How much do the tournaments pay out?
The only tournaments that have a gift certificate payout are Match Play, Two-Man and Medal play. The approach for all three events is the same. The BNGA fee is $25* per player (excludes greens and cart fees). The cost of trophies/plaques are paid from this prize fund. The remainder of the prize fund is paid back to 25% of the field in gift certificates.
In a 16 person flight, the winner receives 40% of that flight's purse, second 30% and the two semi-finalist (match play) receive 15% each. In all match play tournaments, winning two matches assures you of a gift certificate.
The IHSA guidelines will be followed with no exceptions. For individual events, the maximum payout is $75. For team events, the maximum is the USGA Amateur status guideline (currently $750).
Update 2008: IHSA rules have changed, IHSA golfers are now under the Amateur guidelines while not in an IHSA season.
Trying to validate true IHSA rulings. Can only find the $75 rule explicidly stated in the IHSA website(Link) Page 17 Section 3.08 Amateurism
* Two-man has an extra BNGA fee of $1 per person. This money is used to run the association for such expenses as this website, special plaques and engraving, marketing costs, and participation medals for every golfer under the age of 13 in any BNGA event.
Update: 2009: Trophies/plaques will only be awarded to Champions of each flight. The money previously spent on 2nd place trophies/plaques will be placed into the gift certificate fund.
Update 2013: Trophies/plaques will not be created, rather the money will be poured back into the gift certificates pool and participants may option to obtain an award with that money by contacting the host golf course.