The Metropolitan Vol 10, No 6 (August 2023)

Amateur Golf Association

The Metropolitan

22 Rules Center

Impact Tape

12

Event #4 & #5

Event No. 4 at Lake Forest CC and No. 5 at Far Oaks GC are in the books!

14 Sobbe Cup

Play Yardage Book

An Update on the Next Stage of the Sobbe Cup Matches.

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

WHO ARE WE?

An Allied Golf Association of the USGA providing a variety of golf services to clubs and golfers in the Metropolitan St. Louis, Central, and Southern Illinois region.

WHAT WE DO:

- Provide GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System

- Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs

24 What’s Next for MAGA?

Monthly Schedule and Deadlines

16 The Bogeyman

25 POY Player of the Year Standings Update for MAGA and SIGA. Where do you stand?

27

- Regional authority on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status

- Conduct twelve (12) Metropolitan Championships each season

- Conduct USGA Qualifying for nine (9) USGA Championships each season

- Conduct three (3) Championships in Illinois

- Conduct the Amateur Series of Events for golfers of all ages and abilities

METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Amateur Championship

Open Championship

Women’s Amateur Championship

Junior Amateur Championship

Senior Amateur Championship

Four-Ball Championship

9-Hole Championship

East Side Amateur

Old Warson Cup (Match Play Championship)

Shogren Cup (Match Play PGA Pros vs. MAGA Amateurs)

Sobbe Cup

Mid-America Junior Cup

Amateur Series

ILLINOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Southern Illinois Amateur

SIGA Championship

Tony Stevens Cup

USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS

U.S. Open • U.S. Amateur

U.S. Mid-Amateur • U.S. Senior Amateur

U.S. Women’s Open • U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

U.S. Junior Amateur • U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur

U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

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See the World’s Champions from the month of August

MAGA STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org

DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Caroline Buchan - caroline@metga.org

2023 PJ BOATWRIGHT INTERNS

Anna Marriott, Communications

Josh Plohr, Operations

Amari Sewer, Operations

EXECUTIVE BOARD Officers

Scott Engelbrecht, President/Treasurer

Mike Marquart, Secretary

At Large Members

John Bugh

Stan Grossman

Kelli Kirchoff

Mike Marquart

Rick Meyer, Jr

John Moore

Mick Wellington

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Scott Thomas, Chairman

Tom Barry

Skip Berkmeyer

Chris Kovach

Ryan Eckelcamp

Tom Portner

Curt Rohe

THE METROPOLITAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dan O’Neill

MVGCSAA

Dr. Zach Cutler

Curt’s Corner

Curt Rohe - Executive Director

By The Numbers

Greetings members! Hope this final monthly edition of The Metropolitan finds everyone well and survived the heat over the last couple weeks of August. I must say, we have been extremely fortunate with our championships to miss the worst heat on days of competition, not sure what we did but very lucky.

August is always the pinnacle of the season with the Metropolitan Amateur Championship to kick off the month. We had a wonderful 33rd Amateur at Persimmon Woods Golf Club and a very worthy champion in Peter Weaver. Weaver capped off one of the best summers by an amateur in recent memory, stamping his name on the Jim Tom Blair Trophy while also capturing the Missouri State Amateur and St. Louis District Griesedieck Championship. Congratulations to Peter and a great way to go into your senior season at Villanova.

To cap off the Amateur we recently made the announcement that the 34th Amateur Championship will be hosted by Bellerive Country Club August 1-3, 2024! Bellerive last hosted the Amateur in 2009 where Skip Berkmeyer captured his one Amateur title and we are elated to return 15 years later. It will be a wonderful championship on a great venue to test the best amateurs in our region.

I have not touched on the Amateur Series much this year but wow, what a season this has been! Each year continues to grow and this was no doubt another banner year. With 239 participants throughout the summer we averaged 102 per event. The 6th and final regular season event will take place at Annbriar September 5 and the Championship will be October 9-10 at The Quarry! Thank you to those 239 golfers for another record breaking season! I must also say thank you to Alvan Sage who once again took the lead with the Amateur Series this summer coordinating Rules Officials and the conduct of the regular season events, thank you Alvan and our Rules Committee for making the Amateur Series such a great program for the Association.

