Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2020 - 30

INSIDE
THE MG A
What is MGA
Membership?
Optimism Abounds
* BY TOM RYAN *
The new season kicks off with a
strong economy and top-shelf venues.
A
s we head into the
2020 season, optimism
abounds. First,
golf-now 500 years old-
is healthy and in a good
place.
It's a game enjoyed
by the competitor as well as
the social and recreational
player, by outdoor and fi tness
enthusiasts, by the physically
challenged, and by golfers
spanning every generation.
It's truly a game that can be
played for a lifetime.
Second, with a strong
economy and consumer optimism
growing, people are
tending to spend more. We
know that MGA members
spend an average of $4,500
per year on their golf experience.
Your home course
will benefi t in the number
of rounds played and revenue
per round as well. In the
long term, this translates into
more capital spending by the
course owner and a more
enjoyable experience for you.
Third, Youth on Course-a
program that allows junior
golfers to play for $5 or less
at participating courses-is
thriving in Minnesota. We
signed up more than 4,700
juniors last year and we
expect continued growth in
the future.
Fourth, the Edina and
Stillwater Country Clubs are
slated to host this summer's
men's and women's state
amateur championships,
respectively. Plus, more topshelf
venues will be hosting
the balance of our championships,
which means the
2020 MGA tournament season
will be exceptional. More
inclusive events,
like the
women's Member Day golf
and cruise at the Lafayette
Club on Lake Minnetonka,
have proven highly popular.
The MGA Senior Tour, now
in its 25th year, continues its
success featuring women's,
super senior and men's gross
divisions, with a great slate of
host facilities on tap. Look for
more exciting golf opportunities
on this year's calendar
on our website: mngolf.org.
For many of us, one of the
most enjoyable aspects of
the game is the fun competition
brings. Golf is one of
the rare sports where you
can play and compete with
someone of a different skill
level, and do it on a " level "
playing fi eld, thanks to the
USGA handicap system.
With the recent launch of
the new World Handicap
System Jan. 1, the USGA and
R&A have led the effort to
rewrite and modernize new
rules of handicapping. You'll
be hearing much more about
the new system from the
MGA and your club leaders
this spring, as we roll out
the details through a series
of workshops and published
materials. To get a head start,
check out the story (on pp.
6-7), or visit the MGA website
to learn more.
The new WHS is the third
leg of an effort to bring the
game under a single set of
rules for all aspects of it. In
2008, a single set of equipment
standard principles
were agreed to by the USGA
and R&A, and just last year
the new modernized Rules of
Golf were introduced.
Finally, while the Rules
of Amateur Status exist as
a uniform code, the USGA
has recently announced that
these, too, will be examined
with " modernization " as the
objective. The focus will be
to craft a " playing code, " and
the results are expected to be
released in 2022.
Golf is truly an international
game, and it's important
to note that the game's
governing bodies have given
this much consideration
as they continue to make
changes in how the game is
played and administered.
We're all better for it.
See you on the course.
It's your
invitation to
play some of
the fi nest golf
courses around,
through participation
in MGA Associate
Members' Days or the
MGA Senior Tour. * It's
your USGA Handicap
Index, now updated twice
every month, year-round.
* It's your subscription
to Minnesota Golfer
magazine, delivered to
your home. * It's your
support of programs
and services that
make the game better.
2019 TOURNAMENT
SEASON ACCOUNTING
The MGA annual tournament
season accounting-or
contributions to MGA
member clubs for hosting
association championships,
qualifi ers, Member Days and
the Senior Tour amounted
to more than $470,000
for the May-October 2019
tournament year. Here are
the details:
$
$87,469
Carts
$163,500
Green fees
$93,467
Prizes
$101,014
Food & beverage
$14,308
Range
$10,375
Honorariums
$470,133
TOTAL
30
MINNESOTAGOLFER Directory 2020
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2020

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