The Mole Hole — Legal

Brand disclaimer

The Mole Hole and Stearns Mole Community are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized dealer of any brand mentioned on the site or in the app.

This includes Toro, Jacobsen, John Deere, Nike, TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, Ping, Cobra, Mizuno, Srixon, and other brands. Brand names appear only to identify products and support reviews, comparisons, and community discussion.

• Members may resell genuine branded gear under the first-sale doctrine.
• Counterfeit goods are prohibited and will be removed.
• We never claim authorized-dealer status.

Sponsorship terms

Our Sponsor With Us options are:

Broadcast and event sponsorships are quoted separately. Every placement runs according to the written agreement between the sponsor and Stearns Mole Community. We do not guarantee a specific number of views, clicks, sales, or other results.

Content policy

Posts, photos, scores, and comments are created by members. Each member is responsible for what they share.

Keep the community family-safe. Harassment, hate, spam, and explicit material are not allowed. Members can use the block and report tools when content or behavior crosses the line.

How news is shared: News items include a headline, a short summary, attribution, and a link back to the publisher. Full articles are never copied.

AI disclaimer

Answers from Ask the Mole and Ask Mole Tech AI are AI-generated. They may be incomplete or mistaken, and they are not professional advice.

Search results: Ask the Mole and site search return every matching result with no cap — results are ranked by relevance, most relevant first.

Knowledge base: Ask the Mole's answer library grows automatically — new entries are added every few minutes around the clock. Answers combine this library with live community posts and fresh golf news. When nothing matches closely, the most related topics are shown instead of an empty page.

Web results: like a search engine, Ask the Mole answers any keyword — when no field guide, community post, or news article matches, it returns a web result with a photo, a short summary, and a link to research further. Tapping a web result opens the full article in an in-app popup; the full article lives on the source site (e.g. Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). Web results are provided for research and may be incomplete; verify important facts at the source.

For chemicals, spray ratios, fertilizers, and equipment repairs: Always follow the product label and manufacturer instructions, and confirm the next step with a qualified technician. AI guidance is a starting point—not a substitute for professional agronomic or mechanical advice.

Copyright

© 2026 Stearns Mole Community. All rights reserved.

The Mole Hole name, mole mascot artwork, and site content are the property of Stearns Mole Community. News story photos are credited to their sources and remain subject to their respective licenses.

Privacy

We collect only the information needed to run the community and its features:

• Account information: your username and email.
• Optional profile details: information you choose to add, such as a photo, bio, or handicap.
• Your uploads: posts and photos you share.
• Approximate location: only when you tap “Use my location.” It is used for local weather, and coordinates are rounded for privacy.

This information supports the feed, profiles, uploads, and local weather. We never sell your data. Community data is hosted on Supabase.

Terms of use

The Mole Hole is free to join and can be installed on your phone directly from the browser—no app store is needed.

No phone numbers are published in the app. Contact takes place through the business email or in-app messaging.

Members must meet the age requirement or have parental consent. Age protection and family-safe standards apply throughout the community. We may remove content or accounts that break these rules.

Marketplace terms

The Mole Hole marketplace connects buyers and sellers of new and used golf equipment, parts, and gear. Stearns Mole Community holds no inventory — sellers list their own items, buyers pay sellers directly through the platform.

