El Paso / Las Cruces FAQ
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- What do I get for my membership to the GolfWeek Amateur Tour?
Your tour membership allows you to play in any tour event nationwide. Your membership comes with a $50 Credit to the Golfweek Pro Shop Store, discounted practice rounds, entry in season long Par 4 Challenge, entry into Season Ending Raffles, and much more.
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- What do I get for my tournament entry fee?
Your entry fee for each tournament gets you 18 holes (or 18 holes each day for a 2 day event), cart and range. Also each flight winner gets an etched trophy at each event as well as their share of the pot.
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- What is the event format?
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, SC is a 3 day, 56 hole gross stroke play event where members from all tours come together to determine a National Champion Flight Winner for the season.
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- Are Range Finders or GPS devices allowed to be used during the events?
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. Cell phone range apps can also be used, provided the player does not use the phone for anything other than yardage information, no slope, wind, reading greens etc...
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- Can I try an event before I commit to becoming a member?
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.
In order to play as a visitor you must enter your player registration by filling out and submitting the first page on the "Join the Tour" tab (exit out when asked for member payment), then submit the event registration and event payment. Lastly email us at elpaso@amateurgolftour.net and let us know that you are planning to play as a visitor. Once those steps are complete, you will be set to play as a visitor.
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- Do I need a USGA handicap index?
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 and will dictate all flight placements. Your tour scores will automatically be added to your account.
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- Do I have to play in every event?
You can play in as many or as few events as you wish. The more events played, the more points you will earn towards the race to get to the Tour Championship at the end of the year at Hilton Head Island, SC. If you cannot make an event on your local tour, you may play any other event nationwide to make up for it. Make up events only earn 60-80% of the original value. Only a single day event can be used to make up a single day event and only a 2 day major can make up for a missed 2 day major.
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- How long do I have to decide to play in an event?
All tournament entry fees are due no later than the end of the day on the Tuesday before the tournament. Any entries submitted after Tuesday will be subject to an $10 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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- What time are the events?
Most events are played on a Saturday, which are golf courses busiest day of the week. Due to this fact, most courses don't like the tour to take up the course too early in the day, therefore most courses will agree to tee times late morning/early afternoon. Secondly, in order to get a rate for play that stays within the tours budget, some tee times need to be scheduled closer to twilight.
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- What are the breakdown of handicap indexes for each flight?
- Championship Flight players have handicap 0 -3.9
- A Flight players have handicap 4 – 8.9
- B Flight players have handicap 9 – 13.9
- C Flight players have handicap 14 – 18.9
- D Flight players have handicap 19+
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- How is the Tour Handicap Index calculated?
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. 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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- What if I am playing in the wrong flight?
Flight adjustments are usually made after 3 rounds have been played in that flight. However, adjustments to a higher 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. This would create a loss of winnings and points to balance and account for the adjustment to the higher flight. If you feel you are in too difficult of a flight, you may request to move down a flight (provided your index allows for the move). Flight adjustments to a lower flight does not warrant any loss of points. However, an adjustment to a higher flight warrants a adjustment of 20-40% reduction of current point earnings as that is approximately the amount of points you would have earned had you been in the proper flight all along, but cannot earn a spot higher than a tie for 5th when moving up a flight.
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- What yardage is played for my flight?
- Championship Flight plays from roughly 6700+
- A flight plays from roughly 6500 – 6800
- B flight plays from roughly 6400 – 6600
- C flight plays from roughly 6200 – 6500
- D flight plays from roughly 6000 – 6300
**Yardage distances played can vary from this guide based on ease/difficulty of course slope and ratings.**
Women typically play 1 tee forward of their respective flight tees, or approximately 10-15% less than their male counterparts.
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- What are the prizes for the events?
Prizes are in the form of a gift card. The prize pot amount is determined by how many players are in the flight. First place winners of each flight also receive a glass trophy.
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- Can I play events on another GolfWeek Amateur Tour?
You can play any event in the nation with GolfWeek. 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. Be sure to take note of any differences in the other tours local rules.
