| Louisiana Amateur Golf Tour 2009 |
The "Commish" answers the most Frequently Asked Questions
year we will have two 2-day majors worth double points." Who can play and what ages? "Any amateur can play. Last year we had teens to 70+ years of age." What kind of tournaments are they? "Stroke play or a more accurate description would be Medal tournaments. We have 8 one-day events and 2 two-day Majors. Majors are double point events." (Interesting fact: The name "Medal event" originated in the early days in Europe, Royalty would present a "Medal" to the golfer that completed the course in the fewest number of strokes.) How does it work? "We have five flights and within each flight the players compete just like the PGA, gross stroke play. You don't get strokes because everybody in your flight is at your level. We follow the rules of golf according to the USGA, your opponents keep your score, and you keep your opponent's score." What are the flights? "Championship flight 0-3.9 hcp, A flight 4-8.9 hcp, B flight 9-13.9 hcp, C flight 14-18.9 hcp, D flight 19 and up." Where do you play? "All over the state. Our South Tour plays south of Alexandria and our North Tour plays in Alexandria and North of Alexandria. I let the players decide what tour they compete in. I have members playing on more than one Tour."
the store in Lafayette, see Blaine or Chris, they'll take care of you." Does a player have to compete in every event? "No, you plan your own golf season just like the pros, and you pay for events as you go, about twice a month. However, there is a season long points race that determines who goes to State, Nationals, or competes in the VALA Challenge Cup in Hilton Head during the week of Nationals."
What do you mean by Nationally? "The LAAGT operates 2 of the 36 tours in the EGolf Amateur Tour." What is the VA-LA Challenge Cup? "A 54-hole match against The Tidewater Tour of Virginia. They challenged our Tour to a 36 hole Ryder Cup style match and we gladly accepted their challenge. Our first Challenge Cup was contested in 2007. It is now an annual event. The top five players in points from each flight from the North and South LA Tours earn their spot on the team, (50 total). We hold this match in Hilton Head during the week of Nationals. You can see the results on one of the VALA pages of our site. Louisiana won the Cup in 2007 and Virginia won the cup in 2008, LA won it back in 2009, now we must defend." How do you determine what flight a player will compete in? "Their USGA handicap is the best way. The LAAGT is a member club of the LGA. For $20 a player that does not have a handicap can join the LGA through the LA AGT and start tracking their scores and establish a true handicap. They can also enter LGA events in our state once they are a member. You can also do this on our website. We had 89 members join the LGA thru the LAAGT-club last year. This is a USGA licensed handicapping service and separate from the Tour Card." (The LAAGT is recognized as a licensed club without real estate.) Are there any other interesting things about the LA AGT? "We have an event called The Iron Man Contest. If a player competes in all 10 events leading up to the State Final they will automatically be entered in a skills challenge style contest. It consists of 5 events and the winner is awarded a gift certificate. The events are; 100 yd shot to a pin, 40 yd pitch to a pin, chip from the rough to a pin, breaking glass, and clearing the 8 ft wall. We hold this contest after the first round of our State Final. Kind of like the "Big Break" on TV." |
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