Author: iowagolf

Youth on Course Announces Partnership with Iowa Golf Association

March 5, 20180 commentsNews

Affordable Junior Golf Program Expands to 700 Courses in 23 States

Youth on Course — the non-profit providing young people with subsidized golf, college scholarships, caddie programs and paid internships – partners with the Iowa Golf Association (IGA) to bring affordable junior golf to the Hawkeye state.

Members ages 6-18 in this territory will be able to join the Youth on Course national network and access unlimited golf for $5 or less per round at 700 facilities across 23 states. Having more than 200 member golf courses that stretch across the state, the IGA plans to announce the selection of participating courses in coming weeks.

“Iowa’s junior golf population is rapidly growing, and we believe affordable access will help take it to the next level,” says Adam Heieck, Youth on Course Executive Director. “As we continue adding partner courses, local juniors will have their pick of reasonably priced golf options.”

Having already partnered with four other golf associations in 2018 (Colorado Golf Association, Greater Cincinnati Golf Association, Golf Association of Philadelphia, Maryland State Golf Association), Youth on Course continues to gain momentum. Operating in every U.S. region, Youth on Course has upwards of 30,000 active members. Since 2006, juniors have completed 650,000 rounds.

“We’ve been looking for ways to do more for our juniors and I have no doubt adding the Youth on Course program state-wide will be a home run,” says Chad Pitts, IGA Executive Director. “The benefits to the kids are first and foremost, but our member clubs will also experience increased traffic during non-peak hours.”

Support for Youth on Course drives the organization’s growth across America. Many view the initiative as a bridge between youth instruction and consistent play throughout adulthood, as well as an opportunity for junior golfers to interact outside of a competition setting.

In addition to promoting the game through affordable access to golf, nearly 200 individuals have benefited from Youth on Course scholarships totaling $1.2 million in financial support. The current college scholarship retention rate is 98 percent, with 46 students already graduated from a four-year university.

A list of participating IGA member courses will be announced in early April. Be sure to check back for more information.

 

About Youth on Course

The core purpose of Youth on Course is to provide juniors with access to life-changing opportunities through golf. Members play hundreds of courses for $5 or less, benefit from employment through the Caddie Academy and internship program, and receive college scholarships. Headquartered in Pebble Beach, Youth on Course is a 501(c)3 organization that began as the charitable arm of the Northern California Golf Association. Since 2006, nearly 650,000 rounds have been played by Youth on Course participants and more than $1.2 million has been raised for college scholarships. Currently, Youth on Course serves Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin with the goal of delivering affordable golf in all 50 states by 2020.

 

About the Iowa Golf Association (IGA)

The Iowa Golf Association serves as the governing body of golf for the state of Iowa. Run by amateur golfers the IGA provides a variety of programs and services that benefit everyone who plays the game. The IGA is an Allied Golf Association of the United States Golf Association.

The IGA’s most visible role is to conduct state championships for men, women and juniors, including the Iowa Amateur for more than 100 years. The IGA also conducts USGA qualifiers and offers a series of for-fun events called the “Member Play Days” which is open to IGA members of all skill levels.

The IGA provides services to nearly 200 member golf clubs and courses and over 20,000 individual members.  The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame, the IGA Scholarship programs and Youth on Course programs are administered under the IGA Foundation, a 501 c3 non-profit entity.

For complete information on the IGA please visit www.iowagolf.org.

Looking to play? Check here to see who’s open

February 27, 20180 commentsNews

In an effort to let golfers know what courses are open (as always – weather dependent) this page will include and be updated with facilities that are open. Feel free to check back often!

Be sure to contact the course before heading out to play as the IGA doesn’t always know the conditions at every facility from day to day.

AH Blank Golf Course – Plan to open Wed., March 14th.

Burlington Golf Club – Will open Thurs., March 13th at 10 a.m.

Leon Golf & Country Club – Currently open. Walking only. Call for times 641-4464529.

Pleasant Valley Golf Course – Open for walkers and will remain open as weather permits. The best way to find out the day to day status is to check our website at www.pleasantvalleyic.com, just click on the “Course Info” tab. Shoulder Season rates will be in effect until we are able to mow everything. Tee times are available by calling 319-337-2622.

Muscatine Municipal Golf Course – Will be open starting March 3, 2018. Tee Times start at 10 a.m. Normal Rates. No Carts

Terrace Hills Golf Course – Tee times starting at 11 a.m. this weekend (3/3). Visit www.TerraceHillsGolf.com for more information.

