PKB Girls Golf Tour

PRACTICE ROUNDS: Practice rounds will be available in advance of the tournament by calling the Pro Shop at 434-293-4653.  Practice round fees will be the posted 2023 junior rate and can be made 7 days in advance. Cart fee will also be the posted fee for 2023.

SPECTATOR CARTS: The course offers spectator carts at $30 on a first come, first serve basis. Spectator carts must stay on the carts paths at all time.

REDUCTION OF FIELD: Following round 2, the field size will be reduced to the top-50% and ties based on the number of players who tee off during Round 1.

ACCOMMODATIONS: A PKB group room block has been set up at the Hampton Inn Charlottesville. To receive this discounted rate, participants must book their rooms by February 24, 2023. The hotel is located 3.7 miles from Birdwood Golf Course.  Group rates are as follows: $136.00 plus tax.  Please book by calling 434-978-7888 and using Group Name "PKB" or click here to book online.

TRAVEL: Birdwood Golf Course is located 85.1 miles from Richmond International Airport.

This event is an INVITATION ONLY event for the Bell National division.  Players earn entry through the following tiers of entry:

TIER 1 - Top 25 players on the PKBGT Performance Index at the conclusion of the Savannah Girls Classic at Savannah Harbor (processed on January 10th)

TIER 2 - Top 40 players on the PKBGT Performance Index at the conclusion of the PKB Foundation Classic at Mid South Club (processed on February 7th)

TIER 3 - Top 25 players on the Bell National Series Order of Merit at the conclusion of the RocketTour Players Championships @ Whitewater Creek CC on February 20th

TIER 4 - Bell National Tournament Champion of the the following 2023 Bell National tournaments:

1. Savannah Girls Classic at Savannah Harbor
2. River Landing Girls Classic
3. PKB Foundation Classic at Mid South Club
4. Orange Whip Girls Classic at Long Bay Golf Club
5. RocketTour Players Championships at Whitewater Creek CC
6. Cape Fear Girls Classic at CC of Landfall

TIER 5 - 2 Sponsor Exemptions

TIER 6 - Remaining field will be completed from the Spring Invitational Application List.  Players must apply for consideration by Thursday, February 23rd at midnight to be considered for one of these spots.  Bell National Series Field will feature 54 players.

We are excited to announce Digital Scorekeeping & Live Scoring by having players download the "ShotStat Live" scoring app to their phone. All you need to do is download it and authorize it! When using the Live Scoring App during your round, you will be scoring your marker as well as keeping your own score providing a true electronic scorecard.

At the bottom of this email you will find a link to the App Instructions PDF that details how to download the app and authorize it, as well as some screen shots for scoring and some of the other features, but the quick instructions are below.

1) Search and download the “ShotStat Live” app in the App Store of your iPhone or in the Google Play Store of your Android phone.

2) Authorize the app by either entering in your cell phone number or e-mail address to receive a 1-time PIN (we recommend using your cell phone number). NOTE - the only cell phone number or email that will work will be the one on your player account in our system - so that may be the player’s number/email, or it may be the parents (depending on how it was set up). If the number or e-mail is not in our system, the app will notify you. 

3) Once you download and authorize the app, tap the “Schedule” tab on the bottom navigation bar to view your upcoming events that are utilizing live scoring. If parings are set, the tournament will be highlighted in green allowing you to tap into the tournament.

If you have questions, please let us know! It is important that all players download this app before Round 1 begins so we can have complete hole-by-hole live scoring!

** Click Here for ShotStat Live Player App Instructions **

BELL NATIONAL: All players will be ranked on the PKBGT Performance Index rankings.

BELL NATIONAL: This event is a 2.5x multiplier for the PKBGT Bell National Order of Merit standings

BELL NATIONAL: Each division champion will earn Group A status and an invitation to the PKBGT Tournament of Champions. Each division runner-up and 3rd place finisher will all earn Group C status and an invitation to the PKBGT Tournament of Champions

BELL NATIONAL: The champion will earn an invitation to the 2024 PKBGT Invitational

BELL: All players will be ranked on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

BELL NATIONAL: All Players that finish the maximum amount of holes played will be ranked on the Golfweek Performance Index (Minimum field size: 12)

BELL NATIONAL: Champion will receive 12 PBE Performance Stars. Top 3 finishers will receive 8 PBE Performance Stars. Top 5 finishers each will receive 4 PBE Performance Stars and the Top 10 finishers will receive 1 PBE Performance Star.

