The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association
WHAT WE DO:
Provide GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System
Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs
Regional authority on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status
Conduct twelve (12) Metropolitan Championships each season
Conduct USGA Qualifying for eight (8) USGA Championships each season
Conduct three (3) Championships in Illinois
Conduct the Amateur Series of Events for golfers of all ages and abilities
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Executive Director
Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org
Director, Member Services
Caroline Buchan - caroline@metga.org
2025 PJ BOATWRIGHT INTERNS
Coming Soon
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 WRITERS
Dan O’Neill
MVGCSAA
Dr. Zach Cutler
Curt’s Corner
Curt Rohe - Executive Director
Hello members, and Happy New Year! March 1st marks the New Year for our association. Scores can be posted, and championship registrations are now open, indicating that the season is fast approaching.
Winter has been quite busy, to be honest! It’s supposed to be a time of relaxation and reenergization for the upcoming season, but the construction at Normandie has made it quite hectic. We were ahead of schedule before the holiday season, but Mother Nature has been unkind, making January and February challenging for moving dirt and shaping holes. Hopefully, we’ve overcome these obstacles, and we’ll soon be back on track at the course. I encourage you to check out the latest updates on our new webpage, which you’ll find later in the newsletter.
Since I’m writing this on March 6th, entries opened on March 5th, and it was a busy day! The Amateur Series kicked off strongly on the first day, and the 35th Amateur Championship at Westwood seems to be attracting a lot of interest early!
We are thrilled to announce that we have hired our interns for this season: Drew Soetaert, Taitt Borucki, and Gabby Dethrow-Estrada will be joining us as PJ Boatwright Interns. Taitt and Gabby are graduates of the Rawlings Sports Business Management School at Maryville University, bringing a wealth of knowledge to our team. I’ve had the privilege of learning a lot about this program this winter and am excited to partner with them in filling our positions, both this year and in the future. Drew, a student at Ole Miss, has a deep golf background and will be a valuable asset to our team. Stay tuned for more information about these three interns in the coming weeks!
As we embark on our 12th season of The Metropolitan, we remain committed to providing you with valuable updates and content tailored to our members. If you are interested in joining our newsletter, please reach out to us.
Remember, tee it up early and often, and we look forward to seeing you on the fairway this season!
By The Numbers
45
- This is where 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm finished at Augusta National last year. Rahm, who accepted a heap of dollars to join LIV in December 2023, was never in contention at the ’24 Masters. In fact, his year in the majors was not much to talk about. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship, missed the U.S. Open with a foot injury and finished tied for 7th at the British Open. Rahm was No. 3 in the world rankings when he departed the PGA Tour. With LIV events not currently awarded world ranking points, the 30-year-old Rahm was ranked No. 54 as of late February, or outside the top 50 for the first time since 2017.
94
- The number of feet in the putt that a fan drained during a break in the Houston-Texas Tech college basketball game last month. The fan stroked a golf ball the length of the glassy basketball floor and through a hole in a poster at the other end to win a pair of AirPods, which retail for $549. As the crowd went nuts, the crazed fan ran across the floor to jump into a shoulder bump with Texas Tech alum and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. The standout quarterback was sitting court side with his wife and decided to help the fan celebrate.
5
- The number of years since Tiger Woods’ last top20 finish on the PGA Tour - not counting the 20-player Hero World Challenge. In January 2020, Woods was the reigning Masters champion and ranked No. 6 in the world when he teed it up at Torrey Pines and the Farmers Insurance Open. He finished 9-under par and tied for 9th that week. He hasn’t finished higher than T38 (2020 Masters) since. Most recently, he withdrew from the Genesis Open due to the death of his mother.
27
- The number of years Carol Fromuth served as the golf coach at St. Joseph’s Academy. Fromuth led the team to 10 Missouri High School championships, including seven in a row from 2016-2022. Fromuth also was executive director of the Accelerated Golf Tour, which provided summer competition for collegiate and advanced junior players. Fromuth passed away on Feb. 14. She will be sorely missed by the St. Louis golf community.
154
- This is the average number of yards that a 15-handicapper hits his 7-iron, according to numbers provided by Shot Scope. Now, it’s important to remember a 15-handicapper is not especially consistent when it comes to hitting his clubs, so that number can fluctuate from player to player, or from day to day. According to a piece of similar research, the average PGA Tour player carries a 7-iron 176 yards - again, that’s “carry,” as in through the air.
