LGU - The Ladies' Golf Union

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1. QUALIFICATIONS

The Ricoh Women’s British Open Championship (the "Championship") shall be open to professional golfers of the female gender, who are members of the Ladies’ European Tour (LET), Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA) or other recognised associations and amateur golfers of the female gender, who are members of a recognised golf club who have amateur status in accordance with the current Rules of Amateur Status and who hold a CONGU playing handicap of not more than scratch or overseas equivalent at date of entry.

2. REGULATIONS

a) In the event of entries exceeding 144 all players with the exception of those exempt under Section 7 will be required to qualify for the Championship. For competitors not exempt under Sections 6 or 7, a Pre-Qualifying competition will take place on Monday 13th July 2009 at The Berkshire Golf Club (Blue course). For competitors exempt under Section 6 and those qualifiers from the pre-qualifying competition, Final Qualifying will take place on Monday 27th July 2009 at Fairhaven Golf Club. The leading qualifiers will make up the field of 144 for the Championship, with a number of alternates as determined under Section 5b.
b) The winner shall be named the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open Champion.
c) The Championship Committee reserves the right to arrange and/or alter starting times.
d) A Pro-Am Tournament will be held on Tuesday 28th July 2009. All Professionals entering the Championship will be expected to play, if required, in the Pro-Am Tournament.
e) The Championship Committee reserves the right to use films, photographs, pictures and similar references to competitors in practice and play in the publicity arrangements prior to, during and after the Championship as set out in Section 8(j).
f) The Championship Committee reserves the right to amend the Championship Conditions and the decision of the Championship Committee shall, in all matters, be final.

3. ENTRY FORM, ENTRY FEE, CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES

a) Entries must be submitted either electronically via the LGU website (www.lgu.org) or by post using the official entry form which together with the entry fee must be sent to the Ladies’ Golf Union, The Scores, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AT. Cheques should be made payable, in sterling, to the Ladies’ Golf Union. Payment is also accepted by VISA, MASTERCARD or SWITCH. The entry fee for the Championship is £85.
b) Entries will not be accepted after 11.59pm (GMT) on Tuesday 30th June 2009.
c) Entries will not be accepted by telephone, telex, cable or telemessage. Entries may be made by facsimile but such entries will only be accepted when accompanied by valid credit card details.
d) Entry fees will not be refunded unless written notification of withdrawal is received prior to the closing date for entries.
e) All entries shall be subject to the approval of the Championship Committee, which reserves the right to refuse or having accepted, subsequently reject any entry without giving a reason for its decision, which shall be final.
f) The Championship Draw will be available at the course from Tuesday 28th July 2009.
g) Entrants will be notified whether or not they are in the exempt category after the closing date for entries.
 
4. REGISTRATION

a) Pre-Qualifying and Final Qualifying Competitions
Competitors must register at the LGU Registration Desk on site at the relevant golf course at least 30 minutes prior to their starting time.
b) Championship exempt players and those who have qualified must register in person with the LGU Championship Registration desk at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 29th July 2009. In exceptional circumstances only, competitors may be permitted to register by telephone to the LGU Championship Office.
c) Players who fail to meet the registration deadline will be removed from the draw and replaced with the first available alternate.

5. PRE-QUALIFYING AND FINAL QUALIFYING

For competitors who are NOT exempt from Pre-Qualifying and/or Final Qualifying as set out in sections 6 and/or section 7 the qualifying procedure shall be as follows:
a) Pre-Qualifying
For those not exempt under Sections 6 and 7: One round of 18 holes played at The Berkshire Golf Club on Monday 13th July 2009. The places available for Final Qualifying shall be determined by the number entered who are exempt under Section 6. In the event of a tie for the last qualifying place, all players tied for the last place will qualify for Final Qualifying.
b) Final Qualifying
For those exempt under Section 6 and qualifiers from the Pre-Qualifying round: One round of 18 holes played at Fairhaven Golf Club on Monday 27th July 2009. The places available to make up the Championship field shall be determined by the number entered who are exempt under Section 7. Ties for last places and alternates shall be decided by a sudden death hole-by-hole play-off immediately after the last card is returned.
c) In the event of play being either delayed or declared null and void for any round of Pre-Qualifying or Final Qualifying, additional play will be at the discretion of the Championship Committee [and may take place on the day following each round of Pre-Qualifying or Final Qualifying].

