It was only a matter of time, although for a few moments I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing.

I tuned in to the Golf Channel yesterday afternoon just in time to catch an infomercial extolling the virtues of playing for pay. This would not normally raise one's eyebrow, however in this case the target market for the pitch were not professional golfers, but rather, amateurs.

The World Golf League is an organization headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. They bill themselves as "the fastest growing golf organization in the world" and "the worlds largest pro golf tour".

They claim that last year, in their first full season of operation, they had approximately 7,000 members across the United States, each plunking down a membership fee to join the 'League' and have a chance to qualify for the 'National Finals', and a piece of the $200,000 purse.

There were four flights in the National Finals, held in December, with first place in each flight paying $30,000 cash, second paid $15,000, etc. The first flight was won by Fulton Allem, a PGA Tour regular who happened to have some spare time on his hands, entered the tournament, and picked up a very nice cheque for his efforts.

The remaining three flight winners were all amateurs, at least up until the moment they accepted their winner's cheques, at which point they were "in violation of the rules of amateur status", according to the USGA, RCGA, and R&A.

You have to wonder, however, as they squeezed those cheques and had visions of new cars, reduced mortgages, college funds for their children, if they really cared about losing their amateur status? I would think not, and therein lie the greatest threat to maintaining the dichotomy that is amateur and professional golf.

The World Golf League is not attempting to deceive anyone. They made it very clear during their infomercial that if you participate in the League, you will be in violation of USGA Rules and you will lose your amateur status.

They also recognize the fact that out of the tens of millions of golfers across the United States, a certain percentage would gladly forfeit their 'amateur' standing for a crack at some serious money, and also feed their 'egos' at the same time, as they transform their self-image to that of 'professional golfer', albeit loosely defined.

At golf clubs worldwide, on a fairly regular basis, amateur golfers may find themselves faced with status violation, whether it be due to participation in calcuttas, accepting cash in a tournament, or driving away in a new car for scoring a hole-in-one.

The details relating to amateur status violation are spelled out in black and white within our Rule Books, but the enforcement of these regulations seems to have always fallen into more of a gray area.

This is the first time that I can recall such shameless and forthright advertising of an opportunity presented to amateur golfers, which will directly result in them losing their amateur status. At least the World Golf League is black and white about that.

Providing some credibility to the WGL has been The Golf Channel who, besides airing the infomercial, televised the National Final tournament score summaries for their viewing audience.

The WGL infomercial also presented renowned PGA teaching professional Jim McLean endorsing the program, lending some credence to the thought that perhaps we may indeed be witnessing the evolution of a new philosophy regarding the relationship between the ranks of amateur and professional golfers.

Has the time come to either eliminate or completely overhaul the rules of amateur status?

You would probably not have much opposition in presenting the case that the rules as they now exist are outdated and as far as enforcement goes, highly arbitrary.

If the Olympic Games 'ideal' can be 'modified and modernized' and brought into tune with the 21st century by allowing professional athletes to participate, maybe it's time for the USGA, RCGA and R&A to have a look at the role of the amateur in the 'real world' and realize that like the dinosaurs, you either adapt, or face extinction.