How do I qualify for the Team Championship?
Does every tour send a team to the Team Championship?
What is the Team Championship format and what courses do we play?
How are the teams paired up to play each other?
What are the match pairings for each round?
How is the Team Championship scored?
How do I know who I play against in the individual match play on Tuesday?
Which tees do I play from?
What happens in the event of a tie for first place?
What happens if one player (or even both players from a flight) are missing or don’t show up to compete?
What do I get for winning the Team Championship?
Is there a pairings party before the Team Championship begins?
Is there an awards ceremony after the Team Championship is over?
Are practice rounds available?
Is lunch included with the Team Championship?
What city currently holds the Team Championship trophy?
What are the transportation/parking details for the event?
Can I use a rangefinder during the event?
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Frequently Asked Questions for the National Championship

How do I qualify for the Team Championship?
Typically, the top point winners in each flight receive an invitation to play on their home tour's Team Championship team. If the top point winner is not able to participate, the local director has the ability to offer the spot to another player to fill a team. Contact your local director to find out exactly what qualifications he is using to field your team.

Does every tour send a Team to the Team Championship?
No. Some tours are not able to field a team due to various reasons. There will be a minimum of 20 teams and a maximum of 24 teams, all with 12 players, 2 from each of the 6 flights.

What is the Team Championship format and what courses do we play?
Each 12-player team will compete in 3 formats over 4 matches: Best Ball, Modified Alternate Shot and Individual Match Play. The first day all teams will play Best Ball matches in the morning (rd. 1) on one of the three courses. In the afternoon, teams will compete in Modified Alternate Shot matches (rd. 2, 9 holes) on the same course from their morning play. On the morning of day two, teams will compete in Individual Match Play matches (rd. 3, 18 holes) on a course yet to be determined.

How are the teams paired up to play each other?
All teams are put into a blind draw and selected to compete against each other at random, with the exception that any one team can not compete against the same team twice. For example, if Sarasota/Nicklaus plays San Diego/Nicklaus in match #1, they would not play against each other in match #2 (9 holes) or match #3 (18 holes).

What are the match pairings for each round?
Pairings for round 3 will be based on the cumulative point totals from the first 2 matches (27 holes). The top 12 teams will be put into a blind drawing to compete against each other on the one course. The bottom half will compete on another course. More detail on which courses available soon.

How is the Team Championship scored?
Day one features two matches, Best Ball (18 holes) and Modified Alternate Shot (9 holes). Each hole is worth a total of 2 points. For example, if Tampa/Nicklaus is competing against Atlanta/Nicklaus in round 1, each hole is worth two points for a total of 36 possible points in the match. If the Tampa/Nicklaus team has a lower score on a hole, they win 2 points. If there is a tie on a hole, each team receives one point. After all matches have been recorded, each team will add up their points from their Palmer, Nicklaus, Hogan, Sarazen, Jones and Snead matches to come up with a team score. On day two there is one match, Individual Match Play. In round 3, each flight team will compete for a total of 72 points (36 per indivudual match) For example, if the Tampa/Sarazen players are competing against the Kansas City/Sarazen players, the Tampa/Sarazen player 'A' will compete against Kansas City/Sarazen player 'A' in a match worth a total of 36 points (2 points for a hole win, 1 point each for a tie). Therefore, each flight can win a maximum total of 72 points.

How do I know who I play against in the individual match play on Monday?
We determine who is an A player vs a B player by the contestants last names, alphabetically. If Snead playing partners for the same team are Dave Jones and Rick Smith, Dave Jones will be designated the A player and Rick Smith will be designated the B player, simply due to the fact that J comes before S in the alphabet.

Which tees do I play from?
The following table displays the estimated yardages from which each flight will play from on each corresponding course. The actual tee names will be added soon. There are no Senior tees for the Team Championship competition.

What happens in the event of a tie for first place?
In the event there are two or more teams tied for 1st place after regulation, the team captains will pick one Nicklaus player and one Sarazen player from their respective teams to compete in a sudden death playoff, Alternate Shot format. The first team to record a lower score will win the playoff and the Team Championship.

What happens if one player (or even both players from a flight) are missing or don’t show up to compete?
In the event there is a player absent from competition, the following rules will come into play.

Best Ball & Alternate Shot - If one player is missing from a flight, the remaining player will play one ball only against his competitors. If both players from a flight are missing, the rules committee will pull a team name out of a hat and use their scores to match up against the team that is missing their competitors, called a 'ghost player'. For example, if Tampa/Snead is playing a match against Louisville/Snead and neither of the Tampa/Snead players are present, a rules committee person will pull a team name out of a hat and use their scores to create a match against the Louisville/Snead team. This will be done BEFORE the match begins so there is no knowledge of what the final scores could be.

Individual Match Play - If a player is missing from a flight, the rules committee will pull a team name out of a hat and use one of their scores to match up against the player that is missing their competitor, also a 'ghost player'.

What do I get for winning the Team Championship?
Each member of the winning Team Championship team will receive a replica of the Team Championship trophy, a gift certificate and will take home the Team Championship trophy for the 2008 season to be displayed at each local event.

Is there a pairings party before the Team Championship begins?
Yes. There will be a Saturday night gathering at the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club where all players can gather to find out the latest updates on pairings, rules, course assignments and enjoy some food/drinks with other competitors from around the country.

Is there an awards ceremony after the Team Championship is over?
Yes. There will be an Awards Presentation BBQ held Monday afternoon.

How do I book a practice round?
All participants in the National Championship and the Team Championship receive preferred rates for practice rounds on the tournament courses. Participants may call 727 942 2000 to reserve at tee time on any of the four championship courses from now up until the start of the event for a preferred rate of $90. Be sure to mention you are with the GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour when reserving your tee time.

Is lunch included with the Team Championship?
Yes. We will have a sandwich/chips/drink type of boxed lunch available for all contestants on Sunday between rounds that is included in the price of the event. There will be a BBQ lunch during the Awards Presentation on Monday afternoon.

What city currently holds the Team Championship trophy?
The 2006 Team Championship was won by San Diego, Ca. They have had the Cup in their possession for the last year and will present it to this year's winner. The 2005 champions were also San Diego, Ca..

What are the transportation/parking details for the event?
Each player is responsible for his/her own transportation to and from the courses during the event. Super Shuttle will provide transportation to/from Tampa International and St. Petersburg/Clearwater airports. Make your reservations online at SuperShuttle.net.

10-Passenger Van Service
TIA to/from Innisbrook Resort: $24.00/person

Pre-paid Round Trip between TIA and Innisbrook Resort: $48.00/person

Exclusive Van TIA to/from Innisbrook Resort: $128.00/each way

St.Petersburg/Clearwater Airport to/from Innisbrook Resort: $50.00/Person

Charters/Sedan Service
Sedan Service TIA to/from Innisbrook Resort: $60.00/car

10-Passenger Charter (minimum 2 hours, gratuity included): $54.00/hour

Sedan Service (minimum of 2 hours, gratuity not included): $54.00/hour

Can I use a rangefinder during the event?
The tournament committee has made a decision to allow use of for competitors to use a rangefinder during the event.