2018 LONG BEACH OPEN
Conditions of Competition
Play is governed by the Rules of Golf, Effective January 2016, the Local Rules as described in the Notice to Competitors distributed to players at the tournament site, and these Conditions of Competition. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is two strokes.
STARTING TIMES: Final starting times for Round One and Round Two will be posted on the Men’s City Championship on Monday, July 23rd. Round Three and Final Round starting times will be determined based upon relative standings, and posted on the Long Beach Open portal by 8:30 PM on Friday, July 27th and Saturday, July 28th respectively. The format for Round Three and Round Four starting times will be an inverted “U”, going off split tees from approximately 8:00 – 10:00 AM.
DRESS CODE: All players must wear appropriate professional golf attire. Players may not wear shorts, tank tops, tee shirts or jeans. Caddies may wear golf shorts, but they must wear collared shirts.
CODE OF CONDUCT: By submitting an entry for the Long Beach Open, the contestant understands that he/she may be removed from the competition by the Open’s Competition Committee at any time before or during the competition for unbecoming conduct, including, but not limited to:
- Willful damage of the golf course or golf course property
- Club throwing
- Offensive or unbecoming language or actions
- Verbal abuse of LBO staff, officials, volunteers, host club staff, or other competitors
- Potential endangerment of others
- Manipulation of scores posted for handicapping purposes or other acts of cheating
TIME OF STARTING: All players must be present at the proper tee, ready to play at their scheduled time, or if starting times fall behind, when the starter calls the first player in the group to play. Any player not present and ready to play at the time the first player in the group is called to the tee, shall be penalized two (2) strokes. If the competitor arrives more than five (5) minutes late for his assigned time he SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED.
TEE MARKERS & HOLE LOCATIONS: Players will play from the logo’ed LONG BEACH OPEN tees throughout the tournament. Hole Location Sheets will be provided at the Starter’s table for all rounds.
CONFORMING EQUIPMENT: The Optional Conditions in Appendix I for driver heads and conforming golf balls shall be in effect. Regarding club grooves, the player’s clubs must conform to the grooves and punch-mark specification in the Rules of Golf that are effective from January 1, 2010 (Decision 4-1/1).
DISTANCE-MEASURING DEVICES: A player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3. Penalty is two strokes for first violation, and disqualification for second violation.
CADDIES: Caddies are allowed, under the following conditions:
- Caddies may ride in one of the two carts allowed per group in lieu of the player they are caddying for. They may not, however, take the place of another player in the group.
- Caddies must not hold up play or challenge Rules Committee or Tournament Officials' directions.
- Caddies may be asked to leave by the Rules Committee or Tournament Director if a delay occurs due to their actions.
- Individuals designated as Caddies are therefore subject to the USGA Rules of Golf. Specifically, a rules violation by a caddie is the same as a rules violation by their player.
PACE OF PLAY: Rule 6-7 states, "The players shall at all times play without delay." Penalty for a breach of Rule 6-7 is: First offense – warning; Second offense – one stroke; Third offense – two additional strokes; Fourth offense – disqualification. A group is deemed out of position when starting the play of any par 4 or par 5, which is clear of all
players, and the elapsed time for the round averages 15 minutes or more for the holes completed. In such case, all players in the group shall be notified that they are being observed and timed. A player is subject to penalty if his group is out of position, has been informed that they will be timed, and takes more than 40 seconds to play ANY stroke.
SCORECARDS: Signed and attested scorecards shall be returned, without delay, to the designated scoring area following each round. Once the player has exited the designated scoring area the card is deemed officially submitted.
CUT POLICIES: After 36 holes, the field will be cut to 60 professionals and ties and 6 amateurs and ties. The amateurs do not count in the professional cut. If the 36-hole cut results in the inclusion of more than 70 professionals, there will also be a secondary, 54-hole cut to 60 professionals and 6 amateurs and ties.
CLOSE OF COMPETITION: The Competition is closed when the Trophy has been presented at the Awards Ceremony (Rule 34b).
PLAYOFF: In case of a tie for first place, there will be a sudden death playoff to decide the winner. The playoff will start on a tee designated by the Committee, and will begin within five minutes of the Committee’s approval of final scores and determination that a tie exists.
PLAYER EARNINGS AND DISTRIBUTION: The winner of the 2018 Long Beach Open will receive $33,000. All players who successfully complete 72 holes are guaranteed a minimum of $795. If a secondary cut is triggered, all players who successfully complete 54 holes but do not make the secondary cut will receive $500. All players who successfully complete 36 holes and make the cut, but do not successfully complete 54 holes due to injury or illness will receive $400.
The 1st- 3rd place winners will be mailed their checks within 5 working days. All other participants who have earned prize money will receive their checks by mail within 2-3 weeks.