Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2015 - 38

(punch shots
)
( The President's Desk
Eager to Serve-
and for an Early
Spring
By Kip Colwell
I
t's a beautiful, blue-sky day as I write my first column
as president of the MGA. But at -14, the temperature
looks like it belongs on a PGA Tour leaderboard and
makes it difficult to find much inspiration about Minnesota
golf. The prospect of playing anytime soon seems
remote, yet hope springs eternal for an early course opening-maybe
even a mid-March opener like we had just a
few years ago.
Even though I may be getting a bit of cabin fever, our
fabulous MGA staff is as busy as ever
preparing for the upcoming 2015 season.
Besides
working a booth at the
Minnesota Golf Show in February,
which will be a great time to check out
what's new in golf technology, the latest
golf resorts and course options and
to see a few of your golfing friends, the
staff is also busy finalizing plans for our
championships, member days, regional
meetings, GHIN Handicap System updates,
rules clinics and the multitude of
other golf-related services provided to
you for the upcoming year. I am amazed at the professionalism
that this team delivers every day.
I thought I'd give you a little of my background and
Golf has been part of my
closest friendships, satisfied my
competitive side and allowed
me to give back service-wise.
how I developed a love for this game. It started when I was
a five-year-old with a sawed-off junior 3-wood, chasing
my grandfather and dad down the fairways and around
the greens of Alexandria Golf Club. As I grew up hanging
around the cabin, I was lucky enough to make great
friends with the Lehman and Herzog boys; I'm pretty sure
they still have a few of my nickels from the putting games
on the practice green. My real love and understanding of
the game came from my home course, The Minikahda
Club, at the hands of long-time golf pro Bobby Reith. I
still smile when I remember the times Mr. Reith asked me
to play nine holes with him and let me dig into his bag
to grab a few of those brand new Titleist balata balls. My
real mentors were my father and grandfather, who taught
me proper etiquette, the rules of the game, and how to
be a gentleman, whether I won or lost a match. I especially
loved those nine holes after work with my dad, who
I could never beat until the day came when his friendly
jabs didn't quite get to me.
Golf has been a part of my closest friendships, satisfied
my competitive side and allowed me to give back servicewise
through two great scholarship programs, the Evans
Scholars and the Trans Mississippi. I think it even helped
me win my wife over because whenever I picked her up
from her home, I ended up giving her father a golf lesson
in the back yard.
I'm truly looking forward to serving as your President
for the next two years and working alongside a fantastic
group of golf lovers at the MGA.
Here's hoping for an early spring.
-Kip
36
MINNESOTAGOLFER Directory 2015
www.mngolf.org
PHOTO BY PAUL MARKERT
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2015

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