Amateur Four-Ball Championships – Procedures & Policies

Application Process

All sides, including those who are exempt, must file an entry application online at champ-admin.usga.org. The first player of the side (Player A) must complete an entry application. A $2 fee will be charged and immediately refunded to the credit card used, which serves to securely validate and hold the credit card. When Player B completes their application, both players will be charged one of the following fees:

  • The Championship Entry Fee of $290 must be paid by sides who are exempt into the championship.
  • The Qualifying Entry Fee of $190 must be paid by sides who participate at a Qualifying Location.
    • Sides who qualify for the championship will be charged an additional fee of $100 within 72 hours of the start of the championship. The fee is non-refundable.
  • The Waitlist Fee of $10 must be paid by sides who select to join a waitlist. The fee is non-refundable.

Once Player A completes an application, they will receive two emails:

  1. Confirmation e-mail
  2. Registration e-mail to be forwarded to the partner (Player B)

Player B will use the registration email from Player A to access and complete their entry application. Player B will select the exemption category and/or qualifying location and/or waitlist site to complete the side.

Once the side is complete, both players will be charged the Championship, Qualifying or Waitlist fee, and will be sent an e-mail notification confirming their applications have been received. If there is an issue with charging a credit card, the USGA will email the player a link to submit payment. The player will have 24 hours to provide updated credit card information. If payment is not received within 24 hours, the side will be withdrawn and the player who was charged will recieve a full refund.

The entry of a side is deemed complete once both players have completed their portion of the entry process. Only completed sides will be accepted at the close of entries. 

Only those sides for whom blank entries are filed by the USGA as noted in the section on exemptions will not be required to submit entry applications. Only one entry may be filed per player. The USGA reserves the right to disqualify any player who submits more than one entry.

Waitlist Policy

When a Qualifying location has met capacity, Player B may sign up on a waitlist. The fee to join a waitlist is $10 and non-refundable. Priority of each list will be based on the date of receipt of entry application of Player B. The sides current waitlist status is located on the Upcoming Competitions/Transfer Sites Tab on the Apply to Play page. Sides who sign up for a waitlist are not guaranteed a spot in the qualifier. Waitlist expires 72 hours from the qualifier and all sides who remain on the waitlist within 72 hours of the qualifier will be withdrawn with no refund.

Prior to the close of entries: If the original waitlist site becomes available, the side will be assigned to that site, charged the qualifying entry fee and receive a confirmation email. If payment is declined, the player will have 24 hours to provide updated credit card information. If payment is not received within 24 hours, the side will be withdrawn and the next side on the waitlist will be added to the field.

After the close of entries and no later than 11:59 PM EDT 72 hours before the qualifier: If the original waitlist site becomes available, the side will be added to the field, charged the qualifying entry fee and receive a confirmation email. If payment is declined, the player will have 24 hours to provide updated credit card information. If payment is not received within 24 hours, the side will be withdrawn and the next side on the waitlist will be added to the field. The Allied Golf Association will email player information within 24 hours. Sides are not eligible for a practice round until confirmed in the field and are not guaranteed a practice round. As sides on the waitlist gain entry into the field, additional sides will not be allowed to join the waitlist.

After the close of entries and after 11:59 PM EDT 72 hours before the qualifier: All sides remaining on the waitlist will be withdrawn with no refund.

Either player from a completed side can transfer from a Waitlist to a Waitlist, Waitlist to a Qualifying Site or a Qualifying Site to a Qualifying Site prior to the close of entries by accessing the championship specific View Qualifying Sites pop out on the Apply to Play page > Upcoming Competitions/Transfer Sites Tab: https://champ-admin.usga.org/player#/upcoming-competitions. Completed sides are limited to two transfers per championship.

Player Substitution Process

All substitutions must be made by contacting the USGA Championship Administration Department at 908-326-1950 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Withdrawals prior to the close of entries: When one of the players of a completed side is withdrawn, BOTH players are withdrawn with a $142.50 refund. To create a new side, the remaining player must re-apply and then forward the registration email on to the new Player B. Once the side is complete, both players will be charged the qualifying or waitlist fee and will be sent an e-mail notification confirming their applications have been received.

Withdrawals after the close of entries:  All substitutions must be made by contacting the USGA Championship Administration Department at 908-326-1950 or via e-mail at [email protected]. If a player withdraws through their player account, BOTH players will be withdrawn and not allowed to substitute.

The partner requesting the withdrawal will be withdrawn and receive a $95 refund. The remaining partner will not be withdrawn and will be sent the registration email to forward to the new partner. The new partner will use the registration email to access and complete their entry application. A side is committed to its original Qualifying location or Waitlist site regardless of the results of a substitution. Once the side is complete, both players will be sent an e-mail notification confirming their applications have been received. 

  • The remaining player after the withdrawal will be limited to one substitution and subject to the substitution calendar below. 
  • A substitute can only be a player NOT entered in the Championship upon the close of entries. 
  • A player withdrawing from the Championship following the close of entries may not subsequently become a substitute. 
  • Following the substitution deadline (see below), a formal withdrawal on the part of one player would result in the dissolution of the side and subsequently the withdrawal of the side in its entirety. 
  • For an exempt side, all substitutions must be made prior to the last substitution deadline (November 20, 2024):
    • The remaining exempt player after the withdrawal is required to provide a substitute.
      • If the substitute was exempt as of the close of entries, the resulting side remains exempt. 
      • If the substitute was not exempt as of the close of entries, the side must play in a Qualifying round subject to availability.

Substitution Deadline Qualifying Dates (5:00PM ET)

No substitutions permitted:  8/14/2024 – 9/30/2024 
September 18, 2024:  10/1/2024 – 10/31/2024
October 16, 2024: 11/1/2024 – 11/30/2024
November 20, 2024: 12/1/2024 – 12/31/2024

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