AMATEUR HOUR

Amateurs can play a tour just like the pros, with minimal travel.

The golfing community consists of many different types of golfers. There are driving range players, charity scramble players, weekend warriors, and more serious competitive players. Amateurs who enjoy playing competitively but aren’t ready for some of the bigger state or national events are always looking for opportunities and a new one is now available in Oregon and Washington.

The Golfweek Amateur Tour - already popular throughout most of the country - has launched in the Portland and Seattle/Tacoma areas with 11 and eight events, respectively.

The Tour provides amateurs with the experience of competitive stroke-play golf at courses that are both challenging and enjoyable to play. More importantly, though, is the opportunity to compete against a new group of players.

“I like to find places to play competitive golf,” said Oregon/SW Washington Tour Director Stotz Thoda. “Golfweek events have been very successful for the last 25 years, and I wanted to give players in the Pacific Northwest access to those great events.”

Founded in Charlotte, N.C., in 1995, the Golfweek Amateur Tour celebrates its 26th season in 2020 with more than 50 divisions across the country. This year’s Portland and Seattle Tour schedules include visits to: Chambers Bay, Heron Lakes GC, Club at Newcastle, Orchard Hills and Rock Creek CC, Hawk’s Prairie, Stone Creek GC, and Black Butte Ranch.

“Amateurs can play a Tour just like the pros, with minimal travel,” said Thoda “Our events are held locally mostly on the weekends, perfect for the average golfer. Our goal is to provide fun, fast, competitive events with affordable pricing. Our goal is 4 and half hour rounds, so slow play will be monitored and addressed. In addition, we have coordinated our tour dates with both tours so you can travel and play the neighboring tour events in either Portland or Seattle areas.”

The Golfweek Amateur Tour is for amateurs of all ages and abilities. Members are placed in one of five flights based on handicaps. Flights are: Championship (0-3.9 handicap), A Flight (4- 8.9), B Flight (9-13.9), C Flight (14-18.9) and D Flight (19 and over). Tournament format is gross stroke play, with USGA rules in effect. The Tour tracks tournament handicaps to ensure players are flighted correctly.

Entry fees for the Golfweek Tour range from $85-$180 for single day events. Those fees include cart and green fees, range balls and prizes. There will also be separate sponsored par- three contests and an optional skins game at each event. Trophies will also be awarded to the winners of each flight. Golfers who qualify receive invitations to the 2020 Golfweek Amateur Golf Tour Championship 54 hole event, Oct. 23rd – 25th on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Dues for the 2020 season are just $63 until July 1st and then increase to $78. Those dues include a $125 Tour credit, a subscription to Golfweek Magazine, a welcome bag, and handicap through US Handicap. Guests are allowed in all local events but won’t earn points or have access to regional and national events.

The tour’s first events will be a dual event weekend May 30 and 31st at Chamber’s Bay and Heron Lakes, respectively. Events previously scheduled prior to May, have been postponed for later in the year. Visit www.AmateurGolfTour.net for schedule updates.