Date: February 2, 2026
To: All State Golf and Junior Golf Associations, PGA Sections, Junior Golf Tours, Independent Junior Golf Tournaments
From: Mac Thayer – Executive Director
Subject: 2026 Guidelines for Reporting and Publishing of Player DQ’s, WD’s, NS’s and NC’s
In order to achieve consistency throughout the sport, we have encouraged you all in the past to voluntarily consider adopting the policies outlined below. This could relieve tournament officials from trying to determine the reason or cross-examining players as to why they are not finishing an event. It places the burden on the player to explain the reason to whomever might ask them later about their reason for not continuing play.
We do recognize that no-cards (NC’s) are sometimes the most problematic but it is the number one complaint that we get from parents whose children they have taught to finish. When they see competitors quitting in the middle of a round, it gives the perception those families are “gaming the system.”
Please take time to review the chart attached and forward it to your junior tournament directors. Please also note that your decisions about a player’s status are yours alone and are final. We will forward all questions about a particular player or situation to your organization.
Please see the chart below that outlines the use and guidelines of DQ, WD, NS and NC. These were designed as a result of the conversations we mentioned.
Please feel free to call with any questions. Your input is welcome. All final decisions rest with your tournament officials, tour/event staff, or committee.
Status Designation Guidelines
| Category Name | Designation | Explanation | Report to Junior Golf Scoreboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Show Before Competition Begins | DNS | Please get your provider to add DNS to your codes. Those players who do not come to the tournament at all. |
NO Each organization handles internally. |
| Disqualified | DQ |
Reserved for actual USGA rules infractions that occur without a deliberate
or managed intention.
Note: Failure to appear at all for a tee time is NOT a DQ. See “No Show” below. |
YES + any official scores |
| Withdrawal | WD |
Reserved for a deliberate voluntary action or decision not to continue play
after having started a competition, notifying an official, and turning in an
official score for the stipulated round(s).
Also reserved for a player stopping play mid-round who has a compelling visible, verifiable, or extremely special reason—vomiting, cuts, swollen ankle, bee stings, death in the family, etc. Examples such as a hurt wrist, bad back, or simply not feeling well would not generally be considered visible or verifiable (subject to tournament discretion). |
YES + any official scores |
| No Show | NS | Completed one or more rounds and fails to report for a tee time without previously notifying anyone. | YES + any official scores |
| No Card (Worst Action by Player) | NC |
After having begun competition, a deliberate decision not to sign or turn in
a card, walking off the course, etc.
Clarification (2022): Proof of medical treatment can change NC to WD if the tournament decides. Then call us. Always your decision. |
YES + any official scores |
We ask that if a player tees off, you include that player with the appropriate mark. Do not send in incomplete round scores; instead, send us the mark given.
Example: A player finishes Round 1 with a score of 75 but quits mid-round in Round 2 on Hole 9 with a score of 50 and leaves without signing a scorecard. Report this as:
75-NC
Examples
- Player does not come to the tournament at all – handled by the tournament organization and not reported.
- Player tees it up, plays a complete or partial stipulated round, and walks off without turning in a scorecard for any reason – NC (deliberate decision by player). Report all completed round scores.
- Player tees it up, plays, signs a card, does not call or speak to an official, and fails to show for the next round – NS (deliberate decision by player). Report all scores.
- Player plays, signs a card, comes to the course, reports late for a tee time, or calls to acknowledge being late – DQ (benefit of the doubt given).
- Calls to say they are sick – WD.
- Player tees it up, plays, signs a card, and notifies an official that they will not be playing the next round for any reason – WD (deliberate withdrawal). Report all scores.
- Player unintentionally fails to sign a scorecard – DQ (unintentional action by player).
- Player fails to sign a card after being given an opportunity to do so – NC (deliberate decision by player). Report all scores.
