2026 Summer Match Play Tournament

Handicap: 100% of GHIN Handicap

Format: USGA Match Play Rules apply; single elimination

Rules and Regulations

Open to GGA members with at least four (4) GGA tournament scores on record, including GGA tournaments played last season.
Match Play brackets will be created based on flights, with A/B on one side of the bracket and C/D on the other side, and seeded based on order of sign up from first to last.
All play will be at the Grapevine Golf Course. Each player selects which tees they play from, blue or white. Both players do not have to play from the same tees.
Hole-in-ones made during Match Play tournaments are not eligible for the Hole-in-One prize money.
If the match ends in a tie, check in the pro shop to see if it is possible to continue playing until someone wins a hole and the match. Otherwise, a scorecard playoff will start on #18 and go backwards until a winner is determined. The pro shop staff will determine the course to continue play on based on first availability. It may not be from your original 18-hole rotation, and any handicap strokes will be applied per the course selected. If the match continues and no one wins a hole before it is too dark to play or weather stops play, a scorecard playoff will determine the winner.
Each match must be completed within the two-week scheduled time posted on the GGA website. Each pairing is responsible for scheduling their match. Matches not completed within the scheduled time will result in a forfeit for both players. If the players cannot agree on a date and time to complete their match within the scheduled time, email Ronnie Hatley ASAP for assistance.
Scores will count toward your GHIN handicap and should be posted by the player. When a hole is started, but a player does not hole out, the player must record their most likely score for handicap purposes under Rule 3.3, Rules of Handicapping.
If the match ends with holes left to play and the players continue to play, the actual scores must be posted on every hole played. If a match ends with holes left to play and the players do not play the remaining holes, net par should be recorded as the hole scores for the remaining holes, keeping in mind at least 7 or 14 holes must be played for a 9- or 18-hole score to be posted.
As soon as possible after the completion of the match, the winner must email the results to Ronnie Hatley at r.hatley@verizon.net and copy his opponent. Example: Jack beat Tiger 2 & 1.
Use your current GHIN Handicap on the day of the match. It is your responsibility to verify each other's GHIN handicap to ensure the correct handicaps are being used. Log in to the USGA Golf Handicap Information Network and click on "Handicap Calculator" to determine the correct handicap to use for the combination of nine (9) holes and tees being played.
USGA rules apply. Local rules are in effect just as in GGA events, including hazards and drop zones. If there is any question about a rule during play and you are not sure how to proceed, complete the hole from that point by playing out two balls. If that results in two different scores and changes the results of the match, check with Ronnie Hatley after completion of the round to get a ruling. Please take a moment to get familiar with the USGA Rules of Golf regarding match play.
The lowest handicap will play to scratch, and the higher handicap will adjust off the lower. For example, Tiger is a five (5) and Jack is a ten (10); during the match Tiger will play without strokes and Jack will get one (1) shot on each of the five (5) toughest holes, starting with the toughest hole on the front nine and then the back nine.
It is against the rules to do things that might distract your opponent, such as cell phone use or comments prior to the shot while at the address position.

Schedule for Completion of Each Round

Based on a 26-person field.

Round	Start	End
First Round	05/25/2026	06/07/2026
Second Round	06/08/2026	06/21/2026
Third Round	06/22/2026	07/05/2026
Semi Final Round	07/06/2026	07/19/2026
Final Round	07/20/2026	08/02/2026

Awards

Based on a 26-person field. The top four finishers will receive the following cash prizes:

1st Place: $312
2nd Place: $156
3rd and 4th Place Semi Finalists: $78 each