BELL NATIONAL: All multi-day events will be ranked (Minimum field size: 5). 

BELL NATIONAL: This is a CGA 12 multiplier

** CGA multiplier applies to both the Tarheel Youth Golf Association & South Carolina Junior Golf Association State Rankings

PKBGT RULES OF PLAY

The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and The R&A govern play. These Local Rules and Terms of the Competition are in effect at all PKBGT tournament rounds. Complete text of the Rules and Local Rules may be found in the current Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, effective January 2023.

Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is the general penalty.

LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVER HEADS – Local Rule as prescribed in Sec. 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-1.

ONE BALL RULE & GROOVES AND PUNCH MARK SPECIFICATIONS – These Local Rules are NOT in effect. 

LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-3.

PROHIBITING USE OF MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION - Model Local Rule G-6 as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect.

BROKEN OR SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED CLUB - Model Local Rule G-9 as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect.

RESOLVING RULES ISSUES DURING ROUND – Players must not unreasonably delay play when seeking help with the Rules during a round. If the Committee is not available in a reasonable amount of time to help with Rules issue, the player must decide what to do and play on. The player may protect their rights by asking for a ruling in match play (Rule 20.1b (2)) or by playing two balls in stroke play (Rule 20.1c (2)). 

OUT OF BOUNDS – Defined by the line between the course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes or fence posts; by white lines on the ground that connect stakes or roads; by the inside edge of paved roads and beyond, even if ball comes to rest on another part of course. 

PENALTY AREAS – When a penalty area is defined on only one side, it extends to infinity. When a penalty area is connected to the out of bounds edge, the penalty area extends to and coincides with out of bounds. 

GROUND UNDER REPAIR – Defined by white lines. Ground under repair also includes French drains, which are trenches filled with rocks or stones and newly trenched areas, even if not marked as such. 

RELIEF FROM SEAMS OF CUT TURF (LIE OF BALL ONLY) – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-7. 

WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS – White-lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced roads, paths or other identified obstructions that they are connected to are a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1. 

WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH – Are loose impediments. 

INTEGRAL OBJECTS – Include cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees, artificial walls and pilings when located in penalty areas and bunkers, unless otherwise denoted. 

BALL DEFLECTED BY POWER LINE – If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line (or tower or a wire or pole supporting a power line) during the round, the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 for what to do). Model Local Rule E-11. 

TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – Include greenside fans, starting/scoring tents & temporary PKBGT signage. Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-23. 

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREEN (BALL IN GENERAL AREA CUT TO FAIRWAY HEIGHT) – Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1. In addition, if the player’s ball lies off the putting green and in the general area cut to fairway height and an immovable obstruction within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play, the player may take relief under Rule 16.1. Model Local Rule F-5. 

RELIEF FROM AERATION HOLES – If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole: (a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b (drop ball). If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule. (b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d (place ball). But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play. Model Local Rule E-4.

CADDIES – All players, except in Discovery division, are prohibited from using a caddie during a stipulated round unless otherwise stated in the Notice to Competitors.

SPECTATOR ADVICE – Under no circumstances are spectators able to give advice or a player ask a spectator for advice. In addition, any conversation between player/spectator may be construed as advice. This includes any conversation between player/spectator in a language other than English. Players are responsible for the actions of their relatives and spectators in regards to this rule. In either instance, the penalty for breach of this rule is two strokes, at the discretion of the rules official(s).

SPECTATORS - Spectators must remain on cart paths or in the rough, and approximately 30 yards from the players, except when helping to search for a ball. There may be no communication between players and spectators that could be deemed advice of any nature for the duration of the 18 holes.

TIME OF STARTING – A player is responsible for being at the assigned tee promptly to begin play on time. A player should arrive at the assigned tee prior to the player’s starting time in order to receive all information. Players will not be called to assigned tees. See Rule 5.3a. 

