posted Mar 29, 2008

Point taken but Coulthard Mmmmm and Murray has yet to prove himself and by that I mean in the grand slams.
As for the last 2 brits that would be Faldo and Woosie. You said brits and not english.

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posted Mar 29, 2008

Didn't paul Lawrie win a major

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posted Mar 30, 2008

Nice Paul Lawrie story
He's playing in the Open with Bo Twiceweekly and Bo asks if he has played in the Open before!!
PS Anyonew who plays the last three at Carnoustie in level 3's deserves respect.

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posted Mar 31, 2008

Paul Lawrie also deserves respect for a fine Ryder Cup performance in 1999. (Nice one re Weakly and PL!)

Wmt: Don't you think the US system of highly subsidised junior and amateur (incl college) golf is effective as a model? Whilst I don't like the fact that there are few post-high school, non-college options, there is a definite split once college eligibility has expired.

And the US "Mid Amateur" circuit is very amateur and of a high calibre - Trip Kuenhe, Buddy Marucci etc, Doyle, Harris, Segal etc before them. (Nice article in last week's Golf World illustrating that as it happens.)

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posted Apr 1, 2008

Abolish amateur status? No way.

The rules of amateur status are the same pretty much everywhere. The only distinctions are in things like the value of a prize, expressed in money terms, that it's ok to receive. Amateur status in the US and Europe is on exactly the same basis as in the UK.

This is what the USGA has to say on the issue -

The purpose and spirit of the Rules is to maintain the distinction between amateur golf and professional golf and to keep the amateur game as free as possible from the abuses that may follow from uncontrolled sponsorship and financial incentive. It is considered necessary to safeguard amateur golf, which is largely self-regulating with regard to the Rules of play and handicapping, so that it can be fully enjoyed by all amateur golfers.

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posted Apr 1, 2008

Thanks 1507George
As I said can you name another sport with a two tier player system
Tennis clubs do not seem to have changed much over the last 25 years but British tennis has come on in leaps and bounds since they went one tier.

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posted Apr 1, 2008

By the way many County and National golf bodies now give M&S vouchers by way of prizes.
The taxman does not differentiate between M&S vouchers and cash. We all know that top amateurs have fiddled the system for years. stop the sham.

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posted Apr 2, 2008

Here's an extract from the R&A website -

The distinction between amateur and professional players is currently more clearly and sensibly defined. The Amateur Status Committee of The R&A defines an amateur as someone who plays the game as a non-remunerative and non-profit-making sport and who does not receive remuneration for teaching golf or for other activities because of golf skill or reputation.

Prizes in amateur events are limited to a value of £500.

Those who accept prizes with higher values than the rules allow - a car for a hole-in-one for instance - enter a no-man's land. They have no official handicap and cannot take part in amateur events, but they do not become professionals.


I don't think it's a sham at all. Also, I don't understand why we would want to have professionals able to compete in amateur events. It would bring all the worst elements of competition into something, which as the name implies, we do for the love of playing.

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posted Apr 3, 2008

Hi 1507 George
Two Comments
I do not think many pro's would wish to play in the club medal and you imply that the Pro's don't love playing?
Still asking if anyone knows of a sport with a two tier player system. Most young amateur players with a h'cap of +3 or better are full time players many receiving an income from thier playing skills, hence the sham.

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posted Apr 4, 2008

I don't know whether pros like playing or not. Most of them don't look too cheery most of the time.

Amateur (from the Latin amare, to love) means doing it for the love of playing.

I don't mind people being professionals at all, it's for them to decide. But for me, professionalism brings all sorts of connotations of playing to the limit of the rules, and beyond, and I don't want it in amateur golf.

I played in the Amateur Championship years ago - to me that's the ultimate level of golf.

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