Is regaining amateur status too easy?
03 Oct 2024
by AmateurGolf.com Staff
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After Evan Beck took home his first USGA title at the Mid-Am last month, it got us wondering. Is it too easy to reinstate your amateur status? Beck is far from the only one in the last few years to have turned professional and go back to work as a “regular” golfer (except also maintaining a +6.1 handicap). The bracket of the U.S. Mid-Am was dotted with reinstated amateurs, such as Beck's opponent in the final match, Bobby Massa.
Names like Matt Parziale come to mind. Or Mac O’Grady, a former PGA TOUR player who comically (but seriously) requested his amateur status back on the premise of only playing left-handed instead of right. Consider Omar Uresti, a more well-known story, who took in millions on the PGA TOUR and is now raking it in as a PGA Professional.
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As for the amateur and USGA game, the original goal of the US Mid-Am was to identify the best, for lack of a better term, ‘everyday golfer’. Someone who is able to balance a career, even if it is in the golf industry, alongside extraordinary golf talent. The age of 25 was established to identify players who had likely determined by that point that a professional career was not in their future. What was likely not considered was the 35+ year-olds who decided that path later on.
According to Rob Ockenfuss of the USGA, as of 2018, approximately 700-800 applications were submitted annually, with very few coming from former TOUR players and the majority from PGA Professionals.
To regain amateur status in golf, you must apply through your national governing body, such as the USGA or R&A. The process often includes a waiting period, generally at least six months, which varies by factors like professional play. Applicants must follow strict rules during this period, and they cannot compete in amateur-only events until reinstated. This waiting period was reduced from 1-2 years down to six months as of Jan 1, 2022. Upon a review, the governing body finalizes reinstatement. Full details can be found here.
In years past, your status was a big deal. Today, regaining amateur status seems as simple as asking for it back and waiting out the grace period. It’s assumed that professionals who have only briefly competed might be reinstated more quickly than those who had long careers to eliminate Patrick Cantlay from winning your next Pro-Am as the Am (exaggeration for effect).
The USGA reinstatement website states it is possible to be denied your amateur status, though this is a less common scenario. How many players' names would be recognized globally who went on to win an elite amateur game? We presume none of the above names are listed. It states:
“The national governing body can choose to deny an applicant’s reinstatement in limited circumstances. This may be appropriate when a player has attained a certain standard of prominence or achieved a certain level of accomplishment in the game. Defining a standard to deny reinstatement on a global level is not possible as circumstances vary from country to country. It is a matter for each national governing body to establish its own guidelines for making this decision, but it may also consult The USGA before making a decision.”
This process also includes proving that any membership with professional organizations has been relinquished and providing an accurate playing history. Once approved, the applicant's reinstatement date allows them to return to amateur competition. The Rules surprisingly allow a non-amateur to be reinstated more than once. While we’ve yet to hear of a specific circumstance where this warrants eyebrows raised, it certainly would if a championship-caliber player is ping-ponging between amateur and professional.
There is some debate over whether the process is too easy. Critics argue the process undermines the amateur field. Some believe the system can be manipulated by players who failed professionally but still hold a competitive edge over lifelong amateurs. Others maintain that it is fair since they are merely complying with the process laid out in front of them. Where do you stand?