Amateur winning car for hole-in-one will be ‘huge’ for Scottish golf clubs

From the beginning of next year, club golfers will be able to compete for unlimited hole-in-one prizes without fear of losing their amateur status after the sport’s ruling body scrapped a £500 limit.

The change is likely to be frowned upon by some traditionalists but Michael MacDougall, secretary of the PGA Scottish Region, reckons it will have created a buzz of excitement at most golf clubs the length and breadth of the country.

He revealed pro-am organisers constantly asked about putting up big-money prizes for a hole-in-one, only to be put off when hearing there was a consequence for any amateur who accepted them.

Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton surrendered his amateur status after he had a hole-in-one during an event at Formby Hall in Lancashire in 2004 and won a Mercedes A class car worth about £13,000.

“At planning meetings for pro-ams, we have regularly had requests from clubs about the possibility of putting up a hole-in-one prize, be it a car or a short break holiday,” MacDougall told The Scotsman.

“The answer has always had to be ‘no’ because we adhere to the R&A guidelines on these matters and the prize limit, until now, has been £500.

“I didn’t see this change coming as I hadn’t heard any mutterings about it, but I think it is going to make a big difference when it comes to events like pro-ams.

“Local businesses will see an opportunity to get some publicity off the back of this change and it’s going to create some huge stories, especially the first one. A lot of clubs will be vying to become the first to have someone drive away in a fancy car as an amateur with no fear of suffering any comeback.”

That was confirmed by both Duncan Ireland, secretary at Duddingston Golf Club in Edinburgh, and David Scott, director of golf at The Duke’s on the outskirts of St Andrews.

“Having a hole-in-one prize such as a car is definitely something we would now consider,” said Ireland. “I believe the insurance costs are something like £200-£250 but that would be worth it if it helped increase entries for Open tournaments like our Duncan Bowl.

“Of course, it would mean someone having to sit at the hole all day to prove that a hole-in-one was achieved but I’m sure that’s something that could be organised by most clubs.”

Scott, a former Scottish PGA captain, added: “I quite like this change as I see a lot of excitement being generated by the prospect of amateurs winning big prizes for a hole-in-one.

“I can see clubs going to a local garage and perhaps getting cars as prizes for a couple of competitions a year and that will surely create a lot of interest.

“The great thing about a hole-in-one is that it doesn’t just come down to someone having exceptional talent – there’s an element of luck as well.”

Gordon Simpson, general manager at Hilton Park on the north side of Glasgow, also welcomed the R&A’s decision to address hole-in-one prizes in the Rules of Amateur Status.

He said: “The £500 limit definitely put companies off a bit as, instead of being a good PR exercise, it often ended up as the opposite. An amateur would come off the course thinking they’d won a car only to be told they could only receive the £500 and that sort of thing doesn’t create much goodwill.

“With the limit having now been lifted, it is going to be an awesome story when amateurs have a hole-in-one and win prizes such as cars. It will generate great PR for clubs and businesses.”

The R&A has also announced changes to the Rules of Golf, notably the removal of a penalty for balls being blown by the wind on greens and the provision for players to rake one end of a bunker before they play a shot from the other end.

“At a time when people are complaining about rounds taking five hours, anything that stops us from having to get the Rule book out every five minutes has to be welcomed,” said Ireland.

“Amateur golfers break rules without knowing any better so anything that makes things simpler is a good thing.”