AM Tours Golf Channel v. Golfweek Houston

[jwv2333]

Now that I am an empty nester, I am looking to join an am tour in the Houston area. I prefer flights over strokes given and have narrowed down to either Golfweek or Golf Channel tours. I know Golf Channel is more expensive, yet they play the same courses more or less. I don't necessarily like the triple bogey rule in Golfweek. Anyone have any opinions? Thanks.

[the bishop]

What part of the greater Houston area do you live in? I live in Richmond.

[jwv2333]

Rice Military

 

[tbsbama]

Not in Houston but in Charlotte NC. I have played the golf week am tour for about 8 years now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the competition and the benefit of playing an event anywhere in the country if I am out of town. To me a top notch tour. The reason for that triple limit (except for champ flight) is to keep things moving. Here we will have 128 players shotgunned and would never finish if it wasn’t for this. Hope this helps and good luck on whichever you choose.

[rockinar]

I have been playing on the Houston Am Tour since like 2009. Lots of fun. I have no experience with Golfweek so I cant compare. I like the flights and its real tournament golf. No triple bogie pickup nonsense. That would drive me nuts losing to someone who should have been eliminated but are still in the game thanks to triple bogey pickup rules. It would feel more like a friendly game with friends than a tournament.

 

 

 

 

[Loki]

If you don't want to play by the rules, don't play GolfWeek. The players don't know the rules and if you complain too much, you get the shaft.

[burnsd427]

Played In one golfweek event in St Louis. Could not believe the disregard and ignorance of the rules.

[TimK1]

Am Tour here in Western NY is very small. You might get ten guys at an event. I have played a few events on it just to play some of the courses they use. It is expensive but there are good guys mostly who love golf and want to play tournament type golf.

I play two or three events a year out there. I stick with the state am series which is much bigger and travels all around the state. Some local district stuff also. All my rounds are tournament golf. I play nine at my club a few nights a week but I mostly use that as practice.

I'm a total golf geek. It's my only hobby and all I do in my free time. Practice and play. I think I have a golf club in my hand six days a week. It's been like that for 30 years. I am a range rat also. I love being at golf courses period. LOL

[jwv2333]

So it’s that blatant? Do they just not know where to drop (red vs yellow) or are they I’ll just drop here arbitrarily?

[Loki]

They just don't know the rules and when you mention to them they incurred a penalty stroke or where they need to drop, the tempers start to heat up.

One time I thought the idiot was going to take a swing at me.

The other thing I didn't really like is the triple bogey rule. One guy shot a 75 but with a triple that he picked up without putting, since it didn't matter any more. He won the flight.

[Loki]

[Bushwood Country Club]

I have played AmTour for nearly 15 years ~ it is great fun. They have made continuous improvements to the tour over that time, and have made great -regress toward weeding out sandbaggers (still have to be wary of new players who come in without a GHIN). The entry fees go toward four things: prize pool, green fees, operating expenses ( travel,insurance, labor costs for team to run the event, etc), and some amount to the tour Director who is investing his time and energy into the event. When you consider all that, comparing the cost to regular round with your friends isn’t apples to apples.

As far as comparing to Golfweek tour, I’ve played in two golfweek events. My thoughts: (1) the triple bogey pick up rule is not for me ~ it’s not the kind of tournament golf I‘m interested in. For those who say this doesn’t matter, I have to disagree based on real world experience on multiple occasions. My GHIN is 6.7, my AmTour Index ( index based on scores in the AmTour events) is a 9 - so I play in a flight that has an index range of 8-11.9. I’ve seen many times in that flight where a triple bogey pickup would have changed the winning outcome. (2) There is definitely a “rules awareness / adherence” difference.

I am sure you would enjoy either, but if you seek a “real” tournament experience, I would suggest GC AmTour.