About the Pro Golf Tour (2024)

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About the Pro Golf Tour (1)

Pro Golf Tour: Tournament series in europe

Things to know

Information about the tour, the way to the tour, the most important questions, history & the team

What's the Pro Golf Tour?

The Pro Golf Tour was founded in 1997 and is a tournament series for young golf professionals and top amateurs who have set themselves the goal of becoming playing professionals. In addition to Langer Sport Marketing GmbH, the shareholder of the Pro Golf Tour is the PGA of Germany and its umbrella company Professional Golf AG.

About the Pro Golf Tour (2)

The Pro Golf Tour is recognized by the European Tour as the gateway to the Challenge Tour and is therefore one of four official satellite tours. This means: Whoever occupies one of the top places in the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit at the end of the season receives the right to play on the Challenge Tour for the following year. In addition, the best players are exempt from stage 1 of the Qualifying School and have thus already cleared the first hurdle on the way to the premier league of golf, the European Tour.

Last but not least, the steadily growing popularity of outstanding international players confirms that the Pro Golf Tour is becoming more and more popular every year and enjoys an excellent reputation as a professional tour and as a suitable gateway to the Challenge Tour. Accordingly, the quality and size of the participant fields are also continuously increasing. In total, up to 156 players compete in the Pro Golf Tour tournaments. The participants come from over 30 different nations.

The most prominent former member of the tour is Martin Kaymer from Mettmann, who won the ranking with five tournament victories in 2006, played a new German record round of 59 strokes at the Habsberg Classic and qualified for the European Tour via the Pro Golf Tour and the Challenge Tour (two victories) in the same year. On February 28, 2011, Martin Kaymer climbed to No. 1 in the world golf rankings.

Up-to-the-minute coverage of the Tour's tournaments is available on the website with live scoring and bilingual text and images, as well as on the Pro Golf Tour's social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. The Pro Golf Tour's headquarters and tour office are located in Diedorf near Augsburg. The managing directors of the Pro Golf Tour are Rainer Goldrian and Peter Zäh.

Pro Golf Tour questions

What is the Pro Golf Tour?

The Pro Golf Tour founded in 1997 and run under the name EPD Tour until 2012 is taking place for the 25th time in 2021. Prize money of ca. EUR 500,000 will be distributed to participating professionals between April 2021 and October 2021 at about 16 tournaments in up to six countries. Besides Langer Sport Marketing GmbH from Diedorf in Germany the PGA of Germany respectively the Professional Golf AG based in Munich is the Pro Golf Tour's other shareholder.

The Pro Golf Tour is recognised by the DP World Tour as a gateway to the Challenge Tour and is therefore one of four official satellite tours. That means: anyone who occupies one of the top rankings in the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit at the end of the season is authorised to play on the Challenge Tour the following year. The ranking list leaders are also exempt from level 1 of the Qualifying School and have therefore already overcome the first hurdle on their way to the premier league of golf, the European Tour.

Last but not least, the steadily growing popularity of outstanding international players confirms that the Pro Golf Tour is becoming more attractive from year to year and is enjoying a superb reputation as a professional tour and suitable gateway to the Challenge Tour. The quality and size of the field of participants is continuously rising accordingly. There are up to 156 players in total who tee off at the Pro Golf Tour tournaments. Participants come from over 25 different nations.

The most famous former member of the tour is Martin Kaymer from Mettmann, who won the ranking list in 2006 with five tournament wins, played a new record round of 59 at the Habsberg Classic and qualified in the same year for the European Tour via the EPD Tour and Challenge Tour (two wins). Martin Kaymer climbed to first place in the golf world rankings on 28th February 2011.

What conditions does a professional need to fulfil to play on the Pro Golf Tour?

Any professional can take part in the Pro Golf Tour tournaments. As a result there are no barriers to entry that players have to overcome. It is also possible to join the Pro Golf Tour at any time during the season.

Is a Q-School played on the Pro Golf Tour?

A Qualifying School takes place every year in October. The reason for the Qualifying School was to give new, and existing players the opportunity to gain or improve their category for the following season.

The Pro Golf Tour still remains a freely accessible tour, thus enabling all professionals and good amateurs (minimum Handicap-Index 3,4), to play in tournaments run by the Pro Golf Tour and gain experience as a tour golfer.

