Celebrity Pro am's......

[Junior]

With the media focus on Rory and his One Direction caddy at the Masters par 3, to the celeb pro ams at Wentworth and the Irish open which wielded out the same old celebs who play in the Dunhill etc (Warne, Rednapp etc)........ I can't decide whether I'm jealous of them or annoyed in that the European tour should be using these pro am's to help grow the game.

I get the need to entertain the sponsors but maybe, this week and last , Wentworth and RCD should have been a bit more creative and approached every club in the area and filled half the field with juniors so that they could play (off forward tees obviously) with their heroes. Maybe they could have held a junior qualifying tournament in the weeks leading up to these flagship events.

 

[DCB]

The Pro-Ams at the tour events are where the various corporate sponsors get their moment of glory. That'll never change while the game needs the money they input into the event. Other than the Dunhill, I've never been to a ProAm day at an event yet, just a waste of a day off when I could go the next day and see some real golf being played

 

[garyinderry]

At the irish open Rory's pro am partners were American business men who paid £100,000 for the privilege.

Kids pushed very much to the back when those figures are bandied about sadly.

 

[bladeplayer]

At the irish open Rory's pro am partners were American business men who paid £100,000 for the privilege.

Kids pushed very much to the back when those figures are bandied about sadly.

BUT 100k for Rorys foundation ?? silver lined clouds etc ?

 

[garyinderry]

BUT 100k for Rorys foundation ?? silver lined clouds etc ?

Suppose so. Serious money.

 

[chrisd]

I haven't been to the ProAm at Wentworth for about 3 years but used to go regularly before that, there were often groups of young mid teen boys and girls playing who were clearly elite youngsters. The entry and parking were then free but now they charge for both, I guess that they need to have more celebs to attract the bigger crowds and make much more revenue

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Don't the celebs pay a lot of money which all goes to charity to play in the Pro Am's ?

 

[gazr99]

It's the way of the world, I'm sure some money does go to charity. It's the same way many celebs get given free golf clubs from manufacturers like the pros. Jamie Redknapp uses Taylormade clubs

 

[virtuocity]

I like watching the Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall on the telly. Much more entertaining seeing celebs and amateurs have a chance of playing some half decent golf.

 

[pbrown7582]

Is the publicity of such high profile celebs playing golf at The PGA not doing big PR an helping grow the game by getting people involved who wouldn't usually take any notice.
Attendance figures were nearly the same for the pro am on weds as 1st days play on thurs.

I was fortunate to play a pro am on the senior tour at Woburn last august and it was mainly just a jolly for the sponsors who support the tours.

 

[Junior]

Is the publicity of such high profile celebs playing golf at The PGA not doing big PR an helping grow the game by getting people involved who wouldn't usually take any notice.
Attendance figures were nearly the same for the pro am on weds as 1st days play on thurs.

I was fortunate to play a pro am on the senior tour at Woburn last august and it was mainly just a jolly for the sponsors who support the tours.

Yeah , i get that the celebs may raise the profile of the event, but, i bet i can count on one hand how many one direction fans took up golf after the masters.

I realise im being overly critical, and fair play if the pros do stump up money to charity for playing. Id have just like to have seen more kids playing, especially given the current climate that gold clubs operate in. Im sure the tour do a lot in this regard, just perhaps we dont see it.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Yeah , i get that the celebs may raise the profile of the event, but, i bet i can count on one hand how many one direction fans took up golf after the masters.

I realise im being overly critical, and fair play if the pros do stump up money to charity for playing. Id have just like to have seen more kids playing, especially given the current climate that gold clubs operate in. Im sure the tour do a lot in this regard, just perhaps we dont see it.

I don't really see how elite youngsters playing in these things will help grow the game more than celebrities playing?

 

[Junior]

I don't really see how elite youngsters playing in these things will help grow the game more than celebrities playing?

I never said anyrhing about elite youngsters. Just junior golfers in general. Most juniors dont stick with golf. Perhaps being involved in such a spectacle will keep them engaged as opposed to quitting when they turn 17, and then not taking it up again until they are 35/40....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As long as the money gets ploughed back into charity or golf at grass roots then I'm not too fussed who plays in these events. It's always been about the money for many years and they seem happy to play big cash to play with their heroes so if that cash benefits others keep doing it