Smartest U.S. Golf Club Challenge Rules

1. Promoter

The Smartest U.S. Golf Club Challenge is conducted by The GolfMentor, operated by Philomaths Pty. Limited.

2. Competition Period

The competition is intended to operate annually. The current competition year began on 1 January 2026. The winner for each competition year will be announced in January of the following year.

3. Geographic Scope

The competition is confined to golf clubs located in the United States unless The GolfMentor expressly states otherwise. The GolfMentor may create separate competitions for other countries or regions in future years.

4. Entry

Players may participate by using The GolfMentor and nominating a U.S. golf club in their profile.

5. Club Attribution

The GolfMentor may standardise, merge, or correct club names where it reasonably considers that different entries refer to the same golf club. The GolfMentor may exclude entries that appear invalid, misleading, duplicated, automated, or otherwise inconsistent with the purpose of the competition.

6. Scoring

Club scores are based on the number of correct Rules of Golf puzzle answers submitted by members of that club through The GolfMentor. The GolfMentor may set a minimum number of participating members before a club is eligible to appear on the leaderboard or win the competition.

7. Puzzle Accuracy and No Revision Policy

The GolfMentor takes reasonable care to ensure puzzles are accurate before publication. All puzzle questions and answers are correct at the time of publication. Once a daily puzzle has been released to players, The GolfMentor will not revise the puzzle questions, answers, or scoring for that puzzle regardless of any error subsequently identified. Any error affects all contestants equally and does not confer an advantage on any club. Players accept this condition on entry.

8. Fair Play and Cheating

Players must answer puzzle questions independently. Players must not share answers, coordinate answers, use another player's account, automate answers, or otherwise attempt to manipulate a club's score. The GolfMentor may use fraud detection methods to identify suspected cheating, including patterns of timing, answer behaviour, account activity, and other competition data.

The GolfMentor may exclude players, clubs, answers, or scores where it reasonably considers that cheating, abuse, automation, collusion, or other improper conduct has occurred.

9. Leaderboard

The leaderboard is indicative and may be delayed, adjusted, corrected, or withheld while data is reviewed. The GolfMentor may delay public leaderboard publication until a sufficient number of clubs are participating.

10. Prize

The winning club will receive a trophy engraved with the winning club's name. The trophy will be held by the winning club for one year. The GolfMentor may determine the final form, style, size, and presentation details of the trophy.

11. Rule Changes

The GolfMentor may amend the competition rules, scoring approach, eligibility requirements, or prize arrangements for future competition years. The GolfMentor may also make reasonable changes during a competition year to preserve fairness, correct errors, prevent abuse, or respond to operational requirements.

12. Final Decision

The GolfMentor's decision on eligibility, scoring, club attribution, leaderboard presentation, and the winning club is final.