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Following requests from affiliated golf clubs in Ireland, the amateur status prize limit in the Euro area in Ireland will be lowered from €750 to €575 and will take effect from 1 February 2018.
The move, which is supported by The R&A following requests for consideration by the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, will ensure that the prize limit for amateur golf is now better aligned to the Sterling Pound limit of £500 and continual review of this will be undertaken by both unions to assess the impact of this change.
Speaking about this decision, Pat Finn, CEO of the Golfing Union of Ireland said: "The feedback from our clubs was that the limit was set too high in the Euro area and it needed to be brought into line with that of the Sterling zone. Working with the Irish Ladies Golf Union we approached The R&A and they supported the lowering of the limit. We welcome this support from The R&A and both unions will monitor the effects of the change over the coming months.”
Under Rule 3-2a of the Rules of Amateur Status, which are jointly approved by The R&A and the USGA, an amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of £500. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions, but does not include hole-in-one prizes. Under Rule 3-1, an amateur golfer must not play for prize money of any amount.
The Golfing Union of Ireland has announced selection criteria for the men's senior teams in 2018 as part of its strategy to be more open and transparent in its operations.
The new selection criteria includes:
Player performances at major amateur championships at home and overseas
World Amateur Golf Ranking
Willie Gill Order of Merit position
Player performances in team events
Player interviews
Improved profile of results
For the World Amateur Team Championship which will be played at Carton House in County Kildare, the leading player in WAGR will be selected automatically with the remaining two players being chosen by the GUI selectors.
The European Team will see the top two players in WAGR gain selection with the remaining four places being chosen by the selection committee.
Ireland's bid for an unprecedented fifth Home Internationals title in succession will see the team selection include the top four players on WAGR, the leading two players from the Willie Gill Order of Merit and five players chosen bythe selectors.
Niall MacSweeney, convenor of the GUI’s high performance committee said: "This is a first step for the union in introducing selection criteria. It's aimed at giving players clarity in relation to how team selections are made but it's very much the start of a process and one that will be reviewed at the end of the season. We will listen to player and selector's feedback on the process before deciding on the way forward beyond 2018."
The Willie Gill Order of Merit has seen significant changes and has reverted to a domestic-only challenge with eight home events making up the series. It starts with the season-opening West of Ireland in March and concludes with the AIG Irish Close in August.
The full order of merit series includes: West of Ireland, Munster Stroke Play, Flogas Irish Amateur Open, East of Ireland, Connacht Stroke Play, North of Ireland, South of Ireland and the AIG Irish Close.
