Amateur golf - Topics

What makes a golfer lose amateur status? How does the World Handicap System differ from the old USGA system? How do national federations decide who qualifies for an official handicap? How does the handicap system decide whether you can enter an amateur golf championship? Do amateur golf awards carry the same weight as professional ones? What makes the US Amateur field so much deeper than people expect? Why is it so hard to take range form onto the course? Can an amateur golfer accept prize money and keep amateur status? What is the most common swing fault among high handicappers? What does a weekend golf school actually cover? How does a course rating change your handicap index after one round? What is a sandbagger in golf slang? What is the difference between scratch and net competitions in amateur golf? What does winning the Walker Cup actually do for a player's future? Why do some golfers stay amateur for a decade instead of turning pro? How many lessons does a new golfer need before seeing improvement? Why is sandbagging your handicap seen as cheating by your own friends? Why do mid-amateur golfers get so little coverage compared with college players? How does the four-ball format change strategy for amateur golf teams? Why do so many club golfers pad their handicap before net events? What is the difference between a handicap index and a course handicap? How are age groups split at the US Senior Amateur? Why do so many business deals get settled over eighteen holes? How do you congratulate a player who just beat you on the 18th green? How has the World Amateur Golf Ranking changed who gets invited? Do pitch and putt competitions use handicaps? How do you handle a playing partner who talks during your backswing? England's county unions still control a large share of amateur golf and its championships Are amateur golf records tracked separately from professional records? Is a premium tour ball worth it for a mid-handicapper? Do modern drivers really help amateurs hit more fairways? The 1960s raised golf purses fast enough that the best amateurs started leaving for the tour