Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2014 - 36

(punch shots
)
MGANews
InsidetheMGA
You Are the Reason for Our Optimism
By Tom Ryan
M
any course operators and club
officials are bullish on the upcoming
season. Their courses have come
through the winter in the best condition
in years, and they are optimistic and excited
about 2014.
Why are they optimistic? Because they
know that Minnesotans love their golf.
It's not a surprise that Minnesota has the
highest number of golfers per capita in
the country. We love the outdoors and
we're passionate about the game. If the
weather cooperates, I'm sure rounds will
be up over last year.
the game, and in doing their part, they are
contributing to the mission of the MGA.
If you participate in an MGA or allied association
event, let the folks behind the
counter know how much you enjoyed
playing, and thank them for their support
of golf in Minnesota.
Likewise, if you have the opportunity
to talk to your superintendent, thank
them for their efforts in making your golf
course the best it can be. Mother Nature is
not always the best partner when it comes
to course conditions, and the superintendents
and their staff do a wonderful job
The loyal club member is
the bread and butter of
every course.
But to make that happen, our golf
courses need YOU. While the occasional
golfer is important and the Monday special
events obviously help the bottom
line, every golf facility needs the serious
golfer who plays often, spends money at
the 19th hole and participates in the local
club or league. The loyal club member is
the bread and butter of every course.
Our local courses are important: Between
MGA championships and qualifiers,
USGA qualifiers, MGA member
days and the Senior Tour, it takes more
than 100 courses-roughly 20 percent of
all the courses in the state-to host just
MGA-related tournaments.
These MGA member clubs open their
doors to us and to you as participants
as their contribution to the game. They
know that competitive golf is integral to
maintaining great turf conditions on limited
budgets and under extreme weather
conditions.
We are fortunate in Minnesota to have
some of the best golf courses in the country.
From courses designed by famed
architects such as Donald Ross, A.W.
Tillinghast and Seth Raynor to the more
recent designs of Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus,
Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman,
we have more than our share of great golf.
We have hosted every USGA championship,
the only state to do so, as well as
four PGA championships-and in 2016
we'll be hosting the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
The USGA and PGA of America love
to bring championships to Minnesota.
We love to watch as much as we love to
play.
See you on the course.
Updates on people, places
and events from the MGA
and its Allied Associations
2014 MWGA Scholarships
The Minnesota Women's Golf Association's
Scholarship Foundation recently
awarded academic scholarships
to deserving young women in need
of financial assistance for their postsecondary
education. The four 2014
MWGA Scholarship honorees include:
Courtney Sill, Wabasha
Sill attended WabashaKellogg
high school and
will go to Minnesota
State Mankato, where
she will be in the Honors
program and major
in Biochemistry and Spanish.
Jenna Pettit, Baxter
Pettit graduated from
Pillager High School in
Pillager. She will attend
the Honors College at
Saint Benedict in Collegeville,
Minn.,
and
major in Environmental Studies and
Global Entrepreneurship with a minor
in Writing.
Jillian Klasen, Maple Grove
Klasen graduated from
Maple Grove Senior
High School in Maple
Grove. She will attend
the University of Minnesota-Duluth,
major
in Marketing and Graphic Design and
play on the tennis team.
Natalie Cook, Ely
Cook graduated from
Ely High School. She
will enter Bethel College
in St. Paul as a
junior and major in
Physical Therapy with a
minor in Coaching.
34
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2014
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Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2014

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