"The Tour that treats the Amateur like a Pro!"
Houston
Table of Contents
TOUR POLICIES
- Membership Qualification
- Membership Fees
- Membership Benefits
- Membership Application and Handicaps
- Event Registration
- Tournament Application & Payment Policy
- Guest Policy
- Assumption of Risk and Release from Liability
- Tee Times
- Tour Format
- Check-In and Starting
- Golf Carts and Driving Range
- On Course Rules
- Dress Code and Player Conduct
- Prizes
- Trophies
- Merchandise
- Skins/Side Games
- Pace of Play
- Scorecards
- Inclement Weather
- Miscellaneous Rules and Policies
- 2009 HAGT Sponsors
TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES
- Flight Placement
- Flight Movement
- Tournament Format
- Tournament
- Tournament Score keeping
- Tournament Results & Point Standings
- Determination of Tied Scores
- Tournaments that Count Double in Points
- National Tour Championship
- Player Programs
- Player Referral Program
- Sponsorship Referral Program
- Player Bonuses
- Tour Information Guide
Tour Policies
Membership
Membership to the Houston Amateur Golf Tour is open to male and female amateurs of all ages with handicaps from 0 – 20+.
Membership Fees
Golfers may join the AGT any time during the year for a $90.00 annual membership fee.
Membership Benefits
AGT Member benefits include, but not limited to, a logo’d hat, bag tag, divot tool, ball marker and tees. Membership gives you the ability to play in any Tour Event across the country.
Membership Application & Handicaps
Please provide complete and accurate membership applications. Each piece of data is not only required, but has proven useful to the AGT in the past in attaining all sorts of extra benefits for members. It is vitally important that you report handicap indexes accurately. Not only for your personal interest concerning the AGT rules and points standings, but also so that the Tour Director can pair persons of equal golfing ability for the best competitive experience.
Event Registration
Only AGT members, guests of members and guests of AGT officials may participate in AGT events. All entries must be received prior to the entry deadline, which is established by the local tour director, generally 4 days prior to the event. Players can register for a respective event by emailing, or by calling the local tour director. Events may have a limitation on the number of entries, and therefore will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis. As a member of the Tour, players can participate in any AGT event in the
Tournament Application & Entry Fee Payment Policy
The preferred avenue of applying for a tournament is, simply fill out the “Event Registration” form on the local website (www.houstonagt.net) and list the tournament location in the comments section for the tournament you plan to participate in. Payments can be submitted using the PayPal system or by mailing the entry fee to: Houston Amateur Golf Tour, 14951 Bellows Falls Ln #1222, Humble, TX 77396. Payments can be submitted in cash, money order, cashiers check or personal check. Any returned check shall be subject to a $25.00 handling fee. Currently, the only way to pay with a credit card is through PayPal and at the course. Payments must be received no later than the day of the event, prior to your scheduled tee time. All entry fees will include green & cart fees, range balls, trophies and prize pool. ($20.00 per player)
Guest Policy
Each member is allowed to invite (and be paired with) a single guest. This privilege is extended to all members and may be exercised for that particular guest once per season. Hopefully, you will choose to invite a potential new member, but if you have a visitor in town for the weekend and want to play golf in a Tour event, you may invite this guest providing you: 1. Pay the regular event entry fee for this person plus $10. 2. Identify this person on an AGT membership application as your guest. Your guest will be paired with you for the day and may be included in the proper handicapped flight for prizes even if you are playing in a different flight. The guest must be able to present a current verifiable handicap index to participate in the prizes.
