What are the Requirements for a PGA Tour Card?

Monday, November 4, 2013

What Are the Requirements for a PGA Tour Card?. If you have ever picked up a golf club, you might have wondered how a golfer gets on the PGA Tour. To play as a member on the PGA tour, a player must have a PGA Tour card.

If you have ever picked up a golf club, you might have wondered how a golfer gets on the PGA Tour. To play as a member on the PGA tour, a player must have a PGA Tour card. You earn a PGA Tour card by being in the top 25 in the PGA Qualifying Tournament, finishing in the top 25 on the Nationwide money list for the year or winning three Nationwide Tour tournaments in a season. There are also several other eligibility categories such as; former Major champions, former multiple tournament winners, top 50 in lifetime career earnings and conditional status for those golfers who finished 126 to 150 on the money list the previous year.

Facts

To be eligible for a PGA Tour card, you must be 18 years of age by the first round of the first tournament in the season. Unless you are currently playing on the Nationwide Tour or have previously won a PGA tournament, you must earn this card by going to the PGA Qualifying Tournament. If you are an amateur, you must have a handicap index of at least two and must present a handicap card to participate in the tournament. This tournament is often referred to as Q-School or Qualifying School.

Function

To attend the PGA Qualifying Tournament, you must submit an application and pay your entry fee to the PGA tour. The tour is held annually in the late fall. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline for the tournament. The tournament has three stages plus a new added round called pre-qualifying. The stages are played in various locations around the country over several months. At each location, a handful of golfers advance to the next round. The top 25 finishers in the final round are eligible for a PGA Tour Card.

Benefits

By having a PGA Tour card, a golfer can play in PGA Tour events. Many players also receive sponsor endorsements and advertising contracts. The PGA Tour card provides the player the opportunity to win large purses in tournaments.

History

In 1965, the first PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament was held and John Schlee won the event. The tour has been played annually each year since. In 1968 to 1969 and 1975 to1981, there were two tournaments each year.

Considerations

If a golfer makes it to the final round in Qualifying School, but does not make the PGA Tour, he is eligible for the Nationwide Tour. Players on the Nationwide Tour can also obtain a card by finishing in the top 25 on the money list for the year or earning a "Battlefield Promotion" by winning three Nationwide Tour events in a season.

Misconceptions

Many people think that if a player holds a PGA Tour card, he can play in any event on the PGA Tour. However, new PGA Tour players are eligible for tournaments based on their ranking in the final round of the Qualifying Tournament. Players can also get sponsor exceptions for tournaments.

Tips

Current PGA Tour players must stay in the top 125 on the money list for the year to keep their card. Players can earn a two year exemption by winning a PGA Tour Tournament or a 10 year exemption by winning one of the four major tournaments.

Resources

• http://www.pgatour.com/qschool/ — PGA Tour Qualifying School website

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What Are the Odds of Hitting a Hole in One?

What Are the Odds of Hitting a Hole in One?. For many golfers, hitting a hole in one is a lifelong goal. Though often talked about amongst golfers, from the professional to the beginner, a hole in one is actually quite rare.

For many golfers, hitting a hole in one is a lifelong goal. Though often talked about amongst golfers, from the professional to the beginner, a hole in one is actually quite rare. Golfers may wonder about their odds of hitting a hole in one.

 Expert Insight

In 2000, Golf Digest hired Francis Scheid to determine the odds of making a hole in one. Scheid broke the odds down based on the quality of the player and the amount of play. He said that the odds of a PGA tour player making a hole in one were 3000 to one. His data showed a low handicap player to have 5,000 to one odds, while an average handicap player had 12,000 to one odds. His study also showed that if you had a low handicap and played 1,000 rounds of golf then you had a five to one chance of making a hole in one. Statistically, then if the same player plays 5,000 rounds of golf, the odds increase to one to one.

Facts

For a hole in one to be official, a person other than the player must witness the shot. The player must also be playing only one ball during the round that he shot the hole in one. In addition, the player must be playing a round of at least nine holes when he shot the hole-in-one.

Considerations

Because there isn't a single organization charged with collecting the data, it is almost impossible to calculate the odds with complete accuracy. In addition, not all holes in one are reported and some holes in one that are reported did not actually occur.

