14 Oklahoma Tour Players Take on the Texas Open

First Major of 2012 in the Central Part of the Country

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (February 29, 2012)  The Golf Channel Am Tour is heading back to the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort in the Texas Hill country for the 2012 Texas Open Major Championship. Nestled along Lake LBJ, Horseshoe Bay is one of the most picturesque venues in Texas and the event will be held at two great golf courses, Ram Rock and Apple Rock.

Oklahoma Tour Players competing this weekend.

Championship Flight:

Jeff Boyer - Oklahoma City, OK

Douglas Duke - Ft. Smith, AR

Curt Howard - Sapulpa, OK

Al Swanson - Edmond, OK

Palmer Flight:

Gary Hayes - Chickasha, OK Senior Palmer Flight:  Clayton Badger - Drumright, OK Mel Yates - Texhoma, TX Hogan Flight:  Chris Blankenship - Stigler, OK Senior Hogan Flight:  Robert Lakey - Sayre, OK Bud Surber - Edmond, OK Sarazen Flight:  Jeffrey Banner - Lawton, OK Senior Sarazen Flight:  Stan Wilson - Jones, OK Jones Flight: Chris Manahan - Oklahoma City, OK Senior Snead Flight:  Rick Henthorn - Yukon, OK

Next Up - Hill Country Tour back in action at the End of Winter Open at the River Crossing Club on March 10, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Classic at The Creek on March 24, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour starts off 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event. 

For more information:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com -

Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Know the Rules - Equipment

Scott R Chilcutt, Kerrville, TX (January 27, 2012)  While the eyes of golf are on the PGA Merchandise Show this week in Orlando we thought it would be appropriate to follow up our "KNOW the RULES" segments with "Equipment" and clothing.  We won't be getting into conforming clubs but simply some of the USGA rules we follow and some areas where the Am Tour may make exceptions.

LIMITATIONS OF GOLF BALL:   The one ball rule is not in effect with most AM Tour events unless otherwise stated on the Notice to Contestants, however a player must complete the hole playing the same type of ball.

Note Rule 16-1b, the Rule that allows the player to lift his ball from the putting green, does not permit the player to substitute another ball; this precludes the player from substituting a “putting ball.”

MAXIMUM 14 CLUBS: Rule 4-4 -  The player must not start a stipulated round with more than fourteen clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round, except that if he started with fewer than fourteen clubs, he may add any number, provided his total number does not exceed fourteen.

Repacing (damage / broken) or adding clubs (if you've started with under 14 clubs) can only be done during the round if this process does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7), and (3) none of the clubs  have been selected for play by any other person playing on the course.  In other words, you cannot borrow another players golf club as a replacement / addition.

Please note that training and/or weighted clubs are considered one of the 14 club maximum.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE:  Rule 14-3 - USGA conforming DMD's are allowed at all local, Major and National Tournaments on the Am Tour.  Cell phones may also be used as DMD's providing it's USGA conforming as well.

Features that would include, SLOPE, WINDSPEED and DIRECTION along with climate-based information such as TEMPATURE, HUMIDITY, etc.. render the device non conforming.

Such non-conforming features render use of the device contrary to the Rules, irrepective of whether or not the features can be swithced off or disenganged.

With PDA's there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used.

DRESS CODE:  While some golf courses may have further requirements, the Am Tour will strictly enforce a tournament dress code with no exceptions. Collared shirts/mock turtle necks are required, and no jeans, denims, jogging outfits, or sweat pants are permitted.

As always if you have questions, comments or need further assitance please let us know!

For more information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Know the Rules - 2012 Rule Changes

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (January 20, 2012)  As we look forward to our kick off events of 2012 we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of the changes the USGA and the R&A have made to the rules of golf.  Following a four-year review of golf's 34 playing Rules, nine principal rules have been amended.   Two of the significant changes that can effect each of you:
  

Ball Moving After Address (Rule 18-2b). A new exception is added which exonerates the player from penalty if their ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that they did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions (Rule 13-4). Exception 2 to this Rule is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 (improving lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play) is not breached.

For more detail see the following pages at the USGA website -

Principal Changes To The Rules Of Golf

New Decisions

Revised Decisions

Next Up - Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Kerrville Championship at The Club @ Comanche Trace on February 11, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major in the Central Region of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at Horseshoe Bay for the Texas Open.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Provisional Ball - Part II

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (December 1, 2012)  Now you have elected to play a provisional ball, what's next?

First be sure you are not playing out of turn:

10-3. Provisional Ball or Another Ball from Teeing Ground

If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c Rule 10-2c applies.

If you are not on the teeing ground this doesn't come into play.  Simply make sure that's it's safe to play your additional ball and go for it!

Second be sure to make it aware that you are electing to play a provisional. 

Simply saying, "I might be in the junk" doesn't work.  If you don't make the fact that you are playing a provisional ball aware to your marker / playing partners you are now putting that ball in play.

Third identify the difference in balls / markings.