The Legacy Golf Club – They will be open for the season on Wed., March 14. Shoulder rates will apply until April 12. Call the pro shop at 515-287-7885 Ext. 2 to schedule a tee time.

Oakland Acres Golf Club – The front 9 will open Saturday 3/3/18 at 10 a.m. Tee times are needed.

Spirit Hollow Golf Course – Will open Friday, March 16, 2018. First tee time is 10 a.m.

The Preserve on Rathbun Lake – Have carts available and will remain open (weather permitting) for the remainder of the season. Off-season rates apply as of now. Hours are 7:30 AM – 7 PM (through March). Call 641-724-1400 for tee times. For more info visit: www.honeycreekresort.com/golf.

Tournament Club of Iowa – The Golf Course will be opening this March 14th. Tee times will start at 11 a.m., call the pro shop 515-984-9440 or book your tee time online at tcofiowa.com.

Waveland Golf Course – Plan to open Friday, March 16th.

Westwood Golf Course – Will be open Saturday and Sunday. All 18 holes will be open with no cart restrictions. No tee times needed 1st come 1st serve to the tee. Will not open until 10 a.m. both days.

IGA adds three Point Events

February 20, 20180 commentsChampionships, News

The Classic at Elmwood, the Joe August Match Play and the Mason City Amateur are now point events.

The Iowa Golf Association Board of Directors recently approved a recommendation of the Rules & Competitions Committee to sanction these new events for the annual Player of the Year races.  They are categorized as an “Additional Sanctioned Point Event”.

The Classic at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown is a new event that will be played under the stableford format.  It will be contested during the last weekend in April, making it the kick-off event for annual point races.  Stableford is a format in which golfers play traditional stroke play, but earn points per hole based on their scores with the highest point total being declared the champion.

The Joe August Match Play began in 1948 in Marshalltown, but has been held annually at Ames Golf & Country Club since 1993.  It is a Four-Ball Match Play event in which teams of two play a stroke play qualifying round and are then placed into a bracket based on their qualifying score.  They play match play over the weekend until a champion is declared.  The Joe August Match Play (named after the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member) will fall into the mid-July weekend where the retired Lake Creek Amateur once was held.

The third event added to the list of sanctioned point events is the Mason City Amateur.  It will be held over Labor Day weekend, making it one of the final opportunities for players to earn points toward the respective Player of the Year races.  The tournament has been played since 1951, moving around a bit on the calendar.  Previously played as a 1-day, 27-hole tournament, now that it is a point event, the event will be staged over two days and 36 holes.  Past champions of the Mason City Amateur include Iowa Golf Hall of Fame members John Jacobs and George Turner, and 2008 Iowa Senior Amateur champion Joel Yunek.

These events are additional to IGA conducted championships and USGA qualifiers, which are also point events for determining the Players of the Year.  This brings the total of “Additional Point Events” to 13.

Entry applications will be available for The Classic at Elmwood on March 1st.  The Joe August and Mason City Amateur entry applications will be available as soon as possible.  You can view information on all Additional Sanctioned Point Events at this site.

2017 Yearbook Released

February 8, 20180 commentsNews

The 2017 IGA Yearbook is now available.  This extensive publication chronicles the activities of the Iowa Golf Association and IGA Foundation throughout the calendar year.  Inside you will find recaps of championships, USGA qualifiers, committee reports, upcoming schedules and more.

As has become custom over the past few years, the book is available to view digitally free of charge, or you can order a printed copy of the book.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER A PRINTED COPY OF THE YEARBOOK – $30

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE YEARBOOK DIGITALLY

Click the image to view the 2017 Yearbook

Dorweiler to receive Ike Granger Award

January 30, 20180 commentsNews, USGA

Kirke Dorweiler (at left) of West Des Moines will receive one of the USGA’s highest honors.

Dorweiler is in his 25th year as a volunteer committee member of the USGA, which qualifies him as a recipient of the prestigious Ike Granger Award.  Dorweiler’s 25 years have all been in service of the Junior Championship Committee (U.S. Junior Amateur).  He will receive the award at the USGA Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida on Saturday, February 3rd.

Established in 1995 as part of the USGA’s Centennial Celebration, the Isaac B. Grainger Award recognizes volunteers who have provided 25 years of service to the Association. Grainger served as USGA president from 1954-1955 and led the USGA effort to develop the first unified code of the Rules of Golf with The R&A in 1951.

