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Just wondering what are the requirements to qualify, make, be accepted to play in the Champions tour, even for one event?

Just wondering if i should change my lifelong dream, to play in one Champions tour event? LOL I am 26 now, I figure I have a lot of work to do, just wondering exactly how they decide?

I found this for you. You better unpack those clubs! Good luck!

Champions Tour: Is it in your future? June 1, 2003

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By Hershel Sarbin and Jim Brown
Golf After 50 Editors

"I am 48 years old -- maybe we should re-name this column 'Golf Just Before and Forever After 50' -- and I am a 5 handicap. With two more years to get ready, I think I'd like to take a shot at playing on the Champions Tour. How do I qualify?" We get a question similar to this one almost every month.

The Good News

As with most things in Golf After 50 life, there is good and bad news. The good news is that all you have to do to play in a Monday qualifying tournament is pay the $315 entry fee and provide a certified copy of your birth certificate verifying that you are at least 50 years old. The entry form and fee have to be received by the host tournament organization on the Friday preceding tournament week. You can't do it by phone, but some tournaments will accept faxed entry forms as long as they have the fee in hand by that Friday. Make your check payable to the respective tournament.

There is more encouraging news. The field is 144 players during standard time and 156 during daylight savings time, but there is seldom a full field. You have a good chance of getting in. The average number of Monday would-be qualifiers is 100 and some of them won't break 80. A few are there to fulfill a lifetime dream, which can quickly turn into a $315 nightmare. The qualifying tournament is 18 holes of stroke play competition.

The Bad News

Now the news takes a slight turn downward. Once you plunk your money down, you are a professional. Qualify or not, your amateur status is gone for twelve months. Only the low four scores gain entry into the main tournament and the next two low scorers serve as alternates. There are sudden-death playoffs in the event of ties. And be ready to compete against high-level qualifiers who are club pros, former tour players, or experienced amateur tournament players. If you don't break 70, you are not likely to make the cut.

What if you stink it up? The Champions Tour reserves the right "to remove said player from the competition, or deny future entries, without any refund of entry fee."

What if you play great and make the cut? Then we'll look for you on television to compete against former U.S. Open Champions, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson, and other legends. If you win the big one, you are exempt for the next 12 months. But let's worry about that later.

Right now, decide if this is something you really want to do. For more information about Monday qualifying and the Champions Tour q-school (a more difficult way to get on the Tour), call the Champions Tour Headquarters at (904)285-3700 or stay on www.pgatour.com and select Tournaments, then Champions Tour, then Open Qualifying. There you will find the official rules and a schedule of tournaments, dates, names, addresses, and phone numbers. Good luck. For an interesting article about golfers who've tried to qualify for the Champions Tour, see the 2003 May-June issue of T&L Golf.

One more bit of good news. You don't have to worry about Hershel (hershels@aol.com) and Jim (golfafter50@mindspring.com) being there to compete against you. We'll just stay at home, maintain our amateur status, and check our emails to find out how you do.

Wow thanks so much. I think it would almost be a dream just to play in a Monday qualifier, so thats really cool. I do have 24 more years to practice. So maybe I won't stink up the joint, and get in their bad books.

Well I will be putting in front of the fireplace.... and planning the big move to AZ early next year...thank god for cute Amercian wives!!! I am gonna need the desert heat to make the most of that 24 years!!!

Just for laughs, take a look at the current PGA Tour members in the 26-28 year old range. They will be your main competition for a Champions Tour spot when you turn 50. Now you really better get those clubs out!

LOL they will get bored in 24 year!!!

Hey it's a dream right, and honestly even to play in a Monday Qualifier and not embarass myself would probably be suitable for me. But you do have a good point!!

I'm not trying to discourage anyone's dreams. I'm taking enough heat on another thread from people who mistakenly think that!

HAHAH no harm done, you are just being realistic. I really do appreciate you giving me the information though. Hey if I don't ever make it atleast I learned how it all works.

Cheer