Conference 7.286::golf

    I thought state amateur tournaments required 5 or less handicap.
    This may have changed since the last time I was interested in
    qualifying.
    
    I haven't had an opportunity to play in one yet but I could have
    qualified a few years ago when I was 21. My handicap was 2 but I
    had some kind of conflict with the qualifying rounds.
    
    I'm not sure of the fees but there is some entry fee. Another
    requirement is that you must have an established handicap verifed
    by your local golf pro which means you must be a member of an "allied"
    golf course. I am not exactly sure what qualifies a country club
    to be "allied" but I am pretty sure you must be a member in good
    standing. In other words, driving range Joes can't play in US Open
    qualifiers for amateurs.
    
    Mike

    
    RE: .1
    
    	Mike, you could very well be right about the 5 handicap, as
    	I said I only heard that it had to be a 6. Does anyone out
    	there actually KNOW what is has to be?
    
    	I am sure that a USGA handicap would pass. Are there local
    	qualifying rounds or just qualifying rounds at the actual
    	tourney?
    
    	Thanks
    	Gene

    
    Gene,
    	The following are the Handicap Requirements for USGA sanctioned
    events. Any tourney that is USGA sanctioned must adhere to these
    limits, non USGA tourneys can set their own requirements.
    
    Open		2
    Senior Open		8
    Women's Open	4
    Women's Amateur	5
    Amateur		3
    Mid-Amateur		5	age 25 or older on Sept. 15
    Senior Amateur	10	age 55 or older on Sept. 8
    Others		No Limit
    
    	You should be able to contact your local pro-shop and inquire
    about local/state/regional requirements and limits.
    
    
    					Fred Deady
    					Balt. MD.

In New Hampshire the qualifications are:

1.  New Hampshire Resident
2.  USGA handicap of 8 of less

For the past two years there have been 230+ players attempting to 
qualify for 64 spots.  The first two days are medal play qualifying.
Ties are decided by sudden death playoff immediately following the 
second day of qualifying.  

After the qualifying rounds the format changes to match play:

	1  plays 64  			2 plays 63
	3  plays 62			4 plays 61
	     .				    .	
	     .                              .

The rest of the week;

	Wednesday - 1-18 hole match
	Thursday  - 2-18 hole matches
	Friday    - 2-18 hole matches
	Saturday  -   36 hole final


The entry fee is $35.00.

If you're interested to know if you'd qualify the cut has been
    
        1986 Hanover CC		Hanover     7 playoff for 6 spots at 155
	1987 Amherst CC		Amherst	    8 playoff for 5 spots at 158    
    
The State Amateur Sites for the next four years is at

	1988 Cocheco CC 	Dover
	1989 Rochester CC	Rochester
	1990 Charmingfare CC	Candia
	1991 Beaver Meadow CC	Concord


Bob

    One more thing, if you won the previous year and you are
    returning to defend you automatically qualify for match
    play.

    
    	Thanks for the info...
    
    	RE: .4
    
    	Bob, what date does the N.H. amateur usually take place on?
    	Do they have qualifying at various courses prior to the actual
    	event?
    
    	I take it from your reply that you have competed. How have you
    	done? Are/were you in the DEC Amherst league?   
    
        Is the resident requirement the case for all state amateur
    	tourneys?
    
    	Thanks
    	Gene

    I seem to think that MASS amateur is a 7 USGA/MGA Handicap..
    
    
    Don
    

	The tournament is always the second week in July.
	This year I think it will be the week of 11 July.  
        You do not need to prequalify in NH.

	I have tried twice to qualify.  The first year I made 
	it as the 64th qualifier in a playoff at Hanover (74, 
	81, par on first hole of the march).  I lost my first
	match in match play.

	The second year I didn't make the cut 80 (35-45 gasp !#$), 82.

	Bob

	For the Mass State Amatuer you only need to be a member of a 
	golf club that is a member of the MGA (Massachusetts Golf
	Association).  You need to be a 5 handicap and there is
	prequalifying at designated clubs on a designated date.
	If you qualify locally then you can try to qualify for the
	match play (approximately 150 trying for 32 spots). 	

	This year's Mass State Amatuer is at Thorny Lea Golf Club
	in Brockton, MA.  I think this year it will be the week starting 
	18 July.

	Bob

    
    	RE: .8
    
    	Bob, you started off like a shot (35) on the front nine
    	the second year you tried to qualify, sorry you couldn't
    	keep it going. What years were these...?
    
    	Gene

        
        Hanover was 1986 and Amherst was 1987.  I actually scored a
        9 on the 12th hole at Amherst.  Hooked it out of bounds off
        the tee and beat it up the fairway after that.
    
