Miles Bennett
Am-Am golf tournaments, also known as amateur-amateur tournaments, are events where amateur golfers are paired together to form teams and compete against other teams of amateurs. The format of the tournament can vary, but typically, it involves a very good amateur golfer (the low am) captaining a team of amateurs with varying abilities. Am-Am teams usually consist of four golfers, and the tournament is played using Stableford scoring, where two team members' scores are combined for one team score on each hole. The generic meaning of an Am-Am tournament is that two, three, or four amateur golfers form a team, with any scoring format possible. There are rules regarding amateur status, such as not accepting payment or compensation for giving instruction, and not holding membership of an association for professional golfers.
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Scoring formats
Am-Am golf tournaments are typically played using Stableford scoring, where golfers convert their stroke totals into Stableford points and add those points together. On each hole, two team members' scores are combined for one team score.
There are many other scoring formats that can be used in golf tournaments, including:
- Regular stroke-play (Medal)
- Maximum Score
- Par/Bogey
- Scramble
- Florida Scramble
- Texas Shamble
- Foursomes
- Greensomes
- Match play
- Alternative Day competitions
- Multiple Round competitions
- Best X from Y rounds results
- Eclectic results
- Orders of Merit results
The scoring format for an Am-Am tournament should be made clear to participants before the tournament begins.
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Team composition
Am-Am golf tournaments are for amateur golfers, with teams typically consisting of four golfers. However, some tournaments may consist of two or three golfers per team. The team will usually include one highly skilled amateur golfer (the "low am"), who acts as the captain.
In a Stableford scoring system, the two best scores from the team are combined for the team's score on each hole. This is similar to an Irish Four Ball. Alternatively, some tournaments may use a Texas Scramble format, where all team members tee off, and then one drive is selected. The player who made the chosen drive stands aside, and the remaining team members hit their second shot from the same spot as the chosen drive. This process is repeated until the ball is holed.
In a Florida Scramble, a variation of the Texas Scramble, each team member is designated as player A, B, C, or D before starting. On the first hole, one of the two scores that count must be from player A, followed by player B on the second hole, player C on the third, and so on. On the first hole, the best score of the team is recorded. On the second hole, the two best scores are recorded, and on the third hole, the three best scores are recorded. This pattern is repeated over subsequent sets of holes.
Another variation is the 2-3-4 waltz, where two scores count for the first set of three holes, three scores for the second set, and four scores for the third set.
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Player eligibility
The eligibility criteria for an am-am golf tournament vary depending on the specific competition. However, the fundamental principle is that am-am tournaments are for amateur golfers.
Am-am tournaments typically involve teams of amateur golfers, with two, three, or four players per team. One format involves a highly skilled amateur golfer acting as captain, with the remaining team members being other amateurs of varying abilities. In this format, two team members' scores are combined for the team score on each hole.
To be considered an amateur golfer, a player must not have engaged in any activities that constitute professional status. This includes playing in a golf competition as a professional, accepting payment or compensation for golf instruction, holding employment as a golf professional, or holding membership in an association for professional golfers. Amateur golfers must also adhere to prize rules and limits, which vary depending on the competition and the type of prize. For example, an amateur golfer may accept prize money up to a certain limit when playing in a scratch competition but not in a handicap competition.
Some am-am tournaments have additional eligibility criteria. For example, the Men's Open AM AM tournament requires all competitors to be male playing members of a recognised golf club.
It is important to refer to the specific rules and guidelines of the am-am tournament in question to determine the exact player eligibility requirements.
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Prizes
Prize Rules for Amateurs
An amateur golfer may accept a prize up to the limit set out in Rule 3. This rule differentiates between the types of prizes that may be accepted in scratch competitions and those that may be accepted in handicap competitions. In scratch competitions, amateurs may accept prize money, but not in handicap competitions. In these competitions, an amateur may accept non-monetary prizes up to a limit of £700 or $1000 in value per competition, unless the national governing body has set a lower limit. Non-monetary prizes include vouchers, gift certificates, and gift cards, as well as prizes that can be credited to a course or club account. Trophies and other symbolic prizes may be accepted even if their value exceeds the prize limit, as long as they are permanently and distinctively engraved. Trophies made of valuable materials that are not engraved are subject to the prize limit.
Losing Amateur Status
An amateur golfer must be careful not to accept a prize that is not allowed under Rule 3, as this will result in the loss of their amateur status. This includes indirectly accepting a prize through another person or entity, or delaying the acceptance of a prize. Amateur status is also lost if a golfer plays in a competition as a professional, or accepts payment for giving instruction.
Competition Organizer's Role
Organizers of golf competitions have various options when it comes to amateur golfers and prize money. They may stipulate that amateur golfers are not eligible for prize money, or they may allow amateurs to compete for prize money above the limit, without losing their amateur status. Organizers may also require amateurs to declare before the competition if they intend to accept prize money, and they can determine how to distribute any prize that is not accepted.
Specific Competition Rules
It is important to note that each golf competition may have its own specific rules and requirements when it comes to prizes. For example, the Sandiway Golf Club's Men's Open AM-AM competition requires all prize winners to submit an up-to-date official CONGU handicap certificate.
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Cancellations and refunds
For example, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) outlines that players who officially request to withdraw from an event at least 30 days before the start of the event are entitled to a 100% monetary refund of their entry fee (minus up to a $10 handling fee). If a player withdraws 15-29 days before the event, they will receive a full refund minus the handling fee only if their spot is filled by a waitlisted player. In the case of event cancellations due to disasters or venue unavailability beyond the control of the Tournament Director (TD), the TD may provide players with a partial monetary refund or, if approved by the PDGA Director of Event Support, a player pack and a partial refund.
The Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) has a different policy. If a player withdraws from a GAM tournament after the entry deadline, they are only entitled to a refund if they submit documentation from a medical professional justifying the need to withdraw.
For Maine Golf Championships, cancellations and refunds vary from competition to competition, and it is the player's responsibility to know the applicable cancellation policy. Refunds for credit or debit card payments will be applied to the original card, and an administrative fee may be deducted. After the tournament has started, no refunds will be given.
Similarly, Sandiway Golf Club's Men's Open AM AM Rules state that entry fees will not be refunded for cancellations made after a certain date, and fees will also not be returned if cancellations cannot be replaced.
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Frequently asked questions
Am-am is short for amateur-amateur, meaning amateur golfers are paired together to form a team. Teams are typically made up of four golfers, with the highly skilled amateur acting as captain. Scoring is done using the Stableford system, with two scores from team members being combined for one team score on each hole.
Amateurs are not allowed to accept payment or compensation for golf instruction, nor can they hold membership with an association for professional golfers. Amateurs can, however, accept monetary prizes up to a certain limit, and non-monetary prizes worth up to $1000.
One example is the Florida Scramble, which is similar to a Texas Scramble. All team members tee off, then the best drive is chosen, and all other team members place their balls at that spot for the next shot. This process is repeated until the ball is holed. Another format is simply a 2, 3, or 4-player team where a selection of scores count on each hole.
