BACKGROUND
The Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) is mandated by its Constitution, to select National Teams to represent Jamaica in amateur golf competitions.    One such event is the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC), an annual competition staged by the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA). This premier event in the Caribbean region, comprises both gender and multiple age categories of competition.    The JGA is required to provide its members the opportunity for inclusion in these teams and the JGA is responsible for ensuring the eligible players are selected by a process that is fair and transparent. 

THE NATIONAL TEAM:    The National Team must consist of players who are:-
1.     Foremost in JGA and/or JGA approved competitions.  Jamaicans studying/resident overseas and  playing golf at a level that the JGA considers an
        acceptable standard.
2.     Available to play in the CAGC (no conflict with dates or visa requirements)
3.     Members in good standing with the JGA.
4.     Persons who meet at least one of the following CGA Standards and Protocol
         a)    Jamaican by birth.    b)    Not born in Jamaica, but who have been residing in Jamaica for at least   one (1) year immediately preceding
                 the CAGC.    c)    Under  the age of twenty-one (21) and entitled to claim the residency status of their parents.   d)    Are Jamaican citizens. 

All players must possess a USGA (United States Golf Association) Index (which produces a handicap) or a UK handicap, the lowest to be used as follows:-
                    Hoerman Cup  (8 or lower), Ramon Baez Figueroa Trophy  (10 or lower) Francis & Steele-Perkins Cup, Higgs & Higgs Trophy
                    and George Teale Trophy  (12 or lower).     For Jamaica to be competitive in Caribbean Golf, it is required that the JGA stimulate,
                    develop and test the competitive golf skills of its membership throughout the year.  To this end, the JGA should:-           

       (a) Organize  (JGA events) or assist with in organizing a satisfactory number of competitions (JGA sanctioned events).  ( b)   Determine
     the standards of existing non-JGA events, and if found to be of acceptable standard, approve them for use in the evaluation of players
    (in qualifying events).   (c)   Provide a credible yardstick to measure and rank the performance of competitors in these events. (d) Include
     the best available players in a competition (Trials) to select the National Teams.

TRIALS:   A competition called Trials will be held each year to select the National Teams to represent Jamaica in the CAGC.    It will be a seventy-two (72)  hole event, played over four (4) days.  The format will be stroke play. In the event of bad weather,  the Tournament Director can reduce the duration of the event to a minimum of a thirty six (36)  hole event.   Ties in the Trials will be determined by a “sudden-death” playoff. 
VENUE:   The venue chosen for the Trials will be selected by the JGA, and, as much as is practicable, should represent the conditions closest to those at the host golf course for the CAGC in that year.
DATES:  The Trials will be held at least four (4) weeks prior to the dates of the CAGC.  At a minimum, three (3) months notice of the Trials dates will be given. 
QUALIFYING FOR TRIALS:    To compete in Trials, players must either qualify or be exempted from qualifying.  Players seeking to qualify may do so through  two (2) separate routes:- 
A)   JGA ORDER OF MERIT:   To qualify, players must be ranked in the top fifteen (15) for the category of Men, top twelve (12)  for the category of Men Senior, and the top ten (10) in the categories of Men Super Senior and Women.   Players will be ranked in the Order of Merit on the basis of points awarded for their gross score placing, following each JGA, or JGA approved event.  These points will be accumulated by a player for each  event played during a twelve (12) month period, starting April 1 of each year, excluding Trials.    A ranking list for each category will be calculated  and posted, following each event (Order of Merit). 

When a player moves from one age category to another in a given year, the points accumulated to that date will be carried forward to the new category. The points may be appropriately adjusted if the player moves from a category which has more players ranked to a category to one which has less players ranked or visa versa.   All players on the ranking list that is in effect on March 31 of each year will qualify for inclusion in Trials according to the provisions above.   However, if a player  listed on the Order of Merit does not meet the CAGC Standards and Protocol, the player will not be in  the Trials and the standings will be adjusted accordingly.   However, the Executive Committee reserves the right to invite any player to
participate in Trials.   Any player who attempts to qualify for selection for a country other than Jamaica in one year, will not be eligible to play for Jamaica in that year. 

B)   EXEMPTION FROM QUALIFYING IN TRIALS:  Provisions will be made to allow participation in the Trials by players resident abroad and players studying at Colleges and Universities overseas by way of exemption from qualifying in Trials.    To be exempted from Trials, a player must make an application in writing, for exemption to the JGA.  The player is required to state the reason for seeking exemption from qualifying and supply, where applicable, information to support the application for exemption from qualifying.     He/she must state the reasons for not qualifying, and supply the performance data to support inclusion in Trials.   

PLAYERS RESIDENT ABROAD:   A player who resides abroad and who has not been exempted from Trials will be allowed to participate in Trials under the  following  conditions:-

       (a) Meet the CAGC Standards and Protocol.  (b)  A player who has notified the of his/her desire to vie for a place on the National Team within ninety (90) days of the beginning of each year’s golfing season.  (c)  Has kept the JGA informed by written reports supported by Independent verification of their golfing accomplishments throughout the season.  (d)  Pay an exemption fee set by the JGA for participating in the Trials.

PLAYERS STUDYING OVERSEAS:    Had not been exempted from Trials, but plays competitively for his/her institution of study, will be allowed to participate in the Trials under the following conditions:-  

       (a) Meet the CAGC Standards and Protocol.   (b) Has notified the JGA no later than six (6) months after the start of  the JGA season, of his/her intention to vie for a place in the next National Team.  (c)  Has kept the JGA informed, by way of written reports, supported by independent verification of their golfing accomplishments throughout the season.

