Calendar of Amateur Events 2010

[Coogee Beach]

Can anyone suggest an online calendar detailing amateur events happening in 2010?

I'm coming over to the States for a visit (from Sydney) and love to play some local tournaments, or even a Saturday afternoon stableford comp.

Cheers.

[bogeyhitter25]

Try the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. If you mean big amateur tournaments (i.e. US Amateur, or Public Links), I'm sorry but I don't think a 10 handicap would cut it. No offense.

Your best bet would the GC Am Tour. Best of luck!

[Lefty-Golfer]

Try the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. If you mean big amateur tournaments (i.e. US Amateur, or Public Links), I'm sorry but I don't think a 10 handicap would cut it. No offense.

his index is a 9.8...the HC would typically be closer to a 12

[JaY_B]

his index is a 9.8...the HC would typically be closer to a 12

Australia's handicap isn't the same as Americas I don't think, more similar to England's in that he has to shoot 10 over to avoid going up.

[plugged]

Amateur events in the US come in all flavors:

- Golf leagues: organized by individual courses (public or private). You must be a member, or, for public courses, you can call and see if they need a substitute. They typically play weekly. Best way to do this is check the Internet for public golf courses in the cities that you will be in, call and ask about when golf leagues are playing and if they accept substitutes the last minute. If you play in one of these, you will be teamed up with (typically) a bunch of middle-aged hackers who drink a lot of beer. They're fun if they are your buddies, but annoying if you are a stranger. Scores mean nothing.

- City/regional golf associations - sort of like the above, they are private organizations, but they play a variety of courses. They are very common in large cities. You must be a member of the association and you cannot just walk on and participate.

- State associations - same as above, and the eligibility for entry into a tournament is pretty strict. You wouldn't make it.

- USGA - same as above, but more strict and you definitely would not make it (that's OK, very few on this site would be eligible).

I would just plan to play some nice courses and enjoy ourself.

[Rounders]

Where will you be visiting?

Check out www.amateurgolftour.net/index.htm

[Coogee Beach]

I would just plan to play some nice courses and enjoy ourself.

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. And yes, I do plan on enjoying myself, just like to play in competitions with like-minded golf-heads.

In answer to the above about when I'm planning on coming over, and where. The rough itinerary is: April 17-19 New York April 20-23 Orlando April 24-30 San francisco Will certainly look up some public courses in these burgs, along with the ETour and other "league" type comps that clubs are running. Thanks again for the heads-up. Cheers.

[Coogee Beach]

Where will you be visiting?

Top site, thanks.

[Big_M]

Where will you be visiting?

Top site, thanks.

This is a quality amatuer tour... I have played in the Michigan and North Carolina sections and both were very enjoyable. Usually has a good turnout which helps. Not sure about all the other cities, but Detroit and Charlotte are well run. Only negatives are that the prizes are gift cards and you have to pay an initial fee (I think it's about $75-$100).

Also... not sure where you are going in the states but around here we have a state amatuer association with some events available to players of any skill level... http://www.carolinasgolf.org/ Also if you're around Charlotte we have a new tour available for regular guys and they also schedule little "pick-up" games with 10-30 guys and some skins, greenies, etc. The tournaments are supposed to start in March and the prizes will be VISA gift cards or some such thing (so essentially cash) and there will be NO initiation fee. http://www.pickup18.com/ let us know where you are planning on going and we can narrow it down a bit... I guess in some cities the Golf Channel Tour is OK, but around here there are better options.

[Coogee Beach]

Try the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. If you mean big amateur tournaments (i.e. US Amateur, or Public Links), I'm sorry but I don't think a 10 handicap would cut it. No offense.

Thanks very much. Looks like a top series of comps.

Australia's handicap isn't the same as Americas I don't think, more similar to England's in that he has to shoot 10 over to avoid going up.

That's right. And you go up by .1 each time you don't. Doesn't matter if you shoot 1-over your handicap or 35-over ... you go up point-1.

Each time you do beat your handicap you lose .4 off your mark. So if you're off 10.0 and shoot 5-over ... you lose 5 * .4 = 2.0 off your handicap, and become and 8.0 marker. Shoot an even par round and you'll 10 * .4 and come in from 10 to six. But one of these days they'll be instituting the slope system from the States, and then we'll see how we go.

Also... not sure where you are going in the states but around here we have a state amatuer association with some events available to players of any skill level...

Hey - thanks a heap for the info. These associations and links are exactly what I was after. I'll check em out and see about working the itinerary around a game or games.

To that end we don't have an itinerary locked in yet ... I was planning on getting to Orlando because I know a bloke who lives in that same gated community Tiger fled the missus with the 3-iron ... Isleworth ... so probably be rude not go and visit him there (!) and play golf and wander around like a rube among the uber-wealthy. Or something. But from a quick look at the handy How Far Is It From Orlando to Charlotte website ... looks like a flight would be relatively cheap and Charlotte a nice place to visit. Are there trees there with moss hanging off em? Actually my girlfriend has been there say it's great. Will work it. cheers.

[harrinjj]

This is a quality amatuer tour... I have played in the Michigan and North Carolina sections and both were very enjoyable. Usually has a good turnout which helps. Not sure about all the other cities, but Detroit and Charlotte are well run. Only negatives are that the prizes are gift cards and you have to pay an initial fee (I think it's about $75-$100).

When did you play on the Detroit tour? I have been on the tour for 2 years now and love it. I went down to Nationals this past October and it was a blast. Looking forward to year already.

[Big_M]

I played 2 events about 2-3 years ago when I was living in Toledo, after I had already moved from Oxford, MI. Then I played a few down here after I moved down on the Charlotte tour.