STOPPING AND RESUMING PLAY – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule J-1. A suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged note of a siren or horn. All players will be notified of suspension verbally and must stop play immediately. All other suspensions will be signaled by 3 consecutive notes of a siren or horn. In either case, resumption of play will be signaled by 2 short notes of a siren or horn (unless otherwise indicated). See Rule 5.7b. Note: All practice areas are closed during an immediate suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open. Players who practice will be asked to stop practicing; failure to stop practicing might result in disqualification. 

TRANSPORTATION - Players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round. UNLESS, shuttles are provided by tour officials or volunteers in designated shuttle areas noted in the Notice to Competitors. Players are prohibited from sitting in or riding in a cart driven by a family member and/or coach during the round played. Players are prohibited to ride other than these shuttle areas. This rule is waived in the event of inclement weather/emergency situation where player safety is in question.

PRACTICING BETWEEN ROUNDS- Prior to and after a round in stroke play, a player may practice on the designated practice areas. Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is modified in this way: A player may not practice on the competition course before or between rounds on a competition day. Model Local Rule I-1.2.

SCORECARDS – In the event that a defined, roped scoring area exist, a scorecard is deemed returned to the Committee when the competitor leaves the scoring area. In the absence of such an area, a scorecard is deemed returned to the Committee when the score is posted on the official scoreboard. In the case that no physical scoreboard is used, a scorecard is deemed returned to the committee when the score has been verified by the scorer. No alteration may be made on a scorecard by a competitor after it is returned to the Committee. Competitors are encouraged to remain in the scoreboard area until their scores are posted.

MISSING PLAYER OR MARKER CERTIFICATION - Model Local Rule L-1 as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect.

HOW TO DECIDE TIES - In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff starting at a hole determined by the Committee. For all other ties, a scorecard tie-breaking system will be used. In multi-day events, the tiebreaker will be the lowest score of the most recent round, and then if necessary, the lowest score of the next previous round, etc. In the event there is still a tie, the tie will then be broken by the scores of the most recent round starting on the 18th hole and working backwards to determine trophy positions. In one-day events, all other ties will be determined by a scorecard play-off starting on the 18th hole and working backwards to determine trophy positions. For ties in both one-day and multi-day events, tour points will be equally distributed among tied players.

CLOSE OF COMPETITION- The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when the Committee has approved all scores. 

LIVE SCORING - Players are required to provide their scorecard to a scoring checkpoint station when asked.

Play is governed by the 2023 USGA Rules of Golf except as amended by the PKBGT Rules of Play and the following Local Rules shown below.  Disregard local rules printed on the club scorecard.

DOUBT TO PROCEDURE:  Only members of the Rules Committee are authorized to render a Rules Decision. If in doubt as to the correct procedure, and a member of the Rules Committee is not present, play a second ball under Rule 20.1c (3) and report the facts to the Committee even if the scores are the same with both balls.

RULES HOTLINE: Call 540-315-1215.  If a group is waiting for a ruling, and the hole in front of that group is open, wave to the following group to play through.

NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

COURSE TEES: Players will play the black PKBGT Bell tee markers.  

PLAY READY GOLF: Ready golf means that ALL golfers should go to their balls as soon as possible and get READY to play their shots. While waiting to hit, players should SURVEY their shot, SELECT their clubs, TAKE them from their bags, and STAND at their balls READY to step up and make the shot when it is their turn. That’s Ready Golf.

PREFERRED LIES (MLR E-3): When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less on the hole being played, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball within one club length of the spot of the original ball, not nearer the hole and in the general area.  The player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.  The ball must be placed only once by setting it down on the spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot.  

DROP ZONE: There are no drop zones for this event.  Ignore any lines or signage for drop areas.

HOLE #8 - MARGIN OF THE PENALTY AREA: In front of the green, the margin of the penalty area is defined by the rock wall which is part of the red penalty area.

CART PATHS: If a ball is at rest in an area of turf damage due to cart traffic and worn areas within one club length of the cart path then players may take free relief, one club length—no closer to the hole.

RULES COMMITTEE: Mike Parker (PKBGT), Erika Hallmark  (PKBGT), Ed Cochrane (Rules Official), Taylor Monfort (Rules Official), John Barr (Rules Official), Melissa Trowbridge (LPGA Host Professional).