The APT is open to any professional or amateur golfer who is 16 years of age or older. Amateurs must have a handicap of 2 or less. Foreign players are required to be internationally recognized in order to play on the APT.  The APT reserves the right to refuse participation to anyone.

Pros, whether a Tour member or not, may register and play in APT events. Being a member of the Tour has its advantages including lower entry fees, participation in bonus programs and tournament entry priority. Amateurs are welcome but have the lowest priority and are only allowed should there be space available after tournament deadlines.

Registration is ONLY done online and membership fees are non-refundable after February 28, each year.

Amateur players are welcome to participate in APT events. However, professionals have priority in tournament entry and amateurs will only be added to a tournament field after the “Early Entry Deadline”, fourteen (14) days before the first round. Additionally, amateurs are ineligible to win any prizes.

Most tournaments will consist of 72-holes of stroke play (weather permitting). Fields will be cut after 36 holes to the top 35% of the starting field, including ties, with a maximum of 50 and ties for fields up to 156. For 2-course tournaments with field exceeding 168, we will cut to 35% and ties with a maximum of 60 and ties,  Amateurs are included in the cut number.

Should there be a tie for 1^st place, the tie will be broken by a sudden death playoff after all scores have been officially approved and posted.  The designated starting hole for a playoff will be hole #18. All subsequent holes will be determined on site.

86 RULE: Any player shooting 86 or higher during the first round will be cut from the field. Please Note:  Any player cut by the 86 Rule three times will be ineligible to compete in any other APT tournament for the remainder of the season.

Most events are walking, but there will be a few events where carts will be used due to the host course terrain. Pull/push carts are allowed during all tournament rounds, except the Riding Only events. Caddies may  use pull/push carts, and all caddies must wear a caddy bib. During riding only events, the caddy OR the player may ride in the cart, but not both. The APT officials reserve the right to amend this policy during tournament play should golf course conditions be unfavorable (i.e. wet/saturated areas that may be affected by carts). All players will be notified of any change prior to the start of a tournament round.

Local Rules and Terms of the Competition
Version 2.14.23

The Rules of Golf effective January 1, 2023, govern all play on the APT & WAPT Tours, subject to the following modifications. See the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf for Model Local Rule references. See the applicable weekly “Notice to Competitors” for Additional Local Rules. Unless otherwise stated in the Rules of Golf, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty.

1. Out of Bounds – Rule 18.2

a) A ball that comes to rest beyond a road defining out of bounds, is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course.
b) Boundary Objects: When defined by stakes or a property fence, the boundary edge is defined by the line between the course-side points of the stakes or fence
posts at ground level, and those stakes or fence posts are out of bounds. When defined by a road, the inside edge closest to the golf course defines the
boundary.
c) Lines: When defined by a painted line on the ground, the boundary edge is the course-side edge of the line, and the line itself is out of bounds. When a line on
the ground defines the boundary edge, and stakes may be used to show where the boundary edge is, but they have no other meaning.

2. Abnormal Course Conditions – Rule 16.1

a) Ground Under Repair includes:

1. Areas completely encircled with white lines or otherwise specified.
2. Drainage ditches filled with stones (French drains).
3. Sod seams (but no relief for stance), under Model Local Rule F-7.

b) Immovable Obstructions include:

1. White-lined areas tying into an obstruction.
2. Landscaped or garden areas completely encircled by an obstruction.
3. Bunker Liners. A ball lying on an exposed liner, or where an exposed liner interferes with the area of intended swing, may be treated as ground under repair (but no relief for stance).

3. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens

Model Local Rule F-5 is in effect and is modified as follows:
For a ball in the general area, relief is allowed when both the ball and obstruction lie in an area cut to fairway height or less. The obstruction must be: i) within two club lengths of the putting green, and ii) on the player’s line of play, and iii) the ball must be within two club-lengths of the obstruction.

4. Limiting When Stroke Made from Putting Green Must be Replayed

Model Local Rule D-7 is in effect and modifies Exception 2 to Rule 11.1b.

5. Integral Objects

a) The portion of supports, cables, wires, wrappings, poles, or antennas where closely attached to trees or boundary objects.
b) Artificial retaining walls and/or pilings located within penalty areas.
c) Gates. Model Local Rule F-26 is in effect.