        I did a lot of that last year.  Either the back nine was good
        and the front nine was bad or the front nine was good and the
        back nine was bad.  I wish I could explain it.  I would bet
        it has to do with concentration.
    

    
    	RE: .11
    
    	The 12th at Amherst is not the most likeable hole on the coarse
    	for many people. If we could only keep it going once you find
    	the groove. It is truely amazing how much ones game can vary
    	from one day to the next or even one nine to the next...!
    	Concentration is certainly one of the many possibilities.
    
    	Bob, are you planning to try to qualify in 88?
    
    	Gene

    
    	Yes, as a matter of fact there were five of us from
    	the DEC League that tried last year.  I don't know 
    	if everyone else is going to try again.
    
    	I've never played Cocheco but I've heard that it has
    	some trick holes.  Two years ago they had the NH
    	Mid-Amateur there and I noticed that the scores were
    	higher than I would expect.
    
    	In case any noters are not familiar with the NH Mid-Amateur
    	tournament it has the same qualifications as the State
    	Amateur except you have to be 30 years old.
    	
    	

    
    	RE: .13
    
    	Bob, do you have any more info on the N.H. Mid-Amateur?
    	Where it is going to be held? when? cost?
    
    	Thanks again...
    	Gene

    	I don't know where it will be this year but it is usually
    	in September and the cost is about the same as the State
    	Amateur ($30-35).
    
    	Also, the format is three day medal play.

     There is a DEC employee (Ray Wright) who has made the final 8 in match
   play at this years Mass. Amateur.  Let's wish him well!

-rick

    An update on how Ray Wright did yesterday.  Not too bad.  He won both his
  matches and he is now in the finals for the Mass. State Amateur title!

    Ray is a Digital employee.

-rick

    
    I guess this is as good a place as any to ask this since I thought of
    it while looking at the results of the NH state AM.
    
    In match play, what is the difference between winning 1 up and 6-5?
    
    When I looked at the scores, some would state the score as 6-5, 4-3 or
    2-1 (or so) and some would say someone won 1 up or 2 up.  
    
    What's the difference? When I played this way in school you took a
    point for a won hole and the other guy took the point for a lost hole,
    so 4-3 means you won 4 holes he won 3 and you tied the rest.
    
    --Bob
    

    Hi Bob,
    
    	I think that 6-5 or 4-3, means that the winner won 6 up with 5
    holes to play or 4 up with 3 holes to play.
    
    					-Paul
    

    
    Bob,
    
    Paul is correct and when they say somebody won 1-up or 2-up it means
    they were 1-up when the 18 holes were completed. You could win 2-up
    if you are 1-up going into the 18th and then also win the 18th. The
    other matches that are won 4-3, 6-5, etc. are finished before they
    get to the 18th...
    
    Regards
    Gene

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Note 1016.0                  "DECies and Mass. GOLF"                  No replies
WJOUSM::GLASS                                         9 lines  13-JUL-1990 11:25
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    Hi,
    Ray Wright is in the finals for the Mass. Amateur at Merion.
    Ray is one of us, a DECie and avery fine golfer!
    
    Last year, John Ronis made the semi-finals at Worcester C.C. and he is
    the son of another DECie- Bill Ronis.
    
    DEC has a presence!
    Tom

    
    
       Ray Wright  **WON** the Mass. State Amateur !!!!  Congratulations to
    Ray on his great playing this past week.  It's back to your cube now,
    though.  ;^)
    
    -rick

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Note 1017.0                DECie Wins State Amateur!!                 No replies
NRADM::MCKINNON "grab a bag of bats, killer"          6 lines  16-JUL-1990 09:09
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    Congratulations to Ray Wright for winning the Massachusetts State
    Amateur tournament.  Ray is a DECie in the Waltham (I think) office.  I
    read in the paper where he entered because he likes the competition and
    never expected to win.
    
    Nice goin' Ray!

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Note 1017.0               Ray Wright wins Mass Amatuer                No replies
MPGS::SAURI "TEES AND CUPS"                          11 lines  17-JUL-1990 00:01
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    I heard at my club last night (Stow Acres) that Ray Wright had won the 
    Mass Amateur Friday in a 36 hole final match. I dont know if you were
    aware that Ray works for Digital. I have had the pleasure of playing
    against him in the league (I always beat him because he had to give me
    mucho shots) many years ago and consider him one of the smoothes
    strikes of the ball I have ever seen.
    	Well if it is true Ray I wish you all the luck and hope to see more
    victories from you in the near future
    					Your Mexican Buddy Armando