14
- The number of players who have shot a score of 59 or lower in PGA Tour history. The first to turn the trick was “Mr. 59” Al Geiberger, who carded a 13-underpar 59 at Memphis in 1977. Jim Furyk not only shot a 59, but topped himself by firing the only 58 in Tour history at the 2016 Travelers Championship. Interestingly enough, Furyk tied for 5th in that tournament, despite the 12-under 58 in the final round. The latest to break 60 was Jake Knapp, who opened the Cognizant Classic late last month with a 12-under 59 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. By the way, only five of the previous rounds in the 50s were part of tournament-winning efforts. Geiberger’s second round score of 59 led to a win in ’77. David Duval had a 13-under 59 while winning the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1990. Stuart Appleby joined the club while winning the 2010 Greenbrier Classic. Justin Thomas used 11-under 59 in the first round to win the 2017 Sony Open and Brandt Sneaker’s 11-under 59 sparked his 2018 Wyndham Championship win.
2 0 2 5 Metropolitan Season
Championship Schedule
Shogren Cup
Bellerive Country Club
April 21-22
Old Warson Cup
Old Warson Country Club
May 3-4
East Side Amateur
Gateway National Golf Links
May 10-11
Junior Amateur
Oak Brook Golf Club
June 2-4
Open Championship
Lake Forest Country Club
June 18-20
SIGA Championship
Franklin County Country Club(IL)
June 21-22
Women’s Amateur
Greenbriar Hills Country Club
July 8-9
Amateur Qualifying
Birch Creek Golf Club
July 14
9-Hole Championship
Ballwin Golf Club
July 26
Amateur Championship
Westwood Country Club
July 31-August 2
Senior Amateur
WingHaven Country Club
September 9-10
Southern Illinois Amateur
Green Hills Golf Club
September 20
Four-Ball Championship
Franklin County Country Club(MO)
September 29-30
Tony Stevens Cup
Rend Lake Golf Club
October 5
Sobbe Cup Final Matches
TBD
TBD
Mid-America Junior Cup
TBD (Central Links Hosts)
TBD
2025 USGA Qualifying Schedule
x The Bogeyman
The Ol’ Bogeyman has had many forgettable experiences on a golf course - you don’t get to be the Bogeyman by drawing circles on your card.
In GOlf, It Happens all the Time
But I’ve had one round of golf I will cherish forever. It happened many years ago, at a time when I was covering both baseball and golf. I was sitting at home on a Wednesday morning when the phone rang. The screen caller ID said “Jack Buck” was on the other end, and I couldn’t wait to find out why.
“Hey kid, how are ya? Whaaaada ya doing tomorrow?” The smooth baritone was impossible to mistake. “How about playing golf with Musial and me?”
There was a pause, as my brain struggled to decipher what it just heard. But Buck bailed me out. “The peg goes in the ground at 9 a.m at the Missouri Bluffs. See ya there.”
Let’s face it, some questions answer themselves.
The next day, as did each broadcast from the ballpark back then, our round of golf started with a “Buck At Bat” Show. After all those years of describing Cardinals games - 45 years at that point - Buck was accustomed to setting the scene for what was about to take place.
And, as he put a peg in the ground, placed his ball on the tee and gazed down the fairway, that’s exactly what he did.
“One out, a runner on third, got to get him home,” Buck announced for all to hear. And with that, he pulled the cub back and swung away. The drive soared high in the air, not particularly deep, but right down the middle of the fairway. It got the job done - the imaginary runner trotted home without a play.
Next, Musial stepped to the dish, er, the tee. As the southpaw swinger got set, adjusted his feet and straddled the ball, Harry Caray was playing in my head: “Take a look fans, take a good long look … remember his swing, and the stance ... we won’t see his like again.”
Well, until the next tee box. But anyway …
The Man turned into a short backswing, shifted his weight a bit prematurely and ripped a low line drive to left, a similar trajectory to his 3,000th hit at Wrigley Field. “And there it is … there it is.” I thought to myself.
Couldn’t help it, couldn’t get Harry out of my head.
