FREQUENTLY ASKED. MORE FREQUENTLY ANSWERED.

Have questions? Chances are, someone has asked them before. Take a peek through some of our frequently asked questions.

CAN I PLAY IN THIS TOURNAMENT WITHOUT A GOLF HANDICAP?
​Yes! We understand that not everyone who plays golf has a need for a golf handicap. To ensure fairness of team competition, however, we are strict in verifying every player's level of play. Besides our vouching process, we may contact you once your registration is confirmed to discuss your golf game. Typically, we ask that you provide your most recent golf scores or possibly golf on a sunny day with a BürdieMeister ambassador. Nevertheless, begin establishing a handicap by visiting FairwayFiles.com and sign-up for a free account. Start by entering any golf scores from past rounds and keep track of your scores going forward.
I'M JUST A BEGINNER AND DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS MYSELF OR LET ANYONE DOWN. SHOULD I STILL PLAY?
Absolutely YES! The BürdieMeister's tournament format—modified scramble—allows every player to contribute to their team’s success. As it is likely that you will be the D-player, your role is typically to play/putt first so the team can choose a strategy based on your result. Any shot that gives your team an opportunity to decide or play from is a huge bonus and can readily build momentum—especially, when you hole out the putt! Bottom line, it all comes down to TEAMWORK! We only ask that you diligently practice in advance of the BürdieMeister and remember to take full advantage of the practice facilities on the day of.
HOW MUCH CASH SHOULD I BRING TO JOIN IN ON THE EXCITEMENT OF THE BÜRDIEMEISTER?
For your convenience, personal checks are also accepted. There is no minimum amount required to have fun at the BürdieMeister, however, the gaming aspect elevates the excitement. We encourage players to own at least 10% of their own team plus participation in the Team Skins contest. This promotes a vested interest in one's own team’s performance and the opportunity to reap a worthwhile payout. Please review the Rules & Contests to see how your investment converts into winnings. To fully immerse yourself in the experience, consider investing in multiple teams by purchasing a team outright and/or chasing ownership shares from team owners. Doing so motivates you to cheer on other teams but perhaps more importantly, increases your chances of being in the money! We strongly caution everyone to invest within their own means as this event is intended to be in good fun, first and foremost!
HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING OWNERSHIP IN MY OWN TEAM...IN OTHER TEAMS?
To acquire ownership in your team, or any team, you can either (1) become the team's owner by buying it outright in the Calcutta with the winning bid, or (2) purchasing a percentage of ownership—an ownership share—from the team’s owner. Team owners have the right to sell any portion of ownership to other players and will typically seek out the team's players to sell back ownership as a performance incentive. We do encourage players to purchase at least 10% of their own team.
CAN I HAVE OWNERSHIP IN MULTIPLE TEAMS?
Absolutely! You may invest in as many teams as you like and in fact, doing so improves your odds of receiving an award payout since prize money is paid out to third place. Buy teams outright in the Calcutta and sell off ownership to other players and/or approach team owners to see if they are willing to sell you a percentage of theirs. ​We do our best to provide "player profiles" when auctioning teams so an informed decision can be made about buying or seeking out ownership of a team that you believe will finish in the money. Forming a consortium with other players to collectively purchase ownership allows any player to own multiple teams.
HOW DOES MY INVESTMENT IN A TEAM CONVERT INTO WINNINGS?
Ownership in any of the teams that qualify for payout will convert into winnings based on the percentage owned. The actual amount of winnings will vary since the Calcutta’s prize pool is determined by the total number of teams and the amount each team is auctioned off for. Please review the Rules & Contests, specifically Calcutta auction > Buying/Selling Ownership, for a more in-depth answer and example on how percentages convert into dollars. Please note that team ownership only applies in the Calcutta contest.
WHERE DO THE TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES GO?
The tournament entry fees help to cover a portion of the costs associated with hosting the BürdieMeister Tournament including greens fees, cart fees, unlimited use of the practice facilities, cookout lunch buffet, event services and many more player amenities. The majority of the club house prizes and tournament administration are provided by the Founders and Friends of the BürdieMeister who discount/donate their time, goods and services. It is our commitment to keep the tournament entry fee as  low as possible in an effort to allow for greater participation.
I ALREADY REGISTERED BUT SADLY, AM NO LONGER ABLE TO JOIN THE FUN. DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS?
​We understand that sometimes, things happen, and you're just not able to make an event that you had planned on. Unfortunately, entry fees are non-refundable. Not to worry though, you are able to defer/transfer your registration to next year, a different player, or both. Confirming the BürdieMeister's player roster is critical to ensure fairness in team competition, therefore, the option to defer/transfer is allowed up until 72 hours prior to the Team Drawing (2018 deadline: Tuesday, July 10, at 8:00 p.m.). Any request made after the deadline may be denied and the entry fee forfeited. Deferments are valid only for the following year's BürdieMeister.
SECOND RULE OF BÜRDIEMEISTER

