Palm Springs Desert Invitational Classic
Tournament Rules - 2007

Sanctioning

1. The 2007 Palm Springs Desert Invitational Classic (PSDIC) is a USBC sanctioned tournament. The tournament is a mixed handicap competition open to men and women.

A. Professional bowlers, identified as belonging to a professional organization, shall be permitted to bowl the tournament as follows:

i. No more than one professional bowler in a four-player lineup.

ii. No more than one professional bowler in a two-player lineup.

iii. Each professional bowler shall be eligible to enter Singles, All Events and the Scratch Masters event.

iv. Professional bowlers MUST identify themselves at the time of registration.

v. In the event that a professional bowler does not provide proper identification prior to bowling, they will be disqualified from this tournament.
 

2. All participants must be a member of USBC and be able to provide proof of membership (current sanction card or signed statement from the League Secretary, verifying membership). Eligible adult non-members may qualify for USBC award recognition at their option by paying a $19.00 ($8.00 national, $10.00 local and $1.00 state) fee USBC for which the affiliated (United States Bowling Congress) will issue an associated membership card.
 

Event Participation

3. The tournament events shall be handicap events and are as follows: Singles, Doubles and Team. Optional Scratch Masters Event will also be offered.

4. Each participant shall bowl three (3) games per event and must enter all three events. Teams will consist of four (4) members comprising of any combination of men and women. Men and women will compete on an equal basis. Doubles partners must come from the same team.

5. Each Participant may bowl only once in each event.
 

Awards and Prizes

6. All cash awards shall be based on the total pins plus assigned handicap for each event (with the exception) of the Optional Scratch Masters.

7. Awards will be given in the Handicap Division for the best Single, Doubles, Team and Individual All Events. Individual All Events is defined as the nine (9) game total plus handicap of an individual bowler.

8. The award ratio for the handicap division shall be at a minimum of 1:10, with the exception of Individual All Events, which shall be at least 1:20.

9. Prizes will be distributed via check payable in US Currency within thirty (30) days of the completion of the tournament, barring any protests. A tie in any position will result in the sum of the prizes being aggregated for the tied positions and divided equally by the number of ties for that placing. Per USBC Rule 309 all prize fees collected in an event to be returned 100% to those participating in that event or division of the event.
 

Entering Averages

10. Any bowler entering PSDIC must have an established ten-pin average acceptable to USBC. The following rules shall be used to determine the entering average.

A. The highest 2006-2007 book average with a minimum of 21 games. If bowler competed in more than one league, the bowler MUST submit the highest average of all leagues bowled.

B. If none of the above is available, the highest 2005-2006 book average with a minimum of 21 games will be used.

C. If none of the above is available, the highest July 31, 2007 average with a minimum of 21 games will be used.

D. If none of the above is available, an entering average of 245 (man or women) will be used.

E. If a bowler’s current league average (minimum 21 games) as of July 31, 2007 is 10 pins or more than the entering average submitted, the bowler must submit that average from an average adjustment (USBC rule #319a-2).

F.  Bowlers are responsible for verifying his/her own average, whether submitted by the bowler, the team captain or others. If the submitted average is lower than required and results in a lower classification or more handicap, the bowler’s score is disqualified. If the submitted average is higher than required, prize winnings will be based on the submitted average. In the case of a team of two or more bowlers, the averages will be combined to determine if the correct total is higher or lower than the submitted total.

G. If a bowler’s 2006-2007 average is 10 pins lower then their 2005-2006 average, a 10-pin maximum drop rule will apply.

H. The above averages MUST be verified with one of the following documents and MUST be sent with the entry form.

i. League Secretary sheet, signed and dated by a league Secretary;

ii. Letter from the League President or Secretary;

iii. Photocopy of the book average (with year noted) and signed by a league officer.

I. If a bowler’s average is 10 pins or more from there IGBO or other tournaments that average will apply.

J. Sport Bowling USBC Rule 205 will be applied. A bowler must submit and use there adjusted Sport Bowling league average utilizing the USBO Average Adjustment Scale (see rule 203) if this average is higher than there standard league average. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

11. The handicap for the tournament shall be based on 90% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average (as determined above) and a scratch of 225.

12. As of the beginning date of PSDIC 2007 (October 12, 2007), any bowler who has qualified for a cash and/or merchandise prize of Three Hundred ($300) or more in any single event MUST report all position and all amounts won and all scores for the previous 12 month period to the tournament director with their entry and no later than the time of registration for possible re-rating. Such re-rating must be done before the start of the tournament or his/her first ball (USBC Rule 319c, 319d). Failure to report this information is cause for disqualification and loss of all winnings.

