Steam Room by MidamgolfHQ Vol 2

 The Steam Room by MidamgolfHQ

January 2024

What we are steaming on this month:

Happy 2024! We've returned for volume 2.

Fortunately, it was a relatively quiet last month in the world of golf. Jokes aside, it seems like the professional game is in total chaos, which, from our perspective, might be a net positive for the mid-am game. None of our readers are likely receiving calls from Jay or Saudi to stay or go, right? Over in this small corner of the golf world, we play for the love of the game and history…….or at least some cocktails post round.

Mid-ams currently find themselves planning out their 2024 schedules and reconnecting with family and friends. In some cases reminding said family and friends that they still exist after spending all their PTO on the road competing in tournaments. By the way, can we all finally agree to refrain from hosting mid-am-related qualifiers on Mondays for the sake of our relationships outside of golf?

On the tournament front, it's a slower time of the year. In this issue, we want to recap a few of the December happenings and start looking ahead to 2024.

We hope you enjoy.

2023 December Mid-Am Tournament Results

Mexico Mid-Amateur Championship

December 5-10, 2023

Club Campestre de Monterrey

Champion: Ryan Terry

Photo courtesy of fmg.org.mx

Recap: The mid-am golf world outside of the U.S. is quickly growing. Mexico hosted its 2nd annual national mid-amateur championship. The format of the event was two rounds of stroke play qualifying followed by the top 32 players qualifying for match play. Ryan Terry prevailed 6&5 in the championship match against Cesar Abis.

Finals
Ryan Terry 6&5 over Cesar Abis
Semifinals
Cesar Abis 4&3 over Guillarmo Fairas
Ryan Terry 5&4 over Marcelo Trevino
Stroke Play Medalist
Cesar Abis

Dixie Amateur Mid-Master Division

December 7-9, 2023

Eagle Trace Golf Club

Champion Mid-Master Division: Tim Eckberg

Recap: Tim Eckberg went wire to wire to win the Dixie Amateur Mid-Master division. Eckberg is the head golf coach at Western Carolina University and this was his first time competing in close to a decade. In the championship bracket, Matt Parziale finished as the low mid-am.

Finals
+1 |Tim Eckberg | 70-72-75=217
+3 | Jason Lina | 74-74-71=219
+6 | Michael Anderson | 76-76-70=222

What’s in the bag?
Driver- TaylorMade Stealth 2 9°
3 wood- TaylorMade Sim 2 Max 15°
2 Hybrid- Titleist 915H 18°
4 iron- Titleist U500
5-P- Titleist T100s
Wedges- Vokey SM9 50,54&58
Putter- Odyssey Tri Hot 5k
Ball- Pro V1

Favorite Course?
My favorite course hands down is Cypress Point, but Peachtree, Ocean Forest and CC of Columbus are some of my favorites in Ga I’ve got to play.

Biggest strength of your game?
Short game

Looking Ahead to 2024

The East-West Matches will return in 2024. The event brings together some of the best mid-ams from around the U.S. to compete in a Ryder Cup-style event. As the name describes the teams are divided based on the geography of the players home town. We plan to follow the qualifications for the teams leading up to the event. You can find more about the selection process HERE.
The Road to Maridoe - East-West Matches Standings after Sept 2023:

November 1-3, 2024 | Maridoe Golf Club

1. Stewart Hagestad | 919
2. Jeronimo Esteve | 752.5
3. Evan Beck | 652
4. Scott Harvey | 645
5. Stephen Behr | 639
6. Joe Deraney | 512
7. Sam Jackson | 393
8. Nick Maccario | 345
9. Mark Costanza | 335
10. Brett Patterson | 312.5
11. Brendon Wilson | 282.5
12. Brad Tilley | 280
13. Bobby Massa | 252
13. Parker Edens | 252
15. Hayes Brown | 234
16. Brad Nurski | 230
17. Jonathan Bale | 225.5
18. Bryce Hanstad | 224
19. Kevin Grady | 222
20. Zach Atkinson | 218

Up next

Gasparilla Invitational

February 22-25, 2024

Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club

Defending Champion: Brendon Wilson

The start to the new year always begins in Tampa with arguably the best run and most fun mid-am event on the schedule The Gasparilla Invitational. Brendon Wilson is your defending champion (2023 results). More to come leading up to the event.

The Ice Bath

Do we want to talk about the golf ball rollback?

It breaks down to two different views. In one corner is the rollback camp. To them supporting a golf ball rollback isn't just about distance and game difficulty; it's a move toward sustainability in golf. After two decades of turning a blind eye, the game's leaders are finally taking a stand against the golf manufacturing industry, better late than never. Rolling back the golf ball technology preserves traditional courses and reduces the need for excessive resources like water and chemicals.

In the other camp we have the anti-rollback which is saying golf is in a great spot and why do we need to move backward? Golfers like to hit it far and manufacturers like to make money. Seems like a good deal.

In our view, this looks like a Hobson’s choice. Do nothing and eventually the technology and ball will get to a point where it’s too extreme. Roll the ball back and look out of touch and crusty. Tough decision.

I think holding the ball and club technology where it currently sits today seems reasonable. In the amateur game, we get to play some of the classic courses they claim are obsolete. I would argue they hold up plenty well. Go look at the scores from a qualifier at say Pasatiempo or Camargo in the last few years. Most of us are reading the breaking 80 section of Golf Digest by the end of those days.

Bottom line it looks like this debate will continue and may eventually (like all things in life these days) end up in a courtroom.

We love to feature our passionate mid-am golf community. If you have a story, achievement, or event you'd like to share, send us a DM on our Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) @midamgolfHQ

Until next month…..