Handicap Policy

Flighted golf always comes with handicap questions. Players rightfully want to know they are competing against others of their own skill level, and the policies in this section exist to make that true.

Most of what follows is about protection – protecting honest players from being promoted unfairly, and protecting the field from players competing in the wrong division. Where those goals conflict, we err toward the integrity of the competition.

We take pride in creating a level playing field for our members, and in building a community that values fair competition and the experience of playing “Tour” golf.

The Amateur Players Tour offers 5 different divisions for players to compete in based on their skill level:

Division	Handicap Range
Division 1	3.4 & Below
Division 2	3.5 – 8.4
Division 3	8.5 – 13.4
Division 4	13.5 – 18.4
Division 5	18.5 & Above

New players must complete the APT Handicap Questionnaire which will be sent to them upon joining as a member. The APT Competition Committee reviews the Handicap Questionnaire and places the new member in a division. The National Office performs centralized handicap setting and pre-event handicap work; division and tee placement decisions are made by the Competition Committee.

The Competition Committee will use all relevant data, including but not limited to:

• USGA Handicap, with particular focus on the 12-month low
• Scores from other competitive organizations
• Competition scores
• Tees played during reviewed rounds
• Answers from the APT Handicap Questionnaire

All new members begin at the Open Tee until assigned differently by the Competition Committee. Division and tee assignments are set by the Competition Committee; neither may be changed by a Chapter Owner and tee assignments will not be changed on the day of the event. Players may request a division/tee change request here: Player Change Request Form

We ask that all players give an honest assessment of their current skill level, as new members who shoot out-of-division scores will be scrutinized to protect the integrity of the field. Any member may request relegation if their APT Tournament Index warrants it by completing the Player Change Request Form. Please email handicaps@aptgolf.org with any questions.

Once a member begins playing on the APT, division placement transitions to using only that member’s APT tournament scores once the member is validated. The APT Tournament Index is not equivalent to a USGA Handicap and should not be viewed as such.

The Tournament Index serves two purposes: placing members into divisions where they compete against players of their own skill level and determining handicap allocation in optional net competitions.

Unvalidated members are reviewed differently than validated members. Validated members have more protection from scrutiny.

A member’s Tournament Index becomes validated after they post their sixth score to their Tournament Index, provided all six rounds have been posted since June 1, 2025.

Once validated, the member’s APT Tournament Index becomes the primary factor used in Division Placement, provided the member’s scores remain current. See Tournament Index Review.

Validated members are not subject to in-event disqualification under the Out of Division Scores policy. Validation does not otherwise limit the Competition Committee’s authority to review or move a member.

Before a member’s Index is validated, the Competition Committee uses any relevant data available to confirm the member is in the correct division, including the sources listed under Initial Division Placement. The Committee has sole discretion to move an unvalidated member up or down at any time.

Unvalidated members are subject to the Out of Division Scores policy. See Tournament Policies.

Your APT Tournament Index is calculated from the Adjusted Gross Scores of your 20 most recent Tour Event rounds, using the lowest differentials among them. As you post new scores, the oldest scores roll out of the calculation.

Only scores posted on or after June 1, 2025 count toward your Tournament Index. A Complete APT Tournament Index means 20 or more eligible scores posted.

The number of scores used depends on how many scores you have posted – your Index uses half of your available scores, rounded up.

Adjusted Gross Score means a maximum score is applied to each hole before a score is posted to your Tournament Index. Once you have an APT Tournament Index, the highest score that can be posted on any hole is net double bogey – the same maximum used in net competition.

During an APT member’s first round, before a Tournament Index has been established, the maximum posting score on any hole is par plus 3.

In the interest of protecting the integrity of any Tour Event, the APT Competition Committee shall have the discretion to act during a Tour Event to disqualify an unvalidated player who posts a single round score that is:

• More than three (3) strokes lower than their division floor, based on course index adjustment for course slope and rating and any handicap adjustments; OR
• More than three (3) strokes lower than their closest competitor within the division; OR
• Where information showing the player is competing in the wrong division comes to our attention.

The Competition Committee will take into consideration the playing history on the APT, the validity of the data provided when the member signed up, and any other relevant data. The goal is to protect the integrity of the competition, meaning that truly exceptional scores should be celebrated while protecting the field from unvalidated players.

New members who fail to provide adequate handicap data or complete a handicap questionnaire may be treated like guests for prize pool consideration. See Guest Policy.

A member enters a probationary period of six rounds when they:

• relegate to a lower division
• move from the open tee to the forward tee
• move from the super senior tee into a division
• receive an exception based on injury, health, or Tournament Index Review

During probation the member is treated as an unvalidated member for division placement purposes. Specifically, the member:

• may be moved up or down at the Competition Committee’s discretion
• is subject to the Out of Division Scores policy
• is not eligible for the Flight Flex

Probation does not change a member’s net handicap allocation.

