#SimSeries | #PGABCplays

The 2024-2025 PGA of BC Simulator Series is here! Step into the virtual fairways for the association's inaugural season of competitive indoor golf. This unique series of simulator tournaments lets you compete on world-class courses without leaving the comfort of your local simulator. Join your fellow PGA of BC members for exciting, tech-enhanced rounds that blend traditional golf with the convenience of indoor play this winter.

Series Schedule

• Event #1:
  • Dates: Nov 15 - 29, 2024
  • Course: St. Andrews Links, Old Course
  • Registration
• Event #2:
  • Dates: Dec 13 - 27, 2024
  • Course: Royal Melbourne GC, Composite Course
  • Registration
• Event #3:
  • Dates: Jan 17 - 31, 2025
  • Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links
  • Registration

Entry Fee: $80 per event + simulator facility fee (if applicable)

Per-Event Purse Breakdown

Based on 20 participants per event:

1st - $500
2nd - $400
3rd - $350
4th - $275
5th - $200
6th - $175
7th - $150
8th - $125
9th - $100
10th - $80

Additional Side Purses per Event:

• 2 x KP Winners: $80 each

Series Final Order of Merit:

Additional Purse, based on the aggregate earnings from the series' 3 events:

1st - $500
2nd - $300
3rd - $250
4th - $200
5th - $150

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Sign Up: Download the Trackman Golf app, Create your Trackman account and register through the PGA of BC website.
2. Register: Use the registration links above to submit your entry fee via Stripe.  Confirmed registrants will then be emailed their Tournament invitation via their Trackman account.
3. Choose Your Simulator: Play on ANY Trackman simulator running TPS 9.3.161 or newer, including private Trackman units. A list of confirmed PGA facilities can be found below, with most offering a PGA of BC member hourly rate of ~$30-40/hr. New facilities will be added regularly.
4. Play Your Round: All course settings are pre-configured for consistency. Select "PGA of BC Simulator Series #[1-3]" within the Trackman system to begin your round. Complete your 18-hole round in one uninterrupted session. Scores will automatically appear on the live leaderboard upon completion.

NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

#SimSeries | #PGABCplays

GENERAL

Each 18-hole stroke play event is played in the same manner as a traditional outdoor tournament.  The same rules of golf as they pertain to indoor/virtual/simulator play apply.  Accordingly:

• A player must not start a tournament round with more than 14 clubs.  If he/she started with fewer than 14 clubs or damages a club in the regular course of play, he/she may add or replace a club(s), provided the total number does not exceed 14.
• Tees may be used on shots from the tee box only
• No changes to the environment (tee area, lighting, alignment aids, etc.) are allowed during the round.
• Ensure there are no non-transparent obstructions (ie. anything other than the protective acrylic shield use in some facilities) placed in front of the Trackman device.

WHERE TO PLAY

Tournament rounds can be played in any Trackman simulator running Trackman Performance Studio (TPS) 9.3.161 or newer.  Older TPS versions cannot be used.  Each player’s score will appear on the live tournament leaderboard as soon as the round is completed.

PGA of BC Members may participate via ANY conforming Trackman device, including personal/private units. A typical round of simulator golf can be played in approximately 45 minutes per player.  As in traditional golf, entrants are encouraged to play practice rounds prior to tournament play.

HOW TO PLAY

Once players have created a Trackman account and registered through the tournament website, they are eligible to play.  In the simulator, entrants should first sign into their Trackman account, then select “PGA of BC Simulator Series #[1-3]” All setting (course conditions, tees, etc.) will be pre-set and cannot be changed.  A tutorial on how to enter and play in tournaments is available in the Trackman Players Guide.

PRACTICE ROUNDS

As in traditional golf, entrants are encouraged to play practice rounds on tournament courses prior to the competition starting, but will only have one chance to play their tournament round.

COURSE AND ROUND SETTINGS

All Simulator Series events will be set up the same:

• Stroke Play, 18 Holes
• PUTTING: “Auto – Fixed”:
  • Shots ending up less than 10.00’ from the hole will be a 1 putt (A 10’ gimme circle will be indicated on the screen to help visualize)
  • Shots ending up between 10.01’ and 64.99’ from the hole will be a 2 putt
  • Shots ending up more than 65.00’ from the hole will be a 3 putt
• Medium pin difficulty
• Breezy (~5-10mph) wind
• Medium fairway firmness
• Medium green firmness
• 9 green stimp

ALIGNMENT AIDS

According to Rule 4.3, the use of equipment that gives artificial help to a golfers play is restricted.  Players may not place alignment sticks or other objects (including adhesive tape) on the hitting surface or between the hitting surface and the hitting screen to guide shot direction.  This does not include lines or markers permanently embedded in the hitting mats – or the hitting mats themselves, which are generally placed in alignment with the screen – as they are considered part of the basic design of a golf simulator.

