Established in 2007, the SunCoast Ladies Series has provided aspiring
competitive golfers a place to hone their skills while chasing the dream of
playing at golf's highest level. The Series was originally established
to provide those players who failed to qualify for the LPGA Tour, and those
who received an "F" status after LPGA Futures Tour qualifying, a place to
stay competitive until they could get into the bigger events. However,
the Series draws players of all skill levels, those new to the professional
ranks as well as those who have solidified themselves in Women's Golf
History. Each year on the SunCoast Ladies Series Money List you will
find world-class professionals who have won on the LPGA Tour and other Pro
Tours abroad, as well LPGA Major Championship Winners.
The Tour
dynamic is based on value. Recognizing the financial commitment
players must make to chase their dream the tour prides itself in offering
competitive and professionally ran golf tournaments while keeping the entry
fees much lower than the industry standard. If you are a new player
entering into the world of professional golf the SunCoast Ladies Series will
prove to be an important stepping stone in acheiving your goals. If
you are an established player looking for excellent competition the Series
provides you a place to keep your skills sharp and tournament ready.
Message from the Director;
My name is Scott Walker and I am the Owner/Director of the SunCoast Ladies
Series.
I have fourteen years experience in Professional Golf Tournament
Administration and Management and at the end of the 2012 season I will have
administered nearly 500 multi-day professional golf tournaments. In
the Fall of 1998, I developed and put into operation the "Hurricane Tour", a
Winter series for men. In 2001, I began negotiations with the NGA
Hooters Professional Golf Tour and in 2002 I sold/merged the "Hurricane
Tour" with the Hooter's Tour, existing today as the NGA Hooters Winter
Series. I was a Tour Director/Rules Offical with the Hooter's Tour
from 2002 until the Spring of 2007 when I launched the SunCoast Ladies
Series. To date, I have administered 133 Professional Tournaments
under the SunCoast brand name. My resume and experience speaks volumes
as to my ability to successfully manage and operate a Professional
Mini-tour, but what has made the SunCoast Ladies Series the success story
that it has become is the continued support of the players who partcipate
week after week, year after year, from the LPGA Tour veterans to those new
to the professional scene. As a Tour Director I understand that the
SunCoast Ladies Series is not a "final destination" for players, but it is
merely a "stepping stone" toward acheiving their career goals. Moving
forward I will continue to operate with the same philosophy and approach
that I did way back in 1998, give the player the best tournament experience
possible for the least amount of money. Thank you and I look forward to
seeing you in 2012.
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
NEW FOR 2012!
Member's Only Winter Championship with $5,000 added purse money.
Member's eligible for three, $1500 q school bonus's.
Amateurs will have the option to compete for gift certificates for all
54-Hole events.
Introducing 72-Hole events to the schedule.
Withdrawal Policy:
Players may withdraw from any event, without penalty, prior to the
Tournament Pairings being posted on the Tour's web site. In addition, players who Monday Qualify
for an LPGA Tour event, or those that are taken from the LPGA Tour or LPGA
Futures Tour Alternate List will be given a full refund provided they
formally withdraw prior to the start of the first round of the SunCoast
event. In all other cases the following Withdrawal Policy will be
enforced;
REGARDLESS OF REASON, ILLNESS OR INJURY, Once
the Tournament Pairings have been posted to the Tour's web site players are committed to the event and any withdrawal thereafter
players will forfeit their entry fee to the tournament unless one of the above
provisions applies.
Prize Purse Distribution:
The purse for each event and the number of players paid is directly
attributable to the number of professionals (not players) in the field.
All 54 Hole events - 30% of professional field gets paid.
(
Sample
Purse based on 72 Pro Player Field paying a $385(M) entry fee )
All 72 hole Events - 35% of professional field gets paid. (
Sample Purse based on 72 Pro field. All 72 hole
events with have a 54-hole cut).
The SunCoast Ladies Series is not a top-heavy payout Tour. Based on a $385
member entry fee, with a minimum of
25 professionals 1st and 2nd place will
be guaranteed $2000 / $1000 respectively. The more professionals that
play, first and second will increase gradually but more money will be
distributed throughout the middle and bottom of the payout. The amount
of money in the purse will also change depending on how many member pro's
versus non-member pro's are in the field. For example, if there are 25
professionals in the field and they are all members the purse will be
different than if there were 25 (15 member, 10 non-member) pro's in the
field because a higher percentage of the non-member entry fee is applied to
the purse resulting in member pro's playing for a higher percentage of
return on their $385 entry fee.
Purse checks will be issued within 24 hours of event completion.
Players may receive their checks by;
1.) Applying earnings towards future events.
2.) Picking them up at the next event.
3.) Having them mailed.
4.) The tour can deposit the checks into your checking account.
THIS IS
NOT DIRECT DEPOSIT. If you bank at the following financial institutions,
Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, Regions, SunTrust, RBC, TD BANK, PNC,
and 5/3 bank, the tour will do a counter deposit the morning after the
event. The player will need to produce a deposit slip or complete one at
the scoring table with account information. Deposit slips for the above
Banks will be available for you.
Membership and Entry Fee Schedule:
Membership Fee: $400
Membership Valid Jan 1 thru Dec 31, 2012.
2012 Membership Enrollment runs October 1, 2011 thru
February 29, 2012. Players not submitting a membership application
before February 29th will play as a non-member for 2012. Membership
Fee is non-refundable after 12:00 a.m. January 1.
