Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2015 - 10

(the golfing life
)
Behind the
Scenes
USGA staff
representative Tyler
Riggin talks challenges
and opportunities for
the game.
Interviewed by W.P. Ryan
T
yler Riggin, 34, is the USGA regional
affairs staff representative
to an area of the U.S. spanning
Minnesota to Kentucky. Before joining
the USGA, Riggin was on the staff of the
Pennsylvania Golf Association and the
Golf Association of Philadelphia. Riggin
began his golf administration career after
graduating college and completing a P.J.
Boatwright Internship. He lives in Westmont,
Ill., with his wife, Tristin, and son,
Charlie. On a recent visit to Minnesota,
Minnesota Golfer spoke with Riggin about
his role, challenges facing amateur golf
today and, in his opinion, the best thing
about the game.
Q Describe the regional affairs' role.
A Regional affairs actively promotes,
communicates and represents USGA
core programs at the grassroots level
of the game, while working to support,
foster and strengthen mutually beneficial
relationships with state and regional
golf associations and USGA committee
members.
Q Sounds like that covers a lot of
ground-what's the scope of the
regional affairs department?
A My region, the Great Lakes region, encompasses
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan,
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
I am the liaison for all of the golf associations
within these states and regions-
about 4 million golfers in roughly 2,500
Tyler Riggin
" The fresh air, aerobic activity and
camaraderie [of golf] are so beneficial to a
healthy and happy life. "
USGA member clubs-including eight
PGA of America Sections and more than
40 First Tee chapters.
Q What are the biggest challenges
facing amateur golf today?
A The biggest challenge facing the game
is time. The USGA has teamed up with
American Express to create an awareness
effort called Play9. We are encouraging
people to get out there and take the
family to the range or putting green for
an hour; instead of playing a full round
of 18 holes, play nine holes. The fresh air,
aerobic activity and camaraderie are so
beneficial to a healthy and happy life.
One of the biggest challenges facing
state and regional golf associations
(SRGA) is marketing the services available
to golfers in the SRGA's geographic
region. The USGA is working hard to find
a solution to that problem. We want to
work hand-in-hand with SRGAs to reach
golfers around the country and support
them in ways that can make golf an important
part of their life.
Another challenge is articulating the
USGA Handicap System and explaining
why carrying a handicap is a fantastic
benefit of being a member of an SRGA,
as well as a way for golfers of all ages and
abilities to play on an equitable basis.
Q What do you see as the best thing
about the game?
A The best part about the game is the
tremendous golf community that I am
able to interact with on a daily basis.
While I enjoy the great relationships with
all of the hardworking SRGA staffs, even
more important is that this great game
allows me to interact with golfers of all
kinds, every day. The relationships created
within the game are timeless.
8
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2015
www.mngolf.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE USGA
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2015
