The Guide to Web.com Q-School 2017 for Amateurs & Professional Golfers

The Guide to Web.com Q-School 2017 & Beyond

From someone who has gone through the steps a few times now, the information around Web.com Q-School – and Qualifying Schools in general – is not always clear.  So, let’s break this down from a professional golfers’ standpoint. We’re hoping to create an all-inclusive guide here for all aspiring amateurs and professional golfers… so let us know if there’s any questions. We’ll be sure to answer them in the comments and update the guide as needed.

OK. Here we go.

What Is Web.com Q-School?

First off, Q-School stands for Qualifying School. And much to the surprise to friends and family asking you questions about Q-School, there is no classroom component. It is simply a series of tournaments set over the course of 4-5 months. It is a format that most competitive golfers are familiar with.

Web.com Q-School is the premier way to gain status on the Web.com TOUR for the upcoming year.  The Web.com TOUR is now the proving ground. It’s like the AAA  of baseball. It’s now the main path to the PGA TOUR. There are many ways to gain status on either the Web.com Tour or the PGA Tour, but this is the route that most golfers who are grinding out there take. And anything can happen over those 4 stages in the Web.com Q-School.

Who Is Eligible?

Any Amateur golfer or professional golfer. From my experience, Amateurs usually need to be a 2.0 handicap or less.

Another little-known fact? Golfers can turn professional at any stage. Example, if you get through the first three stages as an Amateur, you can turn Professional at Final Stage. Why would you do this? There is money to be won at Final Stage and you can only take advantage of that as a Pro. Or you could hold off and get status on tour as an Amateur. But… the first event you play on the Web.com TOUR, you would have to turn Professional. So, might as well make some mola at the Final Stage.

The Guide to Web.com Q-School 2017: How Many Rounds or Stages?

There are a total of 4 stages. Over a total of 270 holes.  Below is the 2017 site information for Q-school.

Pre-qualifying: 6 sites contested over 54 holes (3 Rounds)

August 30-September 1

September 6-8

 

First Stage: 12 sites contested over 72 holes (4 Rounds)

September 26-29

October 3-6

October 10-13

 

Second Stage:

October 31-November 3

November 7-10

 

Final Stage: 1 site contested over 72 holes (4 Rounds)

December 7-10

 

Here is the Guide to Web.com Q-School 2017 Schedule and scores at each site.

 

Strategies for Choosing a Pre-Qualifying Site

Before choosing a pre-qualifying site, be sure to look at scores from previous years at those specific spots. Some sites are used year after year, with a few new sites rotating in each year. It will give you an idea of how difficult the course is.

If you can, try to select a course that best suits your eye and a type of grass you play often. It’s not the time to try out a tight, visually challenging desert course if you typically play a traditional tree-lined layout.  And of course, closer to home is always better. Try to stay in your comfort zone as much as possible.

There are six sites for pre-qual, so I usually start with the courses that are close to home and go from there. But again, if it is a course or area you are not familiar with, I would try and shy away from that site.  You will give each site a priority ranking when you sign up. The sooner you sign up, the more likely you are to get your ideal site assignment.

 

How Many Players Advance From Each Stage?

Pre-Qualifying:

Top 38 and ties out of 78 players from each site

First Stage:

Top 21 + and ties out of 75 players from each site

*ranges from top 21 to top 24 and ties, depending on site

Second Stage:

Top 20 and ties out of 76 players from each site

Final Stage:

What Does It Cost For Q-School?

This is one of the more confusing parts. Q-School is a pretty sizable investment. Something many golfers save up for all year. So, you don’t want any surprises.  When I signed up for the first time a few years ago, it was unclear what the total amount would be, when the amounts were due and so on.  Let’s break it down for Pre-qualifying and First Stage.

Example 1 – Classic Path

Easiest way to look at this… Let’s say you play in the Pre-qualifying stage and make it through to first stage. This is what you will pay pre- deadline. It is the cheapest option:

$2,700 for Pre-qual

$2,500 for First Stage

$5,200 total!

If you continue to advance through to second stage and final stage, you don’t pay anything else. You only pay the $5,200 which would get you into all stages after first.

 

Example 2 – With Exemptions

Let’s say you are exempt into first stage and pay before the deadline. This is the cheapest entry fee you will pay.

$4,500 for first stage.

Advance to second stage, you do not owe any additional money.

The Guide to Web.com Q-School 2017: Deadlines and Signup Dates

Pre-Qualifying:

Entry deadline:
5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Entry fee paid:
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, July 19, 2017 – $2,700
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 2, 2017 – $3,000
after 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 2, 2017 – $3,500

Additional payment for Successful Pre-Qualifiers paid:
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 – $2,500

First Stage:

NOTE: The fee below is if you are exempt into first stage. For example, you did not need to do pre-qualifying, PGA Tour Canada member, or finished last year T50 or better at first stage.

Entry deadline:
5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Entry fee paid:
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 9, 2017 – $4,500
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Augst 23, 2017 – $5,200
after 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 23, 2017 – $6,000

Second Stage:

NOTE: The fee below is if you are exempt into second stage.

Entry deadline:
5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Entry fee paid:
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 30, 2017 – $4,000
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – $4,500
after 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – $5,000

 

Final Stage:

NOTE: The fee below is if you are exempt into final stage. There are many reasons you can be exempt into final stage. Example,  finishing 2-10 on PGA TOUR Canada.

Entry deadline:
5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Entry fee paid:
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, October 4, 2017 – $3,500
before 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, October 18, 2017 – $4,000
after 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, October 18, 2017 – $4,500

 

The Guide to Web.com Q-School 2017: Sign-Up Process

Earlier the better is always good when signing up. The price goes up the longer you wait. Also, remember that the earlier you sign up the better chance you have of getting the site location you want. There is a signup page that the Web.com TOUR puts up usually around late July, early August.

This is unlike Canadian Q-School – where the online sign-up process takes just as much strategy as making the final cut on the course. (The Soboba Springs site in California sold out 156 players in 2 minutes last year!) Will have a guide for Canadian Q-School for you shortly.