Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour 2015 Update #6

                         
                     Spring is right around the corner, we can see their heads now!!!

Only 26 more days until the Season Opening Glen Allen Open at Hunting Hawk.
"Who's READY"???

Sign up HERE 



IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE

The Williamsburg Open at Stonehouse scheduled for June 20 has been changed
to Friday, April 24.
That's right.......it's the day before the 1st rd. of the Skirmish at Fords Colony.
Directors in other cities where Majors are being played, and have been hosted, have begun holding local Tournaments the day before Majors and the results have been overwhelmingly successful on player field size. Players are taking advantage of getting in a warm-up round the day before that will offer them the opportunity to gain valuable Merit Points as well as gearing up their "Game Face" for the weekends competition, with a shot at additional Prize Fund and Trophies.
So for those coming to play in the Fords Colony Tournament, we on the Richmond Tour are going to give them a "REAL TREAT" and host a tournament at Stonehouse.

The Traditional Golf Club at Stonehouse


WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Pamela Fuschini 
Tim Ritter
Jim Crowley

GOOD LUCK

To the 10 Members of the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour that will be competing in the Myrtle Beach Classic.

Louis Autry
Sam Bailey
Bill Crowley
Paul Davidson
Mel Imad
Ed Machado
Michael Owens
Michael Radan
Ed Shine
Peter Socha

"Bring Back some Hardware Guys"


REFERRAL PROGRAM

OFFER ENDS this SAT. FEB. 28 2015

Refer a Friend and earn a $50 Gift Card
Select from Visa, Marriot, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Starbucks and many more!

LIMITED TIME OFFER
Ends Feb. 28, 2015

HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOLLOW 3 STEPS:

1.) Visit www.gcamtour.com/join and click on the "JOIN NOW" Button
2.) Complete the MEMBER REGISTRATION Form
3.) Include your Full Name and Local Tour City in the "Referred by Member" Field

The More Friends You Refer the More Rewards You Earn!



TROOPS FIRST FOUNDATION

Over the last 2 years the generosity of the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour Members has raised and donated over $2,200 to the Troops First Foundation. We are 1 of only a small handful of Local Tours that contribute to this worthy cause. Nationally, the Golf Channel Am Tour raised over $102.000 for Troops First in 2014.

ALL NEW for 2015
Learn How you can WIN $500 as well as Earn an additional $500 for Troops First
Learn More HERE



HANDICAPS

Handicaps will be reviewed before the 1st tournament to insure proper flighting.
If you are NEW to the Golf Channel Am Tour and have yet to post any handicap information, you can do so by adding scores into your Players Club Account,(sign in on Right of Page)  or  contact the Richmond Tour office to learn how to submit your handicap information.
Email: Gfrancis@gcamtour.com
Phone: 804.627.2393


PLAYER HANDBOOK
Got Questions?
Click on the Link below for the Player Handbook

PLAYER HANDBOOK



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GOLF CHANNEL AM TOUR RICHMOND

PACE of PLAY

Pace of Play Tip #2

IN THE FAIRWAY

1.) Go directly to your ball; don’t follow other
players to theirs unless assisting in a search.

2.) Plan your shot while riding or walking to your
ball or while others are playing. Go to your ball,
estimate your shot yardage and select 3-4 clubs you
may possibly need and then let your riding partner
take the cart and go to theirs while you get ready and
play or vice versa.

3.) After hitting, watch your ball, especially on an
errant shot, mark the position of your ball with some
landmark for location. And for the sake of Pace of
Play and Sportsmanship, watch each others shots.

4.) After hitting, start walking towards your ball or
cart, don’t just wait for your riding partner to come
get you. If you are driving the cart, after you hit, go
directly to pick up your riding partner instead of to
your own ball. (Don’t make them walk the course,
remember they paid for half of the cart.)

5.) If the course has “Cart Path Only” rules, then
please, take several clubs with you to your ball so
you won’t have to walk back to the cart.

6.) Be efficient with pre-shot routines.

