Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2022 - 4

What is MGA
Membership?
* BY TOM RYAN *
Welcoming
Change
T
here were two events in early 2020
that changed the landscape of golf in
terms of participation and interest.
The most obvious event was COVID. While
COVID clearly had a devastating global
impact on so many aspects of society, playing
golf turned out to be something that could be
actively enjoyed even while we were dealing
with the work and family issues we all faced.
Tens of thousands of new players were
introduced to the game, with many finding
that playing and competing with friends
and family was both fun and satisfying.
At the same time, many " occasional " golfers
found more time to play, and developed
an interest in competing as well.
The other event was the launch of the
new World Handicap System in
January
2020. This new and modernized system has
been almost universally praised.
Golfers
have loved the dynamic changes to their
handicap index, with it being recalculated
following every round played and posted.
The improvements
to the GHIN app
have also made the posting of scores, the
lookup of other golfers' indexes and scores,
and the calculation of your course handicap
when visiting a course or playing
from a different set of tees on your home
course, so much easier than in the past.
Another change that doesn't get as
much attention, but is so very important
to getting more golfers interested
in a handicap and playing and posting
scores, is the maximum handicap allowed.
Prior to January 2020, the maximum
index was 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.
Under the new World Handicap System, it is
now 54.0. This change alone has made getting
a handicap more inclusive and accessible,
making it easy to obtain and maintain a
handicap index, regardless of one's skill level.
Many of these new golfers into the system
over the last three years came with
high handicap indexes, but ready to play
and compete at their clubs or leagues.
" We need to be
encouraging all new
and inexperienced
players. "
Which leads me to my plea to all of you who
have been entrenched in the handicap system
for years. League competition should be fun
and welcoming. We are hearing way too often
that some leagues want to cap the handicaps
of those participants to something less than
their actual index under the guise of " fair
play, " when in actuality, it's anything but that.
We must encourage all new and inexperienced
players. They need to be supported
and yes, maybe even win now and then.
Remember when we all were just beginning
to play and compete, whether as a kid or as an
adult. We had our issues, but kept plugging
along and over time improved and began to
know our way around the course. I would ask
that you remember that as new golfers want
to join your league and want to compete. Give
them a chance. I would bet it's only a matter
of time before their enthusiasm and skill
approaches a level where you are calling them
to join your team.
See you on the course.
MGA Men's and
Women's* Mid-Amateur
Championships
(Aug. 30/31*-Sept. 1,
Indian Hills GC)
MGA Net Amateur
Championships (Sept. 6-7,
Grand View Lodge)
MGA Senior Amateur
Championship
(Sept. 13-15, Crow River GC)
MGA Senior Amateur
Four-Ball Championship
(Sept. 28-29, The Jewel GC)
MGA Women's Team/Club
(Sept. 25, Oak Glen GC)
MGA/WSGA Senior Tour
Cup Matches (Oct. 10-11,
Somerby GC)
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2022
mngolf.org
It's your invitation
to play some of the
finest golf courses
around, through
participation in MGA
Associate Members' Days 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 or
email. * It's your support of
programs and services that
make the game better.
MGA Events
to Watch
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2022
