Month: December 2018

Clarifications of the 2019 Rules of Golf now available

iowagolfDecember 19, 20180 commentsNews, Rules

As you probably have heard, 2019 marks the most substantial update to the Rules in the last 60 years. The rules have been modernized and even reduced down in number from 34 to 24. While many of the changes are very player friendly (penalties have been removed or lessened), there are some changes that could result in penalty to the player, if you don’t take the time to learn them.

In order to further understand these rule modernizations, the USGA has provided the Iowa Golf Association with ‘Clarifications of the 2019 Rules of Golf’ (linked below). The purpose of these clarifications is to provide additional context to the Rules of Golf (often as the result of frequent questions received since the 2019 Rules of Golf were released).

The USGA does not plan to add to these clarifications on a regular schedule, but may do so periodically if additional context is considered helpful. The IGA will be sure to share any additional information when it is made available.

Clarifications of the 2019 Rules of Golf

Lockridge presented 2018 George Turner Distinguished Service Award

iowagolfDecember 18, 20180 commentsNews

Larry Lockridge was presented the IGA’s 2018 George Turner Distinguished Service Award during the Annual Awards & Player of the Year banquet on Friday, December 14, at Echo Valley Country Club. Lockridge served 15 years on the IGA Board of Directors, including serving at president from April 1999-April 2001. Lockridge is best known for his continued service and volunteer efforts administrating the Des Moines City Junior Tournament, starting in 1974.

The Iowa Golf Association named its distinguished service award after Turner in 2003. His name value runs beyond state borders. Turner qualified for and played in the 1981, 1984 and 1993 U.S. Senior Open and the 1988, 1990 and 1991 U.S. Senior Amateur. Off the course, George has been an Iowa Golf Association volunteer for decades, helping run numerous events. George and John Nervig took over operations of the Iowa Masters from the late Harry Burrell 20 years ago. It’s not an official Iowa Golf Association event unless George Turner is somewhere on the course!
(Courtesy of Rick Brown)

LaRocca named 2018 IGA Sean Flanders Volunteer of the Year

iowagolfDecember 17, 20180 commentsNews

The IGA’s Sean Flanders Volunteer of the Year for 2018, is Leighann LaRocca (pictured above). LaRocca was presented her award in a surprise announcement on Friday, December 14, during the IGA Annual Awards and Player of the Year Banquet held at Echo Valley Country Club, Norwalk.

LaRocca has given countless hours to the IGA over the years, and 2018 was no different. She currently serves on the IGA Board of Directors as the Treasurer. As an officer she is part of the IGA Executive Committee – one of four IGA committees she serves on.

She is the chair of the Ann Griffel Scholarship Selection Committee, charged with ciphering through 75-100 scholarship applications each spring, narrowing it down to the 20 or so that will be shared with the entire committee. In addition, she serves on the Women’s Rules & Competitions Committee and the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, which, again, requires substantial amounts of reading when studying all the info on the various individuals that have been submitted.

LaRocca also recently decided to add course rating to her list of volunteer efforts in 2018, as she has joined the central Iowa group. Not only did she participate in ratings, but she also had to learn about the rating process, which takes up a significant amount of time in and of itself.

Finally, LaRocca has also been one of the top supporters financially to the IGA Foundation Scholarship programs. She is always extremely supportive of the Golf Marathon and Benefit Tournament that we hold to raise funds for our scholarships.

Click here to view a video of the presentation

IGA names Volunteer of the Year after Sean Flanders

iowagolfDecember 17, 20180 commentsNews

The Iowa Golf Association is privileged to announce that the Volunteer of the Year Award has been named after Sean Flanders (pictured on the right with IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts). The annual award is selected each year by the IGA staff.

Click here to view a video of the presentation

Flanders has volunteered his time and efforts at the IGA championships and qualifiers for about past five years. During the competition season, Flanders feels almost like a member of the staff. Most of the time, he arrives at the course before staff. He not only helps out on the competition days, but he now spends a great deal of time helping prep in the days leading up to the events – this means painting hazards, Ground Under Repair, selecting hole locations and all the other stuff that goes into championship preparation. It’s not an exaggeration to say it has been hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the IGA over the past few years.

