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AZRC- Chapter 1 & 2

CHAPTER I – THE AzRC
ROLE
This is a combined AGA/AWGA/JGAA services group positioned to ensure the highest quality tournament governance under the Rules of Golf managed by the joint Associations. The primary job is to:

Ensure officials are competent for each assignment through training and on-course experience. 
Maintain a list of officials and their skill ratings, availability, preferred areas of work that includes all pertinent contact information. 
Facilitate assignments of officials to events sponsored by the three golf Associations in Arizona and selected other events.
Act as a conduit to officials when organizations other than the three golf Associations wish assistance with events. 
Provide a Tournament Operations Manual and example support documents for use by clubs, event management and by rules officials.

GOVERNING BOARD
The AzRC is governed by Arizona‘s amateur associations collectively.
ADMINISTRATION
AzRC Administration is responsible for:

Maintaining a list of officials and their skill ratings, availability, expertise, and preferred areas of work and all pertinent contact information;
Maintaining and updating this publication, making changes as directed by the AzRC Governing Board; 
Maintaining an Operations Manual for use at events and by officials (The Rules Official Handbook). The manual includes advice regarding all aspects of tournament operations.

MEMBERS

Founding member Associations that sponsor and conduct most amateur and USGA qualifying golf tournaments:
Arizona Golf Association,
Arizona Women’s Golf Association, 
Junior Golf Association of Arizona, 
General members who work at the direction of the AzRC, an Association or another group at sanctioned events to prepare the golf courses and provide expertise in managing events.

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
Each Association is autonomous and runs its business as it sees fit.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
The general membership of the AzRC is comprised of Rules Officials and those in training who wish to become Rules Officials. There is an expectation that the members will frequently make themselves available for tournament assignments and continue to be members in good standing.
The general members must be prepared and qualified for tournament assignments. Acquiring, maintaining and improving knowledge and skills are the joint responsibilities of each general member and the Associations. General members work both independently and with the assistance of the AzRC to improve their capabilities and skills.
There are volunteers who assist at golf tournaments who are not Rules Officials or learning to become Rules Officials. Those volunteers are not described in this section as the focus is on the membership of the AzRC.
There are three (3) membership options:
Option #1: Complimentary

All AzRC manuals and materials, a copy of Decisions on the Rules of Golf (biannually); 
Annual preparation seminars for the Rules of Golf exams; seminars on course markings and officiating. 
Option to acquire additional apparel for tournament work (rain gear, shirts, jackets, sweaters, shoes, etc.) at cost through the AzRC associations.

Option #2: $100 – Option #1plus
Three AzRC Committee shirts (red, white, blue), and the choice of an AzRC jacket or sweater (a $160 value);
Option #3: $350.00 – Options #1 and #2 plus
Entry into the USGA/PGA Rules Seminar (a $350 value)
It is the intent of the AzRC to be the central clearing-house for organizations other than one of the Associations seeking assistance for event management. It is anticipated that those events will be substantially serviced by the Association that generally hosts tournaments for the age group and/or gender.

The AWGA primarily conducts women’s events for women older than high school age. 
The AGA primarily conducts men’s events for men older than high school age. 
The JGAA primarily conducts events for boys and girls of high school age and younger.

ASSISTANCE WITH NON-ASSOCIATION EVENTS
The AzRC will do its best to provide assistance to those non-association events. The Associations’ schedules and prior commitments have priority. While members of the AzRC work without pay for association events, other groups hosting tournaments are expected to compensate AzRC members for any work provided.
When AzRC members assist with non-association events as Rules Officials, they must have the right to review, approve and revise as necessary all Local Rules for the event. They may also require that course markings are appropriate and in keeping with the Rules of Golf and that player groupings and group intervals are reasonable to meet any expected pace of play for which they are responsible. Without such authority, officials cannot assume responsibility for performance.
SUGGESTED COMPENSATION
At times general members work without cash compensation and at times, they are paid a stipend. When working non-association tournaments, such as collegiate invitational tournaments, or other organized tournament tours, general members may be paid a stipend. The suggested rates are:

ROIC: $200/day 
Rules Official: $150/day. 
Starter: $50/day (4 hours or less) 
Scorer: $50/day (4 hours or less)

CHAPTER II – TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS
ASSOCIATION DUTIES

Populate the AzRC website with events for which they desire AzRC member assistance. 
Choose its Staff member in Charge (SIC).
Choose a Rules Official in Charge (ROIC). 
Determine how many AzRC members and volunteers are needed, work times, and roles, and post them to the AzRC website.
Determine uniform requirements for general members and volunteers at each event.
Provide food and beverage service for the time and duration of the work day or compensates appropriately.
Lists any compensation available on the website for any given event. 
Set the course marking date, assign a leader and provide materials necessary.
Report member days’ worked on the website form at the completion of each event.

