(Ratified at an ABGA Board of Directors Meeting on 17 July,
2006 and updated following an ABGA Directors Meeting on 30 May,
2007)
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Australian Blind Golf Association (ABGA)
has devised this policy to ensure that all blind golfers are participating
on a fair and equitable basis and receive the appropriate recognition
for their efforts and endeavours towards selection to compete in
international competitions.
1.2 Until the introduction of this Policy, there
have been many different issues raised in respect to the determining
and/or the eligibility of blind golfers to compete in international
competitions.
2. COMMENCEMENT
2.1 The ABGA Order of Merit Policy will come into
operation for all ABGA Sanctioned blind golfers and tournaments
effective from 1 January, 2006.
2.2 The ABGA Order of Merit Policy is to be used
for all ABGA Sanctioned tournaments.
2.3 The ABGA Order of Merit will operate over
a two year period commencing on 1 January the first year and concluding
on 31 December the following year. For example, 1 January, 2006
through until 31 December, 2007.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ABGA MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
3.1 Each ABGA Member organisation shall provide
the ABGA Handicapper with the full scores/results of their ABGA
Sanctioned tournament within 14 days of the completion of that tournament.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ABGA SECRETARY
4.1 The ABGA Handicapper shall check all relevant
scores/results and calculate the Order of Merit points to be awarded
to each blind golfer inline with Section 5. Calculation of Order
of Merit Points.
4.2 The ABGA Handicapper shall provide all ABGA
Member organisations with the updated Order of Merit standings within
28 days of the completion of that tournament.
4.3 The ABGA Handicapper shall ensure that all
ABGA Member organisations provide the relevant information at the
appropriate time.
4.4 The ABGA Handicapper shall ensure that the
up to date Order of Merit standings are published in full on the
ABGA Website within 28 days of the completion of that tournament.
5. CALCULATION OF ORDER OF MERIT POINTS
5.1 ABGA registered Blind golfers only shall be
awarded points following each ABGA Sanctioned tournament inline
with 5.2 – 5.8.
5.2 Points are to be awarded for participation
in ABGA Sanctioned tournaments provided those tournaments and blind
golfers comply with all ABGA Rules & Policies. Current ABGA
Sanctioned tournaments include the Victorian Open, NSW Open, Western
Australian Open, Australian Open and the Australian Stableford Championship.
5.3 2 points are automatically awarded to each
blind golfer for participating in any of the ABGA Sanctioned tournaments
mentioned in Section 5.2.
5.4 An additional 2 points are automatically awarded
for those blind golfers who travel interstate to participate in
any of the ABGA Sanctioned tournaments mentioned in Section 5.2.
5.5 Overall Points to be awarded for each ABGA
Sanctioned tournament are as follows:
The Victorian Open, NSW Open, Western Australian Open and Australian
Open receive the following points.
1st Net 10 points.
2nd Net 7 points.
3rd Net 5 points.
4th Net 3 points.
5th Net 2 points.
6th Net 1 point.
1st Gross 10 points.
2nd Gross 7 points.
3rd Gross 5 points.
4th Gross 3 points.
5th Gross 2 points.
6th Gross 1 point.
Sight Category Winners for each tournament
1st Net 5 points.
2nd Net 3 points
3rd Net 1 point.
1st Gross 5 points.
2nd Gross 3 points.
3rd Gross 1 point.
The Australian Stableford Championship will receive double points
as the tournament is based upon a net event only, the points are
awarded as follows.
1st Net 20 points.
2nd Net 14 points.
3rd Net 10 points.
4th Net 6 points.
5th Net 4 points.
6th Net 2 point.
Sight Category Winners for this tournament
1st Net 10 points.
2nd Net 6 points
3rd Net 2 point.
5.6 Points are to be awarded on finishing positions/results
not prize presentations or awards.
5.7 Blind golfers may earn points in more then
one category. For example, if the blind golfer finishes 1st Gross,
3rd Net and 2nd Net in their Sight Category, therefore earning a
total of 18 points.
5.8 If two or more blind golfers are to finish
in a tie for any one or more positions, The blind golfers that finished
in the tie will be declared as follows:
• As finishing in the higher position.
• Points for all tied positions are to be added together and
divided equally between those blind golfers finishing in the tied
positions, for example, if two blind golfers are tied for Net 1st
position, points for 1st and 2nd are added together (10 & 7
points, totalling 17 points), therefore both players receive 8.5
points each and the next points to be allocated are for 3rd position
and onwards.
