Wow, didn't expect this - GC Am Tour permanently shut down

[TerpFangolfer]

I enjoyed these events - esp the "Majors" - got to play courses like Kiawah, Sea Island, Kingsmill (had signed up for Palm Springs back in March but canceled).

Figured they would lose the rest of the year - but not shut down all together. The events seemed really popular, and at the prices they charged, I assumed they were doing pretty well financially?

Oh well, hope something steps in the take it's place?

[snagy2000]

Yeah, disappointed as well. The majors in Texas have been going downhill for a few years and the 3 Texas tours started off this past tournament year with new directors and were mediocre at best. #RIP

[TerpFangolfer]

Interesting, I played in San Antonio 2 years ago - decent event and was pretty full...the east coast majors have been great recently - like I said above.

Kiawah, Sawgrass, Sea Island, Kingsmill. All sold out as far as I could tell.

And the MD & DC tours had some nice events.

[MountainGoat]

GC is restructuring, so these events are probably being re-evaluated.

 

 

[Bushwood Country Club]

As a 10 year+ veteran of the GC AmTour, I am very disappointed by this decision. Given the popularity of the Majors over the last several years (they all sold out - many within a few days of opening registration), this is pretty shocking. I can only imagine it is a function of this being a small part of a larger part (Golf Channel) of a big (NBC) company. It really sucks for us who have been dedicated to this, as it has been a great outlet for real competition outside of private club events.

The tour was once known as the Michelob Light Amateur Tour - so it's been around a while. I can only wonder if someone will pick it up / acquire the rights and customer lists from Golf Channel and try to resume it. Once the 2020 events were cancelled, our local tour director was able to quickly assemble a replacement tour (local, one day events only) - which will lack the 2 day majors and the 4 day national championship, but still allow for competitive golf. I can only imagine that a number of local tour directors will do the same, since they have the contact info for the players.

If you were a member of the AmTour, I suggest reaching out to your local director and see if they have anything in the works. I have heard (3rd hand) that the AmTour employees will be released at the end of May - so we may hear something about a type of new tour then. That may be wishful thinking, but we can always hope.

[snagy2000]

Golf Channel's GOLF Am Tour to shut down permanently

There's always the golf week tour which was strong in the early 2000s and got crushed by the golf channel am tour. It's still alive and they're still playing events. This year is kind of a waste, I'm just going to lay low and see what shakes out for next year regarding amateur tournaments.

 

There's also something called the grint tour which is struggling to get on its feet.

[scottc25]

Just heard about this today. Played for 2 years but not the current season and was going to play again next season. My local tour guy is keeping the dates and starting his own tour. I see that prices are still the same as they were under Golf Channel. That's going to kill it right there with everything else being equal. I always though you were paying a premium in order to have a chance at a national event. I will probably play a couple of the local events just to see how it goes then re-evaluate.

[UCFKyle]

According to our local tour, The golf channel will have an announcement the week of June 1st. They will no longer work with Golf Genius and may have a name change. The 2020 major and National Championship will be cancelled, but will be back next year.

Our local tour operator has sit up 6 one day tournaments and a local 2 day championship. One of those tournaments has already happened.

 

 

[CollegeGolfer21]

I saw this news as well. Was really interesting to read it as it seemed like they had a good thing going and I was very surprised it shut down.

[Bushwood Country Club]

I got a message from our local tour director that the new tour was getting set up "much faster than expected". I think we will see much/most of the AmTour return, possibly even under the same name. There won't be a national championship this year, but there will be a major or two. The infrastructure is set up, the contracts for the local events are intact, the people running the events are trained, and they have the contact database of the players. The operators were prepared. I know the comment above regarding the break with Golf Genius is accurate. There were a lot of really good things about the AmTour, but I am learning that the NBC influence on the AmTour and the people running it was not positive. I am hopeful that the tour returns at full strength AND that some improvements will be made in the areas needing them.

 

[UCFKyle]

The new tour name is US Am tour. Looks like they are in the process of setting up the website @ USAmtour.com

Looks like all of the same tours are set up, but no tournaments yet. $99 for a membership from now until September 2021.

[Bushwood Country Club]

For those interested, the "new" tour will function in essentially the same fashion as the old tour. Most of the same tour directors, in virtually every city the old tour was in. They will continue with the two day majors and a year-end 4 day national championship. The tour is being run by the same person who was running it at the Golf Channel, and the first event in my area is week after next. All in all, a very smooth transition.

[scottc25]

I also heard they were having some founders championship event at Innisbrook in December. Guessing the first week of December as that was always the date they had for the two day major there.

[Imp]

Still nothing in New England. "MA" is listed but no events.

[UCFKyle]

There are tournaments in MA now. From my understanding, the website is up, but not anywhere near final.

[dcmidnight]

Isn't this what it was called after it was the Michelob Tour. Pretty sure it was the US Am Tour or the American Am Tour - something like that.

[puttnforthe8]

On 6/5/2020 at 7:39 AM, dcmidnight said:

Isn't this what it was called after it was the Michelob Tour. Pretty sure it was the US Am Tour or the American Am Tour - something like that.

 

AAGT to be precise....American Am Golf Tour