1. 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 welcome packet where YOU CAN SELECT YOUR OWN MEMBERSHIP KIT ITEMS! Each member will receive a coupon for the GolfWeek Amateur Tour Pro Shop.
To ensure that members get the most for their money, we have a special “Members Only” Pro Shop with carefully curated items offered at a deep discount. Inventory is limited but we will add new products as the season progresses. However, your coupon can also be used in any category in the GolfWeek Amateur Tour Pro Shop!
2. 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 balls. Tournaments include Visa Giftcard Payouts based on the number of people in each flight and each flight winner gets an etched trophy for the event.
3. What is the event format?
All standard 1 and 2-day events are gross stroke play with USGA rules in effect. The Tour Championship is held at the end of the season in October in Hilton Head, SC. It is a 3 day, 54 hole gross stroke play event where members from all 45 tours come together to determine an overall Flight Winner for the season for the whole tour.
4. Are Range Finders or GPS devices allowed to be used during the events?
Range finders and GPS devices 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, etc.
5. Can I try an event before I commit to becoming a member?
Golfers who have not played as a guest previously at any Golfweek event, can attend 1 event as a guest and would only have to pay the tournament entry fee. In order to play a second event, the golfer would need to join the tour and pay the membership fee.
In order to play as a guest, you must complete the player registration form located under the "Join Now" tab on the Golfweek Amateur Tour homepage (exit out when asked for member payment). Then register for the event and make the event payment. Lastly email us at Tampa@amateurgolftour.net and let us know that you are planning to play as a guests. Once those steps are complete, you will be set to play and can try an event as a guest. Guests cannot win the tournament but can play and win Skins and Superskins.
6. 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. After becoming a member on the Tour, you will develop a Tour Index based strictly on your tournament results and that dictates all flight placements.
7. Do I have to play in every event?
You can play in as many or as few events as you wish. The more events you play, the more points you will earn towards the race to get to the Tour Championship at the end of the year in 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. A single-day event CANNOT be doubled to make up for a missed 2-day event.
8. How long do I have to decide to play in an event?
All tournament entry fees are due no later than the Wednesday before the tournament. Courses require a player headcount in advance of the tournament. Placement in the tournament is usually updated within 24 hours of payment.
9. What time are the events?
Most events are played on a Saturday or Sunday, which are golf courses' busiest days of the week. Our events are scheduled for Tee Time or Shotgun starts and are ususally in the morning with the ocassional late morning or early afternoon start.
10. What is the breakdown of handicap indexes for each flight?
Championship Flight players have a handicap of 0 -3.9; A Flight players have handicap of 4.0 – 8.9; B Flight players have a handicap of 9. – 13.9; C Flight players have a handicap of 14 – 18.9 ; D Flight players have a handicap of 19.0+.
11. 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 the USGA handicap methodology in that it uses only rounds played on tour and substitutes the triple bogey rule in place of Equitable Stroke Control.
12. What if I am playing in the wrong flight?
Flight Adjustments into a higher flight
When a player's AGT index drops below the current flight Tour index level, the player will automatically be advanced into the new flight. This would create a loss of winnings and points to your balance and account for the adjustment to the higher flight. [See Tour Manual for percentages]
Flight Adjustments into a lower flight
When a player's AGT index rises into the range of a lower flight, a player must have 3 completed 18-hole rounds in the current flight, an overall AGT index that falls within the new flight's range, and the move was requested prior to the August 15 deadline. If you feel you are in too difficult of a flight, and you meet the requirements, you may request to move down a flight (provided your index allows for the move). Flight adjustments to a lower flight do not warrant any loss of points.
13. What yardage is played for my flight?
Championship Flight: 6,500 - 7,000 yards
A Flight: 6,500 – 6,800 yards
B Flight: 6,400 – 6,600 yards
C Flight: 6,200 – 6400 yards
D Flight: 5,900 - 6,200 yards
**Yardage distances played can vary from this guide based on ease/difficulty of course slope and ratings.**
Women will play from a tee box of the closest comporable slope rating to that of the men in the same flight, or the equivalent of 85-90% of their male counterparts.
14. What are the prizes for the events?
Prizes are in the form of VISA Gift Cards. The Prize purse amount is determined by how many players are in the Player Flights.
