Tarheel Tour First PlaceWhile the top professional golfers are in the spotlight and taking home the big paychecks, there are many mini-tours that most do not hear about. These tours are defined as minor-league golf and are the life of many former collegiate golfers who dream of playing on the PGA Tour.

The dream of playing on the PGA Tour isn’t entirely far-fetched. Matt Davidson and Will MacKenzie, two of the 90 competitors in the 2005 Tarheel Tour, earned tour cards to fulfill their dreams. And that is the main goal of these mini-tours, considering that the money list leader had won a total of $35,388 as of October.

Mini-tour golf could be described as legalized gambling. The field typically comprises professional golfers who pay an entry fee for each event. When organizers determine the cut at a tournament, those going home lose their fees while those who played well enough in early rounds continue to play for their share of the prize money.

The Tarheel Tour, which featured ninety competitors in 2005, plans to expand to 125 players for 2006. They will also be increasing their entry fees to $590 (up from $500). This increase helps to increase their fee to winnings ration. The first place checks will increase from $9,000 in 2005 to $12,000 in 2006. That ratio, along with the quality course choices, is just one of this tour’s strengths.

For more info visit the Tarheel Tour official website

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