As a member of the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour, it is your responsibility to know the rules and policies for players participating on the tour. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office. These rules, policies, and codes can be amended at anytime by the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour. Notification of changes will be given to players via the web site, email and by announcements at events.

Code of Conduct

As you should already know, golf is a gentlemen's game and we expect every tour player to act appropriately. Every member and/or their guest shall conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times.  Any excessive display of anger, vulgar language, club throwing, alcohol abuse, lack of golfing etiquette or disrespect to a fellow member or any other individual shall be grounds for disqualification from any tournament.  The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour reserves the right to revoke the membership of any individual at any time for conduct deemed inappropriate or damaging to the Tour.

You should have a good understanding of the USGA Rules of Golf which govern play on the tour.  USGA rules will apply, don't ever cheat! Anyone caught cheating will be banned FOREVER from playing on the tour.  

Pace of Play Policy

Pace of play is a very important aspect of playing on the tour. The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour strongly suggests that all players play "ready golf" from tee to green.  We encourage all players to putt out when possible. The idea of ready golf is that if you are ready to hit while other players are not then let your playing partners know you are going ahead and hit your shot. The specifics of the tour's pace of play policy can be found by clicking here.

Also, here are some tips for all players to observe to help us in our pace of play:

• Plan your shot while walking to your ball or while others are playing.

• Be ready to play when it is your turn.

• Walk briskly between shots or drive the cart without undue delay.

• Proceed directly to your golf ball; don't follow others unless assisting in a search.

• Take several clubs with you to your ball so you won't have to walk back to the cart.

• Don't step off yardage for every single golf shot; develop an "eye" for distance.

• Be efficient with your pre-shot routine and take only one practice swing.

• Play a provisional ball if you think the original might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds.

Distance Measuring Device

The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour will continue to allow the use of distance measuring devices for the 2008 season.  The USGA adopted a Decision which went into effect January 1, 2006.  This Decision reads as follows:

The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour has established this local rule for all tournaments.

To clarify a number of items:

• Rule 8-1/2 has been revised to include the sharing of information concerning yardage to a fixed object from the ball.  However, a member that possesses a device is not under any obligation to share yardage information with those members who do not possess the device.

• Those members who do not possess the device are not to use any device without the consent of the owner.

• Should the use of the devices cause pace of play to slow beyond historical times, the local rule will be rescinded for the balance of the year.

• The local rule is subject to being rescinded if the national office decides against the policy for all Tours.

Per Rule 14-3/0.5, any device that gauges or measures other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g. wind or gradient or direction) is not allowed.  These devices are banned regardless of the capability to disable them during play.  Any member possessing one of these devices during event play will be disqualified from the event and their Tour membership is subject to cancellation.

Dress Code

All members, caddies and spectators shall meet the dress code requirements of the golf courses being played on the tour. In all instances, the following will apply:

1.No jeans, short-shorts, cutoffs, tank tops, t-shirts, gym shorts, jogging suits, halter or bikini tops. 
2.Men must wear collared shirts with slacks or mid-length shorts. 
3.Playing in bare feet, sandals, open-toed or elevated heel type shoes is not permitted. 
4.Soft, non-metal spikes required.

Registering for Events

Please review the Tour Schedule and use the Event Registration page. When you register for an event, you must submit your entry form and payment by the deadline listed.  It is highly recommended that you not wait until the last minute, as some events will fill up. The number of players that the host course can accommodate limits each event. We accept payments made by cash, check made payable to Apex Golf Solutions, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. If you pay by credit card and your card is denied, your spot can be given away to any players on the waiting list for that event.

Contractual Obligation

By signing and mailing or electronically submitting a member application and/or tournament registration form to play on the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour and/or in a GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour event, the participant understands and agrees that he is contractually obligated to pay for the membership and/or tournament fee.  The cancellation policy below will be part of the contract between said player and the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour.

Cancellation Policy

Players can cancel out of a tournament with full credit up till 7 days prior to the tournament date. For cancellations after the deadline date, the following charges will apply:

$50 fee to cancel on day 4, 5 or 6 before the tournament (i.e. Sunday, Monday or Tuesday before a Saturday tournament)

$75 fee to cancel on day 3 before the tournament (i.e. Wednesday before a Saturday tournament)

$100 fee to cancel on day 2 before the tournament (i.e. Thursday before a Saturday tournament)

If you cancel the day before the event, the day of the event or if you fail to show up for your scheduled tee time, you forfeit your ENTIRE entry fee.

Exceptions will be made for emergency situations like hospitalization, death in the immediate family, etc. 

This is necessary to insure a smooth and orderly event, and to give those on the waiting list (if any) an opportunity to play.

If a player cancels out of a tournament and has pre-paid for the tournament via credit card, the player has two options.  Apex Golf Solutions can:

1) hold a credit for the player to use toward future tournament entry fees; or

2) refund the tournament entry fee to the credit card minus a 5% transaction fee.

To cancel out of a tournament, you must email Tim Patterson and receive a reply that your tournament entry has been cancelled/withdrawn.

Returned Checks

Apex Golf Solutions will charge a $25.00 fee for any returned checks or other such items.

Prize Pool

20% of the players in each flight are eligible for prizes (rounded down).  A maximum of 4 spots are awarded prizes.  Here are the breakdowns, 6 to 9 players - 1st place; 10 to 14 players - 1st and 2nd; 15 to 19 - 1st, 2nd and 3rd; 20+ - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  The prizes for each tournament will be available on the Details page for each tournament listed on our Tour Schedule.  $25 of each player's entry goes toward the prize pool.  For example, with 25 players in a flight, the prize fund would be $625 and 1st place would receive a $320 gift certificate along with a trophy and a free round of golf.  To determine the amounts of gift certificates dependent upon the number of players, access our Prize Pool Allocation table.

