| Q1. |
What is
the Iowa Golf Tour™? |
|
A1. |
The Iowa Golf Tour™
is, quite simply, a real golf tour for the average golfer. It is a
chance for golfers who normally score 95 or less on 18 holes to play in
professionally-organized tournaments at a variety of quality courses on
all four corners of the Iowa metro area and at top resort
courses in-state. Tournaments are 18 hole events and are 2-person team,
best ball or scramble format. Each tournament has a payout of over $1000
in prizes (with full field) to the top 30% of teams.
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Q2. |
Who can play on the
Iowa
Golf Tour™? |
|
A2. |
All golfers who normally score 95 or less
on 18 holes are eligible for play. Men, women and juniors are welcome.
Our format accommodates anyone looking for friendly competition and
camaraderie. The Iowa Golf Tour™ complies with all USGA guidelines
for maintaining amateur status as only merchandise prizes are awarded. Grade
school or high school golfers may play to fine tune skills necessary to
succeed in high school, college and beyond (simply choose merchandise
prizes). Juniors are welcome as long as they can typically score 95 or
less on 18 holes. The majority of players on the Iowa Golf Tour™
typically score in the upper 70's, 80's or low 90's.
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Q3. |
How much are the Entry Fees? |
|
A3. |
Tournament entry fees are as low as $55
per person and include the 18 hole green fee, RIDING CART, range balls, and
eligibility for placement prizes. Please note that
prepayment and submission of a Tournament Entry Form is required for all players. For all
tournaments, the cost is approximately $15-$20 more than one would pay
if they made their own teetime and went out to the course to play.
Riding carts are included in the entry fee. You may also participate in
the Day Games Contests (Closest to Pins, Longest Drives, Longest Putt)
for an additional $10 collected the day of the tournament for a chance
to win more prizes. Results are posted to the tour website within 72
hours and all prizes are mailed within 5 business days following the
tournament.
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Q4. |
When and Where are the Tournaments
Hosted? |
|
A4. |
Iowa Golf Tour™ tournaments are always
held on Saturdays (tee times between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm) and
are hosted on all four corners of the metro area at a wide variety of
quality local courses. All courses (except occasional trips to golf
destination areas within the state)
are within 60 minutes of the Iowa metro area have been pre-screened for quality and playability.
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| Q5. |
Are My
Scores Handicap Adjusted? |
|
A5. |
Not for
the main placement prize pool (gross team scores). The playing field is evened by
having players tee off from different tee boxes based upon their average
score. Two to three different tee boxes are utilized depending upon the
difficulty of the course. Professional tees (e.g. back tees at some
Championship courses) are not used. Women play from the women’s tees
unless they normally score 75 or less, in which case they play from the
men's front tees. The purpose of this format is to give the greatest
number of golfers a chance to place well in the tournament and to reward
players based on skill.
If you are a Tour V.I.P., then we will post
your tournament scores for you after the round and, after two tournament
rounds, you will have an official "Tour Handicap" that is used to
calculate a handicap-adjusted Net Team Score and qualifies you for an
additional prize payout pool.
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|
Q6. |
Do I Need an Official USGA Handicap
Card? |
|
A6. |
No, you do not need a handicap card to
play in
Iowa
Golf Tour events. Players use different tee boxes based
on an average of your prior three scores.
If you do wish to obtain an
official USGA handicap card to post your recreational and tournament
rounds, you may purchase one through the Golf Galaxy Golf Club...click
here for more info.
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Q7. |
Are There Any Age Restrictions? |
|
A7. |
No. As long as a golfer has the ability
(usually scores 95 or less on 18 holes), they are welcome to play. We
acknowledge the need for a competitive environment for juniors and the
Iowa Golf Tour™ provides an excellent opportunity for players to
compete and fine tune their competitive skills for high school, college
and beyond. Many father-son and mother-daughter teams have played
together in the tournaments.
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|
Q8. |
Can I Walk? |
|
A8. |
No. Carts are required (and included
in the entry fee) for pace of
play reasons. So that all participants may enjoy the round,
appropriate pace of play is imperative.
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|
Q9. |
Can I Bring a Caddie? |
|
A9. |
Yes, you may bring a caddie but they must
pay the additional cart fee to the course at the time of the event.
The Tour does not allow a walking caddie with 2 riding players for pace
of play and safety reasons and at no time may more than 2 golfers ride
in a single golf cart.
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Q10. |
Can I Play in These Tournaments and
Maintain My Amateur Status? |
|
A10. |
Yes! Only merchandise prizes are
awarded in
Iowa Golf Tour™ events
thus protecting the amateur status of participants.
Click here for
more info on amateur status.
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Q11. |
Are There Ever Any Membership Dues or
Fees? |
|
A11. |
You may play as a guest in as many events
as you would like and never pay any membership dues or fees.
You may also upgrade to Tour V.I.P. status and receive valuable benefits
as well as qualify for an additional Net Team Score division payout upon
establishment of an official Tour Handicap.
In both cases, you simply "Pay as you Play"
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Q12. |
How Do I Join the Iowa Golf Tour™? |
|
A12. |
To join the Iowa Golf Tour, simply play
in a tournament.
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|
Q13. |
How Do I Sign Up for a Tournament? |
|
A13. |
Tournaments are open to the first 100
applicants. To be pre-registered, a golfer must submit a
Tournament Entry Form and payment. Pre-registered players will
be listed on this website. Simply email or call if you have any
questions. You may check to see if a tournament is full by visiting the
Tournament Schedule page on this website.
