asian tour q school entry list

Tour Q-School Heading to Australia and US

Singapore: The highly anticipated 2024 Asian Tour Qualifying School is set to be held across six different venues in three countries over a span of five months, starting in September.

Apart from its regular destination in Thailand, the Asian Tour Qualifying School will also be staged in the United States for the second straight year and is set to make a welcome return to Australia following a 17-year lapse.

The First Stage of the Qualifying School will consist of six events, with the first to be played ‘Down Under’ at the Mt Derrimut Golf & Community Club in Victoria from September 26-29, while the Soboba Springs Golf Club in California will host the next stop from November 7-10.

Thailand, which has such a strong association with the Qualifying School, will stage the ensuing events, at Grand Prix Golf Club, Kanchanaburi from December 12-15, and Pattana Sports Resort, Chonburi from December 19-22.

The final two First Stage qualifiers will be played simultaneously from January 9-12 at the Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok and Grand Prix Golf Club.

Each event will be played over four rounds, with the top-placed finishers earning places in the Final Qualifying Stage to be played in Thailand from January 16-20. 

The top-35 will earn their cards for the 2024 Asian Tour season with the venue for the final qualifying stage to be announced in due course.

“The Asian Tour added a new Qualifying School site in the United States for the first time last year and we received immediate interest with the site filling up in a matter of days. It made complete sense to look at other regions from which we typically see a large number of entrants. Australia was the natural candidate,” said Cho Minn Thant , Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.

“A First Stage Qualifying event being played in Australia reflects increased interest in the Asian Tour and our need to broaden Qualifying School’s reach. It also demonstrates the strong bond we have always enjoyed with Australia’s talent pool year in and year out. This way we can help lessen the burden if travelling for Stage 1.”   

The Final Qualifying Stage will be played over five rounds. The top 140 players (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to rounds three and four. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the decisive final round, which will be held on January 20. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will be ranked accordingly for the 2024 season.

Many of the Asian Tour’s most successful golfers have ascended through the Qualifying School including Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (1999) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2009), Australian Scott Hend (2007), and American John Catlin (2018).

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CHINA TOUR - QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

APPLICATION FORM

The International Open Q-school is open to all players who meets the eligibility requirements.

• 2024 China Tour International Open Qualifying School
• Date: Mar 05th, 2024 – Mar 10th, 2024
• Host Course: Hainan Qixianling Golf & Spa
• Address: Hainan Baoting Qixianling Hot Spring Resort 572300
• Deadline: Monday February 19th,17:00 China Standard Time (GMT +8)

A 72-hole stroke play event. The Qualifying Tournament becomes official after 36 holes have been played.

Top 65 players（including ties）after 36 holes make the cut. There will be no cut if there are no more than 65 players after the 1st round.

Unless otherwise specified, any players whose score is 88 or above in the first or second round will be disqualified and the Committee may slightly modify the pairing accordingly.

International Open Q-school will open to players from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, China, Macao, China , Chinese Taipei and other countries or regions.

The committee will admit 120 players according to the Q-School’s Entry Criteria (see 10. Entry and Registration).

China Tour ONLY accepts WeChat payment

- Driving Range:

Non-official Practice Round (within 30 days from the tournament week): 180RMB/player/day (8:00-17:30). Alternatively, 30RMB/box and in busy hours, requeue is required after 2 boxes.

Tournament Week: Free for players.

- Golf Course:

Non official practice rounds (within 30 days from the tournament week)：530 RMB/Round，for both weekday and weekends. But caddie tip is not included.

Tournament Week: 350RMB/18 holes, 190RMB/9 holes.

Note：If a club caddie is used, caddie tip is no less than 200 RMB/18holes.

Eligibility

Professional players (incl. coaches) and amateur players with a handicap of 4.0 or below are eligible to enter the tournament. China Tour reserves the right to remove anyone not meeting the requirements from the field.

A player under the age of 16 may enter a China Tour Qualifying Tournament, provided he will be 16 on or before March 29th, 2023.

Note 1: If a player under the age of 16 qualifies for the China Tour through Q-School, they must be at least 16 years of age and turn pro before applying for China Tour membership.

Entry Criteria

The International Open Q-school is open to all players who meets the eligibility requirements. When the field reaches the maximum number of players, the Entry Criteria will be as follows:

Category 1：International players and players from Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and Chinese Taipei ranked within top 2000 on the Official World Golf Rankings as the date of the entry closed. (Players will be ranked in the order of their position on the OWGR list)

Category 2：International players and players from Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and Chinese Taipei ranked 61st-100th on the 2023 China Tour Order of Merit. (Players will be ranked in the order of their position on the list）

Category 3：International players and players from Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and Chinese Taipei ranked within top 2000 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings as the date of the entry closed. (Players will be ranked in the order of their position on the WAGR list）

Category 4：International players and players from Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and Chinese Taipei who ranked within top 10 on the Order of Merit or Honor Ranking of PGA TOUR Series-China or China Tour in any season during 2014 thru 2023. (Player who has achieved this most recently will have the priority. If two or more players have achieved this at the same time, priority will be determined by their final positions on the ranking list. If two or more players have identical qualifying conditions this will be settled on the first come first served basis.)

Category 5：International players and players from Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and Chinese Taipei who finished within top 30, including those tied for the 30th place, in any tournament of China Tour in 2022-2023 season. (Player who has achieved this most recently will have the priority. If two or more players have achieved this at the same time, priority will be determined by their final positions at that tournament. If two or more players have identical qualifying conditions this will be settled on the first come first served basis.)

