Michelle Klein (right), of Jesup, is this year’s IGA Sean Flanders Volunteer of the Year Award recipient.

Klein continues to give up countless hours of her free time to help benefit many IGA endeavors including serving on the IGA’s Board of Directors, Communications Committee Women’s Rules & Competitions Sub-Committee, Herman Sani Scholarship Selection Committee and Ann Griffel Scholarship Selection Committee.

Klein has also assumed the role the last few years as a Junior Girls’ 4-State Co-Captain and serves as a mentor to many young junior golfers.

“Michelle is always there when you need help with something,” Clint Brown, Director of Marketing and Communications said. “I have known Michelle for many years and her enthusiasm for the game of golf in Iowa is second to none. She donates so much time to various committees, not to mention the IGA Board of Directors, I can’t imagine how many hours of her time she has given up for the betterment of the association and the future of golf here in the state. She is one of the best.”

It should be noted that, while not specific to 2021, Klein’s efforts were incredible in the face of trouble – as she helped secure a location for the 2020 IGA Women’s Club Team when Elmcrest CC was hit by the ‘Derecho’.

Klein will be recognized during a ceremony at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines on Friday, Dec. 17.

Click here to download a video of Klein being surprised by the announcement at at recent IGA Board Meeting.

Michelle Klein (right) pictured with Four-Ball partner Kelly Nelson. Klein will be recognized during a ceremony at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines on Friday, Dec. 17.

Scott Fjelstul (right), Luther College men’s golf coach, has been named this year’s George Turner Distinguished Service Award recipient for his years of service to the game of golf. He will be recognized during a ceremony at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines on Dec. 17.

Fjelstul, a 1983 graduate of Luther College, has been the head coach for the Norse for over 34 years, has led the Norse to five of Luther’s 11 conference titles (1997, 1999, 2008, 2016, 2017) and has had five teams qualify for the National Tournament (1996 [T13], 1997 [12th], 2008 [21st], 2016 [T33], 2017 [T29]).

His teams have finished first or second in the Iowa Conference 17 of the past 27 years and has been named Iowa Conference (now American Rivers Conference) Coach of the Year a record 10 times (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017) and was named the NCAA Division III District 5 Coach of the Year in 1996.

Collectively, 50 student-athletes have earned 80 all-conference honors, including six conference Most Valuable Players, six All Americans and 31 Golf Coaches Association of American Academic All-Americans during his tenure.

“Coach Scott Fjelstul has been the face of Luther Men’s Golf for nearly 35 years,” Andrew Peter, a former player for Fjelstul said. “His professionalism, work ethic and passion for the game are qualities that have made him an ideal leader and mentor at Luther College and in the college golf community. Speaking from my personal experience, Scott and his players welcomed me with open arms when I enrolled at Luther as a transfer student-athlete in 2012, and I will be forever grateful for the relationships built and memories shared during my two years playing for him. Coach went to great lengths to ensure that our experience as student-athletes was entirely positive, and he served an important role in helping me and my teammates mature to become quality young men.”

Dan Hammes, Commissioner American Rivers Conference, also had high praise for Fjelstul.

“As with the game of golf, Scott Fjelstul is an individual of honor and integrity, demonstrated through his 34-plus years of successfully leading student-athletes on and off the golf course,” Hammes said. “Scott’s impact and dedication to his student-athletes, Luther College, the conference, and the game of golf have been remarkable. When you consider the time he has devoted and the totality of people he has impacted, Scott has established and continues to build an incredible legacy.”

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 was somewhere on the course! (Courtesy of Rick Brown)

Ventura’s Thomas Storbeck’s world was turned upside down in 2019. 

Following a push from a close friend to be examined, an MRI conformed Storbeck’s fears – a rare spinal cord issue – which led to a laminectomy – that forced the removal of the T-11 and T-12, plus the L-1 and L-2 vertebrae.

An operation on his spinal cord was needed, one that left a 10-15% chance of Storbeck being paralyzed.

Fast forward to 2021 and Storbeck (pictured above), who now is enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa, is back on the course inspiring others follow his successful surgery at Mayo Clinic and lengthy rehabilitation process. 

