Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2016 - 6

INSIDE
THE MG A
A Humbling Reminder
6M HCA FM5B
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in
playing well that we forget to enjoy
the game we love.
A
n email just arrived
from an old friend
and colleague whose
best golf days are behind him.
Once a very fi ne player,
I
think he saw himself in a " letter "
written by an unknown
gentleman to his younger self.
The letter refl ects on his years
playing golf, and he ultimately
asks the reader to truly think
about how we approach the
game.
Here is an abridged version
of the letter...
Golf was my favorite game.
I played most of my adult life.
Thousands of rounds and
hours practicing. As I look
back, I guess I had a pretty
good time at it. But now that
I can't do it anymore, I wish I
had done it differently.
I met a whole lot of different
people out on the course.
That was one of the best things
about the game. But aside
from my regular partners and
a few others, I don't feel like
I got to know many of those
people very well. I know they
didn't really get to know me.
At times they probably didn't
want to. I was pretty occupied
with my own game most of the
time and didn't have much
time for anyone else, especially
if I wasn't playing well.
I wish I could have played
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2016
the game with more joy, more
freedom. I was always so concerned
with " doing it right "
that I never seemed to be able
to enjoy just doing it at all. I
was so hard on myself, never
satisfi ed,
always
more.
I wish I could have been a
better playing partner. I wasn't
a bad person to be with, really,
but I wish I had been friendlier
and gotten to know people
better. I wish I could have
laughed and joked more and
given people more encouragement.
I probably would have
gotten more from them, and I
would have loved that.
So what is it that I'm trying
to say? Play a game that you
want to play. Play a game that
gives you joy and satisfaction
and makes you a better person
to your family and friends.
Play with enthusiasm, play
with freedom. Appreciate the
beauty of nature and the people
around you. Realize how
lucky you are to be able to do
it. All too soon your time will
be up, and you won't be able
to play anymore. Play a game
that enriches your life.
As 2016 draws to a close,
I can't help but think how
special the game is to me, as I
know it is to all of you. While
we received more than our
expecting
share of rain, most came at
night, leaving us many beautiful
days to play. Courses
were in wonderful condition
all year, and with the Ryder
Cup the defi ning event of our
season, many golf facilities
had their best season in years.
As we enter the offseason, I
want to thank our volunteers,
who so generously give their
time and talent, not only to
our tournament program,
but to governing the MGA.
Your MGA board of directors,
led these past two years
by Kip Colwell, is an engaged,
supportive group that is so
important to the success of
the association. Next season,
with the merger of the
MWGA and MWPGA into
the MGA, will also bring new
playing opportunities to every
woman in Minnesota. We
can't wait to get started.
And fi nally, thank you
to the golfers and member
clubs of the MGA. Thank
you for playing in MGA
championships, the
senior tour and our
member days, and
for your support
of the associate
member
program.
See you
on the
course.
What is MGA
Membership?
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 twice every
month, year-round.
* 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.
Total
MGA/USGA
Tournament
Volunteers
150
TOURNAMENT
VOLUNTEERS AND
RULES OFFICIALS
* 259 days volunteering
(working 54 championships
and qualifi ers)
* 2,891 hours volunteered
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2016

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