The '09 Championship will have a maximum field size of 90 players set 5 days in advance (targeted start size is 84 & the ’07 field started 81 players).  Competition commences over a 72 hole stroke play format with 36 holes the first day and 18 holes played each of the last two days.  The field is "trimmed" after 36 holes to the low 70 players & ties. There is a cut after 54 holes to the low 30 & ties plus all within 5 shots of 10th place.  Ties for the championship will be settled via a "sudden death" playoff starting immediately upon the conclusion of the final round of play.

The SPC practice round on Monday is concurrent with a "Sponsor/Am" in sixsomes each with 2 teams each consisting of two SPC contestants and one sponsor (each with an Index of 18 or better).  SPC contestants arriving on Sunday will be afforded another practice round at the discretion of the host course contingent on tee time availability. The ’07 schedule is as follows:

   Monday, August 17th

SPC "Sponsor/Am" shotgun at [time to be determined]

SPC contestants make their Sponsor/Am partner request via the SPC Chairman

 event at [time to be determined]; optional and open to SPC contestants, Sponsors or TC members ($40 buy in)

   Tuesday, August 18th

First Round of the Championship with threesomes every 9 minutes off both nines from 7:00AM to 9’ish

Second Round of the Championship with threesomes every 9 minutes off both nines from 12:25PM to 2:30’ish

   Wednesday, August 19th

Third Round of the Championship with threesomes every 10 minutes off both nines from 7:00AM to 8:50'ish

   Thursday, August 20th

Final Round of the Championship with twosomes every 8 minutes from 7AM to about 9AM

SPC Top 3 & Low Mid-Am award presentation & other prizes immediately after the conclusion of play

Note - plan departure for no earlier than 3:30PM and airline flight departures no earlier than 6:00PM

Champions "Top Gun" Flight Jacket (click photo for enlargement)

Champion - Crystal Trophy*, Champions "Top Gun" flight jacket

(presented at following year's SPC), 5 year SPC exemption, major world amateur ranking points and exemptions/invitations to most of the top amateur events worldwide as well as SPG Life membership.

2nd (plus ties) - Crystal award*, merchandise*, 3 year exemption and points

3rd (plus ties) - Crystal award*, merchandise*, 2 year exemption and points

4th & 5th (plus ties) - merchandise*, 2 year exemption and points

6th thru 10th (plus ties) - merchandise* & 1 year exemption and points

11th thru 15th (plus ties) - merchandise* and points

SPC Mid-Am Medalist - Crystal Award* & 1 year SPC exemption

Tee Prizes - dozen ProV1's, shirt and player program provided at Registration

Course Record - Custom Plaque ordered & delivered subsequent to SPC

Sponsor/Am Hole~in~one - Automobile (complies with USGA amateur status rules)

If this is not the most unique prize in golf, it's close.  The authentic US Dept of Defense Naval Aviator Flight Jacket is lambskin with fur collar. 

The custom made patches are for the Champion's career golf accomplishments "of note" as opposed to military patches sewn on by fighter pilots.

Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf as currently approved by the USGA  (see "Carts & Caddies" below for conditions pertaining thereof) with "distance measuring devices" allowed as long as pace of play is not adversely affected.  The pace of play for the first 3 SPC rounds is about 4 hours & 40 minutes and 4 hours & 25 minutes for the final round.   The SPC Pace of Play will be strictly enforced.  Local rules, tournament conditions and registration requirements will be provided via email or the entry page of this website.  Contestants failing to register, in person, at the host course on August 11th by 8PM risk losing their place in the field to an alternate unless an exception is previously granted by the Tournament Chairman.  The Tournament Committee (TC) & the host venue require that all players wear softspikes shoes.  Golf shorts of appropriate length are permitted.  The TC reserves the right to reject an entry at any time before or after the start of tournament play.  Any player engaging in unbecoming or unsportsmanlike conduct is subject to ejection.  The TC reserves the right to alter the conditions & schedules herein prior to or during the championship.

All players may utilize a cart (motorized or pull) without limitation during the first day (36 holes) as long as such cart remains off the fairways as directed by venue signage.  Contestants must walk during each of the final two rounds of the Championship.  Cart usage is permitted during the final two rounds for such contestant's equipment, caddie or guests.  All carts are at the contestant's expense.

Carts not rented or assigned to a particular contestant may be available to spectators and others at the discretion of the host course at such person's expense but no assurance of such availability is made by the SPC and a "2 motorized cart maximum per group" applies for either players or spectators.  Those who seek a cart to gallery or otherwise see the tournament should contact the course pro shop for cart availability prior to arriving at the course.  The SPC TC will provide a limited number of cart drivers during the first three rounds of the SPC on a "best efforts" basis and to any player surviving the cut for the final round at their option.  Cart driver priority during the first three rounds is on a "first reserve, first get" basis.  Players may carry their own bag, pull a cart or provide their own caddie during any round.  "Buggies" are known as carts in the USA.

Caddies &/or "bag packers" (limited or no advise) will be available to be retained via the SPC Tournament Chairman (normal duty or as cart drivers).   Players desirous in retaining a caddie should make advanced arrangements with the SPC Tournament Chairman.  Do not expect caddies to be available during the SPC if prior arrangements have not been made.  If a SPC provided caddie is requested, such player obligates themselves to cover their caddy's fee for, at least, the first round.

The SPG, its membership and the SPC Tournament Committee, all but one of whom are scratch players or past golf association presidents, endeavors to conduct the championship as a first class, top quality, precision run amateur championship of national and international prominence where the entire tone of the event is to create a true player's championship that seeks to accommodate the players desires for top level amateur competition.  In short, "the Players Championship of Amateur Golf".

· greens are hand mowed, double cut and rolled daily to at least 11 on the stimpmeter (12 max).

· the fairways & tees are mowed each morning to a height of 3/8 inch & clippings are removed.

· the inner cup dirt is chalked white on all fresh holes daily.

· custom yardage books with pin locations, key yardage and Rules & Conditions embedded therein.

· on-course scoreboards, updated constantly, during the final round.

· on course food & beverage provided throughout the course

June TBD

July TBD

July TBD

July TBD

US Amateur entry deadline (online or New Jersey receipt)

SPC deadline for submitting Merit Exemption requests

SPC qualifier entry deadline & effective date for points list or ranking exempts.

last day to withdraw without withdrawal fee of $100

July XX thru August X

July TBD

August TBD

August TBD

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

US Amateur qualifying dates for SPC qualifying at various sites throughout the US (up to 8 spots if qualify for US Am)

last day to withdraw without forfeiting exempt entry fee

entry fee balance due date for successful qualifiers

August 11th pairings & tee times posted on page

Sunday, practice round at club discretion and first day of SPC shuttle service from airports

Monday, SPC "Sponsor/Am" (official SPC practice round), Registration & Dinner

Tuesday, 1st & 2nd round of Championship

Wednesday, 3rd round of SPC

Thursday, final SPC round; finishes before 2:30PM  (playoff, if applicable, will extend finish time)