What to Expect Each Season

• Custom Seasonal Golf Gear – One premium item each season, designed to look sharp on and off the course
• Month 1: Play-In – Play at least 3 rounds to establish your scoring average and course handicap. These stats determine your Division and playoff seeding.
• 7 Iron Challenge (Break Week) – A one-round, one-club side quest using only a 7 iron and putter. Fun, optional, and tracked separately.
• Month 2: Divisional Play – Compete within your Division (Gold, Black, White, Red) and climb the ranks. All rounds still count toward your course handicap.
• Month 3: Playoffs + Finals – Two overlapping competitions: a handicapped Prime Bracket and a Division Team Playoff. Both crown champions.
• Course Takeover – This is a new edition to our seasons.  We're planning to book one day during Month 3 for a full-course takeover, where all finals matches will be played. The rest of the league can walk alongside, heckle, and cheer.  We'll have food, drinks, and exclusive merch on-site.  
• Awards Lunch + Raffle Putt-Off – One big in-person sendoff with food, drinks, awards, and a final shot at glory on the putting green.

Months 1 - 3

Month 1: Qualifying Phase

Core Purpose

• Shake off rust and re-learn the course
• Establish your current-season scoring baseline by completing at least 3 rounds
• Get acclimated to league flow, course rhythm, and Slack submissions

Player Requirements

• Play a minimum of 3 rounds
• Only Month 1 stats count for division placement in Month 2
• Strong scoring average secures higher divisional tier

Stats Tracked

• Total rounds played (minimum 3)
• Scoring average
• Putt average (key tiebreaker)
• All rounds count towards overall course handicap

Outcomes

Players are sorted into one of four divisions at the end of Month 1:

• Gold (Top tier)
• Black
• White
• Red (Bottom tier)

By the End of Month 1, Players Should Understand

• How the course plays
• What division they’ll enter
• How their stats are used
• How to submit rounds and communicate via Slack

Break Week: The 7 Iron Challenge 

Timing

• Occurs immediately after Month 1, before Month 2 begins.

Purpose

• Lighthearted bridge between casual Month 1 and competitive Month 2
• Offers fun, creativity, and a midseason reset
• Time buffer for the Commissioner and Marshalls to organize the Division and PRIME

Format

• One round using only a 7 iron and putter
• Standard rules (no gimmies, no mulligans)
• Only one attempt allowed per season unless making up later

Submission

• Must be played during Break Week
• Late submissions allowed in Month 3 only if:
• You’re eliminated from playoffs
• You’ve qualified early and have extra tee times

Tracking

• Logged separately with separate prize pool
• Not included in main season stats

Rewards

• Premium prize (e.g., golf bag)
• League-wide prestige and bragging rights

Month 2: Divisional + Prime Bracket Play

Month 2 is where the real heart of PGL is played.  Players are competing simultaneously in two different competitive structures: Divisional and PRIME. Your round submitted will count towards both structures, with a few caveats…

Division Brackets (No Handicap)

Structure

• Players are split into Gold, Black, White, or Red Divisions based off their Month 1 round averages
• No handicaps used
• Scoring averages reset for clean divisional competition in Month 2
• All rounds during Month 2 count toward your Division Average
• More rounds = more opportunities to improve
• Top 9 finishers in each division advance to playoffs in Month 3 with 1^st place earning a bye straight to the Divisional Finals.  (The amount of players advancing per Division will fluctuate depending upon how many participate in each season)

Prime Bracket (Handicap-Enabled)

Structure

• Single-elimination format with handicaps enabled
• Players seeded by lifetime course specific handicap (Golden Gate or Fleming)
• Prime matchups are time-gated weekly
• First valid round submitted of each week counts automatically
• No banking or round selection allowed
• Extra rounds only affect Division stats
• Now split into:
• Varsity (top half of players)
• Junior Varsity (bottom half)

Round Progression

Subject to change depending upon number of players

• Week 1 = Round 1
• Week 2 = Round 2
• Week 3 = Semifinals
• Week 4 = Finals

Month 3: Playoffs & Finals

Month 3 wraps the season with three overlapping layers:

1. Prime Bracket Finals
2. Division Playoffs
3. Division Finals Team Format

Plus, a Course Takeover and Awards Lunch

 Prime Bracket Conclusion

• Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals all occur during Weeks 1–3 of Month 3
• Varsity and Junior Varsity Finals possibly held during the Course Takeover
• Final Champions:
• 1 Varsity Champion
• 1 Junior Varsity Champion

Division Playoffs: Top 9 Format

Seeding

• Top 9 in each division enter playoffs
• #1 seed receives a bye to the Division Final

Wildcard Round (8 Players)

• 2v9, 3v8, 4v7, 5v6 seed matchups
• 4 twosomes play one elimination round

Semifinal Foursome

• Wildcard winners play together
• Winner joins #1 seed in the Team Divisional Finals

Division Finals: Crossover Team Format

Two Final Teams

• Team 1 (Group A):
• 1st Gold
• 2nd Black
• 2nd White
• 1st Red
• Team 2 (Group B):
• 2nd Gold
• 1st Black
• 1st White
• 2nd Red

 Format

• Teams play as foursomes
• Combined score determines the winning team
• All 4 members of the winning team are Division Finals Champions

Final Season Outcomes

At season’s end, the following are recognized:

• Varsity Prime Champion
• Junior Varsity Prime Champion
• 4 Divisional Team Finals Winners (from the winning team)
• Top 3 finishers in each division based on Month 2
• Additional awards (detailed separately)

Rules & Regulations

We take course etiquette seriously—treat the grounds and staff like you would your grandma. Don’t be that guy.

On the Course

• Show up to your tee times. If you book it, you’re the reminder system for your squad.
• Respect the course and crew. We want PGL welcome at every muni we play.
• All rounds must be played with another PGL member. They’ll attest your score.
• Take a photo of your scorecard and post it in the #scorecards Slack thread.
• Every round counts. If you play with another member, you must submit the score—no matter how rough it was. Gentleman’s honor.

Format + Rules of Play

• Rounds are 9 holes at the designated course (Golden Gate or Fleming).
• Follow USGA rules unless overridden here.
• Stroke caps:
  • Max 7 strokes on par 3s
  • Max 8 strokes on par 4
• Putts from the fringe don’t count as official putts. Texas wedges are welcome for the lazy bum's that need it .
• Track all strokes and putts. Every hole, every round.
• One “Breakfast Ball” allowed off the first tee. If you use it, you play it—no picking the better ball.

Season Requirements

• Dues: $200 cash, due before the season starts. $20 of that goes into the Ace Pot (paid out if someone aces during league play).  Drop it with a bartender at The Showdown (SF), 1268 Grant Ave.
• Minimum of 3 rounds required in both Month 1 and Month 2 to qualify for:
  • Division Playoffs
  • Prime Bracket
  • Awards + Prizes

Communication

• We run everything through Slack—tee times, scorecards, banter.
• You’ll get access after onboarding with The Marshal.

Disputes

• Can’t agree on a ruling? Settle it like a bunch of Goobers: Rock, Paper, Scissors.