Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour 2015 Update #1

Can you believe it’s only a short 8 weeks until the Richmond Tour local schedule begins?

Many things have transpired since the 2014 National Championship tournament and we want to get you up to date on all of the information and go over plans for the 2015 Richmond season.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Alan Bodle
Hudson Crabb
Jeremy Horn
Jeffery Goodman
John Hughes
Russell James
Roger Moore
Lynn Welch

NEW VENUES
As you view the 2015 schedule you will notice several new locations added in the Hampton Roads area. We have a large, growing representation of members from the Tidewater region of the state and want to start bringing some tournaments closer to that area. Many of these members have been loyal supporters of the Tour for many years and have spent countless hours traveling north and west to participate in Richmond tournaments. I hope that ALL members will support these tournaments in the Southeastern part of the schedule as we prepare to expand tournaments throughout the state.

NEW SPONSORS
Srixon has now become the Presenting sponsor of the Golf Channel Am Tour.
TRUE Linkswear has also come on board as a new sponsor. If you participated in either of the last 2 National Championships, you have a pair of TRUE Linkswear golf shoes

NEW LOGO
You may have noticed some changes to the Tour apparel or maybe seen it on the television broadcast that the Golf Channel has changed their logo. In following suit the Am Tour is now presenting its new logo for the 2015 season

2015 MAJORS
As many of you well know the Majors fill up very fast, so don’t hesitate signing up as soon as they open. The new one at fords Colony is already full but has a very short waiting list. Don’t be discouraged to sign up for it anyway if you want to play in it. There are always several that drop out before the tournament deadline and being near the top of the waiting list and local greatly improves your chances of getting in.
The Pinehurst Major opens 03/02/2015 at 12 noon. Last year it sold out in 2 minutes, so if you’d like to try and get in have your information filled out and ready to hit the SUBMIT button the second it opens.
The War on the Shore in Ocean City MD has about 29 remaining openings left at the present time. These are 2 GREAT courses not to far away. The Homestead tournament will be in June this year and is sure to be a premier tournament.

1^st 2015 Local Tournament
The first Richmond tournament for the 2015 season will be the March 21, Glen Allen Open at Hunting Hawk. This, as always, will be the first local tournament in the Northeast and players from many Tours, suffering from cabin fever, come to play in this opening event. Make sure that you secure your spot in this tournament by signing up early. The field is limited

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
We are currently working on a program to reinstitute and recognize the Player of the Year for each flight.
Details coming soon

RULES SECTION
We will once again have a weekly section covering some of the most commonly used basic rules as well as a weekly Rules Quiz. Topics covered will include “How to take a drop from certain situations” including Hazards, Obstructions, Ground Under Repair and Unplayable Lies.
The Rules Quiz may be on anything and will test your knowledge and get you familiar with using the USGA Rules site.
Each week a question will be asked and points awarded as follows
1^st correct answer           5 points
Correct answer               3 points
Incorrect answer            1 point   (you get a point for at least trying)

We will do this for 8 weeks leading up to the Tournament at Hunting Hawk, with the 8^th and final week being the BONUS ROUND where you can pick up A LOT of points.
The person finishing with the most points will win a $50 Golf Galaxy Gift Cart, and EVERYONE will gain more knowledge of the Rules of Golf.

So lets start this week with “Ball in WATER HAZARD” (YELLOW STAKES or LINE)

26-1. Relief For Ball In Water Hazard

It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In the absence of knowledge or virtual certainty that a ball struck toward a water hazard, but not found, is in the hazard, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the holeand the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball orsubstitute a ball.

(Prohibited actions when ball is in a hazard – see Rule 13-4)

Remember you also have the option of playing the ball as it lies in the Hazard.
KEY WORDS; KNOWN or VIRTUALLY CERTAIN

RULES QUIZ

Before playing a provisional ball, the player must

A.) search for his original ball.
B.) place an identifying mark on the provisional ball.
C.) announce his intention to play a provisional ball.
D.) announce the brand and model of the ball to his opponent, marker or a fellow-competitor.

The correct ANSWER is C

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-01/