With daylight savings time starting, the start of the Section Tournament Season is getting closer.  The Tournament Committee has been busy working on changes to the tournament program this off-season.  Please take a few moments to review the following highlights and updates to policies.  The complete Tournament Policies and Procedures can be found on the Golf Genius Portal …click here

Pinter Named Tournament Director
Attila Pinter, PGA, has been named the Section’s Tournament Director. A native of Hungary and a graduate of the Golf Academy of America, Pinter has been an NFPGA Member since 2014. Most recently, he was the Head Professional at the Country Club of Mount Dora and has regularly participated in Section and Chapter events. Please join us in welcoming Attila; his email is apinter@pgahq.com.

New Tournaments
In 2024, the schedule will feature two new events. The Pro-Member, sponsored by E-Z-GO, pairs one professional with an amateur for a net best ball format, including a low professional game with player of the year points. This inaugural event takes place from May 6 to 7. The second addition is the Tournament of Champions, a year-end invitational. Each of the four Chapter Champions will participate, with the remaining seeds (total of 16) filled by the Rolex Rankings as of September 20. This tournament is set for October 21-22.

Match Play Sunsetted
Following a comprehensive assessment spanning several years, the Tournament Committee suggested discontinuing the Match Play Championship. The unfortunate reality was that the number of participants in the Match Play field was dwindling annually. The Committee thus found it prudent to innovate, leading to the creation of the Pro-Member tournament, projected to draw a larger pool of players.

Second Chance Players Pool Added
An optional Second Chance Players Pool will be conducted during the final round (only find round counts) of multiple-round tournaments.  To be eligible, a player must be in a position after the qualifying rounds outside of the last-place money and have indicated they want to be in the pool at the time of entry.  After the qualifying rounds, all eligible players will be sent a digital invoice for the entry fee, which must be paid before the player starts the final round.  The Second Chance Players Pool will be paid to 25% of the field using Appendix D’s standardized purse allocation chart.  The Second Chance Players Pool shall be paid out by direct deposit to the member’s designated account.

Schedule
While we are busy working on the 2025 Schedule, several events for 2024 still need confirmed sites. As a result, the Senior Stableboard, initially scheduled for late April, has been postponed until later in the year. We plan to announce a site for the Senior Stableford, Pro-Member, and Section Championship very soon. 

Allocation of Known Exemption
The Section has two known exemptions into PGA TOUR events: the 2024 Bermuda Championship and the 2025 Valspar Championship. The exemption to the 2024 Bermuda Championship will be earned by the low finisher playing from the back tees in the 2024 Section Championship. The exemption to the 2025 Valspar Championship will be awarded to the #1 ranked player on the Allied Association Rankings at the end of the 2024 tournament season.

Entry Deadlines and late fee
Entries open for PGA Members six weeks before the entry deadline.  Entries for designated events open for PGA Associates two weeks before the entry deadline.  The entry deadline is at 11:59 pm, eight days before the first day of the event.  If an event is not full at the time of the deadline, the Section will accept late entries for 48 hours.  All late entries are subject to a $25 late fee. 

Refund Policy
Players are entitled to the following refunds if they properly withdraw from a tournament by notifying the Section Office or withdraw via the tournament registration system.

• WD before the deadline – Refund is entry fee less processing fees of 5%  
• WD after the deadline – Refund is less tournament expenses (e.g., golf fees, f&b, gifts, processing fees of 5%)  
• WD within 48 hours of the event – No refund

Eligibility for Assistants Championship
All A-8 and B classifications are eligible to participate in the Section’s Assistants Championship. To qualify for the national championship, players must be A-8 or B-8 and have passed Level 1.

Digital Scoring
Each group must enter scores using a digital device on a hole-by-hole basis.  If no player volunteers to enter scores, the starter will assign a player who is the rider in the group.  If scores are not being entered or lag behind, a tournament staff member will remind the group.  If the group is blatantly disrespectful or rude, a fine of $50 may be imposed.  Repeat offenders may be fined up to $100 and suspended from Section events at the Section Board of Inquiries discretion.

Stipulated Rounds for stroke play rounds started from single tee
A tournament round for a single tee start consists of two nine rounds.  A tournament round for all other starting formats is one eighteen-hole round. 

Skins Pool policy for no winner
Optional Skins Contests may be conducted at tournaments.  Skins shall be collected during entry through the tournament registration system.  Skins shall be paid out by direct deposit to the member’s designated account. 

• If a Member/Associate’s status is WD or DQ, they shall still be eligible to win a skin.  If they win a hole, their marker must confirm their score. 
• If no skins are won in the final round of an event, the remaining skins pot will be refunded equally to those who entered skins.

Selection for Challenge Cup and Senior Challenge Cup

Challenge Cup
A total of 12 players shall represent the Section in the Challenge Cup Matches.  The top 12 players on the Rolex Rankings (regardless of age/gender) after the Section Championship or a date designated by the Tournament Committee and published before the Section tournament season begins shall earn automatic invitations.  The Captain shall select an alternate if a top 12 player cannot play.  The Captain should use the Rolex Rankings as a tool for determining alternates but has the discretion not to follow the rankings in order.  The Section President and Tournament Chair selects the Captain in consultation with the Executive Director.

Senior Challenge Cup
A total of 12 players (10 regular seniors and 2 seniors 70+ in age shall represent the Section in the Senior Challenge Cup Matches.  The top 10 players on the Rolex Senior Rankings (regardless of age/gender) after the Section Championship or a date designated by the Tournament Committee and published before the Section tournament season begins shall earn automatic invitations.  The Captain, at their discretion, shall select the Super Seniors.  The Captain should use the Rolex Rankings as a tool for determining alternates but has the discretion not to follow the rankings in order.  Alex Romanoff, co-founder of the event, is the captain.