Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association Jan-Feb 2015 Newsletter

TheMetropolitan

CC of St. Albans #3 Lewis & Clark Course

Vol. 2 No. 1

udly Presented B Pro y

O’TOOLE ELECTED TO SECOND TERM AS USGA PRESIDENT AREA DESIGNERS PAGE 6

BILLY CASPER PAGE 8

2015 USGA EVENTS Exclusive Corporate Partner

NOTES FROM THE USGA ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT OF WOMEN’S SENIOR OPEN HIGHLIGHTS MEETING

PLAY 9 SERIES A new series of Amateur events.

PAGE 8

BECOME A VOLUNTEER PAGE 14

25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON - A LOOK BACK PAGE 16

UPCOMING EVENTS

While USGA President Tom O’Toole Jr. was announcing the addition of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open to the Association’s 2018 championship calendar upstairs, several new initiatives were being spotlighted downstairs during the final day of USGA Annual Meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Among the highlights of the “Serving the Game” exhibit was a display featuring GPS flagstick tracking technology the USGA developed with Spectrum Technologies. Aimed at reducing pace-of-play issues, a flagstick is equipped with a radio antenna, processing and communications unit, and a ferrule sensor that detects when

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

The Metropolitan

January - February 2015

STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org

P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS - 2015 TBD 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

CURT’S COMMENTS Hello members and welcome to our second season of The Metropolitan! Looking back on our inaugural season of the newsletter, we could not have been happier with the presentation and response we received from you, our members.

Curt Rohe We had an amazing open rate of Executive Director 75% for the year of our members opening, and hopefully, reading The Metropolitan.

We have a very busy 2015 schedule ready to kickoff in April, starting with the Gateway Cup Matches April 12-13.

After a one year hiatus, MAGA and the Gateway PGA are excited to bring the two organizations together to conduct these matches. Fourteen (14) of the top amateurs and PGA professionals from the area will play at Bellerive CC. We last played the matches in 2013, culminating in a 14-14 tie at the CC of St. Albans. Dr. Andy Frost will serve as captain of the MAGA amateurs on his home course. Four (4) seniors and ten (10) regular players will make up each squad.

The Play 9 Series will commence April 25 at Ballwin GC. The 9-hole member clubs are very excited to bring competitive golf to their facilities in 2015. The premise behind the Play 9 Series is to give the time constrained golfer the opportunity to get out and compete and feature our 9hole clubs…Ballwin GC; Berry Hill GC; Ruth Park GC; Highlands at Forest Park; Creve Coeur GC; Joachim GC and Four Seasons CC. While Mother Nature may not be cooperating, March 1 is the beginning of score posting season for our region.

Thank you for taking a moment of your time to read The Metropolitan, we are anxious to get the 2015 season rolling and providing this service to our members again this year.

As always, feel free to reach out to me at curt@metga.org.

Curt

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January - February 2015

Ever since this incident, I have been very diligent, anytime I am observing a similar drop, in telling the player ‘do not touch the ball until it has stopped moving’. Also, keep in mind, the Rules provide for you to substitute a ball that you cannot recover after a drop (so you don’t need to catch a ball that is bouncing on a cart path!)

RULES OF GOLF CORNER A couple of years ago, I encountered an unusual situation that could also serve as a teachable moment for players who ever have to drop a ball in an unusual or tricky spot, such as a cart path.

On the subject of dropping, let me make one last quick point: I’ve observed a lot of players dropping above shoulder-height, almost around their eyes, apparently in an effort to remove any doubt that they are dropping from at least shoulder-height. Let me tell you, a drop from your eye level is just as invalid as a drop from waist-high. Rule 20-2 specifically states that the ball must be at ‘shoulder height’ when dropped, not below and not above. So don’t be surprised if the Rules Official asks you to re-drop when you thought you were playing it safe by dropping well above your shoulder.

