The R&A will attempt to play their major amateur championships postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown in August and September, with the Amateur and Women’s Amateur in the same week.
Most of the championships are usually played in May and June but were postponed almost immediately the lockdown came into force. The R&A went on earlier this month to cancel outright the Open Championship at Royal St George’s in Kent, set for July, and also postpone the Curtis Cup event between amateur women’s teams from Great Britain and Ireland and the USA until 2021.
The intention remains to play most of their other amateur events, although the R&A stress that all the rescheduled dates are dependent on the developing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and guidance from government, health authorities and their own health advisers.
The governing body for amateur golf earlier this week released new guidelines for a return to playing golf at club level in the next few weeks which will involve strict social-distancing measures.
The Amateur is now set for August 25-30 at the original venues, Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire Gofl Clubs, while the Women’s Amateur is also to be played at the original host at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club from August 25-29.
Both events usually have big fields of 200-300 players drawn from all over the globe, but it is likely that with international travel still restricted there will be fewer players taking part.
Three events are still on their scheduled dates – The Girls’ Amateur at Southport & Ainsdale on August 11-15, the Boys’ Amateur at Moortown and Alwoodley on August 11-16, and the Senior Amateur Championship at Ashridge on August 19-21.
The R&A’s Senior Amateur will move from July to September 23-25, at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent.
The R&A’s Junior Open, played in the week before the Open Championship, has been cancelled, as have five other scheduled amateur events the governing body runs or co-hosts.
The St Andrews Trophy, the Junior Vagliano Trophy and the Jacques Leglise Trophy matches between GB&I and the Continent of Europe have all been cancelled, as have the Boys’, Girls and Women’s Home Internationals, and the men’s and women’s Senior Home Internationals.