INSIDER’S LOOK! – The Tour Gig Process & Facts (Solus Golf)

Our friends at Solus Golf are a great group of guys and I have always loved reading Mark Thomas’s Tour Blog over the years. His posts give you great you a true insider’s look into how to game works on tour when it comes to the equipment and getting your equipment into the player’s bag. Here is their latest article which is a new Series on “The Tour Gig Process & Facts (SERIES)”

How To Get Your Credentials on the PGA Tour

In order to gain access to the PGA Tour you must follow a very strict set of guidelines just to obtain the application from the PGA Tour office. First off, you cannot access the tour events or players without proper credentials! In order to obtain your “Tour Badge” your product must be in play by an exempt player during competition. The product must also show up in what’s called the “Darrell Survey” which is the official survey validation that the product has been in play during competition. The Darrell Survey is conducted by an outside firm and is not associated to the PGA Tour other that to perform the weekly counts.

Additionally, this product must show up in the Darrell Survey count over several events. This target seems to vary; it might be one player, one club for 3-4 weeks or multiple players, multiple clubs over several weeks. The target seems to float from manufacturer to manufacturer. Solus made four applications attempts before receiving the go ahead. Also, it may be necessary for the player to write a letter to the PGA Tour office requesting credentials on your behalf so you can be on site to service their needs.

Once You Have Been Approved On Tour

Once you have been approved and made application you will receive your credentials. Here is a photo of mine. It doesn’t stop here! You have to pay to play the application fee for the company is $1000.00 per year and $265.00 per badge. If the badge is lost of stolen there is a $250.00 replacement cost. This credential will gain you access to all PGA Tour sanctioned events only. This same process holds true for the European Tour and all International Tours alike. Any sanctioned USGA or PGA of America events i.e. (US Opens, PGA Championship etc) requires a separate credential that has to be applied for and paid through that particular organization.

The LPGA is completely separate also. There is one advantage though, once you have your PGA Tour credential you now have access to the Nationwide and Champions Tour as well. So in essence you get three for one! These credentials give you only limited access to the site which for the reps is the practice tee, locker room, clubhouse and media room on “Practice Days Only”. These are the only days we have to work with the players and make any adjustments in equipment. Thus the reason we are only on site at the events Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after that we are on the road to the next event! Everything else you are off limits to unless invited by a tour player to be in a particular location. The grounds are policed on a regular basis and monitored by tour officials.

A Difficult And Painstaking Process (Oh Yeah…And Expensive!)

So, if you think that you have a product be it whatever and you can go get a badge and gain access to the players you are sadly mistaken this process is painstakingly difficult at best. That is why when a little company like Solus is on the PGA Tour and has been here for several years’ show we have completed our due diligent and have creditable technology and product that is in play and has earned the right to be out here. We are part of an elite group of companies that have paid the price and proven our technology as being “Tour Proven” and worthy to be on the PGA Tour! This is huge, but the costs are large to play this game. I will expand on this topic through this series.

P.S. – If you would like to read more from the Solus Tour Blog: CLICK HERE

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