Female Ams playing pro?

[jayne]

I was reading the rule book, and trying to figure out what the rulings are for ams playing pro. I had heard somewhere that if my rating was below a certain rating I could play pro, accept cash, but still be eligible as an am. Sounds a little absurd to me. I'm guessing that's incorrect, but can someone let me know what the ruling is for ams playing pro and what not?

I'm at the point where I am not challenged in the Advanced Women's field around here anymore. Also there are not any women that REGULARLY play Open Women at tournaments (we have Katy- but she tours a lot). I am not skilled enough to compete regularly in Open women- 860s rated right now- but I want to be challenged. I was looking at playing up to Open for some A and maybe B tiers so that I am challenged, and when there isn't an Open Women's field, playing intermediate men's.

[masterbeato]

If you move up and play Pro and cash, you are not eligible as a PDGA member to play AM ever again.

If you are not challenged, I suggest moving up because not only will you have good competition out there, but you will also become a better player. Maybe!

Now, if you want to make another AM world's run I suggest you stay in your division and go to world's next year and then move up.

[curt]

While MB is correct that you are not eligible to compete as an amateur (sort of), the consequences of that are not nearly as dire as they sound. What it boils down to is that you can not play amateur in majors (and one more grouping I believe, but I can't recall it right now). The rest of events, you are eligible to compete wherever your rating allows. Also, you will have to register with the pdga as a pro, which means more money in member fees, so renew for 09 first.

p.s. - the guidelines for this are either in the competition manual or that strange ratings guide that lives somewhere on the pdga site.

[Timko]

If you move up and play Pro and cash, you are not eligible as a PDGA member to play AM ever again.

If you are not challenged, I suggest moving up because not only will you have good competition out there, but you will also become a better player. Maybe!

Now, if you want to make another AM world's run I suggest you stay in your division and go to world's next year and then move up.

Actually, you can accept money as a pro and still play am if your rating is below a certain threshold.

I'm not bagging on Mike here, just using him as an example:

http://pdga.com/player-stats?PDGANum=24414

Whether you think it's right or not is a different story, but that's the way the rules are structured:

http://pdga.com/files/documents/09PlayerDivisionsGrid.pdf

Jayne, to answer your question in particular, you need to be rated below 850 to play in FAM1, regardless if you have cashed in FPO.

[Bruce]

Everything said above is true, but the one point that people have missed is that as of this year you can play in Pro and accept merchandise instead of cash if you place in the money, and your Am status will be completely unaffected, you'll be able to play Am majors etc and move up and down at will.

[jayne]

Thanks all!

Dan- you make me laugh. You know what my competition is like and how many (or lack there of) FPO players actually play tourneys out here. We are lucky if there is a field! Me thinks I'll stick to Intermediate Mens for now.

[masterbeato]

There ya go Jayne,

Piss off all the men.

[jayne]

Well, I was fairly successful at the Bloomington Open... 5th out of 16. Haha. We need to find some time for some more field work so I can really piss those intermediate men off!!! Call me when you have time to make fun of me and help me with my game.

[masterbeato]

Call me when you have time to make fun of me

More than happy too!

and help me with my game.

Will do!

[jayne]

How did I know that you would enjoy that? Haha. Alright... back to my excercise physiology project! After tomorrow I'll have a little more free time!