Amateur vs. Pro Status

[Tugglife2]

I see a lot of people on this forum varying from +2 to -2ish handicaps that play in amateur tournaments. My question is, if you are this good why play in amateur tournaments at all? I'm obviously not talking about any professional tour events, but aren't tournaments that award $$ prizes fairly common? From what I understand an amateur player ceases being an amateur if they take a cash prize, correct?

Are tournaments that award cash prizes not that common or is there another reason solid golfers just stick to amateur tournaments?

I'm not speaking of the high school/college students by the way.

[iacas]

From what I understand an amateur player ceases being an amateur if they take a cash prize, correct?

Appendix III of the Rules of Golf

Source: Rules of Amateur Status 3-2. Prize Limits a. General An amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of $750 or the equivalent , or such a lesser figure as may be decided by the USGA. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions.

You can win cash prizes without being a pro. On the flip side, simply declaring yourself to be a pro is all that's technically required.

[ilikefishes]

The competitions available to a person wanting to play professionally would be limited to State Opens and other "Open" events. Otherwise one would need an exemption from the event.

I think that most top ams are into the competition & the $$$$$ they could make would not afford them a good living. Therefore they keep their regular jobs and play as amatuers. There are some really prestigious events to get involved in. The Oregon Coast Invitational comes to mind as I spent some time at Astoria G & CC.

[deronsizemore]

Quite simple. I'm not good enough to compete with the pros. Come to think of it, I'm not good enough to compete the with top amateurs around here either. The Hooter Tour comes to a course I play regularly and the cut line after two days is usually around -4 or so which isn't easy at all and even less easy when they have the course set up hard as hell. On top of that, it costs $ to get in pro tournaments like the Hooter's Tour which I don't care to spend to go out there and miss the cut.

[Tugglife2]

Interesting stuff. I know occasionally they're are tournaments down here in Miami that award cash prizes. For some reason I feel like the competition isn't too stiff in these things. Meaning if you are +2 to -2 you'd have a great shot at winning or placing high with a good round.

Speaking personally, I am ultra competitive and if I was good enough I'd play in one of these things. I would think it's quite a rush playing a tournament for $$ with the pressure that might come with it.

[deronsizemore]

Interesting stuff. I know occasionally they're are tournaments down here in Miami that award cash prizes. For some reason I feel like the competition isn't too stiff in these things. Meaning if you are +2 to -2 you'd have a great shot at winning or placing high with a good round.

I play in tournaments just not professional tournaments. I usually play the Lexington City Tournament and then another (or two) flighted tournaments each year. In the Lexington City Tournament, it's all amateur golfers and the winner last year when I played was 16 and he shot -12 for four days of golf (at four different courses). The flighted ones I play in are alright as you play two days and after the first day they put you in a flight with similar scores. It's not an overly difficult course, but I've seen lots of 64's, 65's and 66's, thrown out in the Championship flight each yet. If I'm playing my absolute best I could shoot 65, but it's not like I can go out there and expect to do it all the time or once a year even.

[WUTiger]

I normally triple-bogie a hole on the back nine, only so I don't endanger my amateur status.

[TN94z]

On top of that, it costs $ to get in pro tournaments like the Hooter's Tour which I don't care to spend to go out there and miss the cut.

I think this is probably one of the biggest reasons you see these good handicaps still playing the amateur tournaments. Yes, there the tournaments around that you can win good cash prizes in, but many people don't have the extra cash to throw down to get in for the chance that they "might" win one of the cash prizes. The few guys in my area that have played on the Pro Tours have had sponsors.

If I ever get to scratch or better, I won't be doing those tournaments either unless I have someone willing to throw money my way. You would have to be one really solid confident player to jump in that risk reward type thing with your own cash.

[Tugglife2]

If an amateur is playing a tour event and wins or places very high, can they declare themselves as a pro and take the prize money after the tournament is concluded? Or are they locked into amateur status if they enter the tournament as an amateur?

[iacas]

If an amateur is playing a tour event and wins or places very high, can they declare themselves as a pro and take the prize money after the tournament is concluded? Or are they locked into amateur status if they enter the tournament as an amateur?

They're locked in. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[bigoak]

There is a limit on the amount of money you can win as a prize an remain an amateur. There are gamblers who play the game and who imitate the original professionals when the prize money originated with the other competitors. If you want to play for some real money as a amateur, you have to bring a lot of money to the event. I would like to see a professional event in which the professionals are playing with their own money and not the tournament sponsor's money. We could see some real gagging when the $1.5 million dollars first prize is partly made up of your own money to lose.