Tour Information

In February 2012 we will begin our 15^th season. The 2012 season will have some course changes. We will add The Preserve in Ocean Springs, MS. We will also play a combined event with the Emerald Coast Senior tour at The Bridges in Bay St Louis, MS. We will keep our individual tours points but also have a match against their tour. Hopefully these additions will make the tour even more enjoyable than our previous years. We will continue the player’s pool at all tournaments. We will differentiate the divisions by length of the golf courses for the player’s pool and for our regular play. (Example: If the regular tour is playing a course at 6700 yards we will adjust the seniors to play from 6500 and the super seniors from 6300 yard). This will enable us to have all age groups participate in the same player’s pool. Each player (at their choice) will put up $30.00 per tournament. We will pay (6) six places in the player’s pool. We will pay the 2 day total only. The breakdown would look like this. (20 players participating = $600. Broken over six places it would breakout at approximately: 1^st $200 (33%) 2^nd $150 (25%) 3^rd $100 (17%) 4^th $70 (12%) 5^th $50 (8%) 6^th $30 (5%) This would give the sixth place finisher his money back. These would be the amounts for 20 players. If the number of participants goes up the payouts would be greater. We would also look at the differential in the distance difference after the first event and adjust as needed to make everything as fair as possible. Hopefully this will give more people an incentive to play.

Ø There will be three (3) divisions in the tour for the 2012 season. (Regular division (21 to 44) (Senior division (45 to 59) (Super Senior division (60 and up.) The senior divisions will declare on the entry form which age group they will play in. You will qualify for your age group as long as you will turn that age in the year 2012. (Example: if you are turning 60 on July 10^th of 2012 you may play as a super senior for the 2012 season. The regular tour will play tees, approximately 6600 to 6900 yards, senior tees approximately 6300 to 6600 yards, and super senior tees 6000 to 6300 yards.

Ø Prizes per tournament will be based on a percentage of player participation per division in each tournament (Regular, Senior, and Super Senior.) Prize distribution will be posted at each tournament.

Ø Tour Championship will have double points. (Scoring and Participation)

Ø End of the year BONUS points given for tournament participation (explanation below)

Ø Tour Championship: Invitation to the Tour Championship will be based on a percentage of membership per division. (Explanation below)

The Louisiana Scratch Tour is a series of amateur golf tournaments aimed at players who enjoy competitive golf within an organized stroke play format. The purpose of our group is to promote sportsmanship and competitive spirit while improving individual overall golf ability. Our format will be 36 hole stroke play tournaments with no handicap. We will play a ten (10) tournament schedule for all divisions. We will play all divisions on the same dates. A player must choose which division they will participate in at each tournament, age permitting.

Our tour is based on a points system. Points will be awarded for each tournament based on the players finishing position (see point distribution schedule). The accumulation of points over our tournament series for the regular, senior, and super senior divisions will determine our top players in each division. These top players (explanation below) in each division will be invited to our tour sponsored championship tournament. You do not have to play in all tournaments, but BONUS points will be awarded for number of tournaments played during the year (explanation below).

Annual membership dues are $125.00 and you must be a member of the Louisiana Scratch Tour to participate in tour events. One membership is good for all divisions of play age permitting. Each tournaments entry fee includes green fee and cart for Saturday and Sunday and gift certificates for the top finishers in each division (Regular, Senior and Super Senior.). The entries for each tournament will be limited to 96 players. Each tour member will receive a copy of our schedule and the rules for tournament play. Eligibility requirements shall be a USGA handicap of 12 or less and a minimum age of 21 for the regular tour and a minimum age of 45 in the current year and handicap of 18 or less for senior and minimum age of 60 in the current year for super senior players and a handicap of 20 or less. The tour starts the 2012 schedule with our first tournament in February.

Louisiana Scratch Tour Series Point Distribution

SCORING POINTS

1^st	-----	175	11^th	-----	44	21^st	------	22
2^nd	-----	125	12^th	-----	40	22^nd	------	20
3^rd	-----	100	13^th	-----	38	23^rd	------	18
4^th	-----	75	14^th	-----	36	24^th	------	16
5^th	-----	70	15^th	-----	34	25^th	------	14
6^th	-----	65	16^th	-----	32	26^th	------	12
7^th	-----	60	17^th	-----	30	27^th	------	10
8^th	-----	56	18^th	-----	28	28^th	------	8
9^th	-----	52	19^th	-----	26	29^th	------	6
10^th	-----	48	20^th	-----	24	30^th	------	4

In addition to scoring points awarded for the top 30 places in the tournament, all players who complete the tournament and turn in a signed and correct scorecard will receive participation points.

Example #1 - You finish 31^st in field of 60: Place points (0), participation points (28) = Total that week is 28 points

Example #2 - You finish 15^th in field of 60: Place points (34) participation points (44) = Total that week is 78 points

Participation points are based on one less than total number of participants to start on Saturday. Those who DQ, WD, or NC will receive no points for that tournament.

BONUS POINTS:

BONUS Points may be earned by total number of tournaments played.

5 tournaments you will receive 50 Bonus Points

6 tournaments you will receive 100 Bonus Points

7 tournaments you will receive 150 Bonus Points

8 tournaments you will receive 200 Bonus Points

9 tournaments you will receive 250 Bonus Points

10 tournaments you will receive 300 Bonus Points

Bonus points will be awarded after completion of the regular season. Tour sponsors will receive all 300 bonus points.

Total points accumulated in each division in all tournaments plus Bonus Points will determine the TOP Players by division for participation in the Tour Championship. Total points accumulated in all events plus the Tour Championship will determine the 2012 TOUR CHAMPIONS.

Ryder Cup:

We will select our Ryder cup team based on the points system for the year. We will take the top 7 places on the senior points list (age permitting) and the top super senior player on the points list. The captain will have 4 picks.

This will give us our twelve players for the match against the Lite scratch Tour of Mobile combined with the Emerald Coast Senior Tour. I am sorry but we will not have a regular division Ryder Cup Match.

Ryder Cup Matches Senior Divisions will be held in mid October against the Lite Scratch Tour of Mobile and the Emerald Coast Senior tour (combined). You must be age 50 or above to play in the Senior Ryder Cup Matches.

We hope that this system will provide an incentive for all tour members to participate in as many tour events as possible. When playing in an event no matter how you are playing each shot could mean something for everyone not just the top players. We believe the combination of place points, participation points plus bonus points can benefit the people who support the tour. Each division will have separate point totals and those points will not transfer to another division.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP:

We will invite 25% of the posted membership for the 2012 season per division to the Tour Championship. We will also invite all tournament winners that are not otherwise qualified. This will be a free tournament for those that qualify

Example #1 - 100 senior members x 25% equals 25 invitees

Example #2 – 35 super senior members x 25% equals 9 invitees

Example #3 - 50 regular members x 25% equals 13 invitees

We will invite all tour members (not qualified) to play at the tour championship at a nominal tournament fee. Only the qualifiers for the tour championship will be eligible for points at this tournament.

Something new for: this season:

Emerald Coast: We have joined with the Emerald Coast Senior Tour this season. Any member of the LA Scratch Tour may play as a member of the Emerald Coast Senior tour, and any member of the Emerald Coast Senior Tour may play on the LA Scratch Tour as a member. (The Emerald Coast tour has a few limited field events and these events will be open 1 week prior to the event if the field is still open. (Send in your entry and you will be notified if you make the field.

Entries: All entries must be in by Wednesday prior to the tournament. This allows us enough time to secure the tee times we need and also to complete the paperwork needed for the tournament. Parings will be done Wednesday prior to the tournament.