We said goodbye to 2 interns in August, Amari Sewer and Anna Marriott returned to their respective universities. Thank you again to those 2 for being a part of the Team this year and bringing your enthusiasm and work ethic to our championships and events. We could not do what we do without the PJ Boatwright Internship program and we hope you enjoyed the busy, hectic summer of golf administration.

Well...you’ll have to stay tuned a couple months for the next edition; however, you can still keep up with everything happening by tuning into our social media platforms. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and are always pushing out what is going on. Thank you again for reading and keep golfing with the soon to be fall weather approaching.

5 - The number who qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Sept. 9-14 at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Westchester, N.Y. The qualifying event, conducted by the MAGA at Forest Hills Country Club on Aug. 14, was dominated by Tucker Jenkins. The Nashville, Tenn. resident shot a spectacular 8-under-par 63 to medal. If not for Jenkins, it would have been a heckuva show, with Justin Bryant, Andrew Pranger, John Kelly and Brad Nurski all tied at 3-under 68, five strokes behind. Bottom line, all five got the nod for Sleepy Hollow. And remember, if you can win the U.S. Mid-Amateur, you get an exemption into the U.S. Open, so they may as well dream big. For Kelly, that would represent a return to the U.S. Open. The former Missouri standout finished second at the 2006 U.S. Amateur, then was exempted into the 2007 Masters and 2007 U.S. Open.

103 - That’s how old C. Arthur Thompson of Victoria, British Columbia was when he shot his age at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria. Thompson is the oldest known person to shoot his age in golf, a feat he accomplished in 1972.

3 - The number of left-handers who have won the British Open, which includes Bob Charles (1963), Phil Mickelson (2013) and Brian Harman, Of course, Harman became the most recent when he captured the championship by six strokes at Royal Liverpool earlier this year. Lefties make up 10 to 12 percent of the overall population, while only 5 to 7 percent of golfers are left-handed. That number changes in Canada, where 30 percent of the players a left-handed. Of course, Canada is a country synonymous with the sport of hockey and nearly two thirds of Canadian hockey players stick-handle and shoot left-handed. So, it’s perhaps no big surprise that a larger percentage of Canadians transition to swing a golf club from the left side.

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- The number of feet in the putt Nick Taylor holed for an eagle on the fourth hole of a playoff to outlast Tommy Fleetwood and win the RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto. A Winnipeg native, Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his nation’s open championship.

4

- That’s how many players over the past 100 years have won the U.S. Open upon making the cut for the first time. Wyndham Clark turned the trick in June by capturing the national championship at Los Angeles Country Club. In uncharterd waters, Clark shot a final round of par-70 to defeat Rory McIlroy by one stroke. The 29-year old Clark won his first PGA Tour event at the Wells Fargo Championship in May and had made cuts in only two majors previously. This month, he will cap off his breakout year by playing in his first Ryder CUP.

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As in yards, which is how far Harry Bradshaw hit his unusual shot in the 1949 British Open. On the fifth hole of the second round at Sandwich, Bradshaw drove a ball into the rough that wound up in the bottom of a beer bottle, breaking off the neck and shoulder of the container. Deciding to play it where it lay rather than risk taking a penalty, Bradshaw closed his eyes and smashed the bottle with his club, sending the ball 25 yards. From there, he ended up making a six and lost his edge en route to a second-round 77. Truth be told, Bradshaw was entitled to relief from the broken bottle, and the missed opportunity proved costly. The Irishman wound up tied with Bobby Locke after 72 holes, before losing to Locke in a 36-hole playoff. Talk about a hangover.

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33rd Metropolitan Amateur Championship

The 33rd Metropolitan Amateur Championship at Persimmon Woods Golf Club was three days full of action. Each day saw a new leader, keeping the competition interesting. The first day began with a bit of a snag when the horn for lightning in the area sounded with only two groups on the front and two groups on the back nine. The delay lasted for an hour and ten minutes, causing all starting times to be pushed back. The second and final rounds went off without any weather delays and turned into two beautiful days of golf. This year’s championship saw broken records and tight competition over the three days. The course played to a par 71 at approximately 6840 to 6890 yards.