7.) Don’t step off yardage for every single golf shot,
develop an “eye” for distance (especially if you
have played the same course many times.)

8.) Limit your practice swings to one or two if
needed.

9.) Use good judgment when standing beyond 250
yds. from the green on a par 5 and waiting for the
green to clear. (Have you ever made one?)

Note: If you go to your ball, wait for the green to
clear, select a club, go through your pre-shot routine,
line-up, take several practice swings, get over the
ball, go through your 25 item pre-shot check-list,
then hit, pose and admire your shot, wipe off your
club, put it back, get in the cart, wait for one of the
players in the other cart to do the same thing, then
take your riding partner to their ball for him to go
through the same thing, then a lot of time has been
used up just for 4 people to play one hole




WEEKLY RULES SECTION

We have covered the most commonly visited rules that you will probably encounter during not only your tournament rounds, but open rounds of golf as well. So with just a few weeks left before the 1st tournament lets do a VIDEO review of those Rules.
These videos will show you what your options are and how to utilize them.
This week will be WATER HAZARDS

Click on the link below for the VIDEO

WATER HAZARDS


ANSWER to LAST WEEKS RULES QUIZ

A player does not remove his ball-marker when he replaces his ball on the putting green and the wind moves his ball to a new position; he must replace his ball.

TRUE or FALSE


The CORRECT ANSWER is
FALSE

20-4/1

Ball Replaced on Putting Green But Ball-Marker Not Removed; Ball Then Moves

Q.A player replaces his ball on the putting green but does not remove his ball-marker. Subsequently the wind moves his ball to a new position. What is the ruling?

A.Under Rule 20-4, a ball is in play when it is replaced, whether or not the object used to mark its position has been removed. Consequently the ball must be played from the new position – see Decision 18-1/12

Other Related Decisions

• 18-1/12 Ball Replaced and at Rest Is Thereafter Moved by Wind.

• 18-2a/7 Ball Moved by Wind Replaced.

• 20-2c/3.5 Dropped Ball Comes to Rest and Then Rolls Out of Bounds.

• 20-3d/1 Placed Ball Rolls into Hole

WEEKLY RULES QUIZ

A player's ball is lost in a lateral water hazard. He takes relief under the lateral water hazard Rule, using his best judgment to determine the point where the original ball last crossed the margin. After a ball is dropped, but before he plays his next stroke, another player says that the original ball crossed the margin some distance from where the ball was dropped. He finds the original ball where the other player said it would be. What is the ruling?

A.) He must continue play with the dropped ball
B.) He must lift the dropped ball and continue play with the original ball
C.) He must lift the dropped ball and drop a ball in the correct place, incurring only one stroke               penalty      under Rule 26-1

Submit your answer to Gfrancis@gcamtour.com

Leaders after 5 weeks
Jeff Couch   14 points
Ric Beltz       12 points
Jerry Jones  10 points

Don't Give up because in the Final Round "Anything Can Happen"
Remember 
1st CORRECT Answer is worth 5 Points
       CORRECT Answer is worth 3 Points
And just for TRYING a WRONG Answer is worth 1 Point


BACK ISSUES of the WEEKLY UPDATES

To view previous issues of the Weekly Updates go the
 Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour Homepage

Click here-------->   Ricmond Tour Homepage

and scroll down to the bottom right corner to LOCAL TOP STORIES
then click on VIEW ALL or Select the story that you wish to view.
Get Caught Up on ALL that has HAPPENED

Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour 2015 Update #5

Only 33 days before the 1st local tournament will be played in the Northeast Region.
Are you registered for the Glen Allen Open @ Hunting Hawk?

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Mary Allen
Troy Carter
PonJola Coney
Robert Nolte


REFERRAL PROGRAM
Refer a Friend and earn a $50 Gift Card
Select from Visa, Marriot, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Starbucks and many more!

