NORTH CENTRAL, Fla. – The North Central Florida division of the Amateur Golf Tour is preparing for its inaugural season of providing golfers of all abilities a tour to call their own. The North Central Florida division is the newest addition to the Amateur Golf Tour, which has been bringing the "tour experience" to amateur golfers for 12 years.
This year’s schedule consists of 10 tournaments in Gainesville, Lake City and Ocala. The season begins May 13 at Plantation Inn & Golf Resort, and ends with local finals in October.
All 10 tournaments will take place on weekends at some of the area’s premier courses, including: Pine Barrens at World Woods, University of Florida Golf Club, Haile Plantation, Rainbow Springs Country Club and El Diablo Golf & Country Club.
"The AGT allows everyday golfers to go ‘on tour’ and compete against players of their own skill level," said local tour director Kevin Bradley. "If you’ve ever wanted to experience golf like a professional, now you can."
The Amateur Golf Tour is for amateurs of all ages & abilities. Members are placed in one of five flights based on handicaps. Flights are: Championship (0-5 handicap), A Flight (6-10), B Flight (11-15), C Flight (16-20) and D Flight (21 and above).
Tournament format is gross stroke play, with USGA rules in effect. A software program tracks each player’s handicap to ensure participants are placed in their proper flight.
Golfers may join the tour any time during the year for an $80 membership fee. That fee includes a gift bag and tour packet, and allows members to play in any Amateur Golf Tour event nationwide. Membership also provides reduced rates on practice rounds prior to some tourneys.
Entry fees are $80 per event. Those fees include cart and green fees, range balls, gift certificates for the top three in each flight, plus closest-to-the-pin prizes. Prize winners at every tourney receive gift certificates from Edwin Watts Golf, while all participants earn points toward a season-long championship in their flight.
Golfers who finish in the top 10 in points in their flight or win a "major" receive invites to the 2006 Amateur Tour Championship, Oct. 28-29 at Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head, S.C.
For information, call Kevin Bradley (904) 687-1104, visit www.amateurgolftour.net, or e-mail to: ncfg@amateurgolftour.net.
Contact:
Kevin Bradley
(904) 687-1104
fcg@amateurgolftour.net
Craig Distl
(704) 377-8622
cdistl@bellsouth.net
