AGE LIMIT FOR EGA SENIOR MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS LOWERED TO 50 YEARS


19 November 2015

From the 1st of January 2016, the age limit to play all EGA Senior Men’s Championships will be 50 years or over as of 0.00 hrs on Day 1 of the Championship (instead of 55 up to, and including, 2015). This condition will apply to the following events:  International European Senior Men’s Championship  European Senior Men’s Team Championship The main reason for the change is to increase competitiveness. Having made a similar reduction for the International European Mid-Amateur Championship (from 35 to 30) at the beginning of 2015, the EGA Championship Committee wanted to restore the twenty-year gap between the two age categories and preserve the best opportunities to compete in European Championships for elite amateur golfers of all ages.



A survey conducted by the EGA office as to members’ expectations regarding senior age limits, in addition to EGA zone-level discussions and EGA Championship Committee consultation, indicated that the majority was in favour of the change. Furthermore, the change will align the amateur age limit to the one in effect on the professional tours. The age limit for EGA Senior Ladies’ Championships will remain unchanged at 50 years and over. The EGA Championship Committee is looking forward to monitoring the positive effects of the change at the International European Senior Championships played at Pula Golf, Majorca, Spain, at the beginning of June (9-11 June, 2016) and the European Senior Men’s Team Championship to be held at Diners Golf & Country Club Ljubljana, Slovenia in September (30 August-3 September, 2016).



Following the lowering of the Senior Men's age from 55 to 50, EGA agreed with the proposal to lower the subsidiary age competition from 65 to 60.