Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association April 2015 Newsletter

TheMetropolitan

Old Warson CC #13

udly Presented B Pro y

FIRST PRIZE IN METROPOLITAN OPEN INCREASED TO $25,000 PUBLINX: A GOLFING TRADITION FOR 55 YEARS PAGE 16

IMPROVE YOUR GAME IN 2015 BY GETTING IN E-SHAPE PAGE 6-7

AMATEUR SERIES KICKED OFF APRIL 20 AT WINGHAVEN PAGE 18-19

BECOME A VOLUNTEER PAGE 14

Vol. 2 No. 2

UPCOMING EVENTS USGA EVENTS

Exclusive Corporate Partner

GATEWAY CUP MATCHES AT BELLERIVE PGA PROS RETAIN CUP IN MATCHES AGAINST AREA AMATEURS

The renewal of the Gateway Cup Matches in recent years provides a level of competition between area golf professionals and top amateurs that was lacking for several years. Not only was the camaraderie between players lost, so was the opportunity to see the talent on display from players on both sides of the game.

Arriving at Bellerive on Sunday, April 12 for the beginning of the four ball matches, the 28 players - 14 on each side - were eager to get play under way. Bellerive was in good condition as the fairways were beginning to green-up and, as usual, the rough provided plenty of challenge.

Scott Brauer, head professional at Meramec Lakes, and Andy Frost,

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US OPEN QUALIFYING May 14 Norwood Hills CC Entry Deadline: April 29 US SENIOR OPEN QUALIFYING May 19 Persimmon Woods GC Entry Deadline: May 6 US WOMEN’S OPEN QUALIFYING June 2 St. Clair CC Entry Deadline: May 6

MAGA EVENTS NORMANDIE AMATEUR May 16-17 Normandie GC Entry Deadline: May 8 OLD WARSON CUP May 30-31 Old Warson CC - InvitationalSee pages 8 &11 for full schedule

(Continued on page 4)

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org

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STAFF

CURT’S COMMENTS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org

P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS - 2015 Michael Kegin & Nicholas Wojciechowski boatwrightintern@metga.org

METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Amateur Championship Match Play Championship Open Championship Women’s Amateur Championship Junior Amateur Championship Senior Amateur Championship Metropolitan Cup Matches Four-Ball Championship Mid-America Junior Cup

USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS US Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional) US Senior Open Qualifying US Amateur Qualifying US Mid-Amateur Qualifying US Women’s Mid-Amateur US Junior Amateur Qualifying US Amateur Public Links Qualifying US Senior Amateur Qualifying US Women’s Open Qualifying US Amateur Four-Ball US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

EXECUTIVE BOARD Stanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. – Vice-President Thomas O. Sobbe Jr. – Vice-President M. Ray McCraine – Secretary G. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer G.F. (Rick) Meyer Jr. – At-Large Member H. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Scott Thomas, Chairman Dustin Ashby Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer Jim Dunn David Rhoads Curt Rohe

Finally, some golfing weather has graced us in the St. Louis area! A lot of things happening at MAGA since the last issue of The Metropolitan…

Amateur Series kicked off, we had a great 2 days at Bellerive Curt Rohe CC with the Gateway Cup Executive Director Matches and our Rules Committee met and are ready to get going for the season!

Each season MAGA is fortunate to hire two interns through the PJ Boatwright Internship Program from the USGA. MAGA is happy to have hired Michael Kegin and Nicholas Wojciechowski. Both are University of Missouri students, Kegin is graduating this semester with his Bachelor Degree in Park, Recreation and Tourism. Wojciechowski is completing his sophomore year at Mizzou and is an Evans Scholar, marking the 5th consecutive year MAGA will have an Evans Scholar for the summer. We will profile these two in the next issue of The Metropolitan.

The Play 9 Series was schedule to kick off April 25, but with only 10 entries for the opening event we elected to postpone the Ballwin GC event. Our hopes are to gain some traction with the next event May 9 at Joachim GC and reschedule Ballwin for later this summer.

The really busy months are around the corner with May being extremely busy to start off the summer. Thank you for taking a few minutes to read The Metropolitan and catch up on what is going on around MAGA and remember to check out WWW.METGA.ORG for more updates on upcoming MAGA news!

Keep it in the fairway! As always, feel free to reach out to me at curt@metga.org.

Curt

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March - April 2015

player asked the Official “Why didn’t you tell me I had the option of playing from the tee, my provisional ball was only two feet from the hole?” The Official explained that since the player’s original ball was found and identified within five minutes of the player’s arrival, his provisional ball was no longer in play and had to be abandoned [Rule 27-2c]. [Note: even if he had holed his provisional ball, it would not have counted]. Had the player decided to proceed under the Rule 26-1a, he would have had to return to the teeing ground under stroke and distance, hitting three.

RULES OF GOLF CORNER WHEN TO ABANDON PROVISIONAL BALL The third hole at Normandie Golf Club is a downhill 200-yard par 3. Players know that a tee shot veering toward the area short and right of the green is problematic. This area cannot be seen from the back tee and incorporates a cart path, large bushes near the green, a couple stately trees, a small stream, a bridge, a lateral water hazard overgrown with small trees and brush, and sometimes ground under repair. Lots of things can happen – most of them bad.

