The Metropolitan Vol.9, No.7 (October 2022)

By The NumbersMAGA

WHAT WE DO:

- Provide the GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System

- Conduct ten (10) Metropolitan Championships each season

- Conduct USGA Qualifying for nine (9) USGA Championships each season

- Conduct the Amateur Series of Events for golfers of all ages and abilities

- Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs

- Regional authority on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status

METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Amateur Championship

Old Warson Cup (Match Play Championship)

Shogren Cup (Match Play PGA Pros vs. MAGA Amateurs)

Open Championship • Women’s Amateur Championship

Junior Amateur Championship • Senior Amateur Championship

Metropolitan Cup Matches • Four-Ball Championship

9-Hole Championship • Mid-America Junior Cup

USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS

U.S. Open • U.S. Senior Open

U.S. Mid-Amateur • U.S. Amateur

U.S. Women’s Open • U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur

U.S. Junior Amateur • U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur

U.S. Amateur Four-Ball • U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

U.S. Senior Amateur • U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

4 - The number of players who have won both a British Open and Senior British Open championship. Darren Clarke joined the club last month by making birdie on the No. 18 at Gleneagles in Scotland, narrowly edging fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington to capture the 2022 Senior British Open. The 53-year old Clarke, who won the 2011 British Open at Royal St. George’s, joined Gary Player, Bob Charles and Tom Watson as the only players to win both the regular and senior versions of the Open. Harrington, a three-time major championship winner and two-time British Open winner (2007, 2008), also was trying to gain the distinction. But his final-round 67, which also included a birdie at 18, wasn’t quite good enough. He finished a stroke behind Clarke, who closed with a 69.

45 - The number of countries that have golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus’ design company, which is set to do the renovation work at Normandie Golf Club in St. Louis. Nicklaus’ company has designed more than 425 courses, 280 of which have been designed by the “Golden Bear” himself. Nicklaus has courses in more than 40 states in the U.S., including Missouri and Illinois. Foremost among the collection is Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dubin, Ohio, which is home to the Memorial Tournament each year.

2 - The number of putters Sam Sparks Jr. had in his bag to win the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Parks was 25 years old at the time, a pro at nearby South Hills Country Club, with no previous tournament wins. That said, leading up to the tournament, Sparks stopped at Oakmont every day for a month to play a practice round and get to know the famously fast and fickle greens. He also had the right strategy, carrying one flagstick for lag putting and another for short putts. As a result, he three-putted just twice over the 72 holes of the championship. Scoring conditions were so difficult that no player in contention broke 75 during the final round and Sparks captured the title by two strokes with a final-round 76. He was the only player to crack 300 for the championship and his winning total of 299 was the highest since the 1927 U.S. Open - also conducted at Oakmont. The speedy greens of the 1935 championship also inspired the invention of the Stimpmeter. Edward Stimpson, Sr., the amateur champion of Massachu setts and former captain of the golf team at Harvard, created the simple method to accurately measure the speed of greens.

19 - The number of holes originally intended to be built at Augusta National Golf Club. In the original design, the additional hole was to be utilized as a “double or nothing” or “quits” hole, where those trailing in a match could reclaim their losses – or double them - with one final chance to turn the tables. The hole was designed to be 90 yards long, and the tee box was to be situated behind the original 18th green (which became Augusta’s 9th green when the nines were reversed in 1935).

Despite the club co-founder Clifford Roberts being in favor of the idea, the 19th hole was “ultimately abandoned for unknown reasons,” accord ing to the Augusta National archives.

6 - The number of golf holes in the layout at Golf De La Jenny, where nudity is mandatory. The course, located on the Atlantic coastline near Bordeaux, France, is the only naturist golf course in the world. The layout includes three par-3s and three par-4s, and the facility offers a driving range, practice green and lessons for beginners. It’s not entirely free, however. The fee at Golf De La Jenny is 32 euros, which is $31.86 in U.S. currency.

