 tee during the first two days.

 

f.       A method for breaking 1st place ties should be posted/published before the start of the event.

 

g.       A policy for weather delays and round cancellations should be posted/published before the start of the event.

 

h.      Whether “Summer” or “Winter” rules are in effect should be clarified.  If “Winter” or Preferred Lies”

will be used, the USGA recommended language (found in the Rules of Golf-Appendix I) should be used and posted/published.

 

i.        The golf course will be marked appropriately prior to the start of the event, including water hazards,

ground-under-repair, out-of-bounds, ball drops, etc. These areas should be marked with stakes and/or appropriately colored lines and be clearly visible to eliminate any potential Rules problems.

 

j.    If a cut is to be made, the policy should be clearly outlined and posted/published.

 

k.    Any purses to be paid should be posted/published with a breakdown of the payment to each place.

 

l.     A Pace of Play policy, Rules committee members, and how Rules appeals will be handled should be

       posted/published.

 

m.   Each event will prepare its own pairings for professionals and amateurs. All players in multi-day
      events  should have one starting time in the morning and one in the afternoon as well as one off
      #1 tee and one off #10 tee. Professionals should be paired with amateurs based on their ability

      to interact positively with the amateurs, as well as their potential playing ability. Tournament

      Directors do not have to put a “veteran” or “highly skilled” professional with an amateur team if

      the Director does not feel that the professional can interact positively with the amateurs and help

      them to have an enjoyable experience.

 

n.    Scoring should be done in a timely manner and be posted in a public place for all participants to
            view.

 

o.    Each event should forward a preliminary pro payout to the Executive Director by June 1

       for approval. A final pro payout document should be sent to the Executive Director at the

         time entries close.

 

p.      Pertinent info (i.e. payout, rules sheet, etc.) for each event should be sent to the Executive

         Director for final approval by June 1.  This will allow the Executive Director to monitor

         the adherence to our Policy and Procedure document.

 

q.   Scoring should be done via the Dakotas Tour Blue Golf website during or immediately after each 
      players round.

 

r.    Any Dakotas Tour Membership fees paid to the tournament site should be forwarded, along with
      the name, address, phone number, SS# and email address of the player to the Executive Director
      each Friday by 5pm. Encourage the players to go online to our website to register and pay said fee.

 

s.    Beginning May 15, a list of all professionals registered through the event site will be sent to the  

      Executive Director’s office each Friday by 5pm.

 

t.    A final list of all participants must be sent to the Executive Director with the final results.

 

u.   The fees to be paid to the Dakotas Tour are as follows;

                        1.  Major Events(3 and 4 day tournaments): $250.00 plus $18.50 for each professional.

                        2.  Two-Day tournaments: $15.00 for each professional.

                        3.  One-Day tournaments: $12.00 for each professional.

4.   No fees need be paid to the Dakotas Tour for professionals who do not advance out of a
     qualifier;   however, all players will need to pay for a tour membership.

 

        v.   This fee should be paid within 7 days of the close of each tournament.

 

w.   The professional players Dakotas Tour Membership fee is $200 for the season.  A membership 
       fee of $50.00 is available for those professionals that are going to play in only one event. Playing
       in a second event will require the payment of the full season membership fee.

 

x.    A universal sign-up cutoff date for exempt players will be used. That date will be 30 days prior to
       the 1st day of the event. Exempt players will be guaranteed a spot in the field if they are in good
       standing with the tour and the tournament, and register and pay by this date. If they register after
       this date they lose the exempt privilege for that event.

 

y.    On-line registration for 2013 exempt status players will begin on April 1, 2013. On-line registration
       for all others will open on April 15, 2013.

 

 

 The Dakotas Tour Bonus Points Chart for 2013

Position	Major	Two Day	1-Day
	Events	Events	events
1	500	240	160
2	330	190	95
3	210	135	70
4	150	110	55
5	120	100	50
6	110	90	45
7	100	80	43
8	94	70	40
9	88	65
10	82	60
11	77	55
12	72	50
13	68
14	64
15	61
16	59
17	57
18	55
19	53
20	52
21	51
22	50
23	49
24	48
25	47

 

POINTS FOR THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT AT

THE RIDGE ARE DOUBLE THE MAJOR EVENT COLUMN.