CN Future Links Western Championship

CN FUTURE LINKS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The CN Future Links Championships are a series of regional junior golf championships conducted by the Royal Canadian Golf Association in association with the Canadian PGA and Canada's provincial golf associations.

The purpose of these championships is to give exceptional Canadian junior golfers the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

CN FUTURE LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Dates                  Entry Deadline        Championship

May 1-4               April 2                        CN Pacific Championship, Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community, Courtenay, BC

May 29-June 1    April 30                      CN Ontario Championship, Stratford Country Club, Stratford, ON

June 30-July 3    May 28                        CN Prairie Championship, The Willows Golf & Country Club, Saskatoon, SK

July 14-17           June 11                       CN Québec Championship, Hemmingford Sport & Country Club, Hemmingford, QC

July 21-24           June 25                       CN Western Championship, Wolf Creek Golf Resort, Ponoka, AB

July 21-24           June 25                       CN Atlantic Championship, Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club, Bathhurst, NB

ELIGIBILITY

These championships are open to:

Junior Division: Male and female amateur golfers, 14 to 18 years of age, who have not reached their 19th birthday by August 8, 2008. 

AND

Bantam Division: Male and female amateur golfers, 11 to 13 years of age, who have not reached their 14th birthday by August 8, 2008.

EXEMPTIONS

If eligible, the following individuals are exempt to play in any two (2) CN Future Links Championships:

1.        All competitors who made the cut at the 2007 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

2.        All competitors who made the cut at the 2007 Royale National Junior Girls Championship.

3.        The top 5 girls and top 20 boys from each of the 2007 Future Links Championships.

The Junior Girl Champion from each CN Future Links Championship will earn an exemption into a CN Canadian Women’s Tour event.

ENTRY FEE & APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The entry fee for each CN Future Links Championship is $125 (tax included). Place an “X” in the appropriate box to indicate which championship(s) you wish to apply for.

Please note that the RCGA is no longer accepting cheques as a method of payment. Each player may apply to a maximum of two championships. If you would like to play in more than one championship and are paying by money order, please submit individual money orders for each. For example, if you wish to play in the Ontario and Atlantic Championships, please submit two separate money orders for $125. Credit card users, please print all numbers clearly.

Once you have completed the application form, mail it along with payment to the address below. Please make money orders payable to the Royal Canadian Golf Association. Remember to send the application well in advance of 5:00 pm EDT on the application deadline. Late, incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be accepted and are not the responsibility of the RCGA. Once accepted into a championship, entry fees are non-refundable.

Future Links Championships

1333 Dorval Drive, Suite 1

Oakville, ON   L6M 4X7

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD SELECTION PROCESS

All participants must submit a championship résumé with their application.

The following is the number of players that will be accepted into each CN Future Links Championship:

§         60 Junior Boys

§         12 Bantam Boys

§         24 Junior Girls

§         3 Bantam Girls

The RCGA reserves the right to revise these numbers based upon the entries received before the closing date of each event.  If over-subscribed, preference will be given to geographic location, where 66% of the field will be taken from the host province(s). Bantam-aged competitors wanting to compete in the Junior Division to be eligible for one of the six exemptions into the 2008 Canadian Junior Boys Championship must e-mail Alison Turcotte at aturcotte@rcga.org prior to the Entry Closing date and will be selected against all junior-aged applicants.    

The CN Future Links Championships are designed for juniors who are looking for the highest level of competition. Therefore, a selection committee will attempt to select the strongest 99-player field possible for each championship. Applicants will be advised shortly after the application deadline as to whether or not they have been selected to play in a championship. Facts and information concerning each championship will be e-mailed to those who have been selected at this time as well. Entries received, selected fields and general tournament information will also be available on the CN Future Links Championship Web site (www.future-links.org).

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

Application fees will be refunded if the RCGA is notified (1-800-263-0009, ext. 250) of the player’s intention to withdraw prior to the application deadline. Application fees will not be refunded after the application deadline without a medical certificate. Refunds are subject to a $30 administrative fee.  Once selected into a championship, players are expected to participate. If a player wishes to withdraw prior to the start of a championship, he/she must notify the RCGA office well in advance in order to ensure an alternate fair opportunity to play. Failure to comply may result in DISQUALIFICATION from future RCGA and provincial competitions.

REGISTRATION & THE PLAYER MEETING

Registration and the player meeting are MANDATORY and will take place prior to or after the practice round at the host golf club. The players’ meeting is an informal meeting for competitors, parents, friends and tournament officials. Important tournament information including local rules, pace of play policy and code of conduct will be discussed.

This is also an opportunity for competitors and parents to ask questions regarding the tournament. Players who are not present at registration and the players meeting, without informing tournament officials prior to such time, are subject to DISQUALIFICATION and further disciplinary action.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Each CN Future Links Championship is a 54-hole stroke play championship:

Day #1: Registration, Practice Round/Long Drive Competition & Players Meeting/Welcome Luncheon

Day #2: 18 Holes of Stroke Play

Day #3: 18 Holes of Stroke Play

Day #4: Final 18 Holes of Stroke Play, Awards Ceremony & CN sponsored BBQ

PLAY-OFFS

A tie at any championship will be decided by a hole-by-hole play-off immediately following conclusion of play. Please keep this in mind when making travel arrangements. A tie for the 6^th position in the Junior Boys division will be decided by a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following conclusion of play.

CADDIES

Caddies and power caddies (motorized pull carts) are NOT PERMITTED.  A violation may result in DISQUALIFICATION.

RULES OF GOLF; CLOSE OF COMPETITION; CONFORMING GOLF BALLS; CONFORMING DRIVERS

1.        The RCGA Rules of Golf will govern all play. The RCGA Committee shall have the final decision on all claims and disputes.   The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee. 

2.        Only brands of golf balls on the most current List of Conforming Golf Balls may be used.

3.        The driver a player carries must have a clubhead that is listed on the most current List of Conforming Driver Heads. 

TRANSPORTATION

The RCGA will evaluate each individual request to use motorized transportation in RCGA Championships or qualifying rounds due to a claimed disability. In order for the RCGA to properly evaluate such requests, it is necessary to submit medical documentation setting forth the exact nature of the disability and how that disability prevents such player from walking during a stipulated round. In addition, players will have to submit sufficient information to enable the RCGA to determine that providing a cart would not provide a player with an advantage over other players. Please visit www.rcga.org to download via Adobe Acrobat Reader a copy of the RCGA's Transportation Request Form, which each player seeking a golf cart for him/herself due to a disability must complete and submit to the RCGA with the original entry form prior to the applicable closing date.

DISTANCE-MEASURING DEVICES

The local Rule permitting use of distance-measuring devices will NOT be implemented at RCGA competitions.  Their use would be in breach of Rule 14-3, the penalty for breach of this rule is DISQUALIFICATION. 

DRESS CODE AND FOOTWEAR

1.        Competitors must adhere to the RCGA dress code, included in the application package.

2.        It is a condition of RCGA competitions that shoes with metal or traditionally designed spikes are prohibited. Penalty for breach of this rule is Disqualification.

JUNIOR CODE OF CONDUCT

Please read, understand and be aware of the Junior Code of Conduct. It is available on the CN Future Links Championship Web site (www.future-links.org).

PARENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Please read, understand and be aware of the Parent Code of Conduct. It is available on the CN Future Links Championship Web site (www.future-links.org).

ANTI-DOPING POLICY

The RCGA has adopted the Canadian Anti-Doping Program set by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.  For further information please visit www.cces.ca. 

Please click here for a printable PDF version of the application form.