name change suggestions - an alternative to "Amateurs"

[8thehardway]

Our county tournament groups golfers by age - 18-54, 55-69 and 70+ - and lables the groups Amatuers, Seniors and Super Seniors. Some people think the term Amateurs implies those golfers are less skilled and want a good alternative name but can't come up with one. Any suggestions? 

[ChipNRun]

27 minutes ago, 8thehardway said:

Amatueurs, Seniors and Super Seniors.

 

Omigosh, this angst flurry could qualify as First-World Problem of the Year!

[MtlJeff]

You could just call it the "open" division

 

Or "Virile Males"

 

But the first one is probably better

[8thehardway]

The 'open" division is a great suggestion and it solves that first world problem as well. Thanks!

[Springsteennut]

I’m thinking Super Senior might hurt more. 

[hammergolf]

“Non Seniors”….. God forbid someone gets their feelings hurt.

Edited January 28, 2023 by hammergolf

[klebs01]

1 hour ago, 8thehardway said:

The 'open" division is a great suggestion and it solves that first world problem as well. Thanks!

Are pros allowed to play in the events?  Open division has a very specific meaning. 

[Soloman1]

Bronze, silver and gold.

 

[Pepperturbo]

Soooo tired of people wanting to change labels and names, so they feel better about themselves, it's ridiculous and shallow.  If you're NOT a professional, you're an amateur, regardless of age.  Indexes with ages create categories that tournament managers generally use to separate people. 

 

I played many tournaments, as an amateur low single index and signed up for Championship / Scratch category. 

Edited January 30, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[Greenie]

Oh Please!!!!!

 

Forget what they call the divisions..... just make sure everyone gets a participation trophy.

 

I would think more people should have a problem with the term "super seniors"  I'm thinking super seniors means the best players of the seniors.

 

 

[Bonneville85308]

For some events that are bracketed by age, my club just labels the groups by age and that's it....Under 50, 50-60, 70-80, 80+ etc. 

[Double Mocha Man]

6 hours ago, 8thehardway said:

Some people think the term Amateurs implies those golfers are less skilled and want a good alternative name but can't come up with one. Any suggestions? 

 

I'm going with "Golfers-Currently-Not-Playing-on-Tour-Nor-Making-a-Living-Playing-Golf".

[Soloman1]

6 hours ago, 8thehardway said:

Some people think the term Amateurs implies those golfers are less skilled and want a good alternative name but can't come up with one. Any suggestions? 

 

I use the term “recreational golfers.”

[Double Mocha Man]

Bobby Jones was an amateur. I don't mind being in his company.

Edited January 29, 2023 by Double Mocha Man

[wrwarner]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Bobby Jones was an amateur. I don't mind being in his company.

 
Best answer. “Pro” does not denote skill level, only that someone attempts to get paid for their trade or skill. Plenty of awful “pros” out there. Alternatively “amateur” just means you make your living another way. Bobby Jones being the best example, but a more modern “touring amateur” would be Stewart Hagestad. 100 years ago it was more

noble to be an amateur golfer than a professional. At one point pros weren’t even allowed in clubhouses.

There’s too much of putting all pros on a pedestal these days. I guess I’ve seen too many local guys who can barely break 80 turn pro. Nothing special about that. 
 

All that said, leave the name of your division. It’s good enough for USGA competitions and those amateurs who qualify for The Masters. It’s good enough for y’all. 

[jjr]

Chops, middle aged Chops and Old Chops

 

If not a touring pro we're all a bunch of hacks anyway so who cares

[sabram]

13 hours ago, 8thehardway said:

Some people think the term Amateurs implies those golfers are less skilled

For the most part, amateurs are less skilled than pros. Unless pros are allowed to participate in the event, there is no good reason to change the label. There's nothing negative in being an am. It's just descriptive of their status and is almost universally understood. I wouldn't change it just because "some people" don't understand what amateur means. There will always be some people who don't understand something. 

[8thehardway]

Actually, young, old and very old hacks would be an accurate assessment of what you'd see in this tournament; no pros, mostly guys punching a clock, fighting fires/crime, working with their hands and some retired folks. Maybe 5 out of 100 carry a handicap. 

 

This isn't a big issue and no one's going to occupy the county courses in protest; just thought I'd solicit some suggestions and "Open" strikes me as a great option to pass along if those involved want rename the division.    

[Chanceman]

I would like something more neo:       All Golfers Not Identifying As Professional

[sabram]

7 hours ago, Chanceman said:

All Golfers Not Identifying As Professional

or "Agniap" 😁

[Chanceman]

17 hours ago, sabram said:

or "Agniap" 😁

Capitals please- AGNIAP

[Hawkeye77]

As is the case these days, how to address the names and signs on the restrooms will be an issue, none of those names inspires confidence - may as well be "Strong, Frequent, Depends". 

[GoldenBellGW]

I'm on the phone with Far Hills right now letting them all national events they host containing the word "Amateur" must be stricken and relabeled. We won't stand for such a demeaning and offensive term applied (on behalf of the best of the best non-pros in the country). 

 

On a serious note, and no offense to the OP, but this is ridiculous. I don't even know where to start and I won't because I'll be writing all day.

[lookylookitzadam]

This is silly since the definition of amateur perfectly describes the type of player in this event. 

Edited January 30, 2023 by lookylookitzadam

[ilikegolf26]

1 hour ago, lookylookitzadam said:

This is silly since the definition of amateur perfectly describes the type of player in this event. 

I would have agreed a while back but not so sure anymore. One of the guys that got out of my Mid-AMATEUR qualifier this year played multiple seasons on the DP World Tour just 6-7 years ago. I played with a guy who had played on the “Major League Golf Tour” just 2-3 years ago in the same event. Hell, didn’t Drew Stoltz just almost win the US AMATEUR Four Ball and he was a “professional golfer” for years. As in most sports, true amateurism is becoming a thing of the past. 

Edited January 30, 2023 by ilikegolf26

[Ferguson]

On 1/28/2023 at 4:45 PM, Pepperturbo said:

Soooo tired of people wanting to change labels and names, so they feel better about themselves or more important, it's ridiculous.  If you're NOT a professional, you're an amateur, regardless of age.  Indexes with ages create categories that tournament managers generally use to separate people. 

 

I many tournaments, being an amateur senior and low single index, I signed up for Championship / Scratch category. 

 

Spot on.  Enough with relabeling.  

 

[ChipNRun]

On 1/28/2023 at 4:53 PM, Greenie said:

I'm thinking super seniors means the best players of the seniors.

 

Unfortunately, the over-70 guys who are still doing tournaments are often among the best players. It's rough for me to pick up fourth-place points anymore now that I'm in the eldest group. 

[golfday]

The USGA puts Amateur on all of their AM events. I.e. is the US Amateur, the US Senior Amateur, US Senior Women's Amateur, etc.

 

You could use that method too: Amateur Division, Senior Amateur Division, Super Senior Amateur Division.

[hollabachgt]

On 1/28/2023 at 4:34 PM, klebs01 said:

Are pros allowed to play in the events?  Open division has a very specific meaning. 

 

As Senior and Super Senior have age restrictions, Open would be a accurate name for a group without such restrictions. Unless, of course, someone who has qualified for the Senior division by age is not permitted to play in the younger division.

[Double Mocha Man]

24 minutes ago, hollabachgt said:

 

As Senior and Super Senior have age restrictions, Open would be a accurate name for a group without such restrictions. Unless, of course, someone who has qualified for the Senior division by age is not permitted to play in the younger division.

The word "Open", as it applies to golf, has always meant that both amateurs and pros can play in the event, and that somehow they have qualified. It is not considered an "Invitational" .