;)
Back Home For Now
Mar 28, 2007 at 2:53PM I braved some grueling driving conditions to make it home yesterday. Donner's Pass was brutal. I played a Nationwide qualifier Monday without success. The course was tough, weather was bad, but 75 just won't cut it. I think 70 played off (that's high for these qualifiers, 130 guys for 7 spots).
I was planning on staying in Northern California for another week for a USPGT regional event. Thing is, the USPGT is having to postpone the next 7 events. They are hoping to resume the tour at the Baton Rouge tournament towards the end of April. My schedule now becomes out of whack.
How to remedy that? Well, I got in my entry for the Canadian Tour qualifier today. The qualifier is this coming week. So, if all goes well, I may end up with a better schedule than I had before. The money on the Canadian Tour isn't as high as the USPGT, but the events are like tour events. It is as close to tour golf as you can get, and the 10-14 tournaments that a Canadian card would add would be great. And if the USPGT gets back to rolling, you couldn't ask for a better "off the tour" schedule. Let's hope both go well.
So I'm off to San Diego this weekend. The qualifier is for a guaranteed 30 spots, but there could be up to 260 players. So it will be tough, but solid golf will always do the trick. If/when I make it, it's up the road to San Jose for the first Canadian Tour event. After two events in Northern Cal, it's down to Mexico for a 4 tournament swing before the Canadian Tour earns its name back in Canada.
I had nothing to play in a couple days ago (not true, there's always something somewhere), now I have a big chance to have a dynamite schedule.
Luke Swilor
Reader Comments (4)
it seems as though financial troubles are common place on the mini tours. what do you think the problem stems from?
Good luck, Luke. Keep grinding.
Does that mean no Baatawn Roozh?
The problem with the mini tours in general is lack of sponsorship. The people running the event have to make money, they have to pay the course, then they pay us. Without sponsors, there is a large chunk of our entry fees that goes to this.
When a mini tour gets established, they can have long and successful runs. The Gateway Tour and the Hooters Tour are the best examples. Getting off the ground seems to be the hard part.
Ryan, Baton Rouge is on hold for now. The tour is planning to make a comeback at that tournament, but we will have to see.
Thanks Armchair.
LS