Junior golfer sponsorships by club companies

[jambox107]

Can junior golfers accept sponsorships from club companies? Are these considered sponsorships or being an ambassador? I figure they get free equipment to an extent, but seems like that would violate amateur status or NCAA rules. Hoping someone could provide some clarification.

[iteachgolf]

Does not violate an status or NCAA rules.  Only lose amateur status if you sign an actual contract.  Companies can send you whatever they want.  Once a player is in college. Everything must be sent to the school vs directly to the player.  

[heavy_hitter]

Players can accept equipment, apparel, tournament entry fees, airfare.  They can't accept money.

[Medson]

Didn’t USGA and R&A recently update the rules about amateur? I was under the impression that sponsorship is okay now. 
 

The 3 big no are 1) prize money exceeds $750; 2) get paid for teaching; 3) becoming a club professional. 
 

I’m not a lawyer. And above is just my interpretation. 

[iteachgolf]

54 minutes ago, Medson said:

Didn’t USGA and R&A recently update the rules about amateur? I was under the impression that sponsorship is okay now. 
 

The 3 big no are 1) prize money exceeds $750; 2) get paid for teaching; 3) becoming a club professional. 
 

I’m not a lawyer. And above is just my interpretation. 

Not recent.  Has been allowed for over 20 years.   They’ve added details like tournament and travel fees but that was about a decade ago 

[Wasted_Talent]

My Godchild is going into his junior year of high school and he has been on staff of a big club manufacturer, big ball company and big shoe company for a couple of years.  It is a really sweet deal he has.  

[Medson]

News from a few days ago. USGA, R&A finalize modernization of Rules of Amateur Status. 
 

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/usga-ra-finalize-modernization-rules-amateur-status
 

I wonder if we’ll see a proliferation of social media posts and content creators. 

[darter79]

Yes amateur golf is officially dead. You could have a company pay a kid now. I get why they had to do it but not sure if I like it or not. 

[Medson]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32500553/mikey-williams-17-signs-historic-footwear-apparel-deal-puma

 

From the article,

 

"

Williams has more than 5 million combined Instagram, TikTok and Twitter followers, and Puma looks at his unique and early signing as unlocking his hybrid appeal of being both an up-and-coming basketball star and social media influencer.

 

'His talent on the court and his ability to connect with young athletes and fans alike will help drive hoops culture forward and inspire the next generation of athletes,' Adam Petrick, global director of brand and marketing at Puma, said in a statement."

 

I'm not suggesting golf will be equally lucrative as basketball, but we might see similar endorsements (with couple of less zeros) for top golfers. 

[tiger1873]

21 hours ago, darter79 said:

Yes amateur golf is officially dead. You could have a company pay a kid now. I get why they had to do it but not sure if I like it or not. 

 

Most amateurs at some point flaunted the rules anyways.  So many kids out there looked for donations or made deals for future earnings and get as much free stuff to sell on the side. 

 

Heck the worst offenders are these international teams that pay for everything and send there kids to the US to do events. Some these kids getting a lot money to play golf. Meanwhile my kids I have to pay for everything.

 

At the end of the day those of us paying for things have something all those kids do not have and that is freedom to play the way we want to.  The only thing I wish I got paid was travel that adds up everything else is not that big of deal. I can buy the equipment balls and even pay for tournaments. But travel costs I would say is the biggest obstacle for being able to play everything we want to.

[kekoa]

9 hours ago, tiger1873 said:

 

 

 

At the end of the day those of us paying for things have something all those kids do not have and that is freedom to play the way we want to.  

 

Unless a kid has some formal contract in place, they have the same freedom that you do and that is to play whatever they want.  Only thing is they may need to pay for it like you do.  

[tiger1873]

1 hour ago, kekoa said:

 

Unless a kid has some formal contract in place, they have the same freedom that you do and that is to play whatever they want.  Only thing is they may need to pay for it like you do.  

Most those international kids on national teams have some sort of deal.  I don’t know anyone that is american getting anything near what those kids get.

 

It’s enough to know there not playing for just fun.  I mean my kid loses I just go home and work on things. Those kids might have to take a flight home and be kicked off the team.

Edited November 1, 2021 by tiger1873

[darter79]

17 hours ago, kekoa said:

 

Unless a kid has some formal contract in place, they have the same freedom that you do and that is to play whatever they want.  Only thing is they may need to pay for it like you do.  

I know of a few international kids who compete who claim to be paid quite well. I won't list numbers on here but its enough where said parent wouldn't have to work.