MGA Message

MESSAGE FROM THE MGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Updated: Tue 11/22/2011 9:01 am



MGA Board of Directors and all competitors,

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support of the Missouri Golf Association.



The Championships were well attended and well played this past summer. Please take a moment to view our past champions of 2011. I would like to especially recognize the 2011 Players of the Year.


Junior Amateur MGA Player of the Year: Jacob Fair, Monett

Amateur MGA Player of the Year: Jace Long, Dixon

Senior Amateur MGA Player of the Year: Steve Groom, Raytown

Senior 4 Ball: Jeff Johnson, Ballwin and Ed Walsworth, Kansas City

Net Flight 50-59: Bob Gile and David Hohler, Cape Girardeau

Net Flight 60: Robert Schulze, Overland Park and Ed Wiseman, Lenexa, KS

Junior Match: Mitch Rutledge, Creve Coeur

Ken Lanning: Kenneth Eady, Nixa (16-18)

Missouri Amateur: Skip Berkmeyer, Wildwood

Junior Amateur: Jacob Fair, Monett

Stroke Play: Brian Haskell, St Joseph

Four Ball: Brian Haskell and Brad Nurski, St. Joseph

Four Ball Net: Jim Byland and Don Uberroth, Camdenton

Mid Amateur: Brad Nurski, St Joseph

Senior Amateur: Rich Gleghorn, Springfield

State Team: Normandie Golf Club, St Louis

Father Son: Justin and Greg Doss, Rolla

Hieronymus Cup: West Teams


To view complete results from any of these events, the Hieronymus Junior Series events or the Senior Series events click on the tournament information link in the left banner.


The 2012 season is a “change” year in the USGA Rules of Golf. While the changes do not take effect until January 1, 2012, we wanted to pass along some of those changes as you look ahead to the 2012 season. To view the new changes for the 2012 season please click on the following link: To view the 2012-2015 Rules of Golf changes click here.

http://www.usga.org/rules/2012-Rules-of-Golf/


We encourage you to read these documents, and become familiar with the changes. Please do not hesitate to contact the MGA if you have any questions.


Also, be looking out for a new MGA web site coming this winter along with the announcement of the 2012 Championship Schedules and other new member programs for the upcoming year. Entries will open on Monday, March 5th at 9 a.m.

On behalf of Karen, Randy, the Missouri Golf Association Board of Directors and myself we wish each of you a wonderful Holiday Season and look forward to seeing each of you real soon.

I also encourage you to call me or email me at anytime with your thoughts or concerns. phone 573.636.8994 or mogolf@mogolf.org.



Until I see you on the first tee!!
Scott Hovis, MGA Executive Director
3401 W Truman Blvd Suite 100
PO Box 104164
Jefferson City, MO 65110
573-636-8994 ext.303
573-636-4225 fax

2011 Stroke Play Championship Press Release

Missouri Stroke Play Press Release


Springfield, Missouri - July 19 – 21, 2011 The Championship tournament will be held at Hickory Hills Country Club

The Missouri Stroke Play Championship will return to Hickory Hills Country Club of Springfield, Missouri this year. Hickory Hills was also the host of the 2002 Missouri Stroke Play and the 1996 Missouri Amateur Championship. Hickory Hills is a traditional, tree-lined golf course. It has big, fast greens and its beautiful, old school style will provide a great and difficult challenge for the participants. The tournament will consist of 144 of Missouri’s top amateur golfers. The tournament will begin with 18-holes on both Tuesday and Wednesday before making a cut to the lowest 50 scores. Once the first cut has been made, another 36-holes will be played on Thursday before the champion is named.

This tournament offers the participants an opportunity to showcase their abilities against the strong field of anticipated competitors and against the former champions of years gone by. Former Stroke Play champions participating include last year’s champion Ryan Marks, Matt Miller (2009), Wayne Fredrick (2001), Bobby Godwin (1999). Other MGA tournament champions in the field include Jacob Fair the 2011 Junior Amateur Champion and the 2010 Junior Match Play Champion, Chuck Greene 1998 Missouri Amateur Champion, Justin Bryant 2011 Missouri Amateur Runner-up, Harry Roberts 2010 Mid- Amateur Champion, Will Hogan Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Year, and Donald Stimble 2007 and 2010 Junior Amateur Champions and 2011 Junior Amateur Runner-up.