C

MAGA STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

urt Rohe - curt@metga.org

DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Caroline Buchan - caroline@metga.org

P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS

Parker Leavitt

Jack Underwood

Tanner Weberling

2022 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Officers

Scott Engelbrecht, President/Treasurer

Mike Marquart, Secretary

At-Large Members

John Bugh

Stan Grossman

Kelli Kirchoff

Mike Marquart

Rick Meyer, Jr.

John Moore

Mick Wellington

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Scott Thomas, Chairman

Tom Barry

Skip Berkmeyer

Chris Kovach

Ryan Eckelcamp

Tom Portner

Curt Rohe

THE METROPOLITAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dan O’Neill

Curt’s Corner

Curt Rohe - Executive Director

Hello members! Welcome to the fall as we wind down another great season of golf and service to golfers and clubs of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association! 2022 marked my 21st season with MAGA, as a full-time employee...23 if you include my two years as an intern. I look back and see how far we have come in how we conduct championships, the technology of GHIN and tournament management software, our website and the list goes on. I am always in awe of where we were to where we have come today.

This newsletter for example...we started The Metropolitan in 2014, 9 years ago! The data we get back from you our members who take a few minutes each issue to open and read is amazing, I am grateful. As we move into the “off-season” look for opportunities for you or your companies to share in the reach of The Metropolitan.

I recently pulled some stats about score posting, and yes we have 2 more weeks to post scores this year. But thinking back to when we had computers in every golf shop or locker rooms to now blows my mind to where we are today with posting. 2022 to date, 611,321 rounds have been posted by YOU, our members, 14,615 have been posted on a kiosk/computer while 434.054 have been posted using the GHIN Mobile app! All the final stats will be shared in our year end issue.

November 30th at Bellerive Country Club we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association and our 2022 Players of the Year. It will be a great evening to recognize the 2022 accomplishments of our champions and golfers and reflect back on where we have come since the beginning of MAGA in 1992!

I want to say a quick thank you to our three PJ Boatwright Interns from this season. Tanner Weberling, Parker Leavitt and Jack Underwood were exceptional young men and exceeded my expectations for 2022. Each season the interns bring so much to the staff and are incredibly valuable to our success.

The 2023 schedules are rounding into shape, as always, our goal is to publish those at the first of the year if not sooner if complete. Please continue to check the website for updates for the 2023 schedules.

Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read The Metropolitan and have a great rest of the golf season!

Celebrating 30 Years!

The Champions

30 years of governing golf and 30 years of Champions. Every year, new champions get added to the list. Without those who participated in the first years of the MAGA, we would not have the championships we have today. So, this one is for those front-runners who started the path along with those who have made history on the way.

Let’s take a look at the firsts: And let’s not forget the History Makers/Record Holders:

Senior Amateur

It was a cool day at Aberdeen Golf Club for the Final Round of the 30th Senior Amateur. When play began at 8:00am, temperatures were around 40°F and rose to 64°F throughout the day. Players went off on Holes 1 and 10, and the course played at a Par 72. The championship consisted of 6 Divisions: Championship, age 50-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75+ (net and gross in each division except championship division).

In the Championship Division Brian Lovett began the day at three-under (-3) par, and just one-stroke above the competition. Lovett stayed alive by shooting even-par in the Final Round. Nobody was able to advance their scores to overtake Lovett. This win pushes Lovett to the top of the Senior Player of the Year Leaderboard to overtake Buddy Allen, who had been holding a steady lead until now. Didier Villard and Tim Barry came in behind Lovett at one-over (+1) par for the championship.

