Commonly Asked Questions

How Do I Join the Tour? Send in membership application with $2,000 fee and choose a ranking school site. If you are a past college player you do not need to attend ranking school as long as you request exempt status and pay your membership fee before the exempt memberships have been filled . Past champions and Top 120 from the previous year's money are also exempt from qualifying (these exempt categories must complete membership application as well). Note: Players may attempt to better their ranking number at the next site for an additional $750 if space is available (retries are subject to an alternate list as first time qualifiers take precedence).

What are the benefits of my membership fee? The Main Benefit to joining our tour is members receive Priority Entry into events. Members are also eligible to Qualify for Nationwide Tour event exemptions (12 over the last 2 years, more than any other developmental tour in the US) and Q School Reimbursements (54 the past 2 years, more than any other developmental tour in the US). You receive Professional golfer membership status and the opportunity to earn Exempt full time status. Members receive FREE practice rounds and range balls at ALL Pro Series events. Weekly complimentary snacks and beverages during tournament rounds at each Pro Series event. Discounts from National and Local Sponsors. Paid pro-ams, shootouts, and long-drive competitions at selected Pro Series events. Priority for volunteer housing and other membership programs. You also receive free Carolina Summer Series Membership..

What if I earn my PGA or Nationwide Tour Card after I pay my NGA Hooters Tour membership fee? Your fee will be refunded.

How Do I Get in Tournaments? The Tour uses a priority system based on 2011 earnings, 2012 Exempt Status granted, 2012 Ranking School results and past champions. Players NOT fully exempt will receive a ranking number based on their performance at Ranking School. Those players will be re-shuffled after each event based on event earnings. Based on the pool of players in relation to their Tour Ranking, entries will be taken on a first come, first served basis (deadlines apply). We conduct local qualifiers (for 10 spots) for each event, either Sunday or Monday morning of the event week, that non exempt members, nonmembers, and amateurs can compete in to try and earn one of 10 open spots into the event.

How Do I Monday Qualify? Contact the tour offfice. Fees: Members $150.00, Non-members $250.00, amateurs $250.00 (Entry fee balance due upon qualifying for event)

Am I Allowed to wear Other Sponsor Logo's? Yes, however, it will be mandatory that players conform to the Tour's policy of Player Attire.

How Much Does The Tour Cost?
$2000 Ranking/Membership fee (for all members and qualifiers) if paid by December 30th, 2011 and $2,200 if after December 30th, 2011. Weekly tournament fees are $925 or $1,150 and approximately $400 in weekly travel expenses.(estimated individual 7 day expenses)

Are There Any Other Opportunities To Make Money? Yes. Select events will have paid Pro-Ams and purses for Shootout and Long Drive Contests (where applicable).

Is Lodging Included in Fees? No, but the Tour does offer discounts at Host Hotels and we assist players and clubs in matching available private housing with Tour Members. Members always receive priority for Volunteer Housing.

Are Riding Carts Allowed? No, only during practice rounds. Manual pullcarts are permitted during tournament play.

How can Family and Friends Track of My Progress? Scores and event news are sent daily to the AP Wire Service and USA Today. Many U.S. Newspapers carry scores as well as Golfweek magazine and www.Golfweek.com. Tour news and daily scores are also posted immediately on www.NGATOUR.com and all social media outlets. Many more online publications and golf oriented websites also carry our daily results online.

How Can Monday Qualifiers Join The Tour? If a qualifier or non-member wins an event, he will be given full exempt status for the remainder of the year. Non-members must acquire a membership by paying membership fee to invoke this privilege. A Top 20 finish exempts the player for the following week. Members without full exempt status who accumulate $3000 in earnings earn exempt status from that point on. Non-members who accumulate $4500 in earnings will be offered Tour Membership. Non-members must acquire a membership by paying membership fee to invoke this privilege.

When is prize money paid? Purse checks will be available on site the following Friday at 3pm or a player may choose to have his check mailed from the tour office within 7 days of event completion.

Are All The Tournaments 72 Holes? Yes, all the Pro Series events. The field sizes are max 156 (for the $150,000 Guaranteed Purses) or 168 players (for the $200,000 Guaranteed Purses) with the low 55 and ties (for 156 player fields) and 65 and ties (for 168 player fields) making the 36 hole cut. The Members Only Shootout, Q School Prep Series, and Carolina Summer Series are all 54 hole events with a 36 hole cut.

Can I Register On-Site? No. Each tournament has a series deadline date for members to register by. All entries are paid through Tour office. Call Tour Office at 800-992-8748

Do I Have To Have A Caddy? No. You can carry your own bag. Some courses have local caddies available. Manual Pullcarts are also permitted.

Do I Have To Pay For Practice Rounds? Not for Pro Series events. The Tour normally has access to the course for the entire week (some events are Sunday thru Saturday and others are Monday thru Sunday). Practice rounds occur Sunday thru Tuesday or Monday thru Wednesday (depending on the event week) as well as special events like such as Pro-ams and Shootouts.