Eligibility
Who can join the junior tour?
Boys and girls ages 7-18 may join. You need not be a resident of the Section to play, but there are restrictions on special play days and honors for guest members. Your age division is determined by the last day of the junior summer season. If you wish to play up in age divisions please contact the Sun Country Golf House for review.
Do I have to be a very good golfer to play?
The Tour is intended as a recreational program. There are no lessons involved. You don’t have to be a great golfer. The minimum requirement is to be able to complete a full round in a timely manner and to know golf course rules and etiquette.
Will I have to play with those who are much more experienced?
We break the Tour into age divisions and genders:
Girls | Boys |
7-9 | 7-9 |
10-12 | 10-12 |
13-15 | 13-15 |
16-18 | 16-18 |
When you sign-up for a tournament, the roster we send to the golf course will have your handicap / scoring average beside your name, to be used only for pairing purposes. This will allow the golf professional to put you in a group with others that have a similar ability. Assure yourself, and others, of comfortable experiences by submitting an accurate scoring average and keeping your handicap index current so you will be assigned a rating that reflects your ability.
You should always be competing with those in your age division, unless there are not enough players your own age to form a group. There will be those in each age division who have varying degrees of experience. Within each division, players will be divided into groups based on their handicaps and / or scoring average. (Scoring averages will be used until handicaps are established).
Membership and Member Registration
What is the cost of playing on the Tour?
The membership is $55 for the season and includes member gifts. Each satellite tournament is $35, includes all costs and in some cases includes lunch. You may play in as many or as few tournaments as you wish.
What payment methods area accepted?
American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard.
*Please note: All registrations must be conducted by the parent/player via the online registration system. The Junior Tour staff is not able to take payments over the phone.
My card is being declined by gateway.
If you receive the message that your credit card has been “declined by gateway,” it is almost always because the billing address you entered does not match the credit card you used. The address and zip code must match the billing address associated with your credit card or it will be rejected. Please verify that you’ve entered the correct address and try registering again.
How long does it take to receive my membership packet?
Membership packets will be mailed out weekly once all of the contents have arrived at our office. Due to vendors’ shipping times, not all of the items may be in stock at our office by the beginning of registration.
What are the benefits of membership?
Click here to view the list of benefits.
The member guide seems lengthy. Why is it so important to read it?
Though the Junior Tour is meant to be fun, we do have some procedures and policies that must be enforced — such things as rules and etiquette, dress code, refund and withdrawal policies, deadlines, etc.
Tournaments and Tournament Registration
When should I sign up for tournaments?
Tournaments are on a first come first serve basis. Each age bracket (7-12 and 13-18) has an arbitrary number of spaces allotted by the host course. Play Days will be available for signup the first business day of January. You should sign up for the play days as soon as possible to assure your spot, but remember, the cancellation policies apply. You may sign up for one tournament at a time or sign up for your entire season at one time.
I signed up for the wrong event? What should I do?
When registering for events, carefully review the selections on screen and review your confirmation. If you find you accidentally signed up for the wrong event, log into your account, view your event schedule and cancel out of the event. There will be $5 administrative charge for cancellations out of regular events, $10 for championships.
Do I have to play in a certain number of tournaments? Am I limited to those around where I live?
Our season is necessarily short because of the varied school schedules across the Section. We try to schedule the events so that the ability to play in as many as you want is optimized. You can play in one tournament or as many as you wish, limited only by how far you want to drive. Other than the tournaments that you must qualify for, you are eligible to enter any play day that accommodates your age division.
Why do some tournaments only have younger or older divisions?
Each golf course schedules a tournament based on their capabilities. More difficult courses often are reserved for older age brackets. Smaller courses often better accommodate the younger age divisions.
Why do some tournaments have a no spectator policy?
The professional is suspending regular full fee play for a day to accommodate the Tour. Therefore, he/she is allowed to make choices and restrictions that best serve the course, its members and the golf course staff. Unfortunately, each season there are numerous infractions of the “Spectator Policy” and many times those have come into the decision by the course not to allow spectators. At other courses, there is just not enough room to accommodate spectators. Please respect the fact that they are doing what they can to add an important venue to the Tour and please review and uphold the “Spectator Policy.”
Is there a wait list if an event is full?
We do not have a wait list system. The Sun Country Golf House will take late applicants for a $15 late fee ($50 total). The Sun Country Golf House will be accepting late entries until three (3) days before the event.
There is no register checkbox next to the tournament.
First check to make sure you are logged into the system. You should see your name in the top right of the screen. Next, have you paid for your annual membership fee? If not, you will not have the option to register for any events. If the problem continues, either the play day deadline has passed or you do not meet the eligibility requirements of that tournament. If the deadline has passed, you can only sign up through the Sun Country Golf House if they are willing to take late applicants.
What do I do if someone has not been honest on their scorecard or has broken the rules of golf?
Immediately report any known instances of cheating to a play day official. Accusing another player of cheating is serious. Have substantial evidence before making any accusation. If an incident is not reported properly and if it is not reported before the play day is over, no action can or will be taken.
What if I make a mistake on my scorecard?
