The Divisional Series established a points-series competition for age-protected professionals, supported logistically but not financially by the PDGA, with cash awards totaling not less than $10,000 funded from private donations. A version of this program was approved by the Board in October, but I resubmitted it in December because 1) I had voted in favor of it in October, and felt that I should have abstained because of potential conflict of interest issues, 2) I had not submitted the program to full review by the staff and the Competition Committee, and subsequent changes resulting from that review meant that the proposal had changed somewhat from the one initially approved by the Board.

The resubmitted proposal was rejected by the Board.

My original plan, if the program was rejected by the PDGA, was to operate it from outside the PDGA. After considerable thought, I have decided not to try this because the logistic problems are too great without PDGA assistance. For one thing, I would have to leave the Masters out because there are so many of them. I am not willing to do this. Secondly, if the program is run outside the PDGA there are better ways to provide a more competitive tournament experience for age-protected professionals. This is by providing grants directly to tournaments that do not discriminate against them.

I am forming a �Senior Foundation�, which will administer a grant program for that purpose. Individual grants of at least $500 will be made to selected A-Tier events. The total amount of the Fund for 2008 will be at least $10,000. I will announce the details of this program on another thread before the end of December.

I do apologize for abandoning the Divisional Series. I still believe that the PDGA should support a points-series competition for age-protected professionals (and also for amateurs). Perhaps some other time. In any case, no individual player should be hurt by this loss, because the overall advantages of the Senior Foundation Grants should be even more beneficial.