Honorees include:

Craig Ammerman, of Tequesta, Fla.; Lee Coble, of Richmond, Va.; Richard Coon, of Amarillo, Texas; Kirke Doreweiler, of Scottsdale, Ariz. & West Des Moines, IA; Sheri Erskine, of San Ramon, Calif.; Sarah M. Haas, of Carterville, Ill.; John A. Hendry, of Lafayette, La.; Fay Ann Kikta, of Titusville, Fla.; Jeffrey S. Kuhn, of Houston, Texas; James M. Litvack, of Princeton, N.J.; Robert Markionni, of Lemont, Ill.; Martha Jett McAlister, of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; Mary Bea Porter-King, of Lihue, Hawaii; John T. Reis, of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; William K. Smith, of Baltimore, Md.; Rick Soskin, of Minnetonka, Minn.; Stephen L. Stine, of Sheridan, Wyo.; Judith L. Stine, of Sheridan, Wyo.; Mary Swingle, of Anthem, Ariz.; Sally Tomlinson, of Walnut Creek, Calif.; J. Daniel Walsh, of Stony Brook, N.Y.; Henri Wolbrette III, of Metairie, La.; and John S. Zoller, of Portland, Ore.

McCoy named Manager of Championships and Course Rating

January 30, 20180 commentsNews

Ankeny’s Nate McCoy (pictured above), after serving as the 9-month P.J. Boatwright Intern with the Iowa Golf Association in 2017, has joined the staff as Manager of Championships and Course Rating.

McCoy, a 2012 graduate of Iowa State University (ISU), has competed on the PGA Tour Canada and Web.Com Tour.  He posted a win on PGA Tour Canada in 2014 at the Wildfire Invitational.

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

“I am very excited to join the Iowa Golf Association full-time,” McCoy said. “I get to work with some of the greatest people I know and it is a pleasure to come to work each day. I look forward to opportunity to keep growing the game and being of service to golfers in the state.”

Nate lives in Ankeny with his wife Ashley and their 21-month old daughter, Harper.

Golf Genius wins ING tech award

January 30, 20180 commentsNews

Golf Genius Software, LLC (GG) was named as the 2017 winner of the International Network of Golf’s (ING) “Industry Honors” award as the golf industry’s top technology company.  The award was presented to Golf Genius Software at a ceremony held during the PGA Merchandise Show last week in Orlando, FL.

Golf Genius is used at private clubs, public courses, resorts, and golf associations, including the Iowa Golf Association, around the world.  Through a special collaboration with the United States Golf Association, thousands of golf clubs and virtually every State and Regional Golf Association in the United States have also adopted USGA Tournament Management powered by Golf Genius Software.

This was the 24th year of the prestigious “Industry Honors” awards sponsored by ING.  In making the presentation, ING president, John Glozek, noted that Golf Genius’s cloud-based software has become the dominant tournament management system at golf courses, clubs and resorts around the world.

Golf Genius founder and CEO, Michael Zisman said that it substantiates his team’s commitment to innovation and excellence. “Our motto is ‘Less Work. More Fun. More Revenue’ and we are proud that the many features of our software enable PGA professionals and club managers to conduct club championships, league play, and corporate and charity outings in less time with no hassle.  Moreover, golfers are engaged in experiencing live scoring on their Smartphones which adds a dramatic dimension to an event.  Another important feature is the ability of a facility to generate revenue by providing custom sponsorship content on scorecards, customized websites, TV leaderboards, and in the mobile app.”

Headquartered in Wayne, PA, Golf Genius Software has over 50 employees, including more than 20 PGA professionals, with sales support operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.

2018 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Induction set for April 19th

January 26, 20180 commentsUncategorized
The 2018 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines on Thursday, April 19th.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS to the Induction Ceremony ($40 per person)

The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame “Class of 2018” is set to be enshrined on Thursday, April 19th.  Larry Gladson of Cedar Rapids, Ivan Miller of Eldora, Charlie Burkart (deceased), Tom Chapman, Sr. (deceased) and Bill Sheehan (deceased) will join the Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines.

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 be at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Anyone is welcome to attend the ceremony at a cost of $40/person.  You can order tickets online (see link at the top of the page) or you can send an email to [email protected] to RSVP.  You can also call our office at 515-207-1062 with any questions or to sign up to attend.

