Euro prize limit reduced in Ireland for amateur golfers

Kevinmarkham

Received the following from the GUI earlier:

Euro prize limit reduced in Ireland for amateur golfers

Following requests from affiliated golf clubs in Ireland, the Amateur Status Prize Limit in the Euro area in Ireland will be lowered from €750 to €575 and will take effect from 1st February 2018.

The move, which is supported by The R&A following requests for consideration by the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, will ensure that the Prize Limit for amateur golf is now better aligned to the Sterling Pound limit of £500 and continual review of this will be undertaken by both Unions to assess the impact of this change.

Speaking about this decision, Pat Finn CEO of the Golfing Union of Ireland said: "The feedback from our clubs was that the limit was set too high in the Euro area and it needed to be brought into line with that of the Sterling zone. Working with the Irish Ladies Golf Union we approached The R&A and they supported the lowering of the limit. We welcome this support from The R&A and both Unions will monitor the effects of the change over the coming months.”

Under Rule 3-2a of the Rules of Amateur Status, which are jointly approved by The R&A and the USGA, an amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of £500. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions, but does not include hole-in-one prizes. Under Rule 3-1, an amateur golfer must not play for prize money of any amount.

downthemiddle

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Received the following from the GUI earlier:

Euro prize limit reduced in Ireland for amateur golfers

Following requests from affiliated golf clubs in Ireland, the Amateur Status Prize Limit in the Euro area in Ireland will be lowered from €750 to €575 and will take effect from 1st February 2018.

The move, which is supported by The R&A following requests for consideration by the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, will ensure that the Prize Limit for amateur golf is now better aligned to the Sterling Pound limit of £500 and continual review of this will be undertaken by both Unions to assess the impact of this change.

Speaking about this decision, Pat Finn CEO of the Golfing Union of Ireland said: "The feedback from our clubs was that the limit was set too high in the Euro area and it needed to be brought into line with that of the Sterling zone. Working with the Irish Ladies Golf Union we approached The R&A and they supported the lowering of the limit. We welcome this support from The R&A and both Unions will monitor the effects of the change over the coming months.”

Under Rule 3-2a of the Rules of Amateur Status, which are jointly approved by The R&A and the USGA, an amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of £500. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions, but does not include hole-in-one prizes. Under Rule 3-1, an amateur golfer must not play for prize money of any amount.

I don't think most of us have too much to worry about.

Rikand

I wonder will this result in more top amateurs skipping Irish events in the hope of attracting more lucrative prizes abroad

downthemiddle

Rikand wrote: »

I wonder will this result in more top amateurs skipping Irish events in the hope of attracting more lucrative prizes abroad

This change is to bring Ireland in line with other countries.

Will see a reduction in the first prize value of some of the senior scratch cups I'm sure but other than that I'm not too sure it should have much of an impact.

ShriekingSheet

From the Irish’s Times / CEO of GUI

“Speaking about this decision, which arose following numerous requests from clubs to lower the limit as it was widespread practice and pressure on clubs to have prizes at the upper limit, Pat Finn CEO of the Golfing Union of Ireland said: “The feedback from our clubs was that the limit was set too high in the Euro area and it needed to be brought into line with that of the Sterling zone.”

What was widespread practice? Adhering to the rules in place?

Numerous requests? Is this really one of the top issues raised among club representatives? They have it in their power to simply offer slightly lower value prizes. They don’t need the GUI to lower the legal threshold.

Where is the “pressure” coming from to have prizes at the upper limit?


Something odd here. I don’t think this has anything to do with scratch cups or large amateur events. Most of them have some level of sponsor anyway. Plus, the prize isn’t communicated in advance usually. If they drop the prize slightly, who will really care? Even if one or two good players do care and don’t play, clubs aren’t broken hearted about that. Even if the players would like to think they are.

For Captains Prizes and large club events, the value of the prize is definitely not communicated widely. If a captain has an issue with 500+, spending 400+ on a main prize would be completely acceptable and go unnoticed in my view.

Don’t know what they’re doing here.