The Competition Committee reviews the member’s scores weekly during probation and may reverse the change based on current data. Probation ends after the member re-validates in their new division or their new tee assignment.

If a member posts a round two divisions lower than their current division range, the Competition Committee may move the member up one division. For example, a Division 4 player (13.5-18.4) who posts a round differential of 6.0 – Division 2 range – may be moved to Division 3.

A partial round may also trigger review. In those cases the Committee may apply net par – par plus the handicap strokes the member receives on the hole – to the remaining holes and assess the resulting differential. For example, a Division 4 player who is even-par through 15 holes and finishes triple, triple, triple may be evaluated on the projected round and moved accordingly.

A member’s Tournament Index reflects their APT scoring history, but it does not always reflect current ability. The Competition Committee may review a member’s division placement when the Index is unlikely to be representative – for example, when a member has not posted a tournament round in the past 60 days, or has posted fewer than six rounds in the previous 12 months.

In conducting a review, the Competition Committee may consider all relevant data available, including competitive results outside the APT, and may weigh a member’s most recent scores more heavily than older ones. Players will be placed in the division the Competition Committee deems appropriate.

A member is promoted when their APT Tournament Index crosses the applicable threshold for their status – the division line, or the Flight Flex threshold where a Flight Flex applies. See Flight Flex.

A promotion is not reversed automatically. A member whose Tournament Index later rises higher than their division threshold may request relegation. See Division Movement – Relegations.

All members who finish a season lower than the division threshold are promoted to start the next season.

The Flight Flex protects members who play regularly on Tour from being promoted unless they clearly outperform their division.

Member Status	Flight Flex
Validated, Complete APT Tournament Index	0.5
Validated	0.2
Unvalidated, or on probation	None – promoted immediately

Example. A Division 3 player (8.5-13.4) reaches the Division 2 threshold when their Index drops lower than 8.5.

• If the Index falls between 8.0 and 8.5, promotion is deferred for four weeks or three posted scores, whichever comes first. If the Index is still lower than 8.5 at the end of that period, the promotion takes effect.
• If the Index drops lower than 8.0 – more than the 0.5 Flight Flex – the member is promoted immediately.

Forward Tee players are eligible for the Flight Flex. Forward Tee players are not eligible for the Flight Lock.

Players are only eligible for Flight Flex once per Tour Season.

If it is mathematically impossible for a member’s Tournament Index to return higher than their division threshold during the deferral period, the promotion is immediate.

Members who are validated and hold a Complete APT Tournament Index earn additional protection based on rounds completed during the current season. Flight Lock applies through the North American Championships.

Tier	Rounds This Season	Flight Lock
Tier 1	10 or more	0.5
Tier 2	15 or more	1.0
Tier 3	20 or more	1.0, plus Total Season Tournament Index review

Tier 3 review. If a Tier 3 member’s Index goes more than one shot lower than their division threshold, the Competition Committee will calculate their Total Season Tournament Index – the best 50% of all rounds played during the current season. If that figure keeps the member in their current division, the member stays.

Where a member qualifies for both a Flight Flex and a Flight Lock, the greater applies.

NOTE – Any member who uses the Tier 2 or Tier 3 Flight Lock will be promoted at the end of the season, regardless of their Tournament Index.

The Flight Lock is not a guarantee. The Competition Committee may withhold it where a member’s record indicates a promotion is warranted, including:

• Prior Relegation(s)
• Past utilization of Tier 2 or Tier 3 Flight Lock in the same division
• A USGA Handicap Index, or a tournament index from another organization, significantly better than the member’s division line
• A significant layoff between tournament rounds
• Events won
• Exceptional rounds
• Tournament results from other sources
• Results from a Tournament Index Review

Forward Tee players are not eligible for the Flight Lock. A Forward Tee player who would otherwise require a Flight Lock will be moved to the open tee in their current division or promoted.

A member who is validated heading into their Local Final will not be moved between the Local Finals and the North American Championships, except where the Competition Committee acts under the Flight Lock exceptions.

Members who post scores in the North American Championship, Senior North American Championship, or Local Finals that fall consistently lower than their division range may be promoted for the start of the next season. Championship performance may also require a member to move from the forward tee to the open tee.

All requests must be submitted through the Player Change Request Form. No other form of request will be accepted. Questions may be directed to handicaps@aptgolf.org. The Competition Committee communicates decisions after its weekly meeting.

A validated member whose APT Tournament Index rises more than 0.5 higher than their division cutoff may request relegation. The threshold increases by 1.0 for each subsequent relegation – a member’s second relegation requires an Index 1.5 higher than the cutoff, a third requires 2.5, and so on.