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|
Q14. |
May I Sign Up as a Single or Foursome? |
|
A14. |
Yes. You may sign up as a single,
two-some, three-some or four-some. If you sign up as a single, we will
find you a playing partner. If you would like to play with another team,
simply request the pairing and you may play together as a foursome.
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|
Q15. |
What is the Average Winning Score? |
|
A15. |
The average winning team is typically 2-3
under for best ball formats. In most tournaments, team scores of 75
(+3) or less win prize money. Our philosophy is to pay a lot of players
smaller amounts of money versus all the money to the top couple of
teams. The top 30% of teams will receive payout. To view past
tournament results, click here.
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|
Q16. |
What is the Payout? |
|
A16. |
| |
In 2007, we will be introducing
the below new payout structure and 50% of teams will receive
payout. Groups will be flighted post round for the purpose of
giving EVERY team the chance to win in EVERY tournament they
participate in.
The Prize Pool is $10 per player per flight plus a $5 per player bonus
prize pool for Tour VIP's who have played in a minimum of
two events and established a "tour" handicap.
Please note VIP payout only applies to best ball events.
SAMPLE WITH 20 PLAYERS IN FLIGHT
|
Total PLACEMENT Prize
Payout ($10 per player): $200 |
|
Flight |
Place |
Payout |
Prize $ |
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|
A |
1 |
50% |
$100 |
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| |
2 |
30% |
$60 |
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3 |
10% |
$20 |
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4 |
|
$10 |
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5 |
|
$10 |
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6 |
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7 |
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8 |
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9 |
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10 |
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|
| Tour
VIP NET Prize Pool ($5 per Player): $100 |
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|
| |
Place |
Prize Pool
% |
Individual |
Team |
|
| |
1st |
30% |
$30 |
$30 |
|
| |
2nd |
15% |
$15 |
$15 |
|
| |
3rd |
5% |
$5 |
$5 |
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| |
|
TOTAL: |
$50 |
$50 |
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Total Prize Payout:
$320 |
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| |
Gross: |
$220 |
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Net: |
$100 |
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*NOTE: Only Tour V.I.P. members
with two posted tournament rounds qualify for the handicap division payout.
Additional Prizes
The Low 3 Individual (gross) scores (at best ball tournaments) will
receive $30, $20 and $10 respectively. Day Games Contests award
over $200 in merchandise prizes for up to 10 different
contests (e.g. long drives, closest to pins, longest putt, random
drawings). Day Games are optional and the cost is $10 per person at
time of check in to be entered into the events.
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|
Q17. |
What is the Weather Policy? |
|
A17. |
Players understand that they may have to
play in less than favorable conditions. Play will not be allowed if
dangerous or unplayable. We have a Weather Hotline if weather is questionable. Course manager determines if
conditions are unplayable or dangerous. Your safety is our utmost
concern. If play is cancelled before the first teetime, players
receive a full refund or credit towards a future tournament (you
choose). In cases of questionable weather, credit cards are not billed
until after the event. Once the event begins, if a player is rained
out before they finish the 9th hole, they are issued a rain check for a
full 18 holes. If a player is rained out after finishing the 9th hole
but before finishing the 18th hole, they are issued a rain check for 9
holes. Players are then required to return within 2 weeks to
finish their round. It is the players responsibility to submit team
scores to the Iowa Golf Tour within 14 days following the tournament
date. Scorecards must be mailed to our home office to be considered
official. Final scores, placement prizes, and a complete Tournament
Players Analysis will be mailed the second Monday (2 weeks later) after
the original date of the tournament. All Day Games Contest money will be
refunded.
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Q18. |
What is the Cancellation Policy? |
|
A18. |
Because we must place deposits and
guarantee the course the number of players, no refunds will be issued if
you cancel less than 7 days prior to the date of the tournament. A full
refund will be issued (minus a $5 processing fee) if cancelled 8 or more
days before the date of the tournament.
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|
Q19. |
Who Organizes and Runs the Events? |
|
A19. |
The Iowa Golf Tour is responsible for
organizing and hosting the tournaments. This assures that each
tournament is a professional and consistent experience. The Iowa Golf Tour™ is one of more than 40 tours nationwide managed by
GolfConnect.com
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|
Q20. |
What is the Difference Between Best
Ball Format and a Scramble Format? |
|
A20. |
In a Best Ball format, each individual
plays out the hole with their own ball and the lower of the two
individual scores is the ‘team’ score. In a scramble format, players
choose which ball position to play and one player picks up and places
their ball at the same position as their teammate.
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|
Q21. |
Can Professionals play on the Iowa Golf
Tour? |
| |
Yes. We formed the
Iowa Golf Tour so
it could be a type of developmental tour - a springboard for players to
gain experience and build up their resume for when they go after
sponsorships for their professional career. For more information
on how to get golf sponsorships, contact the national
Golf Connect office.
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|
Q22. |
What Other Benefits are There to Being
a Member of the
Iowa
Golf Tour™? |
|
A22. |
Members are eligible for future
invitations to upcoming tournaments and be able to receive special
discounts on golf-related products and services through our
local golf discounts
section (click here for details).
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|
Q23. |
Can I Have a Tournament Organized for My
Company? |
|
A23. |
Yes. The
Iowa Golf Tour
professional staff will organize a tournament for your group outing of
32 or more. We take care of all the details from A to Z, including
personalized, logo’d prizes and gifts. All you tell us is the date and
your budget. We can organize events for parties of up to 144. We can
organize events for charity fundraisers, client appreciation outings,
corporate outings, small business groups, wedding groups, men’s/
women’s/ junior clubs, and more. For more information, contact us at
info@iowagolftour.com
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