Vancouver Golf Tour
RACE TO WAILEA

Match Play Championship

(May-Sept)
Rules & Regulations

Official Competition Rulebook


 

Prepared by VGT Tournament Operations
For Player & Staff Use

 

 

MAY 18 – SEPTEMBER 7th / 2026

 

Event Overview

The 2026 VGT Race to Wailea Match Play Championship is a season-long amateur team competition featuring a final field of 32 two-person teams. Teams compete within regional zones before advancing to cross-zone championship rounds.  The 2026 Race to Wailea Match Play Champions will win a berth to play the Race to Wailea Match Finals on December 1-4th in Maui!!

  • Win 5 Matches = win a trip Hawaii!!
  • $10,000 in total prizing up for grabs (based on 32 teams)!!
  • All Championship & consolation round semi-finalists & finalists will win some amazing prizes & VGT gift cards!

 

MATCH PLAY TIMELINE

The schedule for each match play round is as follows:

Championship Round Schedule:

Round 1 (32 teams): May 18 – June 7
Round 2 (16 teams): June 10 – June 30
Round 3 (8 teams): July 3 – July 23
Round 4 (Semi-Finals): July 26 – August 15

Round 5 (FINALS): August 18 – Sept.7th

 

Teams that lose their first match will be entered into the Consolation Bracket for a chance at some amazing gift card prizes!!

 

Consolation Round Schedule:

Round 1 (16 teams): June 10 – June 30
Round 2 (8 teams): July 3 – July 23
Round 3 (SEMI-FINALS): July 26 – August 15

Round 4 (FINALS): August 18 – September 7

 

$10,000 IN PRIZE PAYOUTS:

Championship Round ($8,000 in prizing)

Champions: Win a trip to Maui to play in the Race to Wailea Finals ($3,000 value/player)*

Runners-up: $500 Gift Card/player ($1,000 total)

Semi-finalists: $250 Gift Card/player ($1,000 total)

 

Consolation Round ($2,000 in prizing)

Champions: $500 Gift Card/player ($1,000 total)

Runners-up: $250 Gift Card/player ($500 total)

Semi-finalists: $125 Gift Card/player ($500 total)

 

*The 2026 Race to Wailea Match Play Champions will receive a deluxe WAILEA GOLF EXPERIENCE valued over $3,000 CAD/person (see details below):

 

RACE TO WAILEA FINALS (Dec.1-4th)

Includes the following: 

  • A welcome party for the winning 2-some (can invite one guest each to party)
  • Premium welcome gifts!!
  • 3 rounds of golf at the award winning Wailea Golf Club!
      • Dec.2nd – Wailea Blue Course
      • Dec.3rd – Wailea Emerald Course
      • Dec.4th – Wailea Gold Course
  • Compete in a 54-hole tournament against successful VGT qualifiers who earned their way into the Race to Wailea Finals via the 2026 VGT Order of Merit!!
  • Daily On-course contests & prizing 
  • 4 nights SOLO accommodation at the Maui Coast Hotel
    • Each player receives their own hotel room!!
    • Players can invite their spouse, partner or friend to enjoy 4-nights in Hawaii & take part in the Race to Wailea welcome party.
    • Return transportation to the golf course each day

 

NOTE: Race to Wailea Match Play Winners are responsible for their own flights and transportation to and from the airport. 

 

Zones and Team Structure

The event registration is closed and now has a full field of 32 teams.

  • Zone 1: Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond, North & West Vancouver, Squamish
  • Zone 2: Langley, Surrey, Delta, White Rock
  • Zone 3: Tri Cities – Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody
  • Zone 4: Fraser Valley – Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Agassiz

 

Match Format

Matches are played with two-player teams using 4-Ball Better Ball Match Play. A 90% handicap allowance is applied, with the lowest handicap in each match playing off zero. Each match consists of 18 holes, with playoffs if tied.

Handicap and Stroke Allocation

In Four-Ball Match Play, 90% of the Course Handicap is used.

For example:

  • Player A: Course Handicap of 10  x 90% = 9. They play off 0 being the lowest handicap in the group.
  • Player B: Course Handicap of 18  → receives 7 strokes (90% x (18-10) = 7.2 = 7)
  • Player C: Course Handicap of 27 → receives 15 strokes (90% x (27-10) = 15.3 = 15)
  • Player D: Course Handicap of 26 → receives 14 strokes (90% x (26-10) = 14.4 = 14)

 

  • VGT will update and post current player handicap indexes for each round on the Race to Wailea Match Play portal.
  • Current indexes will be emailed to all players with the Match Play Draw the day prior to the next rounds start date.
  • Strokes are maintained even if the lowest handicap player is absent. All players must keep accurate Golf Canada handicaps.
  • All teams must email The Tournament Director, Taylor Seidel the golf course and tees being played to RacetoWailea@gmail.com a minimum of 3 DAYS BEFORE PLAYING any match.

