New Delhi: The Indian Golf Union (IGU) on Sunday announced a power packed schedule for its 2015 National Amateur Tour including a record 36 tournaments. The tour will include 13 four-day and two six-day men’s (Eastern India amateur & All India amateur), 9 three-day and 1 six-day ladies (All India ladies amateur) and 11 four-day junior & Sub-junior events making it 141 days of competitive golfing action across the country.
It is on the basis of the IGU’s National Amateur Tour that players’ National Rankings are determined and Individual and Team selection for international events such as Asia Pacific Ladies Championship (May 18-22), Thailand, Asia-Pacific Junior championship, Taiwan (August 25-27), Asia-Pacific Individual Amateur Championship, Hong Kong (October 1-4) and Asia-Pacific Amateur Team championship, Dubai (October 22-25). The IGU also uses the National Amateur Tour rankings to select players for the Asian Games, Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Team Championship) and the Faldo Series.
Jaydeep Chitlangia, President, Indian Golf Union, said, “Our vision is to create tournaments conditions which will prepare our young and talented players for world class international events. Hence we use four-day tournaments - the same as every major professional tour in the world. We ensure our players play on the best courses across the country including Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Delhi Golf Club, KGA, Oxford Golf & Country Club, Kalhaar Greens & Blues and many other leading courses in the country. This year we are happy to add Hyderabad Golf Association, Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru and CIAL, Cochin as the newest 18-Hole Championship courses in the country.”
The IGU’s competitive National Amateur Tour has been the training ground for champions over the past two decades with the likes of current World No. 35 - Anirban Lahiri, 2002 Asian Games Gold Medalist- Shiv Kapur, 5 time Asian Tour winner - Gaganjeet Bhullar and two time Asian Tour winner (2014 season) - Rashid Khan and many others having gained their experience on this Tour.
“IGU’s National Amateur Tour gives the opportunity to compete on a variety of courses and different conditions which help strengthen all aspects of the game and prepares us for conditions abroad. It is very important for a golfer to have variety of shots for different situations and playing across the country in the grueling four days tournaments prepares one mentally and physically for similar conditions on the professional tour.” said Shiv Kapur, Former Asian Games Gold Medalist.
Eligibility Criteria
On Men’s tour – a qualifying event takes place in 4 regions in the beginning of each year in which players with handicap 6 and below can participate. Top 30 players from these rounds qualify to participate in all IGU’s categorized events except All India Amateur that is held till the next regional qualifier.
On ladies tour – all the categorized tournaments are open to ladies & junior girls in different age categories with a certain handicap. Category A & B girls (Age group 15 – 17 & 13 – 14) should have a handicap 14 while category C (11 -12) should have a handicap 18.
On junior & sub-junior tour – all the categorized events are open to players in five age group categories. Category A (15 – 17) should have a handicap 9; category B (13 – 14) should have a handicap 12; category C (11-12) should have a handicap 18; category D (09-10) should have a handicap 30 and category E (07-08) should have a handicap 36.
The 2015 season will be played across 15 cities in India with the inclusion of three new venues – Golconda Golf Club, Hyderabad, CIAL Golf Club, Cochin and Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru.
Men’s amateur tour circuit, which was kicked off in January with a qualifier event at the Oxford Golf & Country Club in Pune, was followed by two tournaments in the western part of India. The Delhi state Amateur & NCR Cup will make its debut tomorrow (March 9 – 13) at the Delhi Golf Club.
Ladies amateur tour will begin in April with the IGU Army Ladies amateur to be held at the Army Golf Club (April 22 – 25), Delhi.
The first tournament of the Junior tour – IGU Yes Bank Rajasthan Juniors (April 13 – 17) will take place at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur.
The 2015 schedule will culminate with the All India championship in men, ladies and junior category at the end of the year, which will ultimately crown the ‘Player of the Year’ in each category.