Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2023 - 40

A Time of
Transition
I
suppose a lot of our members wonder what the MGA does
during the winter. Not surprisingly, the pace slows down
from the 88 tournament and golf days conducted between
May and October, but important things are going on behind the
scenes. And this winter is no exception. The winter months offer
much needed time for reflection and preparation for the coming
golf season.
Did you know the MGA will be moving its offices in a few
months after 20 years in Suite 211 at the Titus Building? After a
diligent search, we are staying right at 6550 York Avenue South,
but moving up to 4th floor in the renamed Southdale Professional
Center. It is a light filled space that is being gutted and built out to
our specifications.
As you can imagine, there is lots to do. Staff has already been
purging and consolidating files and reorganized most of three
storage rooms. One of the benefits of this new space is a larger
area to display our state amateur individual and team championship
trophies. Additionally, we now have a conference room area
with state-of- the-art technology to facilitate in-person and virtual
meetings. And while few outside people visit the office anymore,
we plan on hosting an open house in the spring to show it off.
As you may have noticed in the last magazine, we have
" relaunched " the MGA Foundation. A Board of Directors has
been identified with MGA past president Tom Smith leading the
foundation. The three core areas being funded are MN Youth
on Course, the women's scholarship and caddie development.
Successful fundraising will help drive new areas of support within
the Minnesota golf community.
On February 1, members of the board and staff, along with representatives
from the golf course superintendent's association and
the PGA section, will be attending Golf Industry Day on the Hill
at the state capitol after a hiatus of several years. We meet with
our various state lawmakers to ensure the issues of golf and golf
courses are front and center. Remember, these relationships, along
with our lobbyist, were instrumental in getting golf opened in
April of 2020 in the midst of statewide Covid shutdowns.
This year is the four-year change cycle for the Rules of Golf.
Doug Hoffmann will be offering his workshops for players and
40
MINNESOTAGOLFER Directory 2023
PRESIDENT'S DESK
" It is my honor to
serve as your MGA
President for the
next two years. "
volunteers, as well as his 10-week " Rules on Tap " virtual seminar,
February 9-April 20. It's a great opportunity to become more
familiar with the rules and how they can help you around the golf
course. Visit mngolf.org/Rules_of_Golf for more information.
Lastly, you may have heard that our executive director and
COO, Tom Ryan, will be retiring at the end of the year. There are
not enough accolades to describe how expertly he has led the MGA
over the last 20 years! He will be missed. We will celebrate his contributions
as we look to the future and a planned transition. We
have engaged the services of a local search firm and will keep you
appraised of developments.
It is my honor to serve as your MGA President for the next two
years. As we go forward together ensuring our mission to serve all
Minnesota golfers, please reach out to me personally at any time.
Here's to a successful 2023.
Ede Rice, President
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org/Rules_of_Golf http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2023

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