COLIN FARQUHARSON'S TALKING POINT
Mid-amateur championship minimum
Mid-amateur championship minimum
age should be 35 not 25
Mid-amateur golf is the most poorly supported form of competitive play in the United Kingdom.
You don't believe me?
Well, the R&A removed the British men's mid-amateur from the list of championships under its auspices a year or two ago.
Same with the Ladies Golf Union and the British women's mid-amateur championship. It was scrapped a couple of years ago.
Now the Scottish Golf Union admit that entries for the Scottish men's mid-amateur championship - to be held at East Renfrewshire GC from June 12 to 14 - are at a disappointingly low level ahead of the entry deadline in mid-May.
I have said this before and I will say it again:
It's an age thing!
Mid-amateur golf came over to us from the United States 20 odd years ago, maybe more,and the powers-that-be over there got it wrong when they made it for over-25s. On this side of the Atlantic, amateur golfing officialdom just accepted that this was the right age.
Wrong! Mid-amateur golf should be for the over-35s up to the under-55s, i.e. the age of eligibility for male seniors' competition.
The European Golf Association had the good sense to see the way things were going and they raised their minimum age for the European mid-amateur championship to 35.
Response from Allyn Dick, Scottish mid-amateur champion in 2005 and 2006 after being runner-up in 2004 (that's him pictured above).
Mid-amateur golf is the most poorly supported form of competitive play in the United Kingdom.
You don't believe me?
Well, the R&A removed the British men's mid-amateur from the list of championships under its auspices a year or two ago.
Same with the Ladies Golf Union and the British women's mid-amateur championship. It was scrapped a couple of years ago.
Now the Scottish Golf Union admit that entries for the Scottish men's mid-amateur championship - to be held at East Renfrewshire GC from June 12 to 14 - are at a disappointingly low level ahead of the entry deadline in mid-May.
I have said this before and I will say it again:
It's an age thing!
Mid-amateur golf came over to us from the United States 20 odd years ago, maybe more,and the powers-that-be over there got it wrong when they made it for over-25s. On this side of the Atlantic, amateur golfing officialdom just accepted that this was the right age.
Wrong! Mid-amateur golf should be for the over-35s up to the under-55s, i.e. the age of eligibility for male seniors' competition.
The European Golf Association had the good sense to see the way things were going and they raised their minimum age for the European mid-amateur championship to 35.
Response from Allyn Dick, Scottish mid-amateur champion in 2005 and 2006 after being runner-up in 2004 (that's him pictured above).
Making the age 35 will not attract more entries. Moving the event to another date and not having it clashing with the British Amateur will do.
In my opinion, the SGU has devalued the event in recent years. Previously it was played on the same weekend as the Scottish Youths. You will now find that tournament has been moved to a free weekend in the schedule.
Also, Friday qualifying with match-play on the weekend was moved to Saturday qualifying so not so many entrants would need to take a day off work.
With a Monday finish now, why bother entering if you're not going to take the Monday off? Also, what is the incentive of winning this national title? I can tell you, hee haw!
In my opinion, the SGU has devalued the event in recent years. Previously it was played on the same weekend as the Scottish Youths. You will now find that tournament has been moved to a free weekend in the schedule.
Also, Friday qualifying with match-play on the weekend was moved to Saturday qualifying so not so many entrants would need to take a day off work.
With a Monday finish now, why bother entering if you're not going to take the Monday off? Also, what is the incentive of winning this national title? I can tell you, hee haw!
Allyn Dick
Editor's Note: No winner of the Scottish mid-amateur championship has been selected to play for Scotland after his victory.
+Is Colin Farquharson right or wrong? If you want to air your view, E-mail it to Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Labels: Amateur Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, April 30, 2010
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