REPORT
OF THE
NCAA
DIVISION I MEN’S GOLF COMMITTEE
1. ACTION
ITEMS.
a. Regional Expansion.
(1) Recommendation. That the Division I men’s golf
regionals expand from the current three regionals with 27 teams and six
individuals to six regions with either 13 or 14 teams and five or 10
individuals, effective with the 2008-09 season. Each regional would be provided with a
$20,000 stipend to conduct the regional.
(2) Rationale.
The committee believes that the current system with 141 players at
each of the three sites is very difficult to administer. With no weather delays, the committee is
challenged with finishing 54 holes of play, as well as administering a playoff
in most years. The setup of the golf course has had to be altered with
slower green speeds and little rough to allow all teams to complete their
rounds. With only one wave of
players, the golf course could have a more challenging setup to determine the best
teams and individuals for advancement.
The committee believes that with fewer players at each regional, it will
have more flexibility should weather become a factor, as well as improving the
student-athlete experience with a faster pace of play. The committee feels that with fewer
players at more regionals, more institutions will be inclined to host as it
will not be as challenging to recruit the number of volunteers needed under the
current structure. The
recommendation does increase the number of players participating at the regionals
from 423 to 450. The number of
teams selected would remain unchanged; however, the number of individuals
selected would increase from 18 to 45 in order to have the same number of
players at each regional site. The
committee would like to extend invitations to all automatic-qualifier
conference medalists whose teams are not selected.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. Approximately $20,000
for each of the additional regionals. Over the past three years, an
average of nearly $100,000 has been spent for the three regionals. With
institutions paying their own way for regionals, there could be a cost savings
to the institutions with more teams staying closer to home for their regionals.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact.
Minimal. Teams may not have to travel as far for regional
competition, which could result in less missed class time.
b. Championships
Format.
(1) Recommendation. That after 54 holes of golf at the
championships an individual champion is declared, and that the top eight teams
advance to a medal/match play with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals
staged on consecutive days.
(2) Rationale. The committee believes that the new
format will enhance the student-athlete experience at the championships as well
as that of fans and the general public. The committee feels that the current
format is hard to understand for the casual golf fan. Putting the top eight teams into a medal/match
play bracket in a head-to-head competition will create more excitement around
the championships for the student-athletes, coaches and fans. The committee believes that this proposed
format may also create an opportunity for the championships to be televised. This recommendation was proposed by the
National Advisory Board of the Golf Coaches Association of America and supported
by a majority of coaches at a recent town hall meeting at the United States
Junior Golf Championships.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. $27,200. (Attachment)
(4) Student-Athlete
Impact. None. The teams would arrive at the site one
day earlier than they currently do, but it would still be over Memorial Day
weekend.
c. Individual Championships.
(1) Recommendation. That the individual champion be
determined after 54 holes of play at the finals.
(2) Rationale. The committee believes that determining
the individual champion after 54 holes of play eliminates the possibility of an
individual who may have a chance to win the championships being cut after 54
holes of play. This past year, two
individuals who were four shots out of the lead after 54 holes of play did not
make the cut and they were one shot back of the eventual winner. The committee feels that determining the
individual championships after 54 holes of play will allow the final day to be
focused solely on the team championships.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. Savings of $1,320 as
the six individuals who make the championship as individuals will receive one
less day of per diem.
(4) Student-Athlete
Impact. Minimal. Student-athletes competing as individuals
would be able to return to campus a day earlier than usual.
d. In-Person Selection Meeting.
(1) Recommendation. That the committee meet in person for its
annual selection meeting, beginning Sunday and conclude mid-afternoon Monday,
effective with the 2009 championships.
(2) Rationale. Currently, the committee meets via
teleconference on a Monday to conduct selections of teams and individuals. The committee believes that meeting in
person would be much more effective with the amount of data now available for
selections. Beginning this year,
the committee will select 53 teams on an at-large basis and believes that an in-person
meeting would be more effective than the current teleconference. Currently, there is precedent with most
Division I selections.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. $7,020, which includes
$600 per person for airfare, $170 per night per person for hotel, $75 per
person for two days for per diem and $40 per person for two days for food for a
total of six committee members.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact.
None.
e. Director of Rules and Course
Administration Stipend for Finals.
(1) Recommendation. That the stipend paid to the director of rules
and course administration increase from $3,000 to $4,000, effective with the
2009 championships.
(2) Rationale. The director of rules and course
administration stipend was established in 2002 and since then, the
responsibilities for this position have continued to grow. This position selects the head rules
official for all three regionals. In
addition, the position coordinates three separate teleconferences with each of
the regional sites to establish communication with the officials, tournament
directors and golf course directors; selects the 20 officials to work the
championships; sets the course and coordinates everything necessary regarding
the rules of the game for the championships; attends the site visit to set the
course and communicates with the course superintendent the expectation for
course preparation for the championships. This also aligns the stipend of the director
of rules and course administration for the men with the women.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. $1,000.
(4) Student-Athlete
Impact. None.
f. Director of Rules and Course
Administration Stipend for Regionals.
(1) Recommendation. That a director of rules and course administration be provided for each regional and paid a stipend of $1,000, effective with the 2009 championships.
(2) Rationale. The committee believes that it is necessary to have a director of rules and course administration at each regional to ensure consistency from the regionals to the finals as it relates to course setup and the paperwork that the student-athletes receive. This individual currently recruits and selects rules officials for the regionals, attends to many administrative duties, sets up the golf course and conducts the officials meeting, as well as provides guidance and support to the other rules officials.
(3) Estimated Budget Impact. $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the number of regionals.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
g. 2007-08 Automatic Qualification.
(1) Recommendation. That the Atlantic Coast Conference,
Atlantic Sun Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big East Conference, Big South
Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big West Conference,
Colonial Athletic Association, Conference USA, Horizon League, Ivy Group, Metro
Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mid-American Conference, Missouri Valley
Conference, Mountain West Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley
Conference, Pacific-10 Conference, Patriot League, Southeastern Conference,
Southern Conference, Southland Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference,
Sun Belt Conference, The Summit League, Western Athletic Conference and West Coast
Conference be granted automatic qualification for the 2008 championships.
(2) Rationale. Each conference meets the defined
criteria for automatic qualification.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. None.
(4) Student-Athlete
Impact. None.
h. Committee Chair.
(1) Recommendation. That Mike Holder, director of athletics
at
(2) Rationale. Mr. Hermann’s term has expired. Mr. Holder has been on the committee for five
years and has demonstrated many qualities that will benefit the committee.
(3) Estimated
Budget Impact. None.
(4)
Student-Athlete
Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
List
of Financial Priorities. The
committee established the following financial priorities for the
cabinet’s consideration:
a.
Increase the number of regionals from three to six. (Budget impact: $20,000)
b.
Make change in championships format. (Budget impact: $27,200)
c.
Determine the individual champion after 54 holes of play at
the finals. (Budget impact: savings
of $1,320)
d.
Conduct an in-person selection meeting with the
committee. (Budget impact: $7,020)
e.
Increase the director of rules and course administration
stipend for the finals. (Budget
impact: $1,000)
f.
Increase the director of rules and course administration
stipend for the regionals. (Budget
impact: $3,000 to $6,000)
Committee Chair: Mike Hermann,
Staff Liaison: