It was indeed heartwarming to play another PAL tournament (Senior division).
I’m really looking forward to the men’s regular division this year as a spectator after the experimental handicapping system devised by the PAL Tournament Committee several years ago that intended to level the playing field in the Championship division and allow more teams to be competitive had achieved its purpose.
The experimental system discouraged teams from getting first time players who never played the PAL Interclub because these players would automatically be given a zero handicap. In effect, this did not encourage teams to recruit first time golfers (especially the outstanding junior golfers) to play for them.
Starting this year, however, the PAL tournament committee has abolished the experimental handicapping system for all divisions.
In the Championship division, the handicapping is open. Clubs fielding a team in this division may now recruit the players they want regardless of the handicap he carries.
It is a move that will help junior players playing in the Championship division experience team play at a very high level. This will give the junior golfers more than just a taste of what it may be like when they enter college and play for a college team.
And lastly, fielding a team in the Championship Division will give local clubs an avenue to be part of developing golf in the country.
We have very few quality team tournaments for amateurs where the courses are prepared to the standard of our professional tour. Some of the biggest member-guest tournaments held at exclusive clubs and who prepare their courses immaculately do not allow junior golfers to participate as guests. Perhaps the tournament committees of these certain clubs may want to consider revisiting this rule.