The confines of the 544-yard par-5 No. 1 at Missouri Bluffs are friendly, but not as friendly as Wrigley. On this occasion, Musial’s sinking liner soared into the trees, knocked on a trunk and settled well out of bounds.
“Double to left!” Musial pronounced, with his familiar self-effacing giggle. Musial had the remarkable quality of always being the person in the crowd least impressed with Musial. He loved to cut up, loved to make people laugh, and loved to laugh at himself.
And why not laugh? After all, there are no mulligans in baseball, but when you played with Buck and Musial, there most certainly were in golf. The Man reached in the bag, grabbed another egg and knocked it safely into center field.
Finally, it was my turn. As I nervously prepared to swing the lumber for the first time, the pinch-me nature of the moment sunk in. Here I was, following Musial in the batting order, fulfilling my wildest dreams.
I wouldn’t hit another one, would I?
In this case, unfortunately, yes I would. With a mighty swing, I sent “Mr. Spalding” skyward and watched as the majestic blast hooked away from the fairway, over the treetops and out of sight.
“Adios, goodbye and maybe that’s unfindable,” Buck said, parodying his call of Jack Clark’s home run in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium. As in 1985, the call was right on the mark.
“Go ahead, hit another one, that was just a long foul ball,” Buck insisted.
And so it went for the next couple of hours on a warm summer morning. The jokes kept coming, the camaraderie kept percolating and the good times rolled. I was hanging out with two of my biggest heroes, two baseball giants and lousy golf was the great equalizer. In their game, they were legends. But In this game, all three of us put our pants on one leg at a time … often backwards.
When I finished the third hole by putting out for a double-bogey 6, Buck was quick to add perspective. “Six is a good number when you’re playing with Musial.” Frankly, on this day, there wasn’t a bad number to be had.
Two holes later, the group in front was spending too much time looking for a ball when Musial said, “Let’s just go around these guys and play the next hole.” Sure enough, a group was already standing on the next tee, as well.
Not to be deterred, the Hall of Fame train simply turned around, went back two holes and played the previous ground over again. As the Bogeyman, I knew this strategy well - it’s called course management. It was completely unethical, and it was beautiful, like the three of us had been playing immoral golf together our whole lives!
After hitting another low-flying rope off to the left, Musial explained that he purposefully didn’t golf much during his playing days: “I didn’t want to mess up my swing,” he said.
I could commiserate, “Sure, makes sense,” I said. “The golf swing is a fragile thing.”
“No, no,” Musial laughed, “I didn’t want to mess up my baseball swing.”
He then sliced another shot, barely keeping it in play.
“The good news is, my golf swing is still flawless,” Musial added, chuckling more loudly.
Stan Musial, who in 1943 had 701 plate appearances and struck out only 18 times, was making fun of his swing. He went on to explain why he had a fundamental problem making the transition from baseball to golf, why so many of his shots avoided the fairway.
“When I played, the best fielders - the shortstop, the second baseman, the center fielder - were in the middle of the ball field,” Musial said. “So I always stayed away from the middle of the field. I’d go with the pitch - hit the outside pitch to left. I’d pull the inside pitch to right. But I never wanted to hit the ball in the middle.”
“How about that!” I thought to myself. “I have the same problem.” Musial and the Bogeyman, who would of thunk it?
As the temperature spiked and climbed into the 90s, we all agreed nine innings was enough. As Buck looked over the scorecard and added up the damage, Musial pulled out a napkin and illustrated another joke. By the time the “Donora Greyhound” was finished, I was laughing too hard to even care about the final scores. I already knew it was my personal best.
In the end, all that mattered was that I had been there. Both Stan Musial and Jack Buck are gone now. Buck was 77 when he died in 2002. He was on Cardinals broadcasts from 1954-2001 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. Musial was 93 when he passed on in 2013. When he retired from baseball in 1963, he held 29 National League records and 17 All-Star Game records.
And for one day many years ago, I was in the same starting lineup with them, making bad swings, telling bad jokes and having the time of my life. On a baseball field, it could have never happened.
In golf, it happens all the time.
Helping
Loss of Posture and Mind-Body Connection:
• Loss of posture is defined as a change in your body’s original set up angles during your golf swing.
• Timing, balance and rhythm can be affected by loss of posture.
