Southern States Junior Classics

Play is governed by the current USGA Rules of Golf booklet, as well as the Decisions on the Rules of Golf. This information supplements the Local Rules and Conditions of Competition on the Southern States Junior Classics Hard Card/Pace of Play Policy.  Posted course local rules do not apply.

CONDITIONS OF PLAY

Teeing Area

Boys 14-18: 6,624 Yards - BLACK course tee markers define the teeing area.

Girls 14-18 / Boys 12-13: 5,707 yards - MAROON course tee markers define the teeing area.

Girls 12-13 / Boys 10-11: 5,313 Yards - WHITE course tee markers define the teeing area.

Girls 10-11: 4405 Yards - Fairway SSJC Tournament Tee Markers

Pace of Play

Pace of Play is set at 4 hours, 35 minutes.  When a group is out of position at any time, the group is subject to monitoring and timing per the Pace of Play Policy.  See the Pace of Play Guidelines/Procedures on the Hard Card for full description.

Format

36-hole individual stroke play

Ties

In the event of a tie for first place, the players involved shall compete in a hole-by-hole play-off.  The starting time and hole of the play-off shall be announced at the scoring area immediately after the Committee has verified the results. In the event that a playoff is not feasible (e.g. weather, darkness, or course is not available) matching scorecards will determine who qualifies beginning with lowest final round score, then last nine holes, then last six holes, then last three, and finally the score on the 18th hole.

Rulings

If a Referee is not readily available, you may summons on course rules official, Dick Heinl, by calling 423-284-2511 or play two golf balls under rule 20.1 c(3).

ADDENDUM TO LOCAL RULES

Out of Bounds

Out of bounds is defined by white stakes on holes 6, 10, 13, 14 and the fence surrounding maintenance building on 9.

Abnormal Course Conditions

Ground Under Repair: Areas defined by white lines which may include areas of unusual damage including area cart traffic or seasonal conditions, but only when so declared by an authorized tournament committee. If you are unsure, play two balls and report the facts to the committee in scoring.

Integral Objects:

Power Towers are integral part of golf course. No free relief allowed. 

If shot strikes Power Line, player must replay stroke with no penalty.

Automotive Transportation: Shuttle provided between holes 9 & 10.

Players must not ride on any form of transportation during a stipulated round unless authorized by the Committee. Unauthorized Transportation will result in a two stroke penatly. Only a Committee member may shuttle a player back to and from where an original ball was played.

Drop Zones:  There are no drop zones.

Distance Measuring Devices:

Measuring Devices will be permitted; however, they cannot measure anything other than the actual yardage (ie, slope or wind).

Local Rule G-9 - Club is Broken or Significantly Damaged

If a player’s club is “broken or significantly damaged” during the round by the player or caddie, except in cases of abuse, the player may replace the club with any club under Rule 4.1b(4).

Red Stakes:

All areas left of hole 7 cart path prior to the path turn at the lake are deemed red penalty area.

The bulkhead on hole 16 is in the penalty area. 

Spectator Carts – IMPORTANT INFO

• Spectator carts will not be available until 10:00am and are on a first come, first served basis. As public play finishes their round from earlier in the day, more carts will come available.

Boys 16-18

Girls 16-18

Boys 14-15

Girls 14-15

Boys 12-13

Girls 12-13

Boys 10-11

Girls 10-11

This tournament is open to all boys and girls ages 10-19 as of the date of the final round. Players do not have to qualify to participate.

To be eligible to participate in SSJC events, a player must be an amateur golfer who is at least 10 and no older than 19 on January 1 of the year he/she graduates from high school. If you are 19 will be eligible for SSJC events the entire calendar year provided he/she has not started college. Players are allowed to “play up” one age division if desired. All players will be notified of their acceptance into the tournament by email after completing registration. 

Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship Series

The following qualifying spots per division below will be offered at this event. Players who finish in these qualifying spots will be invited directly into the 2021 NB3 JGNC Memphis Regional Qualifier which will take place Aug 14-15, 2021 and these players will not have to go through NB3 JGNC Local Qualifying.

Boys 14-15 & Boys 16-18 (results are combined after event finishes) –  Top-7

Girls 14-15 & Girls 16-18 (results are combined after event finishes) –  Top-5

Boys 12-13 –  Top-2

Girls 12-13 –  Champion

Boys 10-11 –  Champion

Girls 10-11 –  Champion

Note: A player’s age division is determined by their age on May 1st. For Example, if a player turns 14 in July of 2021, they will compete in the 13 & Under Division throughout the entirety of the Series even though they may be 14 during a Local or Regional Qualifier. If a player turns 14 before May 1st of 2021, then the player will compete in the 14-18 Division throughout the entirety of the Series. If your birthdate falls on May 1st and you turn 14, you will play in the 14-18 division.

NO TOUR MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED!

03/08/21 - 03/22/21- SSJC Early Bird Rate!

All Age Divisions, $179

03/23/21 - 05/03/21 - SSJC Standard Rate!

All Age Divisions, $199

Sibling Discount

Discount code will be issued for families who plan to register more than one player in our events. E-mail info@ssjrclassic.com with sibling discount requests.

