On Sunday afternoon, a notice went out to the more than 200 competitors that this week's Qualifying Stage of LPGA Q-Series has been postponed. Most players arrived onside Saturday for the competition, originally scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Venice, Florida. In recent days, Plantation Golf & Country Club has received a whopping 7 inches of rain.
"We've worked through every scenario with the superintendent and the maintenance team, including the rain dates built into this week's schedule," wrote Jody Brothers, chief business and operations officer of the Epson Tour, in a notice to competitors.
"However, the golf courses are unplayable due to washed bunkers, standing water in the fairways, and unpassable cart paths. To confidently move
forward with play under fair conditions, moving to Nov. 1-6 gives the staff the time they need to prepare the courses to the standard this competition deserves.
Brothers also noted that since June, the greater Venice area has received over 50 inches of rain.
This week marked the second stage of three for what was formerly known as LPGA Q-School. The final stage, typically held in December, was moved up in an effort to avoid the poor weather that has plagued the Mobile, Alabama, event. This year's Final Qualifying will be held Nov. 19-23 at RTJ's Magnolia Grove (Falls and Crossings courses).
LPGA Qualifying is already a costly endeavor, particularly for those coming from overseas. And it's made even more so now by Mother Nature. Brothers noted that with the later dates of competition, reduced daylight hours could mean playing in groups of four depending on field size and weather.
Those who can't return next month will receive a full refund. Brothers included his cell phone in the memo to address any concerns.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA Q-School postponed for more than 200 players due to conditions
