Golf Advisory Committee

Minutes
December 1, 2004 • 10 a.m.
FHSAA Headquarters
Gainesville, Florida


The Golf Advisory Committee met on Dec. 1, 2004 at 10 a.m. The following committee members were present: Matthew Koff, Forrest (Jacksonville); Joanne Merkle, Frostproof; Wayne Stapleford, Sebring; Bobbie Harris, Miami Palmetto; Dave Frantz, Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton) (FACA). FHSAA staff members: Cecelia S. Jackson and Denarvise Thornton.

Following a welcome by the FHSAA Staff, introductions were made and travel vouchers completed. Dave Frantz was elected as chairperson.

2003 Minutes: Motion by Stapleford and second by Knoff to approve the previous minutes.
The 2003 committee did not have a quorum to consider approval of recommendations.

Golf Regulations Manual: Discussion of the golf regulations. Discussed the advice rule and Wayne Stapleford will submit a revised recommendation for 2006.

2003 RECOMMENDATION #1 (Did not have a Quorum 2003) carried over to 2004.
Recommendation #1: Reinstate the use of Pull Carts 105.01: Allow the use of pull carts.
Committee amended the recommendation by adding for girls only. (Motion by Stapleford, second by Merkle Vote: 4-1)
Use of pull carts will be permitted for girls only. (Motion by Merkle, second by Koff)
GAC: 1st Vote: 4-1
Rationale: Use of pull carts for girls help to speed up play, less physical and heat stress.
The past two years girls were allowed to use pull carts during regular season by coaches when they had not received permission from the FHSAA office under the current rule.

Recommendation #2 – Advance Selection of Host Schools for Region Sites 2005:
Recommend that an odd district school host on odd years and an even district school
host on even years. During the district planning meetings, the schools can be selected /volunteer to host on rotating years and can share the responsibility of hosting region tournaments.
Rationale: Currently, a few schools have taken on the responsibility to host regions every year. Unfortunately, when these schools did not volunteer to host this year the region did not have a region tournament. Everyone waited around hoping somebody else would volunteer and not one school came forward. As with other sports, rotation of the schools in the district/region allows the schools to share the responsibility of hosting. Coaches/parents complain about the courses and the fees after the fact and always state that we could have hosted and not charged fees. Adopting this change gives each school (coach/golf course/supporting parents) a chance to host.

THE FOLLOWING TWO RECOMMENDATION ARE PROPOSED FOR CLASSIFICATION CHANGES (consideration for fast track with the new classifications being proposed for all individual sports in January 2005:

Recommendations #3: Change to 4 Classifications for Golf 2005 (fast track): (a) Change golf to four classes (4A, 3A, 2A, A) with eight districts in each class starting with the fall of 2005. (b) Divide the schools into to equal numbers for each district when possible considering geographical locations. (c) Eliminate regions. (d) Qualify top two teams and the top two lowest scoring individuals not on the teams. Sixteen (16) teams plus 16 individuals would advance to
the state tournaments totaling 96 qualifiers for each class. (e) State sites chosen for each classification shall host both boys and girls tournaments. Hosts for state tournament sites shall
be strongly encouraged to provide sites that are in close proximity to accommodate teams that
have the same coach for both boys and girls.
The committee wanted to know the number of schools that dropped the program in 2004.
(Motion by Stapleford, second by Harris)
Rationale: Bring the sport of golf in line with other sports when competition is based on school enrollment. District with a lesser number of teams will be easier to manage, will allow flexibility in scheduling and may encourage more schools to host districts. See recommendation sheet
for continuation of rationale.
GAC: 1st Vote 5-0
OR
Recommendations #1: Allow 3 Classifications for Golf 2005 (fast track): (a) Change golf to three classes (3A, 2A, A) with 16 districts (or less) in each class starting with the fall of 2005. (b) Divide the schools into to equal numbers for each district when possible considering geographical locations. (c) District to region qualifying remains the same under the current rule. (d) Region to state qualify the top two teams and the top two lowest scoring individuals not on the teams. Sixteen (16) teams plus 16 individuals would advance to the state tournaments totaling 96 qualifiers for each class. (e) State sites chosen for each classification shall host both boys and girls tournaments. Hosts for state tournament sites shall be strongly encouraged to provide sites that are in close proximity to accommodate teams that have the same coach for both boys and girls. (Motion by Koff, second by Stapleford)
Rationale: Bring the sport of golf in line with other sports when competition is based on school enrollment. District with a lesser number of teams will be easier to manage, will allow flexibility in scheduling and may encourage more schools to host districts. See recommendation sheet
for continuation of rationale.
GAC: 1st Vote 5-0

Recommendations submitted by Mr. Lou Navarra were not approved. The committee discussed both and the committee voted (5-0) to support/recommend an investigation by the FHSAA of those sports academies that may be in violation of curriculum requirements and athletes meeting the minimum contact time for students as outlined in the Florida Department of Education Guidelines Handbook.

2004 State Championships: Committee member applauded the excellent job done during the state tournaments by Jay Stewart and his staff (all athletic directors and golf coaches from St. Lucie County), Bud Taylor and his staff at PGA Village, Tim Coolican and his staff at Fairwinds, Joe Venturo and his staff at The Saints, and Jim Demick, staff and volunteer officials of the FSGA. Four courses worked well for this year and assigned tee times for practice rounds.

New Classification/Team and Individual Sports: Jack Watford from Communications briefly described the new classification policy - 4 years that was passed by the Board in its November meeting and the timeline for classification of the individual/team sports that will be presented in the January board meeting. The individual/team sports will be submitting a new form that will be designated as intent to participate and not a commitment form.

DISCUSSION - Open Agenda - During regular season matches, coaches who do not enforce unsportsmanlike conduct rules, coaches working with players so that they know how to handle situations on the golf course that includes the use of USGA Rule 3-3.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

We wish to thank all of the committee members for taking time away from their busy schedules to serve the students of Florida. To the outgoing members of the committee, thank you for your time and commitment during your term of service.