Every pool has a guy who texts at 10 a.m. Thursday asking for "just one more change" after watching the morning wave. Golf pool pick deadline rules exist because picks made after golf starts aren't picks — they're cheating. Everyone agrees on that until it's their brother-in-law.
When to lock
Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. Pacific is the default most commissioners use. Procrastinators get all day Wednesday. Nobody's picking after Thursday pairings drop. Some groups lock at first tee time Thursday — stricter, fine for small groups who trust each other.
The Money List defaults new pools to Wednesday 11:59 p.m. PT. You can change it when you create the pool or lock early as commissioner — just say so in the chat: "Pool locked manually at 8 p.m. Wednesday."
What locked actually means
No new picks. No swaps. No "I meant to take X instead of Y." Lineups usually become visible to the pool once the sheet closes — the secrecy phase is over, the arguing phase begins.
Pick a late-submission policy and don't bend it twice. Late pick equals empty slot, or automatic last place, or they're out entirely. The worst outcome isn't being strict — it's different rules for different people.
Time zones and the Open
PGA events run on U.S. time. The Open does not. If your group spans coasts — or countries — write the lock time in two zones in the invite. "Wednesday 11:59 p.m. PT / 2:59 a.m. ET Thursday." Ambiguity creates arguments you don't need.
Reminders that actually fill the pool
One invite isn't enough. Open the pool Monday with the link, format, deadline, and money note if there is one. Wednesday morning: "7 of 12 in — need picks by tonight." Wednesday at 8 p.m.: tag the three people who haven't submitted. Thursday morning: "Locked. Good luck." plus the leaderboard link.
After lock, post "PICKS ARE CLOSED" in the chat. A screenshot of the locked sheet ends most last-minute lobbying.
Edge cases worth deciding once
Weather delays don't reopen picks. Tournament start is tournament start. If a golfer withdraws before lock and tiers shift, republish the list. If someone submitted after play began, void the entry — no exceptions, or the rule means nothing.
Apps enforce this without you playing bad cop. On The Money List, the sheet closes at your lock time. You don't audit timestamps in iMessage.
For the invite copy that gets people to submit before Wednesday night, our invite guide has what you need.
Ready to run your pool? Picks close automatically at your lock time on The Money List — no timestamp audits in the group chat.
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