HIT 2009 Rules and Regulations

  1. Invitation. The Holiday Invitational Tournament (hereafter referred to as the “Tournament”) will be by invitation only, therefore, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to refuse any application.

  2. Sanction. The Tournament is sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO). The Tournament will be conducted under USBC playing rules. Each bowler is required to have and be able to prove that he or she is sanctioned by the USBC for the 2009-10 season at the time of registration. Non-members must become an Affiliate Member for a fee of $18.00 for both men and women.

  3. Entry receipt, refunds. The receipt of an entry and the amount of money enclosed, and its acceptance by the secretary for one or more events, shall regulate the number of players who shall participate. Once the entries are received and accepted and the dates assigned by the tournament secretary, no fees shall be refunded.

  4. Payment. Entries must be accompanied by the full amount of entry fee. An entry will not be considered as accepted until the full amount due has been submitted. The Tournament will accept cashier’s checks and money orders until registration closes.

    Payment and completed entry forms should be mailed to:
    Holiday Invitational Tournament
    P. O. Box 899
    Milwaukee, WI 53201-0899

  5. Events. The tournament events shall be handicap events and are as follows: Singles, Doubles and Team. Each participant shall bowl three (3) games per event and must enter all three events. Bowlers are permitted to bowl only one time in each event. Doubles and Singles will be bowled back to back.

  6. Team composition. Men and women will compete on an equal basis in each event. Teams and / or Doubles may be made up of any combination of men and / or women. Team event shall consist of four bowlers. Doubles partners must come from the same team.

  7. Entering average. For the Tournament, each bowler’s individual average will be determined by the following criteria in order.

    1. Highest sanctioned average, minimum 21 games, from the 2008-09 season.

    2. Highest sanctioned average, minimum 21 games, from the 2007-08 season.

    3. Highest sanctioned average, minimum 21 games, from the 2009 summer season.

    4. Highest sanctioned average, minimum 21 games, from the 2009-10 season as of Nov. 14, 2009.

    Bowlers that do not have any of the above averages will enter the Tournament with a 225 average. Averages from “Sport” or “PBA Experience” leagues are not acceptable under any condition.

    Averages will be gathered from all available sources including USBC records, as posted on the USBC website.

  8. Average adjustments. The Tournament will adjust each bowler’s individual average based on the following rules.

    1. The 10-pin drop rule will be in effect. Bowlers who averaged more than 10 pins less in the 2008-09 season than in the 2007-08 season will be adjusted to an average that is 10 pins lower than the 2007-08 season. Example: Bowler averaged 175 in 2007-08 and 150 in 2008-09. The bowler’s adjusted average will be 165.

    2. The Tournament requires that each bowler submit all tournament scores bowled from the end of the Holiday Invitational Tournament 2008 until the week of the Holiday Invitational Tournament 2009 (Nov. 27, 2008 through Nov. 22, 2009). If a bowler has won three hundred dollars ($300 US) or more in any single event in the previous 12 months, the bowler must also submit the position placed and amount won in all tournaments. The Tournament will use a bowler’s 12-month tournament average if it is higher than the bowler’s entering average if the bowler has either (1) bowled 21 tournament games in the past 12 months OR (2) won $300 or more in any single event in the past 12 months regardless of the number of tournament games bowled. Example: Bowler has a 175 entering average, has bowled 27 tournament games with an average of 177, but has not won $300 or more in any single event. The bowler’s adjusted average will be 177. Example 2: Bowler has a 175 entering average, has bowled nine (9) tournament games with an average of 183 and won $300 or more in a single event. The bowler’s adjusted average will be 183.

    3. It is the bowler’s responsibility to submit average information with the entry. While the Tournament will make its best effort to gather proper entering averages and other tournament scores, each bowler is responsible to verify the accuracy of his or her average. It is recommended that each bowler bring average verification to the tournament. Failure to use the proper average shall disqualify score and/or prize winnings.

  9. Handicap. The handicap for the tournament shall be based at 85% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average (as determined above) and a scratch score of 225. Negative handicaps shall not apply.

  10. Substitutes. Substitutes will be allowed to bowl at the Director’s discretion. Awards earned by substitutes belong to the bowler whose place the substitute took.

  11. Prizes. Each event has its own prize list and will be paid on at least a 1:10 ratio. All participants are automatically entered into the “All Events” event at no cost. The Tournament provides the prize fund. The tournament shall divide the Singles division into three (3) divisions based on the entering averages of bowlers, striving to put an equal number of bowlers into each division. There are no separate divisions for Doubles, Team and All Events. Prizes will be paid following the conclusion of the Awards Banquet

  12. Practice balls. Each bowler shall be limited to two (2) balls on each late prior to the start of each event. Bowlers exceeding the limit are subject to penalty, up to and including disqualification.

  13. Arrival at lanes. Each bowler is expected to check in at the bowling center at least one (1) hour prior to the scheduled start time of each event. A bowler who is not present at the scheduled start time of any event shall be shall start bowling in the frame in which he/she is ready to bowl and is afforded no practice balls. Prior frames shall be scored zero. Mechanical failures, transportation irregularities, improper directions or any other reason shall not excuse the bowler from a late arrival.

  14. Optional events. The Tournament will offer the following optional events, each with its own entry fee and rules. Entries into any optional event will be accepted prior to a bowler throwing his or her first practice ball of the tournament.

    1. Scratch Event. The event shall use the scratch scores (without handicap) from the handicap portion of the tournament to determine winners. There will be three (3) divisions of the scratch event, based on entering average. The breakdown of divisions will be available at registrations. Awards for each division shall be paid for the following: highest single scratch game from any event; highest scratch three-game series from any event and highest scratch nine-game total. Entry fee for the Scratch Event shall be $20 for all divisions.

    2. Senior Event. Bowlers who are age 50 or higher as of Nov. 25, 2009 are eligible for this event. Awards for the senior division shall be paid for the highest handicap game from any event; highest handicap three-game series from any event and highest handicap nine-game total. Entry fee for the Senior Event shall be $5.

    3. Scratch Masters. The six-game scratch totals (without handicap) from the Singles and Doubles events of the tournament will be used to determine the six (6) qualifiers and one (1) alternate in each of four divisions. The six qualifiers will bowl in a modified match-play rolloff immediately following the team event. Complete rules including breakdown of divisions and entry fees will be available at registration.

      A Division 201 - 300 $50
      B Division 185 - 200 $40
      C Division 165 - 184 $35
      D Division 000 - 164 $30

  15. Protests. A protest must be filed at the time a discrepancy with a rule occurs, but no later than thirty (30) minutes following the conclusion of any event. The Tournament director shall rule on all protests and any decision made by the Director is final.

Rules for this tournament are subject to change. A copy of any rule changes will be available at registration.