BRYAN INNES LAMENTS R&A
DECISION TO SCRAP
BRITISH MID-AMATEUR
CHAMPIONSHIP


The recent decision by the R&A to scrap the British men's mid-amateur championship - which it organised - has not gone down well with at least one supporter of the annual tournament.
He's Bryan Innes (pictured right) of Murcar Links. A North-east District team player for several years, Bryan played for Scotland in the home internationals of 2003.
Bryan, who has never been a full-time amateur golfer (he works as a wealth adviser), reached the semi-finals of the British mid-amateur championship at Muirfield in 2005.
Here is Bryan's E-mail to Scottishgolfview.com:
I have to say I am really disappointed in the R&A over its decision to discontinue the event. It really begs the question "Does the R&A want to promote genuine amateur golf ?"
I emailed the R&A earlier this year (no reply received) commenting and questioning the speed in which amateur golf is changing. At the British Amateur at Lytham this year, I did raise my concerns (outlined in my E-mail) with the R&A directly. There are, effectively, two tiers to top amateur golf - those who are full time "professional amateurs" and those who are in gainful employment.
When I represented Scotland in the 2003 Home Internationals, half of the team were genuine amateurs. Now there is one (Jonathan King).
Events are now starting on Fridays and world ranking points are used for entry into major competitions. The only way to accrue WAGR points is to play in the big events, i.e. Spanish, Portuguese, South African Amateur, St Andrews Links Trophy, etc.
Closer to home there are the SGU national events, the bulk of which are competed by full-time amateurs.
For the top tier I have no qualms with this at all, as it is now seen as a development school for those wishing to ply their talents in the professional ranks. However, the British mid-amateur championship offered a genuine event for true amateurs and which should have always been aimed at the over-35s.
Where the R&A and the other home unions have erred is by making it over 25. In the last few years and this year in particular, the R&A tournament has had a winner who is a full-time golfer and in the England Elite squad. That he won the title thise year or even played is not Matthew Cryer's fault but for the R&A to allow individuals of this status to compete in what should be an event for non full-time amateurs is wrong.
Make it over 35 and you will not find a full-time player among them - it is then a true competition.
Having competed in the last three British mid-amateur events I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable weeks of the year, played on excellent courses and set up as always very well by the R&A.
What is disappointing is that there was no real discussion over this with those involved, and this decision leaves leading "amateurs" with very little choice of competitive golf.
Compete v full time professionals whilst taking plenty of time off from your work or play your Saturday medal.
Bryan Innes
+Do you agree with Bryan Innes? Has the R&A been too hasty in scrapping its British mid-amateur championship? E-mail your views to colin@scottishgolfview.com
Here's the first response from:

Graeme Leslie (Stonehaven)
In response to Bryan’s view, whilst I sympathise with the loss of a tournament that offered “working” amateurs like him a fighting chance, to the best of my knowledge, all the SGU Order of Merit events are played on Saturdays and Sundays.
Any golfer who works Monday to Friday and thinks he’s good enough to compete with the best amateurs in Scotland, is therefore able to do so, without compromising his employment situation.
He would need to take a week’s vacation to compete in the Scottish Amateur or British Amateur, and a Friday off to compete in the St Andrews Links Championship, and committed amateurs who are good enough, do apportion their annual vacation entitlement around such events.
There are indeed two “tiers” in amateur golf, and it should be welcomed that we have aspiring young golfers in Scotland that do strive for the professional ranks. Whilst there is no guarantee that the full-time amateur is going to win every week, I cannot see how the acknowledgement of a “second division” in amateur golf, events exclusively for the “working man”, helps the development of golf at all.
I therefore fail to understand his argument with the R&A, who do a fantastic job in developing the sport not just in this country, but for golfers throughout the world.
The bottom line is that the greatest championship in the world of golf is Open to everyone. Every amateur event is open to every amateur, and there is a huge choice of amateur events to choose from. If you think you are not able to compete against competitors, some of whom that work full time at their game, then rather than lament the situation, make a decision: either stay away, play other amateur opens or set up your own event if you feel that there would be sufficient demand for it.
Graeme Leslie

Comment from Scottishgolfview.com Editor (Colin Farquharson)
The thing I found hard to understand was the comment in the original R&A Press Release about discontinuing the British mid-amateur championship because the quality of the entries was disappointing - almost as though they expected Walker Cup candidates and all the international-class amateurs in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales to enter
If the R&A had kept the championship going - and especially if it had raised the minimum age to 35 - it is my opinion that a new culture of top-level players (i.e. aged between 35 and 55) would have emerged eventually, just as it has done in national seniors' golf.
For instance, three new over-55 caps have been named in the Scotland team for next week's senior men's home internationals. None of them was considered good enough to be capped when they were in their 20s. Mid-amateur golf should be a stepping stone between the young men's game and the seniors' level.

Bryan Innes responds to Graeme Leslie:

I am not looking for a second division in amateur golf. Having competed at the top end of amateur golf for a number of years I feel I am well versed and able to raise an issue that many "playing" will agree.
If the E-mail was read correctly he will see that I am criticising the decision of the R&A to remove an event that offered the "genuine amateur" the opportunity to compete against each other. The over-35 age issue has been debated by many and had the R&A adopted this stance it would have been an even greater success.
It seems that the R&A wanted high-profile players i.e. Walker Cup players, etc to play. However that will never happen as they will all be under-35 and full time.
The R&A do a fabulous job and as I have stated they run excellent tournaments. However, they have erred in this decision (to discontinue the British mid-amateur championship) as it clearly does not represent the changes in amateur golf.
I would also suggest that Mr Leslie would benefit by looking at the schedule of the SGU/National events where they do not all commence on a Saturday i.e St Andrews Links, Scottish Stroke play, Lytham Trophy, Brabazon Trophy, etc, etc.
Of the ones that do commence on a Saturday - how would Mr Leslie propose one prepares for the event? By turning up on the Saturday am or by playing a practice round on the Friday ?
Bryan Innes