LIMITED TIME OFFER
Ends Feb. 28, 2015

HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOLLOW 3 STEPS:

1.) Visit www.gcamtour.com/join and click on the "JOIN NOW" Button
2.) Complete the MEMBER REGISTRATION Form
3.) Include your Full Name and Local Tour City in the "Referred by Member" Field

The More Friends You Refer the More Rewards You Earn!


2015 MAJORS SCHEDULE
As many of you are already aware of, the MAJORS fill up VERY FAST, so don't hesitate signing up as soon as they open.
The Fords Colony Major is Full, but don't be discouraged to register for it if you want to compete in it. It has a very short waiting list and historically several players drop out before tournament day. Being near the top of the list and local, greatly enhances your chances of getting in. There are about 12 spots left for the Major in Ocean City at Glen Riddle, and these are 2 Great Courses. The Homestead Major is already about half Full in just 2 weeks of being open.
If you have any thought of playing in the Major at Pinehurst, registration opens at 12 noon 03/02/2015. Have your registration already filled out and ready to hit the Submit button the second that it opens. It sold out in 2 minutes last year..
For a Complete List of the 2015 Majors click on the Link below.

2015 MAJORS

NEW LOOK
The Tournaments will take on a NEW LOOK this season with the re-branding of New Presenting Sponsor Srixon

PACE of PLAY

Every Golfers NIGHTMARE, regardless of handicap or skill level is a 5-6 hr round of golf,
On the RICHMOND GOLF CHANNEL AM TOUR, we are very committed to maintaining a Pace of Play that is acceptable to the participants of our tournaments as well as that of the courses we play. We have experienced these Slow Rounds in the past, some due to the fact of the course being crowded and slow before our tournament began and some due to slow play on our part. We have also had the pleasure of playing Competitive Tournament rounds in under 4 hrs, which made for a much enjoyed and lower scoring tournament.
A well maintained Pace of Play Tournament can ONLY take place with the commitment and dedication of each individual player. 
 With that in mind, WE (The Members, Players and Staff) of the RICHMOND GOLF CHANNEL AM TOUR , have Developed, Formatted and put into Practice, a Guideline of Helpful Hints and Practices that hopefully will develop into habits to insure that a well maintained Pace of Play will be the Standard of ALL of our Tournaments.....................AND IT HAS!!! 

Pace of Play Helpful Hint #1
ON the TEEING GROUND

1.) Always be on time and prepared to play.

2.) Choose the teeing ground that best matches your
ability. Don’t let your ego ruin your round of golf,
lower scores are more enjoyable than BIG tee s h o t s .
Tees will be set up by the Tournament Di rector
based on handicap pairings and in no way reflect any
one's ability to play. Our Tournament results are
printed Nationally and lower scores are
much more appealing to view beside your name. Tees
are also selected in accordance with what you would
be competing from at the National Tournament.

3.)* ALL Members of the pairing go up on the tee box
 together and be prepared to hit their tee shots and 
watch each others ball

4.) Always be aware of your safety and the safety of
others, wait until the group ahead of you is out of range
of your BEST shot. Be sure you are well away, from
others before taking practice swings, and always stand
on the same side as the ball when watching someone
hit.

5.) Stay silent and still while others in your group are
teeing off.

6.) Avoid taking divots with practice swings on the teeing
ground.

7.) “Honors” should be recognized and maintained at all
times. (SEE RULE 10/2 in the USGA Rules of Golf)

8.) The “Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour” version of Ready Golf is: 
BE READY TO PLAY WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN!

* NOTE for #3
In operating over 200 local tournaments, working more than 50 Majors and 10 National tournaments I still see this scenario take place:
Carts pull up to the tee, the group ahead is still in the fairway and no one goes up on the tee until the fairway is clear. Finally 1 player gets out and walks up to the tee with his yardage device, then goes back and selects a club and goes back to the tee. After he has played his shot Player #2 goes through the same routine and then copied by Player #3 and #4. Their total time on the tee box (after the fairway is clear has been close to 5 minutes). If ALL players had of already gotten their yardage information and been on the tee together in order to play their shot when it was their turn, their time on the tee, when clear would have been about 2 minutes less.
Were they slow in playing their shots? NO.
But the time wasted in being ready to play is what players don't realize as a bad habit. Multiply it by 18 holes.


