Amateur golf in India is set for a boost with the start of the country’s first structured mid-amateur tour from October this year. The Mid-Amateur Tour of India (MATI) which is sanctioned by the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the governing body of golf in India, is the brainchild of former senior sports journalist Robin Bose, Co-founder and Director of the promoting company the Golfinghub Media and Events Private Limited.
While amateur golf has always been the stepping stone for those keen to make a career in professional golf, MATI opens a window for serious golfers in the age group of 35-54 years who have chosen to strike a balance between their workspace and competing on the golf course. It is also an opportunity for those who have been restricted to club events due to lack of opportunities in this segment.
“We are excited to start this novel project in Indian golf which will hopefully help broad base the sport and encourage many more golfers to awaken the competitor in them. Backed by a superb team, I am confident MATI will stand out with its endeavor to end the vacuum in this segment while showcasing the players in a never-before way,” said Bose.
A prominent highlight of MATI is all events carry World Amateur Golf Ranking points (WAGR), making it aspirational for those keen to collect enough points over time and travel abroad for premium mid-am tournaments like the British and US Mid-Am.
Director General, IGU, Major General Bibhuti Bhushan (retd) said: “We are happy to sanction MATI and this novel initiative by the Golfinghub to cater to the Mid-Amateur segment. We hope the Tour will fuel the aspirations of golfers, men and women, in this segment to keep the Tricolour flying high.”
The first season will comprise 11 events across the North and South Zones of the country, culminating in the Tour Championship. To be played in the strokeplay format, the Zonal preliminaries will be followed by a Zonal final with the top names then taking part in the Tour Championship. The Tour will be managed by Bitsport Pvt. Ltd., a leading sports media and events company.
The venues in North Zone include Chandigarh, Panchkula and the NCR Region, while the events in the South Zone will be hosted by Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.
About the Golfinghub
Started in 2020, the Golfinghub is the brainchild of seasoned sports journalist Robin Bose and his wife, Nilanjana. After working for renowned publications like The Statesman and Outlook, Robin covered golf for Hindustan Times for 13 years before branching out to start his venture. While Robin counts on his passion for the sport as he looks beyond birdies and bogeys, Nilanjana’s solid corporate grounding is a huge value add. They are backed by team members who are achievers in their spheres and share the founders’ passion of helping the Golfinghub soar.
About the Indian Golf Union
The IGU is the apex body of golf in the country and is responsible for the promotion and development of golf in India. The IGU runs the Amateur Tour in India and is responsible for the selection of the National teams for various prestigious tournaments like the Asian Games, Asia Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. IGU is also credited with developing the game at the grass-root level through its Feeder Tours, extensive Junior Training Programmes as well as Coaches’ and Referees’ Training and Certification. IGU’s flagship event – The Indian Open, being held since 1964, is now a part of the burgeoning DP World Tour.
, sanctioned by the Indian Golf Union, will take off in October 2023.){kind=link}