Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2015 - 30

(punch shots
)
MGA Annual
InsidetheMGA
From the Senior Tees
By Tom Ryan
T
his season marks the 20th anniversary
of one of the most
valued MGA member benefits to not
only our senior golfers, but to many of
our member golf courses as well.
In 1996, Warren " Rebbie " Rebholz
imported the concept of a " senior
tour " from the Carolinas. Fashioned
to fit Minnesota's golf season, Rebholz
organized a series of nine events
for 240 senior players (ages 55 and
above). Since its first year, the MGA
Senior Tour has grown to 61 individual
and team events featuring four
sections of 200 players each, as well as
super senior and women's sections.
Participants play weekly events at a
variety of courses, win prizes and accumulate
points toward earning a spot
ity to provide genuine competition,
on extremely friendly terms, across all
handicap levels, to folks who haven't
had the opportunity for that atmosphere
in a long time. The players love
the chance to get back in the game.
The fact that it offers the ability to visit
places you've played in younger years,
and thereby rekindle fond memories,
is a real bonus. "
This is what golf should be all
about, and too often it's not. It's about
competing, it's about playing by the
rules, it's about playing with friends,
it's about meeting new people and,
most of all, it's about having fun.
Maybe it's because the seniors are
" making the turn " or have already
" teed-off on the back nine " of their
Our younger competitors might gain some
insight by playing golf with senior players.
at the MGA Senior Tour Finals, this
year hosted by the Minneapolis Golf
Club. Along the way, the Senior Tour
has generated more than $3 million in
revenue for MGA host clubs.
I recently had the opportunity to
play in the MGA Senior Tour Section
Cup in August at Cragun's Resort with
my old friend Guy Green, who runs
the northern section of the Senior
Tour. The Section Cup is a two-day
match-play event, pitting teams from
each section in singles and four-ball
formats. I haven't seen a group of
people have more fun than this group
did over the two days. They kid each
other, they laugh at themselves, they
compete like crazy and they tell stories
till they're kicked out of the room.
According to Green, " The uniqueness
of the Senior Tour lies in its abilgolf
lives, but more than most golfers,
I find they appreciate the game, value
the camaraderie and know that the
sun will rise tomorrow no matter what
they score today.
Some of our younger competitors
just might gain some insight on the
game by hanging around and playing
golf with their fellow senior players.
Maybe a junior-senior mixer is on the
horizon?
I also had the honor of attending
the MWGA Centennial Gala dinner
recently at Interlachen Country
Club-what a night! Women's golf
has been well served by all those who
dedicated their time and talent to the
growth of women's golf over the last
100 years. Well done.
See you on the course.
Meeting
Nov. 2
Oak Ridge Country Club, Hopkins, is
to host the MGA's Annual Meeting and
Awards banquet. Social hour starts at
5:30 p.m., followed by presentations
recognizing the six MGA Players of
the Year, the Evans Scholar of the Year,
the MGA Volunteer of the Year and the
Warren J. Rebholz Distinguished Service
Award winner. Also honored are
four inductees into the Minnesota Golf
Hall of Fame: Gloria Bjork Brandness,
Dan Croonquist, Alissa (Herron) Super
and Dick Haugen.
The USGA is using the occasion to
recognize three Minnesotans for their
25 years of volunteer service in the U.S.
Open Media Center. Bruce Bahneman,
Pat Logan and Bob Seeger started what
became known as the Minnesota 10
with their time served at the media center
at Hazeltine National Golf Club and
the 1991 U.S. Open. Since that time, the
group has grown and members have
changed, but the original three members
remain involved.
" The USGA is extremely fortunate
that a group of friendly, courteous,
hard-working,
loyal and humorous
volunteers from Minnesota have graced
the U.S. Open Media Center every year
since 1991. We are indebted to them
for 25 exemplary years of service to
the media, the USGA and the game of
golf. The stories are numerous, legendary
and hilarious. Simply, we couldn't
do it without them. They've become a
part of our tradition, " says Pete Kowalski,
director of USGA Championship
Communications.
As an MGA member, you are welcome
to attend. For more details, contact
Anne Colehour at 952-345-3969.
Correction
In the Summer issue's " Rules Primer, "
Decision 3-3/9 (Second Ball
Played in Match Play) effectively
waives the loss-of-hole penalty for
a player who puts a second ball into
play in match play if no claim is
made. We regret the omission.
28
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2015
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2015

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