6. Permanent Elevated Power Lines
Model Local Rule E-11 is in effect. If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line (or tower or a wire or pole supporting a power line), the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made.

7. Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIOs)
Scoreboards, advertising boards & materials, and tents are considered TIOs. Banners and flags, where easily movable, are considered movable obstructions. Model Local Rule F-23 is in effect. Either side relief is available as an extra option for line of sight. Note: This does not apply to a player with only physical interference.

8. Clubs and Balls

a) Replacing Club that is Broken or Significantly Damaged – Model Local Rule G-9 is in effect.
b) List of Conforming Driver Heads – Model Local Rule G-1 is in effect.
c) Groove and Punch Mark Specifications – Model Local Rule G-2 is in effect but is modified as the Exception to G-2 does not apply.
d) List of Conforming Golf Balls – Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect.

9. Pace of Play – Rule 5.6b(3)
The 2022 APT/WAPT TOUR Pace of Play Policy is in effect as posted on the APT/WAPT websites.

10. Stopping Play; Resuming Play – Rule 5.7

Model Local Rule J-1 is in effect as follows:
a) One long blast of horn: Immediate suspension for a dangerous situation. Play must stop immediately. Failure to stop immediately will result in disqualification. Note: During an immediate suspension for a dangerous situation, all practice areas are closed until the Committee declares them open.
b) Three short blasts of horn: Suspension for a non-dangerous situation.
c) Two short blasts of horn: Resume play.

11. Practice – Rule 5
a) Before or between rounds in stroke play – Model Local Rule I-1.1 is in effect and Rule 5.2b is modified as follows: A player must not practice on the competition course but may practice at the designated practice areas.
b) Between holes in stroke play – Model Local Rule I-2 is in effect and Rule 5.5b is modified as follows: A player must not make any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just played or test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the green or rolling a ball.

12. Transportation

Model Local Rule G-6 is in effect and is modified as follows: A player or caddie must not
ride on any transportation, except as authorized or later approved by the Committee. A
player operating under a stroke and distance penalty is always authorized.

13. Missing Player or Marker Certification

Model Local Rule L-1 is in effect.

14. Green-reading Materials Restrictions
Model Local Rule G-11 is in effect. Approved materials include Committee approved yardage book, Committee approved hole location sheets and a map of the entire course no larger than Letter or A4 sized paper. Note: Yardage books and green-reading materials produced prior to 2023 are likely to be in breach of this Local Rule and should not be used.

15. Scorecard Returned
A player’s scorecard has been returned to the Committee when the player has exited the defined scoring area with both feet. Prior to returning the scorecard, a player that leaves the scoring area must inform the scoring official of their intention to immediately return.

16. When Result of Competition is Final
The result of the competition is final when the winner has been announced at a prize- giving ceremony or if there is no ceremony when all scores have been posted and a winner declared by the Committee.

Office Number – 817-567-3654

Chad Ginn – 601-750-3171
APT Director of Rules and Competition

Simon Todd – 817-228-0855
WAPT Director of Rules and Competition

Green Reading Materials – Old Yardage Books

The APT|WAPT is adopting similar policies as the PGA and LPGA Tours regarding green reading books and materials.

The APT|WAPT Rules Committee is offering this reminder on the correct application of the Local Rule G-11 (see each tour’s Hardcard) that restricts both the materials used for green reading and more specifically, the handwritten notes kept by a player or his caddie.

Handwritten notes must be those of the player or the caddie he is using in that competition, and those notes are restricted if they could help read a line of play on the putting green. Please note these key restrictions on those handwritten notes being kept:

• Notes must NOT be made by copying information or data from a greens book or previous APT Official Yardage Books
• Notes must NOT be made by using a device, such as a level or a phone app

In very basic terms, yardage books and green-reading materials produced prior to 2023 are likely to be in breach of this Model Local Rule G-11 and should not be used.  You also cannot copy or use any information from yardage books or green books that were produced before 2023.

A breach by a player or caddie who is circumventing this Local Rule by keeping notes that are gathered in a way not in accordance with the Rule will be penalized as set out in Rule 4.3 in the Rules of Golf: General Penalty for the first breach; Disqualification for the second breach. 

