As a mid-handicap golfer who is never unhappy to break 90, watching high-quality players in the flesh is always a treat for me.
I’ve been to Majors and DP World Tour events in the past, and I’ve been lucky enough to play alongside a handful of current or former pros since joining Golf Monthly prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup.
But those chances have been few and far between. So when the opportunity arose to follow/caddie for friend and colleague Joe Ferguson during the final round of a PGA event nearby recently, I jumped at the chance.
I’d seen Joe play during Golf Monthly test days or in videos on our social media channels before, but I felt it would be amazing to watch him at full tilt against other talented golfers in a tournament where good money was on the line.
Having timed my own typically psychotic round elsewhere to perfection, I made the short drive over to Minchinhampton Golf Club in Gloucestershire just in time to find Joe wielding his new broom-handle putter on the practice green before heading out.
(Image credit: Future)
Over the following five hours, there was so much that both impressed and surprised me about this widely under-appreciated level of the game. I left rejuvenated with enthusiasm for a sport I already love, and I want to share exactly why.
Without further ado, here are six reasons why I loved my first taste of mini-tour golf and why I would thoroughly recommend making plans to watch an event this summer.
PLAYERS UPHOLD SPIRIT AND HONOR
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
One of the first things I noticed was how there were very few PGA officials out on course. As a result, it was really up to the group of players (or any hardy supporters who were following along) to spot golf balls or deliberate a ruling.
While I categorically did not witness anything untoward during this round, I can easily see how the lack of officials on the ground and the prizes on offer can lead to claims of cheating at this level. But perhaps that’s a matter for another day.
If there was ever a ruling which needed to be discussed, it was down to the pros involved to sort it out. This only happened a couple of times in Joe’s trio, but it was always dealt with efficiently and fairly.
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