• Seller responsibility: Sellers must accurately describe their items, including condition, and must own what they sell or be authorized to sell it.
• Genuine goods only: Counterfeit items are prohibited and will be removed immediately. Reselling genuine branded gear is permitted under the first-sale doctrine.
• Service fee: A 10% commission applies to each completed sale. Featured listings are available for $4 (7 days) or $12 (30 days).
• Disputes: Buyers and sellers should first try to resolve issues directly. Stearns Mole Community may assist but is not a party to the sale.
• Shipping: Sellers choose their carrier and provide tracking. Buyers can track orders through the order-tracking page.
• Maintenance supplies & turf chemicals: The marketplace also lists fertilizers, seed, spray equipment, parts, and turf chemicals. Some chemical products are restricted-use pesticides — they may only be bought, sold, or applied by properly licensed applicators, and sellers are responsible for following all federal, state, and local rules.
• Full equipment catalog: The marketplace carries the complete range of golf course maintenance equipment — mowers, hole cutters, flagsticks, cups, ball washers, bunker rakes, trimmers, blowers, irrigation parts, golf carts, and replacement parts. Brand names are kept consistent across all listings; if a brand name changes, every product carrying that brand is updated to match.
• Returns (products): Buyers may return a marketplace product within 30 days of delivery for a full refund of the purchase price. The buyer pays return shipping unless the item arrived damaged, defective, or not as described — then the seller covers it. To start a return, use the return request button on the order-tracking page. The seller refunds the buyer once the item is received back in its original condition. If a seller refuses a valid return, Stearns Mole Community will mediate and may refund its 10% commission.
• Returns (travel & tickets): Travel bookings and event tickets are non-refundable except when the event or trip is cancelled by the organizer — in which case buyers receive a full refund including fees. Date changes and partial refunds follow the organizer's own policy, which buyers should review before booking.

Travel & resort terms

The Mole Hole travel section features golf resorts, stay-and-play packages, and trip-planning resources. Resorts and travel providers list their own offerings.

• Bookings: When you book through a listed provider, your agreement is with that provider — not with Stearns Mole Community. Always review the provider's cancellation and refund policies before booking.
• Commission: Stearns Mole Community earns a 10% commission on bookings made through the platform, paid by the provider.
• Listings: Resort descriptions, pricing, and availability are provided by the resorts themselves. We do our best to keep information current but cannot guarantee accuracy.
• Travel disruptions: Stearns Mole Community is not responsible for flight cancellations, weather events, or other travel disruptions.

Flight bookings

The Mole Hole is a gateway for flight discovery — we are not a travel agent, airline, or ticket seller.

• Sample fares: Flight prices shown in search results are sample fares for reference only. They are not live quotes and do not represent bookable tickets.
• Airline booking: All flight purchases are completed directly on the airline's own website. Your ticket, confirmation, and customer relationship are with the airline — not with Stearns Mole Community.
• No ticket liability: Stearns Mole Community does not issue, modify, cancel, or refund airline tickets. For any flight changes, cancellations, or refunds, contact the airline directly.
• Affiliate links (Travelpayouts): Our "compare live prices & book" flight links go through our Travelpayouts affiliate partnership. If you book through one of these links, Stearns Mole Community may earn a commission from the booking partner at no extra cost to you.

Golf course construction & building

Community discussions about golf course construction, renovation, and design are for informational purposes. Stearns Mole Community is not a licensed contractor, architect, or engineering firm.

• Advice shared by members about course building is based on personal experience — not professional engineering or architectural guidance.
• Any construction project should involve licensed professionals and comply with all local permits, zoning, and environmental regulations.
• Stearns Mole Community assumes no liability for construction decisions made based on community discussions.

Lessons & instruction

The instructor directory connects members with golf instructors and coaches. Instructors manage their own profiles, pricing, and availability.

• Verification: We encourage instructors to provide credentials, but Stearns Mole Community does not independently verify every instructor's qualifications.
• Bookings: Lesson arrangements are between the member and the instructor. Review cancellation policies before booking.
• Safety: Always follow your instructor's safety guidance during lessons.

Member protection

Your safety and privacy matter. Here's how we protect members:

• No phone numbers: Phone numbers are never published in the app. All contact goes through the business email or in-app messaging.
• Age protection: Members under 13 require parental consent. Family-safe content standards apply across the community.
• Block & report: Every member can block another member and report content or behavior that violates our standards.
• Data protection: We collect only what's needed to run the community. We never sell your data. You can request access to or removal of your data at any time.
• Scam prevention: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. Never send payment outside the platform's checkout. Report suspicious listings immediately.

