AMATEUR GOLFERS OF ORLANDO
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
1. JOINING AGO. Membership in AGO is by application only and is subject to approval by the membership committee. Membership application may be obtained from our website any member of the Board of Directors. Applicants must provide all information requested on the form, and submit the form, accompanied by a check or money order in the amount of $45.00 to the address on the form or paid online using a link to PayPal. A new member will be eligible to play in the tournament following their acceptance. In their first tournament new members will usually be paired with the endorsing member, if possible, who will be responsible for advising the new member of AGO rules and standards of conduct.
2. NEW MEMBER, RENEWAL AND REJOIN RATES.The AGO season runs from June 1stto May 31st. New members pay $45 to cover their membership for a period of one calendar year. Second year renewal rates will be pro-rated, depending on the membership anniversary date, and be good typically through May 31st of their second year. Renewal rates for members (other than this initial new member pro-rated period) are currently $39 and due on May 31st. If a member’s dues have lapsed by more than two years from the due date (May 31st), they will have to rejoin as New Members.
3. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE.Regular tournaments are scheduled on the third Sunday of each month unless they conflict with major holidays. The Board of Directors establishes tournament sites, starting times and formats. The tournament schedule is posted on the website at and a mail-in entry form is attached to the rules sheet of the current tournament. Entry fees are based on the costs to AGO for the golf plus the prize package.
4. ENTERING A TOURNAMENTON THE WEBSITE. We highly recommend that you use the AGO website to indicate your intent to enter a tournament regardless of how you will pay for the tournament. Sign-up online is available until the Thursday before the tournament. The online tournament sign-up sheet will ask for required information regarding name, e-mail, tee preference, and whom you would like to be paired with. Payment can be made immediately with any credit card via PayPal or you can be invoiced. You do not have to have a PayPal account to use your credit card.
5. ENTERING A TOURNAMENT VIA USPS. If you signed-up online and chose to be Invoiced, we will send an e-mail invoice which can be paid with check or money order and sent to our USPS mailbox. Or, you can send in the Entry Form (from the Rules Sheet mentioned above). Entries should reach the P.O. Box no later than the Thursday before the tournament, when the foursomes are paired. Send invoiced entries and mail-in entry forms to:
Amateur Golfers of Orlando (or AGO)
P.O. Box 3403
Windermere, FL. 34786
6. ENTERING A TOURNAMENT LATE. Cut-off for entry into a tournament is the Thursday before the tournament. However, if you call a Director or e-mail AGO after Thursday there is a possibility of still getting into a tournament. There may still be an open slot to join a foursome, or you can be put on stand-by in case an entrant cannot make the tournament. In those cases, we can accept payment at the tournament in the form of check, cash or credit card.
7. GUESTS. Guests are welcome to play in AGO tournaments. Sign-up is similar to the above directions for AGO members. Entry fees for guests are the same as AGO members. Guests are welcome to play in one AGO tournament per season after which they are encouraged to join as members. Guests play as scratch golfers and therefore are not eligible for prizes requiring an AGO handicap. The entry fee entitles guests to a round of golf and the opportunity to participate in some of the prizes in the prize package and some of the optional games (see #11 below).
8. USGA RULES.AGO adheres to the rules of golf as established by the United States Golf Association and amended by local rules established by the golf course or AGO. Member's handicaps are established and maintained in accordance with the procedures of AGO's League handicapping. Adherence to all rules and to standards of proper conduct is required of all AGO members.
9. MAXIMUM 8 RULE. To speed up play, if a player has not “holed-out” after eight strokes, they are required to pick up and mark an X8 on their scorecard. Taking an X8 eliminates them from the Low Putts contest.
10. FLIGHTS. Competitors are usually divided into three or four flights based on the handicaps of the entrants in the tournament. Flight assignments may vary from month to month.
11. PRIZE PACKAGE AND OPTIONAL GAMES
Your entry fee consists of the greens fee and the prize package component. Tournament prizes are:
Low Gross (front tees)
Low Gross (back tees)
Low Net
1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each flight
Closest to the Pin (par 3 holes)
Blind Bogey Drawing
50-50 Drawing
NOTE: New members (until they have established a Handicap Index) are NOT eligible for Low Net and Flight prizes. Guests are NOT eligible for Low Gross, Low Net, and Flight prizes.
Optional Games. In addition to the prize package, you may choose to enter one or more of the optional games (skins game, etc.) that we coordinate. Optional games have a separate entry fee.
See the AGO PRIZES AND OPTIONAL GAMES sheet which follows for further details of the prizes and optional games.
