The USGA Virtual Championship event consists of a three-phase (qualifying round and two championship rounds) skill-based contest and a sweepstakes. In the skill-based contest, entrants compete for the best scores in a qualifying stroke play tournament round between June 1, 2010 and July 11, 2010, and the 156 top scoring entrants in the qualifying round (plus any additional entrants who are tied in the 156th position) compete for the best score in a two-round championship stroke play tournament between July 12, 2010 and July 14, 2010 (Round 1) and July 15, 2010 and July 18, 2010 (Round 2) (the “Contest”). Contest entrants who meet geographic eligibility criteria for sweepstakes entry as defined below (the “Sweepstakes”) will automatically be entered into the Sweepstakes. The combined USGA Virtual Championship event including the Contest and the Sweepstakes is referred to herein as the “Promotion.”
- Sponsor/Promoter.
This Contest is sponsored by World Golf Tour, Inc., 180 Sansome Street, 5th Floor, and San Francisco, CA 94104
- Eligibility.
Participation in the Contest is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older. Note, however, that only individuals who are legal residents of and physically located in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Norway, Ireland, The Netherlands, and South Korea who are 18 years of age or older or the age of majority in the entrant's state or province/territory ("province") of residence, whichever is greater are eligible to win prizes.
The Sweepstakes is open to individuals who are legal residents of and physically located in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea (the “Sweepstakes Geographic Eligibility” criteria) who are 18 years of age or older or the age of majority in the entrant's state or province/territory ("province") of residence, whichever is greater. Residents of Australia areis not eligible to enter or win the Sweepstakes and no Sweepstakes entries will be accepted from residents of this country, even if they have entered the Contest.
Employees, officers, and directors of World Golf Tour, Inc. ("Sponsor"), the United States Golf Association (“USGA”), and each of their affiliated entities, parent, subsidiaries, advertising, promotional agencies, legal advisors, their immediate family members and persons living in their same household with each, are not eligible to enter or win prizes in the Promotion. Void where restricted, taxed or prohibited by law.
- How To Enter.
To enter the USGA Virtual Championship ("Promotion") you must do the following:
a. Step One. Have a valid registered World Golf Tour account (free); and
b. Step Two. Contest Qualifying Round Entry and Sweepstakes Entry: Log in to the website at www.wgt.com or www.USOpen.com, or www.USGA.org between 1:00 am Pacific Time (in other words, California Time) ("PT") June 1, 2010 and 11:59 pm PT July 11, 2010, agree to the terms and condition of these Official Rules, and play and complete the designated 18-hole stroke play game (the "Qualifier") between 1:00 am PT June 1, 2010 and 11:59 pm PT July 11, 2010 (the "Qualification Period" and the “Sweepstakes Period”) and you will automatically be entered into the Qualifier and, if you meet the Sweepstakes Geographic Eligibility criteria, the Sweepstakes. No Credits will be deducted from your World Golf Tour account to enter the Qualifier or the Sweepstakes. You may play the game as many times as you wish during the Qualification and Sweepstakes Period, however, only the lowest final score received by you during the Qualification Period will be recorded as your entry for the Qualifier round of the Contest, and only one entry per person, per World Golf Tour user account, and per email address will be accepted for the Sweepstakes.
Alternative Method to Enter Sweepstakes. Contest entrants who meet Sweepstakes Geographic Eligibility criteria will automatically be entered into the Sweepstakes. You may also enter the Sweepstakes by registering for a free World Golf Tour account at www.wgt.com (if you have not already), and sending a 3"x5" card with the following information hand-written on it: your name, address, your World Golf Tour User Name, Email Address, And Date Of Birth, To: World Golf Tour, Inc., USGA Virtual Championship Entry, 180 Sansome Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. No other methods of entry will be accepted. Mail-in entries must be hand-written. Computer generated, typewritten, and other electronically or mechanically reproduced mail-in entries are not acceptable. Mail-in entries that do not conform with the requirements herein will not be acknowledged and Sponsor will disregard such entry requests and any such entry requests will not be eligible to enter or win. Mail-in entries must be postmarked during the Sweepstakes Period and received by July 20, 2010. Each mail-in entry must be mailed separately and, if in an envelope, each must be mailed in a separate outer envelope. Limit: one Sweepstakes entry per person, per WGT user account, and per email address, regardless of method of entry.