Withdrawal & Refund Policy

E-mail all withdrawal requests to info@ssjrclassics.com.

To see the refund policy, click here for more information

Practice rounds may be made up to 7 days in advance. The discounted practice round for this event will cost $10 for all juniors who are walking during the practice round. Riders will be charged $10 + cart fee.

To book a practice round, call the MSU proshop at 662-325-3028

MSU Golf Course Address:
14279 Old Highway 182
Starkville, MS 39759

SSJC is pleased to offer all participants a discounted room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Starkville at MSU for their stay during Bulldog Open. The hotel is located only 4 miles away from the golf course and offers free breakfast daily!

Participants can book their rooms by calling 662-270-4100 and ask for the Southern States Junior Classics room rate.

The discounted rate is $102 / night.

To learn more about La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Starkville at MSU, you can visit their website by CLICKING HERE.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Starkville at MSU

The SSJC will allow caddies for all divisions throughout the season. Caddies are optional for all events and players must declare a caddie prior to the start of their round. Caddies may not change during one single round, but may change between rounds. 

There are two events in 2021 which will not allow caddies for all divisions, that is the NB3 JGNC Central Florida Qualifier and the NB3 JGNC New Mexico Qualifier. Caddies for these two events will only be allowed for the Boys 13 & Under and the Girls 13 & Under.

PURPOSE OF CADDIES:

Caddies may carry a player’s clubs, give advice, and other help during the round but there are limits to what the Caddie can do. The player is responsible for the Caddie’s actions during the round and the player may incur a penalty if he/she breaches the Rules.
 

• Caddies will be allowed to transport the player’s clubs and equipment.
• Caddies will be allowed to search for a player’s golf ball.
• Caddies will be allowed to clean a player’s golf ball.
• Caddies will be able to give players advice.
• Caddies will be allowed to use motorized carts (depending on host course cart availability)
• Caddies will be allowed to transport a player only when shuttle holes have been designated on the Notice to Competitors, during evacuation/restart or back to a previous spot in order of play and then back to where the player was picked up.
• Penalty for breach of unauthorized transportation is: Two strokes for each hole at which the breach occurred; maximum penalty per round is four strokes.

Once the player’s tees off on his or her first hole the player may not gain a Caddie during the round. A Caddie must be designated prior to the first tee shot. 

• Players are not allowed to switch caddies during the play of a round.

Caddies ARE NOT ALLOWED TO:

• Deliberately stand on or close to the extended line of play behind a player while the player is taking his or her stance and until the stroke is made.
• Use personal cell phones during the round unless for an emergency

Players will not be able to ride in the motorized cart at any point during the round unless there is a designated shuttle hole which will be declared by the starter prior to teeing off. Caddies may use the motorized cart to transport themselves and the player’s equipment only. If the player is in breach of this rule they will be subject to a 2 stroke penalty for unauthorized transportation. 

This policy is in effect as of January 1, 2021. The SSJC has the authority to eliminate or modify this policy at any time.

Breach of Policies and/or rules by Caddies:

1st Offense= Official Warning from a SSJC official

2nd Offense= Caddie will be removed from the golf course

The current Rules of the United States Golf Association and the R&A govern all play in SSJC events.

RULE 20.1 c(3):

• The SSJC strongly urges its players to play 2 balls if they are not sure how to proceed with a ruling as a rules official is not always present. In addition to playing 2 balls, players are also asked to play a provisional ball when he or she thinks it could be lost (this is even more important now that the search time has been shortened to 3 minutes). 

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES:

• Measuring Devices will be permitted on the; however, they cannot measure anything other than true yardage (ie, slope or wind).
• A distance-measuring application may be used, provided the specific application is restricted to “distance only” and the device does not have any other “non-conforming” features. This is the case even if these other features are not being used. 
  
  

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES: 

Multi-functional devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, etc (i.e., devices that are primarily communication devices, but which may have other potential uses) may be used as follows:

• The device may be used for any non-golfing purpose (e.g., as a communication tool to phone, text or email), subject to any club/course regulations and the rules on accessing advice-related matters – see Decision 14-3/16.
• The SSJCC recommends that ALL players only reference their mobile devices when utilizing the Shotstat Live app. 
• As above, the rules on advice-related communications (including the use of the internet) still apply.

PACE OF PLAY:

Time Par is 4 hours and 30 minutes. Please keep pace with the group in front of you and play ready golf. Players have 40 seconds to play their shot. Only individual players may be held accountable for their pace of play (no group penalties).

• Out of position: When a group falls more than 15 minutes behind the group in front of them. Flagstick to Flagstick time
  • 1st missed checkpoint – warning* (warning remains for duration of round)
  • 2nd missed checkpoint – Subject to penalty of one stroke
  • 3rd missed checkpoint – Subject to additional penalty of two strokes
  • 4th missed checkpoint – Subject to disqualification WEATHER: 

WEATHER POLICIES:

A player has the right to suspend play if he feels threatened by dangerous lightning conditions or by darkness without penalty. If SSJC Staff or host club suspends play, they will do so by the following:  

• One Long Air Horn Blast (Immediate Suspension):
  • If the Committee declares an immediate suspension of play, you must stop play at once and must not make another stroke until the Committee resumes play. Players are instructed to mark their ball where it lies and seek shelter immediately. 

• Three Short Air Horn  Blasts (Normal Suspension):
  • If all players in your group are between two holes, you must stop play and must not make a stroke to begin another hole until the Committee resumes play.
  • If any player in your group has started a hole, the group may choose either to stop play or to play out the hole. Once your group completes the hole or stops before completing the hole, you must not make another stroke until the Committee resumes play.
• Two Short Air Horn Blasts:
  • You must resume play at the time set by the Committee or at the time of the two air horn blasts and resume play from where you stopped play on a hole or, if between two holes, at your next teeing area, even if play is resumed on a later day.
• Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7c: Disqualification.

OUT OF BOUNDS:

• Out of bounds is defined by white stakes at ground level, white dots, freshly painted white lines, perimeter fences, inside edge of paved public roads or any combination thereof. A ball coming to rest on or beyond any paved public is out of bounds, even if it comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes.

PENALTY AREAS:

• When a penalty area is bounded by out of bounds, the penalty area edge extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR:

• Defined by white lines. Other areas of ground under repair, even when not marked, include:
• French drains (trenches filled with stones or the like).
• Large or hard ant hills on the course.
• Edging grooves around putting greens. 

SEAMS OF CUT TURF (Newly Sodded Areas):

• If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:
  • Ball in General Area: The player may drop a ball under Rule 16.1b.
  • Ball on Putting Green: The player may place a ball under Rule 16.1d Interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance.

OBSTRUCTIONS AND INTEGRAL OBJECTS:

• When located within the penalty area; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings are integral objects unless otherwise provided for in Notice to Players.
• White lined areas tying into obstructions are part of the obstruction.
• When closely attached to trees; wrappings, electrical wire, and cables are integral objects.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS:

• Wood chips and mulch are loose impediments.

PRACTICE:

• Players are no longer allowed to practice putt between holes, even if they aren’t holding up play. Players will receive one warning before potential penalties and disqualification.

The SSJC prides itself in hosting events that are safe, fun, competitive and family oriented. Players will have the opportunity to not only grow their game but as a player as well. Each event requires help from the host facility, community involvement, and partners to make the tournament enjoyable for everyone.

With that being said, the SSJC will not tolerate any disrespectful behavior, whether on or off the golf course at an event. Players in violation of the code of conduct with the SSJC may lose playing privileges as well as being liable to penalty strokes or disqualification.

All SSJC participants are reminded to respect the host facility and their staff/golf course. Players are expected to repair ball marks on the greens and divots where needed. Players are also expected to rake all bunkers and care for the course throughout their tournament experience.

Violations of the Code of Conduct include:

Unsportsmanlike conduct which includes: abusive language, cheating, club throwing, disrespect to volunteers/staff/officials or fellow competitors, and abuse of golf course property.

Not adhering to the dress code of the host golf course

Use or association of drugs or alcohol

Conduct not becoming of a SSJC player, such as acting in anger or creating other distractions.

Code of Conduct Violation Penalties:

The SSJC Tournament Committee may assess any or all of the following penalties based on the severity of the violation(s):

Issue a one stroke penalty for each act of unsportsmanlike conduct on the golf course

Immediate disqualification from the tournament at which the violation occurs

Depending on the severity of the violation, a tournament disqualification may also result in disqualification from the next tournament or tournaments for which a player has been accepted.

The SSJC reserves the right to suspend or revoke a player’s registration for a major breach of the SSJC Code of Conduct.

With the exception of caddies, all spectators need to stay out of the fairways and off of greens and tees during play. It is ok to gather near tee and greens to watch, but we ask that they stay on the cart paths or rough while walking the course.

Spectators may not interact with participants at any time on the golf course, except in the case of an emergency. Any conversation between a spectator and participant will be subject to penalty under Rule 10.2 (Advice).

Only exceptions allowing spectators to interact with players during a round include handing them sunscreen, food, beverage, or any health emergency.  This should always be done in front of another spectator or tournament official. 

Spectators are not allowed to give a player a ride under any circumstances during the player’s round. This includes driving players back for lost balls or from green to tee. The SSJC staff will select shuttle holes prior to the start of the tournament. The only time a spectator can shuttle is at an authorized shuttle hole. Any time a player takes a ride from a spectator that is unauthorized, he/she will incur a 2 stroke penalty. In the event of a course evacuation for inclement weather, spectators can shuttle players to safety. 

Spectators will be subject to removal from the golf course for the following breaches of etiquette:

• Repeat offenses of interacting with players after being warned by Tournament Committee
• Rude, vulgar or other inappropriate comments or gestures.
• Verbal or physical harassment of players, volunteers, officials or fellow spectators.
• Distracting a player or causing any disruption of play.
• Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, unsafe or illegal in nature.
• Failing to follow the instructions of a SSJC Tournament Committee official, volunteer or host personnel.

Round 1 Hole Locations

Round 2 Hole Locations