Please be aware that it is NOT a requirement to obtain a category to be able to participate in Pro Golf Tour tournaments, but it is advantageous. To take advantage of your category you have to be a member of the Pro Golf Tour.

Categories 2023

  • Cat 1 - Winners of Pro Golf Tour Tournaments 2023
  • Cat 2 - TOP 30 of the final Pro Golf Tour Ranking 2023
  • Cat 3 - TOP 5 of the Pro Golf Tour Ranking 2024 & Winners of Pro Golf Tour Tournaments 2024
  • Cat 4 - TOP 5 of the final Pro Golf Tour Ranking 2020-2022 & Players within 2023 Challenge Tour Category 1-20 (Members of the Pro Golf Tour season 2022)
  • Cat 5 - TOP 10 of the Qualifying School 2023, QS I & TOP 10 of the Qualifying School 2023, QS II
  • Cat 6 - 12 invitations to be decided by the Pro Golf Tour
  • Cat 7 - Players finishing in positions 31-65 in the final Pro Golf Tour Ranking 2023
  • Cat 8 - Players finishing in positions 11-30 of the Qualifying School 2023, QS I & Players finishing in positions 11-30 of the Qualifying School 2023, QS II
  • Cat 9 - Players finishing in positions 66-90 in the final Pro Golf Tour Ranking 2023
  • Cat 10 - Players finishing in positions 31-45 of the Qualifying School 2023, QS I & Players finishing in positions 31-45 of the Qualifying School 2023, QS II

Do I need to be a member of the Pro Golf Tour?

Any professional golfer can play up to three tournaments without being a member. Membership is required when you register for the fourth tournament. For amateurs, membership is not required, but without membership amateurs will not be listed in the final ranking (Order of Merit).

Can amateurs play on the Pro Golf Tour?

Yes, amateurs are always welcome on the Pro Golf Tour. Any amateur with a Handicap-Index of 3.4 or better can take part in a Pro Golf Tour event. Professionals are given preference with the awarding of starting places. In the summer months with fields of participants of up to 156 players it is generally not a problem for amateurs to take part in a Pro Golf Tour tournament.

How high are the starting fees and membership fees?

Starting fee per tournament:

  • Pro Golf Tour members: EUR 300
  • Non-members: EUR 350 (max. 3 tournaments)
  • Amateurs: EUR 300
  • Late entry fee: EUR 50 (in addition to starting fee)

Membership fee:

  • 250 Euro per season

How can I register for the Pro Golf Tour?

Professionals and amateurs can create their own account on the Pro Golf Tour website under Player Login (https://www.progolftour.de/login.html) and register for all tournaments and membership here. All information about the Pro Golf Tour as well as the tour rules can be looked at in this area.

When is the registration deadline for each tournament?

The registration deadline is between 7 -21 days (midday) before the tournament. Late entry is always possible if there are any starting places left.

Please note the different entry closing date for tournaments in Egypt.

What are the requirements to be listed in the Order of Merit at the end of the season?

To be included in the final Order of Merit at the end of the season, a player must be a member and have participated in at least 4 Pro Golf Tour tournaments during a season.

Tour office & management

Tour office & management

About the Pro Golf Tour (3)

Pro Golf Tour Office

Contact person: EPDT Golf Tours GmbH
Address: Hausener Str. 29, D-86420 Diedorf
Phone number: +49 (0) 8238-902748
Email: info@progolftour.de

About the Pro Golf Tour (4)

Geschäftsführer / CEO EPDT Golf Tours GmbH

Contact person: Peter Zäh
Phone number: +49 (0) 8238-902748
Email: info@progolftour.de

About the Pro Golf Tour (5)

Finance and Accounting

Contact person: Sabine Baur
Phone number: +49 (0)8238-902748
Email: info@progolftour.de

About the Pro Golf Tour (2024)

FAQs

About the Pro Golf Tour? ›

Originally the "Tournament Players Division", it adopted the name "PGA Tour" in 1975 and runs most of the week-to-week professional golf events on the tournament known as the PGA Tour, including The Players Championship, hosted at TPC Sawgrass; the FedEx Cup, with its finale at The Tour Championship at East Lake Golf ...