I had a player hook his drive into a tall-grass area that was marked as a lateral water hazard. Coincidentally, there was a cart path that ran along the length of this particular hazard, so the player measured his two club lengths from his entry point into the hazard, and sure enough, he had to drop on the cart path. He dropped his ball properly, but instinctively caught the ball in midair after one bounce off the cart path, probably fearing that the ball would bounce away to some place where he couldn’t retrieve it.

Two weeks before this incident, I was playing a casual round of golf and found myself in the same situationhaving to drop on a cart path adjacent to a lateral water hazard, and I did the same thing (caught the ball in midair), which got me to wondering how one should handle this situation. So of course, I researched this situation and found Decision 20-2c/4 best addressed this scenario. In summary, it stipulates that stopping a dropped ball prematurely before it has had a chance to roll to a position where a re-drop would be required (rolls two club-lengths, rolls into a hazard, etc.) is essentially a violation of Rule 1-2 (taking action to influence the movement of a ball).

Good luck this summer!

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

Rule 20: Lifting, Dropping and Placing; Playing from Wrong Place 20-2. Dropping and Re-Dropping Decision 20-2c/4 Caddie Stops Dropped Ball Before It Comes to Rest; When Penalty Incurred

So to apply that to the situation I am describing, I had to assess a 2-stroke penalty to the player and abide by the solution prescribed in Decision 20-2c/4 (the only Decision I could find on the subject): he had to place the ball underneath the spot where he initially stopped it’s movement, in this case on a sloping cart path. We were able to eventually find, after a couple of attempts at placing on the path, a patch of grass a few feet behind our location where he could place the ball and have it remain at rest.

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NOTES FROM THE USGA ANNUAL MEETING Continued from page 1

the flagstick is removed from the hole. When a group replaces the flagstick after putting out, the cycle time is recorded and logjams can be more efficiently rectified.

The USGA’s Rules department showcased its digital resources, which make the Rules of Golf accessible beyond the pages of a bound book. The resources include USGA.org, mobile apps and the Rules of Golf Experience. Set to debut this summer, the Rules of Golf Experience will include quizzes, a learn-at-your-own pace feature and simulations.

“This enables the course to monitor pace of play in a new way, which is the key to a more efficient operation,” said Hunki Yun, the USGA’s director of strategic projects. “The hope is this will improve the coursecustomer golf experience everywhere.”

Play 9, an initiative focused on encouraging golfers to play more nine-hole rounds, Susan Wasser, assistant director of embraced that idea in digital USGA Museum operations, displayed form. Computers were set up The USGA announces the creselect pieces from the museum’s allowing people to play a video ation of the US Women’s Senior “More Than A Game” exhibit, which game version of the ninth hole Open Championship. focuses on the creation of Africanat Chambers Bay, site of the The event will debut in 2018 as American golf clubs during the Jim 2015 U.S. Open. a 72-hole championship, the 14th Crow era and their positive impact on among the USGA’s National communities across the country.

A resource management competitions. The site, field size and prize money details are still Exhibit items included the original station was also set up, detailing being worked out.

Negro National Open Championship the benefits of the USGA While many in the golf industry Trophy, the oldest trophy from the Course Consulting Service. wondered why it took so long for United Golfers Association era, and Some of the tools USGA the USGA to act since the formaartifacts from Clearview Golf Club, agronomists use during site tion of the US Senior Open in the first golf course designed, owned visits to help courses with 1980, it is nice to see the event and operated by an African American. maintenance-related issues were being formed during the presiSome of Renee Powell’s mementos on display. dency of our own Tom O’Toole. were included in the display. The The real question will come daughter of Bill Powell, who founded This is the first time the down to the age limit. While Clearview, Renee received the Ike USGA has staged an exhibition senior men compete at 50, tradiGrainger Award at the Service Awards like this during the Annual tionally the ladies stop competing Dinner later in the evening. The Ike Meeting, and the early returns much earlier. Should the age be dropped to 45 or so, we should Grainger Award recognizes those who were overwhelmingly positive. see some very exciting play with have served the USGA as a volunteer the likes of Sorenstan, Neumann, for 25 years or more.

