Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2017 - 4

INSIDE
THE MG A
Teeing Up
What is MGA
Membership?
* BY TOM RYAN *
Playing the right tees for your skill set
can make the game more fun.
T
here is an expectation
that the modernized
Rules of
Golf, due in 2019, will positively
impact golfer participation
by lowering the intimidation
factor the Rules
hold for many golfers, and
increasing their enjoyment in
the game.
But why wait? There is
something we can all do
now to increase the fun factor.
It may involve stashing
our pride and ego in the side
pocket of our golf bag, but
I'm talking about playing the
tees that fi t your game.
Too many golfers are not
playing from the tees that
best suit the actual distance
they hit the ball. Even with all
the improvements in equipment
technology, as I get
older I'm fi nding my game
doesn't always fi t the tees I
played not that long ago. I'll
bet that many of you are experiencing
the same thing.
The challenge of the game
should not be about the
length of the golf course,
but about making solid contact,
having a shot come off
the club just as planned, and
fi nding the bottom of the
cup with a well-stroked putt.
The " number " you should be
concerned with is your score,
not how many 3 woods, rescues
or long irons you've hit
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2017
into par 3s and 4s on any
given day.
This brings me to the
USGA's Tee It Forward initiative,
a desired outcome
of which is fi nding the optimum
distance of a hole for
each level of player so that
everyone can experience a
similar approach shot to the
green. For example, when
you play side-by-side with
a much longer player, you
will play a much longer approach
shot into a 400-yard
hole than they will. But if
you're playing a tee from 350
yards on that same hole, you
may fi nd yourself playing
the same club as they are. It's
more equitable and it's more
fun.
Distance will
always
be a challenge in golf, but it
shouldn't be the challenge.
Tee It Forward also works
well with the handicap system,
where every set of tees
has its own unique course
and slope rating. When you
post your score, you use the
appropriate course rating
for the tees you played and
the system makes the adjustment.
When you play a different
set of tees, you apply
the slope for those tees to
your index, and your course
handicap for the day is adjusted.
It's easy and it works.
Most of our older golf
courses were initially built
with one tee. As course design
evolved, multiple tees
were added to accommodate
juniors, women and seniors.
My advice: The tees are there;
let's use them.
The best setup at most
courses is actually a combination
of tees, and many are
starting to put these " combo "
tees on their scorecards as
an alternative to a blue, gold
or white tee setup. Ask your
golf professional about this
option, or call the MGA. We
can use the course rating information
we already have
on fi le and get the new ratings
and slope back in just a
couple days.
Playing the right set of
tees is a great way to make
your game more enjoyable.
It doesn't make the game less
challenging and it certainly
doesn't
guarantee lower
scores-you still have to
make the swings and hole the
putts. And don't be surprised
to see some different looks,
experience different angles
of play and, of course, have
shorter approach shots. See if
this doesn't give you a whole
new appreciation for your
course, and the challenges it
presents.
And if it gives you a couple
more birdie looks or par
saves, what's wrong with that?
See you on the course.
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.
2016 MGA
Tournament
Season
Accounting
MGA Championships,
qualifi ers, Senior Tour
and Member Days collectively
visited 120-plus
MGA Member Clubs
during the 2016 golf
season, contributing:
$
$178,290
Green Fees
$
73,250
Cart Fees
$
75,110
Food &
Beverages
$
$
62,080
Prizes
25,000
Range
$
8,000
Honorariums
421,730
TOTAL
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2017

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