Are you a rider or a walker?

My husband and I recently changed home golf clubs. Our new club is much closer to our home, which has given us an opportunity to get out occasionally and play 9 holes after work. Although we typically take a cart and ride when we play on the weekend, it made sense for me to try and walk the course when we played 9. Truth be told, my husband will, on occasion, walk 9 and even 18, but my first (and only) thought had been to just jump into a cart. I would tell you it’s because of some joint issues, but the truth is, I thought it was too hard/too hot/too long, whatever.

So why the change? Three reasons. First, playing golf is more fun than going to the gym. According to http://www.about.com, you burn 718 calories each 9 holes walking with a pull cart. So if you walk 36 holes a week, you’re supposed to burn close to 2900 calories. I’ll be honest, I don’t burn close to 2900 calories on my treadmill.

Second, if you look online, you’ll find studies that show the walking golfer has a lower average score than the person who rides. We’ll have to see if my experience can support that. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Another little benefit is that It’s much easier to find yardage when you’re walking. So now it’s not as important if my GPS dies on the third hole. (Although I still love my GPS).

And last, but not least, you save the $20+ you would have shelled out for a cart. That’s going to go a long way to buying me new walking shoes, clothes, balls, hats and just about everything else in the pro shop.

Jerri Smith
Director, Course Rating & Member Services

Another Successful Luncheon!

Last Friday, the GSGA Foundation hosted its annual Scholars Luncheon at the Cherokee Town Club in Atlanta. The Scholars Luncheon is a wonderful event that recognizes incoming, renewing and graduating scholars in the Foundation’s two scholarship programs.

Yates Scholarships are awarded to employees, or children of employees, of GSGA member clubs. This program is in its 26th year. Moncrief Scholarships are awarded to students in the turfgrass or agronomy programs at the University of Georgia in Athens and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. The Moncrief Program is in its 37th year.

The winners of the Dick Franklin Performance Awards for the Most Outstanding Rising Junior and Most Outstanding Rising Senior are also announced at the event. The Dick Franklin Performance Award recognizes performance both in and out of the classroom. The two awards are presented each year and the winners receive $2,500 in addition to their Yates Scholarship.

The 2013 winner for the Most Outstanding Rising Junior is Addison Esoda (pictured below) from Atlanta Country Club. Addison is a 4.0 student at the University of Alabama majoring in Business Management with a minor in History.

Samantha Roberts (pictured below with 2012 U.S. Amateur Champion Steven Fox) won the award for the Most Outstanding Rising Senior. Samantha is at Kennesaw State University and is a scholar from Atlanta Athletic Club. She has a 3.95 GPA and is currently working a summer internship at the Smithsonian. Samantha is majoring in Anthropology and Management.

The GSGA Foundation has awarded $74,500 in new scholarships for the 2013-14 school year to 29 students in both programs. Fifty-seven scholars are eligible to apply for renewal. The GSGA Foundation has surpassed the $2 million mark in cumulative financial assistance.

Congratulations to all our Scholars!

Kim Cox
Director, GSGA Foundation

 

“Golf’s Longest Day”

This past Monday, June 3, was labeled “Golf’s Longest Day” by the Golf Channel and the USGA. About 25 of our GSGA volunteers and 5 of our staff can attest that the day was named correctly. This was the US Open Sectional Qualifying at Hawks Ridge Golf Club. We had 51 players vying for a coveted 3 spots in the US Open at Merion Golf Club in Philadelphia. With a lot of hard, gratifying work, we accomplished our goal and 2 amateurs and 1 professional are on their way.

This year, for the first time, real-time scoring was used for the second round. Our volunteers accompanied a group for all of the 18 holes and not only served as their rules official, but as their scorer as well. They did an outstanding job in all aspects of the round, which was proven, when the final group of the day finished their round 12 minutes under their allotted time.

Hawks Ridge Golf Club could not have been a better host. Golf Professional Ryan Joyce and Superintendent Jim Dusch had all of their respective responsibilities covered so well, our jobs were made easier.

When you have a 36-hole qualifying round to do in 1 day, any small problem can become a big one. We had none.

Thanks go out to our GSGA volunteers, staff, and Hawks Ridge Golf Club, for making “Golf’s Longest Day” not seem so long.

Layne Williams
Senior Director, Rules and Competitions

From May 19-22, I had the opportunity to visit the USGA Golf House in Far Hills, N.J., for the PJ Boatwright, Jr., Internship Orientation. It was a great experience to visit and listen to presentations from several members of the USGA Senior Leadership Team, visit the USGA Museum and testing center, and meet many of the other interns that are working at other state and regional golf associations.

Here are a few photos (with captions) that I was able to take throughout the orientation… enjoy!

We spent most of our time in this auditorium listening to presentations and learning from many of the top USGA staff members.

On our opening morning, Mike Davis came down and spoke to us for a few minutes to welcome us and thank us for coming to the orientations.

We were fortunate to be at Golf House when the anchor ban was officially announced. There was a lot of buzz around the building and before the announcement had even been finished, we were given a presentation on Rule 14-1b.

