Mini tours

Question
Hey Eddie,

Could you suggest some Mini tours that I might be able to get in to. What is the criteria involved? How much is the entry fee for each event? I live near Washington DC and willing to play on the East Coast. I want to play only to gain experience (and not money) by playing in Amateur events and also in local club championships, etc.

Thanks a lot.

Pramo

Answer
Pramo:

Your first step is to join a men's club at a public facility in your area.  Most courses have a men's club.  Play in all those events.  Then, with a verified handicap through the USGA, go to Golf Association's website of your state and pull off the calendar of events in your area.  Start playing in everything you can play in.  It will give you a good measure of how your game stacks up against other players.  For instance, do a search online of the golf association nearest you.  i.e. Washington Metro Golf Association or Maryland Golf Association.  See what the requirements are for you to get started and playing in those events.  All your info will be provided there.  Then, after you gain experience and your handicap comes down, you then need to qualify for all the big tournaments nationwide, like the US Amateur, US Open, and all the big amateur events in the country.  But I think you need about a 2 handicap maximum to compete.  But, anyways, get online, do some research for the golf association nearest you, and get started.  Fees are not much, and it's the best way to learn how to play under pressure.  After a few years of competition, you'll see how you stack up and then you can make a decision of whether or not you are good enough to try.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member