Keeping It Fun
At Tending Flags, we wholeheartedly embrace the notion that every charity golf tournament we oversee should be an exhilarating and enjoyable affair! With a passion for making a positive impact, we invest considerable effort into crafting each event, all with the intent of delivering a truly memorable experience for nonprofits, sponsors, and golfers alike. We take pride in the foundation of rules we've meticulously developed, ensuring that each aspect of the tournament contributes to the perfect blend of fun and purpose. So get ready to tee off with us as we swing into action, combining professionalism with a healthy dose of fun, all for a fantastic cause!
TENDING FLAGS
SCRAMBLE TOURNAMENT RULESTournament Play
- Each player will hit their first shot from the tee box.
- The team leader determines which ball position the team would like to play from. All non-used shots should be retrieved quickly and brought to the chosen position.
- Place a tee or marker down at the spot of the chosen ball position.
- All players may place their golf ball within a club length (normal club length, don’t bring out the broomstick putters) of the ball position. Players may not improve their lie. (Rough to fairway)
- Repair any and all divots with sand pitchers provided in the golf cart. If you come across an unaddressed divot near your position, please be courteous and fill it.
- Repair divots on the green caused by your shot with a divot repair tool. (Tee works in lieu of a divot repair tool)
- When choosing a putt distance to use, replace the ball with a ball marker. All players must place their putt position within 6 inches of the ball marker without improving the distance to the pin.
- Continue play until a player successfully finishes the hole.
- Replace the flag and quickly exit the green. No practice putts!
- After returning to the cart, record your accurate score in the live scoring app (when applicable) for the hole.
- Teams found to be misrepresenting their score will be disqualified for any tournament prizes.
Hazards and Penalties
- To maintain speed of play, any ball position chosen by the team that is in a sand hazard is to be removed and dropped within a club length of the beginning of the hazard area (closest to the tee box). This will not be a penalty incurring drop.
- If all players hit shots that result in a water hazard, the team will take a +1 penalty and drop the ball at the point in which the ball first entered/crossed the water hazard area unless there is a specified drop zone.
- No provisional shots. A player may elect to use a mulligan, but if the original shot is found and in better position, the mulligan is still considered as expended.
- If all team shots are considered out of bounds, the team must choose a spot where a ball was seen entering the out of bounds area and use a drop within a club length of the out of bounds area. This will incur a +1 penalty. Limit searching for a golf ball to 2 minutes.
Contest and Promotional Holes
Sponsored Putting Challenge
As each team finishes hole 18 in the shotgun style pacing, an exciting opportunity to qualify for the Sponsored Pressure Putt awaits. A designated marker will be set for players to attempt their putts. Successfully sinking the putt will secure qualification for the after-round action.
Upon the conclusion of regular play, all qualified golfers will have the chance to putt from a longer distance. The ultimate victor will be determined based on the player who ends up closest to the hole or, better yet, in the hole itself. In the event of a tie, a putt off will be held to determine the clear winner.
The fortunate sole winner will be awarded a prize for their exceptional putting skills and will also be granted the opportunity to vie for the grand prize. It’s important to note that this grand prize challenge entails a very challenging long putt, but success in sinking it will lead to claiming a highly valuable prize.
$5,000 Pressure Putt Challenge
Some Tending Flags tournaments will feature this amazing opportunity to reward one lucky golfer with a chance to add $5,000 to their tournament experience.
As each team finishes hole 18 in the shotgun style pacing, an exciting opportunity to qualify for the Sponsored Pressure Putt awaits. A designated marker will be set for players to attempt their putts. Successfully sinking the putt will secure qualification for the after-round action.
Upon the conclusion of regular play, all qualified golfers will have the chance to putt from a longer distance. The ultimate victor will be determined based on the player who ends up closest to the hole or, better yet, in the hole itself. In the event of a tie, a putt off will be held to determine the clear winner.
The fortunate sole winner will be awarded an opportunity to go for a 50+ foot putt. With all eyes watching their chance at tournament greatness will play out in front of the spectators. A successful putt will add some black to the balance sheet. The pressure putt challenge is only available to amateurs. The final putt must have a third-party witness.
Sponsored Long Drive Mens
On the Long Drive (Mens) Contest holes, the winning contestant will be the one who has the longest in-fairway drive. No tee-busters or throws may be used to enhance this drive. The first long drive will write their name on the marker in the fairway. If a drive exceeds that drive, the owner of that drive will write their name under the former leader.
Sponsored Long Drive Womens
On the Long Drive (Womens) Contest holes, the winning contestant will be the one who has the longest in-fairway drive. No tee-busters or throws may be used to enhance this drive. The first long drive will write their name on the marker in the fairway. If a drive exceeds that drive, the owner of that drive will write their name under the former leader.
Sponsored Closest to the Pin
This contest hole will be run on a Par 3. The tee shot that ends up closest to the hole will win the prize. The first ball hit will set the stage, and the player will mark his or her name on the marker. If you have a shot that is within the distance of the marker to the hole, move the marker and write your name underneath.
Sponsored “Distracted” Closest to the Pin
This contest hole will be run on a Par 3. The tee shot that ends up closest to the hole will win the prize. The first ball hit will set the stage, and the player will mark his or her name on the marker. If you have a shot that is within the distance of the marker to the hole, move the marker and write your name underneath. The difference with this hole, is at the teebox there will be some sort of distraction while players are teeing off if the team before yours elects to participate.
Sponsored “Hole-in-One”
Some tournaments will have a hole-in-one challenge. The hole-in-one challenge will award a prize for the first player who completes a hole-in-one. These holes will have officials to verify results. Some hole-in-one challenges may have an extra cost to support the nonprofit depending on the prize giveaway.
Long Drive Expert
Some Tending Flags tournaments will feature a long drive hitter or expert. These professionals will hit your drive for you in exchange for some cash! A portion of this money will go towards the nonprofit.
Course Pro Shot
Some Tending Flags tournaments will feature a club pro who will hit a shot for you from a specified distance in exchange for some giving. A portion of this money will increase the donations to the nonprofit.
Tournament Conclusion
- When the golf round is done, return to the club house.
- Players may return their gear to their vehicles and clean out any trash from the golf carts.
- When all players return from the golf course, the tournament staff will begin calculating the tournament results.
- During this time we will begin the pressure putt competition for qualifying players and award a winner.
- When applicable, entertainment will begin followed by Winner announcements.
- Tournaments that have a silent auction will notify the winners of their successful bids.
Golfer Etiquette
- Don’t talk during another team’s backswing.
- Don’t step in the line of a putt.
- Spend less than 2 minutes looking for a lost ball.
- Don’t take a ridiculous amount of time lining up or warming up for a shot.
- Stay off your phone.
- Always yell FORE if your golf ball is anywhere close to the direction of a player or group.
- If you can’t see the group ahead of you, drive a cart down until you can see their location before teeing off.
- Check the course info for dress code.
Don't Cheat
How many of you have been frustrated by that team that submits a -27? Sometimes it is legit, and sometimes it is blatent cheating. We all make mistakes from time to time but it is imperative that we keep Tending Flags tournaments free of pencil whipping and blatant cheating. Tending Flags, to the best of our ability, will be taking as many anti-cheating measures as possible. If your team is caught not following the rules of the tournament, not recording shots, overusing your mulligan package, or just outright cheating, you will be ineligible for prizes and tournament ranking. Gross or repeat offenders will be banned from future Tending Flags events. We are here to support nonprofits and have a good day of golf.
