YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE INTERNATIONAL
CLASS TO PLAY IN MOST CONTINENTAL
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS


By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Former Scottish Golf Union president Hugh Hunter, pictured right, is one of a band of not-so-young British amateur (club-class) golfers who are spreading their wings during the summer to go and have a golfing holiday with a difference – playing in the open amateur championships of a variety of Continental countries.
You do not have to have a very low handicap to be able to enter most of them. If you are interested in the prospect, you can call up the website of the golf federation who are running the tournament and get more details and how to obtain entry forms.
If you run into problems, send me an E-mail at colin@scottishgolfview.com and I’ll do my best to find the answers. Here is the list of the appropriate events for 2007 from the European Golf Association website (http://www.ega-golf.ch/).
Just in case you really are a low-handicap golfer, I have included some of the championships for which you do need to be in low single figures.


MEN

FEBRUARY
7-11 Portuguese open amateur championship (Quinta de Cima GC, Algarve). Handicap limit 3.
28-March 4 Spanish open amateur championship (Desert Springs). Handicap limit 3.

APRIL
27-29 Cyprus open amateur championship (Secret Valley GC). Handicap limit 12.

MAY
7-10 Israel open amateur championship (Caesarea GC). Handicap limit 9.

24-27 Austrian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 3.

JUNE
14-16 Slovenian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 6.4.
29 Russian open amateur championship (Le Meridien Moscow GC). Handicap limit 6.

JULY
11-13 Slovak open amateur championship (Lomnicky GC). Handicap limit 10.
12-14 Luxembourg open amateur championship (Golf de Clervaux) Handicap limit 4.4.
13-15 Polish open amateur champion (venue tba). Handicap limit 12.
27-29 Estonian open amateur championship (Estonian G&CC). Handicap limit 18.
28-29 Danish open amateur championship (Silkeborg GC). Handicap limit 2.

AUGUST
3-5 Swiss open amateur championship (Basle GC). Handicap limit 3.5.
8-11 Czech open amateur championship (Cihelny GC). Handicap limit 3.
9-11 Finnish open amateur championship (Helsinki GC). Handicap limit 1.
9-12 German open amateur championship (G&LC Seddiner See, Berlin). Handicap limit 1.9.
10-12 Latvian open amateur championship (Ozo GC, Riga). Handicap limit 15.

SEPTEMBER
6-8 Hungarian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 10.
6-9 Turkish open amateur championship (Antalya GC). Handicap limit 4.
19-23 Italian open amateur championship (Villa d’Este GC). Handicap limit 2.
20-23 Hellenic open amateur championship (Glydfada GC, Greece). Handicap limit 4.

OCTOBER
6-7 Bulgarian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 16.

WOMEN

FEBRUARY
7-11 Portuguese women’s open amateur championship (Quinta de Cima GC, Algarve). Handicap limit 6.
28-March 4 Spanish women’s open amateur championship (Sherry Golf). Handicap limit 6.

MAY
8-10 Israel women’s open amateur championship (Caesarea GC). Handicap limit 14.
19-20 Cyprus women’s open amateur championship (Secretar Valley GC). Handicap limit 30.
24-27 German women’s open amateur championship (Dusseldorfer GC). Handicap limit 4.9.
24-27 Austrian women’s open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 7.

JUNE
1-3 French women’s open amateur stroke-play championship (Golf d’Esery). Handicap limit 6.4. 14-16 Slovena women’s open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 9.4.
25-29 Russian women’s open amateur championship (Le Meridien Moscow GC). Handicap limit 10.
30-July 1 Irish women’s open stroke-play championship. Handicap limit 9.

JULY
11-13 Slovak women’s open amateur championship (Lomnicky GC). Handicap limit 15.
12-14 Luxembourg women’s open amateur championship (Golf de Clervaux). Handicap limit 9.4.
27-29 Estonian women’s open amateur championship (Estonian G&CC). handicap limit 24.
28-29 Danish women’s open amateur championship (Silkeborg GC). Handicap limit 5.

AUGUST
3-5 Swiss women’s open amateur championship (Basle GC). Handicap limit 8.5.
8-11 Czech women’s open amateur championship (Cihelny GC). Handicap limit 5.5.
9-11 Finnish women’s open amateur championship (Helsinki GC). Handicap limit 3.
10-12 Latvian women’s open amateur championship (Ozo GC, Riga). Handicap limit 20.

SEPTEMBER
4-5 Irish senior women’s open amateur stroke-play championship (Ennis GC). Handicap limit 20.5.
6-8 Hungarian women’s open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 14.
12-16 Italian women’s open amateur championship (Parco di Roma GC). Handicap limit 5.
20-23 Hellenic women’s open amateur championship (Glyfada GC, Greece). Handicap limit 9.