Year: 2017

IGA to launch Super Senior Player of the Year in 2017

The Iowa Golf Association Board of Directors recently approved a recommendation from the Rules & Competitions Committee to begin a Men’s IGA Super Senior Player of the Year award.  The award will go to the top point-earner age 65 and older in a series of IGA events, USGA events and Additional Point Events and will be launched in 2017.

Discussion of starting a Super Senior Player of the Year award began in 2015, after the IGA had record participation in the super senior division of the Iowa Senior Amateur.  It continued again in 2016 and so discussion became serious as a super senior division could be a potential source of growth for point events that need it.

“Our committee looked hard at the numbers and discussed the potential for a Super Senior Player of the Year award for the past two years,” said IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts.  “We discussed it with our various point events and ultimately determined to go forward with it in 2017.”

A few sanctioned point events have already committed to a Super Senior Division while others plan to make that decision within the next few weeks.

“It will be a fairly simple system, modeled closely to our other Player of the Year systems,” added Pitts.  “It will also be a bit of a fluid system early in the year as we figure out which of our additional sanctioned point events wish to offer this division.”

You can view the complete Super Senior Player of the Year Point System here.

Points will be calculated and posted to the IGA Player of the Year Standings page here.

IPGA wins 50th Iowa Cup Matches

The Iowa PGA Section retained the Iowa Cup, played at Ankeny’s Otter Creek Golf Course, 20-10 over the team of amateurs from the Iowa Golf Association. This year marked the 50th playing between the two sides.

During the morning Four-Ball matches, Team IGA collected wins and a full point from Garret Jensen/Ty Stewart and from Ron Peterson/Tom Schill. Three other teams were able to halve their match and gain additional .5 points for the amateur side. Heading into the afternoon singles matches the IPGA led 6.5 – 3.5.

As Team IGA looked to make a comeback, afternoon singles matches went the way of the IPGA, winning a total of 13.5 points out of 20. Winning afternoon matches for Team IGA were J.D. Anderson, Jon Brown, Ty Stewart, Garret Jensen and Scott Hart. Three others were able to halve their singles match.

Play was cancelled for Friday due to cold and rainy forecasts for Friday morning. Four-Ball and singles matches were contested on Thursday.

A special thanks to Otter Creek Golf course for hosting the event.

Click here for scoring results from the matches.

USGA, R&A announce new decision to limit use of video review

The USGA and The R&A have issued a new Decision on the Rules of Golf to limit the use of video evidence in the game, effective immediately.

The two organizations have also established a working group of LPGA, PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour and PGA of America representatives to immediately begin a comprehensive review of broader video issues, including viewer call-ins, which arise in televised competitions.

New Decision 34-3/10 implements two standards for Rules committees to limit the use of video: 1) when video reveals evidence that could not reasonably be seen with the “naked eye,” and 2) when players use their “reasonable judgment” to determine a specific location when applying the Rules.

Click here to read more about the recent announcement.

World Handicap System in the works

The USGA and The R&A are working with golf’s handicapping authorities to develop a single World Handicap System for the game.

More than 15 million golfers in more than 80 countries currently have a handicap, a numerical index long used as a measure of a golfer’s potential skill level. Today, handicaps are delivered through six different systems in the world.

The aim of the proposed handicap system is to adopt a universal set of principles and procedures that would apply all over the world.

An extensive review of existing handicap systems administered by Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AGA) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) has been undertaken.

Click here to read more

Harvester GC, ISU to host NCAA Division I Men’s Regional in 2019

The NCAA announced host sites for championship events in Divisions I, II and III for most sports through the 2021-22 seasons on Tuesday.  The Harvester Golf Club in Rhodes was selected as one of six sites for a DI Men’s Golf Regional in 2019.  The event will be held May 12-15, 2019 and Iowa State University will serve as the host school.

Each year the NCAA holds six regional qualifying sites to determine the 30 teams that qualify for the NCAA Championship.  In 2019, the championship will be held at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  13 teams and ten individuals not on those teams will compete at each of the six regional sites.  The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals.

Other 2019 regional sites include University of Louisville Golf Club in Louisville, KY, Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, CA, University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, GA, Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, WA and TPC Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC.

While it was expected that the NCAA would announce championship finals sites through 2022, they only announced through 2019.

 

See Tommy’s Honour movie at Fleur Cinema

The Iowa Golf Association is pleased to extend a special invitation for you to view the new film Tommy’s Honour. The Fleur Cinema is exclusively exhibiting the movie in Des Moines. This will be a great chance to spend time with fellow golf-lovers at The Fleur Cinema taking in this remarkable new film about the creation of modern golf. Show times through April 20 can be found here: http://fleurcinema.com/now_showing/?id=352

Set in Scotland in the early days of the game, Tommy’s Honour tells the moving true story of the conflicted relationship between legendary father-son golfers “Old” Tom Morris and “Young” Tom Morris. The two men’s innovations in caddying, play, course design, groundskeeping, and ball- and club-making helped birth the modern game of golf.

