45th Annual Tournament of Whampions
Date: July 18th, 19th, and 20th, 2025
Site: Hot Springs Country Club, Hot Springs, Arkansas
45 YEARS AND STILL COUNTING
I don’t know about all of you, but the Masters Tournament got me fired up to play some golf! It’s time for us to start preparing for our tradition unlike any other in Hot Springs, Arkansas… the Whampions Tournament! It’s time to grab your buddies and hit the links to start your quest of winning this coveted championship. Show up, show off and make your mark!
It’s time to visit our special little course in the hills of Arkansas where the weather will be perfect, the fairways will be beautiful, the greens will be slick and the competition will be fierce as usual. Yes, it’s challenging but that makes the prize so much sweeter. This is your tournament, make the most of your time with friends and family in the hills of Arkansas. For all those who have played in this tournament and are no longer with us on this earth, we thank you and know you are watching over your fellow Whamps. For everyone else, let’s tee’em up and let’em fly to see who captures the coveted trophy! Yes, it’s that time again. It’s WHAMPION time!
Enclosed you will find your personal invitation to participate in The 45th Annual Tournament of Whampions.
FORMAT
All competition is based on the handicap quota system. Points are awarded after each hole as follows: 1 pt. for Bogey, 2 pts. for Par, 4 pts. for Birdie, and 8 pts. for Eagle. Each competitor is assigned a quota by subtracting his or her USGA handicap from 36 (18 pars equal 36 pts.) If you do not have an established Whampions handicap already, please contact the Tournament Committee for consideration. If a handicap cannot be established, you will not be allowed to compete.
COMPETITION
GENERAL PURSE: The general purse is a 36-hole format conducted over Saturday and Sunday with 18 holes played each day. After completion of the first round, each competitor’s quota is subject to a 50% adjustment, up or down, based on their standing, and two-day point totals will select the champion and other winners.
DAY MONEY: Participation in the Day Money purse is accomplished by providing a payment of $20 per day. This payment is INCLUDED in your entry fee and the purse is divided among the three top finishers each day, 50%, 30%, and 20%.
SKINS: Participants will fund the “pot” with $5 each day. This fee is INCLUDED in your entry fee and the distribution is determined by how many skins are outstanding each day. (Example: 100 participants X $5 = $500 divided by 4 outstanding skins = $125 ea. skin)
TEAM COMPETITION: Any three competitors may comprise a team, but the team can only be registered once on a first-come basis. In addition, the individual that puts a three-person team together need NOT be a member. In other words, pick out three horses you think are ready to run, plunk down your $60 bucks and see what these chokers are made of. Two-day point totals will determine the winning team. A very popular event, big bucks at stake. Registration will be Friday and before tee off Saturday around the pro shop.
THE CALCUTTA: The Calcutta will take place on Friday July 18th at 5:30pm at the Oaklawn Race Track and Casino. Every player will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. If any individual is unable to buy himself during the auction, he is guaranteed the option of buying 30% of himself from whoever bought him. The Calcutta will be based off the individual’s two day tournament total. We will pay out 4 or 5 places depending on participation. Not only is this an extra way to make some money, it is also a wonderful opportunity for everyone to socialize over an ice cold beer.
HOLE SPONSORS: We are asking for hole sponsors this year at $100.00 per hole. $25.00 of the sponsorship money will go into the general purse while the other $75.00 will be awarded at each hole. Each hole that is sponsored will have a special task such as longest bogey putt or closest to the pin out of a sand trap etc… These sponsorships will help increase the total payout and give every golfer a chance to win at each hole.
SHOOT-OUT: This sudden death format is comprised of two-man teams DIVIDED into TWO groups. The first group must have a combined handicap of 18 or more BUT not more than 24. The second group will consist of those teams with a combined handicap of 25 and higher. This is an “alternate” shot event. Again, chip-offs will break ties. The fee is $100 per team and the surviving team in each group collects the entire purse. Each group MUST play to determine a final, single team winner. Registration around the pro shop Friday and Saturday with competition beginning at 4:00PM on Saturday after round one is complete.
YOUNG GUNS: Any participant who is 35 or younger on or before July 1, 2025, is eligible. The purse is funded with a $40 entry fee and the final winner will be determined using the quota system over 36 holes. There will be only ONE winner. No split purse!
SENIORS COMPETITION: Any participant who has reached the age of 50 on or before July 1, 2025 is eligible to participate.
The purse is funded with a $40 entry fee and the final winners will be determined using the quota system over 36 holes. The purse is divided 60%/40% between the two top finishers.
SUPER SENIORS COMPETITION: Any participant who has reached the age of 60 on or before July 1, 2025, is eligible. The purse is funded with a $40 entry fee and the final winner will be determined using the quota system over 36 holes. There will be only ONE winner. No split purse!
PAST CHAMPIONS: All past champs are eligible for this event. Entry fee is $40 and final winner is determined, again, using the quota system over 36 holes. One winner.
AWARDS: All awards are cash. In most cases, 1 out of every 3 participants share in the purse in one event or another. The Day Money and Skins are awarded at the completion of the final round.
ELIGIBILITY
All competitors will be assigned an official Whampions Handicap prior to the start of the competition. This is established using many components. Course rating, retrospect, and personal interviews, combined with testimonials from your local club professional. After complete consideration has been provided for the entire field, proper adjustments will be made to ensure equity. Veteran Whamps and those with a confirmed USGA “cap” need not worry. Those who do not meet one of these two requirements MUST arrange for qualification. It is very simple, if a legitimate handicap cannot be established, you CANNOT compete in the Whampions. In addition, and this is important, NO first time Whampion is eligible for the first-place money or trophy. He is, however, if he should win, entitled to second money and any other awards he qualifies for.
ENTRY FEES
The entry fee for this year’s event is $490.00 and includes all golf, cart, and range balls for THREE days, plus the tournament entrance fee. In addition, remember that both Day Money and Skins are also included. To get you off to a good start, each morning the famous HSCC Breakfast Buffet will be available for all competitors. Also, we are including a hamburger lunch on Saturday after completion of the round. This too, is included in your entry fee. When you arrive, you will have the opportunity to fund yourself in the following: shoot-out, three-man, senior, super seniors, past champs or young guns. You must make arrangements for your accommodations, grub, and any “sides” you happen to find yourself involved in. The FIRST TIME WHAMPION DISCOUNT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE! We provided this discount for several years to help build our numbers and it worked wonderfully, but this came at the expense of the prize fund. With increasing course fees and other expenses involved, we have decided to remove this discount in order to boost the prize fund for everyone!
Attached is the official entry form. Please complete and return to us ASAP along with your check for $490.00. We can only play a limited number, and will take applicants on a first come, first serve basis only!!
This year we are also adding the digital payment option, Venmo. Please send your Venmo payments to username @Greg-Procell-1.
“DO’S and DON’T”
“Do” mail your application TODAY. It may already be too late!
“Don’t” call the committee about a handicap. Each call results in a higher quota.
“Don’t” bring any chap stick or other foreign substance that might affect or alter the ball flight.
“Don’t” bring any illegal club, i.e. drivers NOT sanctioned by the PGA.
“Don’t” cheat.
If caught in ANY of the above infractions, there WILL NOT be a penalty. You will simply be removed from the field WITHOUT any refund.
Hot Springs Country Club Pro Shop – 501-624-2661- (call for Friday tee times)