USGA Forms New Alliance With IGA, Regional Golf Associations
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.
