Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2025 - 4

INSIDE
THE MG A
What is MGA
Membership?
Life Changing,
Life Saving
2024
turned out to be a great
year for golf in Minnesota.
MGA membership reached an all-time high
with over 102,000 members; total rounds
played across the state increased once again;
and participation among youth, people of
color and women have made golf more diverse
and accessible than ever before. Throughout
my first full year with the MGA, I was often
asked some variation of: What's the best part
about working in golf?
people-and almost certainly when you least
expect it.
Three of my favorite moments from
last year include:
1. A round at Th e Loop at Chaska, the fi rst
course in the country designed intentionally
for adaptive golfers. I looked out aft er
my ninth hole and saw a young kid chasing
a squirrel, a partially paralyzed golfer using a
cart designed for adaptive golfers and a single
foursome comprised of three generations
from one family. I thought to myself, " Th is is
what golf ought to be. "
2. Sitting on the fi rst tee at Fort Snelling Golf
" The best moments often
arise in unxpected places,
with unexpected people-
and most certainly when
you least expect it. "
Course as military veterans received instruction
as part of the PGA HOPE program. Many
of them spoke of golf in the context of not only
changing their lives but saving their lives as
well. Talk about changing your perspective.
3. A Youth on Course event hosted by
Th e stock answer most frequently assumed-
playing a lot of golf-may be true compared to
most professions but would fail to land even
in my top three. Don't get me wrong-I love
to play and am fortunate to have played many
great courses last year in both Minnesota and
across the country. Th is is certainly a fantastic
perk of the job.
However, as I refl ect on this past year it
became clear that the best moments from
working in golf don't always occur on the top
courses. Th ey don't even involve particularly
good golf, although a perfectly struck wedge
is still tough to beat. Th e best moments oft en
arise in unexpected places, with unexpected
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Directory 2025
the MGA Foundation at the Baker National
Evergreen Course. I was paired with one other
adult and two junior participants in Youth on
Course Minnesota. As we traversed the ninehole
course we discovered the best of what golf
off ers-camaraderie, mentorship and plenty
of laughter-all without a thought given to the
quality of golf shots being hit.
So, what's the best part about working
in golf? To me, the answer is simple: Seeing
people's lives changed-and sometimes even
saved-because they decided to pick up the
game and give it a try. Here's to even more
Minnesotans experiencing the life-changing
benefi ts of golf in 2025.
It's your invitation
to play some
of the finest golf
courses around,
through participation in
the MGA North Star Series
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.
2024
Tournament
Season
Below, you'll find the
MGA annual tournament
season accounting-
or revenues distributed
to MGA member clubs
for hosting association
championships, qualifiers,
Member Days and the
Senior Tour for the
May-October 2024
tournament year.
Jon Mays
Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer
Carts:
$80,216
Green Fees:
$273,067
Prizes:
$60,190
Food & Beverage:
$84,607
Range:
$13,672
Honorariums:
$11,525
Total:
$523,277
(10% increase YOY)
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2025
