Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2021 - 32

BACK
PRESIDENT'S
DESK
Welcome
Summer!
* BY MIKE MALONE *
S
ummer is here, and golf is back to a new normal:
rakes are in the bunkers, double-rider golf carts are
once again " the norm, " the golf shop is open for business
and daylight hours are at peak, averaging more than 15
hours per day.
This summer, the Minnesota Golf Association welcomes
back spectators at golf tournaments. The MGA hosts two
signature amateur championships: The men's 118th MGA
Amateur Championship, July 19-21 at Rush Creek Golf
Club in Maple Grove, and the 61st MGA Women's Amateur
Championship, July 26-28, at Island View Golf Club in
Waconia.
Golf fans will recall that Rush Creek hosted the 1999
Samsung Women's World Championship and the 2004 U.S.
Amateur Public Links, won by Se Ri Pak and Ryan Moore,
respectively. The MGA Amateur boasts the strongest fi eld in
local competitive golf: 105 amateurs qualifi ed at 11 different
sites around the metro and outstate to fi ll out the 156-player
event.
Kate Smith, of Detroit Lakes, and a spring graduate from
Nebraska who was recently named honorable-mention
All-American by the Women's Golf Coaches Association,
and Frankie Capan, of North Oaks, were both great amateur
champions last season; Kate is expected to turn pro
and Frankie is set to defend, but spectators are sure to be
impressed with whomever takes top honors this year. If playing
is your thing, the MGA also hosts an additional 21 amateur
championships for golfers of all ages and abilities-visit
mngolf.org to explore the possibilities.
Kate comes from a golf family and is the subject of this
issue's " Golfer Tales, " see pp. 28-30. She won the MSHSL
Class AA tournament a record fi ve times, capping off her
high school career by holing a memorable putt at the end
to tie and keep her extraordinary streak alive. She and her
teammates are something of a legend at the Ridges at Sand
Creek because they celebrated their win with a leap in the
pond on the 18th hole. I keep Kate's pond water crusted
towel in a women's locker awaiting her return.
I never miss an opportunity to promote MN Youth on
Course, which allows youth ages 6 to 18 access to off-peak
tee times for fi ve dollars or less at more than 90 participating
courses in Minnesota. Through national and local fundraising
efforts, nearly 62,000 rounds of golf were made possible
by this amazing program. In 2020, two of the 19 national
scholarships were awarded to Minnesotans Taylor Gonsalez
and Jack Traxler; and this year, Woodbury High School
senior Michelle Yang was one of 20 scholars awarded a YOC
college grant-congratulations, Michelle!
One way you can help the program is by participating as a
donor in MN Youth on Course's annual 100 Hole Hike, Sept.
27 at the Lafayette Club. Hikers are challenged to walk and
play 100 holes in one day. To get involved, visit our website.
If hiking 100 holes isn't your thing, another way to support
MNYOC and showcase your love of the game is by purchasing
the Play Golf Minnesota license plates.
A round of golf is always better with the camaraderie
of family and friends. I have established the tradition of
playing weekend twilight golf with one of my young adult
daughters. The amazing shots, the less-than-stellar shots, the
laughs, and the tranquility of the golf course all contribute
to priceless memories for my family.
Make a tee time, enjoy a round with those special to you
and start collecting your memories today!
32
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2021
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2021

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