While this is not a requirement it may save you strokes in the long run:

27/11  Provisional Ball Not Distinguishable from Original Ball

A player entitled to play a provisional ball from the tee plays it into the same area as his original ball. The balls have identical markings and the player cannot distinguish between them. Following are various situations and the solutions, which are based on equity (Rule 1-4), when the above circumstances exist and one or both of the balls are found within a search of five minutes:

Situation 1: One ball is found in a water hazard and the other ball is not found.

Solution 1: The ball that was found must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 2:Both balls are found in a water hazard.

Solution 2: As the player's original ball is lost in the water hazard due to his inability to identify it (see analogous Decision 27/10), the player must proceed under Rule 26-1 with respect to the original ball (estimating the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, if necessary — see Decision 26-1/17); his next stroke would be his third.

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Situation 3: One ball is found in bounds and the other ball is lost or is found out of bounds.

Solution 3: The ball in bounds must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 4: Both balls are found in bounds, whether in a playable or an unplayable lie, and (1) one ball is in a water hazard and the other is not or (2) both balls lie through the green or in a bunker.

Solution 4: One could argue that both balls are lost. However, it would be inequitable to require the player to return to the tee, playing 5, when the player has found both balls but does not know which is the original and which the provisional. Accordingly, the player must select one of the balls, treat it as his provisional ball and abandon the other.  

Part III will speak to what happens when you find your original ball.



Next Up - Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.  Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Winter Classic at Hyatt Hill Country on December 3rd.  Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at the Innisbrook Resort for the Winter Championship.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Provisional Ball

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (November 28, 2012)  As you may know at some tournaments you will see local rules that define native areas and or un kept portions of a golf course as a "lateral hazard" in an attempt to speed up play.  While there are many situations where that needs to be done, it's my position that if  those hazards aren't part of the golf course design then those areas are integral parts of that golf course and you should play the golf course the way it was designed.


So how can we play the course as it's designed without taking all day to finish a round?

Rule 27-2. Provisional Ball - One thing that can definitely speed up play is to correctly use the provisional ball procedure.

If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally in accordance with Rule 27-1.

The player must inform his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball.

If he fails to do so and plays another ball, that ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance -  (Rule 27-1); the original ball is lost.

But always remembers if you find your ball outside a hazard or in bounds after playing a provisional you don't have a choice, the original ball must be played and you've abandoned the provisional.

Take some time to look at some of the Decisions under 27/1, they'll help you save strokes and time.

Next Up - Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.  Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Winter Classic at Hyatt Hill Country on December 3rd.  Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at the Innisbrook Resort for the Winter Championship.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Dallas 5 - Oklahoma 5 - Red River Challenge @ WinStar

2012 Points Season Underway!

Scott R Chilcutt, Thackerville, OK (October 29, 2011)  Home of the Red River Challenge, the WinStar Golf Course is part of the WinStar World Casino complex located on the Oklahoma - Texas border just one mile north of the Red River, at Exit 1 off Interstate 35 in Thackerville, OK and is owned by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Kicking off the first points event of the 2012 season for the Dallas Tour and second event for the Oklahoma Tour the groups met in the middle for bragging rights.  In the end parity across the board was the winner with Dallas and The Oklahoma Tour tying it up with 5 wins each.

Chris Manahan from Oklahoma City picked up the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   Curt Howard from Sapulpa, OK took 19 tournaments and on his 25th round since winning the Redstone Spring Classic in Houston finally broke out of his self proclaimed drought but it wouldn't be easy.  Under the weather, Curt would go out with a six over par 42, but would manhandle his way back to the clubhouse with four birdies and two under 34.  But that wasn't the end, Tony Peppler from Southlake, TX birdied the final hole to add to his relatively clean scorecard and force a playoff.  Howard prevailed on the 1st hole draining a long par putt after they were both short of the green in two.  Tulsa, OK player Douglas Duke rounded out the top three with his lone birdie coming on the dogleg left, 10th hole.  DFW: 0 - OK: 1.

Palmer Flight:   Tim Williams from McKinney, TX didn't leave his winning ways in LaQuinta.  Williams the 2011 National Champion in the Hogan flight was promoted to the Palmer ranks after his championship run at PGA West proved he was still on his game.  Two birdies on his round would keep him in the running with Midland, TX player Jeremy Henson but it would take an eagle on the 18th hole to bring home the trophy by one stroke.  Henson, -1 after 12 holes struggled a little on the back but would secure his best finish on tour just one back and two clear of third place finisher Lance Berland from Salina, KS.  DFW: 1 - OK: 1. 

Senior Palmer Flight:  Hank Darcey from Oklahoma, City, OK would finish the final 9 holes with four birdies in route to a 3 over par 75 to take the top honors over Garland, TX member Kem Albritton.   Albritton would stay one stroke clear of a trio tied in the third spot. Mansfield, TX  Michael Fee,  Jim Crawford from Tahlequah, OK and Fort Worth, TX player Sean Fenton all shot seven over par 79's to share the show position.  DFW: 1 - OK: 2.      

Hogan Flight:  In his first tournament on the Am Tour since May 2009, Atlanta, TX member Derek Hammonds made sure everyone knew he was back.  Out of the gate with a birdie on the first hole Hammonds went out in three over par and finished with an eight over 80,  two strokes ahead of Zack Whitlock from Broken Arrow, OK and Flower Mound, TX member Monty Fisher.  DFW: 2 - OK: 2. 

