The Indiana South District Optimist Junior Golf Tournament will be held again this year at Deer Creek Golf Club in Clayton , Indiana , on June 14, 2012 (Girls) and June 15, 2012 (Boys).  The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships held each year at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and the Tournament of Champions held each year in the Orlando area in late October.  

This tournament annually draws one of the strongest fields of junior golfers in the State.  Indiana South Optimists work hard to make this tournament a positive and valuable golfing experience for all participants.  Junior golfers just beginning to play tournament golf,  more advanced players attempting to qualify for international competition, and tournament tested champions taking a step toward a college scholarship all have benefited from their participation in “Optimist Golf”.  We believe that all who participate are winners.  

Approximately ten percent of the participants will qualify to enter the International Tournament, thus a large tournament field creates the opportunity for more junior golfers from Indiana to experience international competition.  Please help us to fill the field by telling other junior golfers about this junior golf experience.  To enter, download the 2012 Participants Entry Flyer, complete the entry form, and return it to the address indicated on the form.  Please enter early to guarantee your spot in the tournament field and to assist with tournament planning.  We look forward to seeing you at Deer Creek Golf Club.  

ENTRY DEADLINE:

- Entry must be received by June 8, 2012 .
- Entries received after June 8, 2012 will fill open spots in threesomes (if available), or be placed on an alternates list.
- No telephone entries will be accepted.
- Incomplete entries will be returned.
- Entries will be confirmed by  by e-mail and online.

ELIGIBILITY:

     Entrants age will be his / her age on final day of the International tournament. 
     - Boys 16-18 Age Group…Age as of July 29, 2012.
     - Girls 15-18 Age Group…Age as of July 29, 2012.
     - All Other Age Groups…Age as of July 23, 2012.
        (Entrants must not have started College.)

NOTE:  Junior Golfers may enter any  District Qualifying tournament. If you have a conflict, or simply prefer to attempt to qualify in a
different District qualifier, you may do so.  Note that Districts are not required to provide free entry or travel to District qualifying
tournament winners who do not reside in that District.  Check the Optimist International Junior Golf website for more information on
other District Qualifying tournaments.

AGE GROUPS:

International Qualifying Requirements

* Participants may choose to “play up” one division.
 NOTE: If an “Out of District” participant qualifies  within any age group, the next eligible “In District” participant will also qualify.


EVENT:
    
- 18 Holes for Boys and Girls in ALL age groups.
- (ALL age groups may only play 9 holes if necessary due to weather delays.)
- Circle 10 rule will apply for speed of play.

PRACTICE ROUNDS:
    
Players who wish to play a practice round (not included in entry fee) may contact Deer Creek Golf Club at (317) 539-2013 to schedule a
tee time.  For the best Junior Golf rate, mention that you are entered in the "Optimist" Tournament.  

ENTRY FEE: 

Fee for All age groups ………………….$65.00   ($60.00 if postmarked by April 15, 2012).
- Refunds will be given if withdrawal is made 72 hours prior to the event day.


PLAYER SPONSORSHIPS:

Many local Optimist Clubs will sponsor local junior golfers from their community by paying their entry fee.  If you live in a community with
an Optimist Club, contact the local Club President, or any member of the Club, for more information.  The Evansville Optimist Clubs in
association with the Evansville Junior Golf Association annually sponsors junior golfers (1 to 3 boys and 1 to 3 girls in each age group)
based upon their participation in a local tournament.  Contact the Evansville Junior Golf Association for more information.

PAIRINGS:

- Pairings will be confirmed by by e-mail, and will be posted on the Indiana South District Tournament website.


PULL CARTS AND DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

- Pull carts are permitted only in the Boys 10-11, 12-13 and Girls 10-12, 13-14 divisions.  Spectator carts will be available for rental.

- Distance measuring devices (Skycaddies, Bushnells, etc.) are permitted at the 2011 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.
  Devices allowed may measure distance only. Devices that measure slope, wind, etc. are not allowed even if the other functions are
  disabled.


 AWARDS:

- Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in each age division.
- The overall low Boy in the 16-18 Age Group and Girl in the 15-18 Age Group (excluding "out of district" participants - see note below)
  will receive  free entry to the International Championships at PGA National and a $200 travel allowance. (Includes room and board,
  practice round, range balls, and entry fees.)
- The overall low Boy in the 14-15 Age Group and Girl in the 13-14 Age Group (excluding "out of district" participants - see note below)
  will receive  free entry to the International Championships at PGA National. (Includes room and board, practice round, range balls and
  entry fees.)
- The overall low Boy in the 10-11 and 12-13 Age Groups and Girl in the 10-12 Age Group (excluding "out of district" participants - see
  note below) will receive a partial entry fee ($200) to the International Championships at PGA National.

Note:  Indiana South District Tournament Entrants who do not reside in the Indiana South District (south of Interstate 74, in
Indianapolis, or in the Carmel / Fishers / Lawrence areas) are welcome to participate as an opportunity to qualify for the International
tournament, but are not eligible to receive free entry fees or travel allowances.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:

The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships will be held at PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Boys
ages 10-15 and Girls ages 10-14 will compete July 19-24, 2012.  Boys ages 16-18 and Girls ages 15-18 will compete July 24-29, 2012.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS:

All District age group winners in the Boys 14-15 and 16-18 age groups and the Girls 15-18 age group will also be invited to participate in
the Tournament of Champions, a 36 hole weekend event to be held in Orlando in late October or early November 2012.


DEER CREEK GOLF CLUB TOURNAMENT YARDAGES:

A combination of tee settings will be used for this tournament to achieve the desired yardages for each age group.  For the past three years, the District Tournament played at the yardages listed below.  We expect that the 2012 tournament will be set up the same way to approximately the
same yardages.  16-18 Boys will play from the Black tees; 14-15 Boys will play from the Gold tees; 15-18 Girls and 12-13 Boys will play
from the White tees; and 13-14 Girls, 10-12 Girls, and 9-11 Boys will play from the Red tees.