c. Step Three. Championships Entry: The top scoring 156 players in the Qualifier round plus any additional entrants who are tied in the 156th position (the “Championship Players”) will be eligible to compete in both rounds of the Championships (the “Championships”) to determine the winner of the Contest. If you receive one of the best 156 scores in the Qualifier round (or one of those tied in the 156th position) to qualify for the Championships, you may enter Round 1 of the Championships by logging in to the website at www.wgt.com or www.USOpen.com or www.USGA.org, between 1:00 am PT July 12, 2010 and 11:59 pm PT July 14, 2010 (“Round 1”), and playing and completing the 18-hole stroke play game between 1:00 am PT July 12, 2010 and 11:59 pm PT July 14, 2010. You may enter Round 2 of the Championships by logging in to the website at www.wgt.com or www.USOpen.com or www.USGA.org, between 1:00 am PT July 15, 2010 and 11:59 pm PT July 18, 2010 (“Round 2”), and playing and completing the 18-hole stroke play game between 1:00 am PT July 15, 2010 and 11:59 pm PT July 18, 2010.
No Credits will be deducted from your World Golf Tour account to enter the Championships. You may play each of the Championship rounds only once, and the score received by you will be recorded as your entry for the Championship round of the Contest. You must be available to play a Championship Game during the Championship Period. If you are unable to do so and/or do not play and enter a score during the Championship Period, you will not be entered into the Championship and you will be disqualified from the Contest and ineligible to win the Contest prize. Players who do not play both Championship rounds will be disqualified.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ENTRANTS: ENTRANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY PERIOD TIMES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TIME ZONES.
Electronic entries for the Qualifier and Sweepstakes must be initiated during the Qualification and Sweepstakes Period. Completed electronic entries for Qualifier and Sweepstakes must be transmitted and received by 11:59 pm PT on July 11, 2010. Electronic entries for the Championships must be initiated during the Championship Periods, and completed electronic Championship entries must be transmitted and received by 11:59 pm PT on July 14, 2010 for Round 1 and 11:59 pm PT on July 18, 2010 for Round 2. Mail-in entries must be postmarked during the Sweepstakes Period and received by July 20, 2010. No other methods of entry will be accepted. Limit one entry per person, per email address, and per WGT user account for the Qualifier and for the Sweepstakes and, for each Championship Player, one entry per person, per email address, and per WGT user account for the Championship. Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.
Use of multiple email addresses or multiple WGT user accounts to enter is prohibited. To enter, the registered user of designated WGT user account must personally play the Game or the entry will be disqualified. Use of a false email address or a false WGT user account, or an incorrect mail address will disqualify an entry. You may not allow any third party to play the Game in this Contest using your WGT user account.
BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST, YOU AGREE THAT ALL SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT OR IMPROPER ENTRIES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED BY SPONSOR AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, lost, late, misdirected, illegible, mutilated, postage-due, garbled or delayed entries or other communications or other technical problems related to entries. Sponsor and its agents and subcontractors accept no responsibility for entries lost or delayed in submission. Proof of submission is not proof of receipt. Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person who tampers with the entry process or the operation of the website or the game, or who otherwise violates these rules. In the event of a dispute over who submitted an entry, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account designated in the entrant's World Golf Tour user account will be deemed to be the entrant. Contest is void in Quebec, and where prohibited, restricted or taxed by law. All federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations apply.
Game Description.
The USGA Virtual Championship Contest is a 54-hole stroke play contest.
Qualifier. The entrants will be given eighteen holes throughout the golf course, and are challenged to get the ball into the cup for each hole in the fewest strokes. The number of stokes taken to get the ball into each cup, plus any penalties, will be recorded for each entrant. When entrant completes all eighteen designated holes in the Qualifier round, the number of strokes plus penalties are totaled and comprise the entrant's score in that Game. The lowest final score received by you for a Game during the Qualification Period will be recorded as your entry for the Qualifier. The lowest scoring 156 entrants, plus any additional entrants who are tied in the 156th position (the “Qualifying Entrants”) will be able to advance to the Championship rounds. If any Qualifying Entrant(s) are not eligible to win a prize, the prize(s) for such entrants will be awarded to the entrant(s) eligible to win a prize with the next lowest score(s).