Senior Hogan Flight:  Edmond, OK competitor Tim Mathis won his first tournament since April, 2010 with a birdie on the 18th hole to stay clear of fellow Oklahoma player, Allan Barnett from Cheyene, OK by one stroke.  Barnett playing in the Senior Hogan flight after his 2nd promotion on the tour parred the final three holes to edge out Wichita Falls, TX member Michael Hardegree rounding out the top three.  DFW: 2 - OK: 3.
 

Sarazen Flight:  Eagle on the par five - 18th hole would bring home the win for first time player Cory Womack from Denton, TX over Wichita, KS traveler Gary Schuessler by two strokes.  First time with an award finish since joining the tour, Schuessler would birdie the 4th and 5th holes en route to a one stroke edge over fellow Oklahoma member, Jeffrey Banner from Lawton.  DFW: 3 - OK: 3.
  

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Stan Wilson from Jones, OK and Frisco, TX player Jamie Sansom would have to retrieve there clubs from the parking lot for extra holes. A birdie on 18 by Sansom knotted the pair up at 10 over par 82's in regulation but Wilson would record his 2nd win on tour with a par on the 1st extra hole.  Newly promoted to Senior Sarazen, Ken Benjamin from Grand Prairie, TX would birdie 18 to share third place honors with Mansfield, TX member John Cox just two strokes back.   DFW: 3 - OK: 4.  
   

Jones Flight:  Nick Easen from Keller, TX won his 4th event in the last 12 months over 2011 Oklahoma Player of the Year winner Jerime Parker, from Blanchard, OK and Arkansas Tour member Joe Tomandao of Rogers, AR by three strokes. Parker and Tomandao both had birdies on the back but couldn't over come Easen's 4 over par front nine.  DFW: 4 - OK: 4.    
  

Senior Jones Flight:  Bob Eustice from Garland, TX shot a career low round, 7 over par 79 to win by two strokes over another career low round 81 by Oklahoma City, OK member Chris Manahan with Ron Hardy from Lewisville taking the show position.  Eustice would go two over par on the first 12 holes with birdies on 12 and 18 to pick up his first win on tour.  DFW: 5 - OK: 4.      

Snead Flight:  It would take the last Oklahoma player of the day to tie up the Red River Challenge when Yukon, OK member Rick Henthorn would pick up his 5th win on tour recording an 87.  Dion Casto from Parker, TX off the tour since 2010 would finish three strokes back in 2nd place and one stroke ahead of third place finisher Arlington, TX player Don Freitag.  DFW: 5 - OK: 5.               

SKINS:

Championship /Palmer Flight:  2 -- Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK; Tim Williams, McKinney, TX.  1 -- Douglas Duke, Tulsa, OK; Jeremy Henson, Midland, TX.

Senior Palmer Flight:  2 -- Hank Darcey, Oklahoma City, OK; Roland Lewis, Tulsa, OK.  1 -- Michael Fee, Mansfield, TX; Jimmy Westfall, Oklahoma City, OK.

Hogan/Senior Hogan Flight:  2 -- Tim Mathis, Edmond, OK.  1 -- Zack Whitlock, Broken Arrow, OK; Ernest DeBruler, Augusta, KS.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen Flight:  2 -- Stan Wilson, Jones, OK.  1 -- Gary Schuessler, Wichita, KS; Cory Womack, Denton, TX; Jeffrey Banner, Lawton, OK; Joseph Roy, Rockwall, TX; John Cox, Mansfield, TX.

Jones / Snead Flight:  1 -- Jerime Parker, Blanchard, OK; Ron Walker, Crescent, OK; Ron Hardy, Lewisville, TX; Don Freitag, Arlington, TX; Larry Tolson, McKinney, TX.


Next Up - Dallas Tour takes on the Open @ Texas Star on November 19th.  Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Silver Horn Open on November 12th.  Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at the Innisbrook Resort for the Winter Championship.  
For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas -  gcatdallas.blogspot.com -  Hill Country -  gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Oklahomans Take 3 of 5 Flights @ Fianna HIlls

Scott R Chilcutt, Fort Smith, AR (October 8, 2011)  Fianna Hills Country Club played  host to the Arkansas and Oklahoma Tour season openers.  Clear skies and moderate breezes welcomed the players with quick and firm fairways and greens. 



David Price in the Playoff

Five flights found three winners from the Oklahoma Tour with David Price from Pawhuska nearly making it four but fell short in a playoff for the Sarazen flight honors.  

Douglas Duke from Tulsa, soon to be relocating to the Fort Smith area took the top prize in the Championship / Palmer flight. 

Sentinel, OK player, Kelly Smith kept his momentum after a T8 at the Senior National Championship @ La Quinta by staying clear of the field by five shots in the Hogan flight. 

Loyd Welch from McAlester, OK finished the day six strokes ahead of second place to grab his first win since June at the Battle Creek Open.


Next Up:  Red River Challenge at WinStar on October, 29, 2011.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director

Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Oklahoma Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:  

Dallas -  gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com