Assumption of Risk and Release from Liability
By signing or electronically submitting a member application and entering and playing in a Amateur Golf Tour Event, the participant understands and agrees that there are certain dangers involved with the participation in a golf event, including but not limited to being struck by lightning, getting hit by a golf ball or club, suffering from heat exhaustion, heart attack or injury from uneven terrain, all of which risks participant assumes and solely accepts, and waives all claims of injury to body or property against Houston Amateur Golf Tour, the Amateur Golf Tour, the event facility/course and/or the local tour director. Further, the participant agrees that while on the premises of a Amateur Golf Tour Event, as well as all other presenting sponsors, co-sponsors and representatives affiliated with the tournament, the participant, and any guest, relative or anyone else affiliated with participant, shall be present at their own risk and that Houston Amateur Golf Tour, the Amateur Golf Tour and/or the local tour director shall not be liable for any claims for injuries or damages whatsoever to person or property of the participant or related person arising out of or in connection with the participation in the Event or presence at the Event. Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Houston Amateur Golf Tour, the Amateur Golf Tour and/or the local tour director from all claims by or liability to participant or affiliated person.
Tee Times
Tee times will be available on the Tour website (www.houstonagt.net ) prior to the event. Pairings are subject to change anytime prior to the event.
Tour Format
All of the events on the AGT will be stroke play, gross competition within the assigned flight. Tour play will be governed by the current Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association (USGA), and modified by the Rules and Information Board at the check in table.
Check-In & Starting
All Tour players must personally check-in at least 15 minutes prior to the assigned tee times and be at the starting point at least 5 minutes prior to the assigned tee time. Failure to do so may result in a player forfeiting his/her tee time. If some reason arises that you will not be able to make the tournament, then you must inform the tour director at (832) 262-9335. Failure to inform the tour director will result in the player having to pay the golf course cart & green fee. There can be exceptions, but for the most part, players have the ability to call.
Golf Carts & Driving Range
All AGT event fees will include the use of golf cart and range balls. Players must follow cart rules established by the golf course and make arrangements directly with the course if an additional cart is required or desired for spectators or caddies, based on availability.
On Course Rules
The current Rules of Golf as set forth by the USGA will govern all play. We will have a Rules Board located at the sign-in table that will explain the rules for the tournament. The one-ball rule will not be in effect during play and there will be a triple bogey limit. If there is any confusion of a particular ruling during play, and a Tour Official is not accessible, the player is to enter a second ball into play. The player then plays both balls throughout the hole, keeping separate scores and then brings the situation to the Tour Director at the end of the round for a ruling. All members of the group must be present and this needs to be done before signing the scorecard.
Dress Code and Player Conduct
The AGT will strictly enforce a tournament dress code with no exceptions. Collared shirts are required (Short Sleeve Mocks are considered Collared Shirts), and no jeans, denims, jogging outfits, or sweat pants are permitted. Shorts may be worn. The AGT will not tolerate swearing, vulgar language, club throwing, alcohol abuse, lack of golf etiquette, or other such behavior. Such conduct may result in tournament disqualification and suspension or expulsion from the Tour.
Prizes
A portion of each player’s entry fee ($20.00 for one-day events or $30.00 for two-day events) is used to generate each flight prize pool. The prize certificates value at each event will be established prior to such event based on participation. The prize pool may vary slightly the day of the event due to late entries or withdrawals. In order to abide by the guidelines for amateur status put forth by the USGA, no single prize awarded will exceed $750.00 in value.
Trophies
At the recommendation of most of the past members, the HAGT will no longer present trophies at regular season events. Instead of trophies, the HAGT will add $40 to the normal prize fund to each flight for a total of $200. End of the season awards will still be presented at the Houston Finals two-day event.
Merchandise
Occasionally, the AGT will have vendors/sponsors attending AGT events in order to promote their products or services. Please, be cordial and appreciative to these people. They usually will be giving away their products as samples and they are your sponsors or potential sponsors. Sponsorship helps the AGT members by keeping costs down and helps provide greater prizes and benefits.
Skins/Side Games
At each AGT event, there will be an “optional” skins game, Close to The Pin and Hole In One Pots to be entered in by cash payment only. Skins will be gross within each flight as well as the Close to the Pin. The Hole in One pot will continue to grow until someone gets a hole in one. Once all scorecards are in, skin winners will be determined and payouts dispersed. If no skins are awarded for a particular flight, the pool will roll over to the next event. The skins game is optional and thereby does not conflict with amateur status rules.