Furthermore, in accordance with our on-site protocols for equipment, please be advised that yardage books are subject to review by a member of the Rules Committee at any time.

Please direct any questions to Chad Ginn, Director of Rules and Competition, chad@kgsportsco.com, 601-750-3171 c

Electronic Score Card – Live-Scoring
In addition to the official paper scorecard, all players must download the Blue Golf TD app and enter hole-by-hole scores after each hole is completed during a tournament round.

Penalties for breach of this policy are as follows:
First breach – Warning
Second breach – One penalty stroke
Third breach – Two penalty strokes
Fourth breach – Disqualification and subject to dismissal from Tour

All penalties are annually accumulative

This policy may be waived by the Committee on a case-by-case basis for any international or other players who do not have internet connectivity on their cell phones.

Pull/push carts are allowed during all tournament rounds unless otherwise stated for a specific tournament. Players and Caddies may use pull/push carts during tournament rounds. Any motorized pull/push cart designed and appropriate for golf may also be used.

APT|WAPT officials reserve the right to amend this policy during tournament play should golf course conditions be unfavorable (i.e. wet/saturated course where damage may occur with the use of push/pull carts). All players will be notified of any such change prior to the start of a tournament round.

Maximum fields for events are 132 before daylight saving time and 156, thereafter. Fields at some events may be limited due to format. Events with two courses are limited to 180 players.

Note: Each field includes two host course players – Head Pro and the Men’s Club Champion

Purse payments will be made by Direct Deposit to the player’s US bank account  approximately 5 business days following the final round of each event.  Players making a cut for the 1st time will receive an email from Intuit Quickbooks to set up an account.  The player will follow the link provided to enter W-9 and direct deposit information.   All future direct deposit payments will be made to the bank account set up in the Quickbooks account.  Contact the APT Office at 817-567-3654 with  any problems or changes that need to be made.

Unfortunately, direct deposit is not available for our foreign players without a US social security number, TIN or ITIN, and  US Federal Law requires the APT to withhold 30% of foreign players’ winnings for US taxes.  Purse payments can be mailed to foreign players with a US mailing address, or payments can be wired to the foreign player’s bank account.  A wire authorization form will be sent instead of the Quickbooks link to all players that do not provide a US Social Security Number, TIN, or ITIN on the registration form.

Note: A player must complete all rounds of the event, as played, to receive a purse payment. However, should a player need to withdraw after the cut due to family emergencies or medical reasons, he would receive the last place check.

Tournament registration is available through our website under the 2023 Schedule.  Simply click on the registration button next to the tournament you wish to sign-up for.  Entries will be taken on a first paid basis in the following order of priority:

• Open pro entry until the field reaches 132
• The last 24 spots before the early deadline are for APT Members
• After the Early Deadline, should spots remain available, entries are first come
• Amateurs (only after the ‘Early Entry Deadline’ – 14 days before event)

Entry Fees will not be processed until 14 days before the first round. This procedure helps players register early for multiple events without being charged  a lump sum.

See Waiting List Procedure below.

After a tournament field has reached 132 players, non-members registering will be held on a wait-list with any amateurs. The last spots will be for members only until the ‘Early Entry Deadline’ (14 days before the event). Members registering after a field is full, but before this deadline, will be placed on the waiting list with priority over non-members.  After this deadline, open spots will be filled in order with players from  the waiting list.  Professionals have priority over Amateurs. The Tour will contact the player to let him know that a spot is open.  It is the player’s responsibility to provide a good contact number and email, as well as to let the APT know if his plans change and he wants to be removed from the waiting list.

Withdrawals will be accepted for any reason, when notice is given by 5:00 PM on the Wednesday  7 days prior to the first round. There will be a $50 administrative fee for all refunds. Players MUST call the tour office at 817-567-3654 to withdraw. For withdrawals after the Wednesday deadline, the player will waive his entry fee to the tournament. Medical and personal withdrawals after the Wednesday deadline will be evaluated case-by-case and, if accepted, there will be a $100 administrative fee. No Shows will NOT receive a refund or credit for any reason. No refund or credit will be given for any reason once a player has teed off.