The Golf Channel was on site all day, and we were able to observe from a distance their filming of what is now allowed and not allowed under Rule 14-1b.

This is the new version of Iron Byron. The official Iron Byron is actually retired, and this one is named the Iron Rugge 2000, named for the former USGA Senior Technical Director, Dick Rugge.

The USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. This used to be the administrative offices for the USGA, however, they built new offices and turned the old house into a full-time museum. It has dedicated rooms for Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, etc.

A painted portrait of Bobby Jones. Growing up as a golfer and in Atlanta and being particularly interested in golf history, it was an awesome experience to spend time in the Bobby Jones room at the museum.

The Arnold Palmer room was another great experience. Here is a photo of Arnie giving the commencement speech at Wake Forest’s 2005 graduation, which also happened to be MY graduation.

A familiar name is etched on the Wall of Champions as the 1970 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion.

A view from the Pynes Putting Course. We were able to play a 9-hole round on the course using hickory shafted putters. Georgia edged Idaho in this matchup by one stroke.

At the end of the orientation, we had a trivia contest and I came out with the top prize: a 2013 U.S. Open putter cover!

Finally, on the first day we were encouraged to visit the PJ Boatwright, Jr., memorial rock and read the plaque to learn a little more about the man who made it possible for thousands of interns to have the opportunity that I have been given.

Tripp Pendergast
PJ Boatwright Intern

It’s That Time of Year!

As the GSGA season picks up and we are all busy with tournaments, the weather is outstanding! There is no better time to get out on the golf course and play a round. Stacy and I have been at The Legends Course at Chateau Elan this week for the Women’s Match Play Championship. Although I am familiar with the Chateau and Woodlands course, I have never seen or played The Legends. It was great experiencing a new course. As we have been blessed with great weather recently, the forecast for this week does not look promising.

It is always exciting to visit a new course. You never know what you’re going to see on the course itself, in the clubhouse, and pro shop. Some clubhouses are very basic, but others will blow you away. I have learned quickly that there is some pretty delicious food in the golf industry. Most country clubs have great food service, which is a huge plus!

As we pick up the pace working tournaments, I hope to get to play a few rounds soon. I recently purchased brand new Taylor Made Burners, 3&4 hybrid, 5-PW, so I am ready to get out on the course! Hopefully there will be a chance for me to try out my new clubs (lefty!) very soon.

Josh Peterson
PJ Boatwright Intern

Moving On…

It’s hard to believe that I’m writing my final post on the GSGA’s 19th Hole blog.  Next Friday, June 7, is my last day with GSGA, as I’m leaving to stay at home with my young son and to “hang my own sign,” so to speak, by doing marketing consulting work on my own.  It’s a big life change, but one I’m most certainly looking forward to experiencing.

I look back at the nine years I’ve been with GSGA (first of all, I can’t believe it’s been that long!) and I marvel how much has changed in that time.  My job description has evolved over the years, as some of things I’m doing now weren’t in my vocabulary back in 2004…blogging, facebooking, tweeting.  Who knew?  And while I wouldn’t say I’m fluent in the language of web code, I’ve spent enough time behind the scenes of our GSGA, Foundation and Hall of Fame websites over the last nine years that I could probably survive in an HTML-speaking country, if such a place existed.  :-)

While the technology has changed drastically, the more important and endearing qualities of GSGA have stayed the same.  Mainly, the people that keep this Association running on a daily basis.  Almost everyone in this building today was here when I first started.  In fact, at nine years in, I’m still one of the “short-timers” around here!  You can’t say that about too many workplaces today.  We have people with a wealth of knowledge and skills, but when it comes down to it, it is their relationships with others and their insights on how to manage a golf association that makes them special, and in my opinion, valuable beyond words.  I will miss everyone I work with and their unique personalities.

Our corps of volunteers is another thing that has been consistently reliable over the years.  Yes, some people move on and are replaced with new faces, but the love of the game and collective willingness to serve has always been there and appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed working with all of our volunteers whether it’s been at a tournament, golf expo, on special projects or in committee meetings.

And finally, to our Member Clubs and individual members, I’ve enjoyed and appreciated the privilege to serve you over these nine years.  While my position didn’t allow me to personally meet everyone, I hope I’ve been able to connect with you in one way or the other…through the magazine, via our member emails, or through your website experience.  I think I’ve said it before, but we recognize that your membership in GSGA is a recreational “choice” and we are grateful that you chose to expand your love and enjoyment of the game through involvement in the Association.

Now that I’m not actually working in the golf industry anymore, I may be able to dust off those clubs and pick up the game again!  Just need to find a starter set of kids’ left-handed clubs for my son and we’ll be good to go!  Hope to see you out at the driving range or golf course soon!

Joanna Capo
Director, Communications & Marketing

Spring is here – Finally!

If you have not been outside the past few days, you have missed possibly the best bonus springtime that I have seen in 21 years of living in Georgia! Really – nature’s air conditioning at its best with crisp cool mornings that warm fast under the warm, almost-summer sun! It just doesn’t get better than that!

And GSGA is taking full advantage with an incredibly busy week of events. Last weekend, Chris Hall held off Don Marsh to win the Senior Match Play in his first year of eligibility.

