Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2016 - 6

INSIDE
THE MG A
In Loving Memory
6M HCA FM5B
Minnesota golf lost three champions
of the game this year.
A
n early opening to
the season (and
great course conditions),
coupled with the excitement
of the Ryder Cup,
has everyone thinking, talking
and playing golf. Sadly,
since the end of last season,
we have seen the passing of
three individuals who gave
so much of themselves to this
game we love.
2002 and by her election to
the Minnesota Golf Hall of
Fame in 2003.
Derry Boyd's passing ended
a career of involvement in
the golf business and volunteerism
dating back 40 years.
He was an owner of Mount
Frontenac Golf Course and
was very active in the Midwest
Golf Course Owners Association.
He also served as
They didn't get involved to
pad their resume, but to
provide leadership.
Cora Jane " CJ " Blanchard
tirelessly championed women's
amateur golf, especially
public golf, at both the local
and national levels. She
served as the Minnesota
Women's Public Golf Association
president in 1981,
before
becoming a USGA
committee member and ultimately
the chair of the USGA
Women's Committee in 2003.
CJ did as much as anyone in
Minnesota ever has to elevate
and promote women's golf.
She was recognized for her
commitment as a recipient
of the Warren Rebholz Distinguished
Service Award in
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2016
an MGA director and tournament
volunteer. I recall
talking to Derry many times
about what the MGA could
do to assist those in the golf
business, as we went through
the fi nancial diffi culties of
the last several years.
And then there is Dick
Howell, a native of Alabama,
but an adopted son of Minnesota.
Dick served as both
a Western Golf Association
and MGA director, becoming
MGA president from 199192.
Dick was also a founder of
the Explore Minnesota Golf
Alliance, which has grown
into our primary marketing
organization to golfers outside
of Minnesota, helping
to generate more than $360
million annually in tourismrelated
revenue. Dick was
also an accomplished player,
competing in the U.S. Amateur
and many MGA championships
over the years.
The loss of these three
golf greats may also signal
the passing of a generation
of volunteers who so passionately
gave their time and
talent to the game. For CJ,
Derry and Dick, it was their
sense of duty and giving back
that got them involved. While
a lot of people love to play
golf, few take the next step to
get involved in the organizations
that support and govern
the game and business.
They didn't get involved to
pad their resume, but to provide
leadership. It was their
strength of character and
ability that took them all to
the top.
It's hard to say whether the
generation that follows our
current leaders has the time
or inclination for the sacrifi
ces of volunteerism. I hope
they do, because it's incredibly
important that men and
women interested in promoting
the game of golf and
growing participation step
up and get involved.
See you on the course.
What is MGA
Membership?
It's your
invitation to
play some of
the fi nest golf
courses around,
through participation
in MGA Associate Members'
Days or the MGA
Senior Tour. * It's your
USGA Handicap Index,
now updated twice every
month, year-round.
* It's your subscription
to Minnesota Golfer
magazine, delivered to
your home. * It's your
support of programs
and services that
make the game better.
Play 9
Spurred by the
success of the concept, the
USGA is encouraging golfers
to play nine holes during
PLAY9 Days throughout the
2016 season. Remaining
dates are July 9, Aug. 9,
Sept. 9 and Oct. 9.
Nine-hole rounds are more
engaging to a wider variety
of golfers, and feature a
number of benefi ts:
› a lesser time commitment;
› a less-intimidating format
to newcomers;
› nine-hole scores are
eligible for handicap
purposes;
› nine-hole rounds cost less.
In its fi rst year, PLAY9
sparked a 13 percent
increase in nine-hole scores
posted, and increased another
11 percent in 2015.
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2016

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