Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2020 - 4

INSIDE
THE MG A
What is MGA
Membership?
* BY TOM RYAN *
Adapting to Change
It's been quite a ride, but we
keep playing.
R
efl ecting on the
last three months,
this spring is one
for the history books. The
uncertainty and change
we've all experienced in our
daily lives, brought about by
COVID-19, is truly unbelievable:
whether it's working
remotely from home, " home
schooling " our kids, changing
our dining and entertainment
habits, or worries
over the health and fi nancial
welfare of family and friends,
our lives have been changed
forever.
Then came the tragic
death of George Floyd. We
must hope and trust that our
elected and community leaders
can together fi nd ways to
examine the social issues and
effect real change with wisdom
and mutual respect.
In spite of the pandemic
hurdles, we were able to fi gure
out ways to play golf and
to keep the business of the
game going as well. Through
the hard work of many, and
when the time was right,
recreational golf got going
fairly soon after the weather
turned for the better. For the
competitive among you, we
were then allowed to conduct
tournaments by June
1. Hopefully by the time you
read this, permission for
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2020
shotgun starts will allow outings
and fundraising events
which are so important to
the fi nancial success of our
golf facilities.
Yes, it's been quite a ride
this spring. Thanks to all of
you who played and supported
your local course,
and for following the various
guidelines imposed by
COVID-19. It wasn't always
easy, but we were playing, and
you knew that was important.
Hats off to the owners,
operators, golf professionals,
superintendents and their
crews.
Sadly, we've also lost four
individuals important in the
history of Minnesota golf.
Three are in the Minnesota
Golf Hall of Fame, and the
fourth might as well be,
given his contributions.
George Reynolds was a
teacher, coach, and mentor
instrumental in creating the
Minnesota Section PGA's
junior golf program, and who
served as the lead instructor
of the section's Junior Golf
Academy.
In 2003, he was
elected to the Hall of Fame,
and fi ve years later would
be awarded the Warren
J.
Rebholz Distinguished
Service Award, the MGA's
highest honor.
Bobby Reith was the
golf professional at Edina
Country Club for many
years, and was also an
accomplished player, playing
on the PGA Tour in the late
60's, and on the Champions
Tour in the early 90's. Bobby
was also elected to the Hall of
Fame in 2003, the same year
as George Reynolds.
Giles Kobilka was a volunteer
for the MN Public Golf
Association and the MGA
for fi ve decades. Over the
years, he took many MGA
interns under his wing and
showed them the ropes.
Giles was a true gentleman in
every sense and was beloved
by players and his fellow volunteers
alike.
In 2018, the
MGA named its highest volunteer
award in his honor.
And fi nally, Warren
Rebholz, arguably the most
important person in the
history of Minnesota golf.
He was an innovator and
visionary. Whether it was the
USGA asking him to pilot
the slope system, leading the
effort at the state capital to
maintain favorable tax status
for MGA member clubs,
or creating the oft copied,
but never duplicated, MGA
Senior Tour, Rebbie was out
front leading the effort.
All of them will be missed.
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 daily, after
a posted score. * 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.
ON THE TEE
While survey results published in
this issue (see page 6) indicate
that not everyone was anxious to
play golf right away this spring
due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
numbers of member golfers and
actual member rounds played
have their own story to tell. The
2020 spring weather was mostly
great for golf, and Minnesota
golfers responded by getting out
on the course.
The number of golfers (27,202)
and rounds played (109,680)
during April, 2020, surpassed
the metrics from that same
time period in 2019 (26,347 and
87,296, respectively).
The numbers from May are even
more interesting. In fact, 1,429
fewer golfers teed it up during
May 2020, than May 2019, but
they played 137,288 more rounds
this season. It should come as no
surprise that when the weather
cooperates, Minnesotans hit the
links.
Member Member
Rounds Golfers
April 2019 87,296 26,347
April 2020
May 2019
May 2020
109,680 27,202
210,176 47,563
347,464 46,134
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2020