Championships. The Qualifying Entrants will advance to the Championships rounds where they will be given eighteen holes throughout the golf course in each of two rounds, and are challenged to get the ball into the cup for each hole in the fewest strokes. The number of strokes taken to get the ball into each cup, plus any penalties, will be recorded for each entrant. When entrant completes all thirty-six designated holes in theChampionships, the number of strokes plus penalties are totaled and comprise the entrant's final score. The lowest scoring entrant in the Championships will be a potential Contest winner (subject to the provision below in the event of a tie between two or more entrants, and subject to meeting eligibility and all other requirements in these Official Rules). If the lowest scoring entrant in the Championships is not eligible to win a prize, the prize will be awarded to the next entrant eligible to win a prize with the lowest score in the Championships.
In the event of a tie, the better scoring entrant between or among the tied entrants will be the entrant with the lowest combined score for the final nine (9) holes of the Game. If any ties remain, the better scoring entrant between or among the remaining tied entrants will be the entrant with the lowest combined score for the final six (6) holes for such Game. If any ties remain, the better scoring entrant between or among the remaining tied entrants will be the entrant with the lowest combined score for the final three (3) holes for such Game. If any ties remain, the better scoring entrant between or among the remaining tied entrants will be the entrant with the lowest score for the 18th hole (9th for nine hole games) in such Game, and any remaining ties will be determined by identifying the lowest scoring entrant for each individual game hole, in sequence from 17th (8th for nine hole games) through to 1st, as is necessary to determine a winner, and if any ties remain at that point, the earlier-submitted entry between or among the tied entries will be deemed the better scoring entry.
Prize.
SWEEPSTAKES PRIZE: There is one Sweepstakes prize. One eligible winner selected at random will receive a Five Hundred Dollar (USD $500) gift card to the USGA online store (approximate value USD $500) good for purchases of merchandise featured on www.usgacatalog.com, excluding tickets. Gift card restrictions include that orders must be placed by phone at 1-800-755-0293, Monday through Friday 7 am to 9 pm Central Time (“CT”) or Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 7 pm CT. Gift cards cannot be applied to orders placed online. Additional restrictions may apply. Odds of winning Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period.
CONTEST PRIZE: There is one Contest prize. One winner will receive a First Prize 2010 U.S. Open Trip comprised of round trip economy/coach airfare for two people (winner and guest) from a major commercial airport near winner’s residence to either Dulles or Reagan National, at Sponsor’s discretion (winner and guest must travel together on same itinerary) (maximum value USD $3000) on an airline to be chosen by Sponsor at its sole discretion, 4 days/3 nights accommodations for winner and guest (one double occupancy room, at Sponsor’s discretion, from June 17 - 19, 2011), at a minimum 3-star class hotel in or near Bethesda, MD to be chosen by Sponsor at its sole discretion (maximum value USD $200 per night), ground transportation between destination airport and hotel (maximum value USD $200), Two Hundred Dollars (USD $200) spending money, and two general admission tickets to the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club (approximate value USD $1,000 for 3 rounds – Friday June 17, 2011, Saturday June 18, 2011, and Sunday June 19, 2011) (one to the lowest scoring Contest entrant, total approximate retail value ("ARV") USD $4,640). Actual value of prize trip may vary depending on winner's residence and seasonal rates. Odds of winning the Contest depend on the number of eligible entrants and their relative skill in the Contest.
Travel, accommodations, and U.S. Open related restrictions, conditions and limitations may apply and may include, without limitation, seasonal restrictions, scheduling restrictions or changes, and time-based restrictions (e.g., expiration dates). Travel arrangements are subject to availability. Sponsor shall not be responsible for any cancellations, delays, diversions or substitution or any act or omissions whatsoever by the air carriers, hotels, golf courses or other transportation companies or any other persons providing any of these services and accommodations necessitated by same. Sponsor shall not be liable for any loss or damage to baggage.
