2008 Golden Gate Classic Rules

1. The Golden Gate Classic is a mixed competition open to men and women by invitation only. All entrants must hold a current USBC membership card or they may purchase a membership card for $20.00. The Golden Gate Classic (GGC) is affiliated with the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO). In the best interest of supporting IGBO, all teams submitting applications to the GGC must have at least two (2) members (50% of team) who are active or past members of a gay (gay as in the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-gendered (LGBT) community) bowling league. A bowling league is considered gay if advertised as such and/or has a large percentage of gay bowlers. Active card-carrying members of the PBA must state so on their entry form. Maximum of 1 PBA member allowed per team. IN THE BEST INTEREST OF TOURNAMENT COMPETITION, THE DIRECTOR(S) RETAIN(S) THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THE MAKEUP OF ALL TEAMS.

2. The Golden Gate Classic Tournament is USBC-certified. These rules apply to averages: A) Bowlers must submit proof, if they exist, of their highest April 15, 2008 book, highest January 1, 2008, and highest Summer 2007 book averages. Entries submitted without ALL averages for ALL bowlers WILL NOT BE PROCESSED and as such do not guarantee placement of the team in the tournament. The entry must clearly indicate if any averages do not exist by recording N/A in that average box. Proof of average is defined as: 1) a copy of a league sheet with name and average highlighted; 2) a copy of the local Bowling Association book showing name and all averages; or 3) a signed paper from the League Secretary with their name and phone number. B) Bowlers will use their highest book average as of April 15, 2008 (minimum 21 games). C) If the April 15, 2008 average is N/A, the highest January 1, 2008 average (minimum 21 games) will be used. D) If 2B and 2C are N/A, the highest Summer 2007 book average (minimum 21 games) will be used. E) If 2B, 2C and 2D are N/A, the highest April 15, 2007 Book average (minimum 21 games) will be used. F) If a bowler’s highest April 15, 2008 book average is more than five (5) pins below the January 1, 2008 average, a five (5) pin drop rule will apply. USBC Rule #319 applies in its entirety. G) All others will enter at 220. Refer to USBC Rule #319b. H) SFGGC handicap is based on 90% of the difference between a bowler’s entering average and 220.

3. SPORT BOWLING: USBC Rule #205 will be applied. A bowler must submit and use their adjusted Sport Bowling league average using the USBC Average Adjustment Scale (Rule #203) if this average is higher than their standard league average. Non-compliance may cause disqualification.

4. The bowler is responsible to verify the accuracy of their average, be it submitted by the bowler, the team captain, or someone else. Use of an incorrect average will result in disqualification unless corrected before the end of the first game of competition. Prize winnings will be based on the submitted average if higher than the correct average (USBC Rule #319a-3).

5. If a bowler has qualified for winnings of $300 or more in any tournament the previous 12 months, the actual scores from the tournament must be reported for possible re-rating. Re-rating must be done before the entrant bowls. If a bowler has bowled more than 21 tournament games for the previous 12 months (all tournaments regardless of winnings) and their tournament average is more than 10 pins higher than their established entering average, their tournament average will be used (USBC Rules #319d and #319e apply and will be enforced). Tournament average must be entered on entry form.

6. The average of any bowler may be adjusted at the discretion of the Tournament Director(s). Any average adjustment must be made before the completion of the entrant’s first game of competition.

7. There will be NO REFUNDS after acceptance of an entry by the tournament committee.

8. Entries must be accompanied by full amount of fees in the form of personal checks, certified checks, or money orders payable to “SF Golden Gate Classic” or by credit card (Visa or MC ONLY). Personal checks will not be accepted after May 15, 2008. Entries must be POST MARKED or received by FAX by June 10, 2008. See rule 2 for additional requirements. Late fees apply after May 15, 2008.

9. Bowlers may bowl only once in each event. Each event consists of three (3) games, for a total of nine (9) games. Singles and Doubles will be bowled back-to-back.

10. All claims of error must be submitted, in writing, to a Tournament Director within one hour after the bowler or team has bowled. In matters of dispute, the decision of the Director(s) will be final, unless an appeal is made in accordance with USBC Rule #329.

11. Substitutes are able to bowl with the Director’s approval. Substitutes must register at least one (1) hour before the start of competition and must bowl in the same line-up position as the bowler they are replacing. The use of substitutes may not alter the “50% team membership in a gay league” required as stated in Rule 1. Use of a substitute in an emergency that lowers the team ratio to less than 50% must be approved by the Director(s).

12. Late bowlers will start bowling in the frame that they are ready to bowl; prior frames will be scored zero. Absent bowlers will be scored zero (0).

13. Cash Prizes: A bowler may win only one (1) special awards prize. Each event has its own prize list, based on at least a 1:10 ratio. All prize fees collected for an event will be returned 100% to the participants of that event. This does not include optional events.

14. Captains must check in their teams at least 30 minutes prior to the start of competition.

15. Bowlers will not be permitted to practice on their assigned lanes on the scheduled day of bowling. Bowlers will be allowed two practice balls per lane before the start of each of the 3 events. All bowling events will be held at Classic Bowl in Daly City, CA.

2008 Scratch Masters Rules

1. The Scratch Masters, in conjunction with the SFGGC, is an optional mixed competition open to all tournament entrants. The Scratch Masters has a separate entry fee and the amount is based on the division. Prize money for each division consists of the total entry fees received in each Division.

2. Tournament Directors may place a bowler in a higher division at their discretion. Any such adjustments will be made before the entrant bowls.

3. The nine game scratch total from the Golden Gate Classic is used to determine the eight qualifiers and one alternate in each division. Scores do not carry over. A tie for the 8th position is broken by bowling a 9th and 10th frame to determine the qualifier.

4. The eight qualifiers in each division will bowl one match game against each of the other seven qualifiers in their own division, followed by a final position match for a total of eight games. The winner of each match receives 30 bonus pins added to their score; the loser receives no bonus. In case of a tie, 15 bonus pins are added to each bowler’s score. The top four qualifiers after the eight games will bowl a match play roll-off. A tie for the 4th position will be broken by bowling an extra 9th and 10th frame. Ties in the match play roll-off will be broken by bowling a 9th and 10th frame.

5. A lane schedule with the lane assignment for the first seven matches will be given to each bowler at check-in. The final lanes are determined randomly, with the bowler in first place drawing their lane and the remaining lanes assigned in successive order.

6. Bowlers must be physically present for check-in thirty minutes prior to the scheduled start of the Scratch Masters. A bowler who does not check-in as specified will be immediately disqualified and will be replaced by the alternate. If the alternate is not present, the spot is filled by the next highest ranking bowler in the Division present at the time of check-in.

7. The match game competition will begin at 9:00 AM on Sunday June 22, 2008. Each Division will bowl on different sets of eight lanes.

8. Bowlers will be allowed ten minutes of practice before the first match. Within this time frame, bowlers may practice on any lane assigned to their division.

9. Any claims of error in the roll-off must be submitted before the start of the next match. In case of an error in the final match, any claims of error must be reported within one (1) hour after the end of the last match.

10. The Scratch Masters divisions are defined as: A-(210 & Up); B-(195 to 209); C-(180 to 194); D-(165 to 179); E-(150 to 164); and F-(149 & Below).