If you turn your scorecard in with a score on any hole that’s higher than what you actually shot, the score will stand as recorded and you will have to keep the higher score. If you turn in a scorecard with a score on any hole that’s lower than what you actually shot, you will be disqualified from the play day. (Rule 3.3b(3))
Before you sign and turn in your scorecard, check your score with your marker and settle any questions prior to signing the card. If necessary, seek out a play day official for help. Once you’ve signed your scorecard and turned it in, you cannot alter the scores.
If I observe a player or spectator who disregards the code of conduct, what should I do?
If you see an infraction, report it to a play day official and submit it in writing by email or mail to the Section Office. We will pass it along to the Junior Committee immediately. Again, quick action is necessary for these situations to be dealt with.
Cancelations, Withdrawls, and No Shows
When is the cancelation deadline?
The last day to cancel out of a tournament with the Sun Country Golf House and receive a partial refund is one week before the event at 11:59 PM. After the deadline you may still withdraw from the play day by the Sun Country Golf House. However, there are no refunds for withdrawals made after the deadline has passed.
How do I cancel out of a tournament before the deadline?
Use your username and password to sign into your account.
Once inside, click on the “Events Registered For” link in the left sidebar. This will give you the list of events you’re signed up for. There is a “Withdraw” link next to each one. Just click on the Withdraw link next to the event and confirm. Clicking on the first Withdraw link will show the last day you can withdraw from the event and receive a partial refund. Click a second time to confirm.
Will I receive a refund?
If you cancel before the deadline, you will receive a refund, less a $5 – $10 cancellation fee. The withdraw date is the same as the last day registration is open. From your “Events Registered For” page in your account, clicking on the Withdraw link will show the last day you can withdraw from the event and receive a partial refund.
I missed the cancelation deadline, how should I withdrawal?
You must call the Sun Country Golf House and let them know you will not be attending the event.
What happens if I don't withdrawl (no show policy)?
If you fail to withdraw properly, either through your account or through the golf course, and you don’t arrive to play, you will be a “no show.” One of the most discourteous things you can do in golf is be a no show. When you fail to withdraw properly, you take up a spot that someone else could have had, and the pairings, scorecards, and scoreboards have to be adjusted. The golf professional will also often have a lunch prepared for you. If you no show, he/she has to pay for the meal anyway. Because of this, there are no refunds for no shows.
Players are encouraged to write letters of apology to the hosting golf professional and the Junior Golf Committee (c/o the Section office) following a no show offense.
A record of no shows will be kept. If a member’s name appears on a regular basis, membership may be revoked. A late entry player who no shows will be charged the full late entry fee of $40. The credit card used to guarantee the player’s spot will be charged.
What if I have a good reason for no showing?
You should submit a letter explaining your reason for no showing as soon as possible to the Office. It will be presented to the Junior Committee for special consideration. You may be asked to provide evidence of a medical emergency or condition that kept you from playing. Email: cal@suncountrygolfhouse.com.
USGA Handicaps (GHIN)
What is a Handicap Index?
A handicap index is a measurement of a player’s potential ability on a course of standard playing difficulty. It is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place (e.g., 10.4) and is used for conversion to a Course Handicap. (The USGA Handicap System Manual, Section 2)
Do I have to buy a handicap to play on the junior tour?
A USGA Handicap is provided as part of your membership registration fee.
Why do I need to develop a Handicap Index?
Having an up-to-date handicap index allows the hosting courses to pair you with other Junior Tour members of similar ability. It helps keep the skill level around the same level within the pairing. Maintaining your handicap index will help you monitor the progress of your skill. Also, if you ever want to play in a USGA event you will need to have an up-to-date index.
How do I develop a Handicap Index?
You must post at least five 18-hole scores or ten 9-hole scores to establish your handicap index.
How do I get my GHIN number?
You will receive an email every two weeks from ghinreports@usga.org. Your GHIN number will be in this email, along with your most recent scores. Revisions are effective on the 1st and 15th of every month. These are the dates that you will receive your index update email.
You can also email us to request your GHIN number: info@suncountrygolfhouse.com.
How do I post my scores.
You can post your scores online via ghin.com or the GHIN Mobile App. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
What is an ESC Score?
Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is an adjustment of individual hole scores (for handicap purposes) in order to make handicaps more representative of a player’s potential ability. (For example, if you have a fifteen handicap and normally shoot bogeys on par fours, but you have a really bad round one day and shoot three 9’s, ESC lets you adjust the scores to 7’s so your handicap isn’t distorted).
ESC is applied after the round and is only used when the actual score or the most likely score exceeds a player’s maximum number. ESC sets a limit to the number of strokes a player can take on a hole depending on Course Handicap™. Apply ESC to all scores, including tournament scores. Below is the maximum number a player can take:
Handicap | Maximum Number |
9 or less | Double Bogey |
10-19 | 7 |
20-29 | 8 |
30-39 | 9 |
40 and above | 10 |
How do I get rid of duplicate scores?
Email us at info@suncountrygolfhouse.com. Be sure to provide your full name, GHIN number and the date/location of the play day. Remember that Junior Tour scores are posted automatically and you should only post rounds played outside of the Tour.
I posted several nine-hole scores, but not all of them are posted?
When you post 9-hole scores, two scores will be combined to make an 18-hole score. These scores will appear as “C” or “Combined” scores. If only one 9-hole score has been posted, it will remain in the background until another 9-hole round is posted and combined with it.
How often is my handicap calculated?