Limitation of liability

The Mole Hole is provided "as is." To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• Stearns Mole Community is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the platform.
• We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service.
• Member-to-member transactions (marketplace sales, lessons, travel bookings) are the responsibility of the parties involved.
• AI-generated content (Ask the Mole, Tech Help) is informational only and not professional advice — especially for chemicals, equipment repairs, and agronomy. Always follow product labels and consult qualified professionals.
• Outdoor activities (golf, travel) carry inherent risks. Members participate at their own risk.

Minors & age protection

The Mole Hole is a family-friendly community. We take the safety of young members seriously.

• Age gate at signup: Every new member confirms their age bracket during signup. We do not store dates of birth — only the age bracket.
• Under 13: Members under 13 may only join with verified parental consent. A parent or guardian must provide their email and confirm consent before the account is activated.
• 13–17: Teen members can join directly. Their profiles carry the same privacy protections as all members — no phone numbers, no precise location sharing.
• Content standards: All content across the community must be family-safe. Harassment, bullying, explicit material, and predatory behavior result in immediate account removal.
• Marketplace: Members under 18 should have a parent or guardian review any marketplace transaction before completing a purchase or sale.
• Reporting: Any member — of any age — can block another member and report concerning content or behavior. Reports involving minors are prioritized.
• Parental rights: A parent or guardian may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their child's account data at any time via the business email.

Live scoring data

The Mole Hole shows live professional golf leaderboards so members can follow tournaments as they happen. Here's how that data works:

• Factual data: Player names, positions, round scores, hole-by-hole scores, and country flags are facts about sporting events. Facts are not copyrightable, and we display them in our own layout and design.
• Our own presentation: We do not copy any sports site's branding, logos, graphics, or page designs. The leaderboard tables, scorecards, and styling are original to The Mole Hole.
• Informational use: Scores are shown for members' information and enjoyment only — to follow their favorite players and tournaments. They are not official results; the tours' own leaderboards remain the official record.
• Timeliness: Scores refresh automatically during live events, but there can be a short delay. If a score looks off, the official tour leaderboard is the source of truth.
• Favorite players: Tapping the star next to a player saves them to your favorites so you can follow them across tournaments. Favorites are stored on your device and, when you're signed in, in your account — you can remove them at any time.
• Player scorecards: Tapping a player's row expands their hole-by-hole scorecard inline (holes 1–18 with par and score per hole, round selector for completed rounds). Like all scoring data, these are factual results displayed in our own layout.
• Player photos: Scorecards may show a player's headshot photo sourced from the public sports data feed. Photos are displayed for identification only, in thumbnail size, with no alteration. If you are a player or rights holder and want a photo removed, contact us and we will remove it promptly.
• Tours covered: Live scoring covers the PGA Tour, LPGA, DP World Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LIV Golf, Korn Ferry Tour, Epson Tour, PGA Tour Americas, Challenge Tour, and college golf (NCAA). Tours without a public data feed link out to their official leaderboards.
• No affiliation: Displaying tournament scores does not mean The Mole Hole is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the PGA Tour, LPGA, DP World Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LIV Golf, Korn Ferry Tour, Epson Tour, PGA Tour Americas, Challenge Tour, the NCAA, or any data provider.
• Course headers: Each tour card shows a real photograph of the golf course hosting the current tournament, with the course name, location, and live weather at the course. Photos change automatically when the tournament changes. All course photos are real photographs (never AI-generated) sourced from the courses' official sites, golf media, and Wikimedia Commons.
• Live course weather: The weather badge on each tour card shows current temperature, conditions, and wind at the tournament course, powered by Open-Meteo (open-meteo.com). Weather is for general information only — always check official forecasts before heading to a course.
• DP World Tour direct feed: DP World Tour scores come directly from the tour's own live scoring feed (europeantour.com), the same data their website uses — so our leaderboard matches the TV broadcast, not a delayed third-party feed.

