18 Holes Stroke Play

Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal Canadian Golf Association, except when modified by Local Rules, approved by the GAO Tournament Committee. The GAO Tournament Committee, whose decision shall be final, shall settle questions. The competition shall be deemed to have closed when the Championship Trophy has been presented.

Click here for Local Rules and Conditions of the Competition.

Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls shall be used.

Time of Starting (Note to Rule 6-3a) 

If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole to be played in match play or two strokes in stroke play.

Penalty for lateness beyond five minutes is disqualification.

Automotive transportation is permitted for all phases of the Championship and the following rules apply. Players may reserve golf carts by contacting the Pro Shop.

Conditions of use:

1. Players who are using golf carts are not permitted to travel beyond the point on the course where their ball lies, to gauge the yardage or to seek the position of the hole. Breach of this rule may result in a two-stroke penalty.
2. Players may share a cart.
3. When a cart is shared by competitors, it becomes the equipment of the competitor whose ball is involved, except that, if the cart is being moved by one of the players sharing it, the cart and its content are deemed to be the equipment of that player. (Definition – “equipment”)
4. A tournament Official may transport a player and/or his equipment if it is deemed necessary to maintain Pace of Play.

Note: Spectators are not permitted to ride in any carts on the Golf Course.

A player may provide her own caddie. A player is not required to employ a caddie.

Caddies must adhere to the Footwear Policy.

It is a condition of the competition, including at all qualifying sites and the Championship proper, that shoes with traditionally-designed spikes (regardless of composition, i.e. ceramic, plastic, etc.) or spikes; regardless of design, comprised either entirely or partially of metal (if when such metal may come in contact with the course) are prohibited during the stipulated round.

Penalty for breach of this condition: DISQUALIFICATION.

As a condition of the competition, the use of cellular phones, noise-making pagers, radios, iPods, Digital audio players (MP3) and any other similar electronic noise making devices will be prohibited during competition play.

In addition, other electronic devices that support push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, Internet faxing and web browsing (ie., Blackberries devices) are also prohibited.

Clarifications and special requests regarding this condition should be directed to the GAO Rules Committee in advance.

Players in breach of this condition may be subject to disqualification.

Distance-Measuring Devices

A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.

Pace of Play Policy

Rule 6-7 states, in part: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any Pace of Play guidelines which may be laid down by the Committee,” and thereafter prescribes penalties for slow play. In order to prevent any such penalty, we suggest that you review carefully the following guidelines.

Allotted Time

Please refer to the Golf Association Pace of Play Time Chart, which is available for all competitors at each event.

Definition of “Out of Position”

The first group to start will be considered out of position if; at any time during the round, the group is behind the prescribed schedule as detailed on the Pace of Play Time Chart established for the event. Any following group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and (b) reaches the tee of a par-3 hole and the preceding group has cleared the next tee; reaches the tee of a par-4 hole and the putting green is clear or reaches the teeing ground of a par-5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green. Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be out of position.

Monitoring of groups

A group that is out of position will be so informed by the Committee. However, the Committee reserves the right to time any group that the Committee deems is out of position, whether or not the group has been informed.

Timing

If a group is out of position, it may be monitored or timed for failing to comply with the Pace of Play guideline. When a group is out of position each player in the group is expected to make any stroke within 40 seconds after timing of the player’s stroke begins.

Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he has had reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage will count as time taken for the next stroke.

On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments on his line of putt. Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.

NOTE: A player is permitted 40 seconds to make a stroke. An extra 10 seconds (for a total of 50 seconds) will be allowed for:

(a) the first player to make a stroke on a par-3 hole

(b) the first player to make a second stroke on a par-4 or par-5 hole

(c) the first player to make a third stroke on a par-5 hole

(d) the first player to make a stroke around the putting green

(e) the first player to make a stroke on the putting green

NOTE:  The Committee reserves the right, at any time, to time a group when the Committee deems it necessary. Players should also be aware that the Committee may assess a “bad time” to a player in a group which is out of position if the player makes no effort to help his group get back in position. An example of this would be a player who unduly delays play between shots.

Pace of Play Penalties

The following are the penalties, in sequence, for any player in a group being timed who takes more than the allotted time to play a stroke after timing of the player’s stroke begins:

One bad timing exceeding the allotted time — warning

A second bad timing — 1 stroke penalty

A third bad timing — Additional 2 stroke penalty

A fourth bad timing – Disqualification

NOTE: If the group in question regains its proper position, any previous timings of more than the allotted time will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that group requires additional monitoring. Any group with a player(s) who has a bad time will be notified if the group requires additional monitoring and time during the round.

Rulings or Other Incidents If a ruling or some other legitimate delay occurs which causes the group in question to lose its position, that group is expected to regain its position within a reasonable time.

Players must be neat in appearance with respect to clothing and personal grooming. Golf shirts and golf slacks are acceptable. Golf shorts/skirts/skorts are permitted and must conform to the host club's regulations. The GAO Tournament Committee in charge shall decide whether this requirement has been met and has the authority to withdraw the entry of a player who does not comply.

The GAO may arrange for (i) promotion of the Championship, for radio and television broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship or excerpts thereof in various media, including so-called “online” or “new media” and (ii) the design, manufacture and sale of merchandise which commemorates or memorializes the Championship, throughout the country or world. By this application, the player consents to the use by the GAO, of his name, likeness, voice and references to him and photographs and other images of him and his play connected with his appearance in the Championship, or any portion(s) thereof, in connection with such media promotion, broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the championship and design, manufacture and sale of commemorative merchandise. The GAO may utilize the rights granted it hereunder in connection with the promotion and/or commemoration of the 2008 Championship as well as future Championships, other GAO Championships and the GAO. The cooperation of players with authorized representatives of the media is required, provided that no pre-Championship activities outside of those activities, which are part of the Championship, shall be required and provided that the player’s Championship play is not unreasonably interfered with.