Bring Some Money, Mr. Scratch Golfer. You Will Need It.

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Nov 14, 2009 6:42 PM EST Comment 1 comment

My club has its share of scratch and plus-index golfers. Those guys have won the state team championship a few times and they do well in other events. One just won the Maryland Open in which over one hundred regional professionals were entered. We are nothing special, just about every club has great golfers.

I follow amateur golf on a national level. The amateur rankings, the 'major' amateur events - like the North & South, the Western and the Public Links. Also, those who qualify for pro events and also how sponsored amateurs play who are entered in Tour events. It is amazing how pathetic the scores are from these guys. Very few post 2-3 good scores and most have at least round near 80. And, many of them think they could compete and WIN on the LPGA tour. Sorry, guys. NFW!

(Above) John Riegger

I will put a disclaimer on that last sentence. If I recognize your name, you MAY have a chance, but probably not. The young man at my club who won the Maryland Open went to college on a golf scholarship, has been our club champ and has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. He admits there are a half-dozen (if not more) players every bit as good as him in the state. There are fifty states and Florida and California probably have 20,000 plus-handicap amateurs.

So, here is my recommendation, Mr. Big Shot. Take a handful of marbles and put them in your mouth. Every time you shoot a 65 or better on your home course, spit one out. After the last one, go to Q-School because you have lost all your marbles. And do not be foolish enough to donate 'the farm' to practically any LPGA professional.

Reminds me of that jerk, John Riegger, a Nationwide tour journeyman, who challenged Annika Sorenstam to a match for $1,000,000. Not one dime of it his. This year, he has made only nine of twenty cuts. AND, three W/D's - what is that all about? John qualified for the Nationwide Tour this year by finishing 181st on last years money list. And, you want to be my latex salesman. I don't think so...

These girls can flat out play...

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You’ll have to back that one up – how did the amateurs get into the conversation ? Was it just the guys around the clubhouse ? Do you think Annika in her playing shape could beat Ricky Fowler back in March before he turned pro ?

WHY was Riegger a jerk for wanting Sorenstam to back up her statement that if she played 30 PGA Tour events she could make the top 100 on the money list ? She’s the one who drew the line in the sand and Riegger stepped up to the challenge. It doesn’t matter where the money came from – if Sorenstam had taken him up on it, her million wouldn’t have been her own, either.

Annika said after playing the Colonial that she never wanted to do that again – once was enough – she KNEW the guys were that much better than her. (here’s a hint – you can’t make the top 100 on the PGA Tour money list if you can’t make a cut)

Here’s what you’re overlooking – the best amateur players ARE playing real tournament golf – and they are playing on courses that are a great deal longer than anything any of the women play. When you point out how amateurs do in the pro tournaments they get invited to play, they are playing PGA TOUR courses – very long, very tight, deep rough, lightning fast greens, and names in the field that leave your jaw on the ground…JUST a little intimidating.

Put the best amateurs – not the guys sitting around the locker room after a couple of beers – on an LPGA course with wide fairways, no rough, very short (6,000 to 6,600 at most), and average speed greens with holes cut in the middle of the green, you give the top level amateur a lot of advantages. EVERY par 5 is reachable with a mid-iron at most…half the par 4’s are drivable…at least a 2 club difference on the par 3’s…assuming you’re going to play from the same tees. In fact – take those guys you’re talking about out and play 10% less of the yardage of your course from the tips and see how they do. That’s 6300 yards if you’re on a 7000 yard course.

I know the girls can play – I learn from them every time I watch – but face facts…the men are better. To even the playing field, you have to basically put them on different courses from the tees. Making up 600-800 yards is a lot if you figure that every 100 yards basically equals a stroke. Annika would’ve lost $1 million.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 15, 2009 11:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs