Golf Professional playing in Club Championship?

[MJBGOLFPRO]

Your thoughts

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this subject. I am teaching professional at a retail store. I am a member at my local course and was just informed via email. That I would not be allowed to play in the Member Club Championship do to the fact that I'm a golf professional and not an amateur. A little back round, The pro and I don't exactly see eye to eye. As I once worked at the club as the golf pro assistant 7 years ago. (not under him) I am very well received at the club. Where he has received mixed reviews. And the other members have absolutely NO problem with me playing in it. Ive also played in other events at the club. ie. Skins matches and member guests. My thoughts are if your trying to identify the best player @ the club, than all should play. Long story shortened. What's your thoughts?

[MtlJeff]

my opinion is that pros shouldn't play in the club championships, same as the interclubs. Sorry dude just my opinion

[Obsessotron]

Is it possible to make this a legal matter or do other clubs often ask pros not to participate? I appreciate that members in the club say its okay, but what do other clubs generally do?

[matthewsiv]

You are a professional golfer and do not belong in club championships.

Your pro, if it his doing is 100 percent correct.

[MJBGOLFPRO]

Thank you for your replies. As for "do pros play in club championships"? Yes if there members of the club. And there not running it. I.E Phil Mickelson joking hes never won his club championship there in Arizona, and explaining the depth of his club and the players that belong to it.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='MJBGOLFPRO' timestamp='1311026760' post='3402288']
Thank you for your replies. As for "do pros play in club championships"? Yes if there members of the club. And there not running it. I.E Phil Mickelson joking hes never won his club championship there in Arizona, and explaining the depth of his club and the players that belong to it.
[/quote]

i think places like whisper rock might be a little different though , since probably 40% of their members are pros LOL

[jwfgolfpro]

[quote name='MJBGOLFPRO' timestamp='1311024924' post='3402205']
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this subject. I am teaching professional at a retail store. I am a member at my local course and was just informed via email. That I would not be allowed to play in the Member Club Championship do to the fact that I'm a golf professional and not an amateur. A little back round, The pro and I don't exactly see eye to eye. As I once worked at the club as the golf pro assistant 7 years ago. (not under him) I am very well received at the club. Where he has received mixed reviews. And the other members have absolutely NO problem with me playing in it. Ive also played in other events at the club. ie. Skins matches and member guests. My thoughts are if your trying to identify the best player @ the club, than all should play. Long story shortened. What's your thoughts?
[/quote]

I am a Golf Professional also and a few years ago joined a private club in another state. When I joined the golf committee had a special meeting and decided that if I kept a handicap i could play in any club event.

The Member Guest was the only thing i played in and never won anything.

I dont see it being a problem but some might.

JWF

[rebby]

I can understand why a pro wouldn't be allowed but, personally, I'd welcome the challenge. Game on!

[jwfgolfpro]

[quote name='matthewsiv' timestamp='1311026626' post='3402285']
You are a professional golfer and do not belong in club championships.

Your pro, if it his doing is 100 percent correct.
[/quote]

Matt,

Big difference between a Club Professional and a Playing Professional.
IMHO If he is a dues paying member with a handicap he is entitled to play.

JWF

[MJBGOLFPRO]

Yes, I did take up a USGA Ghin Handicap as well. Also for playing in club events. Im a +1.4 now and I do not complain about giving the golf course a shot. I also looked to the committee, But there is none. So I'm S.O.L there. But again the other players are siding with me at the club that I should be allowed to play to identify the best player.

[golfpunk59]

[quote name='matthewsiv' timestamp='1311026626' post='3402285']
You are a professional golfer and do not belong in club championships.

Your pro, if it his doing is 100 percent correct.
[/quote]

Club championships are for members. My club lets all its members play and all the pros who are members there can play. Not staff obviously but touring pros and pros from other clubs that are members.

[mnieman]

you are a 'pro. this is an amateur event.

[puttingmatt]

If you are a member, then you should have the opportunity
to play !! One question, Are they handicapping the club championship ?

[dmac4g]

If you are a dues paying member, you have the same rights as everyone else. Clearly, this wasn't a problem when you came off your wallet to join. Member events are for the membership, whoever that might be.

[J13]

as a dues paying member absolutely. My club has some playing pro's that don't play in the events for obvious reasons as they shoot 67 all day but a teaching pro def should be able to play.

[MJBGOLFPRO]

Yes there are different flights. The championship Flight is stroke play Qualifying from tips(gross). Then match play among top 8 qualifiers over the span of 3 weekends. There is also 2 net flights as well.