There Are NO GIMME PUTTS

  • Tournament Play Overview

    ​Tournament play is a tiered, 4-person modified scramble that is contested in a single, 21-hole round. (18-hole Championship course plus the 3-hole Practice loop). Each player must submit a golf handicap or have their level of play assessed to ensure fairness in team competition. Four tiers will be calculated based on golf handicaps: A, B, C, or D-players (A-players being the best golfers).
    Forming the Teams:
    The cutoffs for each tier will be determined on the day of the Team Draw to make certain that an equal number of players are placed into each handicap tier. Teams will be formed by randomly drawing a player's name from each handicap tier so that every 4-person team will comprise of an A, B, C and D-player.
    TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
    Modified Scramble Format. The BürdieMeister golf format promotes a team effort by preventing players from having their shot played consecutively. On every hole, each team member may hit a tee shot. The team then selects one of the tee shots to play for the next shot. The player whose shot is selected becomes ineligible to play the next shot. The remaining three members of the team then hit from that position. The team then selects one of the shots to play from but again, the player whose shot is selected can not play the next shot. This process is repeated until the ball is deemed on the green. Once on the green, each team member may putt until the ball is holed (except on the assigned par-3 holes).
    ​
    Par-3 Putting Assignments. Each par-3 hole on the regulation course will be assigned to the A, B, C or D-player who will be the only person eligible to putt on that hole. Specific hole assignments will be announced on the day of the event prior to the shotgun start. The par-3 hole on the practice loop, hole #20, will not be assigned so each team member may putt once on the green.
    TOURNAMENT RULES OF PLAY:
    • The first rule of BürdieMeister: There are no gimme putts.
    • The second rule of BürdieMeister: THERE ARE NO GIMME PUTTS!
    • Modified scramble format is used on every hole.
    • All team members may tee off on every hole; men tee off from the black tees and women from the silver tees.
    • Teams will select one of the tee shots to play for the next shot and mark its location.
    • The player whose shot is selected is ineligible to play the next shot and shall not hit.
    • The remaining three team members may hit the next shot from within one club length of the marked spot.
    • The process of shot selection for the next shot is repeated until the ball is deemed on the green.
    • On the green, each team member may putt until the ball is holed; excluding the assigned par-3 holes.
    • Only the designated player: A, B, C or D-player, may putt on an assigned par-3 hole.
    • Practice shots, provisional shots, practice putts, and ball rolls are not allowed.
    • Players are allowed to lift, clean and place their ball within one club length of the marked spot, but no closer to the hole.
    • Players must place the ball in the same lie as the marked spot even if a better lie is within one club length away.
    • Non-conforming clubs, devices or any act intended to gain an unfair advantage when placing a ball is prohibited.
    • Any part of the ball touching the green shall be deemed on the green; the fringe shall be treated as fairway.
    • Putts need to be made within 4 inches (putter head) of the marked spot, but no closer to the hole.
    TOURNAMENT TIEBREAKER:
    In the event of a tie, a sudden death playoff will be played on a predetermined hole (typically, hole #9) starting 15 minutes after the last team has finished regular tournament play. Playoff rounds will be played as follows until all ties have been decided:
    1. Teams will play the hole under standard tournament rules.
    2. Second attempt to break ties playing the hole under standard tournament rules.
    3. Teams will choose a hitting order to play a single ball from tee to hole. Only one player will hit each shot. The ball must be played as it lies until deemed on the green—no lift, clean and place.
    4. Teams may choose a new hitting order to play a single ball from tee to hole. This will also be the final attempt to break tie(s) on the course.
    5. Scorecard playoff will determine a winner among tying teams in order of the following basis: the most eagles, the most bürdies, and finally hole-by-hole scores starting from hole #1.
    The sudden death playoff format gives tying teams the opportunity to actively determine their own outcome on the course. Changes to the playing format are necessary to challenge teams in order to expedite the playoff process. In the event that play is no longer possible due to weather or lack of daylight, for example, remaining ties will be decided by going to the scorecards. The decision to discontinue play at any given time will be at the tournament organizers’ discretion.