Category 6：Other International players and players from Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and Chinese Taipei who meet the Eligibility. (Priority will be determined on the first come first served basis.)

Category 7：Chinese mainland players:

a.Players who signed up for International Open Q-School only. (Priority will be determined according to the 2024 China Tour Domestic Q-School Entry Criteria.)

b.Players who had chosen to transfer to the International Open Q-school if not in the Domestic Q-school’s field after its entry closed. Priority will be determined according to the 2024 China Tour Domestic Q-School alternative list. When two players have same alternative position from each of the two Domestic Q-Schools, priority will be determined as follows: 1st alternative player of Domestic Q-School One, 1st alternative player of Domestic Q-School Two, 2nd alternative player of Domestic Q-School One, 2nd alternative player of Domestic Q-School Two…and so on.

OFFICIAL HOTEL

Hotel Address：

Hotel Contact:

Player’s Category

The top 40 players from International Open Q-School at the end of play will be eligible for membership of the 2024 China Tour.

The Top 10 players will earn status of Category (4) (i.e. full cards); the Top 11-25 players will earn status of Category (9) (i.e. conditional cards); the Top 26-40 players will earn status of Category (11) (i.e. conditional cards).

Membership and Performance Benefits

A.The leading Member from the 2024 China Tour Order of Merit (OOM) earns：

• a category 17 spot on the 2025 season’s DP World Tour. If the winner of OOM forfeits the benefit, the eligibility will go to next available member based on the ranking of OOM without going beyond the 10th player on the ranking list.

• Honor Membership for the next five seasons (2025-2029) of China Tour.

B.The second player from the 2024 China Tour OOM earns a full membership (category to be determined) of 2025 The European Challenge Tour. If the player forfeits the benefit, the eligibility will go to next available member based on the ranking of OOM without going beyond the 10th player on the ranking list.

C.The third player from the China Tour OOM are exempt into final stage of DP World Tour Q-School held in 2025 if not otherwise exempt. If the player forfeits the benefit, the eligibility will go to next available member based on the ranking of OOM without going beyond the 10th player on the ranking list.

D.Next 3 leading available Members from the China Tour OOM are exempt into the second stage of DP World Tour Q-School held in 2025 if not otherwise exempt. If any of the three players forfeits the benefit, the eligibility will go to next available member based on the ranking of OOM without going beyond the 10th player on the ranking list.

E.Winners of any 2024 China Tour Tournaments are eligible in category (2) for the remainder of that official season and the following 2 official seasons (2025-2026).

F.Players within the Top 40 on the 2024 China Tour OOM are eligible in category (3) for the 2025 season.

G.Players will gain OWGR ranking Points based on their performance in each tournament.

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Payment Options

Players could pay the entry fee by Chinese Yuan. The entry fee of the China Tour need to be paid online. The payment information will be sent by the official mailbox after the receiving the application form.

1. After the successful submission of the application form, the players will receive an automatic reply and require e-mail verification.

2. the successful verification of the mailbox, the player will enter the audit stage.

3. After the audit is successful, the player will receive the payment prompt message, please follow the message content to complete the payment of the entry fee.

4. The success of the player registration is only conditional by the successful payment.

Notice：Do not accept on-site registration! Official mailbox is [email protected]

Withdrawals & Refunds

The applicant is required to pay the entry fee from the date of getting approved to 17:00 (Beijing Time) 7 days before the tournament week. Failure to do so will result in the applicant being deemed to have withdrawn from the tournament

The applicant who withdraws before the first official practice tee time on the first official practice day will receive a refund with half entry fee. After that no refunds will be issued.

Withdrawal must be sent to the [email protected]

Rules of Golf

Play shall be governed in accordance with The R&A Rules of Golf, and the local rules and supplementary terms of competition established by the Committee.

Questions or disputes (including equipment rulings) shall be settled by the on-site Rules Committee appointed by China Tour, whose decision shall be final.

Any driver the player uses in the qualifying must on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by The R&A. Any ball used must be on the current List of Conforming Golf Ball issued by The R&A.

One Ball Rule the Groove and Punch Mark Specifications in Model Local Rules 8G is applying in the qualifying.

Players: Shirts: Collarless, sleeveless, transparent / designed or worn outside trousers are NOT acceptable.

Trousers: Jeans of any color are not acceptable. Furthermore, trousers should not be worn tucked into socks.

Shorts: Players and caddies are allowed to wear knee length golf shorts which should be mainly monochromatic and have no external pocket.

Footwear: Golf shoes with metal spikes are NOT acceptable.

Caddies: All caddies are required to wear solid-colored khaki-style long pants, which touch the top of the shoe, or solid-colored, knee-length tailored shorts, and a collared shirt while on club property. T-shirts, jeans, culottes, skirts, shorts and capris are not permitted. Acceptable colors shall be determined at the discretion of The Tournament Director. Caddies shall wear smooth rubber-sole shoes, preferably tennis or basketball shoes. Golf spikes, soft or metal are prohibited.

While on host facility property during qualifying rounds; players and caddies shall conduct themselves in a professional manner. China Tour reserves the right to remove a player from the qualifying competition for; non-competitiveness; conduct unbecoming a professional by the player; conduct unbecoming a professional by the players’ caddie.

China Tour reserves the right to remove an applicant from the competition if an applicant returns a non-competitive score after any round of the China Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Reduction or Cancellation

Peace of play

Player should follow the PACE OF PLAY POLICY in China Tour Tournament regulation.

TELEVISION, RADIO, MOTION PICTURE, PHOTOGRAPHIC, ELECTRONIC, INTERNET AND SIMILAR RIGHTS/DECLARATIONS

The undersigned hereby grants and assigns to China Tour, without limitation, the undersigned’s individual television, radio, motion picture, photographic, electronic, internet “Interactive Applications” (as defined below) and all other media rights with respect to the undersigned’s participation in the qualifying tournament or any portion thereof (i.e., at all times on-site during Tournament week and during any Tournament-related activities), or any other footage of the undersigned that may be captured by China Tour Entertainment or its contractors with the undersigned’s permission, with the understanding that China Tour's use thereof shall be limited to the following: (1) advertising, promoting or publicizing the China Tour, or any broadcasts thereof; (2) live broadcasts during tournaments, (3) broadcasts or exhibitions on a recorded basis as part of a program or motion picture of tournaments or year-end summaries of sports award programs or any news of sports news programs; provided, that in no case shall the rights granted hereunder be used in any program or motion picture designed for instructional purposes without the express written consent of the player(s) involved; and (4) live or taped non-exclusive updates. “Interactive Applications” shall mean the presentation in any medium in a way that permits the viewer to interact with or manipulate the presentation or access other relevant information during the presentation. China Tour may assign such rights to those parties to those parties it deems necessary. The undersigned agrees to refrain from any action which will interfere with China Tour’s ownership of the rights hereunder granted and assigned to China Tour or with any authorized use thereof. The undersigned also agrees to abide by and be governed by the China Tour - Tournament Regulations currently in effect (and, if a member of China Tour, attest that a copy thereof has been furnished to me) and by the Rules of Golf of the R&A, subject to any modifications thereof approved by China Tour.

The undersigned hereby declares that they have the financial capacity to support themselves on the China Tour for one full year and that the foregoing information furnished by player in the Application is true and complete; and understands that any material false statements herein furnished by player may result in their expulsion from the Tournament and the suspension or termination of their playing privileges in tournaments cosponsored, approved or endorsed by China Tour.

DRUG TESTING: I understand that drug testing may be conducted on players pursuant to the Chinese National Anti-Doping Agency. As a potential member of China Tour, I understand I may be bound by the requirements of the Program specifically including but not limited to the following: to provide a urine sample to any testing agency authorized by the China Tour at any time or place without advance notice; that refusal to provide a sample, if requested, will constitute an anti-doping rule violation; that any sample collected shall become the property of the China Tour; that the China Tour may disseminate information pertaining to me relevant to the Program, as permitted by the Program; and that the Results Management provisions of the Program shall provide the sole and exclusive method for resolving any dispute related to drug testing.

Players under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian or their delegated representative and sign a waiver of liability

By submission of this entry, I agree to the following:

• I agree to the regulations on the entry form included herewith and I agree that my entry is subject to rejection at any time.

• I agree that certain risks are inherent to the game of golf and accept personal and sole liability for all such risks.

• I agree that the responsibility of insuring this application is received by China Tour by no later than the applicable entry deadline as set forth on Exhibit A is mine alone and that this application will be automatically rejected if it is received by China Tour after such date and time.

• I agree that the risk of delay lies solely with me and that the China Tour has no liability with respect to any such delay and the consequences there from, including rejection of this entry.

I agree that all charges associated with this application made to either my personal credit card or a third-party credit card are my responsibility and that should these charges be rejected, disputed or otherwise remain unpaid, my membership privileges in China Tour may be forfeited.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, China Tour reserves the right to deduct any rejected, disputed or otherwise unpaid charges from any prize money owed to me.

China Tour will use personal information collected from applicants for the purpose of administering the tournament and to provide applicants with information relating to products, services and promotions of China Tour and affiliates of China Tour. China Tour shall not sell, share or otherwise disclose personal information of applicants with third parties, other than to third parties engaged by China Tour to fulfill the above purposes or as otherwise consented to by the applicant. To view China Tour’s Privacy Policy, visit www.cgatour.com.cn.

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FIRE PIT COLLECTIVE

Why this week’s KFT Q School forced some players into hard choices

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in Fire Pit Collective , a Golf Digest content partner.

Steve Dykes

In a professional golfer’s mind, securing tour status is somewhere between inspiring hopes and unattainable dreams. Q School season is winding down, and talented professional golfers and hopeless dreamers alike have embarked on another qualifying odyssey. The entry fees are steep, the travel costs high, and the competition merciless. To make matters more complicated, the landscape has changed. A massive amount of money has been showered upon the game, and there has never been a better time to be an established and, especially, elite player. But what about everyone else? What does the steep ascent to the top of professional golf look like when you’re at the bottom?

At the end of every season, aspiring professional golfers take inventory of their bankrolls, skills, mettle, family situation and more and make one of the biggest decisions of their careers: which qualifying school to enter. Korn Ferry Tour and DP World Tour Q School are held in the fall. Both have three main stages to navigate, and for KFT newcomers, an additional pre-qualifying stage. As players advance deeper into the stages, the dates of the Q Schools overlap.

Rico Hoey graduated from Southern California in 2017 and won in his first season on PGA Tour Canada. He recorded three top-10 finishes in his first season on the KFT in 2018, narrowly keeping his card. After failing to measure up the past few seasons, he ran the Q School gauntlet this fall.

“No matter what Q School I do, I just want to get on a tour and play there,” Hoey (below) says. “Once the prices came out, it was pretty shocking.” The $6,500 price tag to enter KFT Q School was steep, but he decided it was worth the risk. DPWT Q School had been on a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, but the $2,200 cost didn’t change.

Wesley Hitt

“I decided to try both,” Hoey says. “I always knew if I got to the final stage of both, I’d choose the Korn Ferry Tour. If I didn’t make it through KFT, at least I had the DP World Tour as a backup.” Hoey was unwavering at the first and second stage of KFT Q School, advancing after finishing T-10 and T-6. Between stages, he traveled to Denmark for DPWT Q School, but the rain and cold dampened his momentum, and he failed to advance.

Jhared Hack is a past champion of the Western Junior and Western Amateur and was a top professional prospect when he left the University of Central Florida in 2009. He has played three seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour since, with a handful of PGA Tour and DPWT starts to his name. In recent years he battled the driver yips, but he slowly worked his way back to the brink of the big time. Last year he spent an entire practice round vibrating on another frequency, shooting a 15-under-par 57 at Las Vegas Golf Club. He posted a final-round 63 to win the Arizona Open. Still, he had minimal financial support this season, so Hack carefully weighed his Q School choices.

“First thing was the monetary value: $2,200 vs $6,500,” he recalls. “I’m gonna get a life experience from one of those. I’d never been to Italy.” Hack focused all of his energy and resources on DPWT Q School, in part because of the ultimate carrot: As part of the strategic alliance between the PGA Tour and the DPWT, the top 10 finishers at the end of the DPWT season will earn PGA Tour cards. Last month Hack traveled to Italy, shot 14 under and advanced to the second stage by four shots. “Beautiful to see,” Hack says in reflecting on the experience. “I stayed for a few extra days and got to see the Swiss Alps, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

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Stuart Macdonald is Canadian and a 2016 Purdue graduate. Macdonald fell just shy of gaining his PGA Tour card in 2021, finishing outside the top 25 on the KFT Finals points list, at 33rd. That season he had four top 10s in a stretch of five events. When a middling 2022 season left him without tour status, Macdonald signed up for both Q Schools.

“At the time when I decided to do DP, it was solely on the idea that I wanted status badly somewhere,” Macdonald says. “I wanted to have two chances essentially.” He excelled at first and second stage of KFT Q School and advanced through DPWT first stage. “It’s so important to get status this year because of what the future looks like,” he says.

With billions of dollars fueling the rise of LIV Golf and forcing the PGA Tour’s frantic restructuring, golfers trying to play their way to the top feel a particular urgency. In 2023, the PGA Tour will have 13 elevated events, each with a $20 million purse; the top 70 players are exempt into those. Players outside the top 70 are fighting desperately to move up, but until they do, they will be relegated to lesser tournaments. Jack Nicklaus expressed concern about non-elevated events, specifically the long-running Honda Classic, calling these tournaments “feeders.” Tournament directors from non-elevated events and others around the Tour have expressed similar concerns about an expanding chasm between players and events that were instrumental in building the tour. As for those players trying to move up, they are fighting a stiff headwind.

The Korn Ferry Tour is undergoing its own changes. Purses next season will increase from $750,000 to $1 million per event, a move that was announced well before LIV’s debut. The number of PGA Tour cards awarded at the end of the next KFT season will increase from 25 to 30. The tour has eliminated its three-event postseason, called the KFT Finals, at which 25 additional cards were awarded. The KFT Finals was open to the top 75 players on KFT and players ranked 126 through 200 on the final FedEx Cup standings from the PGA Tour. Players ranked 26 through 30 at the end of the year will undoubtedly be grateful, but the elimination of the Finals could mean a loss of PGA Tour cards, or at least an opportunity, for KFT members. Excelling early in the KFT season is now essential.

“I always felt like I wanted to get my tour card in the regular season because I felt like you earned it a little more,” Macdonald says, adding that the schedule changes will probably make the Korn Ferry Tour more competitive.

Hoey agrees. “It just makes it that much harder,” he says. “You need to win.”

As the KFT season winds down and the order of merit points accumulate, it will become more difficult to make a meaningful move up the points list. The KFT Finals gave hope to players looking for another avenue to secure their PGA Tour cards. In some cases, one hot week did the trick. Previously, some KFT members who had locked up their KFT cards for the following season but weren’t close to winning a PGA Tour card might have taken an event or two off to rest before the Finals. That created more opportunities for players farther down the standings. Without the three-event Finals, the end of a KFT season probably will be must-play. It most certainly will be exhausting and pressure-packed.

“You gotta play better,” Hoey says. “It’s not just about retaining your card now. Playing opportunities are going to get tougher and tougher. You just have to adapt. All I care about right now is to get starts and go play.” While the significant bump in KFT purses is welcomed, it’s long overdue. For players in the highest level of golf’s minor leagues, the pursuit isn’t getting any cheaper.

J.T. Griffin is a former Georgia Tech standout who graduated to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017. From 2019 to ’21, Griffin accumulated five top-10 finishes on the KFT, but he only maintained conditional status for the 2022 season. He and his fiancee, Mary Kaitlyn, had their first child, Graham, in early 2021. After failing to advance through Q School this season, he is now questioning the feasibility of playing professional golf with a young family.

