Below are the most commonly asked questions and answers regarding the Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™. If you have additional questions, please email us at tour@golfconnect.com or call the National Office at 952.947.4001.
Q1. What is the Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™?
A1. The Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™ is, quite simply, a real golf tour for the average golfer. It is a chance for golfers who normally score 95 or less on 18 holes to play in professionally-organized tournaments at a variety of quality courses on local, regional and national levels. Tournaments are 18 hole events and are 2-person team, best ball or scramble format. Each tournament has a payout of up to $1000 in merchandise prizes (with full field). The Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™ was founded in 1997 and has successfully hosted more than 20,000 participants.
Q2. Who can play on the Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™?
A2. All golfers who normally score 95 or less on 18 holes are eligible for play. Men, women and juniors are welcome. Our format accommodates anyone looking for friendly competition and camaraderie. Amateurs and golf professionals may participate in our events. The Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™complies with all USGA guidelines for maintaining amateur status if you choose merchandise prizes. Grade school or high school golfers may play to fine tune skills necessary to succeed in high school, college and beyond (simply choose merchandise prizes). Juniors are welcome as long as they can typically score 95 or less on 18 holes. The majority of players on the Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™ typically score in the 80's or low 90's.
Q3. How much are the Entry Fees?
A3. Tournament entry fees vary based on the hosting course and include the 18 hole green fee, range balls, and eligibility for cash/merchandise placement prizes. Please note that prepayment and submission of a Tournament Entry Form is required for all players. For tournaments, the cost is approximately $15-$25 more than one would pay if they made their own tee time and went out to the course to play. Riding carts are mandatory for all events and are included in the entry fee. If you choose to bring a caddy, the caddy must pay to ride if they ride with you. You may also participate in the Day Games Contests (Closest to Pins, Longest Drives, Longest Putt) for an additional $10 collected the day of the tournament for a chance to win more prizes. Results are posted on this website by 5pm the Tuesday following the event and all prizes are mailed within 5 business days following the tournament.
Q4. When and Where are the Tournaments Hosted?
A4. Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™ tournaments are usually held on Saturday afternoons (tee times between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm) and are hosted on all four corners of the metro area at a wide variety of quality local courses. All courses (except occasional out-state events) are within 60 minutes of metro area locations, have practice facilities, and have been pre-screened for quality and playability.
Q5. Are My Scores Handicap Adjusted?
A5. Yes and No.
If you are a Tour V.I.P., then you qualify for Net Individual and Net Team payout divisions. We will post your tournament scores for you after the round and, after 2 tournament rounds, you will have an official "Tour Handicap" that is used to calculate a handicap-adjusted Net Team and Individual scores which qualify you for an additional prize payout pool. Note only tournament rounds are used to calculate a Tour Handicap hence making our tour "sandbagger proof".
Team scores are not handicap adjusted for the main placement prize pool (gross team scores). The playing field is evened by having players tee off from different tee boxes based upon their average score. Two to three different tee boxes are utilized depending upon the difficulty of the course. Professional tees (e.g. back tees at some Championship courses) are not used. Women play from the women’s tees unless they normally score 75 or less, in which case they play from the men's front tees. The purpose of this format is to give the greatest number of golfers a chance to place well in the tournament and to reward players based on skill. To view sample results, click here
Q6. Do I Need an Official USGA Handicap Card?
A6. No, you do not need a handicap card to play in Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™events. Players use different tee boxes based on an average of your prior three scores(Recreational and/or Tour).
If you do wish to obtain an official USGA handicap card to post your recreational and tournament rounds, you may purchase one through the Golf Galaxy Golf Club...click here for more info
Q7. Are There Any Age Restrictions?
A7. No. As long as a golfer has the ability (usually scores 95 or less on 18 holes), they are welcome to play. We acknowledge the need for a competitive environment for juniors and the Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™ provides an excellent opportunity for players to compete and fine tune their competitive skills for high school, college and beyond. Many parent-child teams have played together in the tournaments.
Q8. Can I Walk?
A8. No. Carts are required (and included in the entry fee) for pace of play reasons. So that all participants may enjoy the round, appropriate pace of play is imperative.