Yes I paid my membership due and $30 for a USGA Ghin at the start of the year.

Thank you for your opinions.

[DaveLeeNC]

That has been a point of contention at our club. Club management feels that there should be no 2nd class members, and all members should be eligible for the Club Championship.

A number of members object to that view. But I wonder what would happen if Darron Stiles decided to enter our club championship?

There is no clean or obviously correct answer. Darron Stiles (PGA and/or Nationwide touring professional) is one thing. The former teaching pro (retired and no longer teaching) who keeps his PGA card so he can get good or free greens fees when he travels is different (and not competitive if he chose to enter).

dave

[smoky25]

Many years ago our club pro resigned to work with a course design firm but retained a membership at the club (and his PGA membership). At the following club championship, he beat me by one shot to win the title. My nickname was "low-am" for awhile after that. To be honest, I still don't know how I feel about it. His name's on the trophy and mine's not, but I liked the guy and always enjoyed competing against him in regular rounds. Tough question.

[ktbfsu]

my club might as well have a pro division in the club championship.......the member member......etc.......lots of mini-tour types are members.

this year my club's club championship was won by gene jones......he had a nice run on the champions tour for a few years leading up to last year.

[gdb99]

Last year we let our PGA Pro play in our Men's Club events, but not the Club Championship. He did not carry a handicap.

[hawaiicy]

I had a related issue for one of my club championships. They let the guy play as long as he was ineligible to win any prize/trophy. You might try that angle with them. They can hardly object if you just want to compete. Then if you win, they can award the trophy to the best non-pro and everyone will still know you were the best at the club.

[kekoa]

I understand you are a member, but my question back to you is why you would want to play in the the club championship? I'm also curious as to what kind of club lets the pro be a member? sorry, but i've just never heard of this before.

If you want to compete, you should do so against other pro's straight up.

[OpusX20]

As a former Class A1 PGA professional, my opinion is that you should not play. There are plenty of playing opportunities for PGA professionals. IMO, club championships are not for professionals.

[golfpunk59]

[quote name='kekoa' timestamp='1311031934' post='3402484']
I'm also curious as to what kind of club lets the pro be a member? sorry, but i've just never heard of this before.

[/quote]

He's a pro who is a member of the club not someone who works there and is also a member.

[chewed]

why not? as long as TS is a dues paying member, he shouldn't be discriminated

[Greenie]

This is a tuff call. At first I was going to say you shouldn't be allowed to play being a golf professional. After reading the posts , some bring up some good points in your favor.
I have always been one to say, if you have been allowed to join something ,your money was accepted to join, your are paying your dues just like everyone else, you are following the rules, then you should have the same rights as all the other members unless there are some bylaws or rules in place that prohibits you from playing and you were made aware of them before joining.
I think alot depends on the membership. If it were me I would look at the membership and if I was a clear standout above the other golfers then I might just let it go and not play. In my eyes that would make you the bigger man. If there are other members in your handi-cap range playing then I don't see why it was brought up in the first place.
Also, I wouldn't bank on just one person behind this. Even though you say other members don't have a problem with you playing I bet that some of the same members complained or brought this issue up.

[scotchblade]

[quote name='mnieman' timestamp='1311028096' post='3402340']
you are a 'pro. this is an amateur event.
[/quote]
That is the first thing that came to mind for me. I've never heard of pros playing in amateur events. Regain your am status, then enter.

[OneBowTie]

I personally don't have a problem.....but I also do not compete in the championship flight!

I think its a sticky call at best...... I also think that some clubs may not have any issue with a Pro playing in such events.....and others I can see taking issue with such.

My next question is to you the Pro...... if anyone, just one person objected to you participating, is it worth it to you to pursue it any further?

I think the point was made earlier that there are many local Pro-Am's available for local pro's and club pro's.

[golfpunk59]

[quote name='scotchblade' timestamp='1311035145' post='3402613']
[quote name='mnieman' timestamp='1311028096' post='3402340']
you are a 'pro. this is an amateur event.
[/quote]
That is the first thing that came to mind for me. I've never heard of pros playing in amateur events. Regain your am status, then enter.
[/quote]

Not necessarily. It's a club/member event with the purpose of identifying the best player who is a member of the club.

[scotchblade]

[quote name='OneBowTie' timestamp='1311035191' post='3402615']
[b]My next question is to you the Pro...... if anyone, just one person objected to you participating, is it worth it to you to pursue it any further?[/b]
[/quote]
EXACTLY. Why take this path when it will undoubtly tick someone off? Not worth it, IMHO.