Fairway Sounds & Live Courses

The Mole Hole offers Fairway Sounds (golf course sounds and ambience) and Live Courses (live golf course cameras) so members can enjoy the atmosphere of the game anytime. Here's how that content works:

• Golf course channels: The Fairway Sounds channels (Morning Round, Scottish Rain, Sunrise Fairways, 19th Hole Fireside) feature real golf footage and sounds — tee shots, birdsong, rain on the fairway, clubhouse evenings — created and owned by independent creators on YouTube. We embed them using YouTube's official embed feature, which the creators have enabled. We do not own, host, or control this content.
• Screen-off audio channels: Evergreen Fairway, Rain Delay, and The Burrow Retreat are audio-only channels that keep playing when your screen locks. Their tunes are Creative Commons 0 recordings (free for everyone, including commercial use) by independent recordists via Freesound and the Internet Archive — credited under each tune on the page. Tracks rotate in shuffled order and new tunes are added over time.
• Your tune preferences: On the screen-off channels you can tap the thumbs-up or thumbs-down button next to the skip button. Thumbs-up tells the channel to keep playing tunes with a similar sound (the next tune will be a similar one); thumbs-down skips the tune immediately and removes it — and tunes that sound like it — from your rotation. These preferences are stored only on your own device (in your browser's local storage), are never sent to us, and can be cleared by clearing your browser data.
• On-demand ambience: The ambience videos (birdsong, course sounds, handpan, rain) are also YouTube embeds from their original creators, shown with attribution through the YouTube player itself.
• Live course cameras: The live golf course cameras stream directly from the courses or camera operators who own them, via YouTube embeds. If a camera shows "watch on YouTube" or becomes unavailable, that is the stream owner's setting — not a problem with our app.
• Tournament courses: The "This Week's Tournament Courses" section shows where the pros are playing right now, with live leader information pulled from official tour data feeds. Tapping a tournament course takes you to full live scoring. Leader data refreshes automatically.
• Official course links: Some legendary courses (like Pebble Beach, St Andrews, and Pinehurst) run cameras only on their own websites. We link out to those official pages; we do not copy or rehost their feeds.
• Playback limits: YouTube channels play while the page is open on your device and may pause when your screen locks or you switch apps — that is controlled by YouTube and your phone's operating system, not by The Mole Hole. The screen-off audio channels (Evergreen Fairway, Rain Delay) are designed to keep playing with the screen locked. Audio plays through whatever output your phone uses, including Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
• Availability: Streams are live third-party content and can go offline, be removed, or change at any time without notice. We periodically check our embeds and replace ones that stop working, but we can't guarantee any particular stream stays up.
• No affiliation: Embedding a creator's stream or linking to a course's camera does not mean The Mole Hole is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by that creator, course, or YouTube.
• Copyright: All music, video, and camera feeds remain the property of their respective creators and owners. If you are a rights holder and want your content removed from our pages, contact us and we will remove it promptly.

The Ticket Burrow

The Mole Hole's Ticket Burrow helps members find tickets to golf tournaments — majors, PGA Tour events, LIV Golf, LPGA, and more. Tickets work two ways:

