The R&A of St Andrews and USGA who jointly oversee and make the rules of Amateur Golf, made a historic announcement this week which will change the future of golf forever.
Starting Jan. 1, 2022 amateur golfers may accept sponsorships just the way professional golfers do. This will go a long way to grow competitive participation especially in a country like India where players and their parents must criss cross the country spending between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lac per week in expenses to gain a national amateur or junior ranking. And if not on IGU’s national squad, they must spend their own money on expensive international travel to gain the all important overseas experience.
The new rules eliminate advertising, expense-related and sponsorship restrictions on amateur players which allows them to wear logos of contributing companies and accept expense reimbursement and prize money up to US$1000 or Rs 75,000 in amateur tournaments.
This is possibly one of the most far reaching changes among the many that the game’s governing bodies have made in order to keep up with the realities of modern sport. It should help parents raise money from sponsors at their local clubs and nationally to fund their travel internationally and in India.
More details on this historic change can be found at www.usga.org/amateurstatus.
Credits:-
Photo – USGA