Amateur Golf, 3 Things I Know, And More

So much of life is weighed against a return. Time is traded, effort is measured, and hobbies are often turned into side hustles. But some of the most important things resist that kind of math, and become pure and beautiful as a result.

A page of notes that no one will read. A song played in an empty room. A walk with no destination. These moments stand apart because they do not ask to be rewarded. They remind us that the act itself can be enough.

I had another topic queued up for today, but once I saw that more than half of the quarterfinalists in the US Mid Am are former pros, I rushed to my laptop to dip the proverbial pen. As you read this, Brandon Holtz beat Jeg Coughlin III (HoF golf name) 3&2 in the finals. Holtz was a full time tour pro for 6 years after college. He should never have been eligible for this tournament.

Amateur golf is sacred. We can’t have former pros in the field of amateur events. If someone has earned prize money on the golf course from their play, they are no longer an amateur. (In the era of NIL, we have to bend the rules of amateurism slightly.) Making four footers for a paycheck and making four footers for a trophy are distinct and separate actions, no matter how it’s argued. The essence of amateurism cascades off of their skin as soon as the prize money hits their bank account.

At some point in their golf career, pros make the decision that golf is more than a hobby to them. It’s a job. They spend years solely dedicated to the improvement of their golf game, nothing else. True amateurs have always had to balance work with golf, no matter how unserious the type of work may be.

What would Bobby Jones think of the former pros showing up at the Mid Am to beat up on some stock brokers? I think he would argue it dilutes the purity of amateur golf.

The solution is as follows: The USGA and R&A need to eliminate the rules that allow for reinstatement of amateur status. The current rules are not only vague and convoluted, but stand in direct contradiction to the definition of amateurism. If you’ve ever won prize money in a sanctioned golf tournament as a pro, you are no longer an amateur. Cut and dry. Case closed.

10 years later and you want to play competitive golf? That’s great. There are myriad state opens and professional events for which you can qualify. The US Open being one of them.

Decisions have consequences. Too many players think they are good enough to turn pro out of college, when in reality they have no shot. I’m all for trying to turn pro, as the financial upside is considerable, but we must reserve Amateur golf for those who have never accepted or won prize money. Keep amateur golf pure. Keep pros out of amateur events!

P.S. — I’m considering taking drastic measures and creating a Country Club Stick Amateur. We can’t stand for semi-pros winning our national amateur events.

I can’t help but notice that some private clubs are becoming the backdrop and stage for performative on-course content. And while I have yet to witness the fad myself, I have to believe this negatively impacts the experience of others on the course.

Imagine waiting on a tee only for the broccoli haired kid in front of you to pull out a tripod? Golf in the Social Media Era is certainly a phenomenon that has split the game in two.

While “bifurcation” is the word used to discuss the creation of a “pro” ball vs an amateur ball (more on that in a future edition?), it is more appropriately used to describe the split between top end private clubs and everywhere else.

The middle ground of golf is slowly disintegrating, washed away by the crashing waves of lax dress codes and speakers on golf carts. With each passing day, the experience of playing a round of golf at a low to mid tier private club deteriorates. The rounds are slow, the music is loud, and the general attire leaves something to be desired. Unfortunately, the only way to avoid this is to join a top end private club (you probably have to know someone), and even then it comes with a heavy initiation cost and prospective member interview process.

Whether you like it or not, the only way to avoid the masses is to join the elites.

If play is slow and you’re waiting on a long par 3, allow the group behind you to play up as you are standing on or walking to the green. It’s a small act that helps keep play moving.

Moreover, it’s a key signal to the group behind you that you are well-versed in etiquette and know what you’re doing out there.

Talk soon,

BTG

Email me: [email protected]

Each Saturday, we go deep — with a satirical essay covering behind the scenes nonsense at elite private clubs.

Start your weekend with a laugh - just 1 referral gets you access.

Talk soon,

BTG