Q9. Can I Bring a Caddy?
A9. Yes, you may bring a caddie but they must pay the additional cart fee to the course at the time of the event. The Tour does not allow a walking caddie with 2 riding players for pace of play and safety reasons and at no time may more than 2 golfers ride in a single golf cart.
Q10. Can I Play in These Tournaments and Maintain My Amateur Status?
A10. Yes! The Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™ offers only merchandise prizes in the form of Golf Galaxy gift certificates, products, pro shop gift certificates, etc. No cash prizes are awarded thus assuring that players amateur status is not jeopardized. In compliance with USGA rules for amateur status, no individual player may accumulate merchandise winnings in excess of $750 per event.
Q11. Are There Ever Any Membership Dues or Fees?
A11. You may play as a guest in as many events as you would like and never pay any membership dues or fees.
You may also upgrade to Tour V.I.P. status and receive valuable benefits as well as qualify for an additional Net Team Score division payout upon establishment of an official Tour Handicap.
In both cases, you simply "Pay as you Play"
Q12. How Do I Join the Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™?
A12. To join the Golf Golf Galaxy® Golf Tour™, simply play in a tournament.
Q13. How Do I Sign Up for a Tournament?
A13. Tournaments are open to the first 100 applicants. To be pre-registered, a golfer must submit a Tournament Entry Form and payment. Click on the Entry Form link at the top of this page to register for a tournament. You may check to see if a tournament is full by visiting the Tournament Schedule page on this website.
Q14. May I Sign Up as a Single or Foursome?
A14. Yes. You may sign up as a single, two-some, three-some or four-some. If you sign up as a single, we will find you a playing partner. If you would like to play with another team, simply request the pairing and you may play together as a foursome.
Q15. What is the Average Winning Score?
A15. The average winning team in the A flight is typically 2-3 under for best ball formats. With our post-round flighting (See A16), though, every team now has a chance to win every time they tee it up. Our philosophy is to pay a lot of players smaller amounts of money versus all the money to the top couple of teams.
Q16. Is There a Max Score I Can Record on a Hole?
A16. To assist with Appropriate Pace of Play, the maximum allowable score on a hole is par plus 3. If you are at +3 for the hole, please pick up and assist the remaining group/ players finish out the hole. This rule allows groups to remain within one hole of the group in front of them per our Tour Pace of Play Policy.
Q17. What is the Payout?
A17. An event has 3 payout categories. The prize pool is $10 per player for Team Gross and $5 per player for the individual & team net divisions. eg. 100 players = $1,000 Team Gross prize pool plus $500 for net divisions for a total of $1500.
(1) Team Gross
(2) Individual Net (for Tour VIP's)
(3) Team Net (for Tour VIP's)
Teams are flighted post round for the purpose of giving EVERY team the chance to win in EVERY tournament they participate in. Each flight consists of a max of 10 teams and ties.
To view sample results, click here
Q18. What is the Weather Policy?
A18. Players understand that they may have to play in less than favorable conditions. Play will not be allowed if dangerous or unplayable. We have a Weather Hotline if weather is questionable (please contact your local tour director). Course manager determines if conditions are unplayable or dangerous. Your safety is our utmost concern. If play is cancelled before the first teetime, players receive a full refund. In cases of questionable weather, credit cards are not billed until after the event. Once the event begins, if a player is rained out before they finish the 9th hole, they are issued a rain check for a full 18 holes. If a player is rained out after finishing the 9th hole but before finishing the 18th hole, they are issued a rain check for 9 holes. Players are then required to return within 2 weeks to finish their round. It is the players responsibility to submit team scores to the Golf Galaxy Golf Tour™ within 14 days following the tournament date. Scorecards must be mailed to our home office to be considered official. Final scores, placement prizes, and a complete Tournament Players Analysis will be mailed the second Monday (2 weeks later) after the original date of the tournament. All Day Games Contest money will be refunded.
Q19. What is the Cancellation Policy?
A19. Because we must place deposits and guarantee the course the number of players, no refunds will be issued if you cancel less than 7 days prior to the date of the tournament. A full refund will be issued (minus a $5 processing fee) if cancelled 8 or more days before the date of the tournament.
Q20. Who Organizes and Runs the Events?
A20. The Golf Galaxy Golf Tour™ is responsible for organizing and hosting the tournaments. This assures that each tournament is a professional and consistent experience. Golf Connect manages more than 60 tours nationwide.
Q21. What is the Difference Between Best Ball Format and a Scramble Format?
A21. In a Best Ball format, each individual plays out the hole with their own ball and the lower of the two individual scores is the ‘team’ score. In a scramble format, players choose which ball position to play and one player picks up and places their ball at the same position as their teammate.
Q22. Can Professionals play on the Golf Galaxy Golf Tour™?
A22. Yes. We formed the Golf Galaxy Golf Tour™ so it could be a type of developmental tour - a springboard for players to gain experience and build up their resume for when they go after sponsorships for their professional career. For more information on how to get golf sponsorships, contact the national Golf Connect office.
Q23. Can I Use a Rangefinders and other Electronic Distance Measuring Devices in a tournament?
A23. Yes. Per new USGA rules, we will allow Rangefinders and other Electronic Distance Measuring Devices such as the SkyCaddie. Note that such devices can only measure yardage (not wind speed or green slope gradient).
For USGA clarification of this new rule, visit USGA's Rules of Golf website at:
http://www.usga.org/questions/faqs/rules_answer.asp?FAQidx=49&Rule=14
Q24. How Are Player of the Year Points Calculated?
A24 All players earn season long "Player of the Year" points based upon team placement and awarded based on the number of teams in each event. Points per event are calculated by assigning the last place team 5 points then incrementally increasing 5 points per team. (eg. 20 teams: Last place = 5 points; 1st place = 100 points). The Year End Player of the Year Points Placement Prize Pool is 1st place - $100; 2nd place - $80; 3rd place - $60; 4th place - $40; 5th place - $20.
Q25. If I have a season pass at a course where you are hosting an event, what is the cost to play?
A25. If the course does not charge us (the tour) for your green fee or cart, the "tournament fee" is $40. Note that specific arrangements need to be made with the course in order for this to apply. If you have questions that concern your tournament fees please contact the National Office @ tour@golfconnect.com
Q26. For the $500 Callaway Tour i Series golf ball challenge, what happens if multiple teams tie for first?
A26. A scorecard playoff determines the winner meaning the team with the lowest Best Ball score on the lowest handicap hole wins the $500 team bonus.
Q27. What happens if a player in a Best Ball format event does not have a playing partner?
A27. In this case, after the round the Tour Director does a "blind draw" of another players scorecard and a Best Ball team score is calculated. If the blind draw player finishes in the money, then half of that team placement money is transferred down to the next place team.
Q28. Are There Special Considerations for Senior Players?
A28. For the Twin Cities, San Antonio, South Florida and Ft. Myers markets (only) in 2008, the Golf Galaxy Golf Tour will offer a Senior bonus division for players aged 50 and over. All players who are 50 or over will automatically qualify for an additional $5 per Sr. division player bonus pool, paid out to the top 3 individual gross finishers. When playing at courses that have 3 different sets of tees in the 5800-6100, 6000-6300, and 6300-6600 yard ranges, then a "Senior Tee" will be designated in that event. Participants aged 50+ may play from the Senior Tees unless they have individually scored a 79 or less in (2) prior tour events, in which case they must play from the set of tees one further back. We are testing this policy in several markets to see if it is a viable option for nationwide expansion in 2009.
Q29. Which tee box do I use?
A29. Average your last 3 (tour/recreational) golf rounds to determine what tee box you'll play. For those golfers who average 84 or less you will play from the mens back tee's determined by the National Office. For those players who average 85 + you will play from the mens front tee's. Women will play from the ladies tee's.
In the case of a tour player scoring a 79 or less 2 times on the tour (in the same year) you will be moved back a tee box. This is a game of honesty and integrity, we ask that you remember this when deciding what tee box to play from. Any questions about this policy please contact the tour office at tour@golfconnect.com
