FORMAT & RULES

Tournament Rules

Event Format

The Summit For Insurance Excellence will be conducted as a scramble-style competition. This format enables golfers of varying levels of skill to participate in a competitive yet enjoyable event. Amateur golfers will play in teams of four. Each team must provide USGA Handicap Indexes or they will be assigned an Invitational Index for the purposes of the competition. Team Handicaps will be assigned to each foursome to create a competitive event. The team with the lowest net score will win. The Invitational program provides prizes for the top 7 teams as well as prizes for proximity contests and Hole-in-One contests.

In addition to all of the prizes each team and individual player will be competing for, each golfer will receive a competition gift pack featuring Summit for Insurance Excellence apparel as well as other golfer gifts, valued at over $600 per player.

Applied Underwriters Invitational National Finals Tournament

The winning foursome earns an invitation to compete at the Applied Underwriters Invitational National Finals. This tournament will be held April 30 - May 3, 2026, at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, MO.

Official Rules & Introduction

All play at The Summit for Insurance Excellence is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf, as amended by local rules and those set forth below regarding the scramble format. As scramble play is not recognized in the Rules of Golf, the organizers of the Summit have established the following rules to govern the scramble competition. Except as set forth below or otherwise modified locally, the USGA Rules of Golf govern all play.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the sponsors of the Summit for Insurance Excellence that all events be conducted at country clubs and/or golf facilities which do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

Tax Requirements

Tax laws require that charitable organizations must inform golfers that the amount of their entry fee is tax deductible only after the fair market value of greens fees, food, drink, and other tangible gifts or services of substantial value are subtracted from the entry fee.

In addition, any and all charitable gifts of $250 or more must be substantiated in writing, including: A) amount of contribution, B) whether the charity provided goods and services in association with contribution, C) description and good faith estimate of value of any goods and services provided by the charity. To help diversify the costs of running the Summit for Insurance Excellence event, please be sure to integrate other components of your organizations’ programs and services into your local event; i.e. distribute organ donor cards to your golfers, include a charity "fact-sheet" in each registration packet, set up an educational display with various brochures, speak briefly on the work of the charity, etc.

The burden of taking the proper tax deduction is on the shoulders of our golfers, however, we are required by law to take additional responsibility in helping the golfers determine the proper deduction.

Event Format

The Summit for Insurance Excellence event will consist of a shotgun start and an awards banquet. Afternoon starts are strongly preferred as morning shotguns are less convenient for your golfers and reduce the effectiveness of the post-round fundraising. A shotgun start is necessary to ensure that all participants complete their rounds at approximately the same time. A shotgun start is conducted in the following manner:

A fully-subscribed event consists of 36 teams of four players each. Two teams will start play on each hole. The first team at each hole will tee off at a pre-announced time. The second team will tee off when it is safe to play.

As noted earlier, it is strongly recommended that the Summit for Insurance Excellence event use a four-person scramble format. In a scramble, all four members of the team hit one tee shot on each hole. The team will then select the best shot from which to play their second shot. All members of the team will then hit a second shot from that position. This procedure is repeated until the ball is holed out. A team score, and a notation of which player's drive was used, is then recorded and the team moves on to the next hole. It is strongly suggested that a volunteer scorer be placed with each team in order to maintain the competitive integrity of the event.

If an event has had a successful history with another form of competition prior to becoming part of the Summit for Insurance Excellence program, it is not necessary to change to a scramble format. As stated above, the goal of the Summit for Insurance Excellence is to distinguish the participating charity and the prestigious sponsors as participants in the highest-quality amateur golf event for charity. If a event has demonstrated that it has achieved this goal with a format other than a scramble, the event does not have to alter its format to become an Summit for Insurance Excellence event. If your event is not conducted as a scramble, you must alert your winning team that the Applied Underwriters Invitational National Finals are played as a scramble and that each team invited must comply with the handicap requirements (each team must have a combined USGA Handicap Index of at least 43.0 and only one player per team may have a USGA Handicap Index of 8.0 or below). Teams may make substitutions to comply with these rules.
Rules of play are as follows:

Any high quality 18-hole golf course that does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or religion is eligible to host Summit for Insurance Excellence event.

Except as set forth in this manual, play in Summit for Insurance Excellence events is governed by USGA Rules. Some rules may be modified by the local rules subcommittee.

Out of Bounds is defined by white stakes.

Water Hazards are defined by yellow stakes and lines.

Ground Under Repair is defined by white lines.

Lateral Hazards are defined by red stakes and lines.