“It showcases what we as an Inkster, Pepper, Lopez and others organization are passionate polishing their games.

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, which about, which is great to see,” offers girls ages 7-17 opportunities said Greg Ross, the USGA manager of branded and special and exposure to the game, welcomed members of the Big Apple chapter. The girls putted on events. “Having the girls from LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, a makeshift green and gave away backpacks with a hat, for example, was especially cool. It’s always good when we can interact with the golf community like this.” ball marker and information packet enclosed. ...Joey Flyntz, USGA at jflyntz@usga.org

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THE ST. LOUIS GOLF EXPO For the 6th year, the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association is a sponsoring organization for the annual St. Louis Golf Expo, held February 13-15, at the St. Charles Convention Center. Once again, the crowds surpassed expectations as area golfers arrived to check out the latest equipment and specialty items for 2015. With deals everywhere, many patrons left with clubs, bags, and many additional golf-related items. In addition, for 2015, Metropolitan eNewsletter editor Jim Healey, took to the main stage on Saturday, February 14, for a presentation on area golf history.

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January - February 2015

The Metropolitan

AREA COURSE DESIGNERS HOMETOWN COURSE ARCHITECTS WHO HELP MAKE GOLF BETTER FOR ALL PLAYERS! SO, WHO ARE THESE GUYS? Gary Kern Gary studied engineering at Texas A&M and Purdue, where he became a licensed surveyor in Indiana. In the course of his survey work he had the opportunity to assist Bill Diddel as he was laying out a course in the area. During this time he found course architecture fascinating. He continued to work with Diddel during the actual construction, gaining knowledge and some practical insights.

Shortly after this he decided to moonlight as a designer and in 1969 landed his first design job. By the mid-70s, Gary had enough work to practice full-time. In the 1980s he moved from Indianapolis to St. Louis where he teamed with Hale Irwin. In 1986, he was joined by his son Ron in the practice and the two of them have collaborated on many area projects.

Gary is credited with over 20 new constructions and over 30 where he has done remodeling projects. Some of his best designs are Quail Creek, Fox Run, Bent Creek, Fourche Valley, Sun Valley, Eagle Lake, Fox Creek, Lake Forest, Union Hills and Rolling Hills. His remodeling efforts include Cape Girardeau, Norwood Hills (East), Lake Valley, Meadowbrook, Westborough, Cherry Hills, Sunset Hills and Cardinal Creek at Scott AFB. Though currently in semi-retirement, Gary’s works remain an example of solid, playable courses built for the average golfer.

Stan Gentry Working with Hale Irwin design for over a decade, Stan did early work on Irwin projects around the country, including Colorado, Nevada and other states. In the area, he did the majority of work on the 2004 remodel of Forest Park golf course. This project was so successful that when it came time for the redesign of Triple A, under the new ownership of Eagle Golf, Gentry was picked to lead the project.

Following the completion of the new layout, which now included a practice facility in the middle of the grounds, the updated design reopened in 2010 as The Highlands GC.

Art Schaupeter A protegee of Keith Foster, Art worked on Foster’s early projects at Persimmon Woods, Gateway National and Meadowbrook. Forest Hills, which had looked to Art for design and consulting for years, continues to do so. He then joined Jeff Whitfield, with whom he had worked with at Persimmon Woods, and designed Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Missouri. Recently, Art completed a new 18-hole project in Panama City, Panama and has been working with groups in China, completing one 18-hole project and has a three others in various stages of development. He completed a municipal project in Elgin, Illinois in 2011 - The Highlands of Elgin - which grew from an 8-hole course in 2003 (by Schaupeter & Foster), then completed by Art for the 2011 opening of all 18-holes. It was voted the top Municipal course in Illinois by Golfweek and the #7 Municipal in the country in 2013. He has additional projects underway in Denver (Heron Lakes) and one in San Antonio, specifically designed for wounded military veterans (The Valor Club). He has renovation projects at Bellefonte CC in Kentucky and Oak Hills in Jefferson City, MO.

