Curt’s Corner

MAGA STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Curt Rohe - curt@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 (Local and Sectional) US Senior Open US Amateur US Mid-Amateur US Girls’ Junior Amateur US Women’s Mid-Amateur US Junior Amateur US Senior Amateur US Senior Women’s Amateur US Women’s Open US Amateur Four-Ball US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Scott Thomas, Chairman Dustin Ashby Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer Chris Kovach Ryan Eckelcamp Tom Portner Curt Rohe

2020 P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS Chase Phillps Jacob Skudlarczyk Chase Holland

THE METROPOLITAN EDITOR Dan O’Neill

Curt’s Corner

Curt Rohe - Executive Director

Happy New Year! Is there a year that says more than ever than this year - 2020? The past year has been one for the ages and we are ready for 2021. However, golf again has been good, and many would say it has been great! The numbers are staggering on the amount that play is up around the country, which should mean good things for our clubs. The numbers are up at both private and public facilities. I have spoken to many of our private member clubs and they too are experiencing record breaking numbers for rounds, as are the public clubs. While the courses have experienced high volume, so has the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association. Our individual memberships, which are all of you reading The Metropolitan, have increased in 2020. Again, that means people were playing golf, entering scores and maintaining their USGA Handicap Indexes. As we wrap up the year, I must complete my Corner with a plethora of thank yous! It was a trying year at times, at times not knowing if or when we would have a golf season, before finally getting started in June. We had to react to where we were playing - which county we were in, which state we were in - and adjust playing conditions accordingly for those locations. But we did it. Once again, our Member Clubs demonstrated why they are the best in the country - and I continue to say that year-in, year-out! To those that were scheduled early on, who adjusted to a later date(s) so we would not have to cancel events - thank you! Those clubs cooperated by ensuring a safe environment for our golfers to participate in a full schedule in 2020. Again, thank you! Our volunteers are, as we all know, the lifeblood of the organization. Thank you to our Rules Committee and Course Rating Committee for sticking with us, and giving your time so we could deliver on championships we are known for, and on services to our clubs. We adapted to doing things differently on many occasions, but again, we did it! As 2020 comes to an end, we are excited about what 2021 has in store. The 2021 championship schedule is rounding into shape and will be published on the website very soon. The highlights of the season will be the 31st Amateur Championship at St. Louis Country Club, as well as the 16th Metropolitan Open returning to Lake Forest Country Club in June. So, I will end this final Curt’s Corner with a big thank you to Dan O’Neill and what he has brought to The Metropolitan in 2020! We look forward to bringing you more in 2021!

Positions Available in 2021

P. J. Boatwright Internships Three opportunities for internships in 2021

Each year the USGA provides assistance to Allied Golf Association’s (AGA’s) around the country in the form of the PJ Boatwright Internship grant, MAGA has been a benefactor of this grant since its inception in 1992. In fact, Executive Director Curt Rohe began his golf career as a PJ Boatwright Intern in 1998 with MAGA. Several former MAGA Boatwright Interns have gone on to careers in golf after their time with MAGA. In 2021, we have three (3) opportunities for internships for the season. Visit the MAGA wesbite (www.metga.org) or contact Curt Rohe, Executive Director, at curt@metga.org.