Sandy Pipey Pro-Am 2026

Competition date – 19th September 2026

Entry Fee - £342 per team of 3 amateurs

Ballot date - 5th February 2026

 

TERMS OF COMPETITION:

  1. ENTRIES
  1. By submitting an entry for the Sandy Pipey Pro-Am, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Competition. It is the responsibility of each competitor to ensure they have read and comply with these Terms of Competition.
  2. Royal Dornoch Golf Club / PGA reserves the right to cancel/amend this event at any time. 
  3. One entry per team must be submitted electronically via Golf Genius.  Entries in person, via email or telephone will not be accepted.  It is the responsibility of the team captain to ensure that their online team entry is completed successfully, and all contact details are accurate.  In the event of duplicate entries being submitted, the first entry will be used for all purposes.
  4. The Council of Management / PGA reserves the right to exempt a team.
  5. Should the event be oversubscribed at 5pm on 5th February 2026, there will be a ballot, if not, those who have entered will be confirmed and entries will continue to be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
  6. If we have to conduct a ballot, those who have entered with an A.N.OTHER / NO NAME will not be included and if there is a waitlist, they will be put to the bottom of it and will only be eligible to move into the roster when a name and handicap details have been confirmed.
  7. Teams will be able to make one substitution after application, if all handicap requirements are adhered to.
  8. Acceptance of an online entry does not guarantee a place in the starting field. Entrants successful in gaining a place in the starting field will be advised after the ballot.  Unsuccessful entrants or those entering after the ballot will be placed on a waiting list.
  9. Tee times are from 7.30am to 2.40pm and you may request an early or late option, but this cannot be guaranteed.

 

  1. FORMAT
  1. The best two net scores (stableford) at each hole to count.

Professionals' scores will be recorded in addition to the team score.

The maximum handicap index is 18.4 for men and 24.4 for women, with an 85% playing handicap allowance. Men will play from the green tees and ladies from the grey tees.

  1. The starting field will comprise 43 teams (172 competitors.  Made up of 129 amateurs and 43 professionals.)
  • Successful entrants will be notified on 6th February 2026.
  • Unsuccessful entrants will be placed on a waiting list and given the opportunity to compete in the competition in the event of withdrawals.
  1. The draw will be published on Friday 28th August 2026.  
  2. Amateur entries

Entry is limited to players of male & female gender, who hold a World Handicap System (WHS) Handicap Index (HI) and who are members of at least one recognised Golf Club, affiliated to a national Golf Association, authorised to adopt, manage and maintain the World Handicap System within their jurisdiction.  We do not accept entries from golfers who are solely members of:

    • OpenPlay (Scotland), iGolf (Ireland / Northern Ireland / England), FlexiGolf (Wales), Links Golf (USA) or Union Clubs (USA)
    • Any other organisation who charges a flexible subscription to merely maintain Handicap Indexes for independent golfers.
    • Institutions that charge a fee that allows its members to play on multiple courses.

If you are in any doubt, please contact competitions@royaldornoch.com.

Inactive handicap indexes will not be accepted.

Professional entries

All professionals must be current members of PGA Scotland or trainees within the Scotland PGA programme and must enter via the PGA.

e. Teams, who, after entry find that any team member’s HI no longer meets the Competition requirements, will not be eligible to play and should notify the Club office as soon as possible, at which time a full refund will be given.

f.  Prior to (2g), Royal Dornoch will complete regular HI checks and will withdraw and refund any teams who have a player whose Handicap Index is outwith those stated in (2a). 

g.  Royal Dornoch will also complete a final HI check, the day before the tee time draw (2c) and will withdraw and refund any team who has a player whose Handicap Index is outwith those stated in 2(a).

NB. In the HI circumstances noted in (2g), if any ‘withdrawn’ teams’ HI reverts to those stated in 2(a), within a week of the tee time draw date, stated in (2c) and they are still able to play, they can email competitions@royaldornoch.com to update the Tournament Committee.  The Tournament Committee will then conduct a HI check and if their HI falls in line with those stated in 2(a) the ‘withdrawn’ team will either be placed in the competition, if there is a viable space or put at the top of any waitlist.

h.  Should a HI raise above the high cap, after the tee time draw, golfers must play at the tournament cap as stated in 2(a).  Should a HI reduce below the low cap, golfers must play off the lower index.

i.  The Competition is open to male & female golfers who have Amateur Status and will be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited and the Local Rules as approved by the PGA.

j.  Any player who believes they are eligible to use the Modification for Players with Disabilities (Rule 25) should contact competitions@royaldornoch.com at entry to confirm their eligibility to use the specific modification.

k.  A copy of the Pace of Play Policy will be posted at Royal Dornoch Golf Club and will be available on request.

l.  All our Open Competitions are major club events, where a trophy or trophies and other prizes are presented at the conclusion of play.  We therefore expect all prize winners to attend the prize giving ceremony.  Any prize winner who does not turn up to the prize giving ceremony without good reason and/or fails to give their apologies to a tournament official, will not be eligible to compete in this event for three years.

We will ensure you are aware of the number of places that will receive a prize and how to keep up to date with the scores, so you can gauge whether your attendance is required.

 

3. GENERAL

  1. All competitors must adhere to any restrictions or regulations that may be in place from either Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the PGA or the Scottish Government.
  2. Each competitor, by entering the competition, hereby agrees that the PGA and Royal Dornoch can use, in perpetuity throughout the world, any form of media that includes the competitors and if relevant, their caddies, that is produced before, during or after the event.
  3. Withdrawals

Withdrawals before draw is published

  • Entry fees are fully refundable if notification of withdrawal is received before the draw is published.

Withdrawals after draw is published

  • If notification of a withdrawal is received after the draw has been published, refunds will not be issued unless Royal Dornoch Golf Club deems the situation to be an exceptional circumstance or can fill the space.
  • If Royal Dornoch Golf Club deems the withdrawal to be as a result of an exceptional circumstance, it will use its discretion in issuing a refund regardless of whether the space can be filled or not.
  • If Royal Dornoch Golf Club decides that there is not an exceptional circumstance but can fill the space a 75% refund of the competition fee will be issued.
  1. Any competitor who does not turn up for their appointed tee time without good reason and/or fails to inform the Club will not be eligible to compete in this event for up to three years.  Exceptions may be made in case of sickness and other special circumstances at the discretion of the Council of Management. If an entrant withdraws before or after close of entries, their withdrawal is final, and re-entry is not permitte
  2. Royal Dornoch Golf Club and the PGA requires players to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of the Competition and the sport of golf. Players shall at all times act in the best interests of the sport and the Competition, and shall not conduct themselves in an unlawful or improper manner so as to bring the Competition, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the sport of golf or its governing bodies into disrepute and shall not use any one of or a combination of, violent conduct, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour. Players shall comply with any Code of Conduct set by the Council of Management from time to tim  If a competitor acts contrary to the spirit of the game, the Council of Management will take appropriate action which may include disqualification.
  3. The Council of Management’s objective is to complete the Competition as per the format outlined in these Terms of Competition.   

The Council of Management reserves the right to amend these Terms of Competition at any time including the right to arrange and/or alter starting times. The decision of the Council of Management is final in all matters.

  1. Royal Dornoch will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense suffered by a competitor as a result of a decision taken at any time by the Committee to amend, curtail or cancel this Pro-Am.
  2. All competition information including a list of accepted entries and any waiting list may be viewed here.
  3. Email competitions@royaldornoch.com if you have any queries.