LCJGA Membership

Loudoun County Junior Golf Association is a uniform league. LCJGA member shirts and hats are issued when players check in for their first tournament. Members are to wear these at all tournaments with either khaki pants or shorts. Girls may optionally wear khaki skirts or skorts.

All LCJGA members are required to attend a Rules and Etiquette Clinic provided by LCJGA prior to the start of the season.

Costs

Financial Assistance - The Loudoun County Junior Golf Association offers financial assistance through Grants and other programs based upon funds availability. Such funds are disbursed dependent upon a confidential case-by-case review of the individual needs of a player’s family. This review involves ONLY the player’s parents, not the player. If you would like information about financial assistance, you may indicate so on your registration form and someone from LCJGA will contact you directly.

Parent Volunteers

With the exception of the Tournament Official, most volunteer duties take place before or after a tournament and require little knowledge of golf. LCJGA provides procedures and assistance for these jobs and will work with you to determine the tasks assigned to you.

The Tournament Official is a person assigned to each group who is responsible for pace of play, rules enforcement, and generally helping the players around the course. The Tournament Official is not allowed to coach players during tournaments. The Tournament Official is provided a golf cart and is the only person riding with players. The duties of Tournament Official requires a basic understanding of The Rules of Golf and golf etiquette. Parents interested in volunteering as a Tournament Officials are welcome to attend the Rules and Etiquette Clinic held at the beginning of the season.

Skills Assessment

LCJGA accepts members of all skill levels ranging from novice to accomplished player. Each member is assessed by a golf professional prior to the start of each season and placed in a division with players of similar skill levels. A player's skill level is determined strictly by the player's demonstrated golf skills and not by age.

Golf Courses

The golf courses used by LCJGA are listed under the side menu item Golf Courses. The links on this page will take you directly to the home page of the given course. From the home pages, you can access directions, telephone numbers, contact information, and course specifications. If playing at any of the listed courses, please mention the LCJGA and thank them for their support of our program.

Tournament Procedures

The following bullet items describe how a typical tournament operates.

• All tournaments are suspended immediately at the first sign of lightning.
• News of delays and cancellations due to inclement weather is accessible on the County's Cancellation Line - 703/777-0456. Always check this number prior to going to the course if the weather looks threatening.
• USGA Rules govern play except as amended by any published local rules or decisions made by the Committee.
• Players are expected to arrive in uniform and to check-in at the Player Check-In Table no less than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of each tournament. Players should allow for additional time if they wish to warm up on the putting green or driving range prior to play.
• Tournaments are usually structured as a "Shotgun Start", although some golf courses may require us to use tee times. Under a Shotgun Start format, all foursomes tee off at the same time from different holes.
• When players check-in, they are given a score card, their pairing for the day, and their starting hole assignment.
• At the start of each tournament round, every player picks a partner from their assigned foursome with whom to trade score cards. The object of this is explained at the Rules and Etiquette Classes.
• Tournaments are played as 9 hole events with the exception in the Novice Division where 5 hole tournaments are played.
• During tournaments, all players are expected to carry or pull their own clubs. Caddies are not allowed.
• Once the players complete their rounds, they return to the clubhouse and sit with their foursome and Tournament Official until they have verified and signed their score cards.
• After the score cards are signed and attested, they are turned in to the volunteers at the Scoring Table for posting on the Leaderboard.
• Tournament results are posted to the LCJGA website within a couple of days of the Tournament.

Although not required, players should carry the following items in their pockets:

• Ballmark Repair Tool - One is included in you goodie bag and they are also available at all courses.
• Ball Markers - A LCJGA Ball Marker is included in your goodie bag, but you may want to carry a couple of extra coins. It's been rumered over the years that Jack Nicklaus always carries three pennys in his pocket whenever he plays...
• Tees - A few are included in your goodie bag, but they are also available at the courses. Put a couple in you pocket and a few more in your bag.

