Overview of the TC Job

The Palo Alto Golf Club's primary objective is to run tournaments for its members.  The TC's job, therefore, is to make this process go smoothly and fairly for all players. The emphasis should be on increasing participation in our tournaments.

When a new TC takes over in January each year, the schedule will have been established by the Director(s) assigned the task.  The next year’s scheduling task is assigned at the first meeting of the new board.

For the TC who really wants to appreciate the complexities of running a tournament, the USGA publishes a small book entitled "How To Conduct a Competition".  It discusses many more topics than you would ever be interested in, but just reading it will give you an idea of what may come up and where some planning can avoid some problems.  I would recommend going to USGA Web site and ordering a copy.  Don't wait for the Board to authorize it; just submit the bill to the Treasurer after you get it.  And while you are there, also order a copy of the "USGA Handicap System" and  "Decisions on the Rules of Golf".

Also be sure to study  The PAGC Policies and Procedures.  It covers some issues such as cancellation times and it is useful to refer to it when deciding whether or not to refund money, etc..

Running a tournament consists of the following stages:

1.  Posting the tournament announcements at the golf course for non web users.
2.  Insuring that the tournament description on the web site is accurate.
3.  Collecting the envelopes at the course and adding the names to the web site.
4.  Setting up the tournament on the club's laptop (see TPP for information on this topic)
5.  Publishing the starting times on the web site and posting them at the course.
6.  Creating the Information Sheet for the tournament including local rules, prize descriptions, etc. and posting it on-line with the tee times.
7.  Providing information and score cards to the pro shop for all (home and away) events; actually running the tournament for away events.
8.  Tracking the results on the web as well as coordinating the posting TOC points with the Webmaster.

9. For away tournaments, providing the webmaster with results in order to update points standings. Providing the Pro Shop representative with the results in order to post the money won to the players’ accounts.
10.  Turning over the checks and an accounting to the Treasurer (see  Treasurer for information about this item).
11. For NCGA Qualifiers, filling out the forms and sending them in, along with a check. ( See  NCGA for more).

12. Using the Tournament Chairman’s Bulletin Board (TCBB) for real time information dispersal. This would consist of items such as: last minute openings in a tournament, changes to the tournament conditions, general non-tournament notices, etc.

All of the above can be done with help from other members of the Committee including the running of some number of the tournaments.  There is a tendency for all TCs to begin to think that no one else can run a tournament.  This tendency is to be discouraged.

All in all, it's a great job, you do get free entry to the tournaments you run, and it will help you develop a really thick skin.

Last Updated on 12/07/2008