Misconceptions

Golfers often believe that the USGA maintains a list of holes in one. In fact, the USGA does maintain a registry, and local golf associations often keep a list. The United States Golf Register has a website where individual golfers can register holes in one. Golf clubs also typically keep a record of all holes in one made on their course.

History

Mancil Davis is often called the "King of Aces" and is regarded as the professional record holder for most holes in one. Tiger Woods shot his first hole in one at age six. In April 2007, Elsie McLean, at age 102, became the oldest person on record to get a hole in one. She made the historic shot at Bidwell Park.

Significance

To a player, hitting a hole in one is a significant event and often results in buying the clubhouse a round of drinks—an expensive tradition for which many private golf club members carry insurance. The odds of hitting a hole in one are significant because it reflects what a unique accomplishment it is. Because large prizes such as automobiles are often used a prizes for a hole in one during a tournament, the odds can also take a practical significance for tournament organizers.

 

Resources

•  http://www.usgolfregister.org/ — USA Golf Register
• http://www.usga.org/questions/faqs/hole_in_one.html — USGA hole in one FAQ

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Types of Golf Traditions

Types of Golf Traditions . Golf is an old sport with a broad range of traditions. Though there is much debate over who actually invented golf, the game as we know it today was so popular in Scotland that by the 1600s the King had to outlaw it in order.

Golf is an old sport with a broad range of traditions. Though there is much debate over who actually invented golf, the game as we know it today was so popular in Scotland that by the 1600s the King had to outlaw it in order to get his people to practice archery needed for military campaigns! Golf traditions can be seen as a positive aspect of the game or, in some cases, as a negative force that keeps golf from keeping up with the times and including all players. Some golf traditions dictate how the game is played with what equipment, while other traditions are more casual and concern the post- celebratory drink buying.

Types

There are about as many golf traditions out there as there are golfers. One of the most popular golf traditions is that a golfer who makes a hole in one buys a round of drinks for the other golfers after the game.

Since 1949, winners of the Masters tournament have been awarded a green blazer, which is a tournament-specific golf tradition. After one year, they are required to return the jacket to the club. The jackets are then held onsite for them to wear when at the club, but they are not allowed to keep the green blazer in their possession after the first year unless they return to win the Masters tournament for another year.

Some golf traditions dictate what equipment golfers use. This sometimes creates controversy as players and golfing associations debate how to balance changing technology with traditions. Several years ago, the United States Golf Association came under fire when they asked golf ball manufacturers to submit prototype designs to them. Golfers felt that tradition dictated they remain true to the classic dimpled golf ball design that has been the standard for the past hundred years. The USGA felt that other concerns, like the increasing number of injuries and property damage to far flying balls, took precedence over tradition, and that a newer, shorter flying ball was needed.

Geography

Golf traditions can vary wildly depending on where you are playing the game. As with all traditions, some are worldwide, but the majority are regional. In New England, the tradition is for golfers to end their day on the course with a "broken down golf cart," an alcoholic beverage that combines amaretto, melon liquor and a dash of lime juice. Golf martinis have become a fairly recent tradition after a game of golf in New York. Some traditions are not only regional but are particular to specific golf courses or tournaments.

Time Frame

Golf was popularized in Scotland during the 13th century. This means that not only has the game had a long time for develop traditions to develop, but that many of the roots of these traditions have been obscured.Originally leather pouches filled with feathers were used as golf balls. That was one tradition golfers were happy to let fade when they discovered how much farther dimpled balls could travel. We know that the traditional golf word "par" was actually borrowed from the stock market during the late 1800s. It is unclear what term was used to express this idea before then.

Effects

Not all of golf's traditions are positive. Some private golf courses and even national tournaments continue racist or sexist practices. Some do not allow African-Americans or women to become members, by deferring to the "club's tradition." This really isn't a risk factor—needs another subhead.

Resources

• http://www.titleist.co.uk/technology/details.asp?id=300&bhcp=1 —Article on changing golf balls
• http://www.scottishgolfhistory.net/index.htm —An overview of Scottish golf history and the origins of many golf terms and societies

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Types of Golf Games

Types of Golf Games. Once a golfer gets past the beginning stages of the game when he is learning to hit the ball off the tee and from the fairway and to putt, the competitive nature of any golfer takes over. If he is playing in a foursome he may want to: 

Once a golfer gets past the beginning stages of the game when he is learning to hit the ball off the tee and from the fairway and to putt, the competitive nature of any golfer takes over. If he is playing in a foursome he may want to compete against the other members of his group or play as a teammate with one member of the group against the other two. There is no shortage of competitive games available during an 18-hole round.

