Free Golf Pool Rules Template

Copy the template below into an email, document or group message. Replace every bracketed field before sharing it. The template is free to read and reuse without an account; Clubpicks software has its own pricing.

This is a planning and rules template, not a live-scoring spreadsheet or a confirmed tournament field. For a Masters pool, fill in the verified event and pick deadline when available.

POOL NAME: [Name]
TOURNAMENT: [Verified event and year]
COMMISSIONER: [Name and contact method]
JOIN LINK: [Pool or league invitation]
PICK DEADLINE: [Displayed first-tee lock date, time and time zone]

DRAFT FORMAT: [Tier draft or salary cap]
ROSTER: [Tiers/picks per tier OR cap/minimum picks]
SCORING: [Stroke play or prize money]
COUNTING GOLFERS: [All or best N]
MISSED CUT / WITHDRAWAL: [Actual pool settings]
TIES: [Enabled tiebreaker or shared position]
PICK VISIBILITY: [Before play or hidden until start]

SOFTWARE COST: [Who pays and which plan]
SUBMISSION CHECK: Confirm your team is submitted before lock.
RESULTS: Live standings can change until the event is finalized.
NEXT EVENT: [Optional league schedule or next pool]

A sample rules message might read: “Pick one golfer from each of six tiers. Your best four adjusted stroke scores count, and the lowest team total wins. Our pool uses the fixed +8 penalty for each missed round. Picks remain hidden until the tournament begins. Check your team submission before the posted deadline.”

Add your actual deadline, invitation and tie rule. Do not promise a withdrawal replacement or a custom scoring exception unless your pool settings support it. Check the scoring guide when explaining the penalties.

Before inviting your Masters pool, try your written rules against these fictional teams. Each picks six golfers and counts the four lowest adjusted scores. These examples illustrate possible rules; check which options your pool software actually supports.

The totals alone cannot name one winner. With shared positions, the teams remain tied. With a published rule comparing each team’s lowest counting golfer first, Pine wins because −8 is lower than −6. If those golfers also tie, your rule needs to say whether to compare the next counting golfers or share the result.

Write the full order of tiebreakers before picks are submitted. Do not choose a method after seeing which team it favors.

Suppose the champion finishes at −12 and two tied entrants predicted −13 and −11. Both predictions are one stroke away. A closest-prediction rule that accepts either side still leaves a tie, so publish a next step or allow a shared result.

If you accept predictions on only one side of the result, show a negative-number example. A rule accepting only predictions numerically less than or equal to the actual score admits −13 and excludes −11. A rule accepting only predictions numerically greater than or equal to the actual score admits −11 and excludes −13. An exact prediction of −12 qualifies under either rule.

These are alternative policies, not recommended settings or a promise of software support. Specify what happens if nobody qualifies, and make sure members can understand the result before the tournament starts.

You’re invited to [POOL / LEAGUE NAME].
We’re playing [EVENT OR SCHEDULE] using [FORMAT].
Join here: [INVITATION LINK]
Pick [ROSTER REQUIREMENTS] and submit before [DATE, TIME, TIME ZONE].
The pool locks at the event’s first tee time, not your golfers’ tee times.
Scoring: [COUNTING SCORES AND SCORING TYPE].
Cut/withdrawal rule: [ACTUAL SETTING]. Ties: [ACTUAL RULE].
Picks are [VISIBLE / HIDDEN UNTIL START].
Software costs: [ORGANIZER’S PLAN]; invited members join for free.
Please open your team page and confirm your team is submitted.
Questions? Contact [COMMISSIONER].

• The event and year match the pool you created.
• The roster and counting-golfer rules match the actual settings.
• The deadline includes a time zone your members recognize.
• Software costs are clear; Clubpicks does not handle pool stakes or prizes.
• You have explained how members confirm their submitted team.

Need help choosing the settings? Compare tier draft and salary-cap formats, then follow the commissioner setup guide.