While Old Tom helped found The Open Championship in 1860, it wasn’t long before Young Tom’s accomplishments began to outshine his father’s. Tommy’s fiery personality ultimately led him to rebel, first against the stodgy aristocracy that dominated the game (starting with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews) and then against the parents who shunned his passionate relationship with his wife. You can view a trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FcSe6TuE-8

As some of you may be aware, the owners of The Fleur Cinema also own Echo Valley Country Club, host site of the 2017 Herman Sani Tournament and a major supporter of the Sani Scholarship and the IGA’s work across the state.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to enjoy a wonderful filmic depiction of key figures in the development of the game with other golf lovers, exclusively at The Fleur Cinema. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for seniors or children.

IGA informed of Jim English’s passing

The Iowa Golf Association, during preparations for the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame induction coming in June of this year, was notified of the passing ​of Hall of Fame Member Jim English on June 26, 2016.

Jim never played in an Iowa Amateur, which explains why he never won one. Job commitments made it too difficult for English to miss three days of work. But he still did plenty of winning. English was especially dominant in one stretch that saw him win the 1950 Iowa Masters, the 1950 Trans-Mississippi, the 1951 Iowa Open and the 1951 Herman Sani Invitational. English considered the Trans-Miss his most prestigious victory as an Iowa resident. His 11-10 victory in the 36-hole championship match is the largest margin of victory in tournament history.

Jim was an insurance broker for most of his career along with being a champion amateur golfer. English moved to Kansas in 1952 and won the Kansas Amateur the only two times he competed, in 1954 and 1956. After moving to Colorado, English won five Colorado State Amateur titles, a Colorado Open and four Colorado State Senior titles. He also won the prestigious Broadmoor Invitational twice. Jim qualified for nine U.S. Opens and was the low amateur in the 1959 Open at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, where he beat a few other amateurs named Jack Nicklaus, Charlie Coe, Billy Joe Patton and Deane Beman. Jim also played in the U.S. Amateur six times, reaching the quarterfinals in 1951.

He is in the Colorado, Nebraska ​and Iowa Golf Halls of Fame and was a long-time member and 11-time Club Champion at Columbine Country Club in Littleton, Colorado. Jim was a charter member at the TPC at Plum Creek, then a member at Lone Tree until his death. He was a parishioner of Church of the Risen Christ in Denver.

For more on English’s Iowa Golf Hall of Fame résumé visit: http://iowagolf.org/hof-english-jim/

All Iowa Golf Day held at capitol

The Iowa Golf Council (IGC), which is a partnership of the Iowa Golf Association, Iowa Section PGA and Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association, held the first-ever All Iowa Golf Day at the State Capitol on Thurs., April 13.

In an effort to bring more awareness to the economic impact of golf in the state of Iowa, the Iowa Golf Council was able to speak with many state leaders about the recently commissioned economic impact study and other ways the golf of golf impacts so many in the state of Iowa. Representatives from the John Deere Classic, Principal Charity Classic and 2017 Solheim Cup were also in attendance to meet with legislators.

After meeting with legislators, the Governor of the State of Iowa, Terry Branstad (pictured above) signed a proclamation declaring April 13th as “All Iowa Golf Day”.


More information on Economic Impact Study
The economic impact study, which was a catalyst to the creation of Iowa Golf Day, began in late 2016 using 2015 data, was completed in early 2017 and found that golf in Iowa has an economic impact of $817.5 million. The game employs 11,435 individuals amounting to $280.2 million in compensation and accounted for $72 million in state and local taxes.

The study includes not only direct operational expenditures and capital investments made by golf facilities in Iowa, but also golf-related manufacturing and retail spending, golf tourism, and new golf related construction.

Not to be overlooked – Iowa golf facilities hosted charitable events that generated $28.7 million in net proceeds and in-kind contributions for beneficiary organizations, up from $22.2 million in 2006. TEConomy’s survey found that Iowa facilities host 6 to 11 charitable events each year. These range from smaller, but highly impactful events that raise $2,000 to $10,000 per event for local fire departments, hospitals, food banks, and youth programs to major events like the Annual City of Hope Golf Outing that raised $465,000 for cancer research or the $1.4 million raised by the Principal Charity Classic for local children’s charities.

After meeting with legislators, the Governor of the State of Iowa, Terry Branstad (seated) signed a proclamation declaring April 13th as “All Iowa Golf Day”.