Pace of Play
The AGT will use a (20) minute scorecard rule to enforce slow play penalties. Your group has (20) minutes from the time the group in front of you turned their scorecard in to turn in your scorecard. If you are not able to do this then a (2) stroke penalty will be assessed to each player in the group.
The #1 Rule of Thumb is: KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP IN FRONT OF YOU!
Should a group have trouble maintaining an acceptable pace of play, the following procedure will be followed: 1) Group shall play ready golf, foregoing honors. 2) Group shall use continuous putting while on the green. 3) Each player shall hole out prior to the next player starting to putt (if possible). To avoid undue delay in returning to the tee in the event a ball is thought lost or out of bounds, play a provisional ball before proceeding to the determined location of the first ball. When in Doubt, Play a Provisional! This will dramatically increase the pace of play and eliminate the need to drive back to the tee and re-play a lost ball.
Scorecards
Each golfer is responsible for the correctness of his/her scorecard even though a fellow competitor will be marking the scores on each hole. Each scorecard must be signed by the marker and attested by the player. In attesting the scorecard, the player is stating that the score for each individual hole during the round is correct. Players are not responsible for the calculation of the total round score. That will be calculated at the scorer’s table. All scorecards should be reviewed and signed at the “scoring table” with all parties from the group present.
Inclement Weather
The delaying or cancellation of an event due to inclement weather will be determined by the host facility. In the event of a cancellation the Tour will try and re-schedule the event date within the seasonal timeframe. Any partial cancellation refunds or credits will be determined based on the policies of the host facility where players may then apply the credit towards a future scheduled event or request a full refund to be received by mail. If the course becomes unplayable during the play of a single day, two-day or Tour Championship event, the event may be shortened to a nine-hole (single day), 27 to 18-hole (two day) tournament if a flight has completed nine holes. In most cases, cash refunds are unavailable due to course policies.
Miscellaneous Rules & Policies
1. Practice balls and X-Out balls are not allowed in tournament play.
2. Triple Bogey Max is allowed on each hole.
3. You must circle all birdies and eagles on your scorecard for them to count in the skins pool.
2009 HAGT Sponsors
Tournament Guidelines
Flight Placement
The HAGT is divided into five separate flights. Flights are based on the member’s current index in the first event played in the following order:
|
FLIGHT |
INDEX |
|
Championship |
0 – 5.9 |
|
“A” |
6.0 – 10.9 |
|
“B” |
11.0 – 15.9 |
|
“C” |
16 – 20.9 |
|
“D” |
21+ |
All members will be placed into a flight after indexes have been determined. A player’s index is determined by one of the following: The index from the previous year, a USGA Index card or local golf association index or the players scoring average. It is very important to provide an honest initial assessment. If a player is deemed to have “sandbagged’, that person could lose all points earned to that point, and then moved to the proper flight. Sandbagging will NOT be tolerated and could result in loss of membership privileges.
Flight Movement
All flight movements will be determined by using the following formula. Player’s Score – Course Rating = Differential. When a player has a differential that is lower than the flight’s approved handicap after every (3) tournaments or at the tour directors discretion, then the player is moved up a flight. Once a player has been moved up a flight, the player will not be moved back down during any of the current season. When a player has a differential that is higher than the flight’s approved handicap after every (3) tournaments, then the player will be moved down a flight. A player is not forced to move down, it is their choice.
If a player is moved from one flight to another, the player will not be allowed to be placed any higher than a tie for 3rd place in that next flight. Points will be adjusted to reflect the move. If you are moved up a flight then you will stay in that flight the rest of the current tour season.
Example: If a player is moved from the “A” flight where they had 200 points, up to the “Championship” flight where 3rd place has only 150 points, then the player’s point total will be reduced to 150 and will then be placed in a tie for 3rd.
