94TH ERNEST PIEPER JR.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION
The 94th Ernest Pieper Jr. Santa Clara County Championship is governed by the 2020 USGA Rules of Golf and its Decisions and where applicable, the following Local Rules and Conditions, along with any additional Local Rules that may be supplied at the time of the competition. Penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is two strokes. Specific COVID-19 rules are in place for this years’ competition and strict adherence to these rules is essential for the safety of all players, staff, and volunteers on-site.
ANY breach of the COVID-19 rules is considered a serious breach of conduct and may result in disqualification.
CHAMPIONS:
Open Division - competitor returning the lowest 36-hole score. Field will not be cut or re-seeded for the second round. Second round play is to begin immediately following completion of the first 18 holes. All play is from the blue tees.
Senior Division - competitor returning the lowest 36-hole score. Field will not be cut or re-seeded for the second round. Second round play is to begin immediately following completion of the first 18 holes. All play is from the blue tees.
Super Senior Division - competitor returning the lowest 36-hole score. Field will not be cut or re-seeded for the second round. Second round play is to begin immediately following completion of the first 18 holes. All play is from the white tees.
Ties for First Place in any Division will result in an immediate Sudden Death playoff beginning on Hole # 1--all other ties will remain as such and will be paid out as ties.
CONDITIONS OF PLAY:
The Ernest Pieper Jr. Santa Clara County Championship Committee reserves the right to decline or withdraw any entry at any time. Any person whose entry is accepted shall be subject to the rules and conditions of play set forth by the committee. Any act of unsportsmanlike conduct, including but not limited to the use of obscene or abusive language, throwing of clubs or other disruptive behavior contrary to the good conduct of the championship will be cause for disqualification.
TIME OF STARTING /OFFICIAL TIME:
The clock at the 1st tee is the official time of starting. Starters will not page players in advance of their starting time. Players should report to the tee one starting interval prior to their tee time. Note under Rule 6-3 and Optional Conditions as set forth in Appendix I shall be in effect. Players arriving after their starting time but within five minutes of it shall be assessed a two-stroke penalty.
Please note—due to COVID-19 Rules and Regulations, please do not arrive at the property more than 30 minutes prior to your starting time for Round 1.
NO SHOWS:
A player who does not show up and does not notify the Committee shall receive a ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION. This includes a player who starts and withdraws prior to the close of the competition and has not turned in his scorecard personally to a tournament official. Failure to comply will result in the same one-year suspension.
CELLULAR PHONES:
As provided in the Etiquette Section of the Rules of Golf, players should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players. For further guidelines refer to decision 14-3/1.
LIMITATION OF GOLF BALLS:
Note under Rule 5-1 and Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I ("One Ball Rule") shall not be in effect.
PACE OF PLAY
Pace of play is 4:20 for each 18 hole round. The following guidelines are in effect for all groups. Each group must maintain position on the golf course. If your group falls behind and out of position you will be subject to timing. After the player has reached his ball and can play without interference he has 40 seconds to play his shot. First infraction receives a warning, the second is a one shot penalty, the third is a two shot penalty and the next infraction will result in disqualification.
PRACTICE AREAS:
Two areas on the course are designated as practice areas. 1). The green and bunker complex between the 18th green and 6th fairway. 2). The green and bunker complex to the left of the 13th fairway.
SCORING AREAS:
Paper scorecards are for personal use only and to confirm the scores entered in the GolfGenius app. PAPER SCORECARDS ARE NOT TO BE TURNED IN TO THE OFFICIAL SCORER OR HANDLED BY ANY OTHER GOLFER, STAFF MEMBER, OR VOLUNTEER ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN PASSED OUT TO THE FIELD. When using the paper scorecards to have pictures sent to the official scorer, players will place their card on the volunteer table so that the volunteer does not need to handle the card to obtain a picture. Volunteer scoring tables will be available on holes 1 (tee), 6 (tee), 11 (tee), and 15 (green). The Official Scorer will be located behind the 18th Green at the end of each round.
The scores entered into GolfGenius will be the Official Scoring Record for this year’s Championship.
COVID-19 RULES:
Absolutely no gathering or loitering at any location on the property before or after a round.
Players are to maintain at least a six-foot distance minimum from other people (except for household members) while on property whenever possible.
Masks OR facial coverings must be worn when six-foot minimum distance cannot be met, when indoors (if available) or otherwise in accordance with Local Santa Clara County COVID-19 ordinance.
There will not be an awards ceremony. Players are required to leave as soon as possible after completing their second round.
Staff, volunteers, and/or players will not be allowed on site with symptoms or fever.
Caddies are not permitted.
Spectators are not permitted.
Golf carts are limited to single riders—no exceptions.
Official Scoring will be done using the GolfGenius mobile app—the paper scorecards that players receive WILL NOT BE TURNED IN AFTER THE COMPETITION
In order to mobile score, players must download the GolfGenius app. Please download the app to your phone prior to Monday if you do not already have it. The event GGID is: 94THSCCCHAMP
Each group will also have an individual GGID to access their scorecards. The group’s GGID will be made available in multiple places:
- Available with the Starter
- On the scorecard that will be available online prior to the round
At least one player in each group must enter scores using mobile scoring
At the end of the round, all players in the group must confirm the hole-by-hole scores posted online to GolfGenius are accurate.
The scorecard is treated as officially returned and certified ONE HOUR after the final group has entered their 18th hole scores at the end of each round.
Ties for First Place in any Division will result in an immediate Sudden Death playoff beginning on Hole # 1--all other ties will remain as such and will be paid out as ties.
Any issues with scoring must be communicated with the official scorer, Joey Faber, via text, email or phone prior to that deadline and will be confirmed with other members in the group.
408.480.3012 call/text
Rules Officials on the golf course will be Andy Santos and Kevin Bedolla, with assistance from the SJCC Professional Staff and Ernesto Moreno as needed.
The flagstick must not be removed or deliberately touched by hand during the round, including with a gloved hand or a towel wrapped around the flagstick. Any player who deliberately ignores this code of conduct policy will be considered guilty of Serious Misconduct (see Rule 1.2b), the penalty for which may be disqualification.
A foam insert will be placed in the cups that will allow the ball to fall only part way into the hole to ensure players can retrieve the ball from the hole without touching the flagstick or hole.
Per Rule 13.2c and the Definition of Holed, if any part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green and is leaning/resting on that device the ball is treated as holed. A ball that hits the device and does not come to rest with any part of the ball within the hole is not holed
Bunker Rakes will be removed from the course. Players are encouraged to smooth the surface of the bunker with their foot or club before exiting the bunker.
The following additional Local Rule is in place for Bunkers:
Preferred Lies in Bunker: When a player’s ball lies in a bunker, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
Reference Point: Spot of the original ball
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length from the reference point, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
Must be in the same bunker.
In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rule 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
All Decisions of the Tournament Officials and Rules Committee will be final
The Official Scorer will post these scores as Competition scores immediately following confirmation of the Final Results