• The ability to pass the overhead deep squat and toe touch test are very important in being able to perform proper set up position and maintain your posture throughout your swing.
• The ability to separate your upper body from your lower body allows your shoulders to rotate around your spine without changing your original posture.
• Lastly, the ability to stabilize your spine angle during your swing is directly proportional to the strength and stability of the core musculature.
Here are two links that provide exercise videos to help your mobility, strength, and power:
The Importance of Golf Movement Assessments:
• Golf movement assessments pinpoint areas of the body that are limited in regard to range of motion. Combining mobility assessments, with power and swing assessments, gives medical professionals and teaching professionals a full view on how well a golfer’s body moves.
• Golf movement assessments all medical professionals and personal trainers to create personalized treatment and exercise programs for exactly what you need work on.
• The mobility, stability, power, and swing results are then combined with the golfer’s goals, to create the most personalized program for each and every golfer.
• Golf movements assessments allows golfers to train most effectively while keeping engaged with the PGA Teaching Instructors.
Youtube Instagram
Dr. Zach Cutler, DC Owner of Golf and Training Institute; Sports Chiropractor; Titleist Performance
Sup’s On:
Jeff Stickford
The Legends Country Club
I was at a family gathering last night and my father-in-law asked, “how does a golf course maintenance staff stay busy during the cold long winters?” I replied as if I was speaking to a member. I then proceeded to list all the projects we accomplished since December, with detailed pricing and before and after pictures to boot. The list was long and apparently impressive. His response was, “Wow, a jack of all trades”. I took it as a compliment and continued to make my rounds around the room. The very same topic came up with another family member and I gave my routine answer. His response, “Wow, a jack of all trades and a master of none”. That didn’t sound flattering, and I was downright insulted. As a golf course superintendent, you need to have a vast knowledge in an abundance of professions. When you sit back and think about it, the list of skills is long and distinguished.
First and foremost, A superintendent needs to be highly skilled in turf science and how your turf types interact with your climate. We all aerify, verticut, topdress and perform best agronomic and cultural practices. Proper practices are not the same from region to region. For instance, a course in Texas growing Bermuda greens is verticutting the greens multiple times in the summer months. The turf type and region dictate this practice to provide an optimal product. In St. Louis (The Transition Zone) verticutting in the summer heat is too stressful on bentgrass greens. Our region and turf types would not allow the greens to fully recover in the heat of summer. Not to mention each course can have several microclimates of their own. We may feel the need to aerate one green more than others due to its environment. Maybe the green is heavily shaded and has trees that surround the
Jack of All Trades
green restricting air flow. Every agronomic and cultural practice should be well thought out and executed timely and seasonally.
Superintendents also need to be business oriented. Being a superintendent is a lot like running a small business. Most superintendents work off a budget that they often set themselves. All maintenance departments have staff and payroll that needs to be managed. We all are responsible for procuring and responsibly applying thousands of dollars of chemicals and fertilizers every year. Keeping inventory, application records and vigilantly applying the products at the correct times, rates and correct sites on the course. The equipment fleet; buying and maintaining multiple pieces of specialized equipment to sustain your specific needs. Equipment needs change depending on the property you manage. One mower/machine might work excellently for a neighboring golf course, but that doesn’t mean it’s great for your property. Terrane, trees and water features, and staffing all have an impact on what equipment is selected.
Communication is a huge part of our everyday business, many of us are required to speak at board meetings, address the membership in a public format. Excellent communication skills are a necessary trait to be successful. I understand that communication is a skill and not a trade, but 9 out of 10 people have a fear of public speaking. The ability to stand in front of people and speak is something every professional should possess.
Another skill not often thought about is the game of golf itself. Superintendents often need to be proficient in the game. Understanding the rules and the way the game is played affects what we do daily. The ability to see how a certain tree shapes a hole or how removing a bunker would make the hole too easy. That’s something only a golfer would know and appreciate.
Now we come to the skilled trades and vocations we often need to fulfill. Plumbing, carpentry, fabricating, mason, arborist, mechanic, heavy equipment operator, welder, electrician, construction, landscaping, safety consultant and sometimes babysitting. Most of which have
nothing to do with growing grass. I guarantee, if you’re a golf course superintendent. You’ve had to procure skills in each one of the above trades. Not necessarily mastering all of them.