Flanders, who won this award twice in those five years, has had his name come up during discussions about who should win each year. IGA staff ultimately made the decision to honor Flanders, much to his surprise, by naming the award after him at the December 14, IGA Annual Awards and Player of the Year Banquet.

IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts (left) announces to the audience that the IGA Volunteer of the Year will be named after Sean Flanders (right).

IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts (left) and Sean Flanders share a laugh during the presentation.

Sean Flanders accepts a plaque signifying the IGA Volunteer of the Year will named in his honor.

Past Sani Scholar Quernemoen featured by PGA of America

iowagolfDecember 3, 20180 commentsNews, Scholarships

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — The PGA of America has announced a multiyear partnership with China’s Mission Hills Group and PacificPine Sports Group that will see the launch of three PGA Golf Academies in China.

The partnership between the PGA of America — one of the world’s largest sporting organizations, with a membership of nearly 29,000 golf professionals; and Mission Hills, the world’s largest golf facility, with 22 golf courses across two locations — will see two PGA of America Academies established at the Mission Hills Shenzhen resort in southern China and a third academy at the Mission Hills Haikou resort on Hainan Island.

PacificPine Sports Group has been appointed to manage the three academies at Mission Hills in China, with PGA of America Member Patrick Quernemoen overseeing operations. Previously, both the PGA of America and PacificPine’s parent, i3 Sports, partnered to create a digital media strategy that localizes the PGA’s vast library of content and distributes it via wide-reaching platforms, including a dedicated microsite on Sina Sports’ leading website.

Quernemoen was a 1994 Herman Sani Scholarship recipient.

Click here to read more courtesy of the PGA of America

IGAF, ISPGA partner to promote 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass

iowagolfDecember 3, 20180 commentsNews

The Iowa Golf Association Foundation is continuing their partnership with the Iowa Section PGA to promote the 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass to members of the IGA.

An Iowa PGA Golf Pass is a booklet that contains FREE or discounted rates at over 250 golf facilities across Iowa and Western Illinois. By purchasing the golf pass, you can save hundreds – even thousands – of dollars on green fees, cart rentals, range balls, merchandise, and golf lessons!

Remember, that each Golf Pass offer is only valid for the individual Golf Pass holder. One Golf Pass is not valid for everyone in the group. The golf facilities included in the Golf Pass are only required to honor their deals to individuals that present a valid Iowa PGA Golf Pass.

Golfers now have the option to purchase the 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass in an electronic version ($40) or the typical printed booklet ($45) that has been available in the past.

The best part is you can use the coupon code “iowagolf” at checkout to receive $10 off your purchase (from $45 or $40 down to $35 or $30). Additionally, if you use that code, the IGA Foundation will receive a $10 donation from the Iowa PGA.

Don’t forget to use the coupon code “iowagolf” to receive $10 off your purchase of the Iowa PGA Golf Pass.

Click here to purchase your 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass today!

REMINDER — The Iowa PGA can no longer accept credit cards over the phone. All order must be done online or send a check to the Iowa PGA Section Office at 3184 Hwy 22, Riverside, IA 52327.

Iowa’s Gene Elliott wins Golfweek Senior TOC

iowagolfDecember 1, 20180 commentsNews

LECANTO, Fla. – Gene Elliott (Pictured above) showed why he is Gene Elliott on Friday Nov. 30, in the final round of the Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions. The Iowa golf legend rallied in the final round as his opponents were moving in the opposite direction on the leaderboard. Elliott used a final-round even-par 72 to win the event by four shots.

Elliott entered the final round at Black Diamond Ranch’s Quarry Course trailing Allen Peake by one shot. Peake tumbled down the leaderboard with a final-round 79. Elliott put together a solid round with two birdies and a double bogey. His 72 was the second-lowest round of the day. Only runner-up Mike Arnold had better (1-under 71) but opening rounds of 76 had left him to far back at the start of the day.