Preparing for an AJGA Tournament

First Day of the Tournament
Tournament Rounds

Your son or daughter has just been accepted to an AJGA tournament. What is your next step as a parent before heading to your child’s tournament with your tennis shoes and sport seat in tow?

Acceptance Information via E-mail
Once your child receives the AJGA acceptance information via e-mail, it is advised that you and your child read all the provided information thoroughly and in its entirety. As you begin planning for the tournament, you will find that this information serves as a key reference guide and resource. All acceptance information will also be posted on the AJGA Web site.

Travel and Lodging
To ease the planning process, the e-mailed acceptance information provides detailed information regarding transportation and lodging. Driving directions and distances to and from the airport(s), host facility and host hotel are all listed, as well as contact information for both the host facility and hotel. It is suggested that all tournament participants and families stay at the host facility for the convenience of attending AJGA Player and Parent Meetings, AJGA socials and utilizing the provided AJGA transportation, if needed. It is also recommended that you book hotel and flight reservations as soon as you receive your acceptance information because room blocks and discounted room rates are limited.

Schedule of Events
A tournament schedule of events will be among the information provided in the acceptance e-mail, which will list tee time blocks, player and parent meetings and socials. Before reserving transportation and lodging, please look carefully at dates and times to avoid arrival and/or departure conflicts. Also, when arranging travel plans, please allow enough time to attend all first-day events (practice round, mandatory Players Registration and Meeting and Parents Meeting).

First Day of the Tournament

Practice Round

• Juniors, get to know the golf course as you play a practice round with some of your fellow competitors. Your tournament information will provide details as to when and where to sign up for the practice round, which is usually a shotgun start.

Junior-Ams

• Depending on the type of tournament, a Junior-Am may also be conducted on the first day of the tournament. If the Junior-Am is listed in your schedule of events, and your child has been invited to play, please encourage your son or daughter to participate. This is an excellent opportunity for them to interact with local sponsors and supporters of the AJGA, and make potential lifetime contacts in the business world. If you are invited to play in the Junior-Am, that will serve as your practice round.

Players Registration/Meeting and Parents Meeting

• Following the practice round is the Players Registration and Players Meeting. At registration, players will receive pairings, tournament information and gifts, including golf balls. The subsequent Players Meeting will cover important information regarding the tournament and Local Rules. These events are MANDATORY. Should you be unable to attend, you must contact the Tournament Director in advance.
  
  
• A Parents Meeting is also held, usually at the same time as the Players Meeting. Even though the Parents Meeting is not mandatory, it is highly recommended because it gives every AJGA Parent an opportunity to learn more about the Association.

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Tournament Rounds

Getting Started

• It is the player’s responsibility to be at the starting tee at the designated tee time. Late arrival to the tee may result in two stroke penatly or disqualification. The AJGA recommends arriving at the tee 10 minutes prior to your tee time (15 minutes on equipment survey day). An AJGA staff member will provide scorecards, hole location sheets, Notice to Competitors and other instructions to get you started on the right foot. The starter will announce each player’s name and hometown before he or she tees off.

Equipment Survey

• As a service to the AJGA’s sponsors, the starter will conduct an equipment survey with each competitor prior to the start of the first round (the round may vary at some tournaments).

Cookout

• The AJGA typically offers a cookout, which usually includes a social activity, following the first or second round at each tournament. Parents and juniors may dine for free, compliments of the AJGA. Have a good time, but keep the Code of Conduct in mind. Not only is the Tournament Cookout complimentary for players and families of the AJGA, it is an excellent opportunity to interact with other players and families, staff and sponsors of the AJGA.

Final Round

• Final-round tee times, which are based on the player’s two-day total, will be posted at the host hotel and facility, along with a phone number for players to call during a designated time.

Awards Ceremony

• Trophies are generally awarded to the top-five boys and top-three girls at each tournament. The awards ceremony will take place immediately following the conclusion of the competition.

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