2019 Yearbook.indd

| 5 FROM THE PRESIDENT I ’d like to begin by thanking Mike Pape for his leadership as IGA Board President these past two years. Mike will continue to serve on our board, and I look forward to his clear-eyed positivity and practicality in our meetings. With George Turner’s passing this past year we lost a mainstay on the IGA Board. While I had the opportunity to meet George at board meetings and a few competitions I largely came to know of George through others. One thing that was abundantly clear -- golf in Iowa would not be near where it is today without George Turner. Over the past six years I (a life-long double-digit handicap golfer) have been an IGA volunteer at tournaments and Course Ratings. This has given me the opportunity to visit many courses, witness some stirring competitions, and meet many fine people. The thing that sticks with me above all is the consistent demonstration of sportsmanship that is the hallmark of our game. We are moving through a dynamic period in golf as our governing bodies strive to keep our game relevant to our contemporary expectations and demands. Among other things this past year we learned to leave the flag in the hole, drop from knee height and new terms like temporary water and penalty areas. (I hope you’ll excuse me if “all square”, “dormie”, or “rub of the green” still creep into my vocabulary.) Our handicap system will see major changes in 2020. Among other things we will have a new handicap formula, new criteria for individual hole scores, and controls over unusual changes to an individual’s handicap. The IGA began conducting seminars for our member club in 2019 and they will continue into early 2020. The following pages will chronicle 2019 and golf in Iowa. It has been a pleasure to be able to see many excellent golfers first-hand and follow others at the national and international level through the internet and social media. I’d like to recognize Cedar Rapids Country Club in particular for hosting the USGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur in August. You could not have represented yourselves or our state in finer fashion; I only hope when the USGA returns to Iowa your successors represent us nearly as well. To achieve the results we have takes the time and talents of many. I would hold our IGA staff – Chad, Katelynn, Clint, Nate, Bill plus interns Reilly and Karli– up to any group. Thank you as well to our IGA volunteers and member club volunteers. Finally, thank you to all the PGA professionals and course superintendents and your staffs who are the foundation of our game. We will see Bill Dickens move into full retirement from the IGA after this upcoming golf season. Bill has given far too much to golf in Iowa (and the U.S.) for me to address here. I’d like to close with the question – “Why golf?” We each have our own answer to this question. I added to mine this past September when, by coincidence, I was at Blue Top Ridge during a National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament. Without going into too much detail, it was a stirring reminder why I love this game so much and what it can mean for a lot of different people. Our game has much to offer, it is my personal honor to serve it in a small way. I look forward to seeing you on the course this year! BILL EBY, IGA PRESIDENT