Tee Time Policy

CATEGORY A
All Air Force and Army active duty personnel and their families*. All other active duty personnel and their families assigned to Kadena Air Base

CATEGORY B
All Army and Air Force retirees and their families**. All U.S. government employees and their families assigned to Kadena Air Base

CATEGORY C
All U.S. government employees and their families not assigned to Kadena Air Base. All contractors assigned to Kadena Air BaseNavy and Marine Corps retirees and their families***

*All active duty Army personnel are absorbed under Kadena Air Base because an all-service agreement was established that makes the Marines responsible for the Navy at the Marine Corps golf course (Awase) and the Air Force responsible for the Army at the Kadena Golf complex. ** Army and Air Force retirees fall under the same agreement mentioned above and are not given priority at the Marine Corps golf course. ***Navy and Marine Corps retirees are absorbed under the Marine Corps golf course and are given priority there.

Guest Play Guidelines

Guest play at the Banyan Tree and Chibana Golf Courses is very beneficial to Okinawa military/community public relations. It provides an opportunity to meet and socialize with distinguished visitors (DV) and with host country nationals. As a standard, we always provide our U.S. military, civilian and DoD participants priority for play, while striving to make our guests feel welcome by treating them with the utmost respect and courtesy, and providing them an opportunity to utilize our golf facilities and programs. The following guidelines are provided to the 18th Services Squadron and Kadena Golf Course management staffs to carry out an equitable and reasonable policy for all our patrons:

_a. Local National Personnel, i.e, those personnel employed on Kadena Air Base (MLC/IIIA), Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, other foreign military personnel having business with Kadena Air Base, and approved foreign embassy personnel are authorized to play at both the Banyan Tree and Chibana Golf Courses on a space-available basis and pay MLC/IIIA rates. All other Local National Guests not affiliated with the base will pay the premium Local National Guest rate. The policies for these personnel are:

__(1) Play at the Banyan Tree Course is not authorized on weekends, official or designated U.S. Holidays (except for Tomadachi players, see para. l.d), down days, and certain other days as may be determined by course management necessary to limit local national play.

__(2) Tee time reservations for LN guests may be made via telephone not more than 7 days in advance. Local National tee time slots are limited to 15 per day. Additional groups may play on a space available basis.

_b. Community Leader Guests: A community leader guest list is developed and maintained by 18th Wing Public Affairs (Community Relations) and Protocol for the purpose of recognizing them as special community relations guests. The policy for these guests is as follows

__(1) Community leader tee time reservations will be made via telephone or in person to the 18th Wing Protocol office, no earlier than 7 days in advance.

__(2) Community leaders will pay the green fee and golf cart rental fee equivalent to the current MLC/IHA base employee rate. Other guests accompanying the community leader will pay the appropriate fee according to their status, i.e., MLC/IHA, LN guest, or SOFA.

__(3) Local Mayors and Japan Self Defense Force 0-7s and above are authorized to utilize community leader tee times during weekdays only, unless accompanied by the 18th Wing Commander, Vice Commander Or Command Chief Master Sergeant. Exceptions to this
standing policy for these individuals will be on a case-by-case basis and will be coordinated with 18th Wing Public Affairs (Community Relations) and Protocol.

_c. Guests of SOFA Status Personnel: On-island family members not living in the same household and without official dependent status (mother, father, brother, sister, etc.) of SOFA status personnel may play at the rate of the sponsor anytime with the sponsor. This category of family members may not play unless accompanied by the sponsor. Off-island family members of SOFA status personnel (visitors) may play the course in accordance with the rate and priority of the SOFA status sponsor. It is not mandatory for the sponsor to play with off-island family members; however, guests should be able to furnish a form of identification upon check-in.

_d. Tomodachi Guests: To promote friendship and community relations with our Japanese friends and neighbors, and to make it affordable for the sponsor, each SOFA status person supported by the Kadena Golf Course is eligible to sponsor up to 12 guests per year at the MLC/1HA base employee rate. Sponsors will be required to complete information on their guest in a log book that will be maintained in the Pro Shop in order to receive the special price. The log book will also be used to control the number of guests authorized per year. Tomodachi guests may play on weekends and holidays and MUST play with their sponsor.

_e. Protocol and Distinguished Visitors (DV) Tee Times: The Wing Commander (18 WG/CC) and Vice Commander (18 WG/CV) or Command Master Chief (18 WG/CCC) have preferred tee times on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Should a portion of the golf course be closed and or should there be an event scheduled by the Banyan Tree Golf Course (BTGC), Protocol Tee times will be adjusted as necessary to avoid conflict with BTGC programming and minimize the impact on the normal reservation system.

__(1) 18 WG/CC/CV/CCC will determine by 0800 on Fridays which, if any, weekend/holiday tee times will not be used. Any unused tee times will be offered to the following key Colonels on a first-come, first-served basis: 18 OG/CC, 18 MSG/CC,
18 MXG/CC, 18 CEG/CC, 353 SOG/CC, 10 ASG/CC, 733 AMS/CC, 18 WG Staff Agency Colonels and CFAO/CO. 18 WG/CCE will simultaneously send an e-mail notification of the unused tee times to the key Colonels, the 18 SVS/SVB Business Flight Chief, and the Golf Course. It will be up to the key Colonels to contact the Golf Course to claim an unused tee time.

__(2) Tee times for visiting DV's (i.e., U.S. military/civilian dignitaries) residing in Kadena lodging (0-6 or above), or off-island DV's from a sister service (0-7 or above) staying in lodging other than Kadena may request a DV tee time on weekdays or weekends and holidays through the 18th Wing Protocol Office.

__(3) There are no designated DV tee times during the week. However, if a DV
would like a tee time during a normal weekday, requests will be submitted to the 18th Wing Protocol Office at least 7 days in advance,. The protocol office will attempt to accommodate the request. There are no protocol reservations during the week for Kadena personnel unless accompanied by a DV.

Tee Time Requests
Please Note: To ensure a tee time for the upcoming holiday or weekend, the deadline for filling out request in the Pro Shop is Wednesday at noon. The deadline for filling out online tee time request is Tuesday midnight. Requests received after Wednesday, 12 noon will automatically be applied to the following week's drawing.

All players with a reserved tee time at both the Banyan Tree Golf Course and the Chibana Golf Course must report to the starter not later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tee time. If you do not check-in 15 minutes prior to your reserved tee time, your time will be given to a group on the waiting list and you/your group will be put on the waiting list for the next available
time.

Any questions or concerns may be addressed to Golf Course management at DSN 634-1330.

Banyan Tree Course:
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, there will be a single "double start" for the first 28 tee times of the day (14 off the front and 14 off the back). Once the crossover is complete, there will be single tee times starting on the front only.

(1) Weekend and holiday tee times are assigned using a lottery drawing system. Weekend tee time drawings are held on Wednesdays at 1200 in the Golf Course Administrative Office.

(2) Reserved tee times will only be given to threesomes and foursomes.

(3) Tee time requests for lottery drawing are accepted at the Banyan Tree Pro Shop or online on the Golf Course web site under 18th Services Squadron web site. Submission deadline for the weekend and holidays that fall on Monday and Tuesday is 1200 the Wednesday prior. Submission for holidays that fall on Wednesday-Friday is two days prior to the holiday at 1200.

(4) All tee time requests are screened for authenticity and separated by category immediately after the submission deadline.
(5) After each drawing, tee times are allocated as follows:
_(a) The first 28 Category A tee times (14 for the front nine and 14 for the back nine) are filled via the lottery drawing with groups having at least three Category A players. If the Category A list is exhausted before filling the 28 tee times, the remaining tee times will be filled with Category B players. Category A groups may not have more than one Category B or C player in the group.
_(b) Once the first 28 tee times are filled, the remaining times will be allocated to the remaining eligible players. During this portion of the drawing, Category A and Category B groups will have equal status for tee time assignment.
_(c) When the pool for tee time requests for Category A and B groups is exhausted, groups from Category C will be drawn for the remaining tee times.
_ (d) Category B groups must be made up of a minimum of three persons from the Category B eligibility group or a combination of Category A and B players. No more than one Category C player may be included in a Category B group.
_ (e) Substitutions and changes within Category A and B groups may be made as long as the group makeup meets the minimum requirements stated above.

Chibana Course:
(1) Tee times (SOFA Status personnel) are available either in person or by calling the Pro Shop (634-4101) up to one week prior.

(2) Two or more SOFA Status personnel are required to reserve a tee time. Singles will not be allowed to reserve a tee time.

(3) A waiting list for players without a tee time will be maintained by the starter. The starter will assign tee times to golfers on the list with SOFA status personnel having priority. A golfer must sign up in person and be ready to play. Sign-ups (in person) for the waiting list are taken on a "first come, first serve" basis. Sign-ups for the waiting list will not be taken by phone.

(4) Names will be dropped from the list after being announced twice without response. Non-SOFA golfers will be assigned a tee time from the waiting list 15 minutes prior to the starting time if there are no SOFA status personnel waiting at that time.