In the morning wave of Round 1, players put together rounds that would force the afternoon players to answer if they wanted to be in a good position going into Round 2. Sam Migdal of Norwood Hills Country Club set out, ready to make a statement. Through nine holes, Migdal was four-under (-4) par with zero bogeys on the card. Continuing to push on, Migdal pulled out another three birdies on the back nine, including one to close out his round on Hole 18. Migdal knew he had played well, but what he did not realize was he had just broken the MAGA Amateur Championship record for the lowest Round 1 Score with a score of seven-under (-7) par. Until now, the record was held by Jimmy Siegfried and Tyler Linenbroker at six-under par. In his post-round interview, Sam said his goal for the day was to “not make a bogey and hit as many greens as possible.” He was successful in doing that by having a bogey-free round and securing the top spot on the leaderboard with a four-stroke lead. No one was able to catch Migdal for the remainder of the day. Griffin St. Pierre of Woods Fort Golf Course and Peter Weaver of Bellerive Country Club tried to get close by shooting scores of four-under (-4) par to sit tied for second. At the conclusion of Round 1, twenty-nine players sat at even par or better.

With a large group of great competitors sitting in a good position, players still had an opportunity to string together two more good rounds to take the lead. Zach Walsh of Forest Hills Country Club was prepared to do just that by bringing in a score of six-under (-6) par for Round 2. Starting on Hole10, Walsh began his round with a birdie and eagle. Things slowed down a bit for him on the back nine after that, but he found another eagle on Hole 4 and two more birdies on the front nine. This score beats the lowest second round score in Metropolitan Amateur Championship history by

one-stroke, as well as, breaks the record for lowest first 36 holes score. The lowest second round score was held by Mike Sabo, Brad Carpenter, Joe Migdal, Nick Westrich, and Cy Moritz until this year. The lowest first 36 holes score record was formerly held by Brad Carpenter and Chris Kovach at 136. Combining Walsh’s first and second round scores brings him to eight-under (-8) par, 134, and pushes him ahead of Migdal to the top of the leaderboard.

Justin Bryant of St. Louis Country Club, Brian Hall of Persimmon Woods Golf Club, and Ryan Sullivan of Tapawingo National Golf Club came in with the second best rounds of Round 2 with scores of four-under (-4) par, 67. Peter Weaver of Bellerive Country Club came into Round 2 at four-under (-4) par, and managed to card another round under par. With an eagle on Hole 18, Weaver shot one-under (-1) par today, totalling five-under (-5) par and placing him in the top five after the morning wave. Thomas Wuennenberg of the Metropolitan eClub closed out his first two rounds with back-to-back scores of two-under (-2) par, 69. With two eagles on the card for Round 2, Wuennenberg also placed himself in the top five with the afternoon wave still to play at four-under (-4) par. Though many tried, no one was able to catch Walsh at the top in Round 2.

Going into the Final Round, Zach Walsh held the lead at eight-under (-8) par. Three-strokes back at five-under (-5) par are Justin Bryant and Peter Weaver, tied for second. Thomas Wuennenberg is sitting in solo fourth at four-under (-4) par. Six players are stacked at three-under (-3) par. These six include: Kevin Jeske, Ryan Eckelkamp, Brian Hall, Drew Pranger, Kyle Weldon, and Sam Migdal. Max Kreikemeier is in solo eleventh at two-under (-2) par, while Drew Wielgus, Ryan Sullivan, and Alex Ciaramitaro are tied for twelfth at one-under (-1) par.

Round three was no different when it came to the stiff competition with players continually moving up and down the leaderboard throughout the day. Following Round 2, a cut was made at five-over (+5) par, which allowed 41 players to make the cut. With incredible golfers still filling the field, players set out with the intent to battle to the finish line for the Jim Tom Blair Trophy.