Each player's tee shot must be used at least three (3) times. (It is very important to reiterate this rule before play begins.)

Play all balls up. Lies may be improved anywhere on the course by placing the ball or using the clubhead.

Each team member may hit his/her shot from within one club length (except while putting) of the shot selected by the team. However, the ball may not be placed closer to the hole. If the team plays the selected shot from the fairway, rough, bunker, hazard, or green fringe, the ball must be played from within one club length of the shot selected ‑ no nearer the hole ‑ and must remain within the same boundaries as the selected ball originally was found.

The same rules hold true for putting. However, once a ball has been holed out, play is completed for that hole. Therefore, it is recommended that players not putt out until all players have attempted the putt from the selected position. The team is required to mark the selected shot and then re‑mark the ball approximately six inches away. This allows the team to mark the ball so that all players can putt from the same spot without being disturbed by the ball marker.

On the green, players may stand behind a teammate to help determine the line.

The method of breaking ties will be matching cards. There are no playoffs in Summit for Insurance Excellence events. Matching cards is a form of breaking ties where an arbitrator, the golf professional, determines the winning team by comparing the scorecards of the tied teams hole by hole. More specifically, the Professional begins matching cards by comparing the scores of each team on the men’s number one (#1) handicap hole.

If one team has a better score on the #1 handicap hole, that team wins. If the #1 handicap hole is tied, the #2 handicap hole is compared by the pro, and this process continues until a winning team is determined.

The host golf professional must be made aware of these rules in case participants have any questions. A copy of the rules should be provided to the host professional well in advance of the event. It is very important that these rules be handed out to all participants on the day of the event in order to effectively enforce the rules of play. Fill in pertinent details such as hole‑in‑one location, etc., as well as adding any information you feel necessary. Consult with the golf professional for specific local rules.

In the event a team has fewer than four players, that team is not eligible to win team prizes because they cannot meet the requirement that each team use at least three drives from all four players. Teams with fewer than four golfers must be notified prior to teeing off that they are ineligible for team prizes, however, failure to so notify shall not affect a team's eligibility. Although three-person teams are non-competing, the individual members of a three-person team are, however, eligible to win the individual prizes (longest drive, closest-to-the-pin, hole-in-one). All golfers in Summit for Insurance Excellence events, whether they are members of competing foursomes or non-competing threesomes, are only permitted to take one shot from each ball location. In other words, under no circumstances can a golfer take a second shot at any time, on behalf of an absent team member or otherwise.

Eligibility

Any amateur golfer can play in the Summit for Insurance Excellence (all professional golfers, including those employed by golf clubs, country clubs, etc. are not permitted) provided he/she has paid the entry fee in advance. Each participant must provide his/her GHIN number (or comparable state handicap index materials) and present a USGA Handicap Index Card to be verified prior to the event. The local Tournament Committee or Chairman may provide golfers who do not have a USGA Handicap Index with an Summit for Insurance Excellence Handicap Index that may be used for the event. In order to maintain the competitive integrity of your local event:

All participants must register on-site for themselves

All participants must provide a photo ID at on-site registration

All participants must provide Handicap Index verification information prior to the event

Volunteer scorers should be placed with each foursome

Charity staff cannot compete

Photo IDs must be checked because a number of other amateur events have had problems in the past with golfers playing under aliases or other persons' names.

The Summit for Insurance Excellence Handicap Index will be determined in accordance with the USGA's "Second Best Handicap" system as follows: To create a player's Second Best Handicap, the Event Committee simply asks each un-handicapped player to submit his/her three best scores made on a regulation course (one with par of 68 or more) in the last 12 months. The scorecards from these rounds must be attested to (i.e. signed) by the golf professional. The player's Second Best Handicap is the second best score he/she has provided minus 70 for men or 73 for women. For example, if a male player submits scores of 92, 96 and 98, his Second Best Handicap would be 96 (second best score) minus 70 (for men). Thus, his Summit for Insurance Excellence Handicap Index would be 26.0.

Amateur women golfers are encouraged to play in the Summit for Insurance Excellence. Women can play with the golfers of their choice in mixed or single-sex teams.

On average, the women's tees should be set up approximately 40-45 yards ahead of the men's tees.
There are four Hole-in-One prizes provided as part of the Applied Underwriters Invitational program.

The first prize is the package described below which is provided by The Experience St Andrews. In addition to the benefits listed below, the winner will receive $2,500 in cash toward travel and other expenses.

First Prize Package: The Experience St Andrews trip for two golfers to St Andrews, Scotland + $2,500 in cash

The first golfer who makes a Hole-in-One on “The Experience St Andrews contest hole” will receive the prize package listed as follows.