(5) SOFA and Non-SOFA golfers will be paired from the waiting list to allow all patrons the opportunity to play golf. SOFA customers do have priority on the waiting list, however this does not mean SOFA and Non-SOFA will not be paired off the waiting list to make up threesomes or foursomes. This is to speed up play, as well as to accommodate all patrons as soon as possible. Single players are not allowed on weekends and holidays without the approval of the manager.

(6) Name changes to reserved tee times maybe made in person or by calling 632-4101. When a group does not maintain the status declared at the time of the original tee time request, they may lose their starting time and the time vacated will be filled from the waiting list. It is mandatory that a person whose name has been submitted as a "change" presents his/her ID card when checking in with the starter to play. This is to ensure proper priority and to properly identify the golfers name on the reservation sheet.

(7) The requester for each tee time is responsible for notifying the other golfers in the group. Each golfer must check-in at the starter box 15 minutes prior to their tee time or they will lose their spot. Golfers who wish to play another 9 hole round must go back to the Pro Shop and check-in.
(8) Reserved tee times are a privilege and are available for the convenience of the SOFA status player. Personnel who abuse the system, use false information to obtain tee times or who constantly cancel or do not show up for tee times, will lose their privilege to reserve tee times.

A waiting list for golfers without a reserved weekend or holiday starting time will be maintained in the Pro Shop starting at the Pro Shop opening time until 20 minutes prior to the beginning of each crossover. At 20 minutes prior, the starter will take the list to the starter box. Golfers must sign up on the waiting list in person and be ready to play. Sign-ups are taken on a first come, first serve basis (in person) and may not be done by phone or two-way radio (from the Pro Shop to the starter). The list will be located in the Pro Shop between crossovers.

Names will be dropped from the list after being announced twice without response.

Names remaining on the list from the first crossover will be carried over on the list for the second crossover.

Sign-ups for the second crossover list will begin at the time of the final group from the first crossover.

For priority 1A people on the waiting list: Golfers on the first crossover must declare and verify their priority 1A catgory status when signing up on the waiting list. This gives them eligibility on a first come, first serve basis to fill in a priority 1A opening in the first 20 tee times only. This means that a prior category status will be used only for the first 20 tee times.

Name Change Policy

Name changes to reserved starting times can be made in person or by phone at the Golf Course Administration Office at 634-1528.

For weekend and holiday tee times, a maximum of two name changes may be made after the tee times have been drawn one or two days prior to the tee time date. On the day of play, only one name change may be made up to 15 minutes prior to the starting time. Same day name changes cannot be made using golfers from the waiting list.

All name changes must be made with a golfer having the same priority category status as the person on the original tee time request. This is absolutely necessary for the group to maintain priority 1A or 1B status, both for the drawing and the tee-off time.

When a group does not maintain the status that was declared on the original starting time request form, they loose their starting time. This means that the time will be filled from the waiting list.

It is mandatory that a golfer whose name has been submitted as a change present his/her ID card to verify eligibility status with the cashier upon checking in to play. This is to properly identify the golfer's name on the starting time reservation sheet.

The person requesting a starting time is responsible for notifying the other golfers on each request form of their assigned starting time. This is to alleviate the Pro Shop and Administrative Office of excess phone calls.

Weekend and holiday starting times are not transferable.

No Show Policy

No show groups are displacing the rights and privileges of those golfers who submit valid tee time requests and are not picked for a tee time. This policy is made to establish an orderly and equitable process for dealing with no show golfers.

A "No Show" is defined as a group or individual from any group that is given a tee time through the drawing system and fails to show up or cancel their assigned time. Therefore, it is mandatory that personnel with weekend/holiday tee times report the cancellation of their time via phone or in person to the golf course no later than 40 minutes before their tee time. Any group or individual failing to do so will be considered a "no show" and they will forfeit their privilege of submitting a starting time request in the following week's drawing.

In the event of a "no show", all names in the group or individual(s) will forfeit their eligibility to be placed on any starting time request form with the same or any other group for the following weekend or holiday when drawings are done.

Cancelling is the combined responsibility of all members of the group.

Junior Golf Guidelines

The following Junior Golf Guidelines are made primarily with regard to the safety of our youth.

• Children under age six are prohibited from being on the golf course.
• Children ages six to twelve need to play with or be accompanied by their parents or another sponsor eighteen years of age or older.
• Children thirteen and older need to have golf knowledge to play as an adult or be accompanied by a sponsor eighteen years of age or older.
• Children may not operate golf carts without a valid driver's license.