2018 will mark the 5th time Glen Oaks Country Club has hosted the induction ceremony since the IGA revitalized the Hall of Fame in 2006.  The last time they hosted was in 2012.

The five individuals to be inducted will bring the total number in the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame to 79.

 

Ivan Miller

Known as the ‘Minnow King’, Ivan Miller was credited with well over 100 golf tournament titles across the state of Iowa during the 1970-80s.

Miller, an art teacher by trade, spent every weekend in the summer traveling to as many as three one-day events. His dominance at these events earned him the ‘Minnow King’ moniker.

Miller, the IGA Player of the Year in 1978 and 1980, also had success in larger events too – winning the 1980 Northwest Amateur and Iowa Masters. He also won the 1982 Fort Dodge Amateur.

Miller also mentored many golfers during his teaching days, as he served as golf coach in Eldora for over 40 years.

As described in his nomination, “Miller was the full package with tremendous power, high-flying irons and a great short game. With a push of his glasses up on his nose and a hitch of his trousers, he unleashed if not the most winning career in Iowa golf history, then one of them for sure.”

 

Larry Gladson

Larry Gladson, Head PGA Golf Professional, Elmcrest Country Club, Cedar Rapids, has been a fixture in the game of golf in the state since the mid 1980s.

Gladson, who has mentored 13 current PGA members and 9 Head PGA Golf Professionals, has instructed many junior golfers who have gone on to play collegiate golf.  Four of his juniors have gone on to play professionally, including his most famous pupil, Zach Johnson.

In 2011, Gladson assisted in organizing the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic, which annually includes over 150 volunteers, 130 players, and over 3,000 spectators. The event raises over $750,000 annually for children around Cedar Rapids.

Gladson has also been honored for his work as a teacher and for his involvement with the Iowa Section PGA. His accomplishments include:

-2014 President’s Award presented by Iowa High School Golf Coaches

-2013 #1 Teacher in Iowa by Golf Digest

-2008, 2013 Ping Club Fitter of the Year

-2005 Golf Digest and Golf Magazine Top Teacher by Region

-2004 Iowa PGA Teacher of the Year

-1992-2001 Iowa PGA Board Member

-1998-1999 Iowa PGA President

-1994, 1998 Iowa PGA Golf Professional of the Year

-1998 Iowa Golf Association Golf Professional of the Year

-1996 Iowa PGA Bill Strasbaugh Award (mentoring fellow professionals, service to PGA, service to community)

-1987, 1993, 1995 Iowa PGA Merchandiser of the Year

In a letter of recommendation for Gladson, Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Member Zach Johnson said, “When I think of my childhood golfing days, Elmcrest CC comes to the forefront. This club fostered my love for the game, cultivated my passion for competition, instilled the proper values golf demands, promoted the game as “fun”, and allowed me to chase my dream. Larry Gladson created all of these notions. He taught me more than the basic fundamentals. He taught me much more important ideals like patience, humility, integrity, and selflessness. For lack of a better term, Larry is the ‘model-pro’. I am confident the many Elmcrest kids that earned college golf scholarships, became club professionals, playing professionals, or just golf enthusiasts are thankful for his wisdom and direction. I certainly am.”

 

Charles (Charlie) Burkart

Charles (Charlie) Burkart, who was involved in golf at an early age and would become a golf pro in Iowa City, began his career in the early 1930s when he borrowed money to buy a driving range – the first such thing in Marion, Iowa. Later a gentleman by the name of Nick Carter built a daily fee golf course in (then) Kenmore in 1934 and hired Burkart as Head Professional. In July of 1947, several prominent businessmen leased the golf course from Mr. Carter, thus forming Elmcrest Golf & Country Club.

Burkart was there from the beginning and for 42 years of service to the community and the membership of Elmcrest, retiring in 1975.

Burkart was known as an excellent player for his flawless swing and record-breaking rounds of golf. One of his greatest contributions to the game was his love of children and his efforts to involve them by organizing youth clinics and programs. Burkart spent many of his hours working patiently with junior golfers, diligently teaching them golf etiquette and the skills to play the game. His belief in sharing and passing down the traditional ‘grand old game’ served to make him one of the great promoters of golf in Iowa.