TGW.com is the official retailer for the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour in 2008.  Some tournaments will feature gift certificates from TGW.com and some from the course pro shop.  When certificates from TGW.com will be distributed for a tournament's prize pool, the certificates will be available at your next tournament.

Weather

We are all aware of the hazards of playing in inclement weather. The responsibility of delaying or canceling an event will rest with the host course. If the course remains open, then the scheduled event will take place. If by chance the event is cancelled, we will work with the course to set up a re-schedule date. If this is not feasible, you as a player will be given two options. One would be to have your entry fee refunded back to you within seven days following the cancelled event.  The other option would be to have your entry fee credited toward future events. If the tournament is shortened or canceled during play, any partial refund will be based on the contractual obligations between Apex Golf Solutions and the host course.  If inclement weather strikes during an event, all players are encouraged to continue play unless told to stop by tour officials or course management.

Golf Balls

The ball the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the United States Golf Association. Penalty for breach of condition: Disqualification .  The one ball rule is not in effect, however you must complete the hole with the same type ball.  Penalty for breach of condition: 2 strokes for each hole where breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – four strokes.

Tee Times

Due to the size of our fields and the random pairings set by our computer program, requests for starting time, pairings or anything special cannot be honored.

Approximately three to four days prior to the event date, players should receive by email an event information email informing you of your tee time, directions to the course and any particular day of event notices. The web site will also have tee times listed the week of the tournament. If a player does not receive their event information email, they should check this website and they may call the office within the two days prior to the event. Your actual tee time may fluctuate due to unforeseen events without notification. 

Players must check-in at the Tour's check-in table a minimum of 30 minutes prior to their designated tee time.  You do not need to check in at the Pro Shop.  Players must be on the assigned tee at least five minutes prior to their designated tee time.  If you are late and miss your tee time, you will be disqualified from the event and forfeit your entire entry fee.  Final registration requirements may be necessary and any additional information and clarification will be provided at check-in. Range balls will be picked up at the check-in table unless provided on the range. Each player will be offered the opportunity to participate in the daily skins game at check-in. On the first tee, each player will receive their scorecard and the rules sheet for that tournament. It is very important that you be aware of the time and allow time to register and perform all warm up activities in time to tee off at your designated tee time.

Tees to be Played

The following are guidelines for the tees to be played at each event.

FLIGHTS	TEE YARDAGE
1 & 2	approximately 6900 yards
3 & 4	approximately 6500 yards
5 & 6	approximately 6100 yards

We will attempt to have each flight playing from the appropriate yardage, depending upon the course setup. Ladies in each flight will play from the next category (for example, Ladies in Flight 3 or 4 will play from the tees closest to 6100 yards). Seniors in each flight will play the same yardage as the regular flights.

For all tournaments, Mr. Kevin Houston, PGA professional, or his representative will be our Rules Official and Referee and his decisions are FINAL.

Rules of Golf

All play on the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour will follow the USGA Rules of Golf, with the exception of any local rules as outlined on the tournament rules sheet and the following Atlanta Tour exceptions:

all wooded and natural areas are treated as lateral hazards (except in Flights 1 & 2).

Players must have another competitor in their group keep their score.  At the completion of play, the scorer must sign the scorecard and the player must attest his or her score. To make the calculation of scores and skins more efficient for tour representatives, we ask that you circle all birdies and put a triangle around any eagles. This will allow tour representatives to start the awards ceremony as quick as possible following the completion of play.

Any rule or interpretation of a rule that is not expressly handled by the USGA Rules of Golf or the local tournament rules will be the sole responsibility of the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour Rules Official and Referee, Mr. Kevin Houston, or his representative. If players are in doubt about a rules interpretation and no tour representative can render a quick answer, the player should play two balls on that hole and get an interpretation once play is complete. All decisions and interpretations made by Mr. Houston or his representative are final.

Completion of Play

At the completion of all play within an individual flight, all scores will be posted and the appropriate trophies, prizes and skins will be awarded. The minimum prizes for each tournament will be available on the Details page for each tournament listed on our Tour Schedule.  $25 of each player's entry goes toward the prize pool.  For example, with 25 players in a flight, the prize fund would be $625 and 1st place would receive a $320 gift certificate along with a trophy.  To determine the amounts of gift certificates dependent upon the number of players, access our Prize Pool Allocation table.

Skins

Skins description

Assumption of Risk and Release From Liability

By signing and mailing or electronically submitting a member application and/or tournament registration form to play on the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour and/or in a GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour event, the participant understands and agrees that there are certain dangers involved with the participation in a golf event, including but not limited to being struck by lightning, getting hit by a golf club, suffering from heat exhaustion, heart attack or injury from uneven terrain, all of such risks participant assumes and solely accepts, and waives all claims of injury to body or property against the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour and Apex Golf Solutions. Further, the participant agrees that while on the premises of a GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour event ("Event"), the participant, and any guest, relative or anyone else affiliated with participant, shall be present at their own risk and that the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour and Apex Golf Solutions shall not be liable for any claims for injuries or damages whatsoever to person or property of the participant or related person arising out of or in connection with the participation in the Event or presence at the Event. Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour and Apex Golf Solutions  from all claims by or liability to participant or affiliated persons.