Professional Golf Tours

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Golf

Although the popular notion is that the game of golf originated in Scotland in the mid-1400s, the truth is, no one really knows. Various forms of the sport have been played in England, France, Holland, Belgium, and even China. As other sports have promoted personalities, golf has steadfastly maintained its sense of decorum and tradition, rewarding only those who prove their mettle on the course. However, golf's love of tradition hasn't prevented it from establishing a strong Web presence in the 21st century. Whether you're just beginning or have already let golf take over your life, you'll find plenty of resources that can help you to brush up on the rules, obsess over tournaments, or improve your game.

History and Rules of Golf

Golf is a simple game; the goal is to put the tiny white ball into the small hole in the ground ... read more »

Professional Golf Tours

Understanding the organizational structure of professional golf can be difficult; the average PGA Tour player will play in tournaments governed by five different organizations over the course of a year. The Internet can help you understand the tours that make up competitive golf, as well as the organizations that govern amateur golf and major professional tournaments.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • There are several different Professional Golfers Associations. The PGA of America (USPGA) is an organization primarily for club pros. The PGA Tour, which is independent of the USPGA, is made up of elite professionals. The PGA European Tour is the international equivalent of the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour and PGA European Tour are independent of each other, though they do work together in governing the Ryder Cup.
  • Although the PGA isn't restricted to a specific gender, it is, for all practical purposes, an organization for male golf pros. Those seeking information on professional female golfers should concentrate on LPGA-related sites.
  • The novelty of senior golf tours, which became popular in the 1980s when it featured players like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, and Jack Nicklaus, has worn off. There are now fewer senior tournaments and they receive less coverage.
  • The sites listed below represent some of the biggest and best professional tours in the world. However, be sure to check your local golf courses and pro shops for information on smaller tours or tournaments in your immediate area.

Dulcinea's Picks

For men's pro tours ...
PGA Tour covers the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. It features schedules, live scores, tournament information and video. In addition, there are player bios, with current and career earnings, tournament wins, cuts made, and other facts.
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The PGA European Tour holds tournaments not only in Europe, but in Asia, Africa, and Oceania as well. Its members come from all around the world and include well-known golfers like Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, and Vijay Singh. The site delivers all the great content PGA.com has to offer, with an especially good audio/video section.
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Japan Golf Tour gives information on the Japanese professional golf tour (in English). The site features upcoming events and a robust stats section, as well as player bios and course links.
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The Pro Golfers Association of America is an organization for golfing professionals, which governs the PGA Tour, PGA Championship and, in conjunction with the European PGA, the Ryder Cup. Its site offers a broad variety of pro golf data, tour stops, statistics, ticket information and current news. The site also features an online store and an "Ask the PGA Experts" section that allows users to submit questions and browse through archived answers from authorities on golf instruction, equipment, fitness, and the rules.
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The U.S. Golf Association governs American golf, upholding rules and holding tournaments, including the U.S. Open. Its Web site has information on etiquette, equipment, course , and how to become a USGA member. It also has information on its 13 national championship tournaments.
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The Masters is one of the most prestigious professional golf tournaments, held every April at the Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia. The site includes tournament history, records, stats, player profiles, and changes to the course.
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The R&A , St Andrews is the governing body of all golf outside of the United States and Mexico. It runs The Open Championship, a major also known as the British Open. The site includes information about rules, course management, and the development of the game around the world. The R&A is named after the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's, the so-called "Home of Golf."
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Asiantour.com spotlights the Asian Tour, which actually draws players from across Asia, England, Australia, Sweden, the United States, and elsewhere. The site is first rate, with practically all of the features of more prominent sites like PGA.com, save for video and audio (although there is a television schedule listed).
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PGA Tour Australasia is primarily dedicated to covering the pro game in Australia, although a great number of Americans play on the Australasia tour as well. All the usual facts and figures can be found on this site with one slight twist-the numerical data is represented metrically.
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The Gateway Tour is designed to aid players in developing the skills necessary to compete with the "big boys" on the PGA Tour. Founded in 2001, the total money paid out on the Gateway Tour has grown every year, with the top earner in 2006 (Jamie Neher) raking in over $150,000. The Web site is very sparse on content but does provide several contact numbers and e-mail addresses for those desiring more information.
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NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour used to be a way for future PGA Tour competitors to hone their skills and gain valuable experience. But, with purses expected to top $3.6 million in 2007, the Hooters Tour, under its sanctioning body, the National Golf Association (NGA), continues to grow in stature and prestige. Lee Janzen, John Daly, Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, and 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson, are just a few of the notable tour alumni. The Web site is thorough, with membership info as well as current standings, stats, and a schedule of upcoming events.
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For pro tour information for senior men ...
Champions Tour occupies a portion of the PGA Tour Web site and furnishes a vast array of info on the senior set, including an outstanding stats section.
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Sunbelt Senior Professional Golf Tour is a site dedicated to men's senior golf in the southeastern United States. Hosting 12-14 tournaments a year, the tour claims to have paid out over $3 million in purses and includes more than 100 members that have won money on the more prestigious Champions Tour. The Web site has results, a pro shop, and a hall of fame.
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Heartlandplayers.com is great for male senior pros not quite ready for prime time, i.e., the Champions Tour. Everything from results, to current member earnings, to rules and regulations can be found on this interesting site.
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For pro tour information for women ...
The LPGA is the most prominent tour for women's golf. Its site gives biographical information relating to the ladies of the links and features a variety of interactive content, including an "Ask a Player" section that permits visitors to ask questions of their favorite tour competitors.
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Ladies European Tour is a super site dedicated to Europe's professional gals of the green, with a host of interesting features, including incredibly thorough player profiles.
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The Legends Tour provides all the essentials on the ladies senior tour, including schedules, ticket information and player bios. The site also features a forum for registered users.
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Australian Ladies Professional Golf Web site focuses on the lady pros from Down Under. Well organized, the ALPG site features easy-to-use menu tabs, providing everything from season/career earnings to golf tips. The site also contains an impressive amount of historical data, including past results dating back to 1986-87.
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Back to Top

News and Analysis of Professional Golf

Most of the major sports news organizations will have at least a portion of their Web sites devoted ... read more »

Golf Podcasts and Radio Shows

Major sports network sites such as ESPN, MSNBC, CBS Sportsline and Fox Sports have audio and video ... read more »

Fantasy Golf

Want to put your knowledge of the PGA Tour to the test? Win prizes and bragging rights for ... read more »

Improving Your Golf Game

While longtime duffers and jaded hackers may question whether or not they will ever improve their ... read more »

Buying Golf Equipment and Apparel

Typically, golf apparel and equipment can be found at any golf course pro shop as well as most ... read more »

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