JGA QUALIFYING EVENTS:     These events that are:-

       (a)   Tournaments run for the benefit of the JGA.   (b)   Open to all golfers.·         (c)    Conducted according to the rules of the USGA/R&A  (d) Same format for each Category.   (e) Stroke Play Competitions over 18, 36, 54 and 72 holes.

JGA SANCTIONED QUALIFYING EVENTS:    Those events that are:-

       (a)   Promoted by a body other than the JGA, sanctioned and Supervised by the JGA and conducted according to the rules  of the USGA/R&A.  (b) Open to all golfers.  (c)  Same format for each category.  (d)  Stroke play competitions over 18, 36, 54 or 72 holes.

The organizers of events for which JGA sanction is to be sought, must seek approval from the JGA three (3) months prior to the date of the event. 

CHANGE OF CATEGORY:   Players who are included in the Trials may request that they compete in the age group category that they qualify for under the CAGC criteria. 
EXEMPTION FROM TRIALS:    Any player who has qualified for Trials and is unable to play in the Trials for a valid reason, may make a written application to the JGA for exemption from competing in the Trials.  All relevant information in support of the request from exemption should accompany the application. 

Condition under which exemption will be granted is:- 

·         A player, who by way of verifiable ill health is unable to participate in the Trials, but
who is of such standing as a player
that he/she would be an asset to the National Team when fit, would be given an exemption  from Trials.

An exempted player, if fit at the time that the National Team is being selected, could be considered to fill one of those places on the National Team.

TEAM SELECTION:    A Selection Committee including the Coach, Captain, Manager any other person (s) as they choose, will be named by the Executive Committee and will be solely responsible for implementing the Selection Policy as follows:- 

The National Teams will be selected as set out below on the basis of performance in the Trials, as well as taking into consideration, players exempted from Trials.    As a result of the outcome of the Trials where too few players achieved the Qualifying Scores, the Selection Committee may choose to name a squad.  A team will then be selected from this squad, taking into consideration, each player’s performance in the Trials, response to the training sessions and performance  in competition in the interim.    

Ties will be decided by “sudden death” playoff.  Final team selections will be made at least  four (4) weeks prior to the date of departure of the National Team for the CAGC. 

HOERMAN CUP TEAM: 
CAGC definition:    Teams of four (4) amateur golfers selected by the national golf organization of the member country.   The competition is individual stroke play the best three score to count each day. 

The three (3) players ranked highest by gross score at the end of Trials and who meet a qualifying score will automatically be selected. The fourth player, or as many players who do not attain the qualifying score, will be selected as is necessary  to complete the team complement.  Where no player achieved the qualifying score, a team may be selected at the discretion of the Selection Committee.      Selection will be made from those participating in the Trials, as well as any players previously exempted from Trials.

 RAMON BAEZ FIGUEROA  TEAM
CAGC definition:    Teams of two (2) amateur golfers selected by the national golf organization of the member country and  who have attained the age of thirty five (35) years or will have their thirty fifth birthday in the calendar year of the championships. The competition is four ball stroke play. The player ranked highest by gross score at the end of Trials and who meets the qualifying score will automatically be selected.  The second player, or as many players who do not meet the qualifying score, will be selected, as is necessary, to complete the team complement.    Where no player achieved the qualifying score, a team may be selected at the discretion  of the Selection Committee.   Selection will be made from those participating in the Trials, as well as any players previously exempted from Trials.

 FRANCIS & STEELE-PERKINS TEAM:     
CAGC definition:     Teams of two (2) amateur golfers selected by the national golf organization of the member country and  who have   attained the age of fifty (50) years or will have  their   fiftieth birthday in the calendar year of the championships. The competition is four ball stroke play. 

The player ranked highest by gross score at the end of Trials and who meets the qualifying score  will automatically be selected.  The second player, or as many players who do not meet the qualifying score, will be selected, as is necessary, to complete the team complement.    Where no player achieved the qualifying score, a team may be selected at the discretion of the Selection Committee.       Selection will be made from those participating in the Trials, as well as any players previously exempted from Trials.

GEORGE TEALE TEAM 
CAGC definition:    Teams of two (2) amateur golfers, who were female at birth, selected by the national golf organization of the member country. The competition is individual stroke play with the better score to count each day.    The player ranked highest by gross score at the end of Trials and who meets the qualifying score  will automatically be selected.  The second player, or as many players who do not meet the qualifying score, will be selected, as is necessary, to complete the team complement.  Where no player achieved the qualifying score, a team may be selected at the discretion of the Selection Committee.     Selection will be made from those participating in the Trials, as well as any players previously exempted from Trials.

 HIGGS & HIGGS TEAM
CAGC definition:    Teams of two (2) amateur golfers selected by the national golf organization of the member country and who have attained the age of sixty (60) years or will have their sixtieth birthday in the calendar year of the championships. The competition is four ball stroke play. 

The player ranked highest by gross scores at the end of the Trials and who meets the qualifying score will be selected automatically. The second player, or as many players who do not meet the qualifying score, will be selected  as is necessary, to complete the team complement. Where no player achieved the qualifying score, a team may be selected at the discretion of the Selection Committee.      Selection will be made from those participating in the Trials, as well as any players previously exempted from Trials.

 JGA DECISION NOT TO SEND A TEAM
The JGA may elect not to send a team to the CAGC in a particular category.  

TRAINING AND COMPETITION:    All selected players and teams, that are resident in Jamaica, will be required to participate in a planned programme of training and competition in preparation for the Championships. 

Selected players who reside overseas will be expected to organize their own training and competitive programmes in preparing for the CAGC.     Individual players or teams may be withdrawn from the National Team if they do not participate substantially in the training programme, or, where the Selection Committee is satisfied that they have not made a seriousand conscientious effort in training and preparation for the Championships.