For the age divisions, each group had an award for gross winner and net winner. Nicolas Matrisotto claimed the victory in the 50-59 age division with a two-day gross score of thirteen-over (+13) par, while Jim Modlin won with the net score of one-under (-1) par. Coming in with a score of seven-over (+7) par, Brett Combs won the 60-64 gross division. After handicaps were applied, William Thompson took home the trophy for the 60-64 net division with a three-over (+3) par. Kevin Ortyl kept it consistent, shooting back-to-back 76’s (+8) to finish on top of the 65-69 gross division. Ortyl also finished on top of the 65-69 net leaderboard, but having won the gross, the winnings were passed over to John Epps with a net score of even-par (E). In the 70-74 division, Jim Dunn carded a total gross score of one-over (+1) par to win, and Tom Leahy won with a net score of one-under (-1) par. The Bills took over in the 75 and over division with Bill Wirtz coming in with a gross score of eighteen-over (+18) par, while Bill Braun used his handicap to top the net leaderboard with a score of five-over (+5) par.

The most notable moment of the day came from the 8:50am group off of Hole 10. Two members of this 65-69 age division group made a hole-in-one during the day’s round at different times. Having started on Hole 10, the first hole-in-one came from George Von Stamwitz on the par-3, Hole 16. This was already an exciting moment for the group to have witnessed, when it happened again seven holes later. This time, it was Chuck Schranck who sunk it in one-stroke on the par-3, Hole 5. Unfortunately for the third player in the group, he did not make a hole-in-one, but he got a front row seat to something you do not see everyday.

The lowest scores of the day came from Michael Mervis at two-under (-2) par, gross, and four-under (-4) par, net. One eagle was made in the Final Round by Dave Abel on the par-5, Hole 6. Players enjoyed their time on the course with the camaraderie and competition.

Final Results Photos

Brian Lovett

CHAMPION

Nicolas Matrisotto 50-59 Gross

Jim Modlin 50-59 Net

Brett Combs 60-64 Gross

Kevin Ortyl 65-69 Gross

Jim Dunn 70-74 Gross

Bill Wirtz 75+ Gross

William Thompson 60-64 Net

John Epps 65-69 Net

Tom Leahy 70-74 Net

Bill Braun 75+ Net

Amateur Series Championship

The 2022 Amateur Series has come to a close. 57 individuals competed in their respective divisions at The Quarry Golf Club to take home the hardware. Throughout both days of play, players were faced with temperatures in the 40°s and cool 10-20 mile per hour wind gusts. Luckily, the sun was shining to provide a few rays of warmth. Players fought hard to stand on top of their divisions. To read more about the Championship click Press Release below.

Results

Results:

Open Division - Mike McKillips

Senior Open Division - Dan Mallon

Super Senior Open Division - John Chastain

Southern Illinois Amateur

Final Results Photos

Mount Vernon, IL - It was a great day at the Southern Illinois Amateur Final Round. Despite the weather, the players enjoyed themselves. The morning started at 9:00a.m. with temperatures near 70°F. Around 10:50a.m., the wind began to pick up bringing in a mist as well as a sprinkle of rain that started about 30 minutes later. The rain subsided, but the clouds stayed and temperatures remained cool.

Tony Gumper took home the Southern Illinois Amateur title by coming in with a one-under(-1) par, bringing his total to four-under(-4) par. Gumper’s victory did not come without contention. Curtis Brokenbrow came out swinging in Round Two, determined to make up for his First Round two-over. With seven birdies, Brokenbrow was able to shoot a 66 - five-under par - to bring his total to three-under(-3) par, and right on Gumper’s heels.

In the Senior Division, Brian Lovett took victory over Round One leader, Buddy Allen. Lovett hit a hot streak with four birdies on the back nine. This had him finish with a 67, four-under(-4) par, for the day and a total of five-under(-5) for the championship. Allen shot one-under(-1) par in Round Two, which brought him to four-under(-4) for the championship and unable to catch Lovett.

All players finished their rounds in under four hours. Tony Gumper just held on to his Round One lead to be the Southern Illinois Amateur Champion, and Brian Lovett came in later in Round Two to win the Senior Division.

Net Division - Chris Canfield

Women’s Net Division - Carol Stampley

Senior Net Division - Gregg Johannes

Super Senior Net Division - Chuck Evans

Tony Gumper

Brian Lovett

Supe’s On

You’ve got a lot of gall!

