In golf, customs of etiquette and decorum are just as important as the Rules that govern play. It is appropriate for parents and spectators to applaud successful strokes, but in order to secure the spirit of the game, we ask parents, coaches and ALL spectators to please adhere to the following guidelines. The Association requires all 8-9 year olds to have a chaperone in order to participate in Association events.
If any of the following guidelines are perceived as broken by a tournament official, the player may be subject to penalty.
The USGA deems Advice (Rule 10.2) as any verbal counsel or action that is intended to influence a player in choosing a club, making a stroke, or deciding how to play during a hole or round. In addition, any conversation between player/spectator may be construed as advice. This includes any conversation between player/spectator in their native language. In either instance, penalty for breach of this rule is two strokes. Players are responsible for the actions of their relatives and spectators in regards to this rule.
In addition to the USGA definition of Advice, for which a player may be penalized, the Association has a set of activities that spectators may not participate in. Breach of the following by a spectator may result in the spectator being immediately removed from an event, and prohibited from spectating in the future:
- Spectators attend Association events at their own risk.
- Spectators should stay on cart paths. In the absence of cart paths, we ask that spectators stay in the rough. Please stay off fairways, tees and greens.
- Spectators should stay one shot ahead of the group they are following. This allows spectators to follow errant shots and help identify where the ball comes to rest. Spectators are allowed to assist in the search for lost golf balls.
- Spectators may not give rulings. Please seek an Association rules official if the need arises. If a rules official is not nearby and a player is in doubt to a rules situation or has doubt as to procedure, the player may play a second ball under USGA Rule 20.c(3).
- Spectators are allowed to carry medicine, drinks, food, umbrellas, etc.
- Please turn off all cell phones while on the course at an event. Spectators should proceed to the clubhouse area to conduct any personal phone call.
- The tournament staff may assess a penalty on the parent or player based on the severity of the violation of spectator guidelines and/or if advice is deemed to have been given. If a serious breach has occurred, the spectator may be asked to leave the facility or the spectator may not be permitted to attend another Association event.
- For your personal safety, we ask spectators to exercise caution at all times. When inclement weather moves into the area, the tournament staff will suspend play by sounding air horns/sirens. Accordingly, you should seek permanent shelter immediately. The tournament staff will evacuate players from the course first, and then spectators.
- Spectators must adhere to the Association’s, as well as the host facility’s, Dress Code Policy.
Please remember that spectating is a PRIVILEGE not a RIGHT.
Enforcement of the Spectator Policy will be implemented as follows:
- 1st warning – A verbal warning will be given to any spectator deemed to have violated the Spectator Policy.
- 2nd Warning – A Spectator Guidelines Warning Card will be issued to any spectator deemed to have violated the Spectator Policy.
- Final Warning – The spectator will be asked to leave the golf course.
For a serious breach of the spectator policy, decisions on immediate removal of the spectator and future suspension will be left to the discretion of the Association staff.
Chaperone Required for 8-9 Year Olds
The IJGA requires ALL 8-9 year old participants to have a chaperone accompany them at all times throughout their rounds in both 9 and 18 hole competitions.
In each group, one chaperone will be a designated “marker” and will be responsible for keeping hole-by-hole scores for each competitor in the assigned group. While there will be one official, assigned marker, all other chaperones in the group to be involved in the scoring process, and facilitating the junior golfers’ navigation of the golf course.
Chaperones must…
- Be over 14 years of age.
- Be able to be with the competitor for the entire length of the round.
- Check in with the competitor and arrive to the tee box with the competitor 10 minutes before their assigned tee time.
- Be willing to be the assigned “marker” in each group.
- Encourage proper pace of play and help with pace of play throughout round.
Chaperones Will Also Be Encouraged To…
- Stay one (1) shot ahead of the group to help with pace of play
- Search for golf balls
- Assist players with general responsibilities around the green such as raking a bunker, tending the flagstick, and help with the re-positioning of a player’s bag to be put in line with the upcoming teeing ground.
Chaperones will be prohibited from giving advice. The USGA deems Advice (Rule 8) as any counsel or suggestion which could influence a player in determining his/her play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.
Spectator Carts
In order to avoid unnecessary distractions to all competitors and to ensure that every tournament is conducted with strict adherence to the Rules of Golf, spectator carts are prohibited during all Association tournaments and events. Spectators must walk at all times while observing play.
However, individuals who are able to demonstrate a physical disability through proper documentation may request the use of a cart upon arrival at each tournament site. This request must be directed to the on-site tournament director and must be accompanied by a letter from a licensed physician stating the existence of a physical disability and the need for reasonable accommodation for the individual, a handicap placard, etc.
Requests for use of a spectator cart for those with a valid driver’s license will be considered by the Association staff only when accompanied by information detailed above. If approved for use of a cart, the on-site staff will issue the spectator an ‘IJGA Spectator Cart Card’ that they may display at events. The on-site staff will then recommend that the host facility provide reasonable accommodation, in the form of an automated golf cart, to the applicant. Those approved must stay on the cart paths and designated areas and not give players any assistance. A fee for rental of a cart may be required and will vary at each tournament site.
In limited cases, on-site tournament staff may approve spectator carts at their own discretion.
For spectators that attend multiple Association events, the documentation listed above may be submitted with a FULL-SEASON SPECTATOR CART APPLICATION FORM to the Association offices prior to arriving onsite. Once received and approved, a ‘Full-Season Spectator Cart’ Placard will be ready for pickup at the first event the spectator will be attending. Approved multi-use placards must be brought to all Association events in order to receive an Approved Spectator Cart.
Players, parents/legal guardians are responsible for making sure all spectators who anticipate requesting a Spectator Cart are aware of the policy.
Please note that requests for spectator carts may be limited in some circumstances (e.g. poor weather conditions, lack of available carts at host site, etc.) and use of a cart is subject to final approval by the host facility. In certain cases, carts may not be available for spectator use. In this case, or if you are physically disabled and are unable to present the required documentation, our staff will make a reasonable effort to accommodate your access to the tournament as a spectator.
Please note, requests to follow a particular group or player cannot be honored.
If approved to use a cart, failure to abide by the agreed upon terms will render an individual ineligible for use of a spectator cart at future events and the ‘Approved Spectator Cart’ Card will be revoked.
