Amateur Golf needs a Mid-Am Walker Cup

With the Walker Cup cutting back on requiring two Mid-Ams, that got me thinking of how there needs to be a Cup similar to the Walker Cup for Mid-Ams. I love the vision of the event, but it's more for up and coming pros and less about the true amateur, at least from my perspective. There's only two guys over 23 on the practice roster. I'd love to see something like this alongside the Mid-Am Open, Coleman, and Crump Cup as the top Mid-Am events.

Web.com tour fits the bill just fine. Are you suggesting that there be another tour for Ams ?

No, not a tour. There's a already a Mid-Am circuit that's pretty strong with some great tournaments. I just think that the team based event (Walker Cup, Ryder Cup) would be awesome for the Mid-Am level.

Web.com is more of those wanting to make the leap to the pros. I'm talking about older, elite amateurs who just want to be amateurs.

I think that's a great idea. Just need a mid-am legend to put their name on it. Could even restrict it to players who have never been pro to avoid some of the reinstated amateurs who view the mid-am as a way to get into the Masters.

I'd watch it - these sorts of events are always fun and I'm sure the guys playing would be very into it.

Def. agree with no former pros...period.

This is essentially the Concession Cup. It has spots for seniors as well.

https://concessioncup.com/index.php?pid=1558538367

Amateur golf needs a Mid-Am that's really a Mid-Am.

> @hehateme2285 said:

> This is essentially the Concession Cup. It has spots for seniors as well.

>

> https://concessioncup.com/index.php?pid=1558538367

What a cool event! Why have I never heard of it before now? Needs to be televised.

I'm not sure how well that would work from the GB&I perspective. The numbers of genuinely competitive (at that level) mid-ams here would be so small that there would be very few to pick from. The only player that I can remember who stuck as an Am for anything length of time would be Gary Wolstenhome who almost seemed to be the last of the career amateurs in this country. The only other group that I can think of who would be eligible to play would be ex pro's who have gained their Am status back with the likes of Barry Hume being an example. Still it would be such a small pool to pick from, beyond the odd shock result we'd end up being pummeled just like we pummel you guys in the Ryder Cup.

> @Divdevil said:

> With the Walker Cup cutting back on requiring two Mid-Ams, that got me thinking of how there needs to be a Cup similar to the Walker Cup for Mid-Ams. I love the vision of the event, but it's more for up and coming pros and less about the true amateur, at least from my perspective. There's only two guys over 23 on the practice roster. I'd love to see something like this alongside the Mid-Am Open, Coleman, and Crump Cup as the top Mid-Am events.

What do you consider a "true amateur?" Because the mid-amateurs that would most likely qualify for such an event might not fit that bill either.

> @hehateme2285 said:

> This is essentially the Concession Cup. It has spots for seniors as well.

>

> https://concessioncup.com/index.php?pid=1558538367

Wow. I think you are right. How have I never heard of this before? It looks like it’s pretty new, but I think this is very close to what I have in mind. Looking forward to following it.

> @QMany said:

> > @Divdevil said:

> > With the Walker Cup cutting back on requiring two Mid-Ams, that got me thinking of how there needs to be a Cup similar to the Walker Cup for Mid-Ams. I love the vision of the event, but it's more for up and coming pros and less about the true amateur, at least from my perspective. There's only two guys over 23 on the practice roster. I'd love to see something like this alongside the Mid-Am Open, Coleman, and Crump Cup as the top Mid-Am events.

>

> What do you consider a "true amateur?" Because the mid-amateurs that would most likely qualify for such an event might not fit that bill either.

>

Well, I suppose the vast majority of top elite mid-amateurs are at the point where they’ve decided to not be a pro while most elite amateurs (under 25) won’t ever be mid-amateurs because they’ll be pros.

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> Amateur golf needs a Mid-Am that's really a Mid-Am.

For the over-30 crowd, or the over-35 crowd?

> @Divdevil said:

> > @QMany said:

> > > @Divdevil said:

> > > With the Walker Cup cutting back on requiring two Mid-Ams, that got me thinking of how there needs to be a Cup similar to the Walker Cup for Mid-Ams. I love the vision of the event, but it's more for up and coming pros and less about the true amateur, at least from my perspective. There's only two guys over 23 on the practice roster. I'd love to see something like this alongside the Mid-Am Open, Coleman, and Crump Cup as the top Mid-Am events.

> >

> > What do you consider a "true amateur?" Because the mid-amateurs that would most likely qualify for such an event might not fit that bill either.

> >

>

> Well, I suppose the vast majority of **top elite mid-amateurs** are at the point where they’ve decided to not be a pro while most elite amateurs (under 25) won’t ever be mid-amateurs because they’ll be pros.

1. Kevin O'Connell: played four years at the University of North Carolina, turned pro, attempted PGA Tour Qualifying three times, reclaimed amateur status, now returning to professional golf.

2. Euan McIntosh: former Tour pro, re-turning pro once he turns 50.

3. Stewart Hagestad: played four years at USC, "worked" on Wall Street, plays the mid-am cocktail tour instead of pro, made it to Round of 16 at US Am before losing to Salinda. Dude's world ranking page looks like he's played more events in the last 2 years than touring professionals.

I wish the Mid-Am scene was your everyman working 9-5 but that isn't he case.