Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2010 - 32

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InsidetheMGA
Handicap Committees Bring Credibility to Courses
By Tom Ryan
Many golfers will
point to the conditioning
of their
golf course or
the speed of the
greens as key to
their club's reputation.
Granted,
these features are
worthy of pride.
But what is often overlooked (yet equally
important) is whether the club supports
a functioning handicap committee.
Your club's reputation is on the line
every time one of its members tees it
up in another club's guest day or invitational.
The key to a credible rep for your
club begins with a handicap committee
that clearly understands the basic principles
of the USGA Handicap System and
stands ready to enforce those principles
when necessary. As you will see, a strong
handicap committee is no trivial matter
when it comes to a club's reputation.
The MGA is the central handicap authority
for Minnesota, tasked with maintaining
the integrity and reliability of the
USGA Handicap System. As such, we receive
a great many questions every season
dealing with how clubs should deal with
golfers who manipulate their handicap
for their own advantage or ego. Unfortunately,
sandbaggers, as well as those who
keep a vanity handicap, are part of the
human condition.
To begin with, club members should
have a basic understanding of the principles
found in the USGA Handicap
System manual: " The purpose...is to
make the game of golf more enjoyable
by enabling players of differing abilities
to compete on an equitable basis. [The
first principle], each player will try to
make the best score at every hole in every
round, regardless of where the round is
played, and [the second principle], the
player will post every acceptable round
30
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2010
for peer review... " Most important: All
of your members, as well as the handicap
committee, are jointly responsible for adhering
to these principles.
Furthermore, the MGA can help your
club establish a functioning handicap
committee (after all, a handicap committee
is required under the club handicap
licensing agreement), to empower
your club and forestall golfers who game
the system. For starters, the committee
should be staffed by club members-your
peers. While some clubs like to assign an
employee to the role of handicap chair,
that conflicts with the employee's desire
to protect his or her job and should be
avoided. The committee really needs to
be made up of club members.
The committee chair should be an expert
in the handicap system, a good communicator
and beyond reproach as far
as " walking the walk " when it comes to
the principles outlined above. Thick skin
helps, but the MGA has found that every
club has someone who fits the bill. You
just need to find that person.
As this season winds down and you
start planning for 2011, remember the
importance of the handicap committee
and of recruiting the appropriate club
members for the job. Not only will it ensure
that the net events at your club are
fair and equitable, it will go a long way to
establishing a great reputation for your
golf club. Remember, the MGA is a resource
for you and your club.
Have a great winter....I'm looking forward
to seeing you in the spring.
MGANews
Updates on people, places
and events from the MGA
and its Allied Associations
Autumn Means Time for
Jim
Lehman
MGA Annual Meeting
Gather with the MGA family for an
evening celebrating our amateur champions,
Evans Scholars and MGA volunteers.
On Monday, Nov. 1, the MGA will
hold its Annual Meeting and Awards
Dinner at the Midland Hills CC in St.
Paul. The evening starts with a social
hour and dinner, followed by a presentation
honoring the six MGA Players
of the Year. Prior to the awards dinner,
the MGA Executive Committee
votes on its new slate of volunteer officers.
Jim Lehman, of
Windsong Farm, takes
over as president from
Rob Tennant, and Ken
Gerzsenyi, of Meadow
Lakes GC, steps into
the vice presidency,
vacated by Lehman. At
press time, the identity of the nominated
secretary/treasurer was not available.
" This wonderful year-end event honors
those who have distinguished themselves
as players, scholars and volunteers, "
says the MGA's Tom Ryan. " This
year it's also a time to meet the new
MGA leadership. "
As an MGA member, you are welcome
to attend. Contact Anne Colehour
at 952-345-3969 for more information.
Migrating Golfer Alert
Are you heading south for the winter?
Notify the MGA of your address change
and we can make sure that your magazine
subscription (an MGA member
benefit) arrives in your mailbox without
interruption. Visit the " Member Links "
area at mngolf.org for information.
If you're not already receiving your
MGA Handicap Index revision by email,
you may register to do so at mngolf.org
(look for Get My Handicap By Email
under " Member Links " ). Now that the
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org http://www.mngolf.org http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2010

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