AN ultimatum from Bermuda Golf Association has turned smiles into tears for the big winners at this month's Ross (Blackie) Talbot Memorial Charity Tournament.

Three of those who won major prizes in contests run in conjunction with the two-day Riddell's Bay event have been told by golf's local governing body to hand back the gifts or forfeit their amateur status.

Under golf's strict rules, amateur winners can only accept prizes valued up to $500.

And that means promising teenage golfer Daniel Augustus, who last weekend won his age division in the International Junior Championships at Mid Ocean Club, Timmie Farge, who helps run the Southampton Golf Academy with husband Richard, and businessman Barry Shailer have all been told: 'Give up your prizes or face exclusion from all future amateur tournaments'.

Augustus had been presented with an all-expenses trip to the Butch Harmon Golf School in the US after winning the tournament's long drive shoot-out, Farge had picked up a trip for two, air fare and accommodation included, to the home of golf, St. Andrews in Scotland, after winning a closest-to-the-pin contest and Shailer was looking forward to a lifetime of free internet connection after his name came out of the hat in a special 'Beat the Pro' competition.

While the tournament which this year celebrated its 11th anniversary has quickly grown into the Island's premier charity golf event, an array of prizes, including a car for anybody scoring a hole-in-one - which wasn't claimed - were seen as major attractions for a field in excess of 400 players.

Understandably, neither Augustus, Farge nor Shailer were too happy with the BGA's directive, although there's no question the rules have been interpreted correctly.

What is being queried, however, is why BGA officials didn't alert organisers of such a high profile event of the dangers of handing out high-cost prizes before play began. The tournament, and what was on offer for the various winners, was widely advertised and members of the BGA executive were even invited to play.

Tournament director Clem Talbot was reluctant to discuss the issue in depth this week, although he admitted his disappointment with the manner in which the matter had been dealt.

"I'm pretty upset about what I suppose you could call an oversight," said Talbot. "I wish I could have provided the recipients with the relevant information prior to them accepting the prizes.

"But I do recognise that it's not the BGA's mandate to be in contact with all of the various golf tournament organisers."

Farge had already been planning her trip to Scotland when she received a letter from the BGA this week.

"I got the letter on Monday and it said if I don't give up the prize, I have to give up my amateur status," she said.

"But I didn't know this when I accepted the prize, of course not. Nobody told me. Now I find out nine or ten days later.

"I'm disappointed, it was a lovely prize but I'll have to give it back. What can I do?

"I didn't win anything in the actual tournament. I just won the closest to the pin. It's a shame."

Youngster Augustus had reportedly no intention of taking the trip he won. Instead, he had offered it to his mother as a gift. But she has now been advised that even if she accepted the prize on her son's behalf, his status would still be in jeopardy. Of the three winners, Shailer perhaps had reason to be the most disgruntled. In the Beat the Pro contest, more than 150 names went into a draw after each had placed their ball inside that of a designated professional on the par-three 11th.

The prize was awarded raffle-style to the name which was drawn and had little to do with golfing ability. But, regardless, the BGA insisted that accepting the award would be an infringement of the rules.

Talbot, meanwhile, says his committee will now sit down and discuss changes for next year.

"The organising committee will make every effort to ensure that we are complying with BGA rules," he added. "We may have to structure the prizes in a different way.

"But it's a bit premature for us to be specific until the committee have discussed it in detail. I would still like to offer these major prizes and enable the recipients to make their own decision."