6. EXEMPTIONS FROM PRE-QUALIFYING

The following players shall be exempt from Pre-Qualifying;
a) The top 30 and anyone tying for 30th place in the 2008 Championship.
b) The top 85 players from the 2009 LET money list as at the close of entries for the Championship.
c) The top 120 players from the 2009 LPGA money list as at the close of entries for the Championship.
d) All playing members of the 2007 Solheim Cup teams
e) The top 25 players from the 2009 JLPGA money list as at Monday 15th June 2009.
f) The top 10 players from the 2009 KLPGA money list as at the close of entries for the Championship.
g) The 2009 Girls’ British Open Amateur Champion provided she is still an amateur at the time of the Championship. 
h) All playing members of the 2009 Vagliano Trophy teams provided they are still amateurs at the time of the Championship.
i) Any players granted special exemptions from pre-qualifying by the Championship Committee

7. EXEMPTIONS FROM PRE-QUALIFYING AND FINAL QUALIFYING
 
The following players shall be exempt from Pre-Qualifying and Final Qualifying;
a) The top 15 and anyone tying for 15th place in the 2008 Championship.
b) The top 10 LET players who enter from the Rolex Rankings as at close of entries not already exempt under category (a).
c) The top 30 LPGA players who enter from the Rolex Rankings as at close of entries not already exempt under category (a). A player exempt in category (b) may also be exempt under this category.
d) The top 25 players who enter from the 2009 LET money list as at the close of entries for the Championship not already exempt under categories (a) or (b).
e) The top 40 players who enter from the 2009 LPGA money list as at the close of entries for the Championship not already exempt under categories (a) or (c).
f) The top 5 players who enter from the 2009 JLPGA money list as at Monday 15th June 2009 not already exempt under category (a) or (m).
g) Winners of any recognised LET or LPGA Tour event in 2009. Blank entries will be made on behalf of players qualifying in this category.
h) The winners of the 2008 LET, LPGA, JLPGA & KLPGA money lists
i) Past winners of the Championship from 1999 to 2008.
j) Past winners of the US Open from 2005 to 2009.
k) Past winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship from 2005 to 2009.
l) Past winners of the McDonalds LPGA Championship from 2005 to 2009.
m) The winner of the 2008 JLPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup.
n) The leading 5 finishers (as determined by the LPGA) in the 2009 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger, who have entered the Championship and who are not otherwise exempt. Blank entries will be made on behalf of players qualifying in this category.
o) The 2009 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Champion, 2008 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Champion, 2008 United States Ladies’ Amateur Champion and 2008 European Ladies’ Amateur Champion, provided they are still amateurs at the time of the Championship and a maximum of two other leading amateurs at the discretion of the Ladies’ Golf Union.
p) Any players granted special exemptions from qualifying by the Championship Committee.

Players may be exempt in more than one category unless specifically stated otherwise
Players exempt under categories (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) who withdraw from the Championship prior to 5.00pm (BST) on Friday 24th July 2009 shall be replaced by the next eligible player in each respective category.