But what if the player, having found his ball in the lateral hazard, had proceeded to play his provisional ball (now out of play) just two feet from the hole? He would have incurred a two-stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball [Rule 27-2c] and been required to correct his action [Rule 15-3] by playing his original ball as it lay in the lateral hazard or proceeding under a Rule 26-1 option. If he had not done so before teeing off at the 4th tee, he would have been disqualified.

During the 2014 Normandie Amateur, a player hit his tee shot toward this area.

A spectator accompanying the group, who happened to be standing in this area, heard the ball rattle around among tree branches and thud to the ground. He quickly followed the sound into the lateral hazard and saw a “fresh” ball, which he pointed out to a nearby Official. All of this was unbeknownst to the player who appropriately played a provisional ball (in case his original was lost outside the lateral water hazard; Rule 27-2a), hitting it stiff to within a few feet of the hole.

Contributed by John Thorman, MAGA Rules Committee. The Rules of Golf Corner will feature a member of our Rules Committee.

Rule 13-1: Play the Ball as it lies.

Rule 26-1: Relief for Ball in Water Hazard; a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

Rule 27-2c: Provisional Ball; When Provisional Ball to be Abandoned

The player made his way down the hill and the ball was pointed out to him. He identified it as his ball and inquired as to his options. Playing the ball as it lay [Rule 13-1] was risky given the mushy ground covered with sticks and leaves. Playing the ball within two club lengths of where it last crossed the margin of the hazard [Rule 26-1c(i)] posed a challenging shot over a bunker fronting the green. Not at all practical were the options of playing from behind the lateral hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the spot on which the player would drop the ball [Rule 26-1b], or playing from within two club lengths of a point on the opposite margin of the hazard equidistant from the hole [Rule 26-1c(ii)]. The player decided to play his ball as it lay before the Official could mention proceeding under stroke and distance (i.e., replaying the tee shot; Rule 26-1a).

Unfortunately, the player took three strokes in extricating his ball from the hazard, which led to a high score for the hole. After holing out, the frustrated

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GATEWAY CUP MATCHES Continued from page 1

from Bellerive, captained their respective MATEUR QUAD sides, with Scott serving as a non-playing captain.

The early matches were quite level as both sides struggled a bit with consistency.

However, on the large greens at Bellerive, it came down to the basics; fairways and greens, as the putting would eventually tell the tale.

Perhaps it was their experience, or having played a bit more in the off-season, but the professionals jumped to an early lead, taking 1up wins in the first two matches, and four of the seven. Only the team of Skip Berkmeyer Kneeling (l-r): Buddy Allen, Phil Caravia, Jeff Johnson, Andy Frost, Skip Berkmeyer and Ted Moloney managed to pull out a win, Standing: Pat Riordan, Mark Gardiner, Alex Cusumano, Brian Lovett, Van Pierce, two matches being halved, giving the pros a Ted Moloney, John Anderson, Scott Edwards, Jack Eisenbeis. commanding 5-2 lead after day one.

Clearly, the final score of 22.5-5.5 illustrated the Unfortunately, the beginning of the Monday matches were the only bright spot as Van Pierce and John dominance of the professionals.

Regardless of the outcome, the sportsmanship and Anderson won their alternate shot match 1up. The camaraderie among the competitors were the winners. remaining six matches all went to the professionals, giving them an 11-3 lead.

The Monday afternoon singles also saw the pros strut their stuff and only Phil Caravia and Berkmeyer managed wins with Jeff Johnson taking a halve in his match.

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Scott Brauer captained the PGA side. Their team was comprised of: Mike Suhre (Oak Brook GC); Bob Gaus (Tower Tee); Brian Fogt (Bellerive CC); Ryan Roy (Norwood Hills CC); JC Anderson (Missouri Bluffs GC); Gideon Smith (Quincy CC); Brandon Veld (Bellerive CC); Mike Tucker (Bellerive CC); Jimmy Bals (Westborough CC); Ty Zimmerman (Missouri Bluffs GC) and Seniors Nash Haxel (The Quarry GC); Rob Sedorcek (CC of St. Albans); Jeff Whitfield and Dave Levine (Berry Hill GC).

S

Andy Frost captained the Amateurs.

Team MAGA was represented by: Andy Frost (Bellerive CC); Brian Lovett (Bellerive CC); Skip Berkmeyer (The Legends CC); John Anderson (Norwood Hills CC); Phil Caravia (Norwood Hills CC); Buddy Allen (Joachim GC); Patrick Riordan (Normandie GC); Alex Cusumano (Metropolitan GC); Van Pierce (CC of St. Albans); Ted Moloney (Greenbriar Hills CC) and Seniors Jeff Johnson (Bogey Hills CC); Scott Edwards (WingHaven CC); Mark Gardiner (Cardinal Creek GC) and Jack Eisenbeis (St. Louis CC).

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GATEWAY CUP RESULTS & GROUPS Phil Caravia Ryan Roy Brandon Veld Brett Moomey JC Anderson Jeff Whitfield Bob Gaus Mike Tucker Ty Zimmerman Skip Berkmeyer Rob Sedorcek Brian Fogt Jimmy Bals

Anderson / Pierce Suhre / Haxel Veld / Fogt Levine / Whitfield Zimmerman / Bals Tucker / Sedorcek Gaus / Anderson

Tucker / Veld Whitfield / Levine Berkmeyer / Moloney Zimmerman / Bals Gardiner / Lovett Allen / Riordan Suhre / Haxel

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def. def. def. def. def. def. def.