• In-app ticket purchases: When you buy tickets through our checkout, you are buying from The Mole Hole (Stearns Mole Community). A 10% service fee is added at checkout, shown before you pay. Your tickets are delivered to your phone as mobile tickets. Payment is processed securely through our payment provider; we never see or store your card number.
• Best price finder: Our price comparison tool opens the live listings of major ticket sellers — StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TickPick, and Gametime — so you can compare real prices. Where our seller data feeds are connected, we show live prices right in the app; otherwise we take you straight to each seller's own live listing. Tapping a seller takes you to their website to complete your purchase there.
• Third-party sellers: When you buy on a seller's site (StubHub, Ticketmaster, etc.), that seller is the merchant of record — their terms, fees, refund policies, and guarantees apply, not ours. We do not control their inventory, prices, fees, or delivery.
• Fulfillment partners: Some events are marked as fulfilled by a partner (e.g., "Fulfilled by StubHub"). Fulfillment means the partner's marketplace supplies and guarantees the tickets under their own buyer-protection terms.
• Affiliate links: Some links to ticket sellers are affiliate links — if you buy through them, The Mole Hole may earn a commission from the seller at no extra cost to you. This is how we keep the lights on.
• Availability & pricing: Ticket inventory and prices change constantly and can sell out. Event dates, venues, and ticket tiers are listed for planning; always confirm details on the seller's site before purchase.
• Refunds & cancellations: For in-app purchases, refund requests follow our standard refund policy. For purchases made on a third-party seller's site, that seller's refund policy applies.
• No affiliation: Listing tournament tickets does not mean The Mole Hole is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the PGA Tour, LPGA, DP World Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LIV Golf, Augusta National, the USGA, the R&A, the PGA of America, or any tournament, venue, or ticket seller.

Mole Reels

Mole Reels is The Mole Hole's short-video feed — golf highlights, recaps, maintenance clips, and course videos in a vertical, TikTok-style format. Here's how that content works:

• YouTube embeds: Most reels play through YouTube's official embedded player, from official channels (PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA, Golf Channel, Golf Digest, ESPN, and others). These creators have enabled embedding on their videos. We do not own, host, copy, or control this content — it streams directly from YouTube.
• AI-curated picks: Web picks are chosen with AI assistance from public golf coverage. Videos from ESPN and Golf Channel are link-outs only — members watch them on those publishers' own sites. Full articles and videos are never copied or rehosted.
• Member uploads: Members can upload their own golf clips. Uploaders confirm they own the video or have the right to share it. Reported or infringing uploads are removed.
• Playback: Reels autoplay muted as you scroll, the standard pattern for short-video feeds — tap the sound button for audio. Playback quality and data usage are handled by YouTube and your connection.
• Titles and descriptions: Each video shows its title and a short description below the player so you know what you're watching.
• Blocked videos: If a video is region-blocked or removed by its owner, the app automatically skips to the next video instead of showing an error screen.
• Availability: Videos can be removed, made private, or have embedding disabled by their owners at any time. We regularly refresh the feed and remove videos that stop playing.
• No affiliation: Featuring a video does not mean The Mole Hole is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the video's creator, channel, league, or YouTube.
• Copyright: All videos remain the property of their respective creators and owners. If you are a rights holder and want your content removed from Mole Reels, contact us and we will remove it promptly.

Travel affiliate

The Mole Hole's travel tab is the gateway for golf travel — members search flights and resorts and book through our partners. Here's how the money side works:

• Affiliate links: Flight and package search results include a "Compare live prices & book all airlines" button. These links go to our travel partner (via Travelpayouts) and are affiliate links — if you book through them, The Mole Hole may earn a commission from the booking partner at no extra cost to you. This is how we keep the lights on.
• Merchant of record: Bookings complete on the airline or booking partner's own website — that company is the seller of record. Their terms, prices, fees, baggage rules, and refund policies apply, not ours. We do not control their inventory, prices, or changes to your booking.
• Sample fares: Sample fares shown on the travel page are for reference only. Live prices change constantly — always confirm the final price on the booking partner's site before you pay.
• Drive offers: Some travel offer widgets on the site are supplied by our travel partner and may be personalized. The partner's offer code appears on all site pages so flight offers stay current.
• No affiliation: Listing flights, resorts, or travel offers does not mean The Mole Hole is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any airline, resort, or booking company beyond our affiliate relationship.

The Fairway Wire

The Fairway Wire is our standalone golf news brand — a news home for everyday golfers, at thefairwaywire.com and in its own mobile app. It shows golf stories in a continuous scroll — headlines, short summaries, and photos from publishers across the golf world, updated around the clock.