Match play

This is the oldest way of competing with other golfers. Each hole is a competition in and of itself. The golfer with the lowest score on the first hole gets the win and is considered "plus-1." If the golfers finish with the same score on the hole they are even. That score carries over to the next hole. If the golfer who wins the first hole also wins the second, he is now plus-2. It doesn't matter how many strokes by which he wins the hole. The winner gets a plus-1 on each hole he has the top score, or a minus-1 on holes where the other golfer has the final score.

Medal play with handicap

This is the most common way for golfers to play who are not of similar ability. If a golfer with a 15-handicap is playing against a competitor with a handicap of eight, the golfer with the higher handicap number will get to subtract seven shots (the difference between the two handicaps) from his final score. If the difference between the two final scores is 6 or less, the higher-handicapped golfer wins the match. If the lower-handicap golfer wins by seven or more, he wins the match. In most cases, the tie goes to the lower-handicap golfer since he is the one giving away strokes.

Scramble play

This is used in a team play match. Both partners hit tee shots at aparticular hole. If the first golfer's tee shot is in the fairway and 20 yards farther than the second golfer's shot, the first golfer's ball is considered in play. The second golfer will pick up his ball and hit the first golfer's ball toward the green. The first golfer will hit the third shot and they will alternate shots until the ball is in the hole. The lowest best-ball score wins the match. This can also be done in a tournament in which 18 or 36 foursomes compete.

Best ball play

In this type of play, the players in the foursome comprise a team. Each player plays each hole and compares scores. The player with the best score on a particular hole is the score used by that team. This type of golf leads to excellent an camaraderie, particularly if each member of the foursome take turns winning holes. When one player dominates and carries the team, it can result in more pressure and is less enjoyable.

Resources

• http://www.golf-information.info/types-of-competition.html — Types of Golf Competition

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How to Handicap in Golf

        A golf handicap is used to measure your golfing ability by a numeric value based on your recent golf scores and courses played. Your handicap index is then used to determine a course handicap for the location that you are playing. The greater a handicap is, the poorer a player is considered to be. Tournaments that make use of handicaps allow golfers of varied abilities to compete with each at the same or similar level.

InstructionsDifficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Ensure you have an established handicap through your local golf club or course. A minimum of five complete scores for 18-hole rounds must be entered into the course handicapping computer along with the course rating and index of the course, if it is not a score for your local course.

Step 2

Check your course handicap for the location that you are going to play. If you have your GHIN (Golf Handicap and Index Number) available, the course pro can verify your handicap index and course index in his handicapping computer at the clubhouse.

Step 3

Use your course handicap to reduce your scores on the course as required. For example, if you have a handicap of nine, you will get a stroke reduced from your score on the nine most difficult rated holes of the course. This is annotated on the score card on the handicap index row of the card. If your handicap index is close to zero, you could find your course handicap is positive. For example, if you have a handicap of 1 and play an easier course, your course handicap may be plus 2. In this case you add strokes to the most difficult two holes on the course.

Step 4

Annotate handicap scores per the course rules for the event you are playing. Some courses will have you keep one score per golfer and just subtract the strokes on the holes that the golfer is entitled to them based on her handicap. Others will have you mark the true score on each hole or the net score and then the handicap score.

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How to Score a Golf Game

         Keeping score in golf is a big responsibility. Not only do you have to keep track of your own score for 18 holes, but you have to do it for your other playing partners as well. This can be tricky because you may not see every shot your playing partners take or you may think he took five shots on a hole, while he says he took five. You have to resolve all disputes in a gentlemanly fashion.

Instructions:Difficulty: Moderate

Step 1

Write down every player's name on your scorecard along with their handicap index. The handicap index is a number issued by the United State Golf Association (USGA) to every golfer who turns in 10 scores during a golf season. That handicap index will get deducted from the player's gross (final) score to determine their net score.

Step 2

Write down each player's score on a hole-by-hole basis. You should try to keep track of your playing partners' shots during a given hole. After the hole, check with them to make sure your total and their total agrees. If it does not, go over how you arrived at your total and let him show you where you are wrong. If you realize you are incorrect, go with the player's score. If not, go with your total.