“I was in the 76-to-85 category this year,” says Griffin, referring to his final KFT ranking. “In April I no longer had health coverage. If you’re under the PGA Tour umbrella, how are you not covered health insurance-wise? I can’t go to the doctor.” The PGA Tour provides a generous health insurance stipend for full members of the Korn Ferry Tour, or those who finish in the top 75, but not for conditional members. Griffin (below) says he spent about $75,000 a year in expenses, and despite maintaining conditional status after the 2020-21 season, when he made 19 cuts in 38 starts, he had little to show for it.

“I need to do something for Graham and my family,” says Griffin. “I was on the Korn Ferry Tour and I couldn’t afford to be on the Korn Ferry Tour. I’ve been talking to some friends who were right at 75. And I was like, ‘Hey, man, what is your end of the year?’ And they’re like, ‘I didn’t make anything.’ You’re a professional athlete on one of the biggest stages in our sport and there’s nothing. And we will continue to come back because the PGA Tour is that cool. You get a taste of it and you’ll chase it until it kills you and everyone around you.”

Some 10,000 miles away, opportunity calls louder than ever. The Asian Tour has suddenly become an attractive option for players from the West. LIV committed $300 million to the Asian Tour over the next 10 years, and purses are expanding. (For the elevated International Series events, purses are expected to be between $2 million and $4 million.) And for the first time ever, an early stage of Asian Tour Q School will be held in the U.S., in Arizona later this month. The implications could be far-reaching.

After graduating from Yale, James Nicholas gained status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2020 season. He won the 2020 New York State Open and had three top-20 finishes on KFT in the 2020-21 season. Last month he advanced through the first stage of KFT Q School in Mobile, Ala., then immediately flew across the Atlantic for DWPT Q School, where he failed to qualify. The following week, he was back in Alabama for the second stage of KFT Q School. Understandably fatigued, Nicholas struggled.

So he turned his attention to the Asian Tour. “I want to play on the PGA Tour,” Nicholas says. “But you do need to make a decision when you’re going to Q School and you don’t get through, to find a place to play. To find a place to hone your skills. You have to support yourself financially. I think the strength of field over there (Asian Tour) is going to be way better; that’s why you get more World Ranking points.”

What will probably give some players pause from embarking on an Asian adventure is the lack of a clear pathway leading back home. LIV has said the top player from the Asian Tour International Series will be promoted to its tour. The opportunity to play for one spot, however, is unlikely to drive the long-term decisions of many players. The Asian Tour is more likely to host LIV players in search of World Ranking points than the other way around. Still, millions of dollars in prize money and the chance to travel the world will entice many.

“I was going to sign up for Asian Q School if I didn’t get through Italy,” Hack says. “But all the sites are full. All my friends are wait-listed. Apparently that Arizona site filled up in five minutes.”

“My goal is to play on the PGA Tour, it’s not to play over in Asia for 10 years,” Nicholas says. “My hope is I play one year over there, win a couple times and get my World Ranking points high enough to get a couple of [PGA Tour] invites.”

“It seems like some doors are closing and some doors are opening,” Macdonald says.

The doors quietly closing are on the lowest levels of PGA Tour sanctioned competition. PGA Tour Latinoamerica and PGA Tour Canada are the entry-level circuits for the PGA Tour. Tour benefits are structured similarly between the two tours, and purses are about $175,000. Events span provinces, countries and in the case of Latinoamerica, continents.

“It’s expensive to travel through Latin America. It’s not easy. Same with Canada,” says Nicholas, who played often in Canada this season. “You can be playing pretty decent golf and lose $20,000 to $30,000 in the span of 10 weeks.”

The value of a strong performance on PGA Tour Latinoamerica has recently been diminished. Consistent with past seasons, the top player will earn full status on the Korn Ferry Tour. Players ranked second through fifth will gain conditional KFT status, but they will have to go to the second stage of Q School to improve their positions. In past seasons, players ranked 2 through 10 received conditional status on KFT through an exemption to the final stage of Q School. Players ranked sixth through 10th won’t receive KFT status. Players ranked 11th through 25th had gained an exemption to the second stage of Q School, but that perk has been eliminated. Although the same changes haven’t been announced for PGA Tour Canada, players anticipate that’s only a matter of time.

The reduction of benefits and stagnated purses on PGA Tour Latinoamerica resulted in fewer signups for three of its four qualifying tournaments. This is a major departure from past seasons and an ominous sign for the tour. Before deciding to play Asian Tour Q School, Nicholas (below) signed up for PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

“I heard a rumor that Latin (Tour) was slashing their spots,” Nicholas says. “I spent $1,750 on Q School not knowing that only one player was going to get guaranteed starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, when it was five the year before. The big thing for me was a top 20 used to get exempt to the second stage (of KFT Q School) and now it’s only top 10.” Despite his preference to remain closer to home, Nicholas withdrew from Latinoamerica Q School and looked to Asia.

“I think traveling through Asia would be just as hard as traveling through Latin America,” says Nicholas, who adds that there were few advantages to playing the Latinoamerica circuit. “If you finished 11th on the money list, it meant you probably won a tournament and you had to go back to the first stage of Q School.”

With their small purses and high travel costs, these development circuits relied on the enticement of potential exemptions to the next level. With those drying up, more players may consider spending their resources elsewhere.