 

Draw & Course Selection

• Random draw for all matches and seeding within each zone have determined the draw (see official match play draw)
• The top seed will select the host course
• R2W Match Play Tournament Director will select the tee yardages for all matches based on the following recommended yardages:
  * Men: 6,000–6,500 yards
  * Women: 5,500–6,000 yards

(Women will be allowed to play 10-12% shorter than male opponents.  They will select the tee closest to this 10-12% shorter yardage.)

 Reminder of Eligibility

• Two-player amateur teams (men, women, or mixed)
• Official Golf Canada handicap required

  • Maximum individual handicap index of 20.0
  • Maximum combined team handicap index of 32.0

• Minimum age: 18 (as of Sept.6)
• VGT reserves the right to verify handicap history and eligibility

 Spare / Substitute Players

Each team may register up to two reserve players for the entirety of the Match Play up until the quarter-finals of the Championship Rounds & Semi-finals of the Consolation bracket. 

Substitutes must be registered with VGT no later than 3 days before the start of a round start date by email to RacetoWailea@gmail.com.

Substitutes cannot be picked from members of an active team still playing in the match play draw.

 Match Scheduling

Each round will have a defined completion window as detailed above in the Zone Championship Timeline. Opposing teams are responsible for coordinating match dates and tee times and finalizing their match result by the noted deadline.
If no agreement can be reached, the designated home team must notify VGT Tournament Operations for a resolution.

*Please note that your email will be distributed to the Wailea Match play roster for communication between you and your competitors.*

Host Course & Fees

The home team chooses a course withing the registered zone. Each team is responsible for its own green fees, travel, and related costs.

Tied Matches

Matches tied after 18 holes will proceed to sudden-death playoff starting on a mutually agreed hole and subject to golf course discretion. If a match or playoff cannot be completed due to time or course restrictions, a random draw will determine the outcome of the match.

Scoring & Reporting

The home team is responsible for submitting the official result immediately following completion of play by email to RacetoWailea@gmai.com. VGT may require digital score submission or physical scorecard verification.

Handicap Integrity

All players must maintain an accurate and current handicap index reflective of their demonstrated ability. VGT reserves the right to adjust handicaps or apply penalties where required.

Disqualification

VGT Tournament Operations may disqualify any team for:
• Breach of conduct
• Incorrect or manipulated handicap
• Failure to comply with match scheduling windows
• Rules violations impacting fairness of play

Protests & Rulings

Any protest must be submitted in writing to VGT Tournament Operations by email to RacetoWailea@gmail.com within 24 hours of match completion. All decisions by the Tournament Committee are final.

Equipment & Player Aids

Distance measuring devices (non-sloped), golf carts, and caddies are permitted unless otherwise specified by the host facility.

Rules of Golf

All matches are governed by the VGT Hard Card, Golf Canada and USGA Rules of Golf. In the event of a local rule or competition-specific modification, VGT Tournament Operations will provide written clarification.

Regarding “Preferred Lies or Summer Rules”, please check with the Pro Shop on the day of the match to find out what the host course is currently playing. If playing “preferred Lies” then lift, clean, place within a scorecard length in the general area, no closer to the hole. “Summer Rules” would stipulate you do not get to Lift, clean or place your ball, and the ball would be played as it lies.

Bunkers are played as it lies. For temporary water in a bunker, players are allowed a free drop, with complete or maximum relief (e.g. feet can be in water, as long as ball can be dropped in section of bunker without water) within bunker. If a dropped ball in the bunker rolls into temporary water twice, the player may place the ball in the bunker where it landed. If there is no possible relief inside a bunker, for 1 penalty stroke, a player can go back-on-the-line (between your original ball placement, and the flag) and drop outside the bunker.

Field Size & Adjustments

VGT reserves the right to modify divisions, brackets, or scheduling based on field size and course availability.

Entry Fees & Expenses

Entry fees must be paid prior to participation. Teams are responsible for all green fees, travel, and associated costs unless otherwise specified by VGT.

** NOTE: The top 2 teams advancing to Race to Wailea is based on a full field of 128 teams registering. If less than 128 teams register, the winning team overall will win the trip to play in the Race to Wailea Finals**