Welcome to the 2024 Birmingham Golf Association Junior Tour!
All events have a maximum number of players allowed in each age division. Each player gets entry into up to six events for their entry fee.
There will be four premium/high demand events:
Event 3, Vestavia CC
Event 9, Mountain Brook Club
Event 10, Highland Park GC
Event 16, Shoal Creek
You can play in up to a max of two of them. However, there is no requirement to play in any of them.
Note to Parents of players who are advancing to the 12-13 Age Division: Things change significantly when your child enters the 12-13 Age Division. It will become the player’s responsibility to keep score, obtain rulings when necessary, and all other aspects of playing the game. If parents or friends follow a player the only contact they can have with the player is to provide food or drink, unless an emergency is evident. No coaching or advice of any kind from the gallery is allowed.
Ethics & Code of Conduct: Golf is a game which teaches integrity, honesty and sportsmanship. As such, cheating on scores, use of inappropriate language, throwing clubs and other conduct unbecoming a golfer will result in the player being removed from the event. The BGA Junior Tour gives players an opportunity to learn how to become an accomplished tournament player in a relaxed atmosphere. It is important to take advantage of this opportunity by learning the Rules of Golf and how to conduct yourself while on the golf course.
WD Policy: Once a player begins his or her round, that round will be a counting round. Even if they have to withdraw due to illness, injury or for some other reason, the round will count for their overall points.
We are looking forward to the 2024 season which, of course, would not be possible without the commitment from the local golf professionals, golf course superintendents, club members and volunteers. At every golf course at which a tournament is held, we are guests and we must treat the staff, members, and the golf facility with respect. When you are at these clubs, please have your child thank these individuals for the use of their facility. It is a privilege, not a right, to play golf at these clubs and we must act accordingly
Having 330 members requires strict adherence to all printed deadlines. We urge you to call the BGA office at 205 532-3457 or email at [email protected], if you have questions.
The points system will determine the final field of the BGA Junior Championship. Points are distributed as follows:
The 2024 BGA Junior Championship will be July 10-11 at The Country Club of Birmingham (East Course). It is a two-day championship. You must be enrolled in the BGA Junior Tour to be eligible for the BGA Junior Championship. There is a $110.00 entry fee for the BGA Championship that will be payable online after the final field is determined.
Dress Code: The BGA policy of NO METAL SPIKES, is in effect for all courses. Golf shoes having soft spikes or tennis shoes are examples of appropriate footwear. No jeans or cut offs are allowed. All shirts must have collars and sleeves. Hats must have bills facing forward and shirts must be tucked in. We thank you in advance for your cooperation
Age Divisions: There are six age divisions. Eligibility for boys and girls is as follows: 10-11 must have reached 10th birthday but not 12th birthday by July 10, 2024. The 10-11 age group plays nine holes. 12-13 must have reached 12th birthday but not 14th birthday by July 10, 2024. 14-15 must have reached 14th birthday but not 16th birthday by July 10, 2024. 16-19 must have reached 16th birthday but not 20th birthday by July 10, 2024. Also, if 19, must have graduated from high school this year (not a previous year) and not be enrolled in college currently.
Girls 10-19 (nine holes) must have reached 10th birthday but not 20th birthday by July 10, 2024. Girls 13-19 (18 holes) must have reached 13th birthday but not 20th birthday by July 10, 2024. Also, if 19, must have graduated from high school this year (not a previous year) and not be enrolled in college currently.
Any child is eligible to play “up” in the next age group. However, if the decision is made to play “up”, that child must stay in the new age group for the rest of the season. A child may also play “down” a division, but cannot win any points and cannot compete in the championship. Both such scenarios must be discussed with Ian Thompson first.
EXCEPTIONS. If a girl, of any age from 10-19, wants to play in the girls only nine-hole division, she must register for the tour for the girls nine-hole division. Also girls, ages 13-19, wanting to play 18 holes will play in the girls, 13-19 division. Both girls divisions will play from the ladies tees.
Eligibility: The Birmingham Golf Association Junior Tour is open to children who are residents in the following counties: Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, Walker, Cullman and Tuscaloosa.
Entry Procedure:
1) Participants can begin registering online for events between March 19 – April 18, 2024. Entry fee is $295 ($250 for 10-11 and nine-hole, 10-19, girls division) and includes all green fees for up to six events. Entrants are notified via email of those events in which they are playing. Events are filled on first come, first serve basis. Each club has a different policy regarding the number of children playing at each event and times to begin. The BGA Executive Director determines playing groups and tee times. The tee times will be email to participants and posted on the website typically three or four days in advance of an event.
2) All schedule change requests must be made via email. As per your requests and in the absence of space availability, you will be placed on the waiting lists in the applicable position. The BGA is not responsible for the weather and everything possible is done to complete play at an event, even if we have to reduce the number of holes in a stipulated round. No make-ups are available.
3) Entries are limited to 330 and up to 60 entries in the 10-11 age group.
RULES OF PLAY
The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. Additional Local Rules and Conditions (if any) will be provided to the players on their first tee prior to their round.
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is two strokes.
* For clarification of an often misunderstood Rule. If a ball is lost or out of bounds, the player must take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6). We DO NOT utilize the Local Rule for out of bounds that allows, for two penalty strokes, the player to take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball as close as possible to where it was lost or went out of bounds (see Rule 14.3).
LOCAL RULES
Ground Under Repair: Defined by white lines. Fire ant hills and French drains are deemed to be ground under repair (Rule 25-1).
Stones in Bunkers: Stones in bunkers are deemed to be movable obstructions (Rule 24-1).
Integral Parts of the Course: includes cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in the Tournament Instructions.
CONDITIONS
Discontinuance of Play: All practice areas are closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Tournament Committee has declared them open. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to cease doing so; failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.
Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged air horn blast. All other types of suspension will be signaled by two consecutive blasts, repeated. Resumption of play will be signaled by three short air horn blasts, repeated.
Distance Measuring Devices are permitted, but must be used to measure distance only, and may not be used to measure other conditions such as wind speed or direction, temperature or elevation.
Caddies: A player is prohibited from using a caddie.