Griffin played in nine PGA Tour Canada events in 2022 and had a pair of top-10 finishes, securing PGA Tour Canada status for next year. “You’re kind of in purgatory when you’re on any of the tours that aren’t the PGA Tour,” he says. “How do I have that conversation with Mary Kaitlyn and Graham? Hey, I’m gonna be gone all summer, and if we’re lucky we won’t spend any of our money. We can’t put any money in your college fund, and don’t get sick because we can’t afford to take you to the doctor.”

“Reading about the Latinoamerica Tour, it was kind of shocking because at this point it’s like, what’s the point of having this tour?” Hoey asks. “Do you want those guys to advance at all?”

Hack played multiple seasons on both the Latinoamerica circuit and PGA Tour Canada. He still sees a benefit for aspiring pros to compete on these tours. “The way I look at all these events is I’m just buying experience,” he says. “You’re buying an experience to use for Q School.”

The good news for professional golf hopefuls is that Q School is returning to glory. For the first time since 2012, it will offer a direct pathway to the PGA Tour. The top five and ties at the final stage of 2023 Q School will get to play for the big bucks. Fans who have glanced at golf headlines over the past six months know some PGA Tour events are getting massive purse bumps. “It’s great that [the PGA Tour] magically found a couple hundred million,” Phil Mickelson quipped at a recent LIV press conference. “That’s awesome.” It’s a line repackaged around every level of professional golf. The entry fee for next year’s Q School will be anybody’s guess. What we do know is that the opportunity to win one of those coveted PGA Tour cards is getting more difficult.

“Everyone is just so much better,” Hack says. “Cuts that used to be 1 or 2 under par are 5 or 6 under now. Look at annual sites for Q School like Plantation Preserve (a second-stage site for KFT Q School). I think I’ve gotten through there twice and the cut’s been six under, and it took 13 under this year. Yeah, the weather might have been a little better, but players are just getting better.”

It wasn’t the increased depth of the competition that ended Hack’s Q School run, however. His usually precise iron game and deft touch around the greens abandoned him at second stage of DPWT Q School. He’s now facing another season without a tour to compete on. “I couldn’t scrape it in any way at all,” Hack says. “I’m shocked and frustrated for sure.”

Junior golfers grow up dreaming about a career on the PGA Tour and contending in majors. As juniors become skilled collegians, those dreams become goals and then pursuits. For the top collegiate prospects, taking advantage of sponsor exemptions was a way to earn status on tour. With limits on the number of sponsor exemptions a rising star can accept, however, few turn those opportunities into tangible status. Many are relegated to the first stage of Q School or a developmental tour. Then there’s 22-year-old Eugenio Chacarra, who decided to forgo his senior year at Oklahoma State to sign with LIV. Last month he won the LIV even t in Bangkok, a $4 million payday. Chacarra (below) has been joined on LIV by two other top college players: David Puig from Arizona State and James Piot from Michigan State.

Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf

Does this mean the fuel that ignites ambitious players everywhere is changing? Is it now all about the Benjamins?

Macdonald sees new and uncertain pathways to earn a living as a professional golfer. “Money has become the driver,” he says. “I mean, it always has been, but more so now. I just think for so many players it fogs their vision of what their dreams were of playing professional golf and what that looks like. It’s not as clear anymore.” After a disheartening T-126 finish at the final stage of KFT Q School, where the top 40 finishers earned guaranteed starts for next season, Macdonald faces more uncertainty. “I’m just kind of, like, confused,” he says. “I couldn’t get out of my own way after the first day. It just wasn’t easy. It’s obviously an important week. It was a long week.” His path back to the Korn Ferry Tour next season will run through Monday qualifiers. “Definitely going to get after the Mondays,” Macdonald says. “I’ll be on that grind for a little bit. Hopefully not too long.”

Hoey, who turned 27 in September, is focused on reaching the PGA Tour. “It is cool to see the money is growing,” he says. “That’s the biggest thing. It’s really enticing. I just hope some of that money filters down to the Korn Ferry Tour.” Like Macdonald, Hoey was also in the enviable position of having a tee time at KFT’s final stage. “I’m still pretty young and for me, I just want to give it a shot on the PGA Tour,” he says.

After struggling to an opening-round 73, Hoey battled back with rounds of 70, 67 and 68, finishing T-17 to regain a coveted Korn Ferry Tour card. He left Georgia elated and relieved—and knowing he’ll have eight guaranteed starts to begin the 2023 season. “I’m just glad it’s over,” he says. “I can’t even describe it. I feel like I’m getting better. I’m one step closer to the PGA Tour. There’s no other feeling like it. It’s just awesome.”

Andrew Wevers

Professional golf has long prided itself on being a true meritocracy: shoot low scores and you will move up the ranks. There is optimism among professional golf hopefuls that when they do arrive at the top, the reward will be greater than ever. There is also growing concern that top players have more protection than ever. Rather than the considerable money at the top trickling down, it’s getting gobbled up. In a professional golfer’s mind, tour status is somewhere between inspiring hopes and unattainable dreams. Achieving that will take more grit—and more money—than ever.

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• Qualifying School

2024/2025 SEASON CHALLENGER PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA QUALIFYING SCHOOL

1. introduction.

The PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School has been conducted at the end of each season to establish which players, not otherwise exempt, will gain their playing privileges on the Tour for the following season through a qualifying competition. The entry form for the 2024/25 season will need to be completed online and be submitted to the PGA Tour of Australasia. Should you experience any difficulty, contact details are provided below to assist with your application. The Qualifying School will be conducted in two stages of stroke play as below.

FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE (54 holes) The First Stage will be contested over 54 holes of stroke play, with 18 holes being played each day. After 36 holes, there will be a cut to those players within 10 shots or more of the final qualifying place. At the conclusion of 54 holes, a set number of players will qualify and proceed to the Final Stage taking place in the following week.

The First Stage is divided into two sections (Sections A and B) with each Section to be played on a different course as below.

The exact number of qualifying positions available from the First Qualifying Stage will be announced as soon as possible once all the participants have teed off in the first round. Players who are tied on the final qualifying position score shall be required to participate in a play-off to determine who qualifies for the Final Qualifying Stage (approximately 20% to 25% of players will advance, subject to entry numbers).

In the event of a delay in completing the First Stage, applicants are advised that the day after the scheduled dates may be used as a full playing day to complete the relevant qualifier.

Players at first stage must register via the Tournament Office no later than 12:00pm (noon) on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Players who do not confirm their participation by this time may be removed from the official draw.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

All applicants, except those who are exempt into the Final Qualifying Stage, are required to compete in the First Qualifying Stage.

Following the first 2 rounds (36 holes) any player 10 shots or more behind the last qualifying place will not advance to Round 3 of the First Qualifying Stage.

FINAL QUALIFYING STAGE (72 HOLES) The Final Stage will be contested over 72 holes of stroke play, with 18 holes being played each day. After 54 holes, there will be a cut to those players within 10 shots or more of the final qualifying place.

On the conclusion of 72 holes, the leading 30 players (and those players tied on the final qualifying place score) will be ranked according to score. Each of these players will be eligible to for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia for the following season and will be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category and will be subject to any re-rank policy. In the event of a tie for 1st position, the tie will be settled by a sudden death play-off which will be conducted immediately following the completion of the final round. The result of the play off will also determine prize money distribution (if applicable).

Those players finishing beyond 30th place and ties, who complete the Final Stage, will be eligible for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, however, they will not hold an exemption category. If a player is accepted as a Full Member (Tournament), they will be ranked according to their score after the completion of the Final Qualifying Stage, and, if eligible, placed in the appropriate tournament member classification for the 2024/25 season.

In the event of a delay in completing the Final Stage, applicants are advised that the day after the scheduled dates may be used as a full playing day to complete the relevant qualifier.

All tied scores shall be ranked by card play-off as follows: (a) the best last 18, (b) the best last 36 holes, (c) the best last 9, 6, 3 & 1 holes (holes 10 – 18).

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

3. ELIGIBILTY FOR ENTRY

a) All male professional golfers; and b) All male amateur golfers with a handicap index of 1.0 or less under the handicapping scheme adopted by the recognised authority controlling golf in the country from which they elect to enter. An official certificate from the relevant home club affiliated with the national Golf Union or Golf Association verifying an applicant’s handicap must accompany this application before it can be considered.

NOTE : It is not a breach of the Rules of Amateur Status for an amateur golfer to file an entry for and play in any Stage of the PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School. A player who is an amateur golfer when commencing play at the Final stage of the Qualifying School is not eligible to win any prize money on offer at Final Stage

A player who enters the Qualifying School as an amateur may change his status to professional for any Stage of the Qualifying School but must do so in writing (to the PGA Tour of Australasia, prior to participating at the relevant stage.

4. EXEMPTIONS FOR FINAL STAGE

The following players are exempt from participating in PGA Tour of Australasia First Qualifying Stage and are exempt into Final Qualifying Stage:

• Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia (Tournaments with $400k prize purse or greater)
• European Tour
• Korn Ferry Tour (or previous equivalent)
• Sunshine Tour
• Any former winner of a PGA Tour of Australasia tournament with prize purse lower than $400k from January 1, 2018.
• Any player ranked inside the Top 500 of the Official World Golf Rankings as at close of entries.
• 61st to 100th ranked Full Members, plus Temporary Tournament Member – Tour (TTMT) players within those positions from the 2023/24 Final PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
• Any player from the Top 30 of the PGA Tour of Australasia Career Money List at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season
• The Leading graduating PGA of Australia Associate (to a floor of 10th position) as at the close of entries.
• The leading 3 entrants to a limit of 10th place in the R & A World Amateur Ranking at the close of entries.
• The current amateur champions of Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, United States, Canada, Japan, Asia and the Junior World Amateur Champion at close of entries
• Any amateur that was selected by their country to play in the most recent World Amateur Teams Championship (Eisenhower Trophy)
• Any amateur that was selected and played in the most recent Walker Cup.
• Winner of the last played Asia Pacific Championship.
• The leading five (5) players within the Top 10 from the 2023 Dogwood Invitational.
• Any Future Tour Affiliate Member who would have accumulated points throughout the 2023/24 PGA Tour of Australasia season to the equivalent of 100th place or higher. Note 1: A player’s accumulative points will be calculated by determining the amount of points the player would have earned in PGA Tour of Australasia Tournaments if they were a Professional.
• Note 2: Should the player turn Professional throughout the season, any points earned as a Professional will not be counted for the sake of determining the players accumulative points as an amateur.
• Any player who has already gained a PGA Tour of Australasia Tournament Exemption Category for the 2024/2025 season to the equivalent of Category 16 (as per the 2023/24 Tournament Exemption Categories) or higher.
• Any additional player at the discretion of the General Manager of Tournaments, PGA of Australia.

