FNSC 2025 Rules

2025 FNSC Rules

2025 TOURNAMENT RULES

1. First Nations can enter more than one team. All team members must have Proof of membership from their home First Nation and must play for home First Nation. Registrations must be completed prior to and up to the deadline of September 1, 2025.

2. Golfers must be +40 or +50 years old for the Senior Men’s, +50 for Women’s, +60 years old for the Super Senior Men’s & +70 years old for the Super Master Men’s division by the first day of the tournament. All golfers must be of First Nation descent. Golfers must be prepared to produce treaty status cards and proof of age if requested. Teams using illegal players will be disqualified from the tournament with absolutely no refund.

3. Entry fee of $2,400 (Senior Women’s), $3,200 (Senior Men’s 40+ and 50+), $2,400 (Super Senior Men’s), $2,400 (Super Master Men’s) is due no later than September 1, 2025. A $500 NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT is required to secure your spot by August 22, 2025

4. Professionals are eligible to play provided they are of the First Nation descent and playing for home First Nation.

5. Teams are made up of 4 players for Senior Women’s, Super Senior Men’s and Super Master Men’s divisions. The Senior Men’s teams (40+ and 50+) will be made up of 6 players. An Alternate is advised in case of injury or emergency.

6. RCGA, Local and Tournament rules will govern rules of play.

7. Tournament format is as follows:

8. TOURNAMENT FORMAT:

Senior Men’s (40+)

Day 1 – 3 person scramble (Players 1-3 and Players 4-6)

Day 2 – 2 person scramble (Players 1 and 2, Players 3 and 4, Players 5 and 6)

Day 3 – Top 4 teams after 2 days will play “Match Play” in the Championship Flight, remaining teams outside the top 4 will play 3 person scramble, same as Day 1. For “Match Play”, top 4 teams are ranked 1 through 4 (1 vs 4, and 2 vs 3). Players of the same rank on their respective teams will play against each other (Player 1 vs Player 1, Player 2 vs Player 2, and so on). Each won hole will count as 1 point for the player who wins the hole, each halved hole will count as .5 points for each player. The team with the most points at the end of the match play will win the championship. In the case of a tie, the tournament committee will decide a tie-breaker dependant on various circumstances (i.e. weather, time of day, etc).

Senior Men’s (50+)

Day 1 – 3 person scramble (Players 1-3 and Players 4-6)

Day 2 – 2 person scramble (Players 1 and 2, Players 3 and 4, Players 5 and 6)

Day 3 – Top 4 teams after 2 days will play Match Play in the Championship Flight, remaining teams outside the top 4 will play 3 person scramble, same as Day 1. For “Match Play”, top 4 teams are ranked 1 through 4 (1 vs 4, and 2 vs 3). Players of the same rank on their respective teams will play against each other (Player 1 vs Player 1, Player 2 vs Player 2, and so on). Each won hole will count as 1 point for the player who wins the hole, and each halved hole will count as .5 points for each player. The team with the most points at the end of the match play will win the championship. In the case of a tie, the tournament committee will decide a tie-breaker dependant on various circumstances (i.e. weather, time of day, etc).

Senior Women’s (50+)

4 Person Scramble for all 3 days. Top team after 3 days will win the championship.

Super Senior Men’s (60+)

4 Person Scramble for all 3 days. Top team after 3 days will win the championship.

Super Master Men’s (70+)

4 Person Scramble for all 3 days. Top team after 3 days will win the championship.

9. The team that accumulates the LOWEST SCORE for the three days of competition will be declared the WINNER. All players will be “flighted” (1 thru 4 OR 1 thru 6) according to rank on the team. The registration form submitted by teams will be utilized to assign players to the above noted groupings. Teams are advised to ensure their ranking order is accurate, e.g. the best player in 1st flight, 2nd best in 2nd flight and so on.

10. The three organizers along with an Independent Rules Advisor appointed by the Host Committee form a Tournament Protest Committee to review all infractions. The Protest Committee’s decisions are final; no appeals will be allowed.

11. RANKING ORDER: Teams will not be allowed to shuffle or re-arrange their ranking order once the tournament starts.

12. ALTERNATE PLAYER RULE: The Alternate Player can either replace an injured player; a player that is late; a player that has to leave due to an emergency; or a player who wishes to remove herself from further play for the rest of the day. Teams will be allowed to make only one (1) switch per day involving the alternate player, except for an extreme emergency as approved by the Protest Committee. The alternate player must play in the same rank of the player they are replacing. Substitution will only be allowed after the hole has been completed. The alternate must complete the rest of the round once entered. Her score will count.

