Golf Channel AmTour

10 Reasons You Should Play on an Amateur Tour

January 7, 2013

By John N.
We know what you’re thinking. “An Amateur Tour sounds way too intense. I’m not that good a golfer.” Truth is, you don’t have to be a scratch golfer to play on an amateur tour. All you have to do is love to play.
There are tons of benefits associated with joining a tour like the Golf Channel Amateur Tour - unbeatable camaraderie and competition in real tournament settings where the pros have played. And golfers of all levels compete against players of similar skill levels, so there’s room for everyone.
Here are 10 good reasons to join an amateur tour in 2013:

2012 Golf Channel Amateur Tour National Championship at TPC Sawgrass

1. It’s golf - Need we say more? If golf is your passion and you love to play, an amateur tour allows you to challenge yourself and your game like never before. Maybe playing the same old course with the same group has become a bit routine, and you find yourself occasionally blowing off your weekly round. There’s no better way to motivate yourself to re-commit to the game you fell in love with than a membership on an amateur tour.
2. Camaraderie and friendship - Members of amateur tours that we talked to list this one as the most important benefit. You can build lasting friendships and great camaraderie with people you may have otherwise never met.
3. Health benefits - Playing golf is good for your mind, body and spirit. Playing more golf tournaments, you’re out and about more, being more active, using your body and mind. You’re more likely to prepare yourself to be in top condition for competition by hitting the driving range, weight room, and watching your diet, as well.
4. Variety - Playing on an amateur tour keeps the game fresh on a number of levels. There are literally hundreds of tournaments to choose from around the U.S. on Golf Channel’s Amateur Tour, which is sure to give your game variety by not only playing in different settings, but also against different competitive players. The variety is sure to bring out the best in your game.

Golf Channel Amateur Tour’s 2012 Western Open in Scottsdale

5. It’s for everybody - Any player at any skill level can find a home on an amateur tour. For example, Golf Channel Amateur Tour is open to all amateur golfers, both men and women of all ages. This tour features 12 different flights, including senior flights, so whether you are a strong player or just a beginner you’ll be able to compete and grow your game.
6. Get better - Nobody wants to be a Ranger Rick – that player who can hit just about any shot they want on the practice range but is unable to bring it with them out on the course when we start adding up strokes. The only way to truly test your game and get better in tournament conditions is to play tournament golf and you’ll do plenty of that on an amateur tour.
7. Real Tournament experience - Playing on an amateur tour allows you to feel like a PGA Tour Pro. You play in real tournament conditions, with each player announced off the first tee, and you play on the same premier public and private courses that the pros play on. Golf Channel Amateur Tour even has a Tour Director and staff on site at each event to assist with rulings and offers professional scoring and complete statistics and rankings on both the local and national level. There’s also a National Championship tournament each season that players can qualify for.
8. The Courses - A look at the Golf Channel Amateur Tour schedule reveals stops this year at TPC Sawgrass, Kiawah Island, Kingsmill, Innisbrook and Kapalua to name a few. Plus, players who qualify for the National Championship will play rounds on the Palmer, Norman, Nicklaus and TPC Stadium courses at PGA West in LaQuinta. When could you ever play that many great courses in 10 years let alone one season?

2012 Golf Channel Amateur Tour National Champion Kenneth Ambrosio / Photo by Cy Cyr

9. Test your game and nerves under pressure - Trusting your swing, putting stroke, short game may come easy on the range or in a carefree round at your local track with your buds, but tournament golf is an entirely different animal. Test your nerves and game with approach shots to a tucked pin, downhill putts, a carry over water, and feel a sky-high exhilaration when you make that birdie under pressure with the tournament title on the line.
10. Win stuff - If you play in an amateur tour event then you are playing to win and everybody likes winning, especially trophies and other great stuff. You could even win money! Golf Channel Amateur Tour gives payouts to the top 25% of each flight (or more) at each event and trophies to the winners of each flight during an award ceremony.
For more information about Golf Channel Amateur Tour, including how to become a member, visit www.gcamtour.com.