Ken MorganMississippi Valley GCSA - Director

Normally an expression accusing someone of behaving in a rude or disrespectful way - it has taken on new meaning in the St Louis region. The gall we are talking about is Oak Gall! You’ve seen them - on the ground, in the trees, covering most of the stately oak trees lining our fairways. Oak galls are a round tumor like growth found on various species of oaks and can appear on the leaves, stems, and branches of the tree. These galls are created by a stingless wasp native to Missouri, with the most common and destructive being the gouty and horned oak galls.

The infestation begins when a female wasp emerges in the spring from an old gall and lays her eggs on adjacent oak leaf buds. In mid-summer males and females emerge from these small galls on the leaves and impregnated females deposit more eggs on oak twigs. The following spring small swellings develop on the twigs and enlarge over the next few years providing food, shelter, and protection for developing larvae. Adult wasps emerge from these galls and another life cycle begins. As the galls increase in size, the branches can succumb to the weight and break off, and remaining galls create stress on the tree.

Normally galls, while unsightly, do not create a major threat to healthy trees. In years past, I have personally witnessed many trees on my course weather a 2-year infestation and recover, but these trees were in good health. Many of the oak trees on golf courses in St. Louis were planted around the same time and as they age, they become more susceptible to succumbing to oak gall infestation and tree damage. The sheer volume of galls, the ever-increasing age of the trees, and the increased wasp population over the last few seasons has created a perfect storm. The increase in the wasp population could possibly be caused by a changing biological cycle in the pest, mild winters over the last few years, or a reduction in natural predators.

Unfortunately, there is no widely successful treatment for oak gall. The pest has multiple life cycles in the same season making treatment very difficult to time and oak gall injection has thus far proven ineffective. While homeowners may have the option to remove the galls via pruning to protect their trees, that solution is impractical at best on a golf course due to the sheer volume of trees. Once infestation has put these trees health in jeopardy, the only viable solution becomes removal. This can eliminate the chance of further infestation and reduce the chance of injury from a hazardous tree, but not only does this become prohibitively expensive, it can also affect the aesthetics and playability of the course.

While this situation has not yet become as serious as the invasive Emerald Ash Borer epidemic which decimated the Ash tree population in the area and resulted in mass removals, it could be in the near future. An epidemic occurring among the oak population would be catastrophic in a St Louis region rich with all species of Oak. As we hope for the current oak situation to pass and as we reforest the areas that have been decimated, we should revisit the importance of diversity in tree planting for golf courses and parklands.

So, the next time you play at your local golf course, you might not want to mention to the superintendent that he or she has a lot of “gall”.

Ken Morgan Superintendent Ruth Park Golf Course

Tony Stevens Cup

Whittingham, IL - The Tony Stevens Cup is a long standing tradition of the Southern Illinois Golf Association. It is a 27 hole, 6-man club team championship. Played all in one day, each team plays 9-holes of four-ball, 9-holes of a modified Chapman, and 9-holes of foursomes. Ten teams took to the course this year to battle for the trophy at Rend Lake Golf Course in Whittingham, IL.

The four-ball stroke play round started at 9:00am. McLeansboro Golf Club Team 1 put up a strong showing with a team score of six-under (-6) par. Within the team, Jerrod Prince and Jeff Gray came in with a four-under (-4) par. Bryan Warren and Shayne Downen shot two-under (-2) par to boost the team to six-under, while Chris Hopfinger and Landon Vaughan just barely missed out on being included in the team total with a one-under (-1) par. Rend Lake Golf Course was three shots back, sitting in second place at three-under (-3) par after the first round. Kevin Tate and Andrew Mitchell put up a score of two-under (-2) par, and both the sides of Adam Johnston and Bryce Doughty, as well as, Anthony Heinrich and Scott Bates came in with scores of one-under (-1). Both Green Hills Golf Club and Red Hawk Golf Club sat tied for third at one-under (-1) par.

