Himalayan Open Golf Tournament 2026
Official Rules & Regulations
August 8–9, 2026
Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, Castle Rock, Colorado
Tournament Format & Competitions
- ✓ Play with Honor. Win with Integrity.
- ✓ No Attitudes at Altitude. Players are expected to demonstrate honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and respect for fellow competitors, volunteers, staff, and the golf course. Your character is remembered longer than your score!
Maximum Tournament Handicap: 28 – The Tournament Committee may review or adjust any handicap deemed inaccurate
Format: 36-Hole Individual Stroke Play Competition
Playing Tees: Golden Tees (approximately 6,332 yards) • Ladies from White Tees
Scoring Rules
- Putts must be holed out – NO GIMMIES
- Pick up on QUADRUPLE BOGEY
- If you do not hole out the quad-stroke, please write + next to quad for record
Flight Divisions
Flight A
Handicap 0–9
Flight B
Handicap 10–19
Flight C
Handicap 20–28
Standings Determination: Aggregate Gross and Net scores from both rounds determine final standings.
Championships & Awards
Overall Championships
- Overall Gross Champion
- Overall Gross Runner-Up
- Overall Net Champion
- Overall Net Runner-Up
Flight Championships (A, B & C)
- Flight Gross Champion
- Flight Gross Runner-Up
- Flight Net Champion
- Flight Net Runner-Up
Special Competition Prizes
1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes for:
| Competition | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Closest to Pin | Hole #3 | Hole #17 |
| Longest Drive | Hole #7 | Hole #13 |
| Most Pars & Most Birdies | ||
Tournament Note: A player may win only one major championship award. In the event a player qualifies for multiple championship categories, the higher award shall take precedence, and the next eligible player will advance.
Hole-in-One Challenge
One Swing Can Change Everything!
Each player has four opportunities to win: $5,000 per hole
Total Hole-in-One Prizes: Up to $20,000
Challenge Holes
Saturday: Hole #6 & Hole #14
Sunday: Hole #6 & Hole #14
Penalty Areas & Relief
Lost Ball / Out of Bounds (White Stake)
- Search time for a lost ball is 3 minutes
- Play a provisional ball to avoid delays
- 1-stroke penalty: Re-play from the previous spot
- 2-stroke penalty (Local Rule): Lateral drop within 2 club-lengths into the fairway, no closer to the hole, from the line where the ball was lost or last crossed
Yellow Stakes
- 1-stroke penalty: Re-play from the previous spot (Stroke-and-distance) OR back-on-line relief
Red Stakes
- 1-stroke penalty: Re-play from the previous spot (Stroke-and-distance), back-on-line, or lateral relief within two club lengths from point of entry. NO closer to the hole
Other Relief Situations
- Free relief is available from cart paths, sprinkler heads, drainage structures, and other immovable obstructions
- Embedded ball: Free relief. Clean and place within one club length, no closer to the hole
- Wrong Ball: Two-stroke penalty
- No practice putts are allowed on the green during play
- Air Swing: Counts as a stroke if an intentional attempt is made to strike the ball
✓ BE MINDFUL OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
DON’T ASK. DON’T COACH.
Bunker Rule
- Do not improve your lie, ground the club, or alter the sand before the stroke
- Play the ball as it lies, OR:
- 1-stroke penalty: Drop within the bunker two club lengths, no closer
- 2-stroke penalty: Drop outside the bunker on an entry line back from the hole
Scorecard Rules
Important: Each cart must record the team’s scores clearly for cross-reference.
Players are responsible for verifying all scores before submission. Write your scores neatly and clearly please.
Disqualification Results From:
- Returning a score lower than actually made
- Failure to sign a scorecard
- Missing hole scores
- Providing an incorrect handicap that results in an unfair advantage
Ties
- Overall Gross Champion: Sudden-Death Playoff
- Overall Net and Flight Championships: USGA Match of Scorecards
- Other prize categories: May be split at the Committee’s discretion
Rules of Golf
The tournament shall be governed by the current Rules of Golf as issued by the USGA and the R&A, together with Local Rules.
Player Conduct
Players are expected to demonstrate honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and respect for fellow competitors, volunteers, staff, and the golf course.
The Tournament Committee may disqualify any player for cheating, abusive behavior, serious misconduct, or deliberate rule violations.
Equipment
- Maximum 14 clubs
- Clubs and balls must conform to USGA/R&A Rules
- Distance-measuring devices are permitted to help pace of play
Pace of Play
- Players must keep pace with the group ahead
- Third warning: 1 Penalty Stroke (penalty will be assessed to the entire group)
Most Important Rule
HAVE FUN • PLAY WELL • PLAY FAST • PLAY FAIR
“If you take more strokes than everyone else, at least you got more golf for your entry fee!”