Weather Policy

Procedures for Thunderstorm and Lightning Conditions:

Thunderstorm/lightning threats are passed via telephone to the golf course from Risner Gym, when golf course staff identifies a dangerous situation, and/or a direct telephone communication is made with the Weather Flight office at 634-3140. The Pro Shop and Courtesy Patrol are then notified and will notify all golfers on the course and customers using other Kadena Golf Complex facilities and will take the appropriate action as follows:

• When lightning is within 10 miles: the status is a WATCH—all golfers on the course and practice facility customers are informed of the condition and that there is a danger at hand and that they are playing at their own risk.
• When lightning is within 5 miles: the status is a WARNING—all golfers on the course and practice facility customers are informed of the condition and that there is a serious danger at hand and that they must discontinue play and seek shelter immediately. At this time, the first and tenth tee, driving range, and all practice facilities are closed. Green fees will not be sold when a 5-mile warning is in effect. When the Risner and/or Weather Flight officials announce that the condition of danger has reduced, the Pro Shop and Courtesy Patrol will notify customers of the change in condition and the appropriate actions to be taken

Signs indicating each status condition will be posted at the Pro Shop, the Starter Building, first tee, tenth tee, and on all Courtesy Patrol vehicles. It is at the discretion of the Director of Golf, the Assistant Manager, and/or Golf Course Superintendent to close the course because of heavy rains, even if thunderstorms/lightning are not a threat.

Procedures for Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR or TC):

TC-3: The golf course will stay open unless it is determined unplayable. Progress of the storm will be monitered and general clean-up will begin.

TC-2: Same steps as TC-3. Director of Golf will call Command Post when all requirements for TC-2 have been met.

TC-1: Depending upon the severity of the weather, the golf course may close at this time for the safety of its patrons. Otherwise, the progress of the storm will be monitored.

TC-1C: Closure of the golf course is mandatory within 2 hours of TC-1C being announced. The Director of Golf notifies the Command Post when the course is secured. The golf course remains closed through TC-1E (Emergency) and TC-1R (Recovery).

TC-SW (Storm Watch): The Director of Golf and the Superintendent survey the course and report any damages to the Flight Chief. The Pro Shop will reopen. Depending upon the severity of the storm and damage done to the golf course, the course may remain closed for several days.

On-Island Relative Golf Privileges

On-island non-SOFA status relatives may play on weekdays only, excluding holidays. Relatives are defined as immediate family, i.e., father, mother, brother, or sister of the sponsor or his/her spouse.

The sponsor must fill out the appropriate request form and leave it with the cashier at the Pro Shop. A new request letter must be submitted for each month. Only one request per sponsor per month is allowed. The 18 SVS/SVB will notify the sponsor when the request has been approved.

For payment purposes, the approved request must be presented to the cashier at the time of play. The sponsor must play with the approved relative(s). Substitutions are not permitted.

Twilight Golf Rules

Twilight Golf starting times vary depending on time of year. Please check with the pro shop (634-3900) for starting time.

Registration begins one hour before twilight begins on a first come, first serve basis and can be made in person only.

Twilight fee payment may be made anytime after registration (generally upon sign up).

One person may sign up only one group.

Starters call one group to the tee and one group on deck.

Groups will not be called to the tee until all players have paid and checked in with the starter.

Groups will not lose their spot on the list once twilight begins. They are just skipped over until paid.

Rain checks will not be issues for Twilight Golf, Play at your own risk.

 Standard golf attire or civilian clothing of good taste is highly encouraged.  Full or partial military uniform will not be accepted. Shirts must be worn at all times.
The following apparel will not be permitted:

1. Clothing with obscene, offensive, suggestive, or derogatory statements.
2. Cut-off or other excessively worn, tattered, or soiled clothing.
3. Any clothing normally worn as undergarments such as men’s undershirts, tank tops, or sleeveless shirts.

1. Halter tops, spaghetti strap tops, net tops, or tops creating an immodest appearance or exposing midriff.
2. Shorts of a length of less than 5” above knee and more than 2” below the knee.
3. Athletic attire such as swimwear, sweats, spandex, or any other exercise apparel.

Only spiked golf shoes, smooth, rippled, or dimple soled footwear that will not damage the putting surface are approved for play. 
The following footwear will not be permitted:

1. Large cleated shoes normally worn for soccer, football, or baseball.
2. Hiking, military, or cowboy boots.
3. All types of lounge wear shoes including flip-flops, rubber shower shoes, and beach shoes.

Active duty males exposing piercing or females exposing piercing other than in the ears will not be allowed.

**Please be aware that the Kadena Golf Complex staff reserves the right to refuse service to anyone not complying with these dress policies. **