Monday, the U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying took place at Druid Hills Golf Club and it took a score of 146 to claim a ticket to the championship! Golf course was great – lots of wind and some very talented players made for a great day.

Also Monday, the first of two U.S. Open Local qualifying rounds was played at Marietta CC where the best a score of 70 would do was get you into a playoff for the last spot in sectional qualifying.

Yesterday, the second local qualifying was held at Atlanta National, where, no doubt, more low scores were required to advance.

Sounds like a busy week, doesn’t it? But, it is only Wednesday, and the Rules and Competitions folks head to Savannah to conduct the Mid-Amateur Championship at the Savannah Golf Club – a wonderful, classic venue. Lots of good things going on – it is a beautiful time of year to enjoy some time of the course, whether in a competition or in a fun round with family and friends.

Sunday was special for another reason – happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Hope the golf gods smiled on you and allowed the putts to go in the hole!

Martha Kirouac
Acting Executive Director

Adjusted Gross Score…

I heard that I had to use my adjusted gross score as the score to post. What is that?

An adjusted gross score is a player’s gross score adjusted under the USGA Handicap System procedures for unfinished holes, conceded strokes, holes not played or not played under the Rules of Golf, or Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). ESC is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes, in order to make handicaps more representative of a player’s potential ability. ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player’s Course Handicap.

Say a player has a 19 Course Handicap: the most he could post for any hole would be a 7. So, if he scored 102 and had an 11 on the sixth hole (a par 5) and had a 9 on hole 14 (a par 4), he would need to deduct four strokes for the sixth hole (11-7 =4) and two on hole 14 (9-7=2) for a total of six strokes deducted from the 102 gross score. This gives him an adjusted gross score of 96 (102-4-2=96).

Course Handicap                                   Maximum # On Any Hole
9 or less                                                           double bogey
10 through 19                                               7
20 through 29                                              8
30 through 39                                              9
40 or more                                                    10

 

Linda Sommers
Senior Director, Handicapping

The Joy of Getting New Tools!

It seems like every time I play a round of golf with someone new, I check out what they are hitting. As soon as my clubs are more than a couple of years old, I feel like there must be something better out there. Pick up any golf publication or watch the Golf Channel for more than 15 minutes and you’ll know what I am talking about!

It seems like everywhere I go there are different opportunities to buy new clubs – at the club, in a local retailer, online, the used golf club section online or in store, and you might even get lucky shopping garage sales – I know I’ve sold clubs that way!

I had been toying with the idea of getting new clubs, but got overwhelmed going into the big box retailer – I didn’t know where to begin. I recently had the pleasure of going to my local pro and getting fitted for new clubs. I hit tons of balls and did what he told me to do, well, I tried to anyway. So, I ordered woods, hybrids and irons. Boy was I excited to get my new tools… I just knew I’d play better.

So, to answer the question that I am sure is on your mind — I love my new clubs. I hit the ball straighter, longer and with lots more confidence. Turns out that some of the new technology out there has helped! I think simply believing that these new clubs would help has increased my confidence, and therefore, execution.

Now, if only they could sell me something that could make every golf course I play sunny and 75 degrees!

Jerri Smith
Director, Membership & Special Projects

Doing What We Do Best!

The GSGA Foundation Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the new Yates and Moncrief Scholarship recipients for the 2013-14 school year. Our renewing scholars will be announced in July. We are proud of all of our scholars and wish them the best!

New Yates Scholars
Incoming Freshmen
Conner Albright, Brickyard at Riverside
Austin Brown, The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove
Stephan Bowe, West Lake Country Club
Morgan Cox, Country Club of Roswell
Garnett Glaser, Hamilton Mill Golf Club
Maclane Hull, UGA Golf Course
Morgan Kepple, East Lake Golf Club
Loren Knobbe, Country Club of Roswell/Dunwoody Country Club
Matt Leahy, Capital City Club-Crabapple
George Lilly, Glen Arven Country Club
Jay Marston, Highland Country Club
Lilly Norris, The Golf Club of Georgia
Stephan Olsson, The Club at River Forest
Trevor Polston, Canongate at Georgia National Golf Club
Katherine Sanders, The Landings Club
Brooke Walsh, The Savannah Golf Club

Currently In College
Ryan Andersen, Rivermont Golf & Country Club
Cecilia Bates, The Waterford Golf Club
Jonathan Brune, Capital City Club
Robert Evans, Ansley Golf Club-Settindown Creek
Emily Jones, Cobblestone Golf Course
Zach Owen, Flat Creek Club

Non-Traditional Students
Shane Condit, Ocean Forest Golf Club
Kevin Flores, East Lake Golf Club
Brooke Santos, Ansley Golf Club
John Shaver, Capital City Club
Saheed Tairou, Atlanta Athletic Club

Moncrief Scholars
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tom George, Roswell

University of Georgia
Colten Beattie, Blairsville

We encourage everyone to visit our website – www.gsgafoundation.org. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact me at 678-324-5962 or kcox@gsga.org.

Kim Cox
Director, GSGA Foundation and Georgia Golf Hall of Fame