INFORMATION ABOUT ESTONIA

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2 INFORMATION ABOUT ESTONIA By geographic location we belong in the Baltic region. By language we belong in Scandinavia. By allies we belong in Europe. By the prevailing religion we belong in Germany. By history we belong in Sweden, Denmark, Livonia and Russia. By climate we belong in the North. ESTONIA IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF SCANDINAVIA Our country boasts the 3000-year-old crater of an iron meteorite that influenced the religions and customs of the Baltic Sea region. We have one of the most authentic Medieval Old Towns. The Kunda and Pärnu settlements are older than most cradles of the European civilisation. Our language contains about a thousand words that date back to the last ice age. Our capital has one of the most seamless wireless Internet networks in the world. And about 90% of our population pay their taxes via Internet. Estonia is a small country with a rich inner life. As a young state that has for long remained in the shadow, the introduction of our inner riches to the whole world is essential in regard to the preservation of Estonia s uniqueness and the growth of its people. Website: and find more at

3 Foto: Ivo Kruusamägi, Wikipedia SAAREMAA AND KURESSAARE The territory of Saaremaa has been inhabited for about eight thousand years. The people of Saaremaa have seen many battles and been ruled over by Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Russia. Saaremaa has retained its uniqueness due to its location and isolation. In the villages there are still stone fences and houses with thatched roofs. Dolomite, windmills and the famous local home-brewed beer are considered the symbols of Saaremaa. The capital in Saaremaa is Kuressaare which started as a market trading place. In Kuressaare town park stands The Episcopal Castle which is unique in being the only intact medieval fortress in the Baltic countries. The castle is now a museum where you can see several exhibitions about the history of Kuressaare. In 1840 the first spa opened in Kuressaare and since then Saaremaa has been well-known as a resort area. Cultural events bring thousands of visitors to Saaremaa each summer. You can take your pick from Kuressaare Opera Days, Kuressaare Maritime Festival, Kuressaare Castle Days and many more. Those interested in sports are welcome to Saaremaa in June for the Cycling Tour or in October for the Saaremaa Rally. Website:

4 THE VENUE Saare Golf, located on the Estonian biggest island of Saaremaa, was first opened for the public in August It has proven to be a superb golf course offering extraordinary experience and breathtaking views for the players. Golfers are greeted with numerous challenges as bunkers and water hazards await almost on each hole. The soft sea climate of Saaremaa extends the golfing season pleasantly. Therefore the course is playable even in November and sometimes even further in case of a mild winter. Saare Golf is a perfect destination for private or corporate events. In conjunction with the partners a wide selection of accommodation, spa, sports and other leisure attractions are available. The golf course has been created by the renowned Finnish golf architect Lassi Pekka Tilander. At the Saare Golf center it is possible to fine-tune ones skills at the wide (2,6 ha) driving range from the grass tees or artificial mats. Additionally the complex has a superb putting green, chipping and pitching green with several bunkers and two Par3 holes free for practice. Come and enjoy your most memorable golf round at the Saare Golf championship course!

5 PROGRAM OF THE TOURNAMENT MONDAY, 25TH OF MAY Registration deadline at 18:00 o clock WEDNESDAY, 27TH OF MAY Arrival of competitors. Practice range is open. THURSDAY, 28TH OF MAY 8:00-16:30 Practice rounds until 12:00 Competitors registration at caddiemaster 15:00 Drawing of tee-times and pairings for the first and second competition rounds 18:00 Opening ceremony FRIDAY, 29TH OF MAY FIRST COMPETITION DAY 8:30 Round 1, Tee-times begin SATURDAY, 30TH OF MAY SECOND COMPETITION DAY 8:30 Round 2, Tee-times begin Posting of scores/ cut line defined 20:30 Publishing final round tee-times and pairings SUNDAY, 31ST OF MAY THIRD COMPETITION DAY, FINAL 9:00 Final round 16:00 Last holes are played ~16:30 Prize giving ceremony