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WEEKLY RULES SECTION
We have covered most of the probable rules that you will encounter during not only your tournament rounds, but your open rounds as well, such as;
Water Hazards
Lateral Water Hazards
Out of Bounds
Immovable Obstructions

This week we will review one that is VERY important and will come up often.

What to do............WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

Rule 3-3

3-3. Doubt As To Procedure

a. Procedure

In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful of his rights or the correct procedure during the play of a hole, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls.

After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking further action, the competitor must announce to his marker or fellow-competitor that he intends to play two balls and which ball he wishes to count if the Rules permit.

The competitor must report the facts of the situation to the Committee before returning his score card. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified.

Note: If the competitor takes further action before dealing with the doubtful situation, Rule 3-3 is not applicable. The score with the original ball counts or, if the original ball is not one of the balls being played, the score with the first ball put into play counts, even if the Rules do not allow the procedure adopted for that ball. However, the competitor incurs no penalty for having played a second ball, and any penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball do not count in his score.

b. Determination of Score for Hole
(i) If the ball that the competitor selected in advance to count has been played in accordance with the Rules, the score with that ball is the competitor’s score for the hole. Otherwise, the score with the other ball counts if the Rules allow the procedure adopted for that ball.

(ii) If the competitor fails to announce in advance his decision to complete the hole with two balls, or which ball he wishes to count, the score with the original ball counts, provided it has been played in accordance with the Rules. If the original ball is not one of the balls being played, the first ball put into play counts, provided it has been played in accordance with the Rules. Otherwise, the score with the other ball counts if the Rules allow the procedure adopted for that ball.

Note 1: If a competitor plays a second ball under Rule 3-3, the strokes made after this Rule has been invoked with the ball ruled not to count and penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded.

Note 2: A second ball played under Rule 3-3 is not a provisional ball under Rule 27-2.

Never Hesitate to invoke Rule 3-3 if you are unsure as How to Proceed.
Make sure You announce your intentions to invoke Rule 3-3.
Make sure to announce which ball you want to count as your score.
Play BOTH balls completely through the hole and record both scores.
Bring it to the attention of the Committee at the Scoring Table.


ANSWER to Last Weeks Rules Quiz


In Stroke play, a Players ball lies in a Hazard. The Ball moves as a result of his removal of a small acorn, lying in the Hazard. The Ball is replaced before a Stroke is made.
What is the Ruling?

A.) There is a One Stroke Penalty
B.) There is a Two Stroke Penalty
C.) There is a total Penalty of Three Strokes

The CORRECT ANSWER is B
There is a Two Stroke Penalty

13-4/15

Ball in Hazard Moves When Loose Impediment Removed

Q. In stroke play, a competitor's ball is in a hazard. He removes a loose impediment in the hazard that causes his ball to move. What is the ruling?

A. As a single act resulted in two Rules being breached (Rule 13-4 and Rule18-2a), in equity (Rule 1-4), a single penalty is applied. Therefore, the competitor incurs a two-stroke penalty under Rule 13-4 and the ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2a). If the ball is not replaced before the competitor makes his next stroke, the failure to replace the ball is considered a separate act and he incurs an additional penalty of two strokes under Rule 18-2a.

THIS WEEKS RULES QUIZ

A player does not remove his ball-marker when he replaces his ball on the putting green and the wind moves his ball to a new position; he must replace his ball.

TRUE or FALSE

Reply to gfrancis@gcamtour.com with your answer

Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour 2015 Update #4

We’re another week closer to the start of the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour schedule with the Glen Allen Open up first. Registration is beginning to pick up and the field size will only be for 60 players so register soon if you are planning to play.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER
Michael Eaton

REFERAL PROGRAM

Refer a friend and earn a $50 Gift Card. 

Select from Visa, Marriot, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Starbucks & many more! 