STAFF [PERSON] IN CHARGE (SIC)
Each Association assigns a Staff [person] in Charge for each of their own events; when a non-Association group wishes assistance, they provide the SIC although may look to the Association to suggest a general member to perform the ROIC role. That ROIC, also assists as an assistant SIC. The responsibilities of the SIC are:

Assign ROIC from those general members working the event.
Along with the ROIC, determine general member and volunteer assignments. 
Represent the Association in all contractual matters. 
Represent the Association in any issue requiring discipline or withdrawal.
 Final authority in all non-rules/golf course decisions. 
Determine/approve playing yardages. 
Determine pairings & starting times.
Communicate and oversee non-Rules Official work assignments.
Print all necessary materials. 
Communicates tournament and work schedules. 
Provide scoreboards, arranges score posting and personnel.
Provide for administrative and event media services, website postings.
Provide pace committee assignments, locations, Time Par (Maximum Allotted Time) and Raguzzi reports. 
Manage TPP or other tournament software/website. 
Manage media content and communication. 
Provide or identify uniforms, tools and equipment for the event. 

DUTIES OF ROIC (RULES OFFICIAL IN CHARGE)
The ROIC is tasked with ensuring the Rules are applied correctly, players receive the information intended by the Committee for them to have, the course is properly setup and that all questions about the Rules are answered as soon as practicable and when possible, before each round is complete. Duties of the ROIC:

Approve course markings 
Create or approve Local Rules publication and provide recommendations to SIC for printing, utilizing the AzRC language and/or USGA Rules of Golf, Appendix I suggestions. 
Publish a Local Rules handout for Officials and review that with them before they go out on assignment.
Oversee application of Rules on-course during the event. 
Oversee course setup, the location and definition of scoring area and score board.
Oversee starting; ensuring starters have the proper information and materials. 
Oversee the reception of score cards and rulings. The ROIC always participates in Rule 3-3 resolutions and has final decision-making responsibility as Chair of the Committee.

DUTIES OF CPO (CHIEF PACE OFFICIAL)
The CPO monitors pace of play and takes action as approved by the SIC:

Oversee and apply Pace of Play Policy. 
Oversee documentation of violations of policy.
Conduct violation interviews following play, including Committee members as needed.
Apply applicable penalties when warranted. 

EXPECTATIONS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERS
All tournament workers are expected to be at the course, in uniform, and ready to work at least 30 minutes ahead of their assigned time.
Every tournament worker must understand that the players and their caddies (when appropriate) are customers. At junior events, most of the spectators are parents of players and as such are customers and likely patrons of the Association as well. Every interaction with golf course staff, players, caddies, spectators is to be done professionally and with respect.
UNIFORMS, IDENTIFICATION AND TOOLS
Each member association supplies the appropriate uniform. At each day of a tournament, all officials wear the same color/markings shirts, color of slacks or shorts. The AzRC or the member association supplies and maintains a supply of items that identify the official as a tournament official. That includes name tags, lanyards, cart signage and cart flags.While on the premises, Rules Officials are required to wear an issued name tag. Rules Officials in a golf cart must display a cart sign and/or flag.
Members may be issued radios, golf carts, cart-flags or other durable goods. These items are expected to be cared for and returned at the end of the workday. Golf carts are issued to tournament workers depending on the need and the availability of carts.
If radio earphones are available, they should be used. Officials may supply their own, but that is not required or expected, however all officials must be readily available and in contact with other officials and the Committee.
Radios are to be used with care, respecting the airwaves. Use of inappropriate language or a radio other than for tournament business may result is loss of radio privileges.
TRAVEL EXPENSE
The Association may or may not reimburse the official for expenses incurred in traveling to and from each event. Each golf Association determines the amount of travel compensation and the form and manner of reporting and payment as well as any conditions that must be met. It is the general member’s responsibility to understand and determine the policy at a given event if there is no statement in advance. All should presume there is no travel expenses offered unless advised in advance.
TRAINING EXPENSE
Regular training exercises will be organized by the Associations and made available to all. Each member is expected attend a 3½ day PGA-USGA Rules of Golf Workshop once in a 4-year period and take the 100-question exam, providing the final score to the AzRC. AzRC training seminars will be provided at no cost to members. Qualified AzRC members will receive the current AzRC Manual. Other than meals, there may be additional benefits that will be identified in advance on the AzRC website. The AzRC can assist with notifying Rules Officials about opportunities to earn a stipend for working those tournaments, but cannot guarantee that Officials will be available or willing to work for the stipend offered.