6 ENTRANCE FEE AND ELIGIBILITY The entrance fee is 100 EUR. Entries will be paid before the closing date on the 25th of May at the Saare Golf caddiemaster or to the bank account PHG Holding OÜ, IBAN: EE , SEB Bank, SWIFT: EEUHEE2X. For payment explanation please mark the competitor s name. The following services are provided to the participants as included into the entrance fee: limitless number of driving range balls from Thursday to Sunday; competition rounds from Friday to Sunday; fruits and drinking water / sports drinks during competition rounds; trolleys; locker-rooms and sauna. Entries will be accepted from male amateur golfers whose exact handicap does not exceed 12 and female amateur golfers whose exact handicap does not exceed 16 strokes under the handicapping scheme adopted by the recognized authority controlling golf in the country from which they enter. The handicap must be certified by the secretary of the national golf authority or entrant s home club and must have been valid on the date of entry. PRACTICE ROUND Practice round can be played on Thursday, 28th of May. Tee-times are available until o clock, afterwards the course will be closed for maintenance. The Green Fee price is 25 EUR and will be paid at Saare Golf caddiemaster before the round. Practice balls are provided for free. Registration by 25th of May at booking@saaregolf.ee, phone:

7 ACCOMMODATION PLEASE CONTACT US AT TO BOOK AN ACCOMMODATION. WE CAN T GUARANTEE THE AVAILABILITY OF HOTEL ROOMS WITHOUT PRE-RESERVATION. SINGLE ROOM DOUBLE ROOM 69 EUR PER NIGHT 82 EUR PER NIGHT Price includes buffet breakfast, use of active spa, morning gown. Spa footwear is available from the hotel reception for an additional charge. Website: GEORG OTS SPA HOTELL A stylish wellness spa-hotel directly on the beach of Kuressaare and just 5-minute walk distance from Saare Golf Centre. Most of the rooms have a balcony and view to the sea or picturesque Bishops Castle. The hotel has restaurant with a view to the sea, lounge, juice-bar, summer terrace, 2 conference rooms up to 80 persons.

8 SINGLE ROOM DOUBLE ROOM 65 EUR PER NIGHT 76 EUR PER NIGHT Price includes buffet breakfast, use of a swimming pool and main saunas (finnish- and steam sauna), free parking and WiFi. Website: ARENSBURG BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SPA Arensburg Boutique Hotel & Spa is located on the main street of Kuressaare Old Town, only 15 minutes walk from Saare Golf Centre. The hotel combines modern architecture with timeless values. Besides hotel rooms there are wellness spa, conference rooms, Lounge Restaurant Muusa and festive Arensburg Restaurant. SAAREMAA SPA HOTELS RÜÜTLI AND MERI Saaremaa Spa Hotels - the health resort with a history! Spa Hotel Rüütli and Spa Hotel Meri are dedicated to offer the best medical treatment and spa services in Kuressaare. All our hotels are situated near the Kuressaare Golf centre (3-5 min walk). The hotels more than 600 beds, are a good choice for business- and family travellers or couples by offering a comfort combination of accomodation, spa treatments and delicious catering experiences. SINGLE ROOM DOUBLE ROOM 48 EUR PER NIGHT 60 EUR PER NIGHT Price includes buffet breakfast, unlimited use of the water centre, sauna and fitness centre, free parking and WiFi. Website:

9 CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION FORM OF PLAY The Championship shall be decided by stroke play (scratch) over three rounds of 18 holes each day, in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited and in accordance with the Hard Card of Estonian Golf Association (ESTGA) and the Local Rules approved by the Committee. Tees played Men play from white tees Ladies play from blue tees DECISION OF TIES In the event of a tie for first place after three rounds of individual Competition, the winner shall be decided by a sudden death play-off by stroke play over 1st and 18th hole. The play-off shall start as soon as practicable after the last competitors have finished their final round. NUMBER OF COMPETITORS 144 competitors (108 men and 36 ladies) shall be eligible to compete. If the number of entries exceeds 144, places in the starting field will be decided by handicap ballot. CUT The 90 lowest scores (72 men and 18 ladies) after 36 holes including ties shall qualify for the final round. The remainder will be eliminated. The Committee is authorised to alter the cut in the event of a smaller entry. CADDIES The competitor is fully responsible for his/her caddie s actions. Any breach of rules, competition conditions or etiquette by the caddie results in a penalty to the player. Caddie s outfit must meet the requirements set for the clothes of the player; footwear must be sports shoes without spikes. Caddie must be registered at the starter and a marking given by the starter must be worn during the competition rounds. TRANSPORTATION Competitors shall walk at all times during a stipulated round unless permitted to ride by the Committee. The use of trolleys to carry the bag is permitted. The use of motorized trolleys is prohibited. Penalty for Breach of Condition: two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: four strokes. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole. Use of any unauthorised form of transportation shall be discontinued immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred. Otherwise, the competitor shall be disqualified. PACE OF PLAY In the absence of mitigating circumstances, a group is liable to be timed if it is in excess of the time allowed and, in the case of second or subsequent groups, out of position. From the commencement of timing, if any competitor exceeds 50 seconds on a first to play approach shot (including a Par 3 tee shot), chip or putt, or 40 seconds if it is a tee shot or second or third to play shot, he is deemed to have a bad time. The time allowed for the round is determined by the Committee and will be made available to the competitors. Out of position is defined as being more than the starting interval behind the group in front. A competitor whose group is timed will have a bad time carried forward in the round even if the group subsequently arrives back in position or within time. Penalty for Breach of Condition: One bad time: Verbal warning from a Rules Official Two bad times: One stroke penalty Three bad times: Two stroke penalty Four bad times: Disqualification Notes: (1) Competitors do not have to be advised that they are being timed. (2) Timings will be taken from the moment it is deemed by a Rules Official that it is the competitor s turn to play. (3) If it is clear from monitoring the group that the pace of play problem is created by one or two members of the group, it is permissible to time only the players causing the problem. GOLF BALLS All competitors in the Championship must play with a ball that is named on the current R&A List of Conforming Golf Balls (see Penalty for Breach of Condition: Disqualification.

10 DRIVING CLUBS The driver the competitor carries must have a club head, identified by model and loft, which is named on the current List of Conforming Drivers issued by R&A Rules Limited (see Penalty for Breach of Condition: Disqualification. SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION (NOTE TO RULE 6-8B) The signal for the suspension of play due to a dangerous situation will be: Discontinue Play Immediately: One prolonged note of siren. Discontinue Play: Three consecutive notes of siren, repeated. Resume Play: Two short notes of siren, repeated. More specific evacuation arrangements will be provided by the Committee. DRESS REGULATIONS Entrants shall comply with the by-laws, rules and dress regulations of the host club. Penalty for Breach of Condition: no start or Disqualification MOBILE TELEPHONES / ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT The use of a mobile telephone, paging device or any other form of electronic equipment by a competitor or his/her caddie while on the golf course during a stipulated round is distracting and inconsiderate. If the competitor or the caddie is in possession of such a device, it should be turned off. Any use may result in the Committee taking disciplinary action against the offending person(s) in accordance with the concluding paragraph of Section 1: Etiquette in the Rules of Golf and, ultimately, in a penalty being imposed under Rule The use of artificial devices performing measuring or gauging the distance only, is regulated by Hard Card of ESTGA. RETURN OF SCORECARDS Competitors must return their scorecards, in accordance with Rule 6-6b, to an area designated by the Committee as the Scoring Area or Recording Area. Penalty for Breach of Condition: Disqualification.

11 RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION / COMPETITION CLOSED When the final results are placed on the official notice board and/or results sheet, the results of the individual Championship shall be deemed to have been officially announced. Any dispute must be referred to the Committee before the conclusion of play on the final day of relevant competition and not later than 15 minutes after play concludes on the preceding days. COMPETITION CANCELLED OR ALTERED The Committee reserves the right to cancel any round, suspend the competition or to modify the form of play. ENTRIES ENTRY FORM Entries, by using the attached entry form, must be sent by to the following address: info@golf.ee or registration can be done in Golfbox. Other forms of entry will not be accepted. The closing date for entries is Monday 25th of May at 18:00 o clock. An entrant s form will not have been officially received until his name has been posted at the official web site of the tournament. Notes: Late entries will not be accepted. If the player does not enter through the national federation, his/her current handicap must be certified by the secretary of the national golf authority or entrant s home club and must have been valid on the date of entry. Link to the official web site is: HANDICAP LIMIT Entries will be accepted from male amateur golfers whose exact handicap does not exceed 12 and female amateur golfers whose exact handicap does not exceed 16 strokes under the handicapping scheme adopted by the recognized authority controlling golf in the country from which they enter. The handicap must be certified by the secretary of the national golf authority or entrant s home club and must have been valid on the date of entry. BALLOT In the event of applications exceeding the number of places available in the Championship (144), the starting field shall be decided by a handicap ballot while exempting those competitors as detailed in Excemptions. Unsuccessful