LIMITED TIME OFFER.
Ends Feb. 28, 2015

HAVE YOUR fRIENDS AND fAMILY FOLLOW 3 STEPS:

1.) Visit www.gcamtour.com/join and click on the JOIN NOW Button
2.) Complete the Member Registration Form
3.) Include your Full Name and Local Tour City in the "Referred by Member" field

The More Friends You Refer the More Rewards You Earn!

CONGRATULATIONS

Go out to Richmond Tour member Tip Wight for “WINNING” the Championship Flight at the Puerto Rico Championship. Tip secured the Victory in a 1 hole play-off.

Other Richmond Members in Puerto Rico
Jack Welch Sr. Palmer  Flight  T-5
Mel Imad  Sarazen Flight 14^th
 JB Martin  Jones Flight T-10
Keenan Davis Snead Flight 7^th  

PACE OF PLAY
The Richmond Golf Channel Members take pride in their tournament Pace of Play and have set the standard for the entire Golf Channel Am Tour nationwide.
Please click on the link below to review the Golf Channel Am Tour Pace of Play Policy

http://www.gcamtour.com/rules-and-regulations/pace-of-play/%20%20

In upcoming updates we will give some tips on how to maintain a good pace of play by simply developing a few new habits. No one thinks they are a Slow Player, and MOST are not, but some just have some bad habits that they are unaware of that slow things down. NEVER do we ask anyone to RUSH or HURRY UP. We do ask that EVERY player in the field have the same opportunity as those in the first group to be able to complete their round in a timely and enjoyable manner.
# 1 Reason for slow play…………..Not being READY to play when it’s your turn.

WEEKLY RULES SECTION

Out of Bounds……………White Stakes and/or Lines

27-1b. Ball Out of Bounds

If a ball is out of bounds, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

DEFINITION

Out Of Bounds

“Out of bounds’’ is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee.

When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a fence or as being beyond stakes or a fence, the bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports). When both stakes and lines are used to indicate out of bounds, the stakes identify out of bounds and the lines define out of bounds. When out of bounds is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds. The bounds line extends vertically upwards and downwards.

A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.

Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.

Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define out of bounds should be white.

ANSWER to last weeks RULES QUIZ

In stroke play, a player strikes his tee shot on a par-3 hole into a water hazard. Finding the ball in the hazard, he plays it further into the hazard where it is lost. He drops a ball in the hazard where he last played, but it embeds. He abandons the ball, plays another from the tee onto the green, holes the putt, and tees off on the next hole. What is the ruling?

A.) His score for the hole is 5

B.) His score for the hole is 6

C.) He is disqualified

The CORRECT ANSWER is B

His score for the hole is 6

Rule 26-2a

26-2. Ball Played Within Water Hazard

a. Ball Comes to Rest in Same or Another Water Hazard

If a ball played from within a water hazard comes to rest in the same or another water hazard after the stroke, the player may:

(i) proceed under Rule 26-1a. If, after dropping in the hazard, the player elects not to play the dropped ball, he may:

(a) proceed under Rule 26-1b, or if applicable Rule 26-1c, adding the additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by the Rule and using as the reference point the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of this hazard before it came to rest in this hazard; or

(b) add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the last stroke from outside a hazard was made (see Rule 20-5); or

(ii) proceed under Rule 26-1b, or if applicable Rule 26-1c; or

(iii) under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the last stroke from outside a water hazard was made (see Rule 20-5).

REMEMBER, you can ALWAYS use your original entry point/The last place the ball crossed the margin of the hazard and Rule 26-1 even after you have taken a stroke in a Hazard. Congratulations to John Hughes.............with the ONLY Correct Answer

THIS WEEKS QUESTION

In stroke play, a player's ball lies in a hazard. The ball moves as a result of his removal of a small acorn, lying in the hazard. The ball is replaced before a stroke is made. What is the ruling?

A.) There is a one stroke penalty

B.) There is a two stroke penalty

C.) There is a total penalty of three strokes