Policies & Procedures
Age Divisions and Eligibility Date
The Sun Country Junior Tour breaks players into age divisions and genders:
Girls: 7-9, 10-12, 13-15 & 16-18
Boys: 7-9, 10-12, 13-15 & 16-18
The player’s age as of the last day of the summer season, August 7, 2022, will determine the age division he/she will participate in throughout the season.
Eligibility to Play Up in a Division
Players will be eligible to play up in age division. Players must submit request to the Sun Country Junior Tour for review before the season begins. Once accepted, players will be moved into the older age division and will not be able to switch back to the age division they were originally in. Players who move up in age division will have to meet playing standards for that age division or will be subject to demotion and loss of current Player of the Year Points.
Please submit your request to Cal Lanouette, cal@suncountrygolfhouse.com.
Spectator Policy
Spectators must adhere to the same dress code and code of conduct as players.
Spectators MAY NOT interact with players while on the course.
Spectators need to remain on the cart path (where available) or 50 yards behind the group you are following. Please make sure you are not in the way of the group behind the group you are following.
Spectators are not allowed to converse with any players during play day events.
Interaction with competitors will be considered the giving of advice (Rule 8-1) and may result in penalty and/or disqualification for the competitor.
Spectators may assist in a search for lost golf balls, as long as no advice is given.
Spectators may carry food, beverages, umbrellas and jackets for the players.
Cell phones are to be turned off while on the course.
Repeated spectator offenses could result in disqualification, suspension from future play days or suspension of membership for the junior in question.
Inappropriate Behavior:
Disciplinary measures: Removal from the golf course, clubhouse area and/or suspension of spectator privileges, will be taken for any spectator that shows lack of respect for volunteers, rules officials or SCJT staff.
Immediate suspension of spectator privileges for obscene, abusive, or vulgar language or any physical contact with anyone with the intent to do bodily harm.
Please remember that you are a guest of the host facility and set an example for the juniors by always being courteous to players, other spectators, volunteers and golf course staff.
Pace of Play Policy
Players shall play without undue delay and in accordance with the Pace of Play guidelines laid down by the Committee. Rule 5.6, players must play in 4 hours and 48 minutes or within 15 minutes of the group in front of them. FIRST OFFENSE: Warning and players have three holes to get back into position. SECOND OFFENSE: Official warning and put on the clock. Players have 40 seconds to play their shot and 1 minute on the greens to play. THIRD OFFENSE: One Stroke. FOURTH OFFENSE: Two Strokes. SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE: Disqualification.
Time Par per hole: Par 3 – 14 minutes, Par 4 – 16 minutes, Par 5 – 18 minutes
Par 72 – 4 hours and 48 minutes, 9 hole Par 36 – 2 hours and 24 minutes
First Offense: Warning and players have three holes to get back into position.
Second Offense: Official warning and group is put on the clock.
Third Offense: One Stroke Penalty
Fourth Offense: Two Stroke Penalty
Subsequent Offense: Disqualification
*The group will be liable to penalties if in the Committee’s view a reasonable effort was not made by the players to complete their round within the allotted time. Any penalties will be confirmed in the scoring area.
*Once the Committee has realized that a group is “out of position,” monitoring will occur by a Rules Official or other SCJT staff member. Each player is expected to play a shot in no longer than 40 seconds, excluding play on the putting green. Timing will begin once the player has reached his/her ball, it’s his/her time to play and there are no distractions. Determining yardages is considered as part of your shot and will be included in the timing.
*The SCJT staff reserves the right to time a group when deemed necessary. Further, if a player is determined to be unreasonably slow he/she may be timed individually at the SCJT staff’s discretion, regardless of whether his/her group is out of position.
PACE OF PLAY TIPS
Play “Ready Golf”
When the area surrounding the player is clear, he/she may proceed to hit their shot regardless of whether or not it is his/her turn to hit.
Walk with a purpose!
Go through your pre-shot routine while the other players are playing.
All players will be limited to a total of two (2) practice swings per shot.
Find your yardages or determine the line of your putt.
Select your club.
Be ready to play once the other players have made their swings.
Must, Must, May
Must – The first player to finish playing a hole MUST immediately grab their bag and start making their way to the next tee.
Must – The player MUST also be the first person to play from the next teeing ground.
