SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT:

For the purpose of this policy, a spectator is considered to be anyone who is at the golf course and who is not a caddy for a player in the Beginner or 9-Hole Club Divisions.

The Atlanta Junior Golf Association firmly believes in upholding the traditions golf teaches such as the values of sportsmanship, integrity and honesty. We expect our players and our parents to act with courtesy and common sense at all of our events and feel very strongly about enforcing our player Code of Conduct and this Spectator Code of Conduct policy.

Please remember it is a privilege to watch your child participate in Atlanta Junior Golf tournaments. In order to keep this privilege, we expect all spectators to follow this policy, understanding that any breach will result in removal from the golf course and possibly being banned from future events. As a spectator at the golf course you are just that – a spectator. You are not an active participant in the day’s events.

Spectators are asked to walk one shot ahead of the group they are watching in order to spot for golf balls. This also eliminates the temptation of talking to your child during his or her round.

Where provided, spectators must stay on the cart path. The only two exceptions to this are:

   1. To help search for a golf ball
   2. If view of the green is obstructed from cart path 

(In these circumstances, spectators must return to the cart path as soon as the ball is located or the group has putted out respectively)

Encouragement such as “Good shot” and “Nice putt” is allowed. Anything that could possibly be construed as advice is not allowed. If you are unsure, don’t say it.

Do NOT walk beside your child and talk. The Atlanta Junior Golf Staff will assume you are giving advice and an automatic 2 stroke penalty will be applied to your child’s score for that hole, regardless of what you were talking about. If you need to give him or her a drink, a towel, an umbrella, food, or any other item, either do so and walk away, or leave it beside the cart path/teeing ground for them to pick up.

USGA Definition of “advice”: Advice is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.

Spectators may carry cell phones so long as they are on silent or vibrate. If you need to make a call please make sure you are as far away from any group of golfers as you can get. Some golf courses do not allow the use of cell phones on their property. In these cases we defer to the club’s policy.

If you have an issue with another spectator, please inform an AJGA staff member. Do not attempt to solve the issue on your own.

Yelling at or discouraging any Atlanta Junior Golf member, including your own child, will not be tolerated. You will be escorted to the club house where you can wait for your child.

Spectators should not give rulings on the golf course. Locate an AJGA staff member where possible or have the junior proceed under Rule 3-3 and play two balls. Incorrect rulings given by parents will not be upheld at the scoring area.