The HAGT does not want to penalize players for getting better, but this will help keep players from taking too many points from an easier flight and moving past everyone in the tougher flight. Rather than stay in an easy flight and eventually lose your points, it would be to the player’s advantage to move up if playing in the wrong flight.
Tournament Format
All tournaments are 18-hole stroke play events. All tournaments are gross score within each flight. There is no net scoring and under no circumstances are players to receive strokes or mulligans.
Tournament
The tour director, prior to each event will determine flight tee placement and course length. Female players will hit from the Ladies Tees. If any female player chooses to hit from the Middle Tees, that will be their prerogative. A breakdown on the tees that will be used for each flight:
|
FLIGHT |
|
|
Championship |
Tips or Back |
|
“A” |
One up from Champ |
|
“B” |
One up from Champ |
|
“C” |
One up from "A" "B" |
|
“D” |
One up from "A" "B" |
|
Ladies |
Ladies |
The yardage will vary depending on the course teeing grounds, slope and rating. The HAGT will attempt to provide every golfer with an opportunity to participate under the most competitive tournament set-ups possible.
Tournament Results & Point Standings
Points are awarded at each tournament using the following formula. All ties will be broken using a scorecard playoff, starting with the #1 handicap until the tie is broken.
Points Table
|
PLACE |
# Of Points Awarded |
|
1st |
50 points plus the number of entrants |
|
2nd |
40 points plus the number of entrants |
|
3rd |
35 points plus the number of entrants |
|
4th |
30 points plus the number of entrants |
|
5th |
25 points plus the number of entrants |
|
6th |
20 points plus the number of entrants |
|
7th |
15 points plus the number of entrants |
|
8th |
10 points plus the number of entrants |
|
9th |
5 points plus the number of entrants |
|
10th |
The number of entrants minus 5 |
|
11th |
On down to last place |
You are allowed to make up tournaments that you have missed by playing in another City’s tournament. In order for them to count in your points, you need to let the tour director know that you are making up a tournament before you play in the tournament. 75% of your tournaments must be from your home tour otherwise some makeup tournaments might be dropped in order for you to reach 75%. You cannot make up a “Major” tournament by playing in another cities “Major” tournament.
Pay attention to the schedule, because there are several events scheduled that award double points, be sure that you participate in these. They are listed in the schedule in Italics.
Determination of Tied Scores
A scorecard playoff will take place using the #1 handicap hole and on down until we determine a winner.
Tournaments that Count Double in Points
Keep in mind that there are several tournaments throughout the season that count as double points, make sure that you don’t miss one of these. Another player can jump ahead of you in the points race really quick. The tournaments are listed on the schedule in Italics. If you have any questions about which ones are Double Point tournaments ask your tour director.
National Tour Championship
The 2009 National Tour Championship, held during the annual “Championship Week”, is a 36-hole event. It is usually held at Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head, SC. in October. To qualify for the National Tour Championship, you must finish in the top ten of the points leaders in your flight.
Player Programs
In 2009 the AGT is going to put into place some programs to help grow the tour. The following programs will be an opportunity for tour players to help in the growth and to make the tour more enjoyable for all.
Player Referral Program
For each player that signs up for a membership into the 2009 Amateur Golf Tour due to your referral, you will receive $20.00 credit to your next event. This must be submitted in writing to the tour director at the next tournament.
Sponsorship Referral Program
Sponsorships will be a big part of the 2009 tour. With the influx of some revenue, we can advertise better, reduce tournament entry fees and improve winnings. For each sponsor that you get to sign up, you will receive either a free membership into the 2009 season or a free tournament entry fee. I have some information packets for future sponsors if you would like one.
Player Bonuses
1. All 2009 Flight Champions will be awarded a free tour membership for the 2010 season.
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Tour Information Guide
Humble, TX 77396
832-262-9335
Kevin Knight – Tour Director
Amateur Golf Tour
704-844-8264
Dennis McCormac – National Tour Director