13. The tournament director has the authority to adjust the entering average of any bowler or assign a provisional average pending verification (USBC rule 319e). Average adjustments will be applied as set forth under USBC rules. All average adjustments will be completed prior to his/her first ball. A bowler unwilling to accept an average adjustment is entitled to an event refund.

14. The Director shall hold the exclusive right to refuse or reject any entrant applications for any reason.
 

Attendance and Substitutes

15. It is solely and entirely the bowler’s responsibility to be present at the assigned lanes at the time of bowling. Each bowler shall have the total responsibility to arrive in time to bowl. Mechanical failures, transportation irregularities, improper directions and related reasons DO NOT alter the application of Rules 16 and 17 below (USBC rules will apply).

16. Complete doubles and team entrants must be present for bowling each event. It a team member is not present, the team may use an authorized substitute (Rule 18). If no substitute is available, a zero score will be used for the missing bowler or bowlers.

17. Late bowlers will begin bowling in the frame in which they are ready, with prior frames being scored as zero. No practice balls will be allowed for later bowlers.

18. Substitutes may bowl at the discretion of the tournament director. Their entering average must comply with Rule 10. Substitutes must complete an entry form.

19. Bowlers will be allowed two (2) practice balls on each lane per event.
 

Entry Requirements

20. The entry fee must be paid in US funds by CHECK or MONEY ORDER. A CERTIFIED CHECK, Only, will be accepted after October 1, 2007. Checks should be made payable to PSDIC. An additional fee is required to enter Scratch Masters. All entries are to be mailed “CERTIFIED, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED” or comparable international postal regulation. Entries are to be mailed to:
 
Palm Springs Desert Invitational Classic
PO Box 4847
Palm Springs, CA 92263-4847
 
Early Bird entries shall be accepted at the rate fee of $94.00 (US) until July 31, 2007. Those entries postmarked after July 31, 2007 shall be $99.00 (US). Entries shall be limited to the maximum of 192 bowlers. Once the maximum has been reached, no additional entries will be accepted. The entry deadline is October 1, 2007. Entry acceptance will be based solely on the order in which they are received. Once an entry has been accepted, NO REFUNDS will be issued except as stated in Rule 13 above.

21. Partial team entries will be accepted. The tournament director will make every effort to fill any vacancies.
 

Protests

22. Any claims of errors or disputes must be submitted in writing to a tournament director or their appointed representative within two (2) hours of the error/dispute. The protesting bowler(s) or team and the tournament director shall settle the dispute according to USBC Tournament rules.
 

General

23. Any person attending and requiring special needs MUST notify the tournament director in writing.

24. Each team captain MUST sign the entry form acknowledging he/she has read the rules.
 

Optional Scratch Masters

25. The Optional Scratch Masters, in conjunction with PSDIC 2007, is a mixed competition open to men and women.

26. The tournament director may place a bowler into a higher division at their discretion. Any adjustment to this type will be made before the entrant bowls any Singles, Doubles or Team event and will be based upon verified average information.

27. The nine (9) game scratch total from the tournament is used to determine the eight (8) qualifiers and one (1) alternate for the competition. Scores do not carry over. In case of a tie for the 8th position, a one (1) game roll-off will determine the qualifier.

28. The eight (8) qualifiers in ALL divisions will bowl one (1) match game against the other seven (7) qualifiers and a final position match. The winner of each match will receive a 30-pin bonus added to her/her score. The loser will receive no bonus. In case of a tie, a 15-pin bonus is awarded to both bowlers. The top four (4) qualifiers after the eight (8) games will bowl a pro-style match play roll-off.

29. A lane schedule will be given to each bowler at the time of check-in, showing which lane each bowler is to bowl on for each of the seven (7) matches. The final match is determined by position.

30. In the event of a tie during the step-ladder finals, a 9th and 10th frame roll-off will determine the winner.

31. The match game competition will begin at 9:00 am on Sunday, October 14, 2007. ALL Scratch Masters divisions will bowl at the scheduled time at Fantasy Springs Lanes.

32. Bowlers must check in no later than 7:45 a.m. Any bowlers not checked in by 7:45 am., will be replaced with alternates, forfeiting participation rights. NO EXCEPTIONS.

33. Bowlers will be allowed ten (10) minutes of practice before the first match only. No open bowling will be allowed prior to the Scratch Masters event.

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

35. The Optional Scratch Masters payout will be 100% of the entry fees paid by participants by division.