Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2012 - 7

Would You Want MGA to Pass the Buck?
(editor's letter
)
L
ike all organizations, the Minnesota
Golf Association is faced with difficult
choices in delivering its programs
and services to individual members
and member golf clubs while managing rising
costs and trying to keep dues affordable
for members.
A portion of every MGA membership dollar
goes into charitable and allied programs,
from tourism marketing and turf research to
at-risk urban youth, caddie education and
more.
Information about this golf-related
funding is available in our annual report.
Every dollar spent on those initiatives reEvery
dollar spent on those initiatives
relates directly to the MGA's mission-to
serve the game for all golfers in Minnesota.
lates directly to the MGA's mission-to serve
the game for all golfers in Minnesota. In the
words of former MGA president Rick Soskin,
the MGA must accomplish its mission.
Well, what if the MGA duffed its mission?
In a hypothetical downsizing, the MGA
would jettison its least mission-critical programs.
First to go could well be this magazine,
Minnesota Golfer. That would mean no
annual course directory and no spring golf
calendar of events-as well as a reduction
in advertising revenue and the loss of a firstclass
marketing vehicle for advertisers. The
magazine has won awards for its content, so
presumably it would be missed by the members
who read it. Notifying the office of an address
change that had resulted in interrupted
delivery, a member wrote recently, " We love
the magazine and miss getting it. "
Next would be a series of difficult choices
regarding staff and programs not critical to
the mission. A formidable chunk of industry
experience would depart with the loss of staff,
and service would suffer.
Member clubs might see an MGA course
rating team every 10 years (versus every five
to seven), which will undermine the accuracy
of the handicap system (and individual USGA
Handicap Indexes) as utilized by member golf
clubs around the state. The club-level flighted
championships will pay the highest price.
At some point along the continuum of
belt-tightening, the MGA will cut its funding
and support of allied golf programs.
Turf advisory visits that benefit member
golf courses, superintendents and golfers?
That's gotta go. Financial assistance to deserving
caddie scholars? Unsustainable (thus
cheating golf of its future leaders who would
otherwise owe the game a healthy dose of
gratitude).
The $360 million tourism and hospitality
pie? We'll have to pass on tourism marketing
and let visitors think of Michigan or Wisconsin
when they make their travel plans.
Public golf? Sorry, but we can't afford to
cover it anymore. Money for photojournalism?
Gone. That indefatigable golf writer
who reports on noteworthy amateur and
pro golf around the state? There's no ROI on
news copy about high school champs or U.S.
Open hopefuls, so we cut that, too.
Each year, the MGA board approves the
operations budget. All things considered, the
board feels that the mission justifies the costs
outlined in the budget. As Soskin perceived,
the MGA must not fail, for there is no other
umbrella organization like it able to serve the
long-term interests of the game.
As a member, the individual dues may affect
you little, if at all. But you should be assured
that with your support, the MGA will
continue in its mission.
See you on the tee.
W.P. Ryan, Editor-in-Chief
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2012 MINNESOTAGOLFER 5
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2012

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