How to Learn to Set Up the Course for a Golf Tournament

Golf courses must be set up properly for tournaments to ensure fair competition, maintain a level of difficulty appropriate to the field, promote good pace of play and to help the competitors adhere to the Rules of Golf. Tournament chairmen, golf professionals and course superintendents work together to ensure proper setup of the course. It requires clear communication and cooperation between the three parties for a successful event to take place.

Things You'll Need

  • Rules of Golf- current edition
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Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain a copy of the current Rules of Golf and the Decisions on the Rules of Golf. A course cannot be set up properly if the person doing the job is ignorant of the Rules. Most state golf associations, the PGA of America and the USGA offer seminars all over the country.

    • 2

      Meet with the golf professional and the course superintendent of the facility where the tournament is held to discuss the set up of the course. They know the golf course better than anyone and are valuable sources of information. Most of them are very knowledgeable of the process of setting up the course and of the Rules of Golf. Take advantage of their expertise by shadowing them during preparation for a tournament to see the process first hand.

    • 3

      Walk the golf course and observe it from every angle. Imagine possible scenarios and prepare for as many situations as you can. Make notes of Local Rules and special situations on the golf course. Examples of situations include staked trees, ground under repair, environmentally sensitive areas, fallen trees and out of bounds stakes inside the course.

      During the walk, look at the teeing ground and the greens to take note of excessive wear. Try to avoid these areas, both for the quality of play and protection of the course.

    • 4

      Obtain a copy of the hole location and tee rotation from the golf course staff to better understand the flow of traffic and wear on the course. Consider the level of difficulty desired for the event and choose the locations accordingly.

    • 5

      Consult the association, if applicable, for whom you are setting up the event, such as a junior tour or state golf association. Many of these types of events will have yardage requirements and hole location requirements. Follow the guidelines established by the association.