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Picture the most
famous armed services recruiting poster. Uncle Sam, fierce scowl on his face,
pointing right off the poster board and seemingly staring directly at you and
saying, "I want you for the U.S. Army.''
Now, exchange the blue and white top hat for a golf visor, the blue tux
jacket for a polo shirt and the finger for a 5-iron. The words could read"I want you for the Quad-City
Amateur Tour.''
While officials of the Quad-Cities
only official amateur
golf circuit haven't gone quite that far to desecrate an American icon, they
still are searching for ways to expand the xx-year-old golf circuit. And they
need a recruiting tool just as successful as that 90-year-old American icon.
"The tour was
basically developed so that we could have a good playing format -- good tournament format -- in an area
of 300,000 to 350,000 people,'' said Dave Holmes, 2009 chairman of the
volunteer board of directors. "Instead of
people having to travel so far to get into a good-sized tournament, you can find it
here in the Quad-Cities.''
And while the QCAm Tour provides a great place to play for the QC
area's top amateur
golfers, the circuit seemingly has stagnated when it comes to growth.
Numbering about 100 players the past few years, it continues to struggle
expanding the fields for its seven regular-season events.
"It's a great tour,''
said Ben Peters during his terrific summer of 2007 when he came out of
semi-retirement to win player of the year honors. "This
is great for any golfer wanting to play competitive golf. I'm glad it's
around and that I can play in it.''
The problem is, new blood has been hard to find.
Some very good golfers who should be playing the tour may be shying away because they are
intimidated by tournament
golf. Other players may be enjoying their comfort zone playing in their
weekend games at the clubs.
"It's something anyone can be part of and should be part of,'' said
Chris Wilkins, a long-time board member and player who helped keep the
circuit afloat in its leaner years. "I know
there are a lot of guys out there who should be playing and we'd love to have
them join us.''
With a schedule that features great venues and plenty of incentives --
numerous gift-certificate payouts for flighted play
-- the QCAm Tour is enticing for local golfers. But maybe the biggest
benefit of the 501(c)3 is that thousands of dollars
each year are funneled through it and given back in charitable contributions
to deserving local non-profits. Over the last five years, the QCAm Tour
has donated $43,100 to local charities. Much of that money has gone to help
programs geared around the well-being of children. Many of those dollars come
from corporate sponsorships, ranging from title sponsor Wells Fargo Bank to
numerous hole sponsors.
"It's not just all about golf,'' says Holmes of the contributions.
"For a lot of the guys, that's why we play; it's an easy venue to raise
money that benefits community charities,'' Wilkins said.
It really is an entity that has many faces -- some that include plenty of
smiles at post-round gatherings as the camaraderie is also a QCAm Tour
calling card.
The QCAm Tour
is open to all amateur
golfers. It is comprised of seven weekly events (usually two-day/36-hole tournaments) and two majors at
the end of the season. Those are the Tour Championship for the top 30 season-point winners and the
Hasley Cup -- the QCAm Tour's version of the Ryder Cup
-- that pits the top golfers from the Illinois side vs. the top players from
Iowa.
"Guys like to compete and like the camaraderie,'' Wilkins said. "As much as anything, it's fun. ... It's good for
the community and we feel as if the community is lucky to have it.''
For
further information on the Quad
City Amateur Tour, go to www.qcamtour.com. The 2009 QC Amateur Tour
schedule May 16-17: Hawthorn Ridge Amateur,
Hawthorn Ridge Golf Club, Aledo, Ill.
May 23-24: Quad City Amateur, Emeis Golf
Course, Davenport.
June 19-21: Clinton Riverboat Days, Clinton (Iowa) Country Club.
June 27-28: Short Hills Amateur,
Short Hill Country Club, East Moline.
July 25-26: Glynns Creek Amateur, Glynns Creek
Golf Course, Long Grove, Iowa.
Aug. 8-9: Pinnacle Amateur,
Pinnacle Country Club, Milan.
Aug. 15-16: Rain date.
Aug. 29-30: Tour
Championship, R.I. Arsenal Golf Club, Rock Island.
Sept. 11-12: Hasley Cup, Emeis
Golf Course, Davenport.
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