Tournaments

Frequently Asked Questions for Tournaments

1. What kind of tournaments does the MGA run?
2. How do I sign up for an MGA tournament?
3. How will I be notified if my application has been accepted?
4. What are the requirements to play in an MGA tournament?
5. When can I sign-up for an MGA tournament?
6. What is the entry deadline for MGA tournaments?
7. Can I get a refund if I need to cancel from playing in a tournament?
8. Are practice rounds available for tournaments?
9. What is the entry fee for each tournament?
10. If I have a Rules of Golf question, what should I do?
11. Are carts and/or caddies permitted at MGA tournaments?
12. Does the MGA have a dress code for tournaments?
13. What is the MGA's position on non-conforming equipment?
14. How many entries are accepted for each tournament?
15. Can I sign-up for a tournament after the entry deadline?
16. Why do the Amateur and Players' tournaments have a “Qualifying” and “Exempt” fee?
17. Where can I get USGA applications?
18. What is the policy concerning NSF checks?
19. Does the MGA offer Rules of Golf education classes?
20. Does the MGA have a Jr. Program?
21. What is the difference between the Players' Championship and the Amateur Championship?
22. Once I am entered into a tournament, how will I receive information such as starting times and directions?
23. What will happen if I throw or break a club out of anger?
24. What are the changes to USGA Rules of Amateur Status, Rule 4-Expenses?

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Q. What kind of tournaments does the MGA run?
A. The MGA conducts 17 major amateur Championships including tournaments for men, women, juniors, and seniors.
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Q. How do I sign up for an MGA tournament?
A. You are able to enter virtually all MGA tournaments online, and that is the recommended method. Junior events require a parental signature, so participants must submit "paper" applications. Applications for all open MGA tournaments may also be downloaded from the MGA's website (www.mngolf.org) or may be obtained directly from the MGA. Top

Q. How will I be notified if my application has been accepted?
A. If you enter online, you will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your application. Then once it has been processed and accepted, you will receive another e-mail confirming your acceptance into the tournament.

If you file a paper application, you will receive an e-mail (if the MGA has your e-mail address on file) or a postcard through the mail once your entry has been processed and accepted.

If there is any problem regarding your application that keeps it from being accepted, you will receive an e-mail (if the MGA has your e-mail address on file) or a postcard through the mail. Top

Q. What are the requirements to play in an MGA tournament?
A. Every tournament has different requirements. Please see specific application for eligibility requirements.
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Q. When can I sign-up for an MGA tournament?
A. Beginning April 1, applications will be accepted at the office of the MGA. However, the MGA Mid-Amateur application WILL NOT be accepted until August 1, for non-exempt players.
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Q. What is the entry deadline for MGA tournaments?
A. Every tournament has different deadline requirements. Please see specific application for such deadlines.
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Q. Can I get a refund if I need to cancel from playing in a tournament?
A. Entry fees will be refunded regardless of the reason, less a $25 per player administrative fee, for any withdrawal up to the day before the event. A withdrawal after such time, or no show, will not be eligible for any refund. The participant must submit a written request within 30 days to obtain a refund.
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Q. Are practice rounds available for tournaments?
A. The MGA is very fortunate to have so many facilities make available their courses at no charge to the MGA in order to conduct our program, and we greatly appreciate their doing so. However, this makes it difficult to offer a practice round for every player in every tournament. We try to encourage a host facility to make some times available for players to play at their own expense; however, this might mean accommodating up to 384 players. Obviously, not every facility can do this. If you wish to play a practice round, you should contact the host club directly for their policy.
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Q. What is the entry fee for each tournament?
A. Every tournament has different entry fees. Please see specific application for such fees.
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Q. If I have a Rules of Golf question, what should I do?
A. Contact the MGA tournament department and they will be happy to answer any rules questions you may have. Or you can call the rules hotline at (952) 345-3965.
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Q. Are carts and/or caddies permitted at MGA tournaments?
A. Every tournament has different cart/caddie guidelines. Please see specific application for such guidelines. However, the MGA feels walking is an important part of the game, and thus, players should use a golf cart (if permitted) only when circumstances would warrant such use.
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Q. Does the MGA have a dress code for tournaments?
A. For all MGA tournaments, players and caddies must be neat in appearance with respect to person grooming and clothing. All entrants are required to wear either golf slacks, shorts, or golf skirts that are of the appropriate length, and shirts with collars and sleeves (sleeveless tops are permitted for women). Examples of attire NOT ACCEPTABLE include the following: Short shorts, athletic shorts, tennis shorts, cut- offs, jeans, jean shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, sweats. The Committee in charge shall decide whether this requirement has been met and will withdraw the entry of any player who does not comply.
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Q. What is the MGA's position on non-conforming equipment?
A. The MGA conducts all of its competitions pursuant to the Rules of Golf. Accordingly, the MGA endorses the USGA position that a “single set of rules, including those for equipment, best serves all constituencies of the game, including both competitive and recreational players.” For all MGA competitions, use of a non-conforming golf club or ball is a violation of the Rules of Golf and will result in a penalty of disqualification. Likewise, any rounds played with non-conforming equipment are not acceptable for handicap posting.
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For a list of non-conforming driving clubs, go to
http://www.usga.org/equipment/conformance/non_conforming_driver/Non-conforming-Driver-List/

