The EGA is delighted to announce a new European team event for mid-amateur golfers.
Adding to ongoing efforts to promote competitive golf for players aged 25-and-over in Europe, the European Mid-Amateur Team Championships will be contested annually from 2024.
The event will feature two separate championships, one for men and one for ladies, played simultaneously at one venue.
The championships will take place over four days, with two days of stroke play competition qualifying before two days of match play.
Each team, representing EGA member federation countries, will compose four players. The teams’ three best scores per day will count in stroke play, while the match play rounds will feature a mix of foursomes and singles matches.
The inaugural European Mid-Amateur Men’s and Ladies’ Team Championships will be held at Golf de Chiberta, France from 11 to 14 September next year.
“It’s my pleasure to be able to announce a team competition for mid-amateur players in Europe starting in 2024” said Michael Thannhäuser, EGA General Secretary.
“One of the EGA’s primary objectives is to promote golf at all age levels, and keeping mid-amateur players engaged in golf is vital for the health of the sport in Europe.”
“The European Mid-Amateur Team Championships are a positive step in this regard and I look forward to the inaugural event next year. I’d like to extend my thanks to the French Golf Federation and Golf de Chiberta for keenly stepping forward as hosts.”
Competitive Mid-Amateur golf has been on the rise in Europe in recent years with new events and a higher number of event entries. The European Mid-Amateur Ladies’ Championship was inaugurated in 2019 and continues to see increases in entries each year, as does the equivalent men’s event.
The EGA lowered the minimum age limit for the European Mid-Amateur Championships from 30 to 25 in 2021 in an effort to keep elite players, who have opted to not turn professional, engaged competitively in the sport.
Entries to the European Mid-Amateur Championships from golfers aged under-30 now makes up 20% of all entrants, with the number steadily growing over the last two years.
The 2023 European Mid-Amateur Championships will be held this week at Bogogno Golf Resort in Italy.