2023 US Tour Manual

1. USGA/R&A Rules - Except where noted otherwise in this document, USGA Rules & Decisions apply.
 

2. Spotters/Spectators/Caddies - Speedgolfers are not permitted to have caddies or pacers. Players must carry all equipment without assistance, with the exception of golf balls and hydration, which may be placed in the scorekeeper's possession during play.

- Advice - USGA Rule 8 shall remain in effect, and advice is not permitted from either players or spectators. Any verbal or physical communications between players and spectators could be construed as giving/receiving advice and may result in a 2-stroke penalty. The scorekeeper will serve as an eyewitness.

- Lost Balls - Consistent with the USGA rules, with a modification to just a one stroke penalty.

i. Spectators are allowed to help search for lost balls.

3. Distance Measuring Devices - Consistent with USGA Rule 14-3, Distance Measuring Devices (DMD) will be permitted, however, such devices may not provide slope information.
 

4. Equipment

- No Equipment on Greens - Per SGUSA policy, players may not intentionally place bags/clubs/equipment (other than the ball) on the surface of the putting green for the purpose of making a stroke. Violations of this rule shall incur a 1-stroke penalty per incident.

- Finish With All Equipment - Players must finish their round with all of their equipment through the green of the final hole played. The penalty for leaving equipment on the course is 1-stroke per incident.

5. Music - Players may listen to music using headphones during their round. Our local rule overrides Decision 14-3/17, however, players should limit the volume to a level that allows them to hear their immediate surroundings.

6. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds - Rule 27-1 is in effect, but shall be modified to a one stroke penalty

7. Official Timing - The elapsed time for a player’s round will start at the official tee time. Timing will be stopped when a) the ball is holed on the player’s final green or b) upon crossing the designated finish line.

8. Weather Delays - In the event of inclement or severe weather conditions, the host venue will determine if the competition shall be suspended for safety. In such an event, a long horn blast will sound, at which point players shall cease play immediately and a) mark their spot and b) the spot of their ball (if different). The official clock time at the horn blast suspending play shall be marked by the official timekeeper.

To resume play, a horn will sound once to indicate that the players shall return to their previous position and stand ready. Once all players have had ample time to reestablish their previous positions, a second horn will sound to indicate that the players shall resume play. The official clock time at the second horn blast resuming play shall be marked by the official timekeeper.

9. Passing a Competitor - If one player intends to pass another, they shall first signal (ex: by calling “Fore”) to the player they intend to pass. Upon receiving the signal, the player being passed shall immediately move aside and allow the passing player to hit. Failure to move aside in a timely manner may result in a 2-stroke penalty.

While the passing player is in motion, the player being passed may also proceed. Regardless of position, the player being passed must yield the tee box on the next hole to the passing player.

10. Uncertainty - In the event that a player is uncertain of any rules or procedures, they may proceed according to Rule 27-1 as noted above. Ultimately, a player may always return to the spot of their previous shot and continue under penalty of one stroke (stroke and distance).

In 2022 SGUSA will offer the following Divisions and Amateur categories.

1. Open Division
   • Professional Speedgolfers are required to play in the Open division. Professionals compete for prize money - if a cash purse is available. SGUSA requires event hosts to guarantee the following minimum cash purse by event classification.
     • Tier 100 - Local - optional
     • Tier 200 - State/Regional - $3,000
     • Tier 300 - Major - $5,000
     • Tier 400 - National - $10,000
   • Amateur players may play in the Open division, but are required to declare their Amateur status prior to the start of the event. Amateurs in the Open division can accept up to $1,000 in prize money as of 2022, according to the updates USGA Rules of Amateur Status. . 
2. Amateur Division & Age-group Categories
   • The Amateur Division promotes the true spirit of amateur competition, namely playing for the thrill of competition as opposed to playing for money. All amateurs in the event receive equal value through their tournament experience, including the various tournament amenities.  
   • Amateur Categories - *All amateur categories may not be offered at Tier 100 tournaments, and categories may be combined depending on field size. 
     • Junior (under 18)
     • Amateur (18-39)
     • Masters (40-54)
     • Senior (55+)
     • Womens

All SGUSA members shall refrain from any conduct which is detrimental to the game of Speedgolf and to SGUSA, both on and off the course. Serious breach of conduct or rules may result in disqualification from an event, from participating in future events, suspension of membership, and from eligibility in the Season Long Points Race and Speedgolf Power Rankings.