Players who are scheduled to play in an APT event, but qualify to play in either a PGA or Korn Ferry Tour event that same week, will receive a refund or credit of their tournament entry fee. Players need to notify the tour office/staff of their desire to transfer their entry to another tournament by 12:00 PM on Tuesday. There will be a $50 administrative fee for all refunds.

Players only need to stop by the APT trailer to check-in at their first tournament of the year. Tour members will pick up their membership packet at the first tournament they play. Player pictures will also be taken at their first event.

Check-in Days/Times: Normally Tuesday – Check tournament information page for times each week.

Pairings are based on player standings. Official tee times will be posted by 5:00 PM, two days prior to the first round. Pairings will be posted at the tour trailer, on the APT website,  and on the Pro Golf by BlueGolf app. Tee-times will also be texted to each player, so it is the player’s responsibility to provide a contact number and enable text messages on the registration form. Tee times are NOT available at the tour office.

Official practice round days are 1-2 days before each tournament’s first round and are listed under the schedule of events for each tournament. Most practice rounds are FREE to all participants when walking. Players will have to pay for a cart, if used, during practice rounds.

• Players need to call the host course to arrange tee times.
• There will be NO practice rounds available during any pro-am tournament.

Slacks are preferred for pro-ams and tournament play, however, shorts are allowed at any time during play and at special events such as junior clinics, shoot-outs, etc. Shirts are to be tucked in and hats must be worn forward.  Metal spikes are prohibited.  Jeans and flip-flops will NOT be allowed at host facilities, unless otherwise posted. Party attire will be posted weekly based on the local tournament requests.

All decisions for tournaments affected by rain or extreme conditions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the tour officials, host professional and event sponsors. Any weather-shortened tournament is official only after 36 holes, with tour officials making every effort to complete as many rounds as possible. Play may be extended an extra day, but not beyond. No partial rounds will count. A tournament may be cancelled if 36-holes cannot be completed.

Use of the Preferred Lies Local Rule

We will put a notice that we are playing preferred lies in the starter box. The starter (a volunteer) should notify each group, but it it the responsibility of each player to check the starters box for notices.

Through the years, two principles have been entrenched in the game of golf;

• Play the course as you find it and,
• Play the ball as it lies

As a professional golf tour, the APT strives to honor these principles. However, adverse weather conditions can make a course nearly unplayable under the rules of golf due to temporary water on the greens, in bunkers and the general area (fairways).

Under Temporary Water, if a player takes relief in the general area, he must take full relief at the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole. When a course is extremely wet, the nearest point of complete relief from temporary water may be in the rough or behind a tree, etc.

At that point we believe it is unfair to play in conditions where players may frequently be forced to drop their ball in the rough after having driven it in the fairway. In an effort to continue play in less than ideal conditions, the rules committee may utilize a Local Rule allowing Preferred Lies, which provides a player an additional option in dealing with temporary water.

This local rule is to be used One Round at a time and it will be discontinued for the next round if the course can be played under the rules. 

It is Important To Note, the Rules Committee will not use this local Rule simply because the ball may have a tendency to pick up mud. But rather, this Local Rule will only be used in extreme situations when it would be impossible to play the course fairly under the Rules.

APT pro-am pro participation is reserved for APT members based on the current money list and players requested by tournament sponsors and teams. The APT wants to showcase the top players and local tournament sponsors want to play with those players. The number of professionals needed varies per event.  The Tour  will post the pros assigned to the Pro-Am to the website on the Friday before the tournament week. A $1,000 skins game will be provided at each pro-am with 16 or more teams in the pro-am. The skins game is for Tour Members only.  Should the pro-am have less than 16 teams, then each player will be paid $50 for participating in the pro-am and no skins game will take place. Players will be allowed to miss a maximum of two (2) pro-am tournaments over the course of the year. If a player needs to miss that week’s pro-am they need to notify the Tour by 5:00 PM on Friday before the tournament week.

Most Junior Clinics are held Monday or Tuesday afternoon. Each clinic will need 5-10 professionals to conduct. APT memebers are asked to volunteer for clinics each week. Clinic information will be posted on the trailer message board and the tournaments Schedule of Events.

