Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the AGA (Amateur Golfers
Association)?
A: The AGA is a member organization founded in 1993 that plays
amateur events on the premier golf courses
both public and private in and around Metro Atlanta.
Q: How many events and when?
A: We run about 30-35 events a year on some of the best public and
private courses in and around Atlanta. We also do a number of
trips and a number of multi-day events as well.
Q: What is the cost of an event?
A: AGA Tournament costs range from $60 to $185 for a one-day
event. This price includes green fees, cart, range balls, tax,
prize pool and the administration fee. Other
events and trips are priced typically at or below the market price
based on how well we are able to get it discounted.
Q: How many tournaments do I have to
play?
A: There are no minimums or maximums as your membership in the AGA allows you the opportunity to pick and choose the events that
fit your time and budget requirements.
Q: What is the membership fee and what
do I get for that fee?
A: Membership in the AGA is $149 and is good for 12 calendar
months from the day you join. Our renewal rate is $119 for existing
members. As a member of the AGA you are part of a great
association of other golfers that share your passion. Your
membership gives you access to all our events as well as discounts
and specials by our partners. You are able to pick and choose events
of your choice on the premiere golf courses. We run quality-operated
events where the events are run according to USGA rules and to the
integrity and traditions of the great game of golf. You will also be
able to compete for some great prizes as well at our events. Once
you join, you will receive a membership packet with bag tag, hat,
hat clip/ball marker, shaft labels, USGA rule book and condensed
USGA rules guide. The AGA membership also enables you to bring
guests to events as well as our trips. We offer many one day golfing
opportunities as well as mutli-day events and trips.
Q: Do I have to have a USGA index?
A:Yes - or be in the process of getting one. You may do this through
any club you are affiliated with or the AGA TOUR can do your
handicapping for an annual fee (January-December) of $40. A minimum
of six score cards will allow you into an AGA TOUR event until your
handicap process begins.
Q: Is slow play a problem?
A:Please remember that we are playing tournament golf with
participants giving more effort and thought to their game. A minimum
of two and up to five AGA TOUR marshals will be monitoring pace of
play on the golf course for TOUR Series events. If your group falls
one hole behind (a par four), you will be give an official warning.
Your group will then need to play the next three holes in forty
minutes or less or suffer a two-stroke penalty to each player in
your group. Being put on warning does not mean you are a slow
player, but that your group is behind at the moment and needs to speed up so as not to impact the entire field any more than
necessary. Our Players and Hardcore Series events have a double
bogey max, so that helps to alleviate slow play in those events.
Q: How am I assured there is no
"sandbagging"?
A:Fortunately, this is rarely a problem, and if it is, we act
accordingly. This is because we have checks and balances in place to
insure fairness to all. Your current handicap is pulled up before
each tournament you play in order for us to see your current USGA
index. We then have rules that are used to ensure players are
competing at the proper level for their given flight. Winning two
tournaments with differentials worthy of being in the next
flight up in a TOUR series event automatically moves you to a better
flight. Also, in a flight of 10+ players, should you win by five strokes
or more with a qualifying score (handicap differential is lower than
player's or flight's index), you will be automatically moved to a
better flight. In a flight with fewer than 10 players, a player will
be force moved automatically if their winning score is a qualifying
score 4 strokes below their index. After a move, you will be under
penalty for three revisions and must play in at least two more
events in any series at that level before being evaluated to be moved back
should your index allow it. Strong performance or a win in the new
flight will require a possible readjustment by the Commisioner.
Q: What is the Net Flight?
A:The Net Flight in TOUR Series events is a flight composed of members with indexes of 16
and higher and those members 50 and older who wish to play the
course from a shorter tee box
than their index would normally have them play in an AGA event. This
flight is handicapped using 100% of the index. There are separate
force moves processes for this flight. See the
Rules page for details.
Q: What do I receive when I win?
A:First place in an AGA event receives a nice trophy which we feel certain you
will be pleased to
display in your office, business or home. Script (certificates in
the pro shop)
will be paid for top finishers in each flight. We pay top 3
places if
there are at least 18 golfers in the flight. For flights smaller
than 18, payout will be for 1st and 2nd place if there are at least 8
and just one place if fewer than 8. The amount of the certificates are dependent
on the
number of players in your flight for each tournament.
Q: How are ties handled?
A:Depends on a tie for what? If you are wanting to know about ties for
Watch the Season Points then see the
Watch the Season points page.
For tournament position, ties they are handled as follows when
necessary: If a tie for first place occurs a playoff will determine
the winner if possible and the course permits. If a playoff is
not possible for reasons except when a player had to leave for
convenience or non-emergency situations, then a scorecard match is
done to determine a winner or in some cases we may decide to have a
chip off or some other sort of sudden death type playoff. If a
player is not present for the playoff the player that leaves will
automatically get 2nd. In most other tie occurrences, a split of the
prize will occur if the prize is worth enough to make a split make sense. If needed, as deemed by the Tournament Commissioner,
ties can be broken by a scorecard match should a prize not be able
to be split.
Q: How do I sign up?
A:Call, e-mail or mail the information needed on the
membership
application and we will get you started as a new member of the AGA.
We accept cash, check, American Express, Discover, Visa or
MasterCard.