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 a week before 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 email notification confirming their applications have been received.

Declined Payment: 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 If payment is not received within 24 hours, the side will be withdrawn, and the player who was charged will receive a full refund.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 Site reaches capacity, Player B may register for a waitlist for a non-refundable $10 fee. Sides are added to a waitlist in order of their entry date and can view their current waitlist position on the Upcoming Competitions/Transfer Sites tab on the Apply to Play page. Waitlists are available for all qualifying sites up to a maximum of 10 sides. Signing up on a waitlist does not guarantee a spot in a qualifier. Waitlists are dissolved 72 hours prior to each qualifier. Any side still on a waitlist at that time will be withdrawn with no refund.

Prior to the close of entries: If a spot becomes available prior to the close of entries, the following will occur:

• The side will be automatically added to the field, charged the qualifying entry fee, and sent a confirmation email. Sides will not be notified prior to being added to the field and being charged.
• If payment is declined, the side will be sent an email to provide payment information within 24 hours. Failure to provide payment within 24 hours will result in the side being withdrawn from the qualifier, and the next side on the waitlist will be added.

After the close of entries and no later than 11:59 PM ET, 72 hours before the qualifier: If a spot becomes available during this window, the following will occur:

• The side will be automatically added to the field, charged the qualifying entry fee, and sent a confirmation email. Sides will not be notified prior to being added to the field and being charged.
• If payment is declined, the side will be sent an email to provide payment information within 24 hours. Failure to provide payment within 24 hours will result in the side being withdrawn from the qualifier, and the next side on the waitlist will be added.
• The AGA conducting the qualifier will email side information within 24 hours.
• Sides are not eligible for a practice round until officially in the qualifier, and practice rounds are not guaranteed.
• Note: As sides move from the waitlist to the qualifier, additional sides will not be allowed to join the waitlist.

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

Waitlist Deadlines Chart: Based on the qualifier day of the week, the following outlines the specific day and time when all waitlists are dissolved:

Qualifier	Waitlist Deadline (72 Hours Prior)
Monday	Thursday at 11:59 PM ET
Tuesday	Friday at 11:59 PM ET
Wednesday	Saturday at 11:59 PM ET
Thursday	Sunday at 11:59 PM ET
Friday	Monday at 11:59 PM ET
Saturday	Tuesday at 11:59 PM ET
Sunday	Wednesday at 11:59 PM ET

Transferring

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-up on the Apply to Play page > Upcoming Competitions/Transfer Sites Tab: https://champadmin.usga.org/player#/upcoming-competitions.

Completed sides who applied to a Qualifying location and want to transfer to a waitlist site must withdraw their application by contacting the USGA Championship Administration Department at [email protected] prior to the close of entries. The full entry fee will be refunded. Once withdrawn, the side can reapply to sign up on a Waitlist.

Transfers are not permissible after entries close. If a Qualifying location has more sides than can be accommodated, some sides may be transferred to another location, and the date for Qualifying may be different than the original requested date. Transfer will be based on the date of receipt of the entry application. Transfers are final.

Player Substitution Process

A player may withdraw themselves from the side to initiate a partner substitution by logging into their player account, selecting the WITHDRAW tab, and following the instructions provided. Partner substitutions may also be made by contacting the USGA Championship Administration Department by phone at 908-326-1950 or by email at [email protected].

Example: If Player A wants to substitute Player B, Player B must first withdraw themselves from the side to initiate the partner substitution process. Player A cannot initiate the substitution by logging into their player account and withdrawing Player B.

Sides in a qualifying site or on a waitlist are eligible to substitute a partner.  Substitutions are only permitted up until 11:59 PM ET 72 hours before the qualifier.

When a substitution is requested: 

• The partner requesting the withdrawal will be withdrawn.
  • If in a Qualifying location, the player will receive a $142.50 refund before the close of entries or a $95 refund after the close of entries. If in a Waitlist site, the player will not receive a refund.
• The remaining partner will remain in the qualifying site or waitlist and will receive a registration email to forward to the new partner. 
• The new partner must use the registration email to access and complete the application within 24 hours of the original partner’s withdrawal or by 11:59 PM ET, 72 hours before the qualifier, whichever occurs first. 
•  A side remains committed to its original qualifying site or waitlist regardless of a substitution. 
  • If the new partner does not complete the application within 24 hours or by 11:59 PM ET, 72 hours before the qualifier, whichever occurs first, the remaining player will be withdrawn. 
  • If the side was in a qualifying site, the remaining player will receive a $142.50 refund before the close of entries or a $95 refund after the close of entries.  
  • If the side was on a waitlist, the remaining player will not receive a refund. 
• Once the new partner submits the application, both players will receive an email confirming their applications have been received. 

Before the close of entries, the remaining player may make an unlimited number of partner substitutions. 

After the close of entries, each side is limited to one (1) partner substitution. 

• A side may substitute only one player of the side. One player from the original side as of the close of entries must remain.
• If Player A and Player B are a side, and Player B wishes to withdraw, Player A may substitute Player B with Player C. Once the substitution of Player C is final, Player A may not be substituted from this side.
• 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.
• After the close of entries and after 11:59 PM ET 72 hours before the qualifier, 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 December 1st, at 5:00 PM ET.
  • 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 Chart: Based on the qualifier day of the week, the chart below outlines the applicable substitution deadlines: