PIAA District IV Golf Post-Season Info
The 2024 District IV Individual Golf Tournament will be played at the Williamsport Country Club, and the team championships will be played at White Deer Golf Course.
Contact Information
Mike Snyder
120 Penn Street
Montgomery, PA 17752
Fax: (570) 547-6755
msnyder@montasd.org
Tournament Schedule
The schedule for the district, sub-regional, and state golf events will be as follows:
Wednesday, September 25: 2A/3A Team Championships and Individual Qualifier (11:00 am start) @ White Deer Golf Course
Monday, September 30: 3A Girls Individual Championships with District 11 (10:00 am start) @ Elkview Country Club
Thursday, October 3: 2A/3A Boys and 2A Girls First-round individual play (11:00 am) @ Williamsport Country Club
Saturday, October 5: Second-round individual play (10:00 am) @ Williamsport Country Club
Thursday, October 10: 2A/3A Team Sub-Regional with District 2 (10:00 am start) @ Fox Hill Country Club
October 21-22: PIAA Individual Championships (8:30 am start) @ Penn State University
October 23: PIAA Team Championships (8:30 am start) @ Penn State University
QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Note: 3A female golfers will automatically compete in a sub-regional tournament with District II, qualifying them for the PIAA Individual Championship. The sub-regional will be held on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Elkview Country Club, with a rain date of Tuesday, October 1, 2024. All players will report to their assigned hole by 9:45 am. Cost for the tournament is $33 per entrant. Please bring checks the day of the event made payable to District II and hand in to Mr. Ben Tolerico.
To qualify individually, male players must have an average score of 44 or better (for those playing predominately 9-hole matches) or 88.00 or better (those playing predominately 18-hole matches). Female golfers must average 50 or better (for those playing predominately 9-hole matches) or 100.00 or better (for those playing predominately 18-hole matches). In order to post a qualifying average a golfer must have at least golfed a total of 45 holes.
In addition to the season scoring average qualification measure, any male or female golfer who does not meet the above standard may participate in the Last Chance District Qualifier at White Deer Golf Course on September 25, 2024. Any male who shoots 88 or below and any female who shoots 100 or below that day will automatically qualify for the individual district tournament. This includes all golfers who are participating in the team event as well.
Golfers MAY drop their highest scores based on their total number of holes played as follows:
| Total Holes Played | Eligible scores to drop |
|---|---|
| 63 or more | One 18 hole score or Two 9 hole match scores totaling 18 holes |
| 54 | One 9 match hole score |
Schools with a golf team may enter as many players individually as qualify by these criteria; at-large entries from schools that do not sponsor a golf team may likewise enter as many players as qualify by these criteria.
Names and average scores for the 2024 season should be submitted on the enclosed entry form. Pairings will be made using these average scores.
QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Each eligible school with a golf team is invited to enter up to five (5) male golfers and up to five (5) female golfers in the team championship. Remember that beginning with the 2017 season, girls teams may now play and score three golfers. Teams also have the option of entering up to five golfers, but only three will count towards their total score. In order to be eligible for the District IV Team Championship a school must have a winning percentage of 50% or better or have earned a conference or league championship. Any school that sponsors a girls team will automatically qualify for the team championships.
The enclosed entry form should list the results of each match your team participates in during the season (prior to the deadline for entry). If your team competes against several other teams during a match, you may summarize the results for the competition as shown, rather than list each individual team involved. (See the team entry form for an example.)
Boys or Co-ed teams competing in the Team Championship may play five and record four scores. Girls teams in the Team Championship may play five and record three scores. The team champions in each class will be the qualifying team with the lowest aggregate score. (Teams with four or more participating players that do not qualify for the Team Championship by the 50% winning percentage criterion will not be eligible for the Team Championship regardless of total score.)
The team champions in each class will be the qualifying team with the lowest aggregate score. (Teams with four or more participating players that do not qualify for the Team Championship by the 50% winning percentage criterion will not be eligible for the Team Championship regardless of total score.)