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- How do I earn a spot to the Tour Championship at Hilton Head Island, SC at the end of the season?
You must play at least 5 rounds in the season, local tour or other, to qualify. 2 day Majors count as two rounds. The top 15 season long points winners from each flight earn a spot to enter the Tour Championship.
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- What if the weather is bad?
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 will be arranged for later in the season.
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- What is the Cancellation Policy for Events?
We know life happens and we do our best to accommodate cancelations for events. There are some courses that will lock us in to pay a certain amount after we submit the numbers after Tuesday Evening. If the event that you need to withdraw from is one of those courses then we will issue you a 50 percent refund otherwise we will issue you a 100 percent refund up until the time that the tee times are posted on our site which is typically the Thursday Evening prior to the event. If you need to cancel after the tee times are posted and before the day of the event then we will issue you a 50 percent refund. Any cancelations the day of the event or no shows will result in no refund at all. This also includes a 2 Day Major. If you play on Day 1 and do not play Day 2 then you will not receive any level of refund. The refunds are all based on how the course charges us for the number of players. We will do our best to get you the maximum level of refund but no guarantees can be made as each course is a little different on their policies.
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- What is the triple bogey max rule?
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. (If you are at double bogey, and are not in the hole yet, pick up as triple is the best you will get. Do not hit for the triple as the whole purpose of this rule is for a faster pace of play).
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- What if I don't know the rules?
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. Penalties can, and will be, assessed for rules infractions, so be sure to know the rules to the best of your ability.
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- What is the dress code?
Collared shirts and soft spikes are required. (Mocks are considered Collared Shirts at most locations). No jeans, denims, jogging outfits, tank tops, workout wear or sweat pants are permitted. Shorts may be worn.
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- Are caddies permitted?
Caddies are not permitted for any flight.
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- Are spectators permitted?
Spectators are usually welcome but it is to the discretion of the course. Spectators may be required to ride and rent a cart, whereas some courses do not have enough carts and spectators will have to walk. We try to refrain from having spectators ride with the players. It is up to each course in regards to their spectator policy, so be sure to contact the course to inquire as to their policy.
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- What are the cash games at the events?
At each event, players are able to enter into the optional CASH games. Games MUST be entered through Venmo as that will be how they are paid out within 24 hours of the end of the event.
Players can pay $10 to get into the Closets to the Pin contest for the par 3's for that day.
Players can also pay $20 for their respective Flight Skins Pot. Outright low score on a hole, amongst the players in the skins game, will win their share of the flight skins pot. (Champ and A are 1 group, B, C & D have their own group).
Players can also pay $10 for the Super Skins pot. Outright low score on a hole, amongst the players in the Super Skins game, will win their share of the flight skins pot. (This is with all flights combined)
Any player can enter in as many, as few, or none of these events as they wish. In the case of a 2 day event, players must enter the games for both days. 1st day entries go towards day 1 results and 2nd day entries go towards day 2 results.
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- How are Ties for Placing and Prize Pay-Outs handled?
1st place ties are handled by a Sudden Death playoff. All other ties are decided by the USGA Tiebreaker Rules. Prize pool payout will then be determined after the places have been determined. Any ties after 1st place will then split the combined points earned.
- Scorecard Tiebreakers will be determined by the following:
- Last Nine Holes Score
- Last Six Holes Score
- Last Three Holes Score
- Score on Hole 18
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- Is there a New Member Probation Period?
We do our very best to try to make sure that all new members are placed in the proper flight to begin with. This is not an exact science especially if the new member does not have an established USGA Index. To make sure that we protect the field from New Members not being placed in the proper flight, we are implementing the following rule. All new members will only be allowed to win up to 2nd place in any flight with the exception of the Champ Flight for their first 2 Tournaments. In the event that a New Member with less than 3 Tournaments played shoots a score that would place them in first place for the flight, they will automatically be moved to 2nd place and the player that would have taken 2nd place will be moved to first place in the event that they are a member with more than 2 events played as well. The New Member will be awarded the 2nd Place Prize Money and Points for the tournament. The likelihood that a new member that is in the proper flight would win their flight within the first 2 events is extremely low due to being new to tournament play. If a new member were to card a score that would win in a particular flight, after their index was calculated based on the winning score, they will most likely be moved up into the next flight anyways. This is why we are implementing this rule in order to handle this situation should it happen and there is now a clear cut rule to handle this. This is not meant to punish New Members but to protect the integrity of the flights and our tournaments from improper flight placement. If a New Member has a GHIN or USGA Handicap and can provide the Handicap then the probation will be waived, granted they are playing in their correct flight.
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- Is there a Guest Policy for placing in tournaments?
To be sure that we keep the full integrity of our flights in all of our tournaments, we are implementing a set of policies revolving around guests playing in our tournaments. Guests will not be allowed to place in any of the paid prize pool spots. If a guest posts a score that would put them there, they would be moved out of the prize pool and the following players will then be put in the prixe pool provided that they are not guests and have met the minimum 2 tournament rule for New Members. If a Guest has a GHIN or USGA Handicap and can provide the Handicap then the Guest is allowed is allowed to be in the prize pool granted they are playing in the correct flight. Also, if prize money is awarded to any guest they must use it towards the purchase of a membership. Cash games are not included in this and cash games will be paid to the guest. By purchasing the Membership the Guest is then eligible for First Place.
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- Do you play Ready Golf?
Ready Golf will be played at all of our events, and at all times, tee to green! If you are waiting on the group in front of you, then you may observe turn etiquette, otherwise there should be NO ONE waiting to hit. If you are ready, and it's clear ahead of you, then go ahead and hit by announcing you are ready. If you are waiting for the group ahead, there are things you can be doing to ensure you will be ready to hit when it is clear such as getting yardage, making club selection, etc... If the player with honors in not ready, and you are, please announce to that player that you are ready and you are going to hit. If you have the honors and are not ready, you must not get upset if someone wants to hit first if they are ready. If you are not ready, announce that you are not ready and invite anyone that is ready to hit to go ahead and hit.
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- How much time to search for a lost ball?
Players will only have 3 minutes to look for a lost ball. If you do not find your ball within 3 minutes, move on under the lost ball rule, optional local tour rule of 'lateral hazard drop' or other proper rule. In this rule case, if you cannot find your ball and you do not have a hazard option, then you can go back to the original spot that you hit your previous shot from (the shot that resulted in the lost ball) and hit another shot under penalty of stroke and distance. This is the only instance in which a player in A, B, C or D Flights can go back and hit another shot and has not hit the triple bogey max. The 3 minute time begins when anyone starts looking for the lost ball. This means that if anyone assists you with looking for your ball, your time begins when the looking started. If more than 1 player ball is lost, players MUST look for their own ball first! If more than 1 ball is being looked for, the 3 minutes is not for each ball, but 3 minutes total. Do not look for another players ball until you know where your ball is and will be ready to hit it when its clear, otherwise your time priority goes to preparing for your shot then any spare time can assist another player in searching for a ball. If you take longer than 3 minutes to look for a ball, the other players in your group can assess you a 1 stroke penalty on that hole. If you feel like your ball might be lost PLEASE announce and hit a Provisional Ball. There is no problem doing this as it will help with Pace of Play incase the ball is lost. This will prevent a player from having to go back to the original spot to rehit.
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- Do I have to mark my golf ball?
Each player must uniquely mark each ball so that it can be certain of ownership. At the first tee please present your ball marking to the group and keep that marking throughout the round. If a player does not mark the ball, then there is no way to know if a lost ball is found. If a ball is lost, and presumed found, said player must triple bogey the hole (if a provisional was not played - and marked), as there is no way to be certain that a found ball belongs to the player in question.
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- What is there is a Rules Dispute?
If there is ever any dispute amongst the group about a ruling, player should play 2 balls from the point of the dispute. Take note of both scores for that hole and move on with the round. After the round is done, and before the scorecard is signed, seek out with the Directors and Course Pro for proper ruling. Once the ruling is determined then mark your scorecard appropriately and then sign the scorecard.
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