Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2020 - 4

INSIDE
THE MG A
What is MGA
Membership?
Where We Are Amid
the COVID-19
Pandemic
* BY TOM RYAN *
A
s this issue goes
to press, we are in
the midst of the
COVID-19 pandemic and
uncertain times.
Schools
and many businesses are
closed. Our stores are literally
out of all sorts of
groceries and supplies. All
professional, collegiate, high
school and youth sports and
activities are shut down as
well. Life as we know it is at
a virtual standstill.
While I can't possibly
know, I am hopeful that as
you read this, our collective
response to the crisis has
resulted in a return to some
level of normalcy. And while
playing golf or any sport is
low on the list of priorities
at a time like this, it does
give us a chance to refl ect
on the game as a signifi cant
part of our life, its impact on
us, and our impact on others
through the game.
I'm sure many of you
have heard the saying " golf
doesn't build character,
it
reveals it. " I strongly believe
this. You can learn so much
about someone not just in
how they play, but in how
much of a commitment
they make to other facets of
the game.
As a member of a club
or league, public or private,
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Spring 2020
your relationship with the
game drives your volunteerism
as a club leader or
infl uencer. Your attitudes
about playing by the Rules
of Golf, posting every score,
making new golfers feel
welcome, and supporting
junior golf, are all character
" revealers. " Thanks to all of
you for your support of the
MGA, your club, and the
game at the local level.
We can thank our Florida,
Texas and
California,
Arizona friends for being
on the front lines as the new
World Handicap System
(and new GHIN software)
was rolled out in January.
As with any major software
innovation, there are bugs.
The USGA has been diligent
in its approach to solving
each issue as it has been
spotted.
For those fortunate to
have played some golf over
the winter and used the new
GHIN app to post scores, I
hope you have found it be
both fun and informational.
The option to post holeby-hole
scores and holeby-hole
with stats (fairways
hit, greens in regulation and
putts) gives you great data
about your own game, but
in the long run it will also
help your club with hole-byhole
handicap allocation.
The new course handicap
calculation, taking par into
account as well as course
rating, is proving to be very
popular. No longer will you
need a separate calculation
to determine the number
of shots players get from a
different tee. It's unique for
each player and built right
into the app. You'll like it
personally playing with
your regular group,
and
your golf professional will
love it when they are setting
up an event.
As we all hope for early
access to the golf course,
remember your superintendent
is highly trained with
a wonderful network of
knowledgeable colleagues.
Individually and collectively,
they will be doing all they
can to get our facilities in
top condition as quickly as
possible. Let's remember to
support their efforts and to
do what's asked of us as the
COVID-19 crisis plays out.
See you on the course.
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.
COVID-19 UPDATE
Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz
issued a series of emergency
executive orders that affected all
residents, including golfers:
#20-04 (March 17), closed public
accommodations including golf
courses;
#20-20 (March 27), directed
residents to stay at home
(except for essential workers);
#20-33 (April 8), allowed golf
course workers to do spring maintenance,
while also extending the
stay at home order to May 4;
#20-38 (April 18), opened golf
courses and driving ranges to
golfers following strict social
distancing protocols.
As of April 19, the NGF released a
survey showing 49 percent of all
golf courses in the U.S. were open
for play; and, according to the
GCSAA, 35 states were open for
play (with Alaska " pending, " and
Wisconsin opening on April 24).
The MGA cancelled all of its
golf events for the month of May,
and the remaining tournament
calendar will be revised as
circumstances allow
(see mngolf.org for details).
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2020

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