Round 2 leader Zach Walsh started his day off strong with a birdie on the first hole. Things were looking good for Walsh after finishing Hole 7 with another birdie and no bogeys to show for, which brought his score to ten-under par. Unfortunately, a rough stretch left him unable to find a birdie on the back nine. Walsh finished his round two-over (+2) par, ultimately leaving him to finish the championship tied for second at six-under (-6) par. Walsh was joined in company at second place at the conclusion of the day by Thomas Wuennenberg. Wuennenberg showed he is nothing but consistent with his three round scores, finishing each day with a score of 69, two-under (-2) par. Though his rounds were not without challenges, Wuennenberg’s ability to inch two-strokes closer to the lead each day found him a second place finish at six-under (-6) par.

Peter Weaver began the day tied for second at five-under (-5) par. Weaver has shown throughout the summer that he knows how to remain in control during a final round. Despite a bogey on Hole 3, Weaver remained calm to bring in three birdies and a bogey-free back nine. It was not even until around Hole 16 that Weaver knew where he stood on the leaderboard. Once he knew he was not far back, he produced a birdie on Hole 17 to get to seven-under (-7) par. After turning in his scorecard, Weaver still had to wait for Walsh to come up 18, who was just one-stroke back. Waiting for the final putts to drop, Weaver looked on as Walsh just narrowly missed a putt for birdie on the last hole, which officially gave Weaver the title.

Championing the Metropolitan Amateur caps off a great summer for Weaver as he becomes the first person to win this championship, as well as, the Missouri Amateur and the St. Louis District Golf Association Championship in the same year. Skip Berkmeyer is the only other player to have won both the Metropolitan Amateur and the Missouri Amateur in the same year. Weaver will return to school, where he plays on the Villanova University golf team, with the Jim Tom Blair trophy in hand.

There were some great rounds of golf out on the course today, with fourteen players carding a score of even par or better for the round. Fourteen players also finished the championship with a gross score of even par or better. The lowest score of Round 3 came from William Postlethwaite and Brad Carpenter at four-under (-4) par. Both Postlethwaite and Carpenter finished the championship tied for sixth at two-under (-2) par. Joining them at tied for sixth were Drew Wielgus, Sam Migdal, Drew Pranger, Kevin Jeske, and Justin Bryant. Ryan Sullivan returned another round under par to land in fifth place at three-under (-3) par, while Kyle Weldon also brought in a round in the red digits to finish in solo fourth place at four-under (-4) par.

After a whirlwind of a championship, featuring weather delays, broken records, friendly competition, and incredible golf, Peter Weaver stands triumphant as the 33rd Metropolitan Amatuer Champion.

Zach Walsh & Thomas Wuennenberg

USGA Championship Qualifying

Metropolitan Amateur

31st Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship

Two beautiful days in Belleville made for two perfect rounds of the 31st Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship. With clear skies and a shining sun, temperatures in the mid-80s paired with a light, cool breeze created an atmosphere for an enjoyable day of golf. 80 players teed it up in Round One, and 76 players returned for the second and final round. Five past champions were in the field: Brian Lovett, Mike O’Neill, Jack Eisenbeis, Jim Dunn, and Scott Edwards. Eisenbeis and Dunn withdrew from the competition before the final round. Edwards is competing in the 65-69 age division, leaving just Lovett and O’Neill to try to claim the title again. The Final Round began at 8:00am with players going off of Holes 1 and 10. The last group teed off at 10:10am.

The first group to finish their round was the 50-59 age division. Jim Mauze of St. Louis Country Club shot rounds of 79 and 80 to have a combined gross score of fifteen-over (+15) par to win the division. Josh Goldman of the USGA/MetAmateurGA put his handicap to use to bring in a combined net score of fourteen-over (+14) par to win the age 50-59 net division. Coming in just after were the age 60-64 division after starting on Hole 10. Kevin Erxleben of the Metropolitan eClub came out on top of this group with a total gross score of 148, four-over (+4) par. Mark Lamoreaux of Pevely Farms Golf Club and Ken Gillum of Highland Country Club applied handicap strokes to finish with a net score of nine-over (+9) par. In a scorecard playoff, Lamoreaux came out on top of the age 60-64 net division.

