1. The boys' golf coaches will meet on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 2:45 p.m., at Johnson High School, Principal's Conference Room. All varsity coaches must attend this meeting.

    

2. Opening date for practice is Monday, March 21, 2016.

    

3. All coaches are encouraged to join the St. Paul Coaches Association and the Minnesota State Coaches Association.

    

4. Each school will be responsible for all practices, conference matches, and conference tournaments on city and county courses.

    

5. All schools will provide a list of varsity and junior varsity team members with their grade to the athletic director in charge of golf.

    

6. All varsity and junior varsity matches will be played from the white tees on all courses.

    

7. Team Score -- Golf coaches will play up to six golfers for the match. The team score will be the total of the four lowest scores shot that day.  Dual match scoring for conference standings will be two points for first, one point for a tie, and zero points for second.

    

8. Scorecards must be checked by each player after each hole. Any erasures must be initialed by all.  When the scorecards are signed, the match is over.  Scoring Area:  this will be designated as the area inside the clubhouse of the course being played.

    

9. The St. Paul City Conference Honor Rule is in force and will be strictly adhered to (see below).

    

10. Caddies and riding carts are not permitted.

     

11. Dress code for players -- Coaches are responsible for proper team attire.

     

    1. Clothing must be appropriate to golf. No clothing or hats displaying products that are inappropriate to MSHSL principles will be acceptable. Golfers in violation of the dress code will lose their right to play in the match.

        

    2. No running shorts, short shorts, or cut-offs are acceptable.

        

    3. Shirts must be worn. Tank tops are not acceptable.

        

    4. Shoes must be worn.

        

    5. Coaches should encourage uniformity in team dress.

        

    6. Collared shirts are preferred and, in some cases, are required by golf courses.

     

12. Coaches and spectators must follow the MSHSL rule concerning contact with players once a match has begun. Page 31 of the USPGA rules states that no one may be within 25-50 yards of a tournament or match player.

     

13. The winning team's coach will report the team results and medalist to the media the day of the match and to Laura Ranum by phone (767-3490) or e-mail (laura.ranum@SPPS.org) for website posting.

     

14. Warm up hitting will be allowed 15 minutes prior to the individual's tee time.

     

15. Matches will be played on scheduled dates unless schools are notified of postponement.

     

16. No cell phones on the course (texting, talking, looking, ringing)!! Violation will result in two stroke penalty with an on site appeal for special circumstances.

     

17. Discontinuing and Resuming Play

     

    1. The USGA suggests that players be informed that they have the right to stop play if they think lightning threatens them, even though the Committee may not have specifically authorized it by signal. Attention is called to Rules 36-4c and 37-6. In the event that a golfer leaves the grounds for sufficient reasons, his/her case will be ruled on under Rule 36-4c. The competing coaches will decide if play is to be discontinued if it is raining (without lightning present).

     

18. All-Conference selections:

     

    1. The top 12 players and ties from the 18-hole Conference match will play off the next day to determine the top six All-Conference honors. The combined scores of both days will be used to determine the All-Conference team. Each school may choose one Honorable Mention All-Conference player at the post-season meeting.

     

19. The conference golf season will consist of three parts:

     

    1. The first part will consist a nine-hole tournament, which will be scored: 6-5-4-3-2-1 (four scores will be used).

        

    2. The second part will consist of dual matches in which each team will meet every other team twice during the season (with four scores being used).

        

    3. The Conference Tournament will be scored 13-10-8-6-4-2 (five scores will be used).

     

20. If there is a tie score between two or more players in the 18-hole Conference Tournament, we will go back to the scorecard and start with the #1 handicapped hole and proceed until there is a winner. If there is still a tie, we will have a chip-off on the practice green. Each player will get one shot with the closest to the pin winning the playoff.

     

21. The ten (10) stroke pick-up rule will be in effect for all dual matches and conference tournament play.

     

22. Before a player is disqualified, the player, coach and a member of the Rules Committee will meet prior to the player signing his scorecard. The player will be given the opportunity to examine the hole score or scores in question. Once the scorecard is signed, the results are final after the player leaves the scoring area.

     

23. Doug Hoffman, M.G.A. -- 952-345-3965 (doug@mngolf.org)

ST. PAUL CITY CONFERENCE HONOR RULE

Golf is a game of honor. The game's code of honor is based on the integrity of the participants. Players are expected to call penalties on themselves. Without this integrity, the game, as we know if, cannot exist. To this end, the St. Paul City Conference has found it necessary to define cheating and establish a conference rule with consequences.

As such, "Cheating Defined" will be determined as follows: any player, determined to have committed a rules violation with the intent of willfully deceiving his competition shall be subjected to the following consequences (penalties are cumulative over the course of four years of eligibility):

1. First Violation -- Suspension for two matches or two weeks, whichever is longer. Suspended athlete is ineligible for any conference awards for that season;

    

2. Second Violation -- Suspension for the remainder of the season. Ineligible for any post-season conference competition or awards. Suspension covers that season or the next;

    

3. Third Violation -- Career suspension.

Investigation Procedure

As soon as it is possible, a Rules Committee will investigate the suspected cheating infraction. The Committee, comprised of conference coaches who are present, will interview separately the individuals involved with the reported incident. The Committee will gather as much information as they deem necessary to make their determination. After a decision has been made by this committee, any decision that comes to the determination that a cheating infraction has occurred, the following steps need to be followed:

1. Written statements from athletes involved detailing their involvement with the reported violation and their signatures.

    

2. A summary of the Rules Committee findings with determinations, recommendations and their signatures.

    

3. Submit written summary to the conference golf supervisor for the final approval of the Committee's recommendation

City of St. Paul, Department of Community Services, Parks and Recreation

HIGH SCHOOL GOLF POLICY

Each public, private and parochial high school which participates in the St. Paul City Conference will be permitted to play golf at the City's golf courses for a reduced rate of $10 per player, per nine-hole round subject to the following conditions.

1. All conference matches as scheduled by the Athletic Council for Independent School District 625, and approved by the Special Services Golf Program Supervisor will be granted a reserved tee-time between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday except holidays, provided no more than one match per course per day is scheduled.

    

2. Practice rounds will be allowed between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday except on holidays. If the course is busy, golf teams will alternate with regular patrons on the first tee.

    

3. All schools must provide a list of varsity team members. A maximum of twelve (12) golfers per school will be allowed. The twelve golfers will be designated by name and address and this list will be turned in to the Supervisor of Athletics for the School District. This must be done no later than April 15, 2016. No golfer will be allowed to play at a reduced rate until the lists are available to the Pro Managers of the four golf courses after April 15, 2016.

    

4. No team golfers will be allowed to play practice rounds, play matches or use the driving range without the golf coach supervising the activity. Use of driving range should be scheduled with the Pro Manager. Access and use will depend on availability. Golf coaches playing the day of the matches must tee off after all golfers have teed off.

    

5. Make-up of scheduled matches due to inclement weather is the responsibility of each coach to arrange with each Pro Manager. Make-up matches will have preference on the first tee over practice rounds.

    

6. All local course rules must be observed by all players.

    

7. This agreement ends after the last scheduled match of the season.

TWIN CITIES GOLF MATCH

DATE: TBA

TIME: TBA

PLACE: TBA

1. If two or more teams tie for the conference championship, the entry for the Twin Cities Match will be the school that has not participated most recently.

    

2. Eighteen holes will be played.

    

3. Four players will constitute a team.

    

4. The winning coach is responsible for calling in the score.

Information regarding sectional tournament competition will come from the section committee involved. See Minnesota State High School League Bulletin for complete information on State Golf Tournament.