It takes a lot of passion, wisdom and aptitude to maintain a golf course. That’s why I was so insulted with the quote, “Jack of all trades and master of none”. That’s until I read the entire quote. It goes like this, “Jack of all trades, master off none, but oftentimes better than a master of one”. I like the sound of that much better.
Rules Center
Ricochet Embed Unplayable Embed
Corey Conners managed to pull four Rules into play for one shot on one hole... That’s pretty impressive. But the most notable is the first Ruling that was decided. After Conners tee shot on the 9th at the Sentry flew right and landed in long grass, he found that the ball was embedded. He immediately did the right thing and called for an Official. Conners tried to urge the idea that he should get free relief for an embedded ball (as many of us would), BUT there was one issue: he didn’t have a shot to start. Where the ball had landed would have been near impossible to ever take a stroke and get out with a normal lie. He knew it; his caddie knew it; the official knew it.
Conners admitted in his post-round interview that had the ball not been plugged, he still would’ve ended up taking an unplayable. With this knowledge, he was denied emdedded relief because to do so a stroke at the ball must be clearly reasonable, which in this scenario, it was not. Rule 16.3a(1) clearly states that there is no relief when playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable. Conners knew that he could not honestly take a stroke at the ball and inevitably ended up taking an unplayable relief under Rule 19.2. However, this still worked out for him in the end because his unplayable relief drop landed him in a position where the shot tower was in the way - earning relief - and then on a cart path - more relief. He walked away from the hole with a bogey, which is a pretty great break if you ask most of us.
Dear John: I watched my drive drift left on the par-4 9th hole at the Old Warson Country Club, expecting it to bounce in the rough near the tree line. Instead, there was a loud BONG sound and no sign of the ball. Upon reaching the area, I found the ball embedded near the base of the hollow-pipe 150-yard marker! The ball had ricocheted off the marker into the ground. The pipe was readily movable, so I set it aside, lifted the ball without marking it, cleaned it, and took embedded ball relief about two feet from the point right behind the pitch mark no nearer the hole. Did I do everything right?
Dear OhWhatARelief: I think style points should be awarded for that shot. As described, you did fine and checked all the boxes for taking embedded ball relief (Rule 16.3):
1. The ball must be in the general area,
2. The ball must be in its own pitch mark as a result of the previous stroke,
3. Part of the ball must be below the level of the ground,
4. A stroke at the ball must be clearly reasonable,
5. The ball must not be embedded in sand in part of general area not cut to fairway height or less,
6. Relief must be in the general area, within one club-length of the spot right behind the pitch mark, no nearer the hole.
There is one question. Should the player mark their ball before lifting it when taking embedded ball relief? It’s a good practice to do so. Here’s why. Sometimes it’s obvious that a ball is embedded. In those cases, regardless of whether the ball is marked, there is no penalty for lifting the embedded ball when relief is subsequently taken.
Conner’s honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship during this hole is what makes this game special and keeps it going. So when, where, why, and how to know that you can get relief for an embedded ball? This can be tricky, especially when you are not in the middle of a fairway or are in a weird place of the course. But much like Corey, there are times where you cannot take that relief.
John explains more on Embedded Balls -->
However, other times it is less obvious that the ball is embedded. You may recall the controversial embedded ball situation involving Patrick Reed during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open on the 10th hole at Torrey Pines in 2021. In such instances, the Rules provide that the player may lift their ball to see if it is embedded, but the ball must first be marked and not cleaned (Rule 16.4). It follows that if the ball is marked and determined not embedded, it must be replaced without penalty and not cleaned. If the ball is not marked and found not embedded, it must be replaced with a one-stroke penalty. Further, if the ball is not marked, found embedded, and the player doesn’t take relief for some reason, they incur a one-stroke penalty for moving the ball. Consistently marking one’s ball before lifting it avoids the potential for a one-stroke penalty.
--OhWhatARelief
Getting Ready for
Spring!
As you transistion into Spring and the Active Posting Season, there are often questions that come up about Handicap Indexes and course conditions. We are here to help you better understand and prepare for another year of golf. The USGA has taken the time to answer some of the most common questions and concerns on these topics. Below are some resources to enhance your knowledge of the game!
Handicapping: Click the Topic You want to learn more about!