12. TIES.In the event of a tie for Low Net and flight prizes, winners are determined by matching scorecards beginning with handicap hole #1. If a tie still exists, the scorecards will be matched following the order of handicap holes (#2, #3, etc.) until the tie is broken. Low NET score for the hole wins.A similar process will be used in the event of a tie forthe Low Gross prizes, except that the lower or lowest GROSSscore for the #1 (#2, #3, etc.) handicap hole will determine a winner.
Ties in Blind Bogey split the pot.
13. CASH PRIZES.Prize Package winnerswill be paid by check at the following month’s tournament. If you are unable to play at the following month’s tournament your check will be mailed to you. See the Games sheet for payment of optional games.
14. CANCELLATION.You may cancel your entry in any tournament by contacting Larry Prill @ 407-718-2907 or the golf courseBEFOREthe tournament for full refund. If we do not receive notification before the tournament begins, the refunded amount will be reduced by an amount equivalent to the prize package component.
15. HANDICAPS. All new members will have to play as a scratch golfer (course handicap of zero)until they have played a minimum of three (3) AGO tournaments unless they can present a verifiable handicap index from Ghin, another golf league or online handicapping website.
Based on the number of acceptable scores posted and the Handicap Differentials derived from those scores, AGO determines an Index for the competitor. The five (5) lowest Handicap Differentials from the ten (10) most recent rounds are used to calculate an AGO Index.Your Course Handicap for a tournament will be derived from your AGO Index. Individual handicap cards are available upon request, current through the previous tournament.
Note: If you have not participated in an AGO tournament in the past twenty-four (24) months, and, you have not paid the current season’s dues, you will be required to re-establish your AGO Index by playing in (3) AGO tournamentsunless you can present a verifiable handicap index from Ghin, another golf league or online handicapping website.
16. DISQUALIFICATION.On completion of a tournament you are responsible for correctly adding your score,(front nine, back nine and total), subtracting your handicap, entering the net score, enter number of putts (if applicable), with two signatures - yours and the scorer. Any “doubtful points” or discrepancies must be presented to the Committee BEFORE the scorecard is submitted for posting. Incomplete cards will be disqualified for prizes. The scoring committee checks only cards that appear to be winners for arithmetic.
17. AGO CHAMPIONSHIP. A two-day annual Championship is scheduled for a weekend near the end of our tournament year (typically in May). To be eligible for trophies and prizes in the Annual Championship event, a member must:
•Be a paid member in good standing with the league.
•Have played 3 monthly events in the current season, OR
•Because of special circumstances received Board approval.
Those not eligible for trophy and flight prizes are still encouraged to play. They are eligible for 50-50, CTP, Low Putts and can participate in Optional Games (that do not require a handicap).
18. AWARDS BANQUET AND TOURNAMENT. The awards banquet and monthly tournament is scheduled for the following month after the Championship Tournament. Trophies and awards are presented at this time for those that won a prize in the Championship Tournament. The Board of Directors and any changes to the Board are introduced at this time. A buffet luncheon and refreshments are served along with numerous door prizes for the membership.
19. COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS. We welcome comments and suggestions from all members. You may make comments on the Entry Form. If that is not sufficient space, phone numbers for the Board members are listed below, letters are welcome, email is available or you may attend the regular monthly meetings of the Board of Directors if you prefer. All member comments are read at the monthly Board meetings.
20. SLOW PLAY.There is a continual effort to reduce or eliminate slow play. This makes the round more enjoyable for all AGO members and the host club as well. We will expect you to make every effort to maintain your position and not fall behind the foursome in front of you.
21. CONDUCT.Your conduct at a course reflects on AGO. Rudeness to club officials or members, lack of consideration for the facilities or other such action, which impairs our relationship with the course that grants us the privilege of use, will not be tolerated. Any such conduct will result in probation and repetition will cause expulsion from AGO.
22. CONTACTS. AGO is very interested in trying to provide the most enjoyable and interesting golf competition available in Central Florida. You are free to contact any Officer or Board member at any time. Their names and phone numbers are listed below. If you prefer to write a letter, address it to AGO and send it to the P.O. Box or email us at
PresidentLarry Prill407-718-2907
SecretaryJohn Ingram407-896-3796
Treasurer Jim Antal 407-217-5212
Board MemberTom Hubbard321-280-5500
Board MemberLarry Oakley407-644-3219
Board MemberSteve Idle407-722-2321
Board Member Russ Moen 407-232-0348
AMATEUR GOLFERS OF ORLANDO
P.O. BOX 3403
Windermere, FL 34786
Website:
E-mail:
(rev. 03/13)