Three rounds of golf - one the Old (guaranteed), one on Kingsbarns, and one on the New or Jubilee courses

Three nights (sharing a room) in the five-star Old Course Hotel

Full Scottish breakfast each morning

Lunches each day in the clubhouse restaurants

Three-course dinner in the hotel on one evening

Return transfers from your hotel to the golf courses each day

Driving Range privileges

Souvenir group photograph taken on the first tee of the Old Course

A generous range of official souvenir merchandise

A visit to the British Golf Museum

A dedicated Old Course Experience representative to coordinate your itinerary prior to arrival and available throughout your stay

It is a mandatory requirement for play on the Old Course that golfers be in possession of a handicap certificate. The handicap limit for men is 24 and for ladies it is 36.

Second Prize Package: Inspirato luxury hotel or resort vacation

The first golfer who makes a Hole-in-One on the “Inspirato for Good contest hole” will receive a complimentary three-night luxury hotel or resort vacation. See this link for the list of available options

Third Prize Package: Brush Creek Ranch vacation for two

The first golfer who makes a Hole-in-One on the “Brush Creek Ranch contest hole” will receive a complimentary four-day/three-night all inclusive stay for two people at Brush Creek Ranch

Other Hole-in-One prizes

A set of Cobra irons

Hole-in-One prize rules

The Experience St Andrews Hole-in-One contest hole must be at least 185 yards long for men and at least 175 yards long for women

The Inspirato Hole-in-One contest hole must be at least 160 yards long for men and at least 150 yards long for women

The Brush Creek Ranch Hole-in-One contest hole must be at least 165 yards long for men and at least 150 yards long for women

There must be two volunteers monitoring The Experience St Andrews Hole-in-One hole

Only the first Hole-in-One at The Experience St Andrews, Inspirato, and Brush Creek Ranch Hole-in-One holes are winners

All holes-in-one at the Cobra Hole-in-One hole are winners

Only players’ first shots on each hole are eligible for prizes. Mulligans or any other second shots are not permitted on hole-in-one holes and are ineligible for prizes
a) Each team must consist of four amateur players whose combined USGA Handicap Indexes total 43.0 or more. Only one member of each team may have a USGA Handicap Index of 8.0 or less. All four team members, however, may play with USGA Handicap Indexes higher than 8.0. There is no limit to each team's total USGA Handicap Index. Once each team has been formed with a minimum USGA Handicap Index of 43.0, then the team will compete with the other teams without handicap strokes. This is called competing at scratch. Please note that the Summit for Insurance Excellence handicap requirements refer to the USGA Handicap Index, not the course handicap. The USGA Handicap Index is the number with a decimal point on each player's handicap card. Again, it is your responsibility to verify the participants' Handicap Indexes prior to the event. In addition, players should be asked to provide their GHIN number and to show their most current USGA handicap card and a photo ID at on-site registration. If a golfer on a winning team does not have their USGA handicap card, you must reverify their USGA Handicap Index during the event or as soon as possible.

Golfers are required to provide a copy of their current Handicap Index card and/or GHIN number as of/upon registration/payment.

A GHIN number is a form of identification, essentially a "golf social security number." GHIN stands for Golf Handicap Information Network. This network is administered by the United States Golf Association.

A GHIN number is not the golfer's Handicap Index; it is a means of identifying golfers and a reference used to retrieve and verify golfers' Handicap Indexes.

b) The effective date of each Summit for Insurance Excellence golfer's USGA Handicap Index is the later of:

a. the day the golfer registers and pays his/her entry fee, or

b. the day 60 days prior to the event date.

Example: For an event held on June 15, if a golfer registers on March 23, you will verify their Handicap Index as of April 15 (60 days prior). If a golfer for this event registers on May 29, you will verify their Handicap Index as of that date.

The date of registration is defined as the date of payment. If a golfer registers more than 60 days prior to the event, his/her USGA Handicap Index must be verified as of the 60th day before the event. This USGA Handicap Index will remain in effect throughout the Applied Underwriters Invitational National Finals.

c) If somebody on the team has an emergency and cannot play, the team may use a substitute player. The substitute must have a current USGA Handicap Index which conforms to the Summit for Insurance Excellence's combined and individual USGA Handicap Index requirements. The USGA Handicap Index must be verified by the Golf Committee before allowing the substitute player to participate.

Register Today!

Foursomes are limited. Non-golfing registrations available.
Registration includes hotel and most meals.
Variety of sponsorship opportunities.