Frequently Asked Questions-New/Potential Tour Players

WHAT IS THE GOLF CHANNEL AMATEUR TOUR?
The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour is the preeminent Amateur Golf Tour in the world. The mission of the Tour is to provide the most professional Tour and tournament experience to players of all ages and abilities. Our goal is to provide a level of professionalism, customer service, and hospitality comparable to that of the PGA Tour.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR MEMBERSHIP?
Membership on the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour is open to all amateur golfers. With 12 flights, including 6 Senior flights, there’s a place for you on TOUR. Whether you are an accomplished scratch player or a beginner, we have a flight and a TOUR experience just for you.
WHAT IS THE TOUR MEMBERSHIP FEE AND WHAT DOES THE FEE COVER?

New member annual cost is $199 – that’s less than $17 a month! Click here to join.

Membership Renewal is $179.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP AS A TOUR PLAYER ON THE GOLF CHANNEL AMATEUR TOUR INCLUDES:
  • 1-Year Membership (365 days) on Tour
  • Ability to play in any local Tour-sanctioned event’s Nationwid
  • Play in as many or as few events as you like
  • Opportunity to compete in 36-hole Regional Major Championships
  • Opportunity to qualify for and compete in the 72-hole NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Opportunity to qualify for and compete in the Ryder-Cup style NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Player's Club Account
  • USGA Handicap Index ®
  • Callaway Golf Gift Certificate
  • Tour Logo Premium Golf Shirt
  • Tour Logo Golf Hat
  • Tour Logo Hat Clip / Ball Marker
  • Logo Scorecard Holder
  • Tour Logo Sharpie Pen
  • GC TOUR Card which designates you as a Tour Player and is good for various discounts
  • Winn Grips DVD featuring Butch Harmon and Natalie Gulbis
  • Two Sleeves of Premium Callaway Golf Balls
WHAT DOES IT COST TO PLAY IN EACH TOURNAMENT?
The entry fee for each Tour event varies depending on tournament location, venue etc. Typically, an entry fee on TOUR includes green fees, cart fees, taxes, range balls, scoring, prize fund, and trophies. Please check your local TOUR schedule by using the drop down menu on the right hand side of this page.
HOW ARE TOUR EVENTS OPERATED?

The TOUR is designed to give each Tour Player a professional Tour experience. All Tour events abide by USGA rules of golf, especially pertaining to Amateur Status.

  • Compete on your area’s best public and private courses in tournament condition
  • Professional-style Tour and Tournaments
  • All scoring is at scratch (no net tournaments)
  • Events are mostly held on weekends (Sat or Sun)
  • TOUR utilizes 3-somes whenever possible for pace of play
  • Play in as many or as few events as you like
  • 1st tee announcements, rules sheet, pin sheets, and professional scorecards at every event
  • Professional scoring at each event
  • Press releases and pictures following each event
  • Discounted practice rounds available at most venues
  • Complete statistics and rankings on a local, regional, and national level
  • Substantial payouts to the top 25% of each field (or more) at each event
  • Upscale trophies awarded to the winner of each event
  • Tour Director and staff on site at each event to assist with rulings, pace of play etc
WHEN ARE THE TOURNAMENTS HELD?
Tour events are typically held during the weekend, either on a Saturday or Sunday (or both).
HOW MANY TOURNAMENTS DO I HAVE TO PLAY?

Tour Players may play in as many or as few events as they wish. In order to be eligible for the National Championship a Tour Player must play in a minimum of 5 events on their home Tour.* The more events you play, the more opportunities you have to earn Callaway Order of Merit Points which are used to determine qualifiers for the National Championship.

*Please note that playing in 5 events does not guarantee a position in the National Championship

CAN I PLAY IN TOURNAMENTS OUTSIDE MY LOCAL TOUR?
Tour Players can compete in any local tournament or Regional Major Championship and entries for these events are on a 1st come, 1st served basis. Please contact your local Tour Director for information on qualifying standards and Callaway Order of Merit Points.
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR TOURNAMENTS?
All tournament entries are accepted via the official Tour website or by contacting the Tour Director in your area. Each Tour event typically opens up for registration approximately 30 days prior to the event.
DOES PLAYING ON THE GOLF CHANNEL AMATEUR TOUR AFFECT MY AMATEUR STATUS?
The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour conforms to USGA rules regarding amateur status.
ARE GUESTS ALLOWED IN TOUR TOURNAMENTS?
Guests are allowed and encouraged to compete in up to two (2) events per year on a space availability basis. Guests are not eligible for prizes, winnings, or Callaway Order of Merit points, nor are they eligible to compete in any Regional Major Championships or the National Championship. A non-member (guest) may join the Tour at anytime. Please contact your local Tour Director to register as a Guest.
AM I REQUIRED TO HAVE A USGA INDEX?
If you do not currently have a USGA handicap index, an official USGA handicap service from GOLF CHANNEL is provided as part of your Tour membership.
WHAT ARE TOURNAMENT RULES?
All GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour events conform to USGA rules and are generally individually stroke play events at scratch. Tour Players are flighted based on their index and play/compete only against players in their particular flight. The Tour schedule consists of both 18 and 36-hole events.
WHAT IS A REGIONAL MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP? DO I NEED TO QUALIFY FOR A REGIONAL MAJOR?
Each Region will have a minimum of three (3) Regional Major Championships. These events are two-day, 36-hole Championships that include Tour Players from every Tour in the region. These Championships are worth double Callaway Order of Merit Points. The top three (3) finishers in each flight qualify for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP as long as the Tour Player plays in the minimum number of events required by the National Championship committee. Regional Major Championships are open to all current Tour Players.
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?

The NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP is the 72-hole stroke-play competition that determines the National Champion in each flight. The 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP will be conducted September 21-24 at PGA West and affiliated courses in La Quinta, CA.

Tour Players attempt to qualify for the National Championship based primarily on the Callaway Order of Merit. Tour Players earn Callaway Order of Merit Points based on their finish in each official Tour event. At minimum, the Top 3 finishers on the Callaway Order of Merit per flight on each local Tour will receive an invitation and exemption into the National Championship. Alternative ways to qualify include:

  • Top 3 and ties from the Regional Major Championships
  • Top finisher, not already exempt, from the local Tour Championship
  • Please contact your local Tour Director for additional qualifying procedures
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AND HOW DO I QUALIFY?

The Team Championship is the oldest event on the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour. Each local Tour will determine and send a team of twelve (12) Tour Players to compete for the coveted Team Championship Cup. The Teams, comprised of two (2) Tour Players from each of the six flights, compete over 45 holes in a Ryder Cup-style format: Best Ball, Modified Alternate Shot, and Individual Match Play. The winning Team will take home and retain the Team Championship Cup for the year and each winner will receive a smaller, replica-version of the cup along with individual gift certificates and/or merchandise.

Each Tour Director is responsible for determining the qualifying criteria to determine the Team. Please contact your local Tour Director for more information.