At 12:00pm, the teams went back out for round two using the modified Chapman. This format requires each player to play their own ball off the tee, followed by playing your partner’s ball for the second shot, and then selecting one ball to complete the hole using alternating shots. Rend Lake Golf Course came out swinging in this round, putting up a total of four-under (-4) par. Kevin Tate and Andrew Mitchell really got the ball rolling with a score of four-under (-4) par. Both of the other two partnerships came in with even-par (E). Green Hills Golf Club were fighting to move up the board with a round score of two-under (-2) par. Tom Portner and Brandon Bullard put up the two-under (-2) to combine with Matt Heffley and Jonathan Stowers’ score of even-par (E). McLeansboro Golf Club Team 1 was only able to card a one-under (-1) par to bring their championship total to seven-under (-7) par. After Round 2, the team championship leaderboard showed McLeansboro GC 1 and Rend Lake GCtied at seven-under (-7) par with Green Hills GC following at three-under (-3) par.

Promptly following Round 2, the Final Round with a foursomes alternate-shot format began at 3:00pm. Rend Lake topped the round leaderboard again with a score of even-par (E). Adam Johnston and Bryce Doughty fired a one-under (-1) par, while their teammates Tate and Mitchell evened out the total with a score of one-over (+1) par. This final round proved a challenge as all other teams came in over par. McLeansboro Golf Club Team 1 fell in Round 3, bringing their championship total to two-under (-2) par. Green Hills was also unable to push up the leaderboard with a final round that brought their total score down to even-par (E). Rend Lake Golf Course’s final round kept them at seven-under (-7) par for the Championship, which would claim them the victory on their home course.

Final Results Photos

Customary Behavior and Unwavering Resolution

The Bogeyman

Dan O’Neill

But that doesn’t mean they are bad. Compromise is a slippery slope. You don’t have to color inside the lines, certainly not when you’re new to coloring, or don’t know better. But if you get rid of the lines altogether, you won’t know where to begin. You won’t know where to color at all.

Perhaps the best way to begin a column at this time of year is to give a nod to Halloween. The event has always been a favorite of the ol’ Bogeyman.

He’s reminded of the formative years, when picking the right costume was so crucial, his first experience with “deadline pressure.” Later, as years passed, pranks and mischief became the focal point. You didn’t leave the house without ample supplies of eggs and toilet paper, and you game-planned your escape routes so as not to torpedo the tomfoolery with a ride home in a patrol car.

As you get older, of course, the emphasis changes, but not the enthusiasm. As an adult, you hope for accommodating weather - not so much for the kids but for the neighborhood driveway party.

In case you’re wondering, the Bogeyman dressed up as always this year, greeting the “trick or treaters” disguised as the TaylorMade driver in his golf bag. Mrs. Bogeyman didn’t quite get it.

Confounded, she asked, “You’re a what?”

“I’m the driver in my golf bag,” I explained. She shook her head. “What is scary about that?” she asked. I reassured her. “You obviously haven’t seen me swing it?”

There is a point to all this. That is, despite all the random violence and horrific evil taking place in our world today, people still celebrate Halloween. The experience, the tradition … still has value and substance, at least for many.

That’s not to say all traditions are good or that all compromise is bad. Golf is all about customary behavior and unwavering resolution. The formality ingrained in the game is a big piece of its identity, a personality that separates it from other recreational endeavors. Are some of the standards, regulations and conformity surrounding golf maddening, seemingly unfair? You wouldn’t get many arguments otherwise.

This matter of rules and regulations got some attention recently in an incident at a “bucket list” golf course in Sydney, Australia. Nathan Followill, the drummer for the rock group - Kings of Leon - showed up to play the course and was asked to comply with the dress code. That is, cover up his tattoos. The 43-year old Followill was not happy.

Thus, he went where all courageous, deep-thinking and discontented souls go to voice for satisfaction - Twitter. His post read: “A Sydney bucket list golf course for me just went on the f*** it list. I was told I would have to cover up my tattoos due to a “no tattoo policy” Welcome to the 1950’s and a hell of a way to grow the game.”

Followill didn’t stop there, he followed up with a tweet inviting the golf course officials to attend a Kings of Leon show, but “they will have to show a fresh tattoo to get in.”

That’s an interesting spin of the Lazy Susan, a thought-provoking shoe on the other foot, a snappy bit of inversion. There’s just a few pinholes in Followill’s self-absorbed balloon.

The first is that this golf club was on Followill’s bucket list, not the other way around. Safe to say the facility would continue to be just as prestigious and revered by members and the golf community whether the Kings of Leon drummer ever strolled around the lawns or not.

Personally, if the Bogeyman is ever invited to play at the golf club - and that’s a continental size “if” - his first response will not be to ask if Nathan Followill has been there, and what he thought of the place. Just sayin.’

Another point might be made about the “grow the game” comment. Yes, those who govern and supervise this great game are interested in growing the game. That’s not defined by selling equipment and make tee times available, “The game” is equal parts structure and accessory, rooted in character, compliance and humility. Golf isn’t just about how you score, it’s about how you conduct yourself, how you accept the bad with the good. Followill’s beef has nothing to do with growing the game. It has to do with self-importance. Honestly, that’s not a part of the game that needs to be grown. Neither the ink industry, nor the game, are likely to grow much based on the club waiving the tattoo rules.

As mentioned, the rock show reference and situational comparison is an interesting analogy, but again, has a faulty foundation.

See, the thing is, the golf club didn’t come knocking on the Kings of Leon’s dressing room door and ask to be seated at their concert. If they did and were told they needed to get tattoos, one might guess some of them might already have tattoos. And chances are, the others would leave - without posting F-bomb tweets, without regrets. Just guessing.

On the other hand, Followill did come to the club, asking to play its golf course. And if he was not inclined to honor the club’s dress code, he shouldn’t have bothered. If he came unaware of the stance on tattoos, then shame on the benefactor. Both of those elements - Followill’s tattoos and the tattoo rule - are hard to miss.

But to show up at someone’s well-kept home - essentially uninvited - sit down to dinner and then complain about the food is just a bit ridiculous.

This Sydney club has rules and traditions. They’re not agreeable to everyone, but everyone is not required to join. It’s likely some people don’t care for the Kings of Leon. Does that mean they’re stuck in the 1950s? It means they don’t buy the CDs or attend their concerts.

The club finds value and substance in its rules, so even in this woke environment, it soldiers on. Golf is all about customary behavior and unwavering resolution. The formality is ingrained in the game.

Don’t insult traditions because you don’t like them.

End of

Mid-America Junior Cup

UnRelieved

Rules Center

Back in August, Cameron Smith was issued a penalty in the FedEx St. Jude Championship for something he did, or rather didn’t do in the third round. His tee shot landed in the penalty area, leaving him a very tight space to work with for his drop and next shot. He went through the proper procedure for dropping a ball from a penalty area, except for one small caveat. He did not take FULL RELIEF.

When removing your ball from a penalty area it is required that the player take full relief out of the penalty area. Meaning, the ball can not be touching, on, or inside the red line. Smith’s ball after his drop and that he played, was in fact still touching the red

line. He admitted to the Rule’s Committee that the ball was definitely touching the red paint, and was therfore issued a two-stroke penalty for playing from a wrong position via Rule 14.7 under Rule 17.1. Even the Champion Golfer of the Year is not immune to the nitty gritty Rules of Golf. When taking relief next time, you might want to double check you’re clear of the paint marks. Moral of this story: ALWAYS check to make sure you have taken COMPLETE Relief.

Complete Relief Required Even for Cart Paths

John Thorman explains:

Dear John: My tee shot came to rest just off the right side of the cart path about 200yards from the green (hole is at top of the picture). I’m a right-handed player, so I had stance interference with the path. However, if I take complete relief right of the path, I’ll be dropping in waist-high grass (not marked as out of bounds or penalty area), leaving me with an impossible shot! In this situation, can I take relief to the left of the path, instead?