Induction of Iowa Golf Hall of Fame ‘Class of 2017’ scheduled for June 13

Click here to order tickets to the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame ceremony today!

The Iowa Golf Association is pleased to announce that John Ausen of Urbandale, Rick Brown of Pleasant Hill, Jerry Smith of Scottsdale, AZ, Emil Roewert (deceased) and Brad Schuchat of Lakewood Ranch, FL will be inducted as the “Class of 2017” into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame at Hyperion Field Club, in Johnston, on Tuesday, June 13.

A social hour will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m., including heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The induction ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Guests are welcome to attend the event at $40/person. If not ordering tickets online (see link at top of the page) please RSVP to [email protected]. If you have any questions please let us know by calling (515) 207-1062.

Brad Schuchat
Brad Schuchat’s career of dominance in the state of Iowa began in 1965 with his victory at the Iowa State Junior Championship. Schuchat led his Des Moines Roosevelt golf team to a state championship in 1967 before heading off to the University of Iowa, where he would earn All Big Ten honors in 1970. While in college, Schuchat would capture the 1969 Iowa Amateur.

Following his collegiate days in Iowa City, Schuchat would travel the state, and the country, winning many tournaments. A few of those accomplishments include:

-Herman Sani Open Champion – 1970, 1975

-IGA Player of the Year – 1970, 1971

-Iowa Masters Champion – 1970, 1971

-T9th at U.S. Amateur, alternate to The Masters – 1971

-U.S. Open competitor – 1974, 1976

-Iowa Amateur Champion – 1980

-Iowa Open Champion – 1980

Schuchat also made the cut at the 1971 Quad Cities Open (now John Deere Classic) as an amteur, a feat that wasn’t replicated for 42 years.

Schuchat was known as a fierce competitor, yet was described as one who would play with a high level of integrity and respect for the game.

“When Brad was in his prime, I used to watch him practice over at Willow Creek. He was just a tough competitor.,” Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member Mike McCoy stated.

The respect for Schuchat goes well beyond the titles he collected over his career.

“The true measure of a golfer runs deeper than his scores and his trophies,” fellow 2017 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame inductee Rick Brown said. “Brad Schuchat has always played and represented the game as a true gentleman.”

Emil Roewert
Emil Roewert spent over 60 years as a PGA golf professional and golf course superintendent, all within the state of Iowa. Starting in 1953 Roewert served the golfers in Osage, Perry, Fairfield and Shenandoah before moving to Fort Madison in 1964 to become the head professional and superintendent at Shaeffer Memorial Golf Course. He spent 25 years as the professional at Shaeffer Memorial GC and retired in December 1988.

Roewert was a Life Member of the PGA and became a member of the Half-Century Club (Fifty years as an active member of the PGA); the PGA honored him for this achievement in 1999.

During his time in Fort Madison, he gave tireless service to all the playing members at Shaeffer Memorial and his additional work with the PGA in Iowa was especially outstanding.

Roewert served as president of the Iowa Section of the PGA for four years (1966-1969) and was named Iowa Golf Professional of the Year on two separate occasions (1968 and 1976). He also won the Horton Smith Award for the Iowa Section of the PGA twice (1972 and 1977); the Horton Smith award is given to PGA members who promote and improve the PGA’s educational programs within the Section.

“Emil was an extremely dedicated teacher and proponent of the game of golf, both for his members and his fellow professionals,” Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Webb once stated.

While formally serving as President of the Iowa PGA section, Roewert was also the Secretary, Treasurer and Tournament Director for the organization. From the time of his presidency and for several years after he held office, he was considered as the strongest member of the section and a principal reason that the section was even able to function.

Roewert’s more than sixty years of service to the PGA and to Iowa golf, without a doubt, made all of Iowa golf stronger.

Jerry Smith
Jerry Smith, originally from Oskaloosa, has made a career out of golf that many would envy.

Starting in 1982, Smith has been a top performer at every level he has been at including high school (1982 Iowa State High School individual champion), college (NJCAA Champion at Mackinnan Junior College and All-Southwest Conference at Baylor University), amateur (1986 Iowa Amateur, Match Play Champion – first person to win both in the same year) and professionally (1989, 90 & 94 Herman Sani Champion, 1998 Guam Open Champion, 2004 leading money winner on the Gateway Tour, five years on the PGA Tour, one year on European Senior Tour and currently on his third year of membership on the PGA Champions Tour including a win in 2015 at the Encompass Championship).

Smith’s earnings on the Web.Com, PGA Champions and PGA Tour, as of 1/25/17, total just over $3.5 million.

“Those of us who know him (would say) he is also a fine gentleman, loving father and husband and a friend to all he has met,” Jeff Smith, PGA, Jerry’s brother said.