“PICK UP” RULE

If a player picks up the ball (by tapping the “Pick up” button on-screen) before holing out, the score will be a quadruple bogey, regardless of the number of shots hit before picking up.  If a player continues until holing out, then all the strokes of the hole will be counted, with no maximum.  Accordingly, players are advised to pick up the ball before holing out if they wish to limit their score on a given hold to quadruple bogey.

TIES

Since playoffs will not be an option, the PGA of BC will use the following retrogression to break ties in order to determine an event winner:

• Lowest back nine wins, then
• Lowest score on last 6 holes, then
• Lowest score on last 3 holes, then
• Lowest score on hole 18

RECORDING ROUNDS

In order to maintain competitive integrity across multiple venues and days of play, we do require all Simulator Series competitors to record their rounds, or have them otherwise attested by a fellow competitor.  This can be done by simply setting up a phone in a position to record both the hitting area and the screen.  Recognizing that this recorded video can be a large file, we then ask you to save it to the cloud and share it with info@pgabc.org via either Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (Apple). 

Once the tournament round has been completed, please send the link of the recording to info@pgabc.org.

Androids

To send a Google Drive link, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Photos app on your android device.
2. Select the video you want to send, then tap Share.
3. Tap Create Link <>, then tap Copy Google Drive Link.
4. Go to your mail app, enter info@pgabc.org as the recipient. Paste the Google Drive link into a message, and send it.

iPhones

To send an iCloud link, make sure you have iCloud Photos turned on. Then follow these steps:

1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the video you want to send, then tap .
3. Tap Options, then tap Copy iCloud Link.
4. Go to Mail , then enter info@pgabc.org as the recipient of the iCloud link. Paste the iCloud link into a message, and send it.

Attested by a Fellow Competitor

Given that technological issues can arise when recording a round, members should be aware that they will also be able to have their official tournament round recognized without a recording if they have they are able to have a fellow competitor witness and attest their round via email submission to info@pgabc.org. For reference, please include the date played, simulator location, and a selfie-photo of all competitors.

Note: Recordings with multiple competitors rounds are acceptable; ie. we do not need separate recordings/files for each competitor if playing in a group.

RULES COMMITTEE

The Rules Committee for all PGA of BC #SimSeries events consists of: Jack Croucher, Mark Strong, and Doug Titterington.  The Rules Committee has exclusive authority over all aspects of the #SimSeries and is the final arbiter of all rulings, disputes, and other issues that may arise.

TECHNOLOGY ISSUES

Trackman has a comprehensive Help Center that provides guidance on most issues that may arise before/during/after play.  Please study this carefully before submitting a support request.

As with any technology platform, there may be issues that arise during gameplay.  Examples include ghost shots (ie. a shot that was tracked without being hit), untracked shots (ie. a shot that was hit but not tracked) and system crashes.  In the event of:

1. Ghost shots (and/or other clear glitches) – the issue should be noted with photos/videos and submitted to the Rules Committee for review.  If it is an obvious glitch and has been properly documented, then drop the ball to its original position with one penalty shot (click “Re-hit +1”) and continue play.  The Rules Committee will then review the photo/video and edit the score as needed.  If not deemed a glitch by the Rules Committee, the shot(s) will count.
2. Untracked shots – the player will need to rehit until the shot is tracked.
3. System crashes and other issues – the player/facility should restart TPS, sign back in and tap “Resume Round.” Be sure to document any such issues to share with Trackman support and/or the Rules Committee.

Restarting the round will not be allowed by the software.  Each entrant is entitled to only one attempt at completing a tournament round.

TIMING

Each player must finish their tournament round during one uninterrupted session within the defined tournament window for their score to count.  Pausing the round and resuming at a later time is not allowed and may result in disqualification.  The tournament window opens at 12:01am PT on the first day of the tournament and ends at 11:59pm PT on the final day of the tournament.  Entry fees will not be refunded if a player does not complete the tournament round within the tournament window.

Players are encouraged to review the PGA of BC’s Hard Card for its Local Rules and Conditions of Competition, as well as the 2024 Tournament Manual for other considerations.

CONFIRMED FACILITIES 

To have your own facility added to this list, please contact us at info@pgabc.org:

For more information and registration, visit our official website or contact us at info@pgabc.org.