Q: What are the dates for the 2012Palm Springs Amateur?
A: Palm Springs Amateur dates are January 12-15. 2012
Q: What is NEW this year?
A: Second Chance Tournament & Fun Division (See details on each below)
Q: What is included in the Palm Springs Am entry fee?
A: Palm Springs Am entry includes:
- Three rounds of golf including cart and range balls.
- A $100 golf gift card good at local retailer
- Event Hat & Shirt
- Open bar during welcome party
- One admission to the awards Dinner
- Entry in to all contests & events
Q: What is not included in the entry fee?
A: Lodging, transportation and additional meals or practice rounds.
Q: What is the last day that I can register for the 2012 Palm Springs Amateur?
A: Officially, Palm Springs Amateur registration closes on Dec. 11, 2011. However, after that date registrations will be taken on a space available basis only.
Q: What is the cost of lodging?
A. The Palm Springs Amateur does have a few select lodging options available upon request.
Q: What is the Palm Springs Am tournament format?
A: 54-hole, flighted, net, stroke-play. All participants play three rounds of golf at a different golf course each day. All players are placed into a flight based on their gender, their age and their handicap. A fourth (Championship) round is available to the top two in each flight.
Q: How many divisions in the Palm Springs Amateur?
A. Divisions are as follows:
- Open (Men 18-49) Will Play white tees
- Sr Men’s (50+) Regular Tee Division – open to men 50 & over who wish to play white tees.
- Sr Men’s (50+) Senior Tee Division – Played from senior tee
- Women’s Division A (all ages) – Played from Gold/Senior tees
- Women’s Division B (all ages) – Played from forward tees
Q: How are flights within the divisions determined?
A: Flight sizes will be based on total number of entries grouping the handicaps as closely as possible. Preliminary flight handicap breakdowns will be determined at the close of registration and will be posted at www.palmspringsam.com for viewing. Final assignments will be released on this website by January 1, 2012.
Q: Are Palm Springs Am practice rounds available?
A: Practice rounds are available, but not included in your entry fee. Rates for practice rounds:
- Desert Willow Golf Resort – $90
- PGA West/LaQuinta Resort – $115 ($125 for Stadium)
Q: If I don’t make the championship round can I still play on Sunday?
A: Yes – but not at the championship venue. We are introducing a Second Chance tournament on Sunday at Desert Willow’s Firecliff Course. This event does have an additional $100 fee (Regular Green Fee during this part of the season is $180). All players will play same tees they played during the first three rounds and all will be in one division with ONE winner announced at the end of the event. The winner of the Second Chance tournament will receive a prize to be determined. More information will be sent regarding this event upon your registration in the tournament. All players in the Second Chance event MUST have been a player in the PSA.
Q: Does my handicap need to be established through the USGA?
A: No, but you must have an established handicap with a recognized Golf Association. Examples would be the Utah Golf Association and the Southern California Golf Association. Contact the tournament office if you have questions about whether your handicap is acceptable.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum Palm Springs Am handicap?
A: There is no minimum handicap. The maximum daily handicap men will play with is 36 and women 40, regardless of index.
Q: How will the Palm Springs Amateur determine the handicap I use for this event?
A: Your Palm Springs Amateur tournament handicap will be the lowest index you had during the previous 12 months. No exceptions.
Q: How will the Palm Springs Amateur prevent people from “sandbagging”?
A: The USGA handicap adjustment policy will be in effect. “Sandbagging” will NOT be tolerated. Players who score exceptionally low scores will have their handicaps reviewed and adjusted if necessary on a daily basis. Any player who scores exceptionally low scores after being adjusted may be disqualified. Any player who is found to have inconsistent or fraudulent posting practices will be disqualified and all fees will be forfeited.
Q: Which of the Palm Springs Amateur courses will I play?
A: Palm Springs Amateur course and flight assignments for each year can not be determined until all registrations are in and a final player number is counted. The number/size of flights helps determine where each flight will play each day.
Q: Do I play with the same group all three days?
A: No. Players will be repaired for the first two rounds randomly and for the third round based on their score from the first two rounds.
Q: What is the Palm Springs Am cancellation and refund policy?
A. Full refunds for the Palm Springs Amateur will be provided for cancellations received at the tournament office by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2011. No refunds, regardless of circumstance, will be provided after Dec. 11, 2011. All cancellations and refund requests must be submitted in writing. Please allow 30 days from completion of 2012 Palm Springs Am to process requests.
Q: I am coming with some of my friends. Can we be paired together?
A: Not if you plan to play as part of the actual tournament. We do have a new “FUN DIVISION” in which you can simply treat the event as a golf vacation. You may still be eligible for daily prizes such as KP and Long Drive – but will not be eligible for championship prizes.
In general for the tourament players are randomly assigned within their flights. Players may play up in handicap – meaning a 10 handicap can play in the 6-handicap flight in order to be in same flight as a friend, but players may not be guaranteed same foursomes. Players may not play with a higher handicap flight.
Q: How do pairings work?
A: Daily “pairings” (or who each person plays with each day) are based upon the following system:
- Day 1 – Pairings are based upon Tournament Handicaps. The four lowest handicaps in each flight will be paired together, then the next four and so on.
- Day 2 – Pairings are randomly done to allow players to meet new people and hopefully play with different groups each day.
- Day 3 – Pairings are set by the player’s two day score total. The four lowest scores in each flight will be paired together, then the next four and so on.
- Championship Round – Pairings will be determined by random drawing.
Q: Is transportation provided?
A: Transportation to and from the golf course is the players responsibility. No “official” transportation will be provided.
Q: Can spectators watch the tournament?
A: Yes, spectators are encouraged at each tournament course but they may not interfere with play, ride in your golf cart or caddy for you.
Q: Do you have dates for the 2013 Palm Springs Amateur?
A: No official Palm Springs Amateur dates for 2013 have been determined, however, it is likely to be the same week of the year – one week prior to the Bob Hope PGA Tour Event in Palm Springs.
