About

WHAT IS IT: The Responders Golf Association of New York is a not so professional, but official, association consisting of “golfers”  who signed up to protect and serve their communities. Founded in 2025, the RGA Tour organizes and runs the best upstate Western New York golf tour for active and retired law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS personnel.

MISSION: To create a community of Camaraderie that promotes interest in the game of golf, provides the best competitive platform for its members, and helps to promote good mental health and wellbeing for its members.

ROLE: It focuses on growing the game through monthly competitive events and instant feedback with up to date statistics.

KEY EVENTS: 4 major championships throughout the shortened New York golf season. It also runs events like the yearly Police v.s Fire Ryder Cup and the yearly invitational where members have the opportunity to golf with their friends and family. Check out our events page for more details! Also visit the showcase, to see and read about all the trophies up for grabs!

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HOW IT WORKS

4 handicapped events so skill level does not matter BUT a handicap is required to join.

Each event will be score kept on 18 birdies App and on paper scorecards.

Two police, two fireman per 4-some, EMS members plugged in throughout. Pairings will be with another tour member from the same department as you. If there is an odd number then it will be with a random tour member of the same occupation. Scorecards must match to alleviate any discrepancies. Scores are entered into the app and written down as your gross number of strokes. The app automatically generates your NET score and leader board.

“Gross” – the raw total number of strokes a player takes to complete a round

“NET” – the gross score minus the golfer’s handicap

$25 to join the tour (entry fee)

Tour entry fee covers cost of website, trophies/awards, country club reservation fees, and end of season points leader payout.

An additional cost of $25 each event you enter into + greens fees. You are not required to play all events, as we all know our schedules can be all over the place. Event dates will be released some time after the new year. We encourage all tour members to attend each event as there are points (FedEx Cup style) to be won at each event. End of season points leaders will be paid out a lump sum.

Once we get sponsors we are hoping the tour entry fee and some greens fees are covered! Sponsorship may also include items donated by sponsors to then be won by tour members.

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REQUIREMENTS

First Responder

  • You MUST be an active or retired member of law enforcement, fire, or EMS.
  • Proof of employment with said department may be required (work ID).

Handicap

  • You MUST have a handicap to enter the league, this can be from any handicap source, whether it be from USGA GHIN or from a commonly used golf GPS/score keeping app. Proof of handicap will be required at some point before the first 2026 event. Handicaps are generated from 8 of the best rounds in the last 20 played.
  • IF you do not have a handicap, the commissioner can assist with this if you have score totals from at least 8 – 18 hole past rounds. Handicaps can be gathered from 9 hole rounds played in the past, but for it to be a true handicap it will have to be 16 – 9 hole rounds.
  • Please still reach out to the commissioner if you want to join the Tour but do not have a handicap, if spots are available we can talk about the best way to fit you in.

$25 entry / membership fee (paid yearly)

Fee includes / goes towards the following . . .

  • includes automatic entry into the field of 72 golfers
  • cost to maintain league (website costs, reservation fees, etc.)
  • trophies/awards
  • end of season points leader payout

$25 Event Fee (buy in)

  • Each event has a payout to the top 5 finishers in Gross and NET scores, in order to play in these events (4) you must pay the “buy in.”
  • This is just for the events you plan on playing in.
  • Event payments are required to be paid no less than two weeks in advance of the event. Tour members will have a grace period of 7 days prior to the event date to remove themselves from the event and get their event fee back. If a tour member removes themselves from the event 6 or fewer days before the event, they will not receive their entry fee back and it will remain in the event “pot.” Further explanation into why this is a rule can be spoken about with the league commissioner.

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FORMAT

4 Major Events with a “Fedex Cup” style points system, with payouts and trophies in each event. These are all “singles” events, so you are competing against every other golfer, including the ones you are paired with.

Members will pay $25 each Major they opt to play in. This money is then pooled and paid out to the top 5 Gross golfers and the top 5 NET golfers.

End of season points leaders will receive a bonus payout. Points are reward to every golfer based on their finish from first to last. There will be one top gross points leader and one top NET points leader.

Ryder Cup

The 12 best police and 12 best firefighters will compete in a 27 hole Ryder Cup style event at the end of the season. This is the only team event currently on the tour. This event is not handicapped and team members are chosen based on their “gross” performance. Spots are won based on “bids” and season performance. More details found on events page.

More details on all the events can be found on the 2026 Season page.

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Spots for the 2026 Season are LIMITED to 72 members, to secure your spot please complete the REGISTRATION form or contact the League Commissioner.

Drop us a follow and check out our Instagram for even more up-to-date league info and media.

Thanks for stopping by and see you in 2026!