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AREA DESIGNERS Roger Null Having served as superintendent at Old Warson and Norwood Hills, Roger was very instrumental in the late 1980s redesign of Norwood Hills. He later did work on several area public courses, notably The Landings at Spirit GC, the Quarry at Crystal Springs and The Falls GC. Between 2004 and 2014, Null did work for Westwood CC, Sunset CC, Westborough CC and the courses at Bogey Club and Log Cabin Club.

As a player, Roger was considered one of the top superintendents in the country, winning their championship on three occasions.

He left Norwood to assume the lead position at Boone Valley GC, where he remains, though in semiretirement.

KERN’S DESIGNS (PARTIAL)

GENTRY’S DESIGNS Forest Park GC (27) * GC at The Highlands (9) Warrior GC (NC) Links at Cottonwoods (MS) * Jewel GC (MN) * Red Hawk GC (NV) * Grand Bear GC (MS) * Teton Reserve GC (ID) * Meadowlands GC (NC) * Cordillera (CO) *

Fox Creek GC Fox Run GC Wolf Hollow GC Quail Creek GC * Sun Valley GC Union Hills CC The Legends (9) Crescent Farms GG (Renovation) Crown Point GC Aberdeen GC Bear Creek GC Columbia Bridges GC Eagle Knoll GC Fourche Valley GC Lake Forest G&CC (9) Meramec Lakes GC (Renovation) Westborough CC (Renovation)

* With Hale Irwin

SCHAUPETER’S DESIGNS (PARTIAL) The Highlands of Elgin, IL The Club at Old Hawthorne (MO) Highland Meadows (CO) Gateway National * Persimmon Woods * The Buckhorn (TX) Highland Meadows (CO) Haymaker (CO) * The Republic (TX) Coral Canyon (UT) * Forest Hills CC (Renovation) Bellefonte CC (Renovation) Meadowbrook CC (Renovation)* Westwood CC (Renovation)* Kimbeland CC (Renovation)

* With Hale Irwin

NULL’S DESIGNS Landings at Spirit GC GC at Deer Chase GC Westborough CC (Renovation) Westwood CC (Renovation) Sunset CC (Renovation) Quarry at Crystal Springs GC Norwood Hills CC (Renovation) Westwood Hills (Renovation) Bogey Club/Log Cabin (Renovation) Old Warson CC (Bunkers)

* With Keith Foster

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BILLY CASPER Born in San Diego in FOR THE RECORD...

1931, he caddied at San Diego CC, where he first 51 Tour wins... caught the golf “bug.” He 1959 US Open Champion... won his first PGA Tour event in 1956, the LaBatt 1966 US Open Champion...

Open, defeating Jimmy 1970 Masters Champion...

Demaret. For 16 straight years he won a Tour event, PGA Tour Money Title 1966, 1970... eclipsed only by Nicklaus Vardon Trophy winner five times... and Palmer, who each won 17. It was fate to play in the same era at the “Big Three” of golf at that time: Arnold Palmer, Jack Played on eight Ryder Cup Teams...

Nicklaus and Gary Player. However, that did not stop him from Ryder Cup Captain in 1969... not only challenging them, but often come out on top. His 51 Tour wins places him seventh on the all-time career win list, training only Sam Snead, Tiger Woods, Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Palmer and Byron Nelson.

Perhaps it was his victory in 1966 at the Olympic Club, which brought him the honor that had eluded him.

With the field essentially conceding victory to Palmer as Arnie played the back nine, Casper came from seven shots back to overtake Nicklaus, Tony Lema and pull even with Palmer before defeating him in the 18-hole playoff.

Casper passed away at his home in Utah on February 8, 2015.

