The first Nomad Classic started as a pairs tournament competition using approximated handicaps as decided by the competitors. The first tournament was scheduled to be four rounds but ended up as a three round tournament due to bad weather.

The second Nomad Classic was a single round tournament thrown together at the last minute. Three teams of three players competed with one another against their combined handicaps.

The modern Nomad Classic tournament has a more formal structure as agreed upon by the Nomad Classic Organizing Committee (NCOC). It has evolved from a three-round tournament, with the first round being an optional warm-up friendly best-ball tournament, to the first round being included, and is now a fully three-day partner’s tournament. Games are played with a first round on Thursday afternoon, followed by Friday and Saturday morning tee times.

While teams used to be randomly selected several weeks prior to the tournament once attendees have committed to play, the draw is now performed following the first round. Team scores for the first round are established after the pairings based on player handicaps. The drawing technique used varies from poker chips to playing cards.

When the Nomad first started, handicaps for each player were based on the honour system or rounds played with other competitors. Handicaps were based on a player’s average score from courses 6000 to 6200 yards long. Since not all players had an official handicap, we used a total score average and not a course difficulty adjusted handicap. Handicaps were adjusted by the NCOC up until tee-off on the first round of the competitive tournament and were estimated as the total number of strokes to play 18 holes.

However, all Nomad tournaments now use NC-Handicaps, handicaps based on the performance of participants at Nomad Classic tournaments. Only with rookies does a player have their handicap assigned based on their play with a Nomad participant. The Nomad Classic has adjusted to use the new World Handicap System.

At the tournament, scores are calculated from the difference between the raw stroke score and the handicap adjusted score for a player. A team’s score is calculated by combining the two player’s individual scores. Stroke count is based on the honour system, and should be monitored by the pairing completing a foursome. For the tournament, gimmes are not to be taken and may ONLY be given by a member of the opposing team completing a foursome. Gimmes are not to be expected nor asked for.

Longest drive and closest to the pin competitions are selected every round based on suitable holes by the NCOC. Handicaps do not affect these contests.

Any prizes at the tournament may or may not be awarded based on availability, but the major trophies are ALWAYS presented. The winner of the Nomad Classic championship trophy is the duo with the lowest combined score over three rounds based on their handicaps. The winner of the Sandbagger trophy is the individual player with the lowest individual score over three rounds of competitive play based on their individual handicap.

Launched in October 2018, the Fall Classic is a new tournament that features solo play. It is a year ending tournament intended to be two-rounds of golf occurring on a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. There is currently no trophy for the Fall Classic, but the winner does receive a cash prize.