  • Calcutta Auction Overview

    The Calcutta (team auction) is an open auction held the morning of the BürdieMeister. Players bid among themselves to "buy" teams, with each team being sold to the highest bidder (owner). All proceeds from the Calcutta auction will go into the prize pool. Teams that place in the Tournament will be awarded a predetermined percentage payout of the prize pool.
    CONTEST DETAILS:
    Cost:      Varies
    Payout:  100%
    Prise Pool:  Total prize money is the sum total of the team auctions
    Payout Schedule: 1st place team = 60%; 2nd place = 30%; and 3rd place = 10%
    auction format:
    Standard Live Auction Format. To bid on a team, attract the attention of the auctioneer by being fabulous or simply raising your hand at the appropriate time. Each bid obligates the bidder to pay the amount in full when the bid is deemed final at the fall of the auctioneer's hammer. The team auction is expected to be fast paced, and bids should be made quickly. Bidding will close with fair warning only by the auctioneer. Decisions of the auctioneer are final.
    • Teams will be sold to the highest bidder (owner).
    • ​Team owners may, but are not required to, resell any portion of ownership to others.
    • Minimum amount for a team will be $600.
    • Players may bid as often, and on as many teams, as they can afford.
    • A group of players (consortium) pooling money to bid collectively on teams are welcome.
    • Bidding is in whole dollars only; bid raises will be in increments announced by the auctioneer.
    • Team owners must make payment at the close of the auction; only cash or personal checks accepted.
    • A consortium must pay in full using a single payment method per team—no split payments allowed.
    • All sales are final; no refunds except for Tournament cancellation resulting from an act of god.
    BUYING/SELLING TEAM OWNERSHIP:
    The player whose bid is deemed highest at the fall of the auctioneer's hammer is obligated to buy the team and becomes its owner; and the "owner of record" for payout purposes. Team owners may, but are not required to, resell any portion of ownership to other players. Common sense, however, should compel team owners to sell back ownership to the team's players to create a performance incentive. Any player buying a percentage of a team, "ownership share", becomes a shareholder of that team and is entitled to their portion of the payout if the team places. All payouts from the Calcutta prize pool will be awarded to the team's owner of record who is then accountable for the disbursement of monies to its rightful shareholders.
    IMPORTANT:  For reasons of practicality and amusement, BürdieMeister restricts the initial reselling of ownership at an inflated amount based on a team's declared value (final bid amount). Team owners may, however, elect to resell ownership below the declared value.
    From past tournaments, the price point for players to buy a team or ownership share has been relatively low. Owning a team is limited to the total number of teams in the Tournament and the availability of ownership shares is widely dependent on the team owners themselves. With demand for ownership exceeding available opportunities, buying a team in the auction is the only way to ensure ownership. The transaction may seem intimidating at first glance, but the examples below will shed some light. Additionally, players should consider forming a consortium to collectively pool their money. This practice has proven to be very effective as a consortium can often raise more money to outbid any challengers.