Actions that violate the code of conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating by willful attempt to circumvent or ignore the rules of play
• Loud and repeated use of abusive or profane language.
• Throwing equipment in anger.
• Rudeness to anyone present, including scorekeepers, spectators, volunteers, media, or tournament officials.
• Destruction, abuse, or vandalism of property, including destruction of the golf course tee boxes, greens, or bunkers

All players in SGUSA-sanctioned tournaments are expected to dress appropriately and to maintain a clean and well-groomed appearance while at the event site. Acceptable clothing includes:

• polo shirts w/ collar
• crew neck or v-neck athletic shirts or high performance sports jerseys
• golf shorts/pants/skirts
• knee-length athletic/running shorts
• Running shoes (no spikes of any kind) 

Starting in 2023, Featured Players on the SGB Broadcast will be required to wear official tournament apparel.  

All participants agree that SGUSA and its agents maintain the exclusive right to use and publish images & videos of their participation at SGUSA sanctioned and affiliated events. Open division participants are expected to be available to the media while on-site, with the exception of a 10-minute window prior to their tee time.

Active SGUSA Tour Members (Players/Pioneers Club members) are awarded points for participating in sanctioned tournaments. Members also earn points for their performance, based on event classification and finishing position.

A player’s point total will be updated on a monthly basis during the season and displayed on the annual Season Long Points Race (SLPR) leaderboard. At the conclusion of the US National Championship, SGUSA will award the top points earners in the Open, Women, Amateur, and Senior divisions with the SGUSA Player of the Year Award.

In addition, a bonus pool will be raised throughout the year to award the top Division points leaders. The desired SLPR bonus pool is $10,000 and divided as follows:

Open | 1st - $2500, 2nd - $1250, 3rd - $1000

Women | 1st - $1000, 2nd - $500, 3rd - $250

Amateur | 1st - $1000, 2nd - $500, 3rd - $250

Senior | 1st - $1000, 2nd - $500, 3rd - $250

Ties will be broken using Total Participation Points (PaP). If a tie still exists, the player with the lowest average Speedgolf Score to Par for the season wins.

Active members, regardless of performance (finishing position), will receive the same number of participation points (PaP), according to event classification. Players must complete the stipulated round(s) in order to receive PaP.

Finishing positions 1-20 in each division will earn Performance Points (PeP) in any sanctioned event. However, in order to receive 100% of the available PeP for each finishing position, there is a minimum required number of participants per division (or Amateur category). Participants include members and non-members. The minimum participation requirement per division increases by event classification as shown in bold in the table above.

In the event there are fewer than the required minimum number of participants in a division, available performance points will be divided according to the fraction of participation against the minimum requirement.

• For example, the minimum participation requirement is 8 participants at a National Championship. If only 6 spots are filled in a division/category, the awarded performance points for each finishing position in that division/category will be multiplied by 6/8.)

  • Further, if there are only 2 participants in a division or category, the winner will be awarded 3x PaPs, and the runner-up will be awarded 2x PaPs.

  • If there is only 1 participant in any division, that player will automatically be awarded 2.5x PaPs.

Adjoining Amateur Age Group categories will be combined to meet the minimum participation requirements. There are no minimum participant requirements to earn Participation Points (PaP) in any division.

In team events, players will split Performance Points for their finishing position. However, each player will be awarded the full number of Participation Points.

For the first time, the 2023 Speedgolf Power Rankings will include Open and Amateur Age Group Divisions.

• Top 10 Men
• Top 5 Women
• Top 5 Amateur (18-39)
• Top 5 Masters (40-54)
• Top 5 Senior (55+) 

To be eligible to represent Team USA in the 2024 Speedgolf World Championships, players must be active members and either a) be included in the exemption categories below or, space permitting b) submit a participation request to info@speedgolfusa.com by the deadline - December 15th, 2023.

ISGA Exemption Category

1. 2019 SGPR Ranking - 6th edition

   • Jason Hawkins

   • Wes Cupp

   • Mack McLain

   • Scott Dawley

   • Steve Vancil

   • Jamie Young(a)

   • Eri Crum

   • Garrett Holt

   • Lauren Cupp(a)

   • Courtney White

SGUSA Exemption Categories

1. 2019-2023 Amateur Division National Champions

   • Luc Ranallo (2022)

   • Nicholas Sloop (2021)

   • Adam Mannetter (2020)

   • Brian Noble (2019)

2. 2019-2023 Senior Amateur Division National Champions
   1. Andy Dalton (2022) 
   2. Paul Kivela (2021)
   3. Gary Sobczak (2020)
   4. Brian Noble (2019)

3. 2019-2023 Women’s Division National Champions

   • Courtney White (2019,20)

   • Lauren Cupp (2021-22)

4. 2017-2023 SGUSA Ambassadors of the Year

   • Garrett Hole (2022), Adam Lorton (2022)

   • Jason Hawkins (2021), Lauren Cupp (2021)

   • Jamie Young (2020)

   • Gary Sobczak (2019)

   • Chris Hundhausen (2018)

   • Garlin Smith (2017)