Tour Tournament Rules
keeping the game fair and fun
1) The number 1 rule for our Tour… Just DON’T BE AN ASSHOLE. We are all out here for the love of the game and to enjoy our Weekend escape. This Tour is made for EVERYONE and ANYONE to have fun on the course and get a little competition in that we may be missing, so don’t try to ruin anyone’s good time. And if you do you will be kindly asked to depart the Tour, not to return.
2) Ball in Hole: This is tournament golf, so all putts must be made in the hole, no picking up or gimmies *Unless max score of 9 on any hole is reached.
3) Rate of Play: This could be the first rule, BUT Make sure to keep up with the group in front of you. Should take about 2 hours for 9 and no more than 4.25 – 4.5 hours to play your round. NO ONE likes a slow round, so follow the rules below to keep your pace and play READY GOLF. So please have fun, drink, talk shit and enjoy the round, but also just SUCK FAST!!! Its much appreciated. Please MAKE SURE to review our “pace of play” guidelines page for more info: https://hittinlinks.com/pace-of-play-handicapping/
4) Max score. Max score on ANY hole is 9. Once reached please pick up and end hole and mark the score on score card.
*5) NEW IN 2026: OB/Lost Ball. To help combat slow pace issues, Hittin Links has a new local tournament rule, no more 2 stroke OB or E5 Lost Balls penalties. Instead every stake (white, red or yellow), every lost ball and every hazard is to be treated as a lateral drop. This applies across the entire course. If you hit a tee shot or any other shot OB or internal OB, no need for a provisional, confirm location with playing partners and just take your drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball last went out for 1 stroke. If you hit a shot you see bounce and was clearly in bounds but you cannot locate it, confirm the last known location with your playing partners and drop within 2 club lengths for 1 stroke.
Any and all other situations where the ball goes out or cannot be found, please consult with your playing partners for the last known location in play. Drop within 2 club lengths no closer to the hole for a 1 stroke penalty.***
***For D1 low handicaps only that intend on playing in scratch leagues and/or competitive USGA events, you can track the strokes gained from this ruling and can send an email to support@hittinlinks.com with the corrections required to your round to include what would have been E5 strokes.
6) Hazards. If you hit the ball in a water hazard or environmental area, drop a ball within 2 club lengths of the location where the ball went out, NO CLOSER to the hole. Player gets a 1 stroke penalty unless noted as FREE on Course Scorecard. Review the actual course score card for this information.
7) ALL other USGA Tournament rule issues please check the Course Scorecard for local rules, check with your playing partners or call the President (Jeremy) or Handicap Chair (DJ) for a rule check.
8) DON’T CHEAT: We are all out here to have fun and get a little competition fix, so lets keep it fair please.
9) RESPECT: Respect the game by playing fair. Respect your playing partners by being nice. And respect the course by fixing divots and cleaning up after yourself.
10) HAVE FUN!!!!! “We’re here for a GOOD time, not a LONG time…” Yes do your best to follow the simple rules outlines above, but above all else remember to have fun! Golf is such a great game, enjoy it. We encourage players to enjoy yourself out there. Have some drinks, smoke some cigs, weed or cigars. Play some music. BUT, again please just be mindful of your playing partners and check with them first before you get a little too lit.
11) Index Manipulation:
One of the beauties of golf is the Handicap system that allows all players at all skill levels a chance to win, but that system can be a double edged sword and “can” be used for evil. The core value of golf is honesty, any Tour player found to be abusing the handicap system will be subject to a 3 strike rule. If a fellow competitor brings to managements attention another player appears to be “sandbagging” and shares examples like purposely scoring poorly on holes during casual play to keep the handicap up for tournaments then the Tour Handicap Chairman will reach out to the player with a warning and explanation. Should another incident(s) occur the player will be subject to a “penalty score” or “handicap adjustment” by the handicap chairman. After a 3rd incident the player will be expelled from the tour.
12) Slope/Green Reading Devices: Tour players are permitted FULL use of any device to helps read course yardages, slopes, green contours, suggested clubs, etc. These tools are typically a watch, range finder, an app on your phone or physical book and all are welcome so long as use of them does not slow down your game. *New in 2026 players can use these devices in the Championship as well.
13) Playing Out of Turn. There will be NO penalty assessed to any player that hits their shot out of turn. Pace of Play is key so if a player is out of position to hit in turn, other players may take their shot.
14) Giving Advice to Fellow Competitors. Any type of advice whether it’s help with a read or maybe sabotage with an incorrect yardage are ALL welcome on the Tour.
15) Replacing your Ball on Green. NO penalty will be assessed for a player that chooses to mark their ball once on the green and use a different ball to putt with.
*PLEASE NOTE, the Rules with a * DO NOT apply to players participating in any NCGA or USGA amateur tournament must follow the designated USGA rules so ensure you familiarize yourself with the Standard USGA Rules ahead of those competitions.
Tie Breaking Policy
Tie Breakers? The Tour has two different tie breakers. Here on Tour we don’t believe is score runs offs to determine winners. For all 1st place ties for all contest (besides championships) the winner will be determined by a “UP AND DOWN CHALLENGE”. A neutral player will select a “tee shot” from somewhere around the putting green and select the target pin. Tied players will then play the hole out and lowest score wins. This is sudden death so you go until you get a winner. If the course does not allow chipping on the green, then players will have a similar style putt off. For The Championships, a winner will be decided by another 18 holes of golf. The player ranked highest on the points list selects the course and both players agree on a day and time.
**ALTERNATIVE: If players in a tie decide they do NOT want to play a tie breaker via chip or putt off, players have 2 choices. You can concede the victory to one player OR you can push the competition to the next round so the cash payout and trophy will roll over into the next competitive event players will be in and the low net will take the win.