Except as otherwise explicitly stated above, Contest winner is responsible for transportation to and from any prize related events or destinations, any incidentals, including, without limitation: meals, telephone calls, facsimile charges, Internet charges, spa/beauty salon services, laundry, tours/excursions, gift shop purchases, hotel processing fees, and any other expenses not mentioned in these Official Rules, which are the sole responsibility of the winner and guest. Any extra nights’ stay and any additional costs associated with an extended stay are the sole responsibility of winner and guest. Additional restrictions may apply. Winner and guest must hold valid documentation including any necessary passport for travel, and each is responsible for his or her own insurance arrangements.
Winner's guest must be at least 18 years of age prior to winner's taking the prize trip unless winner is the parent or legal guardian of the guest. Winner’s guest will be required to sign a Liability/Publicity Release fourteen (14) days prior to travel or guest will not be able to accompany winner during prize travel.
Flight and accommodations will be chosen at the sole discretion of the USGA and booked by Sponsor. If winner is unable to travel June 17 - 19, 2011, prize will be forfeited in its entirety. Airline tickets and accommodations may not be used separately and are subject to availability and certain restrictions, so Sponsor cannot guarantee prize will be available on the exact dates specified. If for any reason any portion of the prize is delayed, cancelled or postponed, or becomes unavailable, Sponsor reserves the right, but is not obligated, to cancel or modify the Contest in its discretion and award a substitute prize of approximately equal or greater value.
QUALIFIER PRIZES: There are 156* Qualifier Prizes. Each Qualifying Entrant who is eligible to win a prize will receive a free one-year USGA Member level membership (Total ARV: USD $25). If any Qualifying Entrant(s) are not eligible to win a prize, the prize(s) for such entrants will be awarded to the eligible entrant(s) with the next lowest score(s). Please refer to https://members.usga.org/ for the current USGA membership benefits. Benefits are subject to change at any time, without notice. Limit one USGA membership per person, per WGT account, and per email address. United States Golf Association will send an email to Qualifying Entrants within six to eight weeks of the end of the Championship Period, with instruction on how to register for the prize one-year USGA Member lever membership. Qualifier prize winners must register for prize membership within thirty (30) days from the date the notification email is sent or prize will be forfeited in its entirety. Valid while supplies last. Additional Restrictions may apply. By entering the Contest, you agree that WGT may share your user name and email address with the USGA and that USGA may contact you by email regarding this prize. *additional Qualifier prizes may be awarded to any additional entrants who are tied in the 156th position for the Qualifier.
Prizes are not transferable. No substitution of prizes for cash or for other goods and services is permitted, except Sponsor reserves the right to provide a substitute prize of approximately equal or greater value if the advertised prize or parts thereof become altered or unavailable. Prize details including, if applicable, color, style, size, and denomination at Sponsor's sole discretion. All taxes, including, without limitation, all federal, state, provincial, and local taxes, and international tariffs, are the sole responsibility of the winners.
All prizes claimed in accordance with the Official Rules will be awarded. Contest Winner may be required to provide a U.S., Canadian, United Kingdom, German, Australian, Irish, Dutch, South Korean, or Norwegian shipping address to claim prize. Sweepstakes winner may be required to provide a U.S., Canadian, United Kingdom, German, Irish, Norwegian, Dutch, Japanese, or South Korean shipping address to claim prize. Sweepstakes prize and Contest prize package confirmation will be mailed or otherwise dispersed within twenty-eight (28) days following Sponsor's receipt of the completed Affidavit of Eligibility and, except where and as prohibited, a Liability Release and Publicity Release, as well as verification of winner's eligibility.
- Winner Selection and Notification.
SWEEPSTAKES WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. Winner of the Sweepstakes will be determined by a random drawing from all eligible entries received, to be held at Sponsor's address listed in Paragraph 1, on or about July 30, 2010.
The judging will be conducted by Sponsor or its designee, the judge of the Sweepstakes, whose decisions are final and binding. Potential Sweepstakes winner will be notified on or about July 30, 2010 by an email sent to the email address specified in the entry and posted on the World Golf Tour website. If potential Sweepstakes winner cannot be contacted at this email, is contacted and does not respond as directed within seven (7) days of attempted notification, refuses the prize is ineligible to accept the prize or does not otherwise comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Any Canadian potential winner must also correctly answer a mathematical skill-based question administered by the Sponsor in order to claim prize.
