The Platinum Tour is pleased to announce that our tournament on
May 24th and 25th at The Rookery at Marco in Marco Island has
been designated as a "Qualifying Tournament" for the 2008
Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.
One girl, between the ages of 15-17 will receive an exemption
into the 2008 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San
Diego, CA., July 15-18, 2008. This division will play at Carlton
Oak Country Club.
One girl, between the ages of 13-14 will receive an exemption
into the 2008 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San
Diego, CA., July 15-18, 2008. This division will play at Sycuan
Resort (Oak Glen Course)
One boy, between the ages of 15-17 will receive an exemption
into the 2008 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San
Diego, CA., July 15-18, 2008. This division will play at Torrey
Pines (South Course)
One boy, between the ages of 13-14 will receive an exemption
into the 2008 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San
Diego, CA., July 15-18, 2008. This division will play at
Riverwalk Golf Course (Presidio/Mission Course)
Players who qualify must meet all the conditions set forth by
the 2008 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.
If
you are 12 years old and you will turn 13 between May 25th and
July 18th, you may elect to play up in the Boys 13-14 Division
for our Platinum Tour tournament.
If
you are 14 years old and you will turn 15 between May 25th and
July 18th, you may elect to play up in the Boys 15-18 Division
for our Platinum Tour tournament.
Email Rick Toste
ricmedic@aol.com if you want to
play up in an older division.
There is no additional charge for attempting to qualify. All
players in the Platinum Tour tournament will automatically be
entered in the qualifying if they meet the age requirements.
The Platinum Tour is a division of
Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation, Inc., a 501 (C) (3) non-profit, charitable organization and is registered with the State of Florida, Division of Corporations. GCJGF was incorporated in 1998 to offer junior golfers an organized tournament and instructional program throughout the year. Prior to 1998 few opportunities existed for juniors to play, learn, and continue to grow with golf once summer programs were completed. The GCJGF program began with about 45 members and has grown to 335 members in 2006-2007 year, participating in fourteen events, including the Prestige Junior Championships, an International junior tournament during the Thanksgiving holidays. The GCJGF program is available to all Boys and Girls, who have not reached their 19th birthday or entered college, regardless of their golf experience. There are many players who gained valuable tournament experience by participating in the GCJGF program during their early years and who went on to succeed in national amateur and professional tournaments.
There are still many of those first members now in their teens, who's golf game is greatly improved, that are seeking reasonably priced tournaments to play which offer competitive fields, played at quality venues, and award exquisite trophies. The Board of Directors of GCJGF has decided to offer those opportunities beginning in March 2008 and ending in October 2008 for juniors demonstrating advanced abilities by creating the Platinum Tour.
Each Platinum Tour tournament will be scheduled for 18 holes on Saturday and the final 18 holes on Sunday, for a 36 hole total score. The host venues will be located throughout South Florida. The entry fee for each tournament is $125 for a Platinum Tour member. A $25 discount is available for each additional family member entering the same tournament.
Adam Harrell, a well known teaching professional with the Jim McLean Academy since 1996, has agreed to be the Tour's Tournament Director. Adam is originally from Roanoke, VA and a graduate of George Mason University. Possessing the skills for teaching all levels of players from beginner to PGA Tour, he is especially passionate about helping junior golfers reach their potential. Adam watched an almost unbelievable feat by the Western High School girls team he was training in 2003 when they won the State Championship with just three players, the minimum number required to play, with each girl's score counting for the team total.
Adam is excited to be associated with the Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation and will have the full support of GCJGF to insure the administrative side of the Platinum Tour is available to each tour member and tournament. He looks forward to seeing everyone at the course.
Crystal trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each of the five divisions. A "Player of the Year" award will be awarded to the player in each division who has accumulated the most
Platinum Tour Points throughout the year. The player with the lowest stroke average overall for the season, using their best 10 scores, will
receive the
"Player Excellence" award.
