Amateur golf championships.

gorfield

Just a thought as i play most amateur events.
How many of you actually go watch the championships, as the crowds are dwindling since our new tiger Rory left the scene. There are others following Rory closely like Shane lowry,Paul Cutler, Niall Kearney. I remember people watching Rory play practice rounds!!!!!!!!! These guys and more are just as impressive and amateurs could learn loads by watching, and all for free!!!!
Thoughts??

tigerwoods

have to agree with you,the standard of amateur championship golf in Ireland is very high,I have spent many a June bank holiday walking around Baltray and just cannot believe how little support that these guys get.Sometimes also head over to Rosses at Easter weather permitting and the lack of people is unbelievable unless there is a local going well and you can learn so much from these guys and also get up close without costing you a penny

f22

I have watched many of the over the years and caddied in a few. I religously go to watch the Amateur Open and the East of Ireland every year.

I prefer Amateur events to any professional events I have ever been to. You are right there beside the action as opposed to being miles away behind ropes and other punters. Standard wise, the golf is of the highest quality and a breeding ground for stars of the future from all over Europe. When you consider that +1 will probably get you well down a waiting list fir the Irish Amateur it shows you the standard on show.

It's funny how crowds always tend to latch on to certain players. When Shane Lowry was making a run on the last day of the East last year virtually every spectator on the course was following him. The leaders had a mere scatter of people following them until the final couple of holes.

I agree with Gorfield also, you'll learn much more from an Amateur event than you ever will at a professional one. Go see them for free because you can be guaranteed you will be watching some of the players on TV in the not so distant future.

Sandwich

Only did it once, but had a highly enjoyable visit to the British Amateur in St Andrews a few years ago. Great experience, fantastic golf. As said, you are right up beside the players, no crowds and can happily explore the course at your leisure and see how different players handle it. Fun (and free!) way to see the great courses.

ShriekingSheet

It is a shame Gorfield. But I suppose it's show-business. The kid who achieves from a much younger age, or the guy with different colour skin, if they also produce the goods on the course they'll create a stir and gather more attention than the guy who might be as good or better, without having a "story" or media attention. Any sport or category of sport needs a superstar to attract attention. And that doesn't always just mean someone who's really good. I'm certainly not saying that's right but just my opinion on how these things work.

Even the Lowry mention above - the people were obviously hoping for a bit of late drama - a charge from the pack. There was clearly less interest in seeing the leaders cruise home. Of course, this isn't unique to amateur golf!

On the plus side, I think that irish amateur golf is getting slightly more column inches lately in the broadsheets and the revamped GUI site with pictures and up-to-date news is generating more awareness of what's going on. These days, so many enthusiastic golfers are so focused on their own game and improvement that the thought of missing a Medal to go and watch golf (be it the Irish Open or the East of Ireland) does not appeal to them at all. It's a sad state of affairs but people are entitled to their choices.

madds

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

These days, so many enthusiastic golfers are so focused on their own game and improvement that the thought of missing a Medal to go and watch golf (be it the Irish Open or the East of Ireland) does not appeal to them at all. It's a sad state of affairs but people are entitled to their choices.

I'm sure the talent on show at these events is of the highest calibre, but personally I put so much time into my own game during the off season that the monthly medal competition in my own club will always win out over going to see an amateur event.

Mister Sifter

I think you make a good point there Sheet. I've noticed that Irish people in the main only come and support when it's either big game/occassion or if there is a star attraction. Many would rather sit and watch it on the tv than actually venture out and experience it first hand.

The miss out on so much though. Personally, i find taking a saturday or sunday out to go watch top amateurs or live sport up close not only provides great entertainment and enjoyment, but it also actually benefits my game hugely. Missing one medal or stableford, when i can play every other sunday in a year, is well worth it in my opinion.

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

I think you make a good point there Sheet. I've noticed that Irish people in the main only come and support when it's either big game/occassion or if there is a star attraction. Many would rather sit and watch it on the tv than actually venture out and experience it first hand.

The miss out on so much though. Personally, i find taking a saturday or sunday out to go watch top amateurs or live sport up close not only provides great entertainment and enjoyment, but it also actually benefits my game hugely. Missing one medal or stableford, when i can play every other sunday in a year, is well worth it in my opinion.

Yeah there's certainly alot to be said for a sunny day out watching talented players. But let's not forget that our own fellow members might also be competing in the latter stages of Barton Cup or the Jimmy Bruen Sheild and supporting them, in my view, is also a worthwhile excercise, even if it's for different reasons. It can be as or even more exciting given that you have a bit more of a stake in the outcome too.

All in all, I think a lot of responsibility lies with the GUI in promoting amateur championship events, and it's commendable how up to date they keep their site and info. Only by providing such information for people like ourselves will the cultivate awareness and interest among us. These days are much more entertainment-rich and as punters, we'll no longer beat a path to the door of these events if they don't make an effort to promote and inform us. I think the GUI are catching up with the times and as a marketing type myself, think they're on the right road as far as growing interest in what are really great events.

On the club side of things, I think managers and coordinators need to do the same thing, obviously on a smaller scale. Letting the members know (even via the notice board or website) when matches are on, who is playing and what the results were is key to getting people behind the teams. Good support can really boost a team and the social aspect of it and post match celebrations can provide great nights for supporters and players alike. But all this starts with the organisers within the club. If no one knows what's going on, you can't blame them for not giving a shyte