Club Pro playing in an Open comp

gman127

We had an enquiry in our club as to whether a club pro (from a different club) could play in an open team comp in our club next bank holiday Monday.

Has anyone any precedence for this? Would it generally be allowed and if so would they just play off scratch??

Thanks

The Big Easy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058241204/club-pro-playing-in-an-open-comp

Don't think he can play, but open to correction. As you say he doesn't have a handicap and would have to be given one. It's an amateur comp and he's a professional.

Mantis Toboggan

Club pros can get valid handicaps on WHS, they don't all play off scratch, so if he has a valid handicap I don't see why he couldn't play.

The Big Easy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118911864#Comment_118911864

Oh, didn't know that, didn't think you could have a handicap as a professional

gman127

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118911864#Comment_118911864

I didn't know that either. I suppose you hear about touring pros maintaining handicaps of +7 and +8

Is there any docs that you know of to verify this?

Cheers

paulos53

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118911875#Comment_118911875

I think it was introduced as part of WHS. However it still wouldn't entitle them to play in an amateur competition

gman127

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118912008#Comment_118912008

I suppose if they had an index it would at least make it easier for a club to decide whether to let them play in a more casual team comp or whatever

ShivasIrons

Why wouldn't a club want a professional with a WHS playing in an open team event? How could it not be a good thing?

big_drive

Ya I've seen a couple of things online in UK where pro's were playing , handicaps available since the WHS introduced.

slave1

Bubba plays comps at his home club, off +8 or something silly like that

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118917609#Comment_118917609

I was just coming in to say that. Doesn't Bubba play in comps at his home club? And back in day I think either McGinley or Harrington played in a few comps a year at their home clubs too. I know when I used live in Australia, the club pro used to play in a few medals throughout the year off +3 or +4 from memory.

Luckycharm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118920683#Comment_118920683

Don't think Mcginley has ever played in a normal weekly comp since turning pro, not sure on Harrington.

AyeGer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118917609#Comment_118917609

He’d be a great man for a champagne scramble.

Benicetomonty

I think marquee names having an arrangement with their local club to play an open comp is ok (McDowell has or certainly had an arrangement with Rathmore GC) but the idea of a pro randomly teeing it up in an amateur competition would surely be unusual? The Tuesdays in Portmarnock Links does see pros play amateurs but the format is well known by competitors and strokes off the blues in winter tends to keep scoring modest all around.