12 entrants shall be informed without delay and given the opportunity to compete if withdrawals subsequently occur. Entrance fees will be refunded to entrants balloted out who do not subsequently compete. LATE WITHDRAWALS Competitors, who withdraw less than three days prior to the start of the Championship, other than for sickness or other special circumstances, may have their future entries rejected. REFUNDS FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL Entrance fees will only be refunded in the case of withdrawal being advised before the closing time for entries, except for those entrants who may be balloted out and who do not subsequently compete or those withdrawing for medical reasons. COMMITTEE AUTHORIZATION OF ENTRIES All entries shall be subject to the approval of the Committee who reserves the right to accept or refuse any entry without giving reason for its decision, which shall be final. Entries from non-european entrants will be at the discretion of the Committee. EXEMPTIONS CATEGORIES The following will be exempt from the ballot provided they satisfy the handicap requirements: a) the players of Estonian National Team; b) the players listed in The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking; c) the 10 best male and 5 best female players of Estonian Amateur Open In the event of applications exceeding the number of places available in the Championship (144), organizers have the right to use up to 25 wild cards to decide the participating players. Note: The number of competitors permitted to be nominated under exemption categories (a), (b) and (c) is to be inclusive of and not in addition to the number of competitors exempt under another category. PRIZES THE INDIVIDUAL TITLE The winner of the Championship shall be the Estonian Amateur Champion Golfer for a period of one year. The Championship Trophy shall be held by the hosting club of the tournament, which will be responsible for the cost of engraving, insuring and maintaining the trophy and should return it, before the next Championship, to an address named by the Estonian Golf Association s General Secretary. The first 6 places will receive sponsor prizes and memorabilia. DECISION OF PLACING The winner shall receive the championship prize and the runner up a runner-up prize. In case of a tie for the runner-up prize, the places will be decided on the basis of scores recorded for the final 36,18, 9, 6, 3 holes or last hole, in that order. REGISTRATION REGISTRATION DEADLINE Competitors are requested to register at the club house immediately on arrival, but not later than 12:00am on the day preceding the championship. A competitor s failure to meet this deadline or to pre-notify the Committee of their pending arrival time may result in the competitor losing his starting field place to a reserve. DISCLAIMER All competitors agree that there are certain risks inherent in the game of golf and accept personal and sole liability for all such risks.

13 ESTONIAN AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN & LADIES MAY 29TH TO 31ST, 2015 SAARE GOLF CLUB CLOSING DATE : 25TH MAY 2015, AT 18:00 ESTONIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION INFO@GOLF.EE ENTRY FORM LAST NAME: FIRST NAME: HOME CLUB: MALE : FEMALE: FULL ADDRESS: PHONE: E-MALE: DATE OF BIRTH: NATIONALITY: EXACT HANDICAP: (handicaps better than scratch must be indicated as plus or + ) EXEMPTIONS: I have read the Rules of Amateur Status and conform with them in every respect,therefore I am eligible to compete the Condition of the Championships. DATE: SIGNATURE: Entries must be certified by the Home Club Secretary, Handicapping Authority or Association/Union DATE: SIGNATURE: IMPORTANT: THE ENTRY FEE OF 100 EURO IS TO PAID UPON REGISTRATION AT THE GOLF CLUB.

14 COMPETITION ORGANISER ESTONIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION Tondi 84 Tallinn Estonia Tel: Fax: info@golf.ee Website: THE GOLF COURSE SAARE GOLF Merikotka Kuressaare Estonia Tel: booking@saaregolf.ee Website: