Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2018 - 4

I NS I DE
THE MG A
a  MGA

Driving Forward
* BY TOM RYAN *
2018 was a year of progress and
positive transformations.
T
his past year has been
a season of change
for golfers and golf
facilities in Minnesota.
The tournament software
used by club offi cials and golf
professionals to run all your
weekly and special events
has changed. Tournament
Management, or TM, is
included with the GHIN
handicap service through
your club's membership in
the MGA. It not only manages
your club's biggest and
most popular events through
state-of-the-art registration
and
scoring
features,
but
includes thousands of different
event formats for daily
and league play. All reports
are that it far exceeds the old
system that it replaced.
Youth on Course is a new
is transformprogram
that
ing junior golf, providing an
affordable golf option for
kids all over the state. For
just $5 per round, a junior
golfer can play at more than
40 participating courses.
Created by the Northern
California Golf Association,
YOC is now offered by golf
associations in 25 states,
including Minnesota. More
than 1,600 kids participated
in Minnesota this year, and
we expect that number to
double over the next couple
of years. This program is the
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2018
had been one of the primary
objectives of the merger, so
this was very gratifying to
see. There are opportunities
for women of all handicap
levels to
play
competitive
events, our very popular
Senior Tour, and our purely
recreational Member Days.
If you are one of those who
haven't yet experienced participating
in an MGA event,
look for the 2019 schedule on
our website soon.
Changes are happening relative
to how we organize ourselves,
" sandlot
baseball " of golf,
where kids of all skill levels
can play outside the structure
of tournament golf or programmed
lessons. Operators
tell us that it's increased their
family play dramatically and
is a tee sheet fi ller for many of
their slower times.
Entries were up in most
MGA events and,
more
importantly, we saw many
more entries from women
who had never previously
competed in a statewide golf
event. Attracting new players
With the new and modernized
Rules of Golf going
into effect Jan. 1, 2019, the
MGA will be offering several
one- and two-day workshops
for anyone who wants to
gain a detailed understanding
of the Rules. In addition,
" Mini Rules Workshops "
highlighting the most signifi -
cant changes will be offered
through regional meetings
at the club and facility level.
Look for details as we get
closer to the launch date.
It's an exciting time.
Changes are happening
relative to how we organize
ourselves, measure ourselves,
and even...play the game.
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.
2018 TM FACTS
184
Minnesota (MGA) clubs
using the new USGA/
TM (tournament)
software.
440,000
Rounds scored with TM
in Minnesota, ranked
6th in the U.S.
500,000
measure ourselves,
and even the rules under
which we play the game. 2018
was a very good year for golf
in Minnesota, and next year
should be even better.
All
of us at the MGA hope you
have a great winter, and we
look forward to seeing you in
2019.
See you on the course.
Rounds scored with TM,
including MGA championships,
USGA qualifi ers,
Member Days, and junior
and senior events.
4,000
MGA player profi les
created in TM.
100%
MGA events which
utilized TM's real-time live
scoring.
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2018

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