Step 3

Let each player know where they stand as the round progresses. Add up each player's total at the end of nine holes, the halfway point in their round. There should not be any surprises because you have been apprising players of the score you have been writing down on each hole.

Step 4

Keep track of the number of putts each player takes on each hole. As you write down the score for each hole on the scorecard, write down the number of putts taken in the upper corner of the score box. This will let players know how they have performed hitting the ball tee to green and how they have putted. A player can look at these numbers after a round of golf and learn what they need to work on most in their game.

Step 5

Subtract the handicap index number from each player's score at the end of the round to determine a winner. If player A shot 92 for his 18-hole round of golf and his handicap is 14, his net score is 78. Player B shot an 88 and his handicap is 12 for a net of 76. Player C shot an 85 with a handicap of 6 for a 79. Player D shot a 94 with a handicap of 19 for a 75. Player D may have shot the highest gross score, but he won the round because his net score was the best of his foursome.

Tips and Warnings!

Keep a pleasant and friendly attitude when keeping score in golf but take the job seriously and keep an accurate scorecard.

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PGA Championship Cut Rules

        Making the cut at the PGA tournament is a huge step for any professional golfer. It is difficult enough to get an invitation to play in the tournament, but to play well enough through the first two rounds to earn a spot to finish the tournament in the third and fourth rounds is a major achievement. A golfer who makes the cut at any major tournament -- including the PGA tournament -- has taken a major step forward in his career.

The rules

      There are usually approximately 150 golfers who earn invitations to play in the PGA tournament every year. However, usually less than half of those players are likely to be around for the final two rounds. When golfers begin to play in the first round, they know that the golfers with the 70 lowest scores over the first two rounds make the cut and can play in the third and fourth rounds. However, if there is a tie for that 70th position, all the players who are tied get to finish the last two rounds of the tournament.

Drama

      There can be quite a bit of drama as the second round comes to a close. Let's say Player A is one of the early starters in the second round of the tournament and he finishes his second round even par. At the time the round closes, he is in 50th place, which would be good enough to allow him to make the cut. However, there are still 60 golfers left on the course who have to finish the round. As the hours go by, Player A has dropped to 69th place -- still good enough to make the cut. However, with one foursome left, he will not make the cut if two golfers beat his even par score. Player B birdies the 18th and goes to minus-1, dropping Player A to 70th. Player C has a short put for par, and that will keep him at minus-1. Player A is in the process of packing his bags and getting ready to leave, but player C misses the four-footer, falls to even par and both player A and C make the cut because the low 70 and all those tied make the cut.

Benefits of making the cut

     The pressure is off -- to a degree -- when you make the cut at a major tournament. It is a major feather in a golfer's cap and it also means he will get paid. A golfer who just makes the cut is not usually going to come back and win the tournament, but many golfers in that position come back and play much better in the third and fourth rounds to cash big checks and earn reputations that they can play in the clutch of important tournaments.

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How to Play Ladder Golf

         Ladder Golf is a game similar to horseshoes. It is also known as Ladder Ball, Ladder Toss and Bolo Ball. The basic premise of the game involves teams alternately tossing two golf balls that are connected via rope at the ladder runs of two ladders set up across from each other. Each respective rung on the ladder is worth a different number of points and points cancel each other when the bolos from the same team are thrown on the same rung of the ladder.

Step 1

Set up the two ladders in the standing position between 10 and 40 feet apart from each other. The distance between the ladders is based on the skill level of your players and the amount of area in which you have to play.

Step 2

Divide your players into two teams of two or one person against one person. One person from each team lines up behind the throw line beside each ladder. Play alternates between players with each player throwing all three bolos consecutively followed by the opponent lined up on the same side of the ladder.

Step 3

Throw or toss the bolos at the ladder attempting to wrap the bolo around one of the ladder rungs. If your team throws last, you can attempt to dislodge your opponents' bolos from the ladder.

Step 4

Calculate the ladder golf score after the players throw their bolos from one side of the ladder. Usually, you award three points for a bolo on the top rung of the ladder, two points for the middle rung and one point for the bottom rung.

Step 5

Alternate the team who throws first in each round by allowing the winner of the previous round to throw first on the subsequent round. The winner of the match is the first team to score exactly 21 points over the course of the game.

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