Potential Sweepstakes winner may be required to complete and sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and, except where and as prohibited, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release in the form provided by Sponsor, within seven (7) days of attempted notification in order to claim the prize. Potential Sweepstakes winner may be required to show proof of identification within seven (7) days of attempted notification, or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
CONTEST WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. Winner of the Contest will be determined on or about August 10, 2011. The judging will be conducted by Sponsor or its designee, the judge of the Contest, whose decisions are final and binding. Potential Contest winner will be notified on or about August 10, 2011 by an email sent to the email address specified in the Contest entry and posted on the World Golf Tour website. If potential Contest winner cannot be contacted at this email, is contacted and does not respond as directed within seven (7) days of attempted notification, refuses the prize is ineligible to accept the prize or does not otherwise comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
Each Contest Period’s winner will be determined and announced on or about fifteen (15) days following each Contest Period from all eligible entries received for the applicable Contest. The judging will be conducted by Sponsor or its designee, the judge of the Contest, whose decisions are final and binding. Potential winners will be notified on or about fifteen (15) days following the applicable Contest Period by an email sent to the email address specified in the entry and posted on the World Golf Tour website. If potential winner cannot be contacted at this email, is contacted and does not respond as directed within seven (7) days of attempted notification, refuses the prize is ineligible to accept the prize or does not otherwise comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Potential winner may be required to complete and sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and, except where and as prohibited, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release in the form provided by Sponsor, within seven (7) days of attempted notification in order to claim the prize. Potential winners may be required to show proof of identification within seven (7) days of attempted notification, or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
Potential Contest winner may be required to complete and sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and, except where and as prohibited, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release in the form provided by Sponsor, within seven (7) days of attempted notification in order to claim the prize. Potential Contest winner may be required to show proof of identification within seven (7) days of attempted notification, or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
- General Terms.
By entering the Promotion, entrant accepts and agrees to abide by and be bound by the terms of these Official Rules, and assumes sole liability and accepts all risk of loss for injuries, including personal injuries and/or damage to property, caused or claimed to be caused by participating in this Promotion or the acceptance, possession, shipping and handling, loss, use or misuse of, or travel to or from or in connection with the Promotion or any prize awarded. Sponsor has the right to cancel, terminate or modify this Promotion for any reason, including if it cannot be completed as planned due to computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures and to select winner from eligible entries received on or before the termination date. Sponsor is not responsible for any failure to contact entrants, whether due to technical or human error.
By entering this Promotion, entrants grant to Sponsor and the United States Golf Association a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, right and royalty-free license to use the entry, and, except where prohibited by law, entrant's first and/or last name, city and state/province of residence, photo(s), voice and/or likeness; in any and all media but solely in connection with this Promotion. By entering this Promotion, entrants agree (a) that Sponsor and the United States Golf Association have the right to exploit and utilize entrant's first and/or last name, city and state/province of residence, photo(s), voice and/or likeness in any and all media but solely in connection with this Promotion without any further attribution, notification or compensation to Entrant, except where prohibited; (b) to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges; and (c) to be contacted by Sponsor or its agents by telephone, mail or email regarding this Promotion.
By entering the Promotion, entrant releases and holds harmless the United States Golf Association, Sponsor, and the parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees or agents of each from any and all liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light) arising out of or in connection with the Promotion, the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize, or arising out of or in connection with any travel to or from any Promotion or prize related activity.
Any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Promotion but in no event attorneys' fees; and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
In the event that any provision of these Official Rules shall be unenforceable or invalid under any applicable law or be so held by applicable court decision, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not render these Official Rules unenforceable or invalid as a whole, and, in such event, such provision shall be changed and interpreted so as to best accomplish the objectives of such unenforceable or invalid provision within the limits of applicable law or applicable court decisions.
Information collected from entrants is subject to Sponsor's security and privacy policy available at http://www.wgt.com.
- Applicable Law.
The Contest is governed by the laws of the state of California applicable to contracts entered into by California residents and to be performed within such State without regard to its conflict of law provisions, with venue in San Francisco County, California.
- Winners list.
A list of Promotion winners is available by sending a stamped and self-addressed envelope marked to "USGA Virtual Championship," 180 Sansome Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. Requests must be received by August 31, 2011.
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