Burkart was a life member of the Professional Golfers Association of America and Past President of the Iowa Section of the PGA. He truly believed and exemplified the Code of Ethics of the PGA, which states that the name “Professional Golfer” must be a synonym with pledge of honor, service and fair dealing, professional integrity, fidelity to the game, responsibility to employers and employees and others. Charlie lived by these rules.

Today the memory of Charles Burkart lives on. The Charlie Burkart Scholarship Fund, administered by the Iowa Section PGA, formed in 1984 by his daughter, the late Lynn Hendryx and former Elmcrest professional Larry Hartzell.

The Burkart Scholarship is a $1,500 scholarship renewable each year for four years. Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of their interest and activity in golf, the potential for future contributions to the game, leadership skills/community involvement, then on their academic/professional ability and financial need.

 

William (Bill) Sheehan

William (Bill) Sheehan was a force on the fairways of Iowa in the early 1900s. From 1909-1912 he captured the Iowa Amateur three times (09, 11, 12). During the same timeframe he was the Des Moines City Champion (1909-1912), including a 7&6 win over Fred Carr for this fourth title in a row in 1912 at Waveland Golf Course.

His four Des Moines Men’s City titles are third all-time behind Jon Brown and Bob McKee.  He was especially dominant during his time, especially when you consider how few tournaments there were to play in back then.

 

Tom Chapman, Sr.

Tom Chapman Sr. was a legend in Iowa amateur golf. He spent his life in Iowa, except for his stint fighting in World War II.  It was after the war when his amateur golf career really took shape.

His college golf career at the University of Iowa was interrupted by the war where he was a fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps. Tom flew the Burma campaign in Southeast Asia. In off hours he played cards with members of his squadron – one of those men was Lee Marvin, who would become a star in Hollywood. On returning to Iowa City, and the University of Iowa, he became captain of the golf team.

For more than two decades he was a dominant force on the Northwest/North-Central golf circuit playing from his home base in Sioux City, Mason City and Fort Dodge. Considered one of the longest hitters of his day, Chapman, Sr., won many tournament titles in Northwest Iowa, including three Ft. Dodge Amateurs (1954 in a tie with Bill Black, 1956 and 1962).

Chapman, Sr., joins his son, Tom Chapman, Jr., in the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS to the Induction Ceremony ($40 per person)

2018 Iowa Golf Summit set for March 5th

January 11, 20180 commentsNews, USGA

The last Iowa Golf Summit was held in 2016. Tradition has become to hold the summit every two years.

sponsored by Standard Golf and Miller & Son’s Golf Cars

3rd Summit will feature keynote speaker “MindGym”

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT

On Monday, March 5th, individuals involved in the golf business in Iowa will gather to hear from industry leaders while also networking and sharing ideas at the Iowa Golf Summit. This is the 3rd summit co-conducted by the Iowa Golf Association, Iowa Section PGA and Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association. The Iowa Golf Summit is sponsored by Standard Golf (Cedar Falls) and Miller & Son’s Golf Cars (Britt, Ames).

Andre O’Brien of MindGym will be the keynote speaker. MindGym is a global company that specializes in “psychological-based organizational transformation”. Andre will focus his talk on “transforming leadership and becoming a real team” in a fun and entertaining way.  It will no doubt be of great value to you and your team at your golf facility.

Thomas Pagel, Senior Director of Rules at the USGA, will be on hand to discuss what will be the newly released final code of the 2019 Rules of Golf – i.e. the Rules Modernization project. The final code will be announced on March 1st, four days prior to the summit, so the timing works out great for us to have Thomas speak.

In addition, Mischia Wright of the GCSAA will be on hand to discuss their “Rounds 4 Research” program and J.D. Drimel of the PGA of America will discuss how to best utilize the PGA Career Services to your benefit.

Who should attend?

If you are a decision-maker at your club, employee at a course, or involved in the golf industry in some way, you should seriously consider attending the Iowa Golf Summit. Board and committee members, Golf Professionals, Superintendents, Managers & department heads as well as Golf Sales Reps, Golf Coaches and anyone with ties to the golf industry will realize great value.

Cost?

The fee to attend is $60 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch and beverages throughout the day.

Place?

The Iowa Golf Summit will be held at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona, Iowa.  Special hotel rates have been set and are the following:

You must make your room reservations on or before February 7th.

King:                           $110.00
Double Queen:            $110.00
Junior King Suite:       $130.00
King Suite:                  $150.00
Executive King Suite: $170.00

Reservations for the Event can be made at www.prairiemeadows.com using group code 03132018IOW.  Again, this room block rate expires after February 7th.