15. Can I play events on another GolfWeek Amateur Tour?
When you are a registered Golfweek member, you can play any event in the nation, on any of the 45 other tours. Event registration is the same process as your local tour. Be sure to take note of any differences in the other tours' local rules.
16. 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 during the 2024 season to qualify for the Golfweek Amateur Tour National Championship. 2 day Majors count as two rounds. The top 10 season-long points winners from each flight earn a spot to enter the Tour Championship.
17. POINT WINNERS
Flight Points Winner - At the END of the SEASON, there will be a Points Winner in each Flight. Points can be attained by playing in Regionals, Local Tours or other GWAT events. ALL Points that are obtained will be used. As Flight Winner, you will have your Tampa Tournament Membership paid for the following season and receive a VISA gift card in am amount to be determined by how many players play each events. (Ex. $2.00 per player goes in the pot for each flight so if A Flight has 10 players for 1 tournament, $20.00 goes into the pot. PAYOUTS will be for Top 1-3 points leaders based on amount in pot).
Player of the Year - Be the overall points leader from Champ flight to D flight. Points can be attained by playing in Tampa Tour events ONLY. As player of the year, you have your National Tour Championship fees paid for if you attend, Tampa Tournament Membership paid for the following season, team dinner at Nationals ($50.00 value) and receive a Player of the Year trophy. (these winnings cannot be transferred).
18. What if the weather is bad?
We play rain or shine unless the course suspends play. If an event has to be canceled due to dangerous weather, then a make-up event will be arranged for later in the season.
19. What is the Cancellation Policy for Events?
Any player who wishes to withdraw from a Tournament and receive a full refund (minus processing fees) must tell the Tour Director before the deadline to withdraw for each tournament (generally the Wednesday before the tournament).
20. 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).
21. 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.
22. What is the dress code?
Collared shirts and soft spikes are required. (Mocks are considered Collared Shirts at most locations). No jeans, denim, jogging outfits, tank tops, workout wear, or sweat pants are permitted. Shorts may be worn.
23. Are caddies permitted?
Caddies are not permitted unless offered through the course.
24. Are spectators permitted?
Spectators are usually welcomed but it is at 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.
25. What are the cash games at the events?
At each event, players are able to enter into optional CASH games. Cash games include Skins, Superskins and Closet to the Pin. Games MUST be paid with cash as the money gets paid out to the winners in cash the same day or electronically through CashApp/PayPal/Venmo if not picked up the day of the event.
Flight skins is where each player competes amongst the players in their respective flight. It is birdie or better. If you make a birdie and it is not cut by another players birdie, you will win a share of the flight skins post. Cost is $15.00.
Superskins is where all players compete amongst all the flights. It is birdie or better. If you make a birdie and it is not cut by another players birdie, you will win a share of the flight skins post. Cost is $15.00.
Closest to the pin is just that. A player who gets closet to the pin for the designated hole will win a share of the pot. Cost is $5.00.
Any player can enter into as many or as few, or none of the side games. In the case of a 2-day event, players must enter the sidegames for each day or not at all. 1st-day entries go towards day 1 results and 2nd-day entries go towards day 2 results.
26. How are Ties for Placing and Prize Pay-Outs handled?
All first-place ties (for all events) will be decided by sudden-death playoff on the course. If more than 2 people are tired for first place, the playoff ends as soon as a first-place winner is determined. The playoff winner receives the trophy and the first-place prize.
The remaining participants' places will always be based solely upon the scorecard playoff format: back nine; best total of last nine holes, last 6 holes, last 3 holes, and finally the 18th hole. If still tied: front nine, last 6 holes, last 3 holes, 9th hole.
27. Live-Scoring System at All Events
Live-Scoring is required during the tournament. 1 person in your group must enter scores into live scoring during the tournament. 1 other person in the group can keep score on the scorecard.
The live scoring page can be found at the bottom of the main page by clicking Player Livescore Log In.
Family and friends can follow along in real-time at home by clicking on the Live Leaderboard tab.
Entering scores throughout the round makes verifying the scoring and results at the end of the tournament much quicker.
28. Referral Program
$25.00 CREDIT for every new player you refer and who: (1) joins the tour as a full member; (2) player must put your name in the "How did you hear about the tour" section; and (3) Player MUST play at least 1 tournament during the season.