For a list of conforming golf balls, go to
http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfBall/conforming_golf_ball.asp

Additionally, the USGA web site contains more information discussing the issue of
non-conforming golf clubs. Visit
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-on-Clubs-and-Balls/Equipment-Rules/
for more information.
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Q. How many entries are accepted for each tournament?
A. The number of entries accepted for each tournament varies. Please see specific application for such guidelines.
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Q. Can I sign-up for a tournament after the entry deadline?
A. No
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Q. Why do the Amateur and Players' tournaments have a "Qualifying" and "Exempt" fee?
A. All nonexempt players attempting to qualify pay a qualifying fee and those that successfully qualify will pay an additional Championship fee. Exempt players will pay a fee equal to the qualifying fee and Championship fee.
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Q. Where can I get USGA applications?
A. You can down load applications and even apply for some USGA tournaments by visiting the USGA web site at www.usga.org. Applications may also be obtained from the MGA, USGA and all USGA member clubs.
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Q. What is the policy concerning NSF checks?
A. Entries with insufficient funds will be considered incomplete and unacceptable and will be withdrawn. The entrant is responsible for any fee incurred by the MGA for NSF checks and must pay such fees before entry in further MGA events is allowed.
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Q. Does the MGA offer Rules of Golf education classes?
A. Yes. For a schedule of dates and times please refer to the rules area.
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Q. Does the MGA have a Jr. Program?
A. Golf has grown to record proportions in Minnesota. In order to preserve this trend, today and in the future, the Minnesota Golf Association actively promotes junior golf throughout the state. The MGA developed a junior program in 1961 and since that time, the program has grown dramatically. More than 1,000 juniors now compete annually around the state. MGA member clubs have been very supportive in this venture. Approximately 150 golf courses around the state participate regularly in the junior program. Many allow juniors within their neighborhoods or city to compete without any membership requirements. Each of the courses participating in the MGA junior program has a team representing it in district play. A district is composed of six to ten courses. Three districts make a region. A different course hosts a district event each week. District play lasts for three weeks. Teams can vary in size each week. The team totals are taken from the three lowest out four scores shot from the boys and two lowest out of four shot by the girls. Once that is completed, the top two finishing girls and boys teams plus top two individuals not on an advancing team, advance to a regional tournament.

Those juniors in the regional event face teams and individuals from two other districts. Here, the top two teams plus the top two individuals not on an advancing team in each region move on to the MGA Junior Team Championship. The Junior Team Championship is a two-day, 36-hole event. The field is composed of 160 participants, 80 boys and 80 girls. The Championship is held at some of the better courses in the state.
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Q. What is the difference between the Players' Championship and the Amateur Championship?
A. The Players' Championship is a match play tournament consisting of 64 competitors and the Amateur Championship is a stroke play tournament consisting of 156 competitors.
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Q. Once I am entered into a tournament, how will I receive information such as starting times and directions?
A. All information will be posted on the tournament's home page. Players with e-mail addresses on file with the MGA will receive an e-mail notifying them that the information has been posted. Those without e-mail addresses will receive the information via the US Postal Service. The player is ultimately responsible for knowing the information even if it is not received through the mail.
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Q. What will happen if I throw or break a club out of anger?
A. The MGA believes strongly in the original tenets of the etiquette of the game — that players are to act in an appropriate manner while playing, regardless whether it is a tournament or casual round. The MGA Conduct Policy was established to clearly restate the expected conduct of the players participating in any MGA event, or as a representative of the MGA, and to deal with any violation thereof.

Any player considering submitting an application for an event should take the time to carefully read it. By signing and submitting an application for an MGA event, the player is confirming his/her knowledge of such code and the agreement to abide by such code, and its resultant penalties should it be enforced.

The Conduct Policy is included as part of the Tournament Player's Information section and is available for viewing on this web site. In addition, it will be downloaded as part of any application from this web site.
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Q. What are the changes to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status, Rule 4-Expenses ?
A. Please click here to view an explanation of the changes. Please click here to view all the USGA Rules of Amatuer Status.