Are Education Points available?

Yes. PGA pros who attend the entire session will receive 6 MSR education points.  Members of the GCSA who attend  will also receive education points.  Once we know the total points available, we will post it here.

How do I sign up?

You can register online by clicking here.  You can also call the IGA office at 515-207-1062 to get signed up.

Schedule of Events

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. –  Hot Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. –  Presenting Sponsors Showcase (Standard Golf, Miller & Sons Golf Cars)

9:30 – 10:15 a.m. –  Rounds 4 Research – What can you do to help? – Mischia Wright, GCSAA

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. –  Break/Network

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. –  MIND GYM (Keynote)

11:30 – 1:00 p.m. –  Lunch & Networking

1:00 – 1:30 – IGA, Iowa PGA, Iowa GCSA Updates

1:30  – 2:45 p.m. – 2019 Rules of Golf Changes – Thomas Pagel, USGA

2:45 – 3:30 p.m. –  PGA Career Services – How we can help you! – J.D. Drimel, PGA

USGA Forms New Alliance With IGA, Regional Golf Associations

January 10, 20180 commentsNews, USGA

New USGA Regional Golf Association Alliance Created
to Support and Stimulate Grassroots Community Golf Programs

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is excited to announce that it will enter into a new relationship with the United States Golf Association (USGA) to enhance the golfer experience at the state and local levels in the United States. A total of 59 regional golf associations have entered into a similar agreement to become Allied Golf Associations (AGA) across the country.

As part of the agreement the IGA will have jurisdiction over all of the State of Iowa and Rock Island County in Illinois (county encompassing the Quad Cities).

“We are excited about the enhanced partnership we now have with the USGA,” IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts said. “The IGA has always had USGA licenses for handicapping and course rating, plus we ran their qualifying events, but this really formalizes that whole process in a way that was never done before. We are thrilled to be selected as one of the Allied Golf Associations of the USGA. We look forward to providing even more support to our member clubs in relation to USGA programs and services, as well as continuing to administer and enhance our own IGA offerings. We think this is going to be a true win-win for both the IGA and the USGA.”

These AGAs, supported by the USGA’s five existing regional affairs offices, will administer the USGA Handicap and Course Rating Systems within defined geographic areas across the country. In addition, they will serve as the community’s primary resource for USGA services such as championship qualifiers, governance, golf facility support and programs that help grow and improve the long-term health of the game.

Golfers can find an Allied Golf Association in their area by clicking here: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/about/allied-golf-associations.html

“Regional golf associations are the lifeblood of the golf community and the USGA,” said Mike Davis, USGA CEO. “We felt that now was the best time to formalize this new alliance, in the spirit of working together on grassroots programs, improving how we serve golfers and providing a healthy foundation from which the entire golf community can grow.”

Newly recognized AGAs were identified through a nearly year-long discovery process that encouraged collaboration among existing golf organizations within each state and region, sharing best practices and leveraging programs that have made a positive impact.

The resulting relationship will enable AGAs to provide a variety of competitive playing opportunities that engage more golfers of all levels within their region. The AGAs will also serve as local experts for education on topics such as modernizing golf’s rules, the new World Handicap System and related governance functions.

Each AGA will also have direct access to USGA research, funding for programs such as USGA P.J. Boatwright Internships, data and technology, additional expertise to better serve the health of golf facilities and support of national grow-the-game initiatives including PLAY9.

One of the alliance’s most significant benefits to golfers will be the centralized computation of USGA Handicap Indexes in the United States to improve efficiency, consistency and governance oversight. The move to a more modernized, digital platform will also empower Allied Golf Associations to more deeply engage golfers within their community through rich, real-time player data.

An AGA Council has been formed to share information, help ongoing service delivery and provide continuous feedback directly to the USGA to better serve golfers and golf clubs. The 12-member council consists of AGA executive directors who will represent regions and markets throughout the United States.

The alliance marks the latest step by the USGA to more deeply engage the local and regional golf community. It complements the USGA’s existing presence in all five major golf regions in the United States – Northeast, Great Lakes, Southeast, Central and West – where dedicated Regional Affairs directors currently serve in residence.

In addition to its five Regional Affairs directors, the USGA also supports golf clubs and facilities through the USGA Green Section, providing agronomic expertise through 13 regional offices.

Scroll to top