13. In the event team players are late or cannot field an entire team for the tournament, the following will be in effect:

A. Scramble: If there is only one (1) player available, that player will be entitled to only one shot, not two. A player can later join the match anytime but not between holes. A team that is late has the opportunity to catch up with their assigned group before they have teed-off at the 4th hole, failure to do so will result in their disqualification. The disqualified group will then be assessed a one (1) stroke less than the last place finishers.

B. Match play: Two (2) stroke penalty per hole. Late players will have the opportunity to join their assigned group before the 4th hole is played. However, once the late player’s assigned group has teed-off on the 4th hole and the late player still has not arrived, he is disqualified for the remainder of the round. The disqualified player will lose the match 18 – 0.

14. Drugs will not be tolerated. Anyone using illegal drugs will be disqualified from further play in the tournament.

15. Golfers will not be allowed to consume alcohol during the course of play. Players caught consuming alcohol during the course of play will be disqualified for the duration of the round. Golfers deemed to be under the influence of alcohol will not be allowed to play.

16. Any team member who is verbally abusive or disrespectful towards any members of the tournament committee and/or players will be given only one verbal warning and if she continues to do so will be disqualified from further play for the rest of the tournament and may be banned for future First Nations Senior Cup Golf tournaments.

17. Physical violence or threats in whatever form “WILL NOT BE TOLERATED”. Anyone who commits an assault will be disqualified from further play for the rest of the tournament. Furthermore, he may be banned from future tournaments. It is to be remembered that all players are here to compete in sportsmanship and in friendship. It is hoped that this rule will not be applied to anyone.

18. Disputes: If there is to be a dispute during the course of play, the Golfer(s) will play two balls and immediately bring the dispute to the Protest Committee upon completing the round for a decision.

19. Immediately after the completion of a round, all Golfers are responsible for proceeding to the Score Keeper’s tabulation table, to tabulate with a tournament official and to sign score cards. All players in group must verify score – no exceptions. Any player not adhering to this rule will be penalized two (2) strokes.

22. Only Team Captains (NOT individual team members) are permitted to bring issues to any Tournament Committee. Team Captains are responsible to check their team’s score and point allocation on a regular basis, especially after scores have been posted. Should Team Captains find any discrepancies they are to immediately notify the Tournament Committee of the discrepancy. Once team scores have been posted, Team Captains will have one (1) hour to bring any discrepancies or errors in point tabulations to the attention of the Tournament Committee. All Team Captains are instructed to familiarize themselves, to clearly understand the tournament format, point system and allocation. Furthermore, Teams and individual players are encouraged to regularly scrutinize other team’s individual player’s scores and points with whom they might have played.

There is a $1,000 semi non-refundable Protest Fee with any infractions during play. Should the Protesting team win the protest, the $500 will be returned and penalties will be handed out to the infracting team. If the Protesting team loses the protest, the $1,000 is 100% Non refundable.

23. All players will play from their designated tees regardless of which division they are playing for all three days of the Tournament.

(40+) - Silver Tees (50+) - Silver Tees (60+) - Blue Tees (Ladies) – White Tees (70+) - White Tees

*For 60+ and 70+ men’s divisions, each player is required to record and use 3 drives per round.

24. All holes must be holed out. NO GIMMES!

25. Players can only have one Caddy.

26. Ball placement –Two Man Scrambles. On fairway – one club length no closer to the hole. Off fairway – must stay off fairway – one club length no closer to the hole. On the Green – six (6”) inches – no closer to the hole.

27. Team Captains and Players who have finished their round, cannot converse with playing team member(s) during course of play. However, they can watch from a distance of approximately thirty (30) yards.

28. Cell phones or pagers are allowed, but they must be shut off during the course of play.

29. Fans are welcome and encouraged to watch, but they must remain thirty (30) yards away from the Players at all times. Fans cannot converse with players or be a distraction for players during play. Unruly fans will be reported to course management staff and removed from the premises.

30. Dress Code in effect all times. ABSOLUTELY no jeans, no muscle shirts or t-shirts will be allowed. Team Colours are encouraged for the entire tournament, especially on the final day for Team pictures.

31. Each player is only allowed to win one hole prize per contest for the first two days of play be it a Closest to the Pin, Long Drive or Longest Putt. On the third and final day, anyone can win any hole prize despite previous hole prize wins. Example… Player X wins a KP on day one, she cannot win anymore KP’s for the first two days however she can win other hole prizes such as the Long Drive and Longest putt for the First two days.

32. Hole in one prize can only be won once per day. The first person to score an ace cancels out all other aces for the day. On the second and third days, the hole in one prize will be reset and awarded to the first person to score an ace for that day.

NOTE: These rules are subject to change and/or additions may be made.

The Host First Nation, Tournament Co-ordinators and Tournament Committee will NOT be responsible for any loss, theft, illness or injury resulting from the tournament.