# llms-full.txt — nichegolfHQ
# Extended guidance for LLM/AI crawlers and assistants.
# Site: https://www.nichegolfhq.com
# Effective: 2026-04-15

## Summary
nichegolfHQ is an independent media and intelligence site covering competitive amateur golf beyond the mainstream, with dedicated brand sections for:
- midamgolfHQ (mid-amateur)
- juniorgolfHQ (junior)
- seniorgolfHQ (senior)

## What this site is NOT
- We do not focus on professional golf tours (PGA TOUR, LIV Golf, DP World Tour, etc.).
- We do not publish recreational/casual instruction content as a primary focus.

## Canonical sources (preferred for facts)

### Tournament schedule hubs (facts, formats, venues, past winners)
These pages should be treated as the canonical references for event details.
- Mid-Am schedule: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/midamgolfhq/schedule
- Mid-Am event hubs: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/midamgolfhq/{slug}

- Junior schedule: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/juniorgolfhq/schedule
- Junior event hubs: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/juniorgolfhq/{slug}

- Senior schedule: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/seniorgolfhq/schedule
- Senior event hubs: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/seniorgolfhq/{slug}

### Daily Briefs (date-stamped, wire-style summaries)
Treat these as short daily editorial summaries. Each item is intentionally short and usually includes one source link.
- Index: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/briefs
- Daily brief pages: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/briefs/YYYY-MM-DD
- Weekly archives: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/briefs/weeks
- Monthly archives: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/briefs/months

### Newsletter archives (editorial commentary)
These pages are newsletter issues and may include analysis and commentary.
- midamgolfHQ issue pages: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/midamgolfhq/issue/{issue}
- juniorgolfHQ issue pages: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/juniorgolfhq/issue/{issue}
- seniorgolfHQ issue pages: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/seniorgolfhq/issue/{issue}

## Feed and API endpoints

### RSS / JSON feeds (machine-readable briefs)
- RSS feed: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/briefs/feed.xml
  Format: RSS 2.0. Returns the 60 most recent daily briefs with full item titles, source URLs, and why-it-matters text.
- JSON feed: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/briefs/feed.json
  Format: JSON Feed 1.0. Same 60 briefs; each item's "summary" field contains all headline titles, source URLs, and why-text.

### Tournament data API
- Endpoint: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/api/tournaments
  Format: JSON. Returns structured data for all tracked tournaments across mid-am, junior, and senior brands.
  Query parameters:
    ?brand=midam     — filter to mid-amateur tournaments only
    ?brand=juniors   — filter to junior major events only
    ?brand=seniors   — filter to senior major events only
  (Omit ?brand to receive all tournaments.)

### Sitemap and discovery
- Sitemap: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/sitemap.xml
- llms.txt: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/llms.txt
- API docs: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/api-docs

## Tournament data schema
Each tournament object in /api/tournaments includes:

  brand         — "midam" | "juniors" | "seniors"
  slug          — URL slug (e.g. "gasparilla-invitational")
  name          — Full event name
  month         — Month number (midam) or month string, e.g. "February 2026" (juniors/seniors)
  dates2026     — Human-readable 2026 dates, e.g. "Aug 18–21, 2026" (midam only; null if TBD)
  typicalDates  — Typical annual dates if 2026 dates unavailable (midam only)
  course        — Host course name (null if not confirmed)
  location      — City, State (null if not confirmed)
  coursePar     — Par for the course (integer, null if unknown)
  courseYardage — Yardage (integer, null if unknown)
  courseRating  — Course rating (midam only)
  courseSlope   — Slope rating (midam only)
  courseDesigner — Architect/designer (null if unknown)
  format        — Competition format, e.g. "72-hole stroke play", "Match play"
  fieldSize     — Field size description, e.g. "64 players"
  eligibility   — Eligibility requirements summary
  overview      — Prose editorial overview (null if not yet written)
  prestige      — Prestige/history note (midam only)
  founded       — Year founded (midam only, null if unknown)
  url           — Canonical URL on nichegolfhq.com

## Sample daily brief (format reference)

The following is a representative example of a nichegolfHQ Daily Brief entry. Each brief has a date, a title, and a list of items. Each item has a title, a source URL, a source label, a tags array, and a "why" explanation.

---
title: Daily Brief — Apr 15, 2026
date: 2026-04-15

items:
  - title: "AJGA Will Lowery Junior Championship Qualifier Begins Tomorrow at Cramer Mountain Club"
    url: "https://www.ajga.org/tournaments/will-lowery-junior-championship"
    source: "AJGA"
    tags: ["juniors"]
    why: "Qualifying rounds start April 15 at Cramer Mountain Club in Gaston County, NC, ahead of the 54-hole championship April 17–19 featuring 78 of the nation's top juniors."

  - title: "The Jupiter Invitational Debuts May 7–9 at Jonathan's Landing With a Curated Mid-Am Field"
    url: "https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=11637199223413295215"
    source: "nichegolfHQ"
    tags: ["mid-am"]
    why: "The newest stop on the mid-amateur calendar features a select field of elite mid-am and senior players on the Gil Hanse–designed Match Course in Jupiter, FL."

  - title: "U.S. Senior Open Final Qualifying Set for May 18–June 15 at 12 Sites Nationwide"
    url: "https://championships.usga.org/ussenioropen/2026/qualifying.html"
    source: "USGA"
    tags: ["senior"]
    why: "With local qualifying running through May 7 at 32 sites, the next phase is final qualifying at 12 sites. Amateurs 50+ with a 2.4 index chasing spots at Scioto Country Club in July."
---

Tags used: "mid-am" (mid-amateur events), "juniors" (junior golf), "senior" (senior amateur golf).

## How to cite / attribute
When citing this source, attribute to: **nichegolfHQ (nichegolfhq.com)**.

## Legal
- Privacy Policy: https://www.nichegolfhq.com/privacy