NOTE: Every APT member is required to help with two clinics a season. It is the responsibility of every player to attend the clinic for which they volunteer or find a replacement. Players failing to attend are subject to discipline by the Tour. In addition to these participants, professionals playing in or near their hometown are expected to participate in the junior clinic. It is very important for local players to represent the APT and give back to their local communities.

Range hours will vary at each site and will be posted on the trailer message board. The range may also be temporarily closed during the day for additional picking and special events. As daylight permits, the range may remain open later during some events. Players must cooperate with the closing hours of the range so that the balls may be picked, cleaned, and readied for the next day. A fine will be incurred if a player does not comply with the facility or tournament staff concerning the temporary closing of the range.

NOTE: Due to the restricted nature of some facilities, the length and width of the range may dictate the use of irons only or small number of hitting stations.

The tournament course will be marked by the tour staff prior to the event. In addition to the normal course markings, the staff will place a small dot on the front and back of each green to define the green depth. On all par 3’s, the yardage will be marked on the back of any tee box that may be used during tournament play. This number represents the distance from the line on the back of the tee box to the dot on the front of the green.

Immediately after completion of a round, the players are to bring their scorecards to the scoring tent, check them, and return them to the scoring volunteers. Once the player has turned in his scorecard and left the boundary of the scoring area, the scorecard is considered returned.

During the round, at specific scoring checkpoints, the player may be asked for his scorecard by a tour official or volunteer in order to update the on-course leader boards. These requests will be made as unobtrusively as possible, and the cooperation by the player is required and greatly appreciated.

Scoring checkpoints are generally as follows:

Round 1 & 2 – 1 & 10 Tees
Round 3 & 4 – 1 & 10 Tees and live scoring for the final few groups

Players are encouraged to employ caddies for all practice, pro-am, and tournament rounds.  A player may bring his own caddie or hire a local caddie, if available.  Local caddies shall be paid promptly.  The fee is to be resolved early in the week between the player and caddie.  A good rule of thumb is $40 per round. Players shall be responsible for the conduct and behavior of their caddies at tournaments.  The following shall be adhered to in all tour tournaments:

• Players are responsible for calling host courses for the availability of local caddies.
• Caddies MUST wear a tour supplied caddie bib during each tournament round (Bibs need to be checked out at your starting tee and returned in the scoring area after 36 holes.  New bibs will be available for the final two rounds)
• Caddies may use pull/push carts during tournament play
• Should golf carts be used during any tournament round, caddies must walk.
• Caddies may not wear jeans or cutoffs.  Hemmed shorts, skirts, and capris are permitted.
• Caddies must wear a collared shirt at all times.
• Caddies shall wear smooth rubber-soled shoes preferably tennis or basketball shoes.  Golf spikes and flip flops are prohibited.
• Caddies shall assist in maintaining the course by REPLACING DIVOTS AND RAKING BUNKERS as soon as possible after their players have played.
• Caddies shall not hit shots or putts anywhere on the practice areas or course except in specially approved competitions.

For any violation of these regulations which affect play, a fine will be levied against the player of the caddie.

While we will make every effort to accommodate disabled family members who need golf carts, we remind the players that additional golf carts on site at tournaments create numerous logistical concerns.  As such, we have worked closely with tournament organizations to reduce the overall number of carts used during each tournament week. The following policy shall be applicable for members seeking to obtain the use of a golf cart for a disabled family member:

• The request for the use of the cart must be made by the tour member and must indicate the name of the person, the nature of the disability, and if requested by the tour, provide medical reports or other data indicating the extent and nature of the disability.
• A request must be made for each individual tournament and must be made no later than the Tuesday of the tournament week.
• Carts will be made available only to family members who have a disability that prevents them from walking along with their players.  The Tour Director’s decision shall be final.

If a cart is issued to the family member, the following rules relating to the use of the cart shall apply:

• Cart use shall remain on paths at all times.
• Carts will NOT be permitted in designated practice areas (e.g., range, putting green, etc.) at any time.
• If in the Tour Director’s opinion, use of the cart could potentially damage the playing surface of the golf course (e.g., due to wet course conditions), the Tour Director shall have the right to deny the use of the cart.

With the exception of caddies, all spectators need to stay out of the fairways and off of greens and tees during play. It is ok to gather near tee and greens to watch, but we ask that they stay on the cart paths or rough while walking the course.