This player MAY tee off prior to the rest of his/her group arriving to the tee and if the landing area is clear.
Tie Breakers and Scorecard Playoffs
Ties will be broken as follows:
First (1st) place ties will be played out in a sudden death playoff, on a hole determined by the Committee.
Second (2nd) and Third (3rd) place ties will be determined by a scorecard playoff starting with the number 1 handicapped hole.
Stroke Limit Policy
The Sun Country Junior Tour has a triple bogey stroke limit for the 7-9 and 10-12 age divisions. Also for the 13-18 age divisions it is a double par rule for non majors. Any player age 7-12 who has taken a triple bogey on any hole and has not holed out must pick up his/her ball and continue to the next tee. Any Player age 13-18 who has taken a double par must pick up and continue to the next hole and is only in effect for non majors. The score for the hole will be recorded with an “X” behind it.
Distance Measuring Devices
Players may obtain information by using devices that measure distance ONLY in any Sun Country Junior Tour play day.
If during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a, for which the penalty is the general penalty, For the second offense it is disqualification.
Code of Conduct
Appropriate attire:
(Boys) Collared shirts with sleeves
(Girls) Collared shirts with or without sleeves
Shirts must be tucked in at all times
Bermuda length shorts
Golf slacks
(Girls) Skorts must come no higher than two inches above the knee
Golf shoes or tennis shoes
Hats must be worn with the bill to the front
Inappropriate attire:
Tank tops, t-shirts, and shirts that expose the midriff
Short shorts, cut-offs, gym or tennis shorts
Blue jeans or baggy pants/shorts
Open-toe shoes or sandals
Clothing bearing offensive slogans, language or pictures
CONDUCT
Any conduct that is detrimental to the Junior Tour will not be tolerated, including, but not limited to the following:
Throwing and/or breaking clubs
Using abusive or profane language
Intentionally cheating
Damaging the golf course
Abuse of club facilities
Abuse of SCSPGA staff, volunteers or sponsors
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
Using tobacco products
Drug use
Gambling
The SCSPGA Executive Committee and SCSPGA Junior Committee reserve the right to final decision on any matter involving a Junior Tour member, parent, and/or spectator at any recognized SCSPGA Junior Tour play day.
Caddy Policy
Players playing in 9 hole SCJT events will be the ONLY players able to use a Caddie. Players playing in 18-36 hole SCJT events will NOT be allowed to use a Caddie going forward.
Caddies must have a caddie bib and SCJT Caddie ID card prior to the start of the play day round.
Spectators, parents, guardians, adults over the age of 18 who do not have both the caddie bib and SCJT Caddie ID card will not be allowed to caddie.
USGA Rules of Golf shall govern play at all times.
Rules of Golf violations shall be determined by play day officials.
All participants must walk but are allowed a caddie.
Caddie may not ride in motorized carts.
Caddie may use a pull cart if permitted by the host facility.
Caddies will cause penalty or disqualification to their player if they:
Provide the player with incorrect ruling/decisions
Delay pace of play
Aggressive behavior towards player(s), other caddies, spectators, rules officials, host facility staff/volunteers
Approximate Yardages
Sun Country Junior Tour Staff or Committee have the right to adjust event yardages at any time based on weather, course conditions, and difficulty of golf course.
Par 3’s Par 4’s Par 5’s
Girls 7-9: 50-90 150-200 250-300
Girls 10-12: 70-110 225-300 325-400
Boys 7-9: 50-90 150-200 250-300
Boys 10-12: 2500 – 2750 (Forward Tees)
Girls 13-15: 5400 – 5900
Girls 16-18: 5400 – 5900
Boys 13-15: 6200 – 6400
Boys 16-18: 6600 – 6900
Tee Times
Tee times will be emailed to players three (3) days before the event. If you have not received the pairings and tee times within three (3) days of the event please call the Sun Country Golf House for more information.
Late Entry Policy
The deadline for Sun Country Junior Tour events are seven (7) days before each event. Late entries will only be accepted through the Sun Country Golf House until three (3) days before the event. During this time the price of the event will be increased by a late fee charge of $15. Once the pairings and tee times have been emailed to players three (3) days before the event, there will be no more late entries accepted.
To enter into a Sun Country Junior Tour event past the deadline please call the Sun Country Golf House at (505) 897-0864.
Event Formats