Singles Matches def. David Levine def. Patrick Riordan def. Van Pierce and Jeff Johnson def. Buddy Allen def. Jack Eisenbeis def. Brian Lovett def. Mark Gardiner def. Alex Cusumano def. Mike Suhre def. Andy Frost def. Ted Moloney def. Scott Edwards

4 and 3 4 and 3 6 and 4 Halved 5 and 4 3 and 2 1 up 4 and 3 3 and 2 1 up 6 and 5 5 and 4 2 and 1

Foursomes Moomey / Roy Lovett / Caravia Allen / Riordan Eisenbeis / Gardiner Cusumano / Johnson Edwards / Frost Berkmeyer / Moloney

1up 3 and 2 3 and 2 4 and 3 1up 2 and 1 5 and 4

Four-Ball def. Caravia / Anderson def. Frost / Johnson def. Fogt / Anderson def. Cusumano / Pierce and Moomey / Roy and Gaus / Sedorcek def. Edwards / Eisenbeis

1 up 1 up 1 up 2 and 1 Halved Halved 2 and 1

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GET IN E3-SHAPE FOR THE 2015 SEASON At e3 Performance & Fitness we work to improve golfers’ weakness such as weak left hamstrings and glutes and poor internal hip rotation on the front (usually left) side. With a few simple exercises you can improve these weaknesses and make the drills you work on more effective.

You can be hitting longer drives in mere minutes by implementing a few simple strategies.

Most golfers cut off their backswing by getting into their right hip too early. By staying in your left hip longer, you can increase your turn, thus resulting in bigger backswing and more rotational power on your downswing.

Here are two proven and simple exercises you can spend some time working on anywhere.

Unpredictable weather patterns in Missouri can interfere with practice time. Without buying every gadget available on the Golf Channel late at night, here are two simple drills you can add to improve your game.

LEFT HEMIBRIDGE: • Lie on your back with your feet on the wall with your hips and knees at 90 degrees.

• Raise your hips 1 inch off the floor.

• Straighten your right knee so your heel is now on the wall.

• Inhale through your nose as you bring your right leg off the wall even with your left thigh.

• Exhale as you drop your right heel back to the wall • Repeat for 10 repetitions.

• Perform 3 sets.

STEP AROUND • Stand on a phone book or other small block (2-4 inches)

PELVIC REPOSITIONING

• Point your right toe inward and put your weight into your left heel

This neutralizes the pelvis and relieves any anterior or forward tilting of your pelvis.

When a pelvis is tilted forward, the hamstrings are put on constant stretch. You can’t stretch and already stretched muscle without some resulting in an unwanted, possible injured, outcome.

• Step down with your right leg while keeping your weight in your left heel and forefoot (under your big toe)

• Perform 4 sets of 4 breaths of the 90/90 Hip Lift

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E3

PERFORMANCE & FITNESS CAN’T TOUCH YOUR TOES? GIVE ME 10 MINUTES.

The ability to touch your toes represents the ability to posteriorly weight shift, or get your butt back and get your hips out of the way. Often times this movement skill gets lost via desk jobs, car rides and hours of binge watching Netfilx. We forget how to clear our hips out of the way, and we can no longer touch our toes. Our hamstrings feel “tight,” but they’re not.

I have repeatedly promised golfers to help them regain the ability to touch their toes in 10 min or less and been quite successful fulfilling that promise. No I don’t have them lay down while I crank on their hamstrings and watch their eyes well up.

I simply put them through a few drills that allows them to reconnect with the broken movement pattern.

Once a movement pattern has been lost, you will have to continually engage in reminder drills to get it back. Don’t worry. It only takes a few minutes each time you go to the range or get set to tee off.

MYOFACIAL RELEASE Depending on how long you have been unable to touch your toes, you may have developed some tissue stiffness in the hamstrings. The first drill you want to do is to sit on the edge of a chair or other moderately hard surface with a tennis ball under your hamstring.

Raise and lower your leg five times with the ball right up against yor sit bone (ischial tuberosity) on one side. Then move the ball 3 inches down toward your knee and repeat. Continue moving the ball down every five reps until you’ve reached the back of your knee. Repeat on other leg.

TOE TOUCH #1 Place your toes and forefoot on top of a small 1-2 inch block or phone book.

Inhale as you reach to the sky.

Bend over and reach for your toes as you exhale.

Repeat 10x.

TOE TOUCH #2 When Toe Touch #1 is successful, switch to a heels elevated position and repeat.

TOE TOUCH #3 When Toe Touch #2 is successful, move the phone book to a spot in front of an open wall.

Place your heels on the floor in front of the phone book.

Bend over to touch your toes while touching the wall with you toush. When you reach your toes, hold that position while taking 4 deep breaths. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth Imagine filling your back with air on each inhale

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AMATEUR CHAMPIONS 25 YEARS OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF - THE 1994 MEN’S AMATEUR The Men’s Amateur marked its first playoff in 1994 when there was a three-way tie for first with Don Bliss, David Estes and Jim Holtgrieve all posting a 217 totals at the CC of St. Albans. Bliss was looking to make it three wins in four seasons, having won the 1991 and 1993 titles. Estes, who would win back to back crowns in 1997 and 1998, was looking for his first MAGA title. Holtgrieve, with the strong resume of USGA and Walker Cup appearances to his credit, was looking to add a MAGA crown to his list of state and local trophies.

