MISSION STATEMENT

The BPGT Tour was founded in 2018 to provide quality golf events for Amateurs and Professionals in the Bahamas. While most events are operated at the national level, all events will strive to provide a unique golf experience for the amateur participants, in a professional atmosphere in compliance with USGA and R&A regulations, which allows players of all skill levels to compete. The BPGT Tour’s pro-am structured events will provide competitive pro payouts that are at least equal to the professional entry fees, allow for professional and amateur-friendly formats, and be conducted in a professional and exemplary matter.

A. CODE OF CONDUCT

1. The BPGT Tour will maintain a strict no-tolerance policy on any behavior unbecoming of a professional. Professionals are expected to always treat all amateurs and fellow professionals with courtesy and respect.
2. This is a PRO-AM based tour that relies on the amateur’s participation and enjoyment as well as the professional’s skill and conduct.
3. Conduct such as verbal abuse of any players, volunteers, or staff; vulgar language, club throwing, or damage to the golf course or golf course property is considered a violation. Violations also include the use of any alcohol on the course during competition. Illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs, cheating, withdrawing without good cause, improper dress, not maintaining financial responsibility, and any other unprofessional behavior. Violations could result in penalty shots, fines, and/or disqualification from one or all events conducted by the BPGT Tour.
4. Any serious violations, as determined by the Executive Director and/or the Executive Committee can result in automatic suspension and fines at any time. The length of any suspension shall be determined by the BPGT Tour Executive Director. If a course(s) has been damaged due to a violation the cost of repairing the damage must be paid in addition to any fines. Any disputes will be decided by the Executive Director in which his decision will be final.
5. The BPGT Tour will honor the suspension of any professional by BPGT, USGA, and R&A governing body.
6. Players are expected to always adhere to the Rules of Golf and protect the field from those who do not.

B. DRESS CODE

Slacks are required, however, on a site-by-site basis, Bermuda length shorts may be allowed. In the case of extreme heat or humidity, the Tournament Director has the option to allow shorts at his/her discretion.  No denim is permitted. All shirts must reflect appropriate attire, preferably collar shirts or mock turtleneck golf shirts, and must be tucked in at all times. Tee-shirts are not permitted. All hats must be worn forward.

C. ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cell phones is prohibited on the golf course except for emergencies or to contact the host golf shop. I-Pods or other like devices will only be permitted on the practice areas before and after tournament rounds. They are not allowed during competition.

A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a competition round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), all of those features must be turned off.  If a player does not turn those features off the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.

D. ENTRY FEE POLICY

Players may enter events on-line through the BPGT Tour website (www BPGT.com). All players wishing to play any event on the BPGT Tour must pay the Tour Membership fee. Alternately, if a player chooses not to become a member of the BPGT he/she may pay the Non-Member tournament entry fee per event. This fee must be paid before they are considered officially entered into any event.

It is a Code of Conduct violation to not maintain financial responsibility including the payment of entry fees.

E. PROFESSIONAL REFUND POLICY

Any professional withdrawing from an event outside 5 days prior to the official start of the event will be refunded his entire entry fee for that event. 

Any professional withdrawing from an event from 5 days to 48-hrs. prior to the official start of the event will be subject to a $50 minimum administration fee plus the Tour handling fee.

Any professional withdrawing inside the 48-hr. window prior to the official start of the event will forfeit his entire entry fee.

Refunds will be made after the event is concluded.

A player will be subject to a possible Code of Conduct violation if he withdraws from an event without good cause within 48 hours of the event’s start. A player no-showing for an event is subject to a Code of Conduct violation and may not be refunded any of his entry fees.

F. EXEMPT PROFESSIONAL POLICY

The top-3 players from the previous year’s Bonus Points List will be exempt players. This allows them special exemptions from qualifying at events with qualifiers. Each event’s exempt list will include the top 3 players from the previous year’s Bonus Points List, the top 3 place winners from the previous year, all previous winners from that event., and the top 3 from current points list.

Other sponsor exemptions are extended at the discretion of each tournament.

G. CARTS AND CADDIES

All players are permitted to use golf carts or pull/pushcarts. Two carts per foursome and two people per cart are allowed. Caddies may ride based on availability; players have priority on riding. All carts must be kept on the path around all tees and greens and will abide by the golf course’s cart policy; failure to do so will subject the professional to a possible fine. Walking is allowed as long as the event’s pace of play guidelines are being followed.

H. PROFESSIONAL PAYOUT GUIDELINES

Each event may distribute the professional purse using a fair and equitable payout distribution. The following guidelines will be adhered to by all events when determining the distribution:

1. Due to the quantity of professional players in The Bahamas, the 3^rd place finish will receive at least 100% of the Professional entry fee will be paid back.  Any additional sponsor’s money may be added to the purse and distributed as the tournament director and sponsors see fit.
2. Last place money must equal 1% of the professional purse or the professional entry fee, whichever is greater. In the event of a tie for the last place check, the overall total paid to all who tied for that place must at least be equal to one of the above options.
3. Only the top three (3) of the professional starting field will be paid. (See item 3 in Tournament Guidelines below)
4. The posted professional purse may be reduced due to late tournament withdrawals that are not filled unless the purse is guaranteed.

I. REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE BONUS POOL

1. Players must participate in 80% of the major events (2 and/or 3-day events) during the current season to qualify for the bonus pool.

J. TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES

The following guidelines are to ensure consistency from tournament to tournament and shall be followed by each event:

1. USGA/R&A Rules of Golf govern all play except where modified by the Local Rules. An events’ Local Rules should be posted/published before the start of the event.
2. The USGA 2017 CONFORMING CLUB rule WILL be enforced. For a list of conforming equipment please check the USGA website database at: www.usga.org/InfoClubsDB/index.asp
3. Hole locations sheets are available at the Tournament Directors’ option.
4. Multi-day events shall ensure that players have at least one morning and one afternoon starting time during the first two days (unless using a single shotgun). If using multi-tee waves each player shall start at least once on #1 tee and once on #10 tee during the first two days.
5. All ties for first place will be decided by sudden death playoff immediately after play.
6. A policy for weather delays and round cancellations should be posted/published before the start of the event. Rainout Policy: In the event of a rain suspension, subsequent play – whether on that day or a following day – will be decided by the    Tournament Committee. If a complete rainout occurs on the final day of the event, all of that day’s play will be canceled and the payout will be distributed according to the standings prior to the round.
7. The golf course will be marked appropriately prior to the start of the event, including water hazards, ground-under-repair, out-of-bounds, ball drops, etc. These areas should be marked with stakes and/or appropriately colored lines and be clearly visible to eliminate any potential rule problems.                                                                  
8. Any purses to be paid should be posted/published with a breakdown of the payment to each place.  This can be done after the final field has been determined.
9.  Pace of Play policy, Rules committee members, and how Rules appeals will be handled should be posted/published.
10. Committee of each event will prepare its own pairings for professionals and amateurs.  Professionals should be paired with amateurs based on their ability to interact positively with the amateurs, as well as their potential playing ability. Tournament Directors do not have to put a “veteran” or “highly skilled” professional with an amateur team if the Director does not feel that the professional can interact positively with the amateurs and help them to have an enjoyable experience.

11. Scoring should be done in a timely manner and be posted in a public place for all participants to view.
12. Scoring should be published via the BPGT Golf website during or immediately after each players’ round.
13. A final list of all participants must be sent to the Executive Director with the final results.
14.   The fees to be paid to the BPGT Tour are as follows.
15. Major Events (2 and/or 3-day tournaments): $350.00 plus Non-members fees is $450.00 and $300.00 respectively for 2 and/or 3-day tournaments for professionals. Amateurs $200.00 and $250.00 respectively for2 and/or 3-day tournaments.
16. One-Day tournaments: $200.00 for each professional with membership and $250.00 for non-members.
17. $125.00 for each Amateur with membership, non-member fee is $150.00. All non-member professionals will pay $100.00 more per event, Amateurs will pay $50.00 more per event.
18. This fee should be paid within 7 days of the close of each tournament.
19.  The professional players’ BPGT Tour Membership fee is $200.00 for the season. Amateur membership fee is $125.00.
20. Universal sign-up cutoff date for exempt players will be used. That date will be 15 days prior to the 1st day of the event. Exempt players will be guaranteed a spot in the field if they are in good standing with the tour and the tournament, Register and pay by this date. If they register after this date, they lose the exempt privilege for that event.
21. On-line registration for 2021 exempt players will begin on March 26th, 2021. On-line registration for all others will open on March 8^th, 2021.