No relegations or tee movement will be considered after priority registration opens for the North American Championship.

An approved relegation places the member in a probationary period. See Probationary Period.

The Competition Committee may place stipulations on an approved relegation – for example, playing the open tee in the new division, or completing three rounds in the new division before being accepted into the North American Championship. Stipulations are applied in the spirit of protecting the integrity of APT competitions.

Members can apply to play the forward tees if they turn 60 years of age on or before October 1, 2027. The Forward Tees are subject to review and must be approved by the Competition Committee upon a member turning 60, or upon a member aged 60 or over joining the Tour. Their intent is to allow players to stay competitive longer, playing a set of tees that is more familiar and comfortable, and to level the playing field in multiple ways. All new players are defaulted to the Open Tee until approval is granted by the Competition Committee.

Applications are accepted from the beginning of the Tour Season through the opening of registration for the North American Championship, using the Player Change Request Form. Applications will be considered at the weekly APT Competition Committee call. The criteria for consideration include:

• APT Tournament Index
• Individual rounds played that show a player’s potential
• USGA GHIN or other tour tournament index
• Driver Distance/7-iron distance
• Player Development Index (PDI) assessment, including physical capabilities

NOTE – Exceptions may be granted to members under 60 to play the forward tee where each of the following is met: the member is a multiple-year member of the Tour; the member has 40 or more lifetime rounds; the member has moved divisions; and the Competition Committee determines that allowing the member to remain in the more competitive division at the forward tee serves the best interest of the Tour and the member, rather than allowing continued movement between divisions. Division 5 players who meet all other criteria other than division movement.

Forward Tee applications will be considered based upon the potential of the player. New Forward Tee applications will not be granted if a player’s APT Index is within 2 strokes of the division line at the time of applying. A player’s history will be reviewed prior to granting the forward tee. Players who insist on playing the forward tee may do so but will be required to play in a lower handicap division. For example, a Division 2 player currently playing the open tee with an index of 3.8 may play the forward tee but will be moved up to Division 1.

New Forward Tee players enter a probationary period. See Probationary Period.

Approved players are eligible to play the Forward Tee until their handicap reaches 0.0, at which time they will be moved to the open tee.

All divisions, regardless of tee played, are calculated using the Open Tee slope and rating for APT Tournament Index purposes only. The APT Tournament Index is not equivalent to a USGA Handicap.

Men who are 65 or over and struggle to compete at the Forward Tee distance, or who want to play a shorter yardage, may play the Super Senior Tee. Players playing the Super Senior Tee compete in the Senior Net contest as their primary contest and are not eligible to compete in a division. Super Senior Tee players are eligible to compete in Super Skins. Women who are 60 or over have the option to play Senior Net only and participate solely in the Senior Net competition.

Players may ask to change between the Super Senior and division selection by completing the Player Change Request Form and being granted approval by the Competition Committee. Players will not be granted changes on the day of an event or be allowed to move on an event-by-event basis.

New members who do not have a validated APT Index or a validated USGA Handicap will play at 0.0 for the first 2 events. The Competition Committee will determine the initial playing index for players who have a GHIN Handicap.

Players playing the Super Senior Tee enter a probationary period of 6 rounds, in which the Competition Committee may adjust handicap as warranted.

Everyone has played in a net game where an unvetted player has shot a ridiculous score to win. When done right, net games provide unique opportunities for all players to be competitive, as they’re playing against their own handicap, where improvement and great rounds are rewarded. Here is how we set handicaps to ensure fairness for all players:

• Validated members get 90% of their APT Index.
• Unvalidated members get 90% of the 12-month low of their GHIN or APT Index, whichever is lower.
• Members without a GHIN get 90% of the low end of their division. For example, a Division 3 player would be given an index of 8.5, playing to 90% of their playing handicap based on slope and rating adjustment.
• Guests are not eligible to compete in net games.

For validated members whose APT Tournament Index is above their Division Ceiling, additional adjustments are applied based on the total number of rounds posted and how recently the last round was played.

In net games, the maximum score on any hole is net double bogey. Please note the exceptions to Rules 1-20 outlined in Rule 21.2.

The APT Competition Committee is chaired by Matt Fegley and composed of two Chapter Owners and three player representatives.

The Committee oversees tournament index, division and tee assignments, rules, and member discipline. It decides division placement, forward tee and super senior tee applications, promotions, relegations, and exceptional round reviews.

The Committee meets weekly, currently on Wednesdays. Questions may be directed to handicaps@aptgolf.org.

NOTE – The Competition Committee reserves the right to move any player for any reason at any time in the interest of protecting the integrity of the competition.