Perhaps it is only fitting that such a threesome would playoff for the honor. In the era from the late 1970s through the 1990s, their performance and dominance among area golf was second to none. In the end, it would be Holtgrieve who would prevail and claim the title. Later, he would win the Match Play championship in 1997 and 1998 and, upon reaching senior age, take the 2007 Senior crown.

Jim Holtgrieve

PLAY 9 SERIES “The Play 9 Series first event at Ballwin GC was postponed Saturday, April 25 due to a very small number of entries. MAGA is still very high on this new initiative and have received a lot of positive feedback. We hope to get the season kicked off May 9 at Joachim GC and re-schedule the Ballwin event for a later date. Thank you to those who registered for April 25 and we look forward to attracting more Play 9 golfers moving forward.”

MAGA is excited to announce a new program for the 2015 season, the Play 9 Series!

Following the launch of the USGA Play 9 initiative in 2014 and on the heels of the growth and success of the Amateur Series the last 5 years, MAGA will be providing this new series of 9-hole, competitive amateur events featuring our 9-hole clubs in the region. Ballwin GC, Joachim GC, Berry Hill GC, Creve Coeur GC, Highlands at Forest Park, Ruth Park GC and Four Seasons CC are all excited to bring competitive golf to their facilities in 2015.

The Play 9 Series will mirror the Amateur Series in structure. Six (6) 9-hole events beginning in April (one each month) with a point system awarding performance points to how you finish in the events. The points system will be the base for invitation to the 9-hole championship in October.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DATE

VENUE

April 25 May 9 June 27 July 25 August 22 September 19 October 3

Ballwin GC Postponed Joachim GC Creve Coeur GC Highlands at Forest Park Berry Hill GC Ruth Park GC Four Seasons CC

Visit the MAGA website for Rules and Regulations.

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DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT

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ST. LOUIS GOLF HISTORY THE 1960 US AMATEUR

Deane Beman

Robert Gardner (l) and Deane Beman

Having won the 1959 Amateur at the Broadmoor in Colorado, Jack Nicklaus was the overwhelming favorite to take back-to-back titles. However, the strategic C.B. Macdonald course at St. Louis CC would prove more challenging that most imagined.

Played entirely at match play, there were 1,737 entries with 200 players making it to the first tee. As in past Amateurs, the players were seeded, with 54 players receiving BYE’s in the first round. The Amateur was becoming more of an international tournament with players from seven countries represented, including the champion from India. Local players Jim Tom Blair, Gene Fehlig and Jimmy Jackson all advanced to the second round, as did Steve Spray from Wakonda, IA. However, only Blair and Spray move on to the fourth round, along with two-time champion Harvie Ward, Deane Beman and Nicklaus.

In one of the biggest upsets in Amateur history, unknown Charles Lewis from Little Rock, Arkansas, upset Nicklaus 5&3 in the fourth round. In the Quarterfinals, Spray fell to Robert Gardner while Beman downed Bill Hyndman III. John Farquhar and Robert Lewis also advanced into the semifinals.

Beman disposed of Farquhar 5&4, while Gardner finished off Lewis 2up, setting up the final. Beman, the Bethesda, Maryland star, started fast, going 1up through 9 and 3up through the first 18 holes. He closed out the match on the 32nd hole, claiming the title with a 6&4 victory. In winning the title, he became only the ninth person to win both the US and British Amateur titles, having won the British in 1959.

He would go on to win a second Amateur title in 1963 before joining the PGA tour in 1967. Later, he became commissioner of the Tour in 1974, serving until 1994, during which time he oversaw the growth of the game. He introduced the Players Championship and developed the Tournament Players Courses (TPC) during his tenure. He also formed the Senior Tour in 1980 and was instrumental in developing Tour Branding and charity participation as part of tournaments.

Ironically, it would be Steve Spray’s relationship with Beman which would benefit him years later. In 1976, when St. Louis CC went looking for a head professional to replace Dave Douglas, it would be Beman who recommended Spray for the position!

Jack Nicklaus (r) putts as Phil Rogers looks on. Nicklaus defeated Rogers 6&5 in the third round.

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2015 COMPETITION SCHEDULE MAGA COMPETITIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

ENTRY DEADLINE

DATE(S)

VENUE

Normandie Amateur

May 16-17

May 8

Old Warson Cup

May 30-31

Invitational

East Side Amateur

June 13-14

June 5

Spencer T. Olin GC

Women's Amateur Championship

June 15-16

June 3

Fox Run Golf Club

Open Championship

July 10-12

June 24

Junior Amateur Championship

July 20-21

July 1

July 30 - August 1

June 24

Boone Valley Golf Club

Senior Amateur Championship

August 13-14

July 22

Whitmoor Country Club (South)

MAGA Four-Ball Championship

September 24

September 9

Amateur Championship

Normandie Golf Club Old Warson Country Club

Country Club of St. Albans The Bogey Club

The Legends CC

USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS CHAMPIONSHIP

ENTRY DEADLINE

DATE(S)

VENUE

US Open Local Qualifying

May 14

April 29

US Senior Open Qualifying

May 19

May 6

Persimmon Woods GC

June 2

May 6

St. Clair CC

US Junior Amateur Q (36-holes)

June 22

June 3

Lake Forest G&CC

US Girls’ Junior Amateur Qualifying

June 24

June 3

Bogey Hills CC

US Amateur Qualifying (36-holes)

July 20-21

June 24

US Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying

August 27

August 12

Bellerive CC

US Senior Amateur Qualifying

September 2

August 12

Sunset CC

US Mid-Amateur Qualifying

September 8

August 19

Aberdeen GC

September 28

August 5

Quincy CC.

US Women’s Open Q (36-holes)

US Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying

Norwood Hills CC

Meadowbrook CC

2015 MAGA AMATEUR SERIES SCHEDULE NAME

DATE

Event #1 Event #2 Event #3 Event #4 Event #5 Event #6 Championship

April 20 May 4 June 12 July 17 August 6 September 15 October 10-11

VENUE WingHaven CC Sunset Hills CC The Falls GC Annbriar GC Glen Echo Tapawingo National GC Aberdeen GC

Online applications for ALL MAGA events are available on the MAGA website.

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MAY 2015 MON

SUN

3

4

TUES

5

WED

6

THUR

7

FRI May 1

SAT 2

8

9

Normandie Amateur Entry Deadline

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15

US Open Local Qual. - Norwood Hills (West)

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18

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16 Normandie Amateur

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27

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US Senior Open Qual. - Persimmon Woods

Normandie Amateur

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30 Old Warson Cup

MAGA Events in RED | USGA Events in BLUE

JUNE 2015 MAY 31

JUNE 1

7

2 US Women’s Open Qual St. Clair CC

Old Warson Cup

8

9

3

4

Women’s Championship Entry Deadline

10

5

6

East Side Entry Deadline

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13 East Side Amateur

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East Side Amateur Women’s Championship

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US Junior Qual. Lake Forest

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Women’s Championship

Open & Amateur Entry Deadline US Junior Girls Qual.-Bogey Hills

30

JULY 1 Junior Championship Entry Deadline

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Please Support our Supporters

Exclusive Corporate Partner of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association Allied golf associations and supporters of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

Resources

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Volunteers are the lifeblood of State and Regional Golf Associations all around the country. That statement could not be more true than right here in St. Louis with MAGA. MAGA volunteers assist with the conduct of MAGA Championships, USGA Qualifying Rounds and USGA Course & Slope Rating service provided to our member clubs. Do you have any interest in getting involved with the game in our region?

Visit the Volunteer page of our website by clicking on the image at the left.

Volunteer A tremendous part of the success of the MAGA Championship Program is our team of volunteers, officially designated as MAGA Rules Committee Members. The MAGA is proud to have a large collection of volunteers who assist with our MAGA Championships, USGA Qualifying Rounds and Amateur Series. While our Committee Members come from very diverse backgrounds, they all share one common trait: their love of the game!

Rules Committee Committee Members serve a variety of functions at our Championships such as Rules Officials, Starters, Scoring Officials, Forecaddies and many other important roles at each event.

Scoring Committee Scoring Committee Members serve a variety of functions at our Championships such as collecting scores on course for Live Scoring to the setup and posting of scores on our scoreboards and more.

Course Rating Committee Course Raters have the responsibility of ensuring the accuracy of course measurements as part of the USGA Course Rating System. Click here if you’re interested in joining the Course Rating Committee. Course Ratings are an essential part of the Handicap System and accurate measurements are a vital part of Course Ratings. The MAGA has the responsibility of implementing the USGA Course Rating System throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan region.

Become a MAGA Volunteer today! Here’s how to do it: Complete the MAGA Volunteer Information Form. Once you have completed the Committee Information Form please return the completed form to the MAGA. Observe at a Tournament: Once we receive your Volunteer Information Form, we will help you schedule a day to attend an event and shadow one of our current Committee members. .

Join the MAGA as a Volunteer: Once you have completed the above steps, you will receive additional volunteer and training information including your Rules Committee Shirt and Name Badge.

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NOW AVAILABLE! THE NEW Golfing Before The Arch; 1896-2014

The original Golfing Before The Arch, published in 1997, sold over 3,000 copies. It was the definitive history of golf across the St. Louis area from 1896 to 1996!

• • • • •

Golfin g Befo re The Arch -T h e H istory of St. Louis Golf

Now, author Jim Healey, has published an updated version, coverning the years 1997 through 2014. Plus, the original text has been updated with new information, photographs and details.

This is definitely the musthave book for serious golfers Golfin looking to uncover the great g Befo re The the H istory history of area golf!

Arch of St. Louis

• •

GolF

544-pages of information on St. Louis golf history Updated details from 1997 - 2014 Updated Player and event details New, never-before seen course photographs Complete listing of every significant event held in the area from the 1904 Olympic Matches through the 2014 Curtis Cup Match!

Listing of qualifiers for USGA championships.

Listing of District, MAGA, MGA and Women’s District events, plus Publinks, Normandie Amateur, Bogey Hills Invitational, St. Clair Open, Lou Fusz St. Louis Open, Michelob Open and more.

Profiles of top amateurs, plus pro listings and photos of many area pros through the years.

