75th JANUARIUS FIL-AM INVITATIONAL

WEEK 2

WEEK 1

GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES

November 25 to December 13, 2025

A. RULES OF PLAY

The tournament is open to male amateur golfers only and will be conducted in accordance with the R&A Rules Limited, the USGA and the Local Rules of both Baguio Country Club (BCC) and John Hay Golf (JHG).

B. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

C. FORMAT OF COMPETITION

The tournament will be divided into two (2) groups, the “FIL” and the “AM” Divisions.
Both Divisions shall play 72 holes using Stableford scoring system.
Competition brackets:
1. Seniors Division: Six (6) flights – Championship to E
2. Regulars Division: Seven (7) flights – Championship to F
  Each bracket is further divided into Fil and Am divisions.
  **Flights may be adjusted based on the number of actual teams.
Practice Rounds:
1. Strictly for bonafide Fil-Am participants. Guests are prohibited. Violation will result in disqualification.
2. Practice round schedule:
  1. Seniors and Regular Flight F: November 25 to 12:00 NN of November 27, 2025
  2. Regular Flights CH, A to E: December 5 to 12:00 NN of December 7, 2025
3. Preferred practice rounds must be included in the entry form. Final tee times will be confirmed by the
  Fil-Am Secretariat.

D. ENTRIES

Priority for Team Participation
1. Invited Golf Clubs in the Philippines and Local Baguio Teams
2. Invited International Golf Clubs
3. Sponsor Teams
4. Invited Local Teams
5. New and Other Local Teams
Team Composition
1. 1. A team must consist of a minimum of four (4) players and may include up to three (3) alternates (Maximum of 7 players per team).
  2. Alternate players are subject to the same entry fee as regular players.
Confirmation of Participation
1. 1. Teams must submit completed entry forms and corresponding fees on or before October 1, 2025.
  2. Waitlisted teams may be considered after October 1, 2025.
Team Captain Responsibilities
1. 1. Each team must designate one (1) Team Captain to be the main point of contact.
  2. The Team Captain is responsible for:
    1. Communication with the Tournament Committee
    2. Ensuring team members are familiar with all applicable rules
    3. Providing verifiable WHS or GHIN handicap indexes
Line-up Confirmation
1. 1. Changes must be submitted in writing during the Team Captains’ Meeting, not later than:
    1. 12:00 NN, November 25, 2025 for Seniors and Regular Flight F
    2. 12:00 NN, December 5, 2025 for Regular Flights CH, A to E
  2. Failure of the Team Captain to confirm and certify his team will relieve the Committee of any responsibility for any errors in line-ups or handicaps.

E. TEEING AREA

Men’s Championship: Gold Tee

Men’s Regular: Blue Tee

Seniors Division: White Tee

Seniors Division: Super Seniors (70+ as of November 28, 2025): Green Tee

F. HANDICAP

All players must have a valid and verifiable WHS or US GHIN handicap upon submission of the entry form.
Fil-Am participants from 2021 onward will be assigned a Fil-Am Index based on their historical scores in previous Fil-Am Tournaments.
NO WHS/GHIN/Fil-Am Index, NO PLAY.
For players who do not possess an official handicap index (e.g., WHS or GHIN) and rely solely on the FilAm Index, a 33.3% reduction will be applied to their Fil-Am Index.
For players who have both a Fil-Am Index and an official handicap index (such as WHS or GHIN), the lower of the two indexes will be used for tournament purposes.
For the official handicap index (WHS or GHIN), the Committee will retrieve indices on an undisclosed date for fairness.
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to reject or adjust handicap indexes of a player before or during tournament proper.
Maximum allowable index: 28.0 upon submission of the entry form. (players above this are ineligible to play).
Team classification will be based on the average of the three lowest indexes.
No player in the AM Division shall have a lower handicap than those in the FIL.
Protests must be submitted by:
1. 6:00 PM, November 27, 2025 for Seniors and Flight F
2. 6:00 PM, December 7, 2025 for Flights CH, A–E
Teams/ individuals shall be disqualified for submitting confirmed false handicap indexes (Rule 3.3b, Rules of Golf) and may be banned from future participation in the FIL-AM. Team protests must be submitted in writing with an attached proof to the Tournament Committee. The Committee reserves the right to investigate any handicaps.

Note: If a player has more than one (1) handicap index, the lowest handicap index shall be used. It is the
Team Captain’s responsibility to ensure the lowest handicap index of his player is submitted. Failure to
report a handicap index may result in disqualification.

G. CLASSIFICATION

Team classification is based on the three lowest player indexes
1. 1. First Week (Nov 25 – Dec 3): Seniors Flights CH to E, Regular Flight F
  2. Second Week (Dec 5 – 13): Regular Flights CH to E
    **Flights may be adjusted based on the number of actual teams.
All players for the Seniors Division must be 55 years of age by November 28, 2025.
Past champions may be reclassified at the Tournament Committee’s discretion.
No requests for changes in classification or preferred dates will be entertained.
Players may compete in both weeks.
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to classify or reclassify any team/s if it deems such change is for the good of the tournament.