Players competing at Final Qualifying Stage must register in person with the PGA at Moonah Links no later than 12:00 noon on Monday 8th April 2024.

The PGA Tour of Australasia reserves the right to add additional qualifying venues should this be necessary and amend the conduct, format, and cut marks for the Qualifying School at any time. Every effort will be made to complete the prescribed number of holes for each Stage of the Qualifying School but if fewer holes can only be completed over the days allotted to each Stage, the PGA Tour of Australasia may reduce the number of holes required to complete each Stage or reschedule a Stage.

5. ENTRY FEES

Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School:

• A$2,090 (incl. GST); irrespective of which Stage the applicant is applying to enter; or
• A$1,155 (incl. GST); former PGA Tour of Australasia Tournament Winners, members who fall under the ‘10 season tournament members’ category for 2024/25 season, or is ranked in the Top 30 of the Final 2023/24 PGA Tour Career Money List and any player who has already gained a PGA Tour of Australasia Tour Exemption Category for the 2024/25 season to the equivalent of Category 16 or higher.

Payment may only be made by credit card or debit card and must be made at the end of the entry application process.

6. ENTRY DEADLINES

5:00pm (AEDT) Friday, 22nd March 2024.

Note: PGA of Australia reserves all rights to extend the entry deadline for applicants in exceptional circumstances and at its complete discretion.

7. WITHDRAWALS

A player may withdraw at any time provided notification of their withdrawal is received by the PGA of Australia in writing. Players who withdraw prior to the Entry Deadline will receive a full refund of their Entry Fee. Players who withdraw after the Entry Deadline will be refunded no more than AUD$1,155 (incl. GST). Unless extreme personal circumstances exist, once a participant tees off (or is absent on the tee) the player is no longer eligible for any type of refund.

8. REGULATIONS

By submitting a completed Qualifying School application form, each applicant: a) acknowledges the sole authority of the Tournament Players Committee and Board of PGA of Australia to establish: (i) the Qualifying School Rules and Conditions of Entry and Participation as published in this application form; and (ii) any subsequent rules and regulations of which the applicant is notified of prior to any stage of the Qualifying School (together with the “QS Rules and Regulations”). b) agrees to abide by the QS Rules and Regulations and any amendments made from time to time by the Tournament Players Committee or the Board of PGA of Australia, or persons acting with their authority. This may include but is not limited to changes to the format, conditions, field sizes and schedules referred to in this form. c) accepts and abides by the decisions of the Tournament Players Committee, Board of the PGA of Australia, Chief Executive of PGA of Australia, Qualifying School Tournament Director or such other authorised persons of PGA of Australia. d) agrees to conduct himself in accordance with and agree that he is bound by the Code of Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedure of the PGA of Australasia (in each case references therein to ‘Members’ are deemed to be a reference to the relevant applicant).

9. GENERAL POLICY

The PGA Tour of Australasia reserves the right to reject an application for entry at any time. Conduct unbecoming a professional or non-competitive performance during a previous Qualifying School can be a basis for the rejection of an application to enter. The PGA Tour of Australasia also reserves the right to remove a player from a tournament at any time due to conduct or non-competitive performance (+14 or more in any given round with weather factors considered). An entrant who is removed from a tournament for any of these reasons, after he has commenced play, will not be entitled to any type of refund of his entry fee. The PGA of Australia reserves the right to apply other reasonable criteria (including, but not limited to, judgements as to character, conduct and other criteria in accordance with the current PGA of Australia Member Regulations) to all those who apply to become Full Members of the PGA of Australia. Accordingly, the PGA of Australia may, in its absolute discretion, determine whether to extend the undersigned an invitation to join the PGA of Australia as a result of their successful completion of the Qualifying School or whether to accept an application for membership once an invitation to

join the PGA of Australia has been extended. If the undersigned successfully completes the Qualifying School and wishes to apply to become a Full Member of the PGA of Australia, they must pay the prescribed membership fee and complete a Membership Form before an application can be considered.

10. MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR AND ONLINE ASSESSMENTS

All players eligible for Tournament Membership at the completion of Final Stage of Qualifying School must attend the prescribed PGA of Australia Membership Seminar and those who have been a Member for less than 3 years in total and have yet to complete the On-line Education Module must complete the required on-line study programmes. Any player who fails to attend the Membership Seminar(s) will be ineligible to be considered for Full Membership and those who fail to complete the required on-line study programmes by the prescribed dates may have their membership revoked. Session date(s), time(s) and agenda(s), along with on-line learning deadlines will be made available to all eligible participants in due course.

11. PRIZE MONEY

Prize money allocated to competitors at Final Stage will be confirmed prior to Round 1 of Final Stage.

12. ENQUIRIES

All Qualifying School queries can be made to the PGA of Australia’s Tournament Division by the following methods: Email: [email protected] Tel:+61(0) 3 8320 1921

13. ONLINE ENTRY PROCESS

All players entering the 2024-25 Q-School are to enter via the MyPGA Online Portal via the following link:

Please note: any player who has previously played in a PGATA Tour event may have log-in credentials already set in the MyPGA portal and may have to send a request via email to obtain log-in credentials to access this area. Email Address: [email protected]

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Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

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