About the Hutchie Tour

Past Winners:

 Hutchie Tour 2021

The only spot to win the Nelson Cup!

What is the Hutchie Tour?

The Hutchie tour is a collection of golfers from the Minneapolis/St. Paul that enjoy traveling around the area playing golf on a variety of courses.  We are not limited to playing any course that is not within 1.5 hours from the center of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

What is the Hutchie Tour's goal?

  My goal as the coordinator is to provide a friendly, good natured trash talkin' good time environment that is filled with plenty of individual competition as well as team competition.

What is the Nelson Cup?

The Nelson Cup is the Hutchie Tour's equivalent to the PGA Tour's FEDEX Cup Race.  The cup is named after Larry Nelson.  He was our good friend, mentor, 150 yard bush hacking player that always enjoyed the competition and being in the sunshine.  He passed away this past January 2009 of brain cancer.  You can read more about him at the website:  http://larrynelsonsfriends.org/ 

For the Cup, there are two events:  Points Race & Season End Match Play.  Points are awarded based upon a person's rank for the number of players on a given day.  For instance, if the person places 1st with the lowest NET score out of eight (8) players, then the person would be awarded 200 points.  Points are awarded for each place.  The maximum number of points to be possibly awarded depends on the number of players for a given day.  For 12 players, 1st place awards 300 points.  At the end, there is a total points winner declared.

At end of the Points Race, the top 16 players are eligible to play in the season end $20 Match Play Event.  Players are squared off based upon their Points Race standing.  A "sweet" sixteen is essentially laid out.  At the start of the Match Play event, the players' handicaps are frozen.  Match play is to be completed with handicaps in place.  Players have two weeks to complete their respected matches.  If the match is not completed, then both players forfeit the place in the tournament.  The winner of the Match Play event takes 2/3's of the pot while the 2nd place finisher takes the last 1/3.

In 2024, we are moving to use FEDEX cup points assigned for position finished after each event.  Maximum number of points is 25 with the subsequent points per place dependent upon the number of players per event.  For instance, if there are 8 players, then Position 1 = 25 points, Position 2 = Position 1 - 25/8,  etc. 

How does the Hutchie Tour meet its goal? 

From the first to the last day of the Minnesota golf season, two tee or more tee times are made every Saturday & Sunday.  The courses are basically chosen at random unless someone on the Tour has a recommendation.  Each day there are three main games that every player is welcome to play.  Handicaps are maintained by the League coordinator to eliminate any confusion and unfair stroke awards.

1.  One is for the Nelson Cup.  It is an individual NET handicap event.   Points are awarded to each player based upon the final rank.

2.  A $5 handicapped team game.  The players are divided up into teams based upon the recommendation for the day.  It could be 2, 3, or 4 person teams.  Typically, the game is a "best of" handicapped scoring format that will be tallied for a total score.  The lowest team wins the pot.  The game is optional and no one is obligated to play.

3.  A $5 gross skins game.  Every hole is capable of a "skin" by any player who buys in.  The basic rule of the Tour is that a skin may NEVER be won with a bogey or worse.  The saying is, "Pars or better only!"  There are not any carryovers in this game.  The game is optional and no one is obligated to play.

What are the duties of the Tour Coordinator?

The Tour Coordinator is responsible for all tour activities.  This includes making the weekend tee times, sending out the tee time email notifications, maintaining the handicaps, and overseeing the Nelson Cup Points Race and Match Play events.  The Tour coordinator maintains this website as well.  The Tour Coordinator also takes the final call on "Rain & Snow Days."  All players would be consulted first and then a decision would be made.

How are handicaps calculated and used?

From 2008 to 2015, handicaps were calculated using the USGA formula and standards.  Every player on the Tour will receive a handicap.  This handicap is not applicable outside the Hutchie Tour.  It is not sanctioned by the USGA or the NGA.   The first time a player joins the Tour will be the only time a handicap is "guessed".  If the player has a USGA handicap, then it will be used for the first time only.

Every time a player plays on the Tour, his or her gross score will be added.  A new handicap will be calculated DAILY.  Unlike the USGA which calculates the handicap on 14 day cycles, the Hutchie Tour calculates new handicaps after every Saturday and every Sunday round.

Handicaps per course are NOT considered.  The Hutchie Tour handicap will NOT be adjusted for any particular course or set of tees whereby the Tour plays on a given day.  Everyone plays off their Hutchie Tour handicap.  In 2011, players will shift to playing off different tees if desired to level the fields a bit more.

In 2016, handicaps were switched to use 1/2 the USGA round requirements.  The best 5 of the last 10 scores will now determine a person's handicap.  This system was put in place to allow more players who play infrequently on the Tour to still have an evolving handicap.  

As of 2023, we used a form of the WHS system developed by the USGA & R&A.  We will not exactly match the USGA calculations since we will not participate in the Player Course Condition (PCC) adjustment.  We will not have enough players per day to meet this requirement.  The WHS uses the best 8 of 20 scores with zero differential adjustment.  Instead, we will we be using the best 4 of 10 scores.  ESC will still be used as per USGA rules.

In 2024, we reverted to use the WHS method to calculate handicaps.  We will now use 8 of 20 scores with zero differential adjustment.   Subsequently, we have moved to use a new golf score/league tracking software, Squabbit Golf.  Handicaps will not be published initially until we can get it resolved with the software management company.

What are the Hutchie Tour Player duties?

Every player on the tour has a set of primary duties:

1.  Play honestly and fairly within the USGA/R&A rules.

2.  Treat your fellow players with respect and honesty.

3.  Be willing to help your playing partners when they are need (even in direct competition).

4.  Be willing to LAUGH at yourself!  Playing is tough enough without making your misery spill into everyone else's game.

5.  Show up for play on time!  If you are late or missing and the course charges, then it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the player to reimburse the Tour Coordinator for the tee time! You reserved the spot--so take responsibility for it!

6.  Have cash if you are going to play in the games for day!  Don't count on your fellow players to spot you!