Rick Brown
Rick Brown came to the Des Moines Register in 1978. As a fantastic sports writer in general and with a terrific knack for covering golf, Brown has done it enthusiastically on both the amateur and professional side of golf throughout his career – including covering the careers of Iowa Golf Hall of Fame members Zach Johnson, Gene Elliott and Mike McCoy just to name a few.

An 11-time Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, Brown recently retired from The Register in December of 2015. Over the years Brown has dutifully updated, maintained and added to ‘The Book’ – which is a large binder started by Bert McGrane that has newspaper clippings, scores, photos and other information from IGA championship and point events dating back several decades – sometimes dedicating hours searching through microfiche for old stories and information to add.

“Rick has done a tremendous job documenting and compiling the history of IGA Championships and Point Events throughout the years,” IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts said. “It’s always neat to see the stat or fact that Rick will come up with as it relates to the current year’s Iowa Amateur – that type of info always seems to be on the tip of his tongue.”

Mike Green, Director of Athletic Communications at Iowa State University also echoes Pitts’ comments.

“Rick has been one of Iowa golf’s greatest ambassadors,” Green said. “Simply put he is the Grantland Rice of Iowa Golf. If Rick called to do a story, you felt pretty special.”

John Ausen, CGCS
John Ausen’s illustrious career as a golf course superintendent began and ended in the state of Iowa. Originally from Rockford, Ausen career would take him from famed Firestone Country Club, in Akron, OH, to Quincy (IL) Country Club, then to Field Club of Omaha and then for 32 years at Hyperion Field Club in Johnston, beginning in 1983.

During his time at Hyperion, Ausen would become quite established in the Iowa turf community. In those early days at Hyperion many regulatory issues faced his profession – Ausen would jump in with both feet and fought hard for the causes most important to superintendents including, but not limited to, water rights for golf courses and legislation that limits the rights of individual municipalities to regulate pesticides. Ausen also spent several years beginning in the late 1990s educating the Iowa DNR about golf course water use. His efforts helped many at the Iowa DNR understand the economics of golf course irrigation as well as importance of water recharge when used to irrigate turfgrass.

Ausen has also donated his time to several positions and boards including:

1987-1994 Iowa GCSA ‘Reporter’ newsletter Editor

1985-2009 Iowa Alliance for Environmental Concerns (IaAEC) Board of Directors

2001 Iowa GCSA Vice President

2002 Iowa GCSA President

1999-2003, 2011-2013 Iowa GCSA Board of Directors

Additional accomplishments for Ausen include:

1985, 1990, 1994 Iowa GCSA Distinguished Service Award (only three-time winner dating back to 1962 records)

1994 Iowa GCSA Superintendent of the Year Award

1988 Iowa GCSA Calhoun Writing Award

2001 Iowa Turfgrass Institute Meritorious Service Award

2015 IGA 18-hole Superintendent of the Year

In addition to his industry work, Ausen has also been involved in the Hickory Golf Association in promoting the game.

“John has been a role model for many in his personal life,” Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS MG, Director of Grounds, Des Moines Golf & Country Club said. “It has been an honor growing up in his shadow. More importantly for me it has been an honor trying to be a golf course superintendent like John Ausen.”

The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame is operated by the Iowa Golf Association under its charitable arm the IGA Foundation which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting golf and its positive values. Tax deductible donations and gifts to support the development of the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame are welcome and encouraged.

McCoy named as 2017 P.J. Boatwright Intern

Ankeny’s Nate McCoy will serve as the 9-month P.J. Boatwright Intern with the Iowa Golf Association in 2017. McCoy is a 2012 graduate of Iowa State University (ISU) where he played golf for the Cyclones.

While at Iowa State, McCoy qualified for the 2012 NCAA Championships as an individual, finishing 29th overall. That same year he was named ISU’s 2011-12 Male Athlete of the Year, as he won two tournaments and finished in the top-10 in eight of 14 tournaments. McCoy, an All-Big 12 First-Team selection and Ping All-Central Region pick that season, ended the year with a then-school record 71.65 stroke average

Since graduation from ISU, McCoy competed on the PGA Tour Canada and Web.Com Tour. McCoy collected a win on the PGA Tour Canada in 2014 at the Wildfire Invitational.

“I applied for the internship because it was a great opportunity to learn the inner workings of amateur golf in the state of Iowa,” McCoy said. “I am very passionate about the game and want to see golf in Iowa continue to flourish. I couldn’t have asked to work with better people and look forward to having this experience.”

In 1991, the USGA established the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program. This program is designed to give experience to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations in the promotion of amateur golf, on a short-term, entry level basis.

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