Storbeck was recently honored for his courage and competitive spirit by being selected to receive the Phil Joselyn Inspirational Award. Storbeck will accept his award at the IGA’s Annual Award Banquet in December at Glen Oaks Country Club.

Joselyn (left), who won the 1960 Fort Dodge Amateur, served as President of the IGA from April 1989 through April 1991. Joselyn also served as honorary captain of the IGA’s Iowa Cup team in 2013. Joselyn served the USGA for 20 years on the Sectional Affairs committee from 1990-2004, then Regional Affairs committee from 2004-2010. 

Joselyn, who passed away in 2018, was proud supporter of the Iowa Golf Association and active participant for many years in its championships. His positive attitude, love for competition and ever-present smile was always present IGA events.

Read more about Stobeck’s inspiring story back to the course written by Zach Martin of the Globe Gazette by clicking here.

A pair of former Iowa State standouts have earned playing privileges for the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour.

Tripp Kinney (left) and Chris Baker (right) each fired 4-under par 278’s to tie for 14th place in the 72-hole Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament held November 4-7 at the Landings Club in Savannah, GA.

Kinney, 24, secured his card by advancing through the pre qualifying, first stage and second stage tournaments. He is a former Waukee High School star and 2018 Iowa Amateur champion.

Baker, 35, received an exemption into the qualifying tournament’s final stage by virtue of his playing status on the PGA Tour for the past two seasons, where he played in 39 events, made 18 cuts and earned $508,927 in prize money. The Indiana native has also played eight seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour with an additional $681,461 in winnings.

Both Kinney and Baker are guaranteed to be in the field for the first eight tournaments of the season and then will likely draw additional starts through the tour’s reshuffling system. The 2022 Korn Ferry Tour schedule begins January 16-19 with The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

On Friday, October 29, the IGA Board of Directors named recipients of the 2021 Annual Awards in six categories. We are pleased to announce this year’s honorees.

9-Hole Superintendent – Jeff Rokusek, Sheldon Golf & Country Club
Jeff Rokusek, of Sheldon Golf & Country Club, has been named the 2021 IGA 9-Hole Superintendent of the Year.

With the golf course becoming an area of high traffic – membership up 23% in 2021 – one constant has been Sheldon’s Golf Course Superintendent, Rokusek according to Jason Hengeveld, Club President.

“He’s done nothing but an impeccable job making the course his own,” Hengeveld said. “From improving green quality and receptibility to adding several landscape features around the course to create a more unique experience, Jeff works very hard.”

Rokusek’s tireless work ethic and attention to detail are just a couple of attributes that set him apart according to several members of the club.

“We are lucky to have Jeff,” one member said.”You’d be hard-pressed to notice that we went through the worst flood not so long ago based on the excellent condition the course is today.”

18-Hole Superintendent – Matt Reifert, Whispering Creek Golf Club
Matt Reifert, of Whispering Creek Golf Club, is the 2021 IGA 18-Hole Superintendent of the
Year.

Ever since Reifert joined the staff at Whispering Creek GC members and guests alike have seen a level of professionalism, quality and course improvements that have not been enjoyed before.

With six leagues, two high school teams and a college men’s and women’s golf team utilizing the facility, in addition to the numerous events the clubs hosts, Reifert and his team keep the course in excellent condition.

“Other courses might have better layouts, or architects, but I would match the conditions at Whispering Creek against anyone,” Christopher Rants said. “When Matt wants to, no one’s greens roll faster or better – and that’s not a boast I take lightly.”

In 2021, Reifert undertook a task of making improvements to several bunkers around the course and removal of a cart path around the lake on #18 and replaced it with turf thereby reducing the odds of a tee shot bouncing off the asphalt and going into the water.

Reifert’s ability to build a team that has come back as a cohesive unit year after year has also not gone unnoticed by many.

“Matt is great to work for and is always open to ideas that one might have,” Assistant Supt. Dan Conway said.

9-Hole Course of the Year – Dyersville Golf & Country Club
The IGA 9-Hole Course of the Year in 2021 is Dyersville Golf & Country Club.