Tournament Entry Fee:
54-Hole Events Professional - (M) $385 (NM) $485 Amateur -
(M) $185 (NM) $250 (Amateur info below)
72-Hole Events Professional - $485 Amateur - $250 (Training)
$385 (Competition) (Amateur info below)
AMATEUR PLAYERS: For all 54-hole events,
Amateur's compete for the experience only. However, an Amateur will have the option to compete for gift
certificate not exceeding $750 retail value during all 54-Hole events.
Amateurs that are interested should contact the tour before registering.
An Amateur that elects to participate under this option will be required to
pay the amount of the Member Professional Entry Fee ($385). For all
72-hole events, Amateurs will have the option of playing under the
"Training" (experience only) or "Competition" (eligible for gift certificate
in accordance with the USGA Rules on Amateur Status) option.
72-Hole Events: There will only be one entry fee option for
Professionals and Amateurs regardless of membership status. All
72-Hole events will have a 54-hole cut meaning all players are guaranteed to
play at least 3 rounds unless weather forces the committee to make a change
mid-tournament. See sections titled "Reduction of Rounds" and "Cuts"
below for more information.
Payment Methods and Registering for events:
Fee's may be paid by check, money order/certified check, and Credit Cards. You may use Visa, MC, Amex, & Discover.
All credit card payments are assessed a 3.5% transaction fee by the credit
card processing agents. Online registration is available. Once
your entry fee has been received you are registered for the event. Entry fee
payments must be received prior to the event deadlines dates. Players
will not be permitted to pay for an event onsite.
Member Advantages:
$1,500 Q-School Bonus Awards - Professional Members that finish in the
top 3 of the Points list that meet the 9 event minimum at the conclusion of
the final event before LPGA Stage 1 Qualifying will receive the $1,500
Bonus. 72-Hole events are worth double points.
Member only Winter Championship - $5,000 ADDED PURSE MONEY.....
Only members of the series will be eligible for this event. Amateur
members will be eligible for gift certificates for this event. This
event will be held prior to the start of the LPGA Futures Tour Season
opener.
Reduction of Rounds:
18 Holes constitutes a stipulated round.
36 holes must be completed for an event to be official. (54 or 72 Hole
events)
Event dates will not be extended beyond the final day of the scheduled
tournament date to facilitate completion of a tournament round, unless it is
to complete 36 holes and the host facility can facilitate the additional day
of play.
Cuts:
All 54-hole events will NOT have a cut. Exception; if there are more than 72
players entered a 36 hole cut will be implemented to 50% of the field.
30% of original field will get paid.
72-Hole events - There will be a 54 hole cut. (All players are
guaranteed to play 54 holes, weather permitting). The field will be
cut to the low 35% and ties, plus any player within 2 shots of the last
place check. For example;
Field - 30 players... 35% of 30 players = 11 spots getting paid.
The field will be cut to 11 and ties, plus any player within 2 shots of last
place money (11th).
Only 11 players and ties will get paid.
*In the event of inclement weather delaying a round/rounds the tournament
committee may impose a 36 hole cut if it is deemed having all players begin
the 3rd round would jeopardize completion of the 3rd round within the time
frame allotted for the 72-Hole event.*
Onsite Registration:
There will not be an onsite registration process. Once pairings have
been posted it is the players responsibility to be at their designated tee
at their starting time.
Yardage Measuring Devices:
Players may use range finders, GPS, and the like during competition.
Transportation:
Players will be required to utilize golf carts during competition. In
most cases only 2 carts per pairing will be permitted. Players must
ride from tee to fairway and from green to next tee. There is no
penalty if a player walks from the fairway to the green on a par 4, walks
from approach shot to the green on a par 5, or from the tee to the green on
a par 3, provided that the other players in the group are not waiting on the
walking player before they can proceed in playing the hole, and the group is
in position with the group ahead. Otherwise, the player walking may be
subject to an Undue Delay Penalty.
Caddies:
The following caddie policy is in place to ensure fairness for all players
and their caddies. The tour feels that if one caddie get's to ride
then all caddies should have that opportunity. Unfortunately, when you
only have two carts per group, not every caddie will have the option to ride
with their player. The Tour feels that the following caddie policy is
the best possible solution...
Due to the "2 cart per pairing" issue, caddies will not be permitted to ride
during play of a hole. Caddies must walk unless their player elects to
walk under the criteria listed in the Transportation policy above. On
occasion, this policy may be lifted by authority of the committee.
Circumstance surrounding the lifting of this policy will include; 1) if the
host course allows the field to have their own cart.
2) How many caddies are present. Because caddies are part of the event
they will not be permitted to rent their own cart. This would breach
the 2 cart per pairing policy and the player may be subject to penalty.
Spectators:
Players are encouraged to bring spectators to the events. Based on
host course policy spectators may be able to rent carts to follow their
player of interest. Before any cart can be rented to a spectator there
has to be enough carts for the tournament players. Again, this policy
is strictly based on the host course policy. If you have a spectator
that will require special needs please contact the course directly.
Spectators who rent carts may not be employeed to perform the duties of a
caddie. In this case, the player involved would be in breach of the 2
cart per pairing pairing policy and subject to penalty.
Copyright © 2012 SunCoast Ladies Series PO
Box 677216 Orlando, Florida 32867-7216 407.401.2951