The Missouri Golf Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf throughout the State of Missouri. The MGA conducts several statewide championships each year, including the Missouri Stroke Play. The MGA distributes an annual schedule of tournament events and entry forms for each event, provides advice and information for golf, handicap and rules chairpersons, and provides educational seminars.

Pairings are at www.mogolf.org

Meet YOUR MGA INTERNS

Over the years the MGA has applied and has been awarded two P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Internship Grants through the USGA . These grants allow us to hire two interns for the summer months. The Boatwright Internship is awarded to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations the promotion of amateur golf, on a short-term, entry-level basis. The MGA could not in anyway possible conduct the number of events we do throughout the summer if we did not have the grants from the USGA. Most of you have already had the pleasure of meeting our 2011 USGA Boatwright Interns Jay Shimmens and Bryn Boeckman. Jayme Mertens is employed by the MGA. When you get the chance at the next event please introduce yourself to them.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT- JAY, JAYME AND BRYN

MEET YOUR MGA INTERNS

JAYME MERTENS

Age: 21

Hometown: Jefferson City, MO

High School: Helias High School

Class of 2008

College and Major: University of Missouri

Bachelor of Health Sciences



Favorite Food: Brownies, Peanut Butter and BBQ Ribs (YUM!)

Favorite TV Show: So You Think You Can Dance and Gossip Girl

Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Little Mermaid

Biggest Pet Peeve: People who drive to slow in the fast lane (I have awful road rage)

Hobbies: Dancing, reading, going to the Lake, event planning, Delta Gamma, shopping, and being with friends

Role Model: Jackie Kennedy

What do you want to learn from your internship: the experience of setting up an event, being responsible for how it goes, working with the website and PR. Meeting amazing people, and taking away great memories and skills that will help me with me in the future.

Career Goal: Become a physical therapist and work with children

Favorite Golfer: Arnold Palmer or Rickie Fowler (so cute!)

Where do I see myself in 30 years: Birmingham, Alabama working as a PT with a family and a beautiful home.

Dream Vacation: Italy or Australia

Celeb Crush: Justin Bieber

Fun facts: I have never drank a coke in my life, I am typically late, always right, I want to learn French and I am obsessed with dogs.





JAY SHIMMENS

Age: 20

Hometown: Jefferson City, MO

High School: Helias High School

Class of 2009

College and Major: University of Missouri

Sports Management Minor in Business



Favorite Food: Meatloaf and mashed potatoes

Favorite TV show: Eastbound and Down, ESPN

Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber

Biggest Pet Peeve: Things not in order and people who are unorganized

Hobbies: Basketball, going to the lake, football, golf, watching sports.

Role Model: My father

What do you want to learn from this internship: Learning the process of setting up and running golf tournaments. Meeting new people and hopefully taking away great memories that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Career goal: Something to do with sports. Maybe one day be a coach.

Favorite Golfer: Tiger Woods and Adam Scott

Where do I see myself in 30 years: Where ever life takes me! Hopefully married with kids and working in the sports industry.

Dream Vacation: Australia or Spain

Celeb Crush: Carrie Underwood

Fun fact: I am the youngest of three boys



BRYN BOECKMAN



Age: 22

Hometown: Jefferson City, MO

High School: Helias High School

Class of 2007

College and Major: Missouri State University

Sports Management Minor in Business



Favorite Food: Pork Chops w/ mushroom gravy

Favorite TV show: ESPN, Entourage

Biggest Pet Peeve: Bad phone manners

Hobbies: going to the lake, baseball, golf, watching any sports that are on TV.

Role Model: My father

What do you want out of this internship: Learning the daily operations in managing and administering golf tournaments. Developing my public relation skills and meeting new people.

Career goal: Work for a successful sports organization

Favorite Golfer: Phil Mickelson

Where do I see myself in 30 years: I see myself working at an agency that I enjoy, and having a wonderful family.

Dream Vacation: Italy or Hawaii

Celeb Crush: Jessica Biel

Fun fact: I love watching Cardinal baseball, and I rarely miss a game

Planning for some golf??