To say Dyersville Golf & Country Club has withstood the test of time is probably an understatement. The club, over the last 95 years, as gone from the original 40 acres with sand greens and has evolved into 60 acres with 9 manicured fairways, smooth greens and hundreds of trees with dozens of varieties.

Led by a volunteer board, with all positions filled by members, DG&CC has grown membership of all ages with multiple membership options. The pride shown in the club by its members can be seen in many ways – from impromptu workdays to planting and upkeep of the flower beds and birdhouses around the property.

“Not to mention we have a robust amount of public play from a 50-mile radius,” members Todd and Becky Steffen said.

When the clubhouse roof needed fixed, members didn’t go silent. They responded in mass by raising more funds than initially thought was needed and volunteered labor to complete the project that elevated the club to new heights.

It’s safe to say there’s something special going on at Dyersville Golf & Country Club – and has been for almost 100 years.

18-Hole Course of the Year – BVU Golf Course at Lake Creek
Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek, in Storm Lake, has been selected as the 2021 IGA 18-Hole Course of the Year.

With its ‘Golden Anniversary’ on the horizon in June 2022, BVU Golf Course at Lake Creek has seen quite the amount of momentum with what staff and members are doing to ensure the future of the club as a place to play and a key member of the Storm Lake community at large.

Junior golf, corporate outings and tournament play are all highlights from this past year at BVU Golf Course at Lake Creek. With the return of the Lake Creek Amateur in 2020, following a seven-year hiatus, paid internships and the establishment of a Legacy Fund among other endeavours there are several exciting things happening at the course.

“Our commitment to the members remains as promising as it was for the founders here a half-century ago,” Director of Golf Operations Joe Powell said. “Having the BVU connection with Lake Creek has been so beneficial. We have been able to provide experiences for students here in management, accounting, purchasing, member relations and more.”

PGA Pro of the Year – Mark Egly, Des Moines Driving Range
Mark Egly, of Des Moines Driving Range, is the 2021 IGA PGA Professional of the Year.

Egly (right), who possibly has put more players on the golf course than anyone for over 40 years in Iowa, is a familiar face around the state as well as at his Des Driving Range – where he can be found almost everyday.

From donating countless hours of his time to make sure a young golfer has a golf bag and maybe a few clubs to begin their journey into the game, Egly’s love of the game is endless. Egly has taught some of the state’s best to ever play the game, but also taken the time to work with that golfer who has never touched a club before.

“Mark does so much for golfers in Iowa,” PGA Apprentice David Ellis said. “From junior to senior golfers, both men and women, I see almost daily the requests for his time from so many entities and I have never heard him say no yet. Mark has also been an ally for Iowa golf at the state capitol on behalf of golf for decades, dealing with members of both parties relating to property taxes, tourism and the game of golf having the right to be responsibly open during the last couple of years while the state dealt with Covid-19.”

Egly is a true ambassador of Iowa golf and works hard to keep it front and center to the public.

“Mark works tirelessly to encourage community members, young and old, to pick up the game of golf or work on their individual games,” Nick Ahlquist said. “His support and service, especially for young golfers, is unmatched and an essential piece to their success both on and off the course.”

Club Manager of the Year – Lance Marting,  Dubuque Golf & Country Club
Lance Marting, of Dubuque Golf & Country Club, is the 2021 IGA Club Manager of the Year.

An energizing leader, Marting has met the ever-changing landscape of the golf world head on. As an ‘ad hoc’ general contractor for a multi-million dollar capital project, which now provides year-round amenities and activities at DG&CC, Marting through it all has been able to maintain high service standards, improve member satisfaction and oversee a stretch of unprecedented growth in membership.

“I have always known Lance to be very professional, while adding the right balance of humor and storytelling to entertain our members,” Head PGA Professional Dave Edwards said. “He worked directly with our construction partners on a daily basis to make sure the project was completed in mid-July, on our 12-month construction timeline.”

It was noted that Marting’s ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with clubs members and their guests is just one of his award-winning qualities.

“He always does what is needed to ensure all members have a great time, which leads to high levels of satisfaction and retention,” Edwards said.

NOTE – The IGA Annual Awards Banquet is scheduled for Friday, December 17th at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. We will communicate a schedule of events to the public, including price to attend, as soon as we finalize all of the remaining details.