Golfers boycotting Chicago City Amateur

For more than 100 years, the Chicago City Amateur has been about competition, camaraderie, a little bit of prize money and a whole lot of bragging rights.

[Paul L]

Good article Teddy. I'm glad I'm not the only one who couldn't believe they are charging $150 for the Chicago Am. What a joke. It's Jackson Park, not some nice course. When they improve conditions (drastically) and make the cost reasonable will I play in the tourney again. Way to mess up a nice tournament Billy Casper.

[Joe L]

I played Jackson Park last week and it is still a dump. This tournament is about competition, not a vehicle to showcase a dumpy golf course. I am sure the past competitors are happy to play there for the competition because that's what they want, a competition. Billy casper should wake up. and let these guys play at the regular rate and the old format

[Vincent Militante]

Wieland thinks were at elite golfers? That's is his typical hyperbole baloney. We wanted a quality field he wants to have and "outing!"

[Disgusted]

Remember the great Mike Rokyo, who wanted the motto of the city changed to "Where's mine?"

[Steve34]

The Park District golf courses and their events should be for those who otherwise can't afford premium public courses or country clubs. This fee increase is ridiculous and will discourage golf. I hope Billy Casper golf comes to their senses.

[Jim Gault]

Skip your favorite event over a few bucks, what a bunch of losers. I suppose the rate was very low for many years, now it reflects today's market. Cost $110 to enter my club's year end flighted tourney. Two rounds, lunch both days, what's the big deal?

[as4e56]

Jim Gault wrote:

Skip your favorite event over a few bucks, what a bunch of losers. I suppose the rate was very low for many years, now it reflects today's market. Cost $110 to enter my club's year end flighted tourney. Two rounds, lunch both days, what's the big deal?

They want someone else to pay.

[Joe L]

Jim Gault wrote:

Skip your favorite event over a few bucks, what a bunch of losers. I suppose the rate was very low for many years, now it reflects today's market. Cost $110 to enter my club's year end flighted tourney. Two rounds, lunch both days, what's the big deal?

Its not about the money...The tournament has been played with qualifying and cuts every year. There is no challenge with no cuts. This point may not have been clearly written in the article

[jefcostello]

You Democrats have only yourselves to blame. You've continually voted for leftist corruption, and higher taxes. You deserve what you've got. Obama ain't going to bail you out either, he's the one you should be blaming.

[Adam Kwiatkoski]

Jim Gault wrote:

Skip your favorite event over a few bucks, what a bunch of losers. I suppose the rate was very low for many years, now it reflects today's market. Cost $110 to enter my club's year end flighted tourney. Two rounds, lunch both days, what's the big deal?

Mr. Gault your welcome to join the guys for a round anytime you like and see if they're losers. Only no handicaps or flights.
The money is only one point. The City Am was a true amateur event: no flights; no sand-bagging; no 3 sleeves of non-premium balls; no carts. Caddy's were encouraged, cuts were made. Come down to Jackson Park and bring your A game. It made regular guys feel like tour pros. The pairings were unlike pairings in any other amateur event. I'll never forget the great stories and unique personalities.
Howabout a college player going out and shooting 62 in the first round and the next day a gallery locals following him around to see him turn in a crowd pleasing 81 the next day. That's tournament pressure.
"A fun event for those who maybe can't break 90." How about missing the entire point...

[Jim Gault]

Adam Kwiatkoski wrote:

<quoted text>
...It made regular guys feel like tour pros...

resting my case

[Bill Dunkle]

WELL SAID, Adam, you are a true professional.

[Vincent Militante]

Hey, Jim you live North, come join us in the skins game and bring your money. Perhaps you can win enough to play your club championship!!!!

[Ed M]

I'm glad that they are limiting the field for that tournament. It wasn't that fun to play 5 and a half hour rounds. There were a lot of guys in that tournament who didn't belong there and I think it will be a better tournament with a smaller field of better players. And $150 for 4 rounds doesn't seem outrageous to me.

[Bill Dunkle]

Ed M,

They are not limiting the field in any way. With the caliber of players that will play, the rounds will be longer. It never was about the money, it was about qualifying and cutting the weaker players after each round bringing the field down to a manageable one

[Ed M]

I see now that they aren't limiting the field but I'm glad that there are only 70 players now instead of over 100. There were too many players. It was too easy to qualify for that tournament. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "With the caliber of players that will play, the rounds will be longer". Part of the problem with the old way was there were too many players who were not that good playing and that lead to very, very long rounds of golf. I liked playing in that tournament but decided not to play any longer because it was too slow. Golf shouldn't take that long.
And I still don't think that $150 for four rounds is too expensive.

[Ray]

The City Am was drawing over 100 players a year, even when the entrants knew there was a cut. It's the competitiveness of making the cut and playing well that motivated these players, not fear of losing your entry fee after missing the cut. Casper took care of that by eliminating the cut and turning the tournament into an outting like format. Yeah, those dreaded 6 hour rounds will now be the norm with an army of high handicappers in front of you searching in the hazards for their wayward balls. Just pray the cart girl isn't selling beer.

[notamathwhiz]

$65 x 125 golfers =$8125
$150 x 70 golfers =$10500

It seems like an obvious choice.

[Vincent Militante]

65 x 125 golfers =$8125
$150 x 70 golfers =$10500
So you are saying it about the money and not the quality of the competition??

[Vincent Militante]

To Ed M, if you were one the players that shot his temperature then it took forever to play. If you shot low 70s the pace of play was fast!!!