Is the snow finally gone? Wow, what a wet winter we just had. When we got the record snowfall in January, I asked myself “Do you think that we might see grass before June?” However, as we all know, we have green grass and trees blooming right now, which means one thing to me; let’s get out playing some golf!
We in Missouri are very fortunate to have some wonderful golf courses to be able to get out and enjoy throughout this beautiful state. Courses are all over, from Northwest Missouri to the tip of the Boothill, for all ages and all calibers of golfers. Everyone knows of the wonderful courses in the Lake Ozark area to enjoy and retreat to for a fun guys or girls weekend; go the Lake Golf Council website to plan your trip. If you want to go even farther south, look into the Branson Area Golf Council website to get everything you need for a trip to the Ozark Mountains.
Everyone wants to go where multiple courses exist and there’s a wide range of variety to chose. However, one thing golfers never think of and are missing out on is taking a little road trip through Missouri, playing some of the interesting and fun little nine-hole golf courses that some towns might have.
Yes some are private and will not let outside play come in, but the majority will. To me, it is neat to pull into these little communities and see what kind of clubhouse they might have or not have. Most of these clubs might not have true rental golf carts to rent so you might have to use a member’s cart that is stored at the course that day.
Then when you get on the course – and these courses don’t have the huge budgets to maintain the course like Augusta National -- but I am the first one to say that golf course superintendants from small clubs do more with what they have and don’t have then many superintendants that have everything they need.
On these courses, you might see some very interesting design of holes just like you do on big courses. However, these clubs are very laid back and will bend over backward for a outsider to come in a enjoy the course. So the next time you and some buddies are looking for a little getaway to have some fun playing golf and looking for a cheaper route that is more laid back, look into hitting up some of the great nine-hole courses we have in Missouri.
If you need some help finding these courses feel free to contact the Missouri Golf Association and we will guide you in the right direction.

Until I see you on the first tee.

Dont Miss out on New Event!!

THE 1ST ANNUAL PORTO CIMA 4 BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Enter for this event through the MGA website starting Monday, February 14th.
This is a MGA Cup Team Points Event.

FOUR BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 15-17, 2011

(January 25, 2011) The Club at Porto Cima is proud to announce the Inaugural “Porto Cima Four Ball” tournament. This event will be held April 15 – 17, 2011 in Sunrise Beach and will be a great way to start the upcoming golf season. Find a partner early as this will be one of the must play events of the 2011 golf season.

How to Register: You can call the MGA office for an entry form or login here and sign up your team online. ENTRIES OPEN FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Costs per Team: $350 includes practice round, championship rounds and range balls all three days.

Flights: Championship Flight or
Senior Flight Team - Both players must have reached their 50th birthday by the first day of the event to compete.



REFUNDS - Cancellations before the close of entries will be refunded less a $30 fee. There are no refunds after the deadline date.

SCHEDULE - The field will consist of the first 88 Teams.

Friday - April 15
Practice Round
Saturday - April 16
First round, 18 holes
double tee starts 8 & 12:30
Sunday - April 17
Second Round, 18 holes
double tee starts 8 & 12:30

Lodging: Lodge of 4 Seasons 800-843-5253 Reservation Code: Porto Cima Four Ball
Main Lodge $129 ++ per night (single/double)
Avila Lodge $159++ per night (single/double)
Avila 2 bedroom $259++

Country Club Hotel and Spa - 800-964-6698 Reservation Code: MGA
Standard $79++, Suite $89++, 2 bedroom Condo $179++

If you can not remember your login and/or password to register for an event click here to have it sent to your email.

MGA office 573-636-8994

Ways to get involved with the USGA!!

There's Always Something New To LearnIt takes a special skill set and drive to become a proficient USGA Rules official
By Daniel Hubbard
January 25, 2011



Clyde Luther has worked more than 115 USGA championships as a Rules official. (John Mummert/USGA)

In 2010, the Rules of Golf received an unusual amount of attention. Several on-course incidents at professional tournaments involving high-profile players such as Dustin Johnson, Juli Inkster and Ian Poulter made national headlines and spawned ongoing discussion and debate among players, fans and commentators.

While these Rules incidents involved professional players, they were no more important to the player involved than the thousands of on-course Rules situations that arise over the course of a year in other formal golf competitions. In each case, the decision can affect the outcome of the competition as well as the future success of a player – one who has often invested significant time and effort in pursuing the path of golf success.