Teams with winning percentages of 50% or greater are reminded that you may enter golfers in the Team Championship who do not meet the qualifying criteria for the individual championship.
There will be a Class 2A and 3A, male and female team champion, provided there are teams that meet the entry criterion in each class. The team champions in each class will compete with District II in a PIAA Sub-Region Tournament at a location, date, and time listed above. The winners of the Sub-Region Tournament will advance to the state team championships.
Boys District champion teams must have a team score of 400 or lower to advance to the Sub-Regional Tournament. Girls District champion teams must have a team score of 300 or lower to advance to the Sub-Regional Tournament.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The District IV Golf Tournament will be conducted in accordance with the PIAA rules and regulations. The following rules and regulations are in addition to the established PIAA rules.
- The TOURNAMENT will start promptly each day. Coaches should report to the registration area at least one hour before the start time each day. A coaches' meeting will be held prior to the start of each day of the tournament. This meeting is mandatory for all coaches.
- Each coach will be assigned a foursome, and will be responsible for keeping score for all players in their assigned group. Further details of coaches' responsibilities will be covered in the mandatory meeting. Thursday play begins with a shotgun start; Saturday play will begin with tee times. First round scores will be used to determine the men's and women's team championship, as well as individual male and female qualifiers for the second round of the tournament. Meetings will be held with coaches and players prior to the start of the tournament on each day of the competition.
- Medals will be awarded to the six (6) lowest male scores (white tees) in Class 2A as well as the lowest two (2) scores in Class 3A. Medals will be awarded to the three (3) lowest female scores (red tees) in Class 2A. The lowest team total, based on the best four aggregate scores of 18 holes for qualifying male (white tees) and the best three aggregate scores of 18 holes female (red tees) teams will be awarded the 2024 Team Championship Trophy in Class 2A (boys and girls) and Class 3A (boys and girls). If two or more teams tie, the team champion will be determined by a sudden-death playoff, if possible. (Top four scorers only; four-person totals per hole will be tallied until there is a winner.) If inclement weather does not allow for a sudden-death playoff, ties will be broken by match of cards using total (four-person) back nine scores, then back six, back three, back two, and last hole (#18) totals.
- If individuals are tied, the champion or last regional qualifier will be determined by a sudden death playoff, if possible. If inclement weather does not allow for a sudden death playoff, ties will be broken by match of cards using back nine scores, then back six, back three, back two, and last hole (#18). All other individual ties for placement (medal winners) will be determined by the same match of cards procedure. The six (6) male Class 2A medal-winners, the two (2) male Class 3A medal-winners, and the three (3) female Class 2A medal-winners, will advance directly to the PIAA Individual Championship Tournament at Penn State University.
- District IV will determine its representatives for regional play by October 11, 2024. Therefore, if weather conditions result in only one round of play, please understand that the boys and girls individual qualifiers will be determined by this single round of play.
- In case of light rain and no lightning, the tournament will proceed. The decision will be made at the course on the day(s) played. Do not assume postponements.
- A Committee of OFFICIALS appointed by the District IV Chairman will rule on all disputes. The HOST course will provide a list of all local rules.
- TIE SCORES, both team and individual, will be decided by sudden death starting on the first (#1) hole, weather permitting.
- NO STUDENT-ATHLETES are permitted in the bar area.
- Standard golf etiquette is stressed for all participants – replace divots, rake footprints in sand traps, and repair ball marks on putting surfaces. If imposed, golfers should abide by any COVID-19 guidelines pertaining to raking trap areas.
- Proper golf attire is to be worn: Shirts should have collars or be a suitable sports "performance" tee; no jeans; no denim or cut-off shorts; no tank tops; no visible undergarments; no backwards hats; no metal-spiked or hard-soled shoes.
- Preferred lies or summer rules decisions will be determined by the District IV Tournament Committee.
- Coaches are not permitted to follow players.