Course chronology and “lost area courses” James Heale y

• •

1896-20 14

A Histo ry & C ompen dium by James

Heale y

Individual print copies of Golfing Before The Arch: 1896-2014, may be purchased at www.lulu.com, an on-demand publishing site, by searching for the book title.

Jim Healey has published over a dozen books on area golf history, including Club Histories for Bellerive, Old Warson, Westwood, St. Louis CC, Bogey Hills, Sunset, Glen Echo, Norwood Hills and Algonquin. He did extensive writing for Fairways & Greens Magazine and his work has been published in LINKS Magazine, GolfWeek, Golf World, St. Louis Magazine and a number of websites. He has been a contributor to a various area golf talk shows and has given golf history presentations to dozens of groups across the region. In 2014, he served as media director for the 2014 Curtis Cup, producing the Match program and related material His knowledge of St. Louis golf history is second to none.

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THE ST. LOUIS PUBLINX Come the first Sunday in May, the annual renewal of a 55-year St. Louis tradition will continue as golfers tee-it-up at the courses at Forest Park for the 56th St. Louis Publinx.

The history of the Publinx goes back to 1959. The USGA had accepted an invitation to play the Public Links Amateur in Hawaii in July 1960 at Ala Wai GC. Milton Frank, USGA Committeeman for the Public Links in this area, got together with Art Jennemann and several other public players to form the St. Louis Public Links Golf Association. The object was to develop a tournament to raise funds to help defray the expenses for players who qualified to represent St. Louis in Hawaii.

The first Publinks Open was played on the first Sunday in May, 1960, and has continued to be played on that date since (except for the occasional rain-delay). The date usually marks the kickoff the season in the area, so golfers are primed and the turnout is high. The late Jimmy Jackson was the first back-to-back amateur champion, winning in 1962 & 63. In 1967, Jackson and Dick Shaiper were tied with 70s. Jackson won the playoff after having been saved from the water on #1 & #2 by trees, before making birdie-two on the par 3 third. Beginning in 1974 ties were accepted and the playoffs ceased.

Bart Collida

Spinny Gould, the president of the Reliable Life Insurance Company, and was an early financial supporter of the Publinx. In those the early days entries were hard to come by, so Spinny had all of his employees come and play. The scores of some of the participants in the 1960 opening event reflected their good work-ethic; a 109 and a 117 were turned in that day along with 12 scores in the 90s! Former Sunset and Normandie professional Johnny Manion was one of the starters, while a Yale graduate came away as the amateur winner. Harold Popham, club-pro from Edwardsville claimed the professional title as 160 golfers “beat it ‘round the park.”

The early sixties were a great time at the Publinx. Not only were the best amateurs in the field, but the best area pros also competed for the top spot. Marusic, Shaiper, Jim Cochran, Terry Houser, Gene Webb, Dave Douglas, Eddie Johnson, Rich Craden and Cal Tanner were among the professionals who regularly took part. But the key word in the title is Publinx, and the top public players, with a sprinkling of club players, sought to put their names in the record book. Jim Jackson, the legendary Greenbriar tactician, won the event five times from the 60s to the early-80s, while Don Dupske won three times over a twenty year span, and Bill Moretti did the three-peat over seven years. Today, we see names such as Skip Berkmeyer, Pat Riordan, Phil Caravia and John Anderson just as frequently.

Dick Shaiper, Milon Marusic and Fred Wampler were perhaps the best of the early Pro’s during the 60s as they each won twice. They were followed by Terry Houser who won twice in the 70s John Kueper with five more times in the 80s. Cal Tanner and Wayne Morris also had their due, as did the steady Marusic who came back and won in 1978. During the 90s, Bob Gaus would have to be the pro to beat as he has won or shared the title four times. He won the title in 1983 as an amateur, making him the only player to accomplish that feat. The top professionals today, apart from Gaus, would surely be Mike Suhre, who has take eight titles since 2000! The first woman to compete was Ellen Port and in 1994 Jo D Blosch competed. We even have a former Billiken basketball player, Glen Mankowski, who won the 1964 event. A senior division was added in 2001 with Terry Tessary, Don Bliss and David Estes and Bob Trittler among those who have taken that title.

Today, John Kueper has little trouble filling the field, such is the demand from area golfers to play and support the Publinx effort. While the USGA banned the use of events such as this to fund player travel some years back, today the amateurs benefit from gift certificates, while the professionals play for a little cash!

2014 Results Amateur: (tie) John Anderson and Dave Maple (69); Professional:

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Bob Gaus (67); Senior: Don Bliss (69)

GATEWAY CUP CANDIDS

Bob Gaus (l) & Rob Sedorcek

Pat Riordan (l) & Buddy Allen

Mark Gardiner

Jack Eisenbeis

Brian Fogt putting with Skip Berkmeyer (l) and Ted Moloney in background.

Dave Levine (l) and Jeff Whitfield

Andy Frost (l) and Jeff Johnson

Ty Zimmerman

Brandon Veld

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The Metropolitan

WHERE HAVE THEY GONE...THE AREA’S LOST COURSES ST. ANDREWS GOLF COURSE One of the mainstays of area public golf, St. Andrews was founded in 1967 and operated

by Vatterott Golf. Located on the north side of I-70, just west of Zumbehl Road off West Clay, players reached the course as they passed St. Andrews Plaza and turned down St. Andrews Drive. A large display sign greeted you as you turned, clearly marking its location.

Though just over 5,800 yards, St. Andrews offered a variety of challenges with its rolling hills, small greens and narrow, tree-lined fairways. In the days when public courses across the Missouri side of the river were scarce, players from across the region clamored for tee times at this fun and sporty design.

At one point, the course was so busy that they installed lights on one nine, allowing for players unable to play during normal hours the opportunity to get in their round in the evening.

The course played host to the St. Louis publinks from 1973 to 1980, except for 1975 when it returned to Forest Park. The short yardage did little to lower the scores as a 66 by Jim Jackson in 1976, matched by Dennis Osborne in 1980, were the lowest scores.

The course played host to a number of outings through the years as a strong mix of players found it an enjoyable round of golf.

The course closed in 2002 as the housing boom taking place in St. Charles made the land too valuable.

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ON TOUR - SCOTT LANGLEY At present, Scott Langley is St. Louis’ lone entry on the PGA Tour. Most area players are familiar with Scott’s remarkable amateur career: two wins in the St. Louis Open (2008 and 2009), the 2010 Metropolitan Match Play Champion, the 2010 NCAA Individual champion, qualifying for the U.S. Open (2010) where he tied for low amateur and playing in the 2010 Masters.

All of this was accomplished before he turned professional in 2011.

After two years competing for a spot on the PGA Tour, he joined the Tour for the 2013 season after qualifying at the 2012 Q-School. The 2013 season saw Scott display the talent everyone knew he had to stay on Tour as he earned enough to fall within the top 125 and keep his Tour Card. With this added confidence, he had an outstanding 2014 season with six top-25 finishes, including a third place finish at the Valspar Championship, earning over a million dollars and a 77th place standing on Tour. Through 13 events in 2015, he has made nine cuts and has two Top-25 finishes.

One of the remarkable aspects of Scott being on Tour is that he is the first First Tee alum to earn Tour membership. The University of Illinois graduate is married to the former Kristy Morris. They have a six-month old daughter, Kennedy. Recently, Scott finished at +1 at the RBC Championship at Hilton Head, tieing for 66th spot. You can follow Scott on Twitter at @Scott_Langley to let him know you support him.

METROPOLITAN INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (OLD WARSON CUP) Year

Winner

Club

Runner-Up

Club

Site

St. Albans Westborough Westborough St. Clair St. Albans Norwood Hills Norwood Hills

Score

Derre Owsley Scott Thomas Don Bliss Roger Null Brian Kennedy Don Bliss David Estes

Norwood Hills St. Albans Boone Valley Norwood Hills St. Albans Norwood Hills

Boone Valley Boone Valley Boone Valley Boone Valley Boone Valley Boone Valley Boone Valley

1up 3&2 1up 1up 1up (19) 2&1 1up (21)

Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Boone Valley Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Ballwin Bellerive Bellerive CC of St. Albans

Andy Frost Skip Berkmeyer Don Bliss Chris Nagel Justin Bardgett Brian Kennedy Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Thomas Wuennenberg

Bellerive Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Meadowbrook Meadowbrook Persimmon Woods Normandie GC Gateway National Gateway National Aberdeen Tapawingo

Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson Old Warson

3&2 2&1 1up 1up 1up(21) 4&2 5&4 1up 3&2 5&3 5&4

Norwood Hills

Alex Cusumano

Aberdeen

Old Warson

19 holes

TAYLOR CUP 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Don Bliss Jim Holtgrieve Jim Holtgrieve Tim Riley Don Bliss Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer

MATCH PLAY 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

David Estes Don Bliss Shawn Jasper John Kelly Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Scott Langley Justin Bryant Justin Bryant Garrett Sneed

OLD WARSON CUP 2014

Phil Caravia

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AMATEUR SERIES RESULTS - EVENT #1 GROSS RESULTS SCRATCH OPEN 1 2 T3 T3 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 10 11 T12 T12 14 15 16

Kyle Thomure Robert Barrett III Tony Nolfo Lewis Weingart Greg Sanborn Mike Lawton Frank Gomes Bret Sinak Joseph Christian Garret Green Gerald Harsley Jr Kenton McWilliams Mark Moreland Aleks Stojanovic Christopher Pope Tyler Tucker

Metropolitan Metropolitan Metropolitan The Quarry Metropolitan Metropolitan Ballwin Persimmon Wds Metropolitan Clinton Hill Old Hickory Metropolitan The Falls The Legends Lake Forest Metropolitan

SENIOR SCRATCH +10 82 +12 84 +13 85 +13 85 +14 86 +14 86 +14 86 +14 86 +14 86 +15 87 +16 88 +19 91 +19 91 +21 93 +22 94 +29 101

1 T2 T2 4 5 T6 T6 T6 T6 10 11 T12 T12

Ollie Crow Schooner Fitzgerald Dan Bragg Pat Ross Robert Wysong Donny Ngala Tim Leonberger Gordon Smith Timothy Barker William Wunderlich Cal Neeman Jr Michael Moade J Oden Thompson

Metropolitan Metropolitan GC of Wentzville The Orchards Persimmon Wds The Legends Stonewolf Metropolitan Glen Echo Aberdeen Annbriar Metropolitan Metropolitan