• Posting Scores the Same Day You Play
• Setting a Target Score for Your Round
• Handicap Index Myths
• World Handicap System
KnowanAdaptiveGolfer?
The Inaugural Midwest Adaptive Open is set to occur in 2025. Headed by Central Links Golf in Kansas City, the Central Region of Golf Associations are coming together to host and promote this incredible and inclusive event. The Adaptive Open is welcoming to golfers of various classifications of impairments including: arm and leg impairments, amputations, blind, and intellectual and neurological impairments. The Metropolitan is excited to lend our support in this endeavor and bring more inclusion to the game in the region! Do you know an adaptive golfer? Let them know about the Midwest Adaptive Open!
• Playing Spring Golf and What You Should Know
• Spring Rules Regarding Course Conditions
• What to Expect with Spring Course Conditions
• How Golf Carts Can Affect Turf Conditions
• How to Take Driving Range Divots Course Conditions:
Whocanparticipate?
Any golfer who has one of the following impairments:
• Arm Impairment
• Leg Impairment
• Amputee
• Blind
• Intellectual/Neurological Impairment
WhatifIrequirean assistedmobilitydevice?
This Championship and Host Course are ready for you! Rule 25.4 accounts for the use of mobility devices including canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and other wheeled mobility devices. If your impairment requires use of one of these devices, you are welcome here!
Have Questions or want to get involved? StillNotSureIfYouQualify?CheckOut Rule 25intheRulesofGolfforSpecificDetails.
Or Contact Taylor Maloney at taylor@clgolf.org
Keeping Up with the USGA
USGA Announces 2025 U.S. National Junior Team and Inaugural U.S. Elite Amateur Program Rosters; Grant Funding
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Jan. 23, 2025) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team roster, the first-ever U.S. Elite Amateur Program roster and this year’s annual U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) grant funding, demonstrating considerable progress toward creating a unified pathway to nurture the potential of America’s top players.
Building on last year’s inaugural team of 18 athletes, the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team features 11 boys and 11 girls representing the country’s elite junior golf talent. The team is composed of 14 returners from 2024 and eight newcomers, including two, Jude Lee and Jessy Huebner, who received USNDP Grants last year.
Consisting of three men and six women, including 2024 U.S. National Junior Team member Gianna Clemente, the inaugural U.S. Elite Amateur Program roster is another significant milestone for the USNDP. This program will complement the athletes’ college programs, providing tailored support that bridges gaps and enhances their competitive edge. It is the second of three teams to be launched as part of the USNDP with the third and final team, the Young Professional Team, set for 2026.
“We’ve seen exceptional growth over the past year in the young athletes on the U.S. National Junior Team, and with the launch of the U.S. Elite Amateur Program, it represents another significant step in our mission to nurture top talent, provide individualized support and prepare them for success on the world stage,” said Chris Zambri, head coach of the USNDP. “We are excited to build on this momentum in 2025 and continue growing and shaping the future of American golf.”
As part of its commitment to mitigate barriers of cost to promising junior golfers who demonstrate both financial need and the potential to progress through the USNDP pathway, the USGA announced its 2025 USNDP Grant recipients. In total, 100 athletes representing 31 states and ranging in age from 13-18 will receive more than $795k to help cover actual and incurred golf and athlete development-related expenses, such as practice and green fees, competitive tournament fees, tournament travel, coach fees and equipment costs. In addition, grant recipients receive athlete development support, inclusive of virtual coaching sessions and 1-on-1 consultations and statistical analysis with USNDP coaches.
This demonstrates significant growth from 2024, when 72 families received $650,000 in funding in the program’s inaugural year. Grant program funding is provided by the USGA, founding partners such as Ally Financial and generous donations. Over the next few years, the program aims to support 300 participants annually. To learn more, visit usga.org/donate.
National Junior Team:
Kihei Akina (19) - Utah
Shyla Brown (16) - Texas
Ronin Banerjee (16) - Calif.
Anna Fang (15) - Calif.
Luke Colton (17) - Texas
Mia Hammond (16) - Ohio
Philip Dunham (17) - Fla.
Ryleigh Knaub (18) - Fla.
Henry Guan (16) - Texas
Jude Lee (17) - Calif.
Trevor Gutschewski (17) - Neb.
Nikki Oh (17) - Calif.