    Example #1:  Jack bids $1,200 for Team A and wins. Jack is now Team A's owner and makes a payment of $1,200 at the end of the auction. Team A's players approach Jack looking to buy into their own team and propose buying a 15% ownership share each. Jack is wanting to motivate the team's players to win and agrees to sell each player 15%, leaving himself still with 40% of the team. Each player pays Jack $180, securing an entitlement to 15% of the payout if the team places in the Tournament. Although Jack initially paid $1,200 out-of-pocket to own the team, he was able to quickly recoup $720, or 60% (4 x 15%), from selling ownership shares to its players; thereby, reducing his investment to $480.

    Example #2:  Jill has already bought an ownership share of her own team but is looking to invest in another. She learns that Jack still holds 40% of Team A and approaches him. Jack is wanting to only own 20% of Team A and agrees to sell Jill the remaining 20% of the team. Jill pays Jack $240 and now has ownership in two teams, increasing her chances of being in the money. Jack has again reduced his investment in Team A from originally $1,200, to $480, and finally, $240.
    PAYOUT EXAMPLE:
    There are 10 teams in the Tournament and the average amount a team auctions off for is $1,000. The Calcutta prize pool would be $10,000 (10 x $1,000). The team you are playing on sold for $1,200 and you decided to buy a 15% ownership share, making your up-front investment $180 ($1,200 x 15%). It so happens that your team finished in 1st place. Therefore, the team wins 60% of the prize pool or in this example, $6,000 ($10,000 x 60%). Since you hold a 15% ownership share in the team, you are entitled to 15% of that $6,000 payout and take home $900 ($6,000 x 15%). Not a bad return on investment!

  • Team Skins Overview

    The Team Skins contest pits teams against one another to win as many of the potential 21 coveted “skins”—total number of holes played in the tournament. A skin is won by the team that posts the lowest score on a hole. The low score must be unique among all scores (no ties). Teams that win at least one skin qualify for a payout from the prize pool proportionate to the total number of skins won.
    CONTEST DETAILS:
    Cost:  $80 per team
    Payout:  100%
    Prize Pool:  Total amount calculated based on the number of teams (# of teams X $80)
    Payout Schedule:  Proportionately among qualifying teams based on skins won.
    HOW SKINS ARE AWARDED:
    Upon receipt of all team scorecards at the end of the tournament, scores will be reviewed to determine if a skin has been won for each hole. The team that posts the lowest, unique score (no ties) on a hole is awarded a skin. For holes that do not have a clear winner, the skin becomes void and subtracted from the potential 21 skins. The final total number of skins won is tallied and then used to calculate the value of each skin. Teams that win at least one skin will be awarded a proportionate payout from the prize pool. A team's payout amount is determined by using the calculated value of a skin multiplied by the number of skins the team won. All payouts from the Team Skins prize pool will be awarded to the team's A-player who is then accountable for the disbursement of monies to their team members. In the event no skin is won, the Team Skins prize pool will be awarded to:
    1. The team with the most eagles.
    2. Teams that tie for the most eagles will split the prize pool equally.
    3. The team with the most bürdies (if there are no eagles).
    4. Teams that tie for the most bürdies will split the prize pool equally.
    PAYOUT EXAMPLe:
    There are 10 teams in the tournament. The Skins Game prize pool would be $800 (10 x $80). When all the team scorecards are turned in at the end of tournament play, it is determined that only 5 out of the 21 holes had a team post a lowest, unique score. Therefore, the total number of skins awarded is 5:  Team A won 2 skins, and Team B won 3 skins. The value of each skin is calculated to be $160 ($800 ÷ 5); and the proportionate payout amounts would be:  Team A wins $320 ($160 x 2), and Team B wins $480 ($160 x 3). Each team member can then collect their portion of the team winnings.
  • Closet to the Pin

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