Arkansas Tour Local FAQ’s for
2016
December 2015
Table of Contents
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What does the membership get me?. 2
What does my
tournament entry fee get me?. 2
What is the event
format?. 2
Are Range
finders/GPS allowed?. 2
Do I need a USGA
handicap index?. 2
How is the Tour
handicap calculated?. 2
How are the
flights broken down?. 2
What yardage is
played in each flight?. 2
What if I am in
the wrong flight?. 2
What if I don’t
know the rules?. 3
Do I have to play
every event?. 3
Can I play in
another tour?. 3
Can I try an event
before I commit to a membership?. 3
How long do I have
to decide to play in an event?. 3
What are the
prizes?. 3
How do I get to
The Tour Championship at Hilton Head Island at the end of the year?. 3
What is the triple
bogey max rule?. 3
What is the dress
code?. 3
Are caddies
permitted?. 3
Are spectators
permitted?. 4
What if the
weather is bad?. 4
Is there a
deadline to join the tour?. 4
What if I sign up
for an event and them can't make it?. 4
Your tour membership allows you to play in any tour event
nationwide and comes with a welcome packet that includes a year membership to
GolfWeek magazine, Hat, bag tag, decal, rule book, discounted practice rounds,
and other sponsor discounts.
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Your entry fee for each tournament gets you 18 holes (18 each
day for a 2 day event), cart, range and includes money that goes into your
flight prize pot and an etched trophy for first place winner in your flight.
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All standard 1 and 2 day events are gross stroke play with USGA
rules in effect.. The Tour Championship at the end of the year in Hilton Head
is a 3 day, 54 hole gross stroke play event.
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Range finders and GPS are allowed as long as they conform to
USGA rules and do not measure slope, wind or any other information other than
distance.
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It is helpful to have an established index to place you in the
correct flight, but the index is not necessary. If you do not have a USGA or
Tour index, we will place you in a flight based on your average score and
ability for the appropriate yardage. Your flight placement can always be
adjusted later if the placement doesn’t fit your ability. Once on Tour, you
will develop a Tour Index based strictly on your tournament results.
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The Tour Index Policy is intended to group players into flights
of comparable potential ability to promote fair competition within the flight.
Indexes are based solely on Amateur Golf Tour performance. The AGT index
formula will closely mirror the published USGA handicap method (for a complete
description see USGA Handicapping Manual go to the following link: (http://www.usga.org/ ). The AGT formula differs from USGA handicap
methodology in that it uses only rounds played on tour and substitutes the
triple bogey rule in place of Equitable Stroke Control.
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Ø Championship Flight players have handicap 0
-3.9
Ø A Flight players have handicap 4 – 8.9
Ø B Flight players have handicap 9 – 13.9
Ø C Flight players have handicap 14 – 18.9
Ø D Flight players have handicap 19+
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Ø Championship plays from roughly 6700+
A plays from roughly 6500 – 6800
Ø B plays from roughly 6400 – 6600
Ø C plays from roughly 6200 – 6500
Ø D plays from roughly 6000 – 6300
Ø Women play 1 tee forward of their respective
flight tees
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Flight adjustments can be made after 2
events have been played. Adjustments to a more difficult flight can be done at
any time. If you are in the wrong flight and are shooting out of the flight
range, a battlefield promotion will be done instantly, with loss of winnings and
points to balance and account for the adjustment, and you will be placed into
the proper flight.
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USGA rule books will be provided to each player. Players are
responsible for knowing the rules. Other players can help with the rules if in
doubt or unsure. Always play 2 balls if a rule or play is in dispute. The
director can determine the proper play when discussed at the end of the round.
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You can play in as many or as few events as you wish. The more
events played will earn you more points in the race to get to the Tour
Championship at the end of the year at Hilton Head Island, SC.
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You can play any event in the nation. If you play a visiting
Tour, you must first indicate the play to your local tour director and also let
the visiting tour director know which tour you are a paid member. Event
registration is then the same process as your local tour.
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Golfers who have not been on the tour before can attend 1 event
as a visitor and would only have to pay the tournament entry fee. In order to
play a second event, the membership would have to be paid for first.
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All tournament entry fees are due by the end of the day on the
Monday before the tournament. Any entries submitted after Monday may be subject
to a late fee. Courses cannot leave open tee times, therefore they need to know
how many tee times the tournament requires well before the event. Late entries
also delay the posting of tee times and pairings.
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Prizes are in the form of a Visa gift card. The amount is
determined by how many players are in the flight. A portion of your entry fee
for each event goes into the prize pool. See the link below for a further break
down of pay outs. First place winners of each flight also receive a glass
trophy engraved with their name on it.
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You must play at least 5 events in the season, local tour or
other, to qualify. 2 day Majors count as two events. Flight winners will get
their entry fee to Hilton Head paid.
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To promote a good pace of play, the AGT implemented the triple
bogey max rule for all flights except the Championship flight. All players must
pick up their ball and discontinue their play on any hole where they have
reached a score of triple bogey.
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Collared shirts and soft spikes are required. (Mocks are
considered Collared Shirts). No jeans, denims, jogging outfits, or sweat pants
are permitted. Shorts may be worn.
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Caddies are not permitted for any flight other than Champ Flight
players.
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Spectators are welcome but may be required to ride and rent a
cart. It is up to each course in regards to the policy. We try to refrain from
having spectators ride with the players.
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We play rain or shine unless the course suspends play. If an
event has to be cancelled due to dangerous weather, then a make-up event may be
arranged for later in the season.
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No, you can join the tour at any time during the season. The
more you play however, the more points you can start to accumulate towards the
points race.
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We do not give refunds, but we will make every effort to put the
credit to another event, as long as the course doesn't charge the Tour for your
absence.
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