With the exception of Local Rules and Conditions of Competition, all on-course rulings in the U.S. are drawn from the Rules of Golf – the regulatory foundation of competitive golf and indeed of all play. The USGA, in conjunction with The R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules in order to uphold the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of two well-known publications: The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. The latest version of the Rules of Golf went into effect Jan. 1, 2008, with the next revision scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

In USGA championship play, the Rules of Golf are administered by a team of on-site officials, most of whom are highly-trained volunteers who have served the game for years. The configuration of officials varies depending on the size of the championship field, but typically one official – known as a referee – accompanies each playing group on the course. Referees are supported by two roving officials and a pace of play official. The on-course team works in concert with scoring officials in the clubhouse, and the entire operation is overseen by one or more senior officials who also act as roving officials to help render rulings if needed.

USGA.org caught up with four volunteer Rules of Golf officials to learn a bit more about the special skills required to do their job well, as well as the challenges and benefits they experience from officiating. (Click here for Rules official photo gallery)

It’s hard to get to a more senior position in the world of golf officiating than Clyde Luther. At 81, the former United Airlines pilot from Burke, Va., has worked at more than 115 USGA championships, beginning with the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1982. “Education and on-course experience are the keys to being a good Rules official,” says Luther, who estimates that he has attended more than 50 USGA/PGA of America Rules of Golf workshops as either a student or instructor. “There is always something new to learn.”

Gail Rogers agrees. Like Luther, Rogers is a veteran Rules official, having worked dozens of USGA championships since 1992. As the former director of education for the Northern California Golf Association, she was responsible for supervising Rules education efforts for the organization’s 200 volunteers. Now a member of the Association’s Board of Directors, she chairs the Education Committee. “Officiating is a big responsibility and strong knowledge of the Rules of Golf is absolutely critical,” she says. “Your rulings can impact the future success of a player who has worked very hard to be in a position to succeed.”

Like all Rules officials, Sarah Haas takes her education responsibilities quite seriously. A member of the USGA’s Women’s Committee and director of junior golf programs at Crab Orchard Golf Club in her hometown of Carterville, Ill., she keeps extra copies of the Decisions of the Rules of Golf on hand for reference purposes. “I’ve even got one in my car,” she says with a laugh. “I check on specific decisions in my spare time because when you are in the middle of officiating a championship there’s no time to do so. There are intricacies involved and you need to know what you are talking about.”

Most USGA Rules of Golf officials attend at least one Rules workshop a year (often more) to stay current with both general knowledge and recent rulings. They travel frequently, often working long hours to complete their officiating duties. A variety of challenges go with the job, and each official weighed in on one underlying aspect of the task.

“Having a high level of confidence is one of them,” says Luther. “You’ve got to be sure of your abilities and unafraid to convey what you know regarding a rule to a player or caddie. I had to tell Tiger Woods at one of his last amateur championships that he was going to incur a penalty because his ball was lying directly on top of a marked hazard line defined as an environmentally sensitive area, which meant he was required to take relief in the form of a one-stroke penalty. It was not the answer he wanted to hear and I remember the look he gave me. But I knew I was right and I had the confidence to handle the situation correctly.”

“Weather!” chimes in John Reis, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Golf Association and a volunteer at more than 45 USGA championships. “At the 1994 U.S. Junior Amateur the Rules volunteers were enlisted to squeegee greens and pump out flooded bunkers. I had no idea that was part of the job description. When it’s raining sideways at 30 miles an hour you wonder what the heck you are doing out there, but somehow you get through it.”

“Demeanor and clarity,” says Haas. “As an official you have to establish a good rapport with players while at the same time being very precise when explaining a rule or a player’s options to them. There are often younger players and international players at championships who are not well versed in the rules or have a language barrier that prevents them from fully understanding what’s going on. It’s your responsibility as an official to have an open dialog and to be extremely clear in your communications, so player and caddie both know the implications of their choices in a given situation.”

“Officiating is also a balancing act,” adds Rogers. “I call it visible invisibility. You want to be visible and helpful to players and caddies when they need your assistance, but invisible to them at most other times during their round. You don’t want players feeling like you are in their back pocket. You need to evaluate and base your actions on what player needs may or may not be at any given moment.”

While challenges are part of any job – and perhaps there are more of them when officiating an important championship – these Rules officials agree that the benefits are many.