The Platinum Tour membership fee is $75. Players may also join GCJGF for an additional $50 and participate in the Gold Program 18-hole events. Click on Membership in the menu column to begin your opportunity to display your skills as a Platinum Tour card holder.
NOVEMBER
27, 2007
Please note that donations Honoring Harris Armstrong - 18 Hole Avila Tournament. Donations can be made payable to Pediatric Cancer Foundation or Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association and mailed to GTJGA office ( P.O. Box 271144, Tampa, Fl. 33688.) Harris will personally present to Pediatric Cancer Foundation at the end of January. See website for more information.
Checks can be made payable to Pediatric Cancer Foundation or Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association. Donations should be mailed to Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association. They will be collected and given to Harris to personally present to Pediatric Cancer Foundation at the end of January. Thank you for supporting our children, research, and hope!
As many may already know, Joe Vogel is no longer allowed by "NCAA" rules to be associated with any junior golf program. So next year (March 2008) the South Florida Jr. Golf Tour will be called the Platinum Tour and will be a division of Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation, founded in 1998 by Wayne McKinney.
Mr. McKinney is a former golf professional and has been involved with junior golf since 1964, served on the Board of Directors of the JGA of Broward County, and is currently Executive Director of the JGA of Broward County. Four years ago Wayne and I (Rick Toste) founded the Prestige Junior Championships, an international junior golf event held at PGA National Resort & Spa during the Thanksgiving holidays.
Adam Harrell, a well known teaching golf professional with the Jim McLean Golf Academy since 1996, will be the new Platinum Tour Tournament Director and Wayne McKinney will handle the tour’s administration side.
As for me (Rick Toste) I will still be very much involved with the new Platinum Tour, as I will continue to serve on the GCJGF Board of Directors. But since my son (Zach Toste) is getting older he will be playing more FJT and AJGA events and that will not allow me to be present at all of the Platinum Tour events. So I will also be stepping down as Tournament Director. I want to assure everyone that these changes that are taking place are for the betterment of the tour! I know for a fact that under Wayne and Adam everything will remain the same and things will be better in the long run. It has been my pleasure serving all of you as Tournament Director this past year, and I know that all of our junior members and families will continue their support of the new Platinum Tour! Please visit the Platinum Tour's website by clicking the link below. Please remember that we still have 2 events remaining this year with South Florida Jr. Golf Tour!
WWW.PLATINUMTOUR.ORG
To: All State Golf and Junior Golf Associations, PGA Sections, Junior Golf Tours, Independent Junior Golf Tournaments.
Fr: Mac Thayer – Executive Director
Subj: Reporting and publishing of player DQ’s, WD’s, NS’s and NC’s
Over the last two years, all of us have been concerned and have commented about the pattern of unwarranted withdrawals by players after having played poorly or for some other reason. In the spirit of “sunlight is the best disinfectant”, effective January 1, 2007, for all tournaments commencing play after that date, the Junior Golf Scoreboard will accept results reported with players who were disqualified, withdrew, were no-shows after having started play, or no-carded themselves. The Scoreboard will then do the following:
1)
Publish the tournament results, listing last, the players who have a DQ, WD, NS or NC.
2) Maintain that information in a player’s file
3)
Display that information in the “Player Results” pop-up box in the Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings™ under the heading “Other Tournaments”
The player’s actual ranking will not be affected but the information will remain on display for a period of one year after its occurrence. Please take time to review the chart attached. Please also note that your decisions about a player’s status are yours alone and are final. We will forward all questions about a particular player to your organization.
Over the last few months, we have spoken with several junior tours and state junior golf directors about this initiative and have received valuable input and unanimous support. In addition, both college golf coach associations (GCAA and NCGA) have issued a joint letter written to the junior golf community about coaches’ attitude towards junior golf withdrawals. That letter is provided to you to use as you see fit. You are permitted and encouraged to publish that letter and this one on your website and/or to distribute copies to your players or members in mailings or at tournaments.
Please find attached the coaches’ letter and a chart that outlines the use and guidelines of DQ, WD, NS and NC. These conform with the USGA TPP codes and were designed during the conversations we mentioned. During December, please feel free to call with any questions. You input is welcome as we approach the announcement in December. (Those organizations using BlueGolf, please call us)
Many thanks to Les Brown(FSGA), Todd Thompson (SJGT), Rob Jansen (AJGA), Dustin Jensen (CoJGA), Chris Childers (PGA Junior Series), Tom Cunningham (JGAA), Dan McQuire(IJGA-ret).
FEBRUARY 4, 2007
Overall consideration – do the tournament officials feel that the situation was one in which there was no intention or managed purpose (DQ) or was there intent or a deliberate decision by the player (WD or NC)?
All final decisions rests with tournament officials.
|
Category name |
Designation |
Explanation |
Report to Junior Golf Scoreboard |
|
No show before competition begins |
-- |
Those players who do not come to the tournament at all |
NO
Each organization handles internally |
|
Disqualified |
DQ |
Reserved for actual USGA rules infraction that occurs without a deliberate or managed intention |
YES + any official scores |
|
Withdrawal – unjustified or questionable*
Justified* – DO NOT REPORT
* Many thanks to the AJGA for their categories |
WD |
Reserved for a deliberate voluntary action or decision not to continue play after having started a competition and turned in a score.
|
YES + any official scores
(NO – for justified WD’s) |
|
No show |
NS |
Completed one or more rounds – fails to report for tee time |
YES + any official scores
|
|
No card
(worst action by player) |
NC
|
After having begun competition – a deliberate decision not to sign or turn in a card |
YES + any official scores
|
Examples:
1) Player does not come to tournament at all – handled by tournament organization – do not report
2) Player tees it up, plays a complete or partial stipulated round, walks off without turning in scorecard for any reason - NC (Deliberate decision by player)
3) Player tees it up, plays, signs card, does not call or speak to an official, fails to show for next round – NS (Deliberate decision by player by not coming to course, calling or speaking to an official)
4) Player plays, signs card, actually comes to course reports late for tee time or calls to acknowledge being late, – DQ (While this might be deliberate,giving benefit of the doubt)
4a) Calls to say they are sick – WD (no way to verify unless tournament asks for doctor’s letter)
5) Player tees it up, plays, signs card, notifies official that they will not be playing next round, no justifiable reason – WD (Deliberate decision by player to withdraw)
6) Player unintentionally fails to sign scorecard – DQ (Unintentional action by player)
7) Player fails to sign card after being given an opportunity to do so – NC (Deliberate decision by player)
8) Player has clear, verifiable physical condition or family emergency reason for not continuing play – Justified WD (do not report)
Dear Junior Golfers and Junior Golf Supporters:
The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA-men) and the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA-women) have recently been made aware of a growing concern in junior golf regarding tournament withdrawals. Obviously, as there is in any type of golf competition, withdrawal for legitimate illness, injury or personal emergency is understood. However, it has come to our attention that the practice of withdrawing from events in order to protect scoring average and/or national ranking is occurring.
One of the hallmarks of the game of golf is that it is a sport of honesty, integrity and discipline. In no other sport are the participants asked to enforce the rules of the game themselves and behave in a manner beyond reproach. College coaches throughout the country evaluate prospective student-athletes based not only on their success in the classroom and on the course, but also on their integrity. The ability to perform despite adversity is a characteristic that all coaches place a very high premium on during the evaluation and recruiting process. Especially noticeable are those players who "press on" during challenging times in competition and especially those who shoot better scores after a poor round. Equally noticeable to college coaches are those players who choose not to finish a competition. Final decisions on who coaches believe will best measure up to the challenges of college golf are made based on subtle differences. Through the cooperation and assistance of junior golf tournament organizers and the Junior Golf Scoreboard our members are able to see the results of all those who participate throughout the country and around the world.
On behalf of all college coaches, please accept our best wishes as you continue to play the game!
Sincerely, Sincerely,
John Fields Kelley Hester
President, GCAA President, NGCA
University of Texas University of Arkansas
