Q: What are the dates for the 2008 Pacific Amateur Golf Classic?
A: The dates of the tournament are September 27 - October 2, 2008
Q: What is included in the entry fee?
A: Each player receives a Welcome Packet with items valued at over $250, three rounds of golf guaranteed including golf cart (2 participants per cart) and range balls (Mon., Tues. and Wed.), a box lunch will be provided for all participants during daily play, and admission for yourself into 2 (two) evening parties.
Q: What is not included in the entry fee?
A: Lodging, transportation and additional meals or practice rounds. Breakfast is not included but will be available at the discretion of each course.
Q: What is the last day that I can register for the 2008 PacAm?
A: Registration closes on August 29th, 2008 or when the field reaches 775 paid participants. After that date registrations will be taken on a space available basis only.
Q: What is the cost of lodging?
A: Sunriver Resort – as the “Official Host Site - has prepared special rates for all PacAm participants. If you do not wish to stay at the Resort you can Contact the Central Oregon Visitors Association for additional lodging options.
Q: What is the format of the tournament?
A: 54-hole net stroke play. All participants play three rounds of golf at a different golf course each day. All players are placed into a flight based on their gender, their age and their handicap. A prize payout will be made to the top-5 players in each flight after the third round based upon the 3-day cumulative net scores. The top-2 players from each flight will advance to the Championship round at the Crosswater Club on Thursday, October 2, 2008. The low net score will be crowned 2008 PacAm Champion.
Q: What are the age divisions?
A: 1) Men ages 18-49 2) Senior Men ages 50-59 3) Mid-Senior Men ages 60-69 4) Super Senior Men ages 70 and older 5) Women ages 18-49 6) Senior Women ages 50 and older 7) Open (gross score open to all players)
Q: What are the handicaps for each flight?
A: Flight sizes will include approximately 20 participants. Preliminary flight handicap breakdowns will be determined at the close of registration and will be posted at www.pacamgolf.com for viewing. Final assignments will be released during registration on October 1.
Q: Are practice rounds included/available?
A: Practice rounds are not included in your entry fee but discount tee times are available through each course. Rates for practice rounds are determined by each facility and availability is not guaranteed.
Q: Does my handicap need to be established through the USGA?
A: No, but you must have an established handicap with a recognized Golf Association. Examples would be the Utah Golf Association and the Southern California Golf Association. Contact the PacAm tournament office if you have questions about whether your handicap is acceptable.
Q: What is the minimum or maximum handicap?
A: There is no minimum handicap. The maximum daily handicap men will play with is 36 and women 40, regardless of index.
Q: What date handicap will you be using?
A: Tournament Handicaps are assigned based upon a participants handicap index range during the current year. Participants may be assigned a “tournament handicap” that is different than their USGA handicap based upon the lowest index from the current fiscal year or from past year’s scores and/or other factors. Your final tournament handicap will be made available prior to tournament play.
Q: How will you prevent people from “sandbagging”?
A: The USGA handicap adjustment policy will be in effect. “Sandbagging” will NOT be tolerated. Players who score exceptionally low scores will have their handicaps reviewed and adjusted if necessary on a daily basis. Any player who scores exceptionally low scores after being adjusted may be disqualified. Any player who is found to have inconsistent or fraudulent posting practices will be disqualified from the PacAm and all fees will be forfeited.
Q: Which courses will I play?
A: Course and flight assignments for each year can not be determined until all registrations are in and a final player number is counted. The number/size of flights helps determine where each flight will play each day.
Q: Do I play with the same group all three days?
A: No. Players will be repaired for the first two rounds randomly and for the third round based on their score from the first two rounds.
Q: What is the cancellation and refund policy?
A: Full refunds will be provided for cancellations received at the tournament office in Bend, OR by 4:30 p.m., P.S.T., Friday, August 29, 2008. Cancellations received after that date, but before the close of player check-in on September 28, 2008, will be refunded $100. *All refunds are subject to a $15.00 processing fee.
No refunds, regardless of circumstance, will be provided after September 28, 2008. All cancellations and refund requests must be submitted in writing. Please allow four weeks for the processing of refund requests.
Q: I am coming with some of my friends. Can we be paired together?
A: No. To uphold the integrity of the tournament, pairings requests can not be honored. Players can however request to play in the same flight. Players can "play down" in age or handicap to be in the same flight as friends. Example: if four players are coming together and three of them are 10 handicaps and the fourth is a 12 handicap, the 12 can play as a 10 handicap for the tournament so he/she can play in the same flight; likewise someone who is in the Senior or Super Senior Division can play down to the open or Men's age divisions. Players can not "play up" in age or handicap.
Q: How do pairings work?
A: Daily “pairings” (or who each person plays with each day) are based upon the following system:
Day 1 – Pairings are based upon Tournament Handicaps. The four lowest handicaps in each flight will be paired together, then the next four and so on.
Day 2 – Pairings are randomly done to allow players to meet new people and hopefully play with different groups each day.
Day 3 – Pairings are set by the player’s two day score total. The four lowest scores in each flight will be paired together, then the next four and so on.
Q: Is transportation provided?
A: There are no shuttles from the hotels to the golf courses. Taxi service is available. A car pool sign up will be set-up to help players get to the golf courses.
Q: Can spectators watch the tournament?
A: Yes, spectators are encouraged at each tournament course but they may not interfere with play, ride in your golf cart or caddy for you.
Q: I am trying to plan for 2009, when are dates determined for future events?
A: Dates for the PacAm are determined primarily by the first full week of October on the calendar year. The PacAm will typically take place on the week following the first day of Fall. Official dates are announced annually at the Awards Dinner following tournament play.
