SCGA Policies & Procedures

Participants in SCGA competitions must read the following information and are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations for participation in SCGA events. 

PACE OF PLAY POLICY  |  SCGA HARD CARD

ENTRIES, WITHDRAWALS & REFUNDS

Entries

The Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) reserves the right to accept, 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 SCGA. The reason for rejection of entry may include, but is not limited to, unbecoming conduct. By entering an SCGA-administered event, all participants agree that there are certain risks inherent in the game of golf and accept personal and sole liability for all such risks, including, but not limited to, any health-related risks.

Entry fees cover various costs, including green fees for the event. Refer to the specific event’s information to determine what is covered by the entry fee. Any costs not covered by the entry fee will be the responsibility of the player. Registration confirmations, event information, and starting times will be sent to players via email. If a player does not receive this information within seven days of the event, it is the player’s responsibility to contact the SCGA. The SCGA is not responsible for any transmission errors. In most cases, event information, including the pairings and starting times, will be published on scga.org after the close of entries.

Late Entries

The SCGA accepts late entries, provided there is still space available at the event. Late entries will incur an additional $20 fee and can only be processed over the phone or by email.  

Withdrawal Before an SCGA Competition or Member Outing 

To withdraw for any reason before the start of an SCGA competition or a Member Outing, a player must notify the SCGA Championships & Golf Operations Department at champs@scga.org or by calling (818) 980-3630. The player may also withdraw through his/her online player profile until entries close. If a player needs to withdraw on the morning of the event, he/she must notify the SCGA staff in charge. Failure to notify the SCGA may subject the player to suspension from future SCGA events.

Withdrawal During a SCGA Competition  

All players are expected to complete the competition that they start. Acceptable reasons for withdrawal during a competition are physical injury, illness, or an emergency. Poor play is not an acceptable reason for withdrawal. A player who withdraws without an acceptable reason or without notifying SCGA personnel may be subject to suspension from future SCGA competitions. Players who withdraw must certify that the hole-by-hole scores are correct for the player for whom they were keeping score. Arrangements must be made for another player in the group to take over the marker responsibilities of the player who withdraws.

Substitutions 

For team competitions, or any other competition for which players are submitted on behalf of a club, the SCGA allows substitutions to be made up to two business days before the competition. If a substitution request is made less than two business days before the competition, the SCGA cannot guarantee that the substitution will be granted. For team competitions that utilize qualifiers, once a player or team has gone through the qualifying process, no substitutions may be made for the championship proper.

Refund Policy - SCGA Competitions 

Requests for refunds before the entry closing date will be honored less a $20 administrative fee. Requests received after the entry closing date and 48 hours before the event will be honored less 50% of the entry fee. No refunds will be honored within 48 hours of the event.

Refund Policy - Member Outings

Local Outings: Requests for refunds before the entry closing date will be honored less a $20 administrative fee. Requests received after the entry closing date and 48 hours before the event will be honored less 50% of the entry fee. No refunds will be honored within 48 hours of the event.

Destination Outings: All cancellations, including those made before the deadline, are subject to a 10% processing fee, regardless of whether the spot(s) are resold. Cancellations after the deadline are non-refundable unless the vacated spot(s) can be filled from the waitlist.

Refund Policy - SCGA Rules of Golf Workshops

Requests for refunds before the entry closing date will be honored less a $20 administrative fee. No refunds will be honored after the entry closing date. Pending availability, participants may transfer to a different SCGA Rules of Golf Workshop before the closing dates of both the workshop they originally registered for and the seminar they wish to transfer to. Once the closing date of the workshop originally registered for passes, no refunds will be issued, nor can participants use that entry fee toward a different workshop.

COMPETITION POLICIES 

General

Information regarding starting times, pairings, practice rounds, the availability of golf carts, dress requirements, and much more will be published within each competition’s event information document on the event portal.

Alternates/Waiting List

Alternates or players listed on the waiting list before a competition may show up as a “standby” at the qualifying or championship site on the morning of the first round. All standbys should arrive and check in with SCGA staff 30 minutes before the first starting time. If an active participant does not show up or withdraws before the start of their round, alternates will be selected based on the SCGA’s procedure for selecting alternates. Alternates do not have access to practice rounds at championship sites until they are officially notified by SCGA staff that they are in the championship field.

Incomplete Round Policy 

To review the SCGA’s Incomplete Round Policy, click here.

Rules of Play

• The Rules of Golf, as approved by the USGA and The R&A, govern play.
• Local Rules and Terms of the Competition can be found on the SCGA Hard Card and the Notice to Players that will be handed to players on the day of the qualifier.
• Review the specific event’s portal for details on the pace of play policy that will be in effect.

Code of Conduct

By submitting an entry for any SCGA-administered event, the contestant understands that his/her participation is at the sole discretion of the SCGA. A contestant may be removed from an event either before or during the event at the sole discretion of the SCGA. Incidents of unbecoming conduct or actions deemed to be detrimental to the image of the SCGA or the “Spirit of the Game” are grounds for such removal and suspension from future SCGA-administered events. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Willful damage to the golf course or golf course property

• Club throwing or unnecessary club tossing

• Offensive or unbecoming language

• Public criticism of the golf course or verbal abuse of SCGA staff, officials, volunteers, host club staff, or other contestants

• Potential endangerment of others

• Conduct deemed unbecoming

• Failure to post scores for handicapping purposes

• Manipulation of scores posted for handicapping purposes

  Penalty for breach of Code of Conduct:

• First offense: Warning

• Second offense: Disqualification or Suspension from future events.

The committee may disqualify a player for serious misconduct in failing to meet the Code’s standards.

Score Posting

All scores shot in SCGA competitions will be posted as “C” scores (competition scores) by SCGA Staff. Players should not post their own scores.

Photography

The SCGA and its affiliates, vendors, and contractors may be taking photos, filming, and/or making other recordings during the event you will be attending. By entering the premises for the event, for yourself and individuals accompanying you (children, caddies, or partners): (i) irrevocably consent to and authorize being photographed, making audio and/or video recordings of you in whatever medium, and use such photographs and recordings for all purposes (including advertising, marketing, and promotions) in all media, including FORE Magazine and scga.org or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity, and in any language without notice, attribution, permission or payment; and (ii) acknowledge all such photographs and/or recordings will be the sole property of SCGA.

To review the SCGA’s On-Site Content Capture Policy, click here.