H. SCORECARD SUBMISSION

Official Scorecard Box shall be placed in the designated scoring area on the 9th and 18th Hole of both Baguio Country Club and John Hay Golf. Once the scorecard has been placed/dropped into the scorecard box, the scorecard is deemed to have been submitted.

The player is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his scorecard. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified for the stipulated round. If he/she returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.

Each player shall be assigned by the Committee to be a Marker and record the scores of another player in the same flight. The Marker is responsible for the recording of the scores himself and NOT THE CADDIE. The Marker shall record the GROSS SCORE (NOT POINTS) of the player and mark pick-ups with an “X”.

NOTE: The Committee may disqualify the Marker if it is shown that he knowingly and/or deliberately violated this rule and/or deliberately performed actions so another player may be disqualified.

TO AVOID PENALTIES, PLAYERS ARE REMINDED TO:

Retrieve their Scorecard from their Marker IMMEDIATELY after they leave the putting green of their last hole.
Check their scores for correctness and make sure that their GROSS SCORES are legibly indicated on the card. Holes picked-up must be marked with an “X”.
Settle any doubtful rulings with the Marker and/or the Committee before signing the scorecard. Any alteration on the Scorecard must be clarified with the Marker before it is submitted. Scores not legibly written will be interpreted by the Committee at its discretion.
Ensure that both player and marker have signed and attested the scorecard before submission.
Return the scorecard to the Committee before any member of the flight following them submits their scorecard/s or within fifteen (15) minutes of holing out if they are the last flight of the morning or afternoon set. Penalty for breach of this Rule is Disqualification without appeal.

I. SCORING SYSTEM

Result	Points
Hole-in-One (Par 4) / Albatross	6
Hole-in-One (Par 3)	5
Eagle	4
Birdie	3
Par	2
Bogey	1

Record strokes, not points, on the scorecard.
Teams should field 4 players per day; 4 scores count.
Tiebreakers:
1. Team: Final round 4th score → Last 18/36/54 holes → Eagle/Birdie count
2. Individual: Final round → 36/54 hole scores → Countback from 72nd hole

J. AWARDS

1. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 teams in each flight.
2. Each winning team receives four (4) trophies. Additional trophies (for teams with more than 4 players) will be sent at a later date.
3. A Trophy will be awarded to the medalist of each individual classification as determined by handicap indexes.
  *** All players competing in the Championship Division – Regulars will be automatically placed in the
  Championship Group.
4. Hole-in-one prizes are awarded only if made during official tournament proper.

K. TEE TIMES AND PAIRINGS

Pairings and start times will be posted on the official Fil-Am website and at the Secretariat.
1. 1. Team Captains must submit line-ups by 7:00 PM prior to the day of play.
  2. Substitutions using registered alternates are allowed up to 1 hour before tee time.
A team failing to field at least three players will be disqualified and lose future invitations.
The Tournament Committee will not entertain any requests for tee times or playing dates. Players who join the tournament must be ready to play on any day of the tournament dates and tee times assigned to them by the Tournament Committee.

L. RULES DECISION

1. All rules-related concerns must be referred to the Rules Committee only.
2. Protests must be submitted in writing by the Team Captain by 6:00 PM on the day of the stipulated round.
3. All decisions by the Rules Committee shall be final.

M. FIL-AM LOCAL RULES

Pace of Play
1. Groups falling behind will be warned and timed.
2. Time to play: 40 seconds. Penalties:
  1. 1st Bad Time: Warning
  2. 2nd Bad Time: -1 point from total team points
  3. 3rd Bad Time: -2 points from total team points
  4. 4th Bad Time: Disqualification for the stipulated round. Player will be asked to discontinue play.
3. “Bad time” is carried throughout the round.
Mandatory Pick-Up After Bogey
1. Players must pick up after scoring worse than bogey.
2. Mark hole with an “X”.
3. Failure = 2 point deduction from the team’s total score for the stipulated round.
Wrong Score for Hole
The player is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his scorecard. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified for the stipulated round. If he/she returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.

N. CADDIES

1. Caddies from host clubs are assigned on rotation basis.
2. Personal caddies are allowed but must register and wear white collared shirts and khaki pants.
3. Host club caddies may not serve as personal caddies.

O. DISQUALIFICATION/ SUSPENSION

At any time, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to disqualify and / or suspend any team or individual from their participation in the FIL – AM Invitational Golf Tournament. Reasons for disqualification/ suspension may include the following:

Disrespect to the sponsors, tournament officials and staff.
Unbecoming conduct and gross violations of the Rules of Golf and serious breach of golf etiquette by any team member/s during the tournament.
Violation of the House Rules of both Host Clubs/Hotels.
Whether intentional or not, misrepresentation and/or playing under any other identity.

P. CLOSE OF COMPETITION

The competition officially concludes after the awarding of trophies per division.

THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE REVISIONS AT ITS DISCRETION – TO ADJUST OR FOREGO – IF IT FEELS THAT SUCH ACTIONS ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE TOURNAMENT.