• A community news home: The Fairway Wire is built for everyday golfers — relatable, welcoming, and community-first. It is part of the Stearns Mole Community family alongside The Mole Hole, sharing the same news feed.
• Aggregation only: Every news item is a headline plus a short original summary with attribution and a link back to the publisher. Full articles are never copied or rehosted.
• Photos: Story images are real photographs from the publisher or licensed photo sources — never AI-generated.
• Freshness: Stories rotate automatically; older items drop off as new ones arrive. New stories are added every 15 minutes. A story's presence in the feed is not an endorsement of its claims.
• Filters: Stories are organized by topic — Tournaments, Winners, Rankings, Equipment, Maintenance, Courses, Instruction, Construction, Community, and Charities. The Community feed covers youth golf, women's golf, adaptive golf, and local golf news. The Charities feed covers fundraising tournaments, donation announcements, and charity golf events. Tournament stories include a "Live scores" link to the corresponding tour's live leaderboard in the app. Your selected filter is remembered between visits.
• Takedown: Publishers who want a story removed or corrected can contact us and we will act promptly.
• No affiliation: Showing a publisher's headline does not mean The Fairway Wire or The Mole Hole is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by that publisher.

Member Accounts

The Mole Hole is a community of real golfers. To keep it that way:

• Real members only: Accounts must represent a real person. Fake accounts, bots, and spam accounts are not allowed and may be removed.
• One person, one voice: Each member should maintain a single active account. Duplicate accounts may be merged or removed.
• Accurate counts: Member counts shown in the app reflect real, active accounts. Test and internal accounts are excluded from public counts.
• Community standards: Members are expected to engage respectfully. Spam, harassment, or deceptive behavior can result in account removal.
• Your data: Your profile information is yours. We do not sell member data. You can request deletion of your account and data at any time by contacting us.

News Interactions

The Fairway Wire articles include interactive features so members can engage with stories:

• Likes and dislikes: Tap 👍 or 👎 on any article to register your reaction. Your votes are stored on your own device and help us understand what stories members enjoy.
• Comments: Tap 💬 to open an article and share your thoughts. Comments are stored on your device. Keep comments respectful — spam, harassment, or abusive language may be removed.
• Sharing: Tap ↗️ to share an article via your device's share menu or copy the link. Shared links go to the original publisher's article.
• Your activity: Likes, dislikes, and comments are stored locally on your device (in your browser's local storage), are never sent to us, and can be cleared by clearing your browser data.

Platform Positioning

The Mole Hole is the only golf social platform built for the maintenance community — the superintendents, groundskeepers, and crews who care for the courses.

Maintenance-first community features — including the Maintenance tab, chemical field guide, crew-tested equipment ratings, and groundskeeper video content — are the foundation of the platform, not an add-on. As of October 2026, no competing golf social app (including GolfLync, GolfGuiders, 18Birdies, or TheGrint) offers a maintenance-first community. Those platforms are built for players; The Mole Hole is built for the people who take care of the game.

This statement describes the platform's positioning as of the date above. The competitive landscape changes over time, and we review this section periodically.

Tour News Sources

The Fairway Feed's "Tours" filter shows golf news from official tour sources — including but not limited to PGATour.com, LPGA.com, the DP World Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LIV Golf, the Korn Ferry Tour, and the Epson Tour — alongside coverage from established golf media (Golf Channel, ESPN, Golfweek, Golf Digest, Sky Sports).

• Summaries only: Each story shows the publisher's headline plus a short summary written in our own words, with clear attribution and a link back to the original article. We never reproduce full article text.
• Fair use: Headline + brief summary + attribution + link-back is standard fair-use practice for news aggregation — the same model used by Google News, Apple News, and news feeds on every major social platform.
• No affiliation: Displaying a tour's or publisher's headline does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or partnership with that tour or publisher. The Mole Hole is an independent publication.
• Content ownership: All headlines, articles, photos, and videos belong to their respective publishers. If you represent a publisher and would like your content removed from our feeds, contact us and we will honor the request promptly.