Competitive Amateur Events

[ATurner17]

Hey guys,
Outside the staple GAO events (Amateur, Mid-Am, or Match Play) where can an Amateur play in competitive events? I live down in the Windsor area and want to get back into tournament golf. I play off about a 2.0, but I'm hoping to improve a few things this year to get competitive.

I'm keeping my eye open for the 2023 Western Ontario, but does anyone have any contacts for invitationals that I can apply to?

I've looked across the border at the Golf Association of Michigan events but turns out I'm not eligible because I'm not a Michigan Resident. So the State AM and March Play are out of the question.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

[rgk5]

Years ago there were some evemts around London that I played in.

- the Early Bird in St. Thomas
- Thames Valley Invit.
- Sunningdale Invit.

[Weirfan]

GTA AM TOUR , unfortunately events are more GTA centric and a bit far from you.

Some good Men's Open events up North.
Lively Men's Open is excellent

[trunckslammer1]

Once you start playing a few invitationals like the Early Bird at St Thomas and at an index of 2.0, you might get invited to the more prestigious events like like the Willie Park at Weston, The National Invitational etc.
I know that the Corvid shutdown did affect some of these invitationals but they are starting to come back.
The GAO website might have a listing of these private invitationals.

[grasbunkers]

Registration just opened for western Ontario amateur at roseland and beach grove

[ATurner17]

Registration just opened for western Ontario amateur at roseland and beach grove

Can you provide the link? All I can see are the results from last year.

[grasbunkers]

https://www.westernontarioamateur.co...a-bd301f54c025

[grasbunkers]

Shoot me a dm and I’ll send you the glencairn invite
gras

[rosenberg]

Not sure if you’re interested but I found about bgatour yesterday. The 2023 calendar looks like they’re playing some good courses. Thinking of joining

[WWFS]

If you can get your index down by about 0.6, there's US Open local qualifying at Plum Hollow (Southfield, MI) this year. (May 3rd)

[tickyboy]

All the GAO events are now open for registration!

[AK19]

GTA AM TOUR , unfortunately events are more GTA centric and a bit far from you.

Some good Men's Open events up North.
Lively Men's Open is excellent

I don't like the waitlist for events and your standing is heavily weighted on the amount of events you play.

[Weirfan]

I don't like the waitlist for events and your standing is heavily weighted on the amount of events you play.

The Tour is quite popular so, yes some of the premiere events and venues do fill up relatively early. However, everyone is given the same opportunity to register as the date and time that registration opens is well communicated.

That said, even today ( several weeks after registration started) of the 31 events being held this year, 15 have openings.

This will be my 5th year on tour and I have never had a problem getting into an event nor have I had to be on the waitlist ....BUT, if you don't sign up in the first 2-3 days after registration opens, you might have to go on a wait list for one of the high demand venues. Even then, spots always open up and openings are communicated to everyone.

As for a person's standing, I assume you are referring to the season long Order of Merit standings. This is akin to the PGA tour's FedEx Cup points race. While each event is a standalone tournament with placement and prizing based on performance, in addition to the specific event prizing Points are provided based on your placement in each event you enter. The 3 Majors during the season are awarded more points than regular events. Your Order of Merit standing is determined based on your 10 best points totals. So yes, your standing is somewhat weighted on the number of events you play.....that is up to a maximum of 10 events. A player must play in 5 events during the season to be eligible to win. The season Ending, 2 Day , Tour Championship is the culmination of the points race with a higher points total offered for your placement in that event.

Personally , I like the format and feel that everything is run efficiently and professionally.

hope that helps clarify the workings a bit