+12 +14 +14 +15 +17 +18 +18 +18 +18 +20 +21 +25 +25

84 86 86 87 89 90 90 90 90 92 93 97 97

NET RESULTS NET OPEN 1 T2 T2 4 5 6 7 8 T9 T9 11

Curtis Miller Dwayne Leslie Justin Yockey Joe Rammelsberg Joseph Buterbaugh John Davis Paul Smith Chris Senn Cory Mahoney Matthew McCormick Ty Sander

Metropolitan Metropolitan Metropolitan Whitmoor Metropolitan The Falls Paradise Valley Persimmon Wds Metropolitan Metropolitan The Landings

SENIOR NET +1 +6 +6 +11 +12 +13 +17 +19 +20 +20 +21

73 78 78 83 84 85 89 91 92 92 93

1 2 T3 T3 5 6 T7 T7 T7 10 T11 T11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

The Metropolitan

King Edmonston Larry Laramie Jim Garrett Don Humphrey Don Walker Charles Miller Vince Schneider Doug Williams Jeff Myers Gary Kajander Bill Slantz Michael Pittroff Leo Hefner Larry Banks John Epps David Gilliland Chuck Leuck Russell Hollenbeck Ray Kerr Robert Barrett

Franklin County Metropolitan Metropolitan Ruth Park Metropolitan Metropolitan Old Hickory Metropolitan Meadowbrook Winghaven Metropolitan Metropolitan Mystic Oak Aberdeen Metropolitan Metropolitan Bogey Hills Metropolitan Ruth Park Missouri Bluffs

+3 75 +5 77 +7 79 +7 79 +8 80 +12 84 +13 85 +13 85 +13 85 +14 86 +15 87 +15 87 +17 89 +19 91 +20 92 +22 94 +23 95 +26 98 +40 112 WD

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NORMANDIE AMATEUR YEAR

WINNER

CLUB

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 + 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Tom Barry Tom Barry Scott Thomas Don Bliss David Estes * Jeff Johnson John Kueper * Steve Irwin Bill Bahn Scott Thomas * Don Bliss

Normandie Normandie Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Bogey Hills Carlyle GC Old Warson Southmoor Norwood Hills Norwood Hills

TOTAL 212 210 212 212 108 137 139 143 145 141 144

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scott Thomas # David Estes Scott Fann Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer NOT HELD Justin Bliss David Lucks Phil Caravia Skip Berkmeyer * Buddy Allen Darren Lundgren Ted Moloney Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Andy Frost Skip Berkmeyer * Skip Berkmeyer

Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Gateway National Normandie Norwood Hills Norwood Hills Gateway National Gateway National Norwood Hills Fox Run Norwood Hills Fox Run Gateway National Gateway National Bellerive Aberdeen GC Aberdeen GC

RUNNER-UP

TOTAL

DATE

217 213 215 217 108 138 139 145 146 141 143 143 140 143 141 141 141

Sept 14 Spet 13 Sept 18 May 21 May 20 May 19 May 17 May 16 May 22 May 21 May 19

140 142 139 138 137

Dennis Moore Craig Schnurbusch Dee Sanders John Utley Chris Gum Craig Hardcastle Scott Thomas David Lucks Dan Barry Bill Bahn Craig Schnurbusch Bobby Godwin Craig Schnurbusch Terry Tessary / Clay Smith Skip Berkmeyer David Estes Tom Barry

142 139 137 141 139 141 146 136 144 135 141 139

Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer Darren Lundgren Skip Berkmeyer Skip Berkmeyer / Brian Kennedy Skip Berkmeyer Jim Holtgrieve Patrick Riordan Skip Berkmeyer Buddy Allen / Phil Caravia Troy Halterman

141 140 141 141 142 147 142 145 138 141 142

May 23 May 24 May 22 May 20 May 18 May 17 May 23 May 24 May 20 May 19 May 18 May 16-17

May 23 May 17 May 23 May 21 May 20

* - won playoff; # - won 7 hole playoff; + - tournament shortened to 27 holes

NORMANDIE GC - FACT VERSUS LEGEND Despite popular myth, Normandie GC is not the oldest golf course or golf club in the area. It is also not the oldest golf course in its orginal position west of the Mississippi. This “myth� first came about in an erroneous article in the Post-Dispatch back in the early 1970s.

To the point; Glen Echo CC opened on May 25, 1901. It has been at its original location since that time. Yes, some holes were changed through the years, but all within the existing grounds.

Normandie opened on October 6, 1901 with 9 holes. This was announced in both the Globe-Democrat and Post-Dispatch. The following spring, the final 9 holes were opened at Normandie, completing the 18 hole layout. What many may not know is that five holes (at the time holes 13-17) were originally located on the grounds of what is now Incarnate Word Academy, east of Normandie Drive. In 1919, Normandie purchased additional land on the west side of Normandie Drive for $700 per acre, approximately where holes 7, 14-16 are located today, and moved those five holes across the road. With that, the entire course underwent a re-routing.

Without question, Glen Echo is the oldest 18 hole golf course west of the Mississippi, public or private.

Normandie may well be the oldest 18 hole public course west of the Mississippi, but there are a number of 9 hole courses in Iowa, Oregon, California and Colorado that were established in the 1890s, with complete documentation to establish that fact. Several of them are also in their original location.

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March - April 2015 21

TheMetropolitan Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org

IMPORTANT INFORMATION USGA website: www.usga.org MAGA website: www.metga.org GHIN website: www.ghin.org

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