PLAY 9 SERIES 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 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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USGA’S PACE OF PLAY INITIATIVES Progress continues to be made by golf’s governing bodies on initiatives that are designed to reduce the time required to play golf.

PRO TOURS STEPPING UP The USGA continues to gather data on pace of play, with technical director Matt Pringle overseeing the study of thousands of rounds throughout the country using GPS devices that track how golfers make their way around the course. The data is helping them to identify the causes of slow play and propose measures for improvement.

ASGCA Past President Bruce Charlton and Lester George, ASGCA spoke on behalf of architects to 100 attendees of a two-day symposium on Pace of Play at the United States Golf Association headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey in November 2014. Charlton and George illustrated how recent projects had incorporated design elements to reduce lost balls and give higher handicap players more options to play recovery shots without slowing down play.

This work has already been put to good use, with the LPGA Tour seeking advice to inform a new paceof-play policy for its tournaments. A combination of increasing tee-time intervals to 11 minutes and giving a single clear message to golfers that they must keep up with the group in front have contributed to a 14minute reduction in the average round time over the course of the 2014 season. “We’ve had a lot of great feedback,” said Heather DalyDonofrio, the LPGA’s chief Tour operations officer. “The approval of the players has been huge.”

At Poppy Hills GC in Pebble Beach, California, Charlton and the team at Robert Trent Jones II recently completed a renovation where pace of play was an important part of the equation. Fairways were widened, rough eliminated, mounds removed, bunkers rebuilt and green complexes redesigned, and the entire course was sandcapped to provide firm and fast playing conditions.

“Our mantra is now firm, fast and fun,” says Charlton. “It gave us a lot of ability to speed up play.”

The USGA has also developed a practical solution for faster play at clubs of any size: a simple flagstick monitoring tool that can help clubs identify groups with a longer than expected cycle time, enabling staff to get them back on track instead of letting the delay increase waiting time for following groups.

George highlighted a project at Independence GC in Midlothian, Virginia, where rounds had been averaging over five hours. Among the changes made, his team reduced roughs, removed more than 500 trees, bushes and shrubs and rerouted cart paths. The net result was a one-hour reduction in average round time, increased revenues and reduced maintenance costs, resulting in a $52,800 annual improvement to the club’s bottom line. “The popularity of the course is way up,” said George. “And we don’t get any complaints from lower-handicap golfers. It’s still a very challenging course.”

Reprinted from BY DESIGN Magazine

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ST. LOUIS GOLF HISTORY THE 1956 CARLING OPEN

The Carling Brewing company was a significant Canadian Brewer, which sponsored events on the PGA Tour. Carling events were held at courses in the US, Canada and England, the latter as part of the Carling World Open. Beginning in 1956, they continued through 1967, before ending. Winners included a Who’s Who of golfers at the time; Cary Middlecoff, Julius Boros, Gay Brewer, Tony Lema, Bruce Devlin, Doug Ford, Bobby Nichols and Bill Casper. However, only one player captured two of these events: Dow Finsterwald. His first victory came in 1956 at Sunset Country Club, followed by his victory in 1959 at Seneca GC in Cleveland.

At the 1956 Carling Open, Sunset had its original routing, with the current 9th hole serving as the closing 18th. The field of 90 were competing for the $5,000 first place check. However, in that era, only the top 35 professionals would receive a check, with $76.66 going to the final six spots!

In the field were Gene Littler, Jay Hebert, Doug Ford, Arnold Palmer, Jack Fleck, Bob Toski, Ed Furgol, Billy Maxwell, Bob Toski, Bob Rosburg, Dutch Harrison, Frank Stranahan and Billy Casper. Several amateurs joined the professionals, including Bob Goalby, Jim Tom Blair, Jimmy Jackson, Bob Cochran, Joe Switzer, Dick Lotz, Frank Furlong and Tom Hullverson.

Finsterwald opened with a 65 over the par 72, 6,277 yard course. Only Jackie Burke, with a 67, was within two shots of the leader. Finsterwald’s 71 in the second round brought the field closer, but a pair of 69s over the final two rounds closed the door as he took a three shot victory.

