What is the Senior Amateur Tour?

Established in 1999, the purpose of the Tour is to provide amateurs of 50 years or older and varying handicaps the opportunity to compete in stroke-play golf tournaments on a regular basis in their local area. The Tour concludes with a National Tour Championship in which top players in each flight test their skills against other amateurs from around the country. Through this competition, the Senior Amateur Tour promotes the sport of golf by providing an atmosphere of friendly, fair, and well managed competition for amateur golfers in the pursuit of excellence.

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How much does it cost to join the Tour?

The Senior Amateur Tour annual membership card on between $85.00 and $100 per year, depending on your location.

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What is the cost of the tournaments?

The cost of each tournament varies throughout the country, currently ranging from $65 to $100, depending on the local market. The entry fee for each tournament includes green fees, cart, and range balls. A portion of the entry fee establishes the purse.

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What can I win?

Trophies are awarded to the first place winner of each flight. A purse is established from the entry fees, and depending on the size of the flight, prizes are awarded to the top finishers in each flight. These prizes, determined locally, may be gift certificates or debit cards. Additionally, there are voluntary skins games, closest to the pin, etc.

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What is the format of the tournaments?

The players are flighted by handicap, then play a gross stoke-play format within their flight.

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What are the handicap parameters for each flight?

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What if I don't have a current handicap?

The Local Director of the Tour will access your level of play based on your most recent scores, which courses you have played and the tees you used. Once you’re placed into a flight, your tournament scores and handicap index are posted on the national web page

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How is the integrity of the handicaps and flights maintained?

The tour will establish a tour handicap index based solely on your scores posted in the Senior tournaments. If your tour index improves during the season, you will be promoted to the next higher flight if your index falls within the parameters of higher flight. If your index falls within the parameters of a lower flight, you will only be moved to the lower flight if you request it.

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When and where are the tournaments played?

All the tournaments are played on the weekdays, only a few being played on Saturday. Tee times vary but are posted on the website. The tournaments are played at local courses listed on our website in the individual tour schedules.

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How many tournaments do I have to play in?

Play in as many or as few as you would like. Of course, the more you play, the more points you can accumulate toward qualifying for the National Tour Championship.

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How do I qualify for the National Tour Championship?

The top ten players in each local flight, based on the points earned during the season, are awarded the opportunity to compete in the National Tour Championship. In addition, all flight winners from each of the Regional Series events will qualify for the National Tour Championship.

To be eligible for the Tour National Championship, each qualified player must be a current Senior Amateur Tour member and must have competed and returned valid scores for at least 5 tournament rounds. The Championship is held in Hilton Head, SC and draws over 300 players from around the country.

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If I join my local Tour can I play in events in other cities?

Yes, that is one of the great benefits of joining the Tour. It allows you to register and play in any tournament in the country.

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