8. CONDITIONS OF PLAY

a) Players must be of the female gender and have been female at birth or have had the female gender assigned. For the avoidance of doubt, the Ladies’ Golf Union reserves the right to carry out a confidential case-by-case evaluation at any time either prior to or after the Championship if in its reasonable opinion such an evaluation is or becomes necessary. Any player in breach of this condition may be disqualified.
b) The Championship shall be decided by stroke play over four rounds of 18 holes over Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club, in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited and in accordance with the Local Rules approved by the Championship Committee.
c) One round of 18 holes shall be played on each of the first two days for which one draw shall be made. The players returning the 65 lowest scores, and anyone tying for 65th place over the first 36 holes shall qualify for the final 36 holes over the last two days. For the final 36 holes, the pairings and starting times shall be determined in accordance with the qualifying scores, players with the lowest scores starting last.
d) In the event of a tie for the Championship after four rounds, the competitors who tie shall play a hole-by-hole play-off to determine the Champion. Conditions of the play-off will be posted on the Championship notice board during the event and will be available on request.
e) The driver the competitor carries must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, that is named on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by R&A Rules Limited.
Note: Any individual driver on the List, if tested on the pendulum testing apparatus approved by R&A Rules Limited, must not have a characteristic time greater than 257 microseconds. An updated List of Conforming Driver Heads is available on The R&A’s website www.randa.org. Penalty for Breach of Condition – Disqualification.
f) The specimen conditions in the Rules of Golf are in effect as regards Conforming Golf Balls, One Ball Condition and Time of Starting.
g) Each player is responsible for playing without undue delay. The pace of play procedure detailing Time Allowance and Procedure when groups are out of position will be issued to competitors prior to play together with details of penalties for breach of condition.
h) In the event of a suspension of play for a dangerous situation, a player must discontinue play immediately. Penalty for Breach of Condition - Disqualification.
i) Players must walk at all times during a stipulated round unless permitted to ride by the Rules Committee in accordance with the LGU Transportation Policy. A copy of the LGU Transportation Policy is available on the LGU website at www.lgu.org. Penalty for Breach of Condition - Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes.
j) The Championship Committee arranges publicity before and during the Championship in the Press and by live and recorded radio and television broadcasting and filming and on the Internet. Each competitor by entering the Championship and by agreeing to these terms and conditions assigns to the Championship Committee and its assignees and licensees the right in perpetuity throughout the world to make, use, exhibit and reproduce in any way now known or hereafter devised (and to authorise others to do so) for commercial and other purposes from time to time and at their discretion, motion pictures, still pictures, live taped or filmed television, sound recordings and any other reproductions of any description of the competitor made during or in connection with the Championship (including, without limitations, during practice and play) without compensation for the competitor or the heirs, successors, executors, administrators or assignees of the competitor. The competitor also assigns the right to use and reproduce the competitor's name, voice, likeness and biographical material in any way now known or hereafter devised by the Championship Committee for the purpose of promoting the Championship and any subsequent Championships, without compensation for the competitor or the heirs, successors, executors, administrators or assignees of the competitor including in circumstances where it may include the logo of a sponsor or patron of the Championship or any subsequent Championship [or the Championship Committee]. A competitor shall be responsible for ensuring that her caddie will assign to the Championship Committee and its successors and licensees equivalent rights in relation to the caddie.
The Championship Committee and its assignees and licensees agree that, other than as permitted above, they will not authorise any company contractually associated with the Championship Committee to use the competitor's name, voice, likeness and biographical material to endorse a product or service, without first requiring such associated company to obtain the competitor's authorisation.
To comply with certain contractual limitations relating to advertising on television, competitors confirm that they or their caddies will not, without the prior approval of the Championship Committee, display any commercial identification on clothing or equipment other than that customarily affixed to and of the normal size and in the normal position on any such clothing or equipment.
k) A competitor shall not knowingly make use of any drug to enhance her performance. Should a competitor show clinical evidence of use of a drug for a non-therapeutic purpose, the Championship Committee may require her to undergo a drug test. Any competitor infringing this Condition may be disqualified.
l) These terms and conditions shall be governed by and be interpreted in accordance with the law of Scotland.

9. CADDIES

a) All players are requested to use a caddie for the 4 days of the Championship. The use of a trolley will not be permitted (excluding practice or qualifying rounds).
b) A competitor shall at all times be liable for the actions of her caddie and shall ensure that the caddie complies with the Conditions as they apply to him.
c) A competitor shall ensure that her caddie wears clothing of a type appropriate to the Championship and in particular a caddie shall be required to wear a Championship over-garment or bib of a type and design as shall be supplied by the Championship Committee. Caddies will be required to wear such an over-garment or bib during official practice rounds and during the Championship.
d) A competitor's caddie may not wear headgear, visors or any other items of clothing which displays a logo other than the official Ricoh Women's British Open Championship logo unless such logo represents a contract to which the competitor was bound at the commencing date of the Championship.
e) Caddies must not wear spike sole shoes.

10. INSURANCE 

Competitors must hold a personal liability insurance covering them to a minimum sum of £1,000,000.

11. TROPHIES AND PRIZES

a) The winner shall be awarded the Championship Trophy. She shall also receive a replica trophy which
she shall retain.
b) The leading amateur, provided she has completed 72 holes, shall receive the Smyth Salver which she will hold for one year. She will also receive a medal and a voucher.
c) Prize money as shown on this form shall be allocated to professional golfers. Any prize money, which would have been won by an amateur golfer, shall be allocated to the professional golfer next in order of merit as her prize and all subsequent place monies shall be renumbered accordingly.
d) In addition to the leading amateur all other amateurs completing 72 holes will receive a prize voucher. Ties for leading amateur places will be decided in the manner posted on the Championship notice board at the event.
e) Trophies may not leave Great Britain and Ireland.

12. PRIZE FUND subject to alteration by ties for places (2-65)

a) Reserve money of £1000 will be paid to professionals finishing in 66th place or below after 72 holes. An allowance for this is included in the Prize Money Distribution.
b) Prize monies won by LET or LPGA members will be paid to their respective associations for distribution by them. All monies won by other professionals will be paid direct to the competitor.
c) All professional players who do not qualify for the final 36 holes shall receive expenses of £300.