Tournament Entry Policies

1. Scope

These Policies apply to events that AmateurGolf.com operates and for which registration is taken on this site. Many tournaments listed in our schedule are run by other organizations; entries for those events are governed by the operating organization’s own policies, not these.

2. Eligibility and Age

Players must be amateur golfers, age 16 or older as of the first round of the event, unless the event page states otherwise. Events may additionally restrict the field by division, gender, age bracket, or handicap index as described on the event page. We may require proof of an active handicap index (GHIN or equivalent) and may decline or rescind any entry that does not meet the stated eligibility criteria; ineligible entries are refunded in full.

3. Entry Fees, Withdrawals, and Refunds

Entry fees are shown at checkout and charged at registration. If you withdraw before the event’s posted registration close date, you will receive a full refund of your entry fee to your original payment method. If you withdraw after registration closes, refunds are at the tournament director’s discretion and generally depend on whether your spot can be filled from a wait list; commitments we have already made on your behalf (meals, merchandise, tee gifts) may be deducted.

For team events, a withdrawal by one partner withdraws the team unless a substitute partner is approved by the tournament director before the pairing deadline.

Where an event offers a deposit payment plan, the deposit and any paid balance follow this same schedule. Unpaid balances remain due by the posted balance deadline; a team or player whose balance is unpaid after the deadline may be removed from the field and treated as a post-close withdrawal.

Some tournaments publish their own refund schedule with specific dates — refer to the tournaments below for details. Where an event publishes its own schedule (below or on its event page), that schedule controls for that event; the default schedule above applies to everything it does not address.

4. Pace of Play

Events are played under the USGA Rules of Golf and a published pace-of-play standard announced at or before the first round (typically a time-par of 4 hours 40 minutes for a stroke-play round, adjusted for format and course). Groups out of position may be timed by officials; a first breach results in a warning, and subsequent breaches may result in a one-stroke penalty, then two strokes, then disqualification for the round, as provided in the event’s hard card. Repeated pace violations across events may affect eligibility for future fields. No refund is owed for penalties or disqualification under this section.

5. Tee Times and Scheduling

Tee times, pairings, and starting holes are set by the tournament committee and are published before each round. We do not guarantee requested tee times, pairings, or waves. Players are responsible for being at their assigned tee ready to play at their assigned time; Rule 5.3a penalties apply to late arrival. The committee may re-pair groups, adjust times, move between one- and two-tee starts, or re-sequence rounds as conditions require. Schedule adjustments alone do not entitle a player to a refund.

6. Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability

Golf carries inherent risks, including — without limitation — being struck by golf balls or clubs, cart accidents, uneven terrain, weather (including lightning), wildlife, and physical exertion. BY ENTERING AN EVENT YOU VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS ARISING FROM PARTICIPATION, whether or not described above, and you agree that this assumption of risk also binds your heirs and personal representatives.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS AMATEURGOLF.COM, INC., THE HOST FACILITY AND COURSE, EVENT SPONSORS, AND EACH OF THEIR OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND AGENTS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, AND DAMAGES — INCLUDING FOR PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE — ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN AN EVENT, INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED ON THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF A RELEASED PARTY. This release does not extend to gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be released under applicable law.

You represent that you are physically able to participate, and you are responsible for your own health, equipment, and personal property while at an event.

7. Media Release

Events are covered editorially by AmateurGolf.com. You grant AmateurGolf.com, Inc. a perpetual, royalty-free license to record, photograph, and publish your name, image, voice, hometown, scores, and results in connection with the event — in articles, live coverage, leaderboards, rankings, social media, and promotional material for future events — without further compensation. If you need an accommodation regarding use of your image, contact us before the event and we will make reasonable efforts to honor it.

8. Code of Conduct

Players are expected to uphold the traditions of amateur golf: honesty in scoring, courtesy toward fellow competitors, volunteers, staff, and the host facility, and compliance with the facility’s dress code and cart rules. Unsportsmanlike conduct — including verbal abuse, club throwing, intoxication, or damage to the course — may result in disqualification and removal without refund, and may affect eligibility for future events.

9. Weather and Course Conditions

Golf is played in the elements; events proceed rain or shine. The committee may suspend, shorten, or restructure an event for weather, course conditions, or other causes beyond our control. A shortened event with at least one completed round stands as an official result, and no refund is owed. If weather forces full cancellation before any round is completed, we will refund entry fees less any per-player costs already irrevocably committed to the host facility, and we will tell you what those costs were.

10. Contact

Questions about these Policies, withdrawals, or refunds: email contactus@amateurgolf.com or call (+1) 760-929-9297. Written withdrawal requests are effective when received.