- Wayward

Nearest, Not Necessarily Nicest, Point of Complete Relief

Dear Wayward: Your initial thought was right (no pun intended). The nearest point of complete relief under Rule 16.1 (Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions, Including Immovable Obstructions) will definitely be on the right-hand side of the cartpath. When you transpose the stance, line of play, and intended swing with the club you would have used if the cart path had not been there, with your heels clear of the path (i.e. complete relief), the address position of your club will probably be in the tall grass. That point, so determined, will be the nearest point of complete relief (the Rules don’t say the nicest point of relief; the player is not guarunteed a good shot after taking any kind of relief (Interpretations 16.1/1 and Nearest Point of Complete Relief/4)).

Sorry, but you may not switch to taking free relief on the left-hand side of the cart path. That would amount to playing from a wrong place (Rule 14.7: two-stroke penalty in stroke play; loss of hole in match play). Your options are:

1. Play the ball as it lies with stance on the cart path (Rule 9.1a; most practical)

2. Proceed under an unplayable ball option with a one-stroke penalty (Rule 19.2; not good)

3. Take free relief in the tall grass on the tight-hand side of the cart path (Rule 16.1; forget it!)

This edition of Rules Center features an excerpt from MAGA official John Thorman’s e-book, Let’s Get It Right.

-->For more on how to take complete relief, visit Let’s Get It Right or the Rules of Golf.

Sobbe Cup

Throughout the summer, 54 teams from clubs across the area went head-to-head. The top 16 teams then had to face off in the playoffs to reach the final match for the trophy. Whitmoor Country Club sat in the top seed and Spring Lake II sat in the 16th seed position. Surviving to the Quarter-Finals and facing each other were Whitmoor Country Club (#1) vs Quincy Country Club (#8), Bogey Hills Country Club (#4) vs Greenbriar Hills Country Club II (#5), Algonquin Golf Club (#15) vs Greenbriar Hills Country Club I (#7), and Spring Lake I (#14) vs Tapawingo National Golf Club (#11). Then, we were down to the Final Four who faced off on September 23 at Fox Run Golf Club. Making it to the Final Four and facing off were Quincy CC (#8) vs Bogey Hills CC (#4) and Algonquin GC (#15) vs Tapawingo National GC (#11). Quincy CC won their semi-final match with 4.5 points versus Bogey Hills CC’s 1.5 points. Tapawingo National GC also won their semi-final match with 4.0 points over Algonquin GC’s 2.0 points. The Final Match was a tight race between #8 Quincy CC and #11 Tapawingo National GC. Both teams earned 3.0 points in the Final Match. Quincy CC won the professional and single handicap matches while Tapawingo National GC won the four-ball handicap and senior four-ball handicap matches. The two teams tied in the two single scratch matches, bringing the round totals to 3.0 each. Tied at the finish of the match, the teams headed into a playoff that Quincy CC won to take home the hardware.

Final Score: Quincy CC 3.0pts - Tapawingo National GC 3.0pts.

Final Four Match Results Season Match Results

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham

Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the mountains to the coast you can take it all in.

www.GolfAlabama.org

Normandie Reimagined

As we get closer to the start of renovating Normandie Golf Course, we want to look at everything this restoration is for. The goal is to restore the land that has been and can continue to be a vital piece of the community. Golf has always been a sport that can bring people together, and Normandie can be the center for this community. Normandie Golf Course will serve as a place to introduce and educate kids in the community to golf through various programs. It will be a place for them to grow and have fun. Normandie Reimagined is about more than just golf. With the help of those around us, we can rebuild Normandie Golf Course to be a beacon in the community and grow a new generation of golf.

Learn More.

For more information on the Normandie Renovation Project and how you can help, visit https://www.metga.org/nicklaus-and-normandie or contact normandie@metga.org

“The appeal of this project to me was to be involved in an effort that could serve as a catalyst to change needed in our country today, beginning with parts of St. Louis County. Restoring Normandie for a community in need will have a long-lasting positive impact on the lives of youth in St. Louis.”

- Jack Nicklaus on his involvement in Normandie GC project

Normandie Project Update:

Metropolitan