What does the PGA Tour do? ›

Mission. By showcasing golf's greatest players, we engage, inspire and positively impact our fans, partners and communities worldwide.

Are you allowed to drink on the PGA Tour? ›

For PGA Tour pros, however, it's another story. As professional athletes, tour ambassadors and role models for thousands of kids, PGA Tour pros are prohibited from drinking alcohol on the clock. According to nine-year veteran Michael Kim, however, some have been known to bend the rules.

How many different pro golf tours are there? ›

There are more than twenty professional golf tours, each run by a Professional Golfers Association or an independent tour organisation which is responsible for arranging events, finding sponsors, and regulating the tour.

How much does it cost to be on the PGA Tour? ›

It's typical for a professional golfer to spend $5,000 or more just to show up and play in a tournament, making each event a must-earn atmosphere for everyone entering the fray. With a full schedule of events on their calendar, a PGA pro will easily spend $100,000 or more in order to actually "work" at their day job.

What does a PGA pro do? ›

PGA Professionals influence how the game is played, coached, promoted and managed. They enjoy careers all over the world in a wide variety of roles from coaching to course management. You will most likely find a PGA Professional at your local club or golf facility.

Do PGA golfers earn a salary? ›

PGA TOUR Average income

The average income of a PGA golfer is USD $1.5 million a year. But it is often forgotten that income in the golf world does not only come from the players themselves.

Can you wear jeans on the PGA Tour? ›

Some things to avoid at all costs are graphic tees, tube tops or strapless garments, Spandex, jeans, heels, or flip-flops. Dress appropriately for the weather while still maintaining a level of etiquette to fit the establishment.

Are you allowed to smoke on the PGA? ›

So, the PGA – the Professional Golfers' Association – does not explicitly prohibit smoking while playing in a tournament.

How many golf balls can a tour pro carry? ›

The rule is that they can carry any number of golf balls, as long as it is the same brand and model. This is also known as the 'One Ball Rule'. Pro golfers tend to carry 9 golf balls in their staff bag, but there are a few players who have carried as little as 6 golf balls, and as many as 12 golf balls!

What is the highest paying golf tour? ›

Ranking PGA Tour Purses, Prize Money for the 2024 Season
RankTournamentWinner's Share
1Players Championship$4.5 million
2U.S. Open$4.3 million
T-3The Sentry$3.6 million
T-3AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am$3.6 million
33 more rows

What is LIV Golf vs PGA? ›

LIV also has a different playing format, covering 54 holes instead of 72. It has shotgun starts instead of a staggered format like the PGA, which results in a faster-paced game. In addition, each LIV tournament features 48 players grouped into 12 four-person teams headed by a captain.

Do pro golfers have to pay for hotels? ›

As independent contractors, pro golfers take care of their own travel and lodging. (although we do receive courtesy cars each week). I fly commercially because going private on the PGA Tour costs about $150,000 per year.

Who is the richest pro golfer? ›

The 25 Highest-Paid Professional Golfers. Tiger woods holds down the top spot with $185.7 million in total earnings.

How much tax do golfers pay on their winnings? ›

Generally, the IRS taxes prize money as ordinary income. This means that whatever percentage you are taxed for your regular income, that same rate will apply to the prize money you received.

What is the mission of the PGA tour? ›

THE PGA TOUR, INC. 'S PRINCIPAL MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE SPORT OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF THROUGH SANCTIONING AND ADMINISTERING GOLF TOURNAMENTS, AND PROMOTING THE COMMON INTERESTS OF TOURING GOLF PROFESSIONALS.

What does the PGA of America do? ›

The PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession.

How does the PGA tour have so much money? ›

The PGA Tour is a $1.5 billion business, give or take a few million dollars. It not only reaps revenue from tournaments, Tournament Players Clubs, media rights and licensing but also has various investments. It has a huge financial benefactor in FedEx.

What is the main difference between the PGA and the PGA tour? ›

Yes, the PGA Tour and the PGA of America have been independent of one another since 1968. The PGA Tour is an elite organization of tournament professionals, while the PGA of America is made up of club and teaching professionals who work at on- and off-course golf facilities around the country (and the world).

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