Boxgroove recently set down the Jared Minor (Tour Director in Columbus, OH) and discussed the Golfweek Amateur Tour. Here is the Question and Answer Session:
We have had more than a handful of inquiries from Boxgroove golfers about having some tournaments where competition golf (with a handicap) can be played and experienced. Not all 2 footers are made! We thought we would share with you a little bit about a fascinating Amateur Tour that is played around the US and even here at home in Columbus, Ohio. One of our Boxgroove members runs the Columbus Amateur Tour and we sat down with Jared to ask him a few questions about the tour.
BG: What is the Golfweek Amateur Tour?
GAT: It's a tour that allows golfers of all levels to compete against players at that same level. You can be anywhere from a scratch golfer to a twenty-and-above handicap. We have fourteen events here in Columbus where we put the golfer in a flight; at that point it is gross stroke play. It makes it very competitive and fair for all of our members. This is our flight breakdown:
Champ-0-3.9
A-4.0-8.9
B-9.0-13.9
C-14.0-18.9
D-19.0 andabove
BG: Can any golfer participate in the Amateur Tour?
GAT: We accept men and women ages 12 and up.
BG: Do the golfers win prizes at the tournaments?
GAT: Absolutely. We have engraved crystal trophies for each flight at every tournament. We also pay winners in Visa gift cards. We have a points system similar to what the PGA Tour uses, so players can accumulate them throughout the year and try to win their flight overall. If you win your flight for the year, it's a great accomplishment and is rewarded well.
BG: When and where are the tournaments?
GAT: We start our season here in Columbus in April, and finish in October. All the events are on Saturday, every other week. The Golfweek Amateur Tour is in forty cities nationwide, so in some of the warmer climates they start earlier. You can join anytime throughout the year. Players aren't committed to play in every event; they can pick and choose, if they'd like. Once you become a member you can play in any city's local event as a guest. So if you're on vacation and see that there is a local event, you are more than welcome to participate. We have a national season opener called the Icebreaker. It's held in Hilton Head, SC in January. The event is open to all Golfweek Tour players and kicks off our season.
BG: I heard you have a National Championship. What's that like?
GAT: It is absolutely awesome! If you place top ten in your flight at the end of your local city's season, you are invited to play in our National Championship in Hilton Head, SC. We have 600-700 players from across the country participate. It's a 54-hole tournament held at the end of October every year. The weather in Hilton Head that time of the year is perfect. Each flight plays two different courses over those three days. Something special this year for the Columbus and Hilton Head tours is a Ryder Cup-style event. We will have it on the day before the official tournament. Team captains will pick players to go head to head. The winning city will bring home the trophy for the year. It's going to be a blast. We also have demo days from all the top manufacturers, and a huge skins game before the tournament. The whole week is filled with activities for golfers. It is one of the best golf events you will ever be a part of.
BG: Why should someone join the Golfweek Amateur Tour?
GAT: I think a lot of people love the thrill of competition. This tour is the same as the big boys and girls that play on Sundays, just for us regular golfers. In my experience, when something is on the line, you will get better. I have had golfers start in our D flight and move all the way up to B flight. Just from a competitive standpoint, they took their game to another level. Probably the best thing about this tour is the camaraderie. We have over 100 members in Columbus, and I couldn't ask for a better group of golfers. I have met some of my best friends through this tour, and I continue to each and every year. Thanks, Jared, for spending some time with us. Good luck as you wind down your season and best of luck in Hilton Head. If you are interested in learning more about the Golfweek Amateur Tour, please reach out to Jared at jared@amateurgolftour.net