Players should review the list below and consider carrying the listed items in or on their golfbags:

1. Clean Golf Clubs - 14 club limit
2. Your LCJGA Bag Tag
3. USGA Rule Book
4. Club Cleaning Brush - an old tooth brush works great!
5. Golfbag Towel
6. Extra Balls
7. Extra Tees
8. Bug Spray
9. Bandaids
10. Extra Ball Markers
11. Extra Ball Mark Repair Tool
12. A Sharpie for marking your ball
13. A Pencil for scoring
14. Extra Golf Gloves
15. Sunblock - At least SPF 30
16. A water bottle or a sports drink
17. Some light snack that won't melt
18. An Umbrella
19. Extra soft spikes and a spike wrench

LCJGA Code of Conduct

The Loudoun County Junior Golf Association, (LCJGA) provides worthwhile golf activities that can be pursued throughout life and help develop character, sportsmanship and the life values of integrity, honesty, self-discipline and competitive spirit. In order to make LCJGA activities, events and tournaments enjoyable for everyone, all junior golfers and their parent(s)/guardian(s) must adhere to the following Code of Conduct. Its purpose is to help LCJGA participants grow and mature by understanding and accepting the consequences of their actions. Violation of the Code of Conduct can result in tournament penalties and/or disqualification and/or suspension of membership. Junior golfers and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are to observe this Code of Conduct at all LCJGA tournaments, practice facilities, and/or similar public events.

1. SPECIFIC CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS INCLUDE:

2. CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION PENALTIES

One-stroke penalty for first violation of the Code of Conduct. If the infraction occurs at a non-tournament event, the penalty will be assessed at the next tournament. Upon a second infraction at the same tournament/event, or a serious violation of the Code of Conduct, a player may be immediately disqualified from the tournament/event at which the violation occurs and may also receive a suspension of membership. Providing a warning on and/or waiving a violation of this Code of Conduct will not operate or be construed as a waiver of a later violation. The LCJGA may report any incident to the course/facility manager and/or the appropriate civil authorities. Penalties assessed by a tournament official are subject to review by the LCJGA Board member(s) present at that tournament. Suspensions are imposed by the Board of Directors of the LCJGA.

3. TOURNAMENT “NO SHOWS”/WITHDRAWAL

The unexcused absence of junior golfers at their scheduled tournament results in confusion due to pairings being disrupted. The important relationship with the golf course where the tournament is being held is also adversely impacted since the golf course has been closed to other paying golfers and other special arrangements are made to accommodate an LCJGA tournament. As such, whenever possible, junior golfers and their parents/guardians should give forty-eight (48) hours notice of a “no show” at a tournament by emailing the LCJGA or calling an LCJGA Board member.

4. TOURNAMENT CHECK–IN PROCEDURE AND INCLEMENT WEATHER

The date and starting time of all tournaments is listed under the side menu button Schedules. All LCJGA golfers are strongly encouraged to check in at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of a tournament, but entrants must check in at the registration table no less than 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of a tournament to confirm tee time/location and to receive their scorecard. USGA Rule 6-3 concerning disqualification may be enforced for late arrivals. In the event of inclement weather, a decision to hold or cancel the event will be made as soon as possible. Tee times may be delayed up to 1 hour, but the event will be canceled if play cannot be started within 1 hour. Arrive for your scheduled tournament even if the weather looks bad - it may not be bad at the tournament site. Play is to be immediately discontinued whenever lightning is present at the tournament location, as determined by the course manager.

5. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, SAFETY, CADDIES, PACE OF PLAY

The LCJGA expects parents/guardians to encourage their child(ren) and to participate in their child(ren)’s progress with the game of golf. However, parents/guardians/sibling(s) who are not duly appointed tournament officials may act only as observers during tournaments.* The first incident of a parent(s)/guardian(s)/sibling(s) coaching their child during a tournament will result in a warning to both the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the junior golfer. The second incident will result in a two-stroke penalty being assessed against the junior golfer. (See USGA Rule 8-1) For this reason and for safety purposes, parents/guardians and other members of the gallery are to remain on the cart path (whenever possible), or in the absence of a cart path, no less than 50 feet from the junior golfers and their line of play. Parents/guardians are encouraged to help with pace of play and finding lost balls, but shall defer all rulings to the LCJGA tournament officials and/or staff. Absent a proven medical condition/disability or similar situation that prevents a junior golfer from carrying his/her own bags/clubs (as determined by the LCJGA Board of Directors), the use of caddies is prohibited for all participants. Pace of Play will be monitored and appropriate penalties assessed when necessary.

*Junior golfers in the Novice and Par Divisions may receive limited advice from Tournament Officials.

Miscellaneous Information

• Each player should bring a water bottle for drinking during the tournaments. At some facilities there are stations on the course where players can refill their water bottles. Most courses have snack bars and soda machines available as well.
• Parents and friends who wish to follow players during tournaments may do so on foot or they may rent carts depending upon cart availability. Anyone using a cart MUST remain on the cart paths at all times.
• We may have some junior sets of golf clubs available to loan to those who may need them. Please, let us know if you are interested.
• Awards will be handed out at the End-of-Season Banquet