Where can I participate?
Local Host Sites are being registered all around the United States. See our Local Host Sites page for locations in your region. Please pay particular attention to whether the Host Site is an Open or Private Host Site. (Private Hosts are holding the event for only their own facility membership.) Check back to the Golf Challenge website often as more sites are added throughout the season.
You will need to contact the Local Host Site to determine the format, times, and if optional elements (Triple Play) are included.
Please contact your Head Golf Professional or General Manager about your home facility hosting one of our local events!
What are the handicap guidelines?
The maximum allowable course handicap is 24 for each player in the NET Divisions. Gross Division participants will use no handicap. Each participant will be required to have a valid verifiable USGA (or other recognized handicap, issued by a regional or state handicap organization and following USGA guidelines). Official handicaps for the event will be determined using the player’s lowest current Index and the slope rating of the course being played as outlined in the USGA Handicap Manual, Section 10-4. All male participants in Local events will receive 90% of adjusted course handicaps. All lady participants will receive 95% of adjusted course handicaps. Strokes will be allocated based on tees played (men will receive strokes as they are allocated from the men’s tees and women as allocated from the forward tees).
In the Regional and the National Finals events, Net Division participants shall compete with:
THE LOWER OF
- their current Index at review,
- the Index used in their Local Qualifier, or
- the Index assigned by the ESPN National Golf Challenge Handicap Committee
Index used will be converted to course handicap for the Regional and/or National site and allocations of strokes will be made in accordance with section 1.d above. Men will receive 90% of their adjusted course handicap and ladies will receive 95% of their adjusted course handicap.
The ESPN National Golf Challenge Handicap Committee reserves the right to adjust participants’ handicaps at any time to maintain the integrity of the competition. Specific violations which may result in handicap adjustments by our Committee include incomplete posting of scores, failure to post scores from our event as tournament scores, unusually low scores produced by any team which trigger a review based on likelihood of such scores being shot, and other issues including information received from local professionals or others. The decision of the Handicap Committee with regard to such adjustments shall be binding and FINAL
When can I qualify?
Local Host Sites select dates that suit their schedule from January 1st through July 15th. Please contact your Local Host Site for more specific information.
How many teams can advance to the Regional Finals from a Local Host Site.
The number of teams that advance depends on the participation at the Local Host Site. Please review the formula listed in our Rules of Play.
Additional teams may be authorized by the ESPN National Golf Challenge Tournament Committee for special circumstances.
Do the Gross (Scratch) teams use any handicaps?
No, The Gross Division does not use any handicaps. However, all players are required to have a valid USGA or equivalent Handicap.
Can Professional Golfers play in the event?
No.
The ESPN National Golf Challenge is only open to amateurs. We do have a separate Club Pro National finals for our Club Professionals / General Managers who qualify by hosting our event.
When and Where are the Regional Finals?
The Regional Finals will be played during the month of August at select locations listed on our Host Sites page.
How do I know where to participate in the Gross qualifying?
All Local Qualifying Sites are expected to host both Gross and Net players. It is at the discretion of the Local Site whether all participants will play in a combined event without declaring net or gross prior to play.
Please contact your Local Host Site for more information.
Can I enter at more than one Local Qualifying Site?
You may enter in as many of our events as you wish. Due to Local Host Sites holding qualifying on different dates we anticipate some players may wish to enter more than once.
How does the Triple Play option work?
The Triple Play is an optional layer to our event and may not be offered at every participating Local Host Site.
The Triple Play allows a group of four players to partner all ways within the group. Players A,B,C,D would each have the other players as a better ball partner, essentially tripling their chances to win! Players may or may not be particpating in the same group on the course, as this is also at the discretion of the Local Host Site. Find more information here
What are the guidelines for the Senior Division?
Players must be a minimum of 55 years of age during the calendar year of their Local Qualifying event (2012). Therefore, as long as the participant will become age 55 in 2012 they will be eligible for this division.
Senior participants will also play from a forward set of tees that should be approximately 10% less distance that the yardage from the tees in place for the Gross and Net event.
Handicaps will be calculated based on the course/slope rating of the course rated closest to the designated Senior tees.
What are the guidelines for the Team Guarantee?
Eligibilty:
- Your individual Local Qualifying Host Site must host a minimum of 120 players (may be combined from hosting one or more events)
- None of the teams you advanced to the Regional Finals qualified for an invitation to the National Finals
- Your selected advancing team must have participated at the Regional Finals
- The team may be from any one of the divisions and, if a Net or Senior Division team they will be subject to the same handicap rules as all finalists
Determining which team advances:
- The selection process is completely up to the Local Site. You may use a specific formula from your Local event or from some formula derived from the Regional Finals. Some sites may use a drawing, a special event shoot-out, or any manner of determination that works best for your facility.
Requirements of the Local Host:
- You must notify the ESPN National Golf Challenge of your team that will advance within 5 days of the completion of your assigned Regional Finals. Please request that a copy of your advancing team scorecard is faxed to the ESPN Golf Challenge by the Regional Facility.
