The REV Tour, an amateur golf league and tournament format originally launched in Utah, is now open for play on Long Island. It provides local players with an outlet for competition that’s more casual and convenient than a typical amateur tour, with top performers able to advance to regional and national tournaments at premier courses around the country.
Joe Buckley, founder of the Long Island REV Tour, says the appeal of the format is in its open scheduling and the lack of pressure that players typically face in a traditional amateur tour format. The REV Tour is made up of three eight-week seasons, and each participant has a one-week window to play the scheduled course and log their round. “It’s geared toward flexibility,” Buckley says.
Four courses are currently in the REV Tour rotation — Pine Hills in Manorville, Spy Ring in Setauket, Wind Watch in Hauppauge and Willow Creek in Mount Sinai. Among the Tour’s perks, Buckley says, is that participating courses allow earlier access to tee times. He hopes to add other area courses to the schedule as the Tour progresses.
Membership in the REV Tour is $350 for the annual 24-week rotation, plus regular green fees at the designated courses. Players receive an eight-week schedule and can complete their round at any point during the scheduled week. The five best scores are used to generate each player’s REV Index, which filters players into flights with similarly skilled competitors. A regional tournament for top players will be played in Myrtle Beach, Buckley says, and a national tournament will follow, possibly at Pebble Beach or TPC Sawgrass.
Buckley says the social aspect of the REV Tour is a key differentiator as well. “We want to keep it fun, partner with local businesses, offer swag and do things like raffles and prizes,” he says. Players who sign up now receive a local golf gift card and a discount off the membership rate, plus a welcome gift. And the REV Tour will host two U.S. Open–themed events on June 18 and 19 at the Tap Room in Ronkonkoma and Garden City. Both events will have Saturday U.S. Open tickets available for winners of on-site simulator competitions.
“We’re building a community,” Buckley says. “It’s a tool to help people improve and to connect and have fun.”
Learn more about the Tour and register for the summer season at the Long Island REV Tour website.