Will Hartman (18) - N.C.
Emerie Schartz (17) - Kan.
Jessy Huebner (15) - Fla.
Scarlett Schremmer (18) - Ala.
Tyler Mawhinney (17) - Fla.
Asterisk Talley (15) - Calif.
Michael Riebe (18) - Calif.
Amelie Zalsman (16) - Fla.
Elite Amateur Program:
Max Herendeen (19) - Wash.
Gianna Clemente (16) - Fla.
Jackson Koivun (19) - N.C.
Anna Davis (18) - Calif.
Jacob Modleski (20) - Ind.
Jasmine Koo (18) - Calif.
Farah O’Keefe (19) - Texas
Catherine Park (20) - Calif.
Kiara Romero (18) - Calif.
USGA Recognitions at Annual Meeting
The Following were awarded and presented at the USGA Annual Meeting at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club on March 1:
> USGA Green Section Award - Rodney Lingle
> Joe Dey Award - David Jacobsen
> Herbert Warren Wind Award for Golf Literature - The Prairie Raynor by John Moran and Rand Jerris
The USGA has appointed the following:
> President-elect - Kevin Hammer
> Executive Committee (1st Term) - Dianne Dixon (FL)
> Executive Committee (1st Term) - Jim Gorrie (AL)
> Executive Committee (2nd Term) - Sinclair Eaddy Jr. (MD)
Departing from the USGA Executive Committee following 6 years of service:
> Tony Anderson (IL)
> Deborah Platt Majoras (VA)
To See more About these Awards, Click Here.
To See more About these Appointments, Click Here.
Hilton GV Tournament of Champions
A Lim Kim
Founders Cup Presented by US Virgin Islands
Yealimi Noh
Honda LPGA Thailand
Angel Yin
Lalla Maryem Cup
Cara Gainer
PIF Saudi Ladies International
Jeeno Thitikul
Standard Bank Ladies Open
Lucie Malchirand
NTT DATA Ladies Pro-Am
Danielle du Toit
Jabra Ladies Classic
Casandra Alexander
Vic Women’s Open
Drummon
Golf
Su Oh
Melbourne International
Abbie Teasdale
World of Golf
The Sentry
Hideki Matsuyama
Sony Open Hawaii
Nick Taylor
The American Express
Sepp Straka
Farmers Insurance Open
Harris English
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy
WM Phoenix Open
Thomas Detry
The Genesis Invitational
Ludvig Aberg
Mexico Open
Brian Campbell
Bahamas Golf Classic
Hank Lebioda
Bahamas Great Abaco Classic
Sudarshan Yellamaraju
The Panama Championship
Josh Teater
Astara Golf Championship
Kyle Westmoreland
Riyadh
Adrian Meronk
Adelaide
Joaquin Niemann
Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Tyrell Hatton
Ras Al Khaimah Championship
Alejandro Del Rey
Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship
Laurie Canter
Qatar Masters
Haotong Li
Magical Kenya Open
Jacques Kruyswijk
Vic Open
Josh Geary
Mediclinic Invitational
Maximilian Steinlechner
SDC Open
Daniel van Tonder
MyGolfLife Open
Daniel van Tonder
Cell C Cape Town Open
Jamie Rutherford
NTT DATA Pro-Am
Wilco Nienaber
Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Ernie Els
Chubbs Classic
Justin Leonard
Hassan II Golf Trophy
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Current Standings
1. Bay Golf Club
2. Los Angeles Golf Club
3. Atlanta Drive Club
4. New York Golf Club
5. Jupiter Links GC
6. Boston Common Golf
Players of the Year 2024
Scottie Scheffler - PGATour
Nelly Korda - LPGA
Rory McIlroy - DP World Tour
Chiara Tamburlini - LET
Rookies of the Year 2024
Nick Dunlap - PGATour
Mao Saigo - LPGA
Jesper Svensson - DP World Tour
Chiara Tamburlini - LET
Keep Up with Normandie
As we continue to make strides in the renovation of Normandie Golf Club, we want to keep everyone updated on what is happening. Throughout the renovations, we are taking video and picture footage of the work that is being done. Pictures will be uploaded to Flickr and videos will be posted on Youtube periodically. Click Below to see the videos and pictures. Check back often for visual updates!
“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 Reimagined
