Section 3: Playing Area
The Tournament Course
A PGA TOUR event is contested over an 18-hole golf course, almost always set up to a par of 70, 71, or 72. Total yardage for a TOUR set-up commonly falls in the range of roughly 7,100 to 7,600 yards, varying by course, elevation, and conditions.
- Tees: The committee sets the teeing locations for each round within the teeing areas, balancing scoring, weather, and pace.
- Hole locations: The competition committee, working with the host agronomy team, sets a different hole location on each green for each round, varying difficulty across the four days.
- Course set-up: Rough height, fairway width, green speed and firmness, and bunker conditioning are managed by the host course superintendent under the tournament's competition committee.
Course Marking and Local Rules
- The committee marks penalty areas, out of bounds, ground under repair, and other course conditions before play, and publishes the Local Rules and any temporary Local Rules in the Notice to Competitors.
- The PGA TOUR's standard Local Rules ("hard card") apply at every event unless specifically modified for the course.
Practice Facilities and Practice Rounds
- Tournament practice areas (range, short-game area, putting greens) are made available to the field during tournament week.
- Practice rounds are scheduled in the days before the competition; access and the number of practice rounds are governed by tournament regulations.
- Practicing on the competition course on a day of a competition, other than as permitted, is restricted.
Field and Spectator Areas
- Ropes and gallery areas separate spectators from the field; players and caddies operate inside the ropes.
- Designated drop zones, crossing points, and grandstand structures are defined as temporary immovable obstructions where relief is available under the Local Rules.