“Without a doubt, the friendships I’ve formed have been the best part of volunteering as a Rules official,” says Reis. “We all check our egos at the front gate, work together as a team to produce a professionally-run championship, and we have a lot of fun along the way. These are my best friends out here on the course with me.”

Luther agrees. “The camaraderie between officials helps form a team that communicates well with each other and ultimately produces a well-run championship,” he says.

Haas finds special satisfaction in helping young golfers. “When I spend time helping junior players to understand the Rules, whether it’s at my club or at the local high school where I coach, I really feel like I am making them better players. We do situational teaching to help players understand that the Rules aren’t just there to penalize. By knowing them you can save strokes and elevate your overall game. And when I see that knowledge reflected in a young player at a USGA championship – whether it’s somebody I taught or not – it’s pretty gratifying.”

For Rogers, the opportunity to be up close in a competition interacting with great players is both exciting and rewarding. “I love what I do and tell others that the satisfaction I get from volunteering in this manner is tremendous. I encourage anyone with interest in officiating to go for it! Start at the local or state level, work hard, and you’ll be surprised at how far you can go.”

“And don’t forget the courses,” says Haas. “We get to work at some of the most beautiful and challenging golf courses in the country. It’s hard not to stand out there at the end of a long day and realize how fortunate you are.”

Fortunate, indeed, as are the players and all the others who benefit from the enthusiasm and dedication shown by this special group of USGA volunteers.

Daniel Hubbard is the USGA’s manager of communications. E-mail questions or comments to dhubbard@usga.org.

2011 Season for MGA is ready to go!

MEDIA ADVISORY For more information:
Scott Hovis – (573) 636-8994 – shovis@mogolf.org


2011 Missouri Golf Association Schedule Released

(Jefferson City, MO – January 2011)Tournament schedule of Missouri Golf Association runs May – October. Events are open to all Amateur Golfers in Missouri and surrounding States.

The over 1500 golf members of the Missouri Golf Association will have much to choose from in 2011, with some of the state’s top golf courses serving as tournament host facilities. Boys and girls, ages 18 and younger, will have opportunities to play in over 15 events throughout the state of Missouri. The MGA strives to provide affordable access to competitive golf, especially our junior golfers. The Junior Amateur does provide exemptions into American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) open events and will be played this season at Silo Ridge Golf Course in Bolivar, Missouri. The very popular Men’s Senior Series events will begin in May and conclude in October after 16 events at the Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield, Missouri for the Tour Championship.

The 2011 Missouri Amateur will be hosted this year by Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Missouri on June 21-26. The qualifiers for this event will start at The Falls in O’Fallon on May 31, Dalhousie GC in Cape Girardeau on June 1, Meadowbrook Golf & CC, Prairie Village, KS on June 2, Country Club of Missouri, Columbia on June 3, Twin Oaks CC in Springfield on June 6th. There is a last chance qualifier on June 13 at Oak Meadow CC in Rolla. The MGA has added the Missouri State Club Team Championship to the schedule this year. (Open to all MGA Member Clubs) This event will be held at the number one rated golf course in Missouri by our members, The Club at Porto Cima on September 25-27 in Sunrise Beach.

To view the entire schedule you can visit the MGA website.


About The Missouri Golf Association (MGA) www.mogolf.org

WHAT IS THE MGA?
The Missouri Golf Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf throughout the State of Missouri.
WHAT DOES THE MGA DO?
Date back to 1905; our Directors have devoted their time and effort to advance the great game of golf in all corners of our state. With the help of its Member Clubs, the MGA works to keep the game great by providing the services described below.
STATEWIDE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The MGA conducts several statewide championships each year. These include the Senior Series, Father/Son, Senior Four-Ball, Amateur, Junior Amateur, Junior Amateur Match Play, Amateur Stroke Play, Junior Collegiate Preview, Four-Ball, Senior Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Junior Team and the Hieronymus Cup Match. These events are open to all amateur golfers who meet eligibility requirements.
HANDICAP SYSTEMS
The MGA, in conjunction with the USGA, offers the GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information network) Member Service, which is used by over 250 golf courses in the State of Missouri. GHIN currently services 65 State and Regional Golf Associations with over two million golfers. This national network enables golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis.
COURSE RATING AND MEASURING
The MGA is authorized to rate and measure golf courses statewide in accordance with USGA guidelines. This service is available to member clubs and courses.