- COACHES: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE RULES OF GOLF TO CLARIFY A RULES QUESTION. ENCOURAGE THE GOLFER TO USE THE USGA RULE BOOK, RULE 3-3, THE SECOND BALL PROCEDURE.
- Point of Clarification: There have been a few inquiries as to whether or not a female golfer could participate in both the girls' and boys' tournament. According to the PIAA office, "A girl may participate in the girls' district qualifier because that is how she will be competing if she advances to the regional tournament. She is also eligible to compete in the boys' team championships if she has competed with the boys' team all season. However, she must take her score from the girls' district qualifier to advance to the regional tournament. She may not use her score from the boys' team tournament."
- Use of Range Finders/GPS is permitted. During regular-season and post-season golf contests, players are authorized to use devices that measure or gauge distances only (range finders or GPS). If a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player's play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of USGA Rule 14-3. The penalty for this infraction is disqualification from the tournament, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used. Please note: Since the use of cell phones on the course during play is prohibited, Range Finder or GPS apps on a cellphone that might otherwise conform to the rules is also prohibited. Show your Range Finder/GPS to the starter or a District IV Committee member before you begin play!
NEED TO KNOW ITEMS
Conduct of Players
A two-stroke penalty shall be assessed for conduct unbecoming an interscholastic golfer. Such conduct shall include, but not be limited to: Club throwing (defined as releasing a club in anger or in a manner to cause harm to any person or to a golf course), use of abusive or profane language, willful acts which damage property or equipment or a golf course, or other unbecoming conduct as determined by the Tournament Director or Rules Committee.
Non-motorized Push or Pull carts permitted
Beginning with the 2015 Golf Season, the PIAA Board of Directors accepted the recommendation of the Golf Steering Committee, to permit the use of non-motorized push or pull carts where the host facility permits. Golfers are welcome to bring their own push/pull carts to the district tournament. As in previous years, if a player wishes to carry his/her bag, that is also permissible.
Spectator and Coach Decorum
If permitted to attend the tournament, parents, spectators, and the media who choose to walk the course, may do so under the following restrictions:
- DO NOT offer comments or make suggestions to the golfers. NO COACHING! This is not a stand-alone post-season team competition.
- DO NOT observe play from closer than twenty-five (25) yards BEHIND the group of competitors being observed.
- DO NOT cross over or observe play from teeing areas, fairways, or putting greens. Play may be observed from cart paths or the "rough" only.
- DO NOT move or talk when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke.
- DO NOT attempt to decide questions of fact, or attempt to apply the Rules of Golf.
- DO NOT move or attempt to identify a competitor's ball anywhere on the course (including out of bounds or in a hazard) – it is permissible to help find a potential lost ball if asked, but it is the competitor's job to identify.
CONTESTANTS' ATTIRE
All golf contestants are required to wear appropriate attire. Please refer to Rules and Regulations #10. No exceptions are permitted. Additionally, advertisements are limited to a 1 ½" x 1 ½" square manufacturer's logo/trade name on the golf shirt. School name/logos are permitted on the front and/or back of the golf shirt. Non-school sweaters and/or jackets will be permitted only when necessitated by weather conditions.
School-issued caps and caps with no logos or markings are permitted. College or other logos, and caps with tape over the logo will not be permitted.
Williamsport Country Club and White Deer Golf Course Rules
The rules will be provided by both Williamsport Country Club and White Deer Golf Course, and will be reviewed prior to tee off at the coaches meeting on both Thursday and Saturday.
ENTRY FORM SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Please complete the enclosed entry forms. Be sure to list individual averages/District IV Qualifying Tournament scores, and/or to indicate the five players who will be competing in the team tournament. Also enclose an ELIGIBILITY SHEET with the entry forms. This year there will be no entry fee. Lunch will not be provided and arrangements at local restaurants can be made, if necessary.
SEND ENTRY FORMS and ELIGIBILITY SHEETS no later than Friday, September 22, 2023.