Maxwell, Burke and Casper each tied for second at 277, taking home checks for $2,160.

Two years later, Finsterwald went on to win the 1958 PGA Championship and played on four Ryder Cup Teams. He finished in the money in 72 consecutive PGA events, second only to Byron Nelson’s record 113 at the time. Later, he become the long-time head professional at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. A close friend of Palmer, he lives in the Orlando area in the winter. His son, Dow Jr. is the head profesional at Colonial CC in Fort Worth.

Dow Finsterwald

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

DATE 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 begin on March 2, 2015.

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MARCH 2015 2 MON

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Online Registration for ALL MAGA Events

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MAGA Events in RED | USGA Events in BLUE

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Gateway Cup Matches

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Gateway Cup Matches

20 WingHaven CC Amateur Series

26

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25 Play 9 Series Ballwin GC

28

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30

US Open Entry Deadline

12

MAY 1

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January - February 2015

The Metropolitan

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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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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The Metropolitan

January - February 2015

WHAT A RUN...25 YEARS OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF When the Metropolitan hosted its first championship in 1991, few would have believed that it would have grown from a lonely men’s event to the 10 current championships, including a pro Open Tournament!

But those early founders saw something within the St. Louis golfing community that provided them with the confidence to venture into championship golf.

Perhaps it was the who’s who of St. Louis golf that is among the early champions that provided the impetus to continue; or maybe it was just that the area needed such an event. However, within just a few years, a women’s event was added, and once again, the names on that trophy need little introduction.

However, a quick look back at some of these early titleholders is appropriate as many of the current generation know of them only by name, never having the opportunity to see the beauty of their swings and the talents they possessed in that era.

1991 & 1993- Don Bliss Having already won four Missouri Amateur titles, Bliss’ talent, smooth, rhythmic swing and mild manner were legendary. Part of the Norwood Hills crowd - it was said it was tougher to win the Norwood club championship than the state title - having Bliss as the MAGA’s first and third champion surely helped cement the event as the one players needed to win to have on their resume. Bliss posted a 218 total over the CC at the Legends - which was barely three years old at the time - to edge Terry Tessary. His second win came at Lake Forest as he set a new standard with his 213 total.

1996 Tom Barry When it was announced that the 1996 MAGA Amateur would be held at Bellerive, the golfing community knew that the MAGA had arrived. They also knew that the champion that year would be long-remembered. They were not wrong The legendary Normandie golfer was always considered as one of the area’s top players. He had claimed back-to-back titles at Normandie in the late 1980s, and had qualified for several USGA championships.

However, on the stage at Bellerive, his 213 total was good enough for the win. Toz would go on to claim additional titles and compete in more USGA events, but the 1996 MAGA title was certainly one of his finest.

1997 & 1998 - David Estes One of the most tenacious players in the 1990s, David was someone to be concerned with if he edged up the leaderboard as an event drew to a close. With his wife Sandy, they cut their teeth winning countless couples tournaments across the area, beating players from clubs across the state. When they joined Norwood Hills, David fell right into place with the legions of players who would go on to be counted among the area’s best. He finished second with Bliss at the 1994 Metropolitan Amateur with Jim Holtgrieve winning in a playoff. Estes finished second once more in 1996 to Tom Barry at Bellerive. He then jumped to the top of the field in 1997 and in 1998, out-playing the 1995 champion, Craig Schnurbusch in 1997 at Fox Run and getting a bit of revenge from Jim Holtgrieve at Old Warson in 1998. He would finish tied for second in 1999, behind fellow Norwood member Brian Kennedy at Norwood. While the 1999 event was the last he would find himself among the top two on the leaderboard in the Metropolitan Amateur, he would continue to compete well in other events, winning the Old Warson Cup (then Metro Cup) in 2003 after finished second in 2002 to Skip Berkmeyer.

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