As scores were slowly coming in for the Championship Division on Hole 18, the age 65-69 and 70 and up divisions were also coming in on Hole 9 after starting on Hole 10. Patrick Idoux of the Metropolitan eClub was sitting in a strong position after a Round 1 score of even par. Idoux had a tougher second round, but was able to stay on top of the age 65-69 group with a gross score of eight-over (+8) par. For the age 65-69 net division, Kent Plotner of Highland Country Club and Jeff Hebrank of Highland Country Club shot two day totals of ten-over (+10) par. In a scorecard playoff, Plotner would be victorious. R Amos of Old Warson Country Club maintained his position on the leaderboard in the age 70 and up division. Amos shot thirteen-over (+13) par to be the champion. Once handicap strokes were applied, Schooner Fitzgerald of the Metropolitan eClub would be victorious in the age 70 and up net division with a score of six-over (+6) par.

The Championship flight of players began the day with Paul Neeman and David Bremer tied at the top a three-under (-3) par with Brian Hall and Brian Lovett following behind tied for third at even (E) par. As they made their way around the course, things began to heat up. Paul Neeman of Persimmon Woods Golf Club got off to a good start with a birdie on the first hole. Despite having two bogeys on the front nine, a stretch of birdies on Holes 6 through 8 helped push him to the solo lead. Holding on to his game, Neeman finished his round with a score of one-under (-1) par, bringing his total to four-under (-4) par. No other players were able to catch Neeman, making him the Champion. David Bremer of Persimmon Woods Golf Club was unable to produce a second round under par, leaving him finishing the championship at fourover (+4) par and in third place. Brian Lovett, the defending champion, of Bellerive Country Club had a stretch of birdies on Holes 4 through 6, which helped push him into the red. Finishing the day with a score of one-under (-1) par and a total of one-under (-1) par, Lovett slipped into second place to be the runner-up.

Everyone finished their rounds by 2:43pm. Players enjoyed lunch and fellowship following their round at the club. At the end of the day Jim Mauze is the 50-59 Gross Champion, Josh Goldman is the 50-59 Net Champion, Kevin Erxleben is the 60-64 Gross Champion, Mark Lamoreaux is 60-64 Net Champion, Patrick Idoux is the 65-69 Gross Champion, Kent Plotner is the 65-69 Net Champion, R Amos is the 70+ Gross Champion, and Schooner Fitzgerald is the 70+ Net Champion. Paul Neeman reigns victorious as the 31st Metropolitan Senior Amateur Champion.

Full Results

Runner-Up: Brian Lovett

50-59: Jim Mauze 60-64: Kevin Erxleben

65-69: Patrick Idoux 70+: R Amos

Event #4 Lake Forest CC

Two more Amateur Series Events took place in August. Event #4 at Lake Forest Country Club was conducted on August 7, while Event #5 took place on August 21 at Far Oaks Golf Club. Each time players made their way around the course, having fun with old friends and making new ones. Despite the weather getting warmer, both events continued to bring out a crowd of players hopeful to win a payout at the end of the day, as well as earn enough points to get into the Series Championship.

Event #5 Far Oaks GC

Lake Forest Results:

Open Division - Logan Daily

Senior Open - Gary Hill

Super Senior Open - Kevin Erxleben

Amateur Series Standings

7 Divisions, 6 Events, 1 Great Series Open Division

Net Division - Zach Brasier

Senior Net Division - Vince Schneider

Super Senior Net Divsion - John Epps

Women’s Net Division - Debra Schill

Senior Open Division Super Senior Open Division

The Amateur Series

Photos Results

Net Division

Far Oaks Results:

Open Division - Courtney Cooper

Senior Open - Paul Downing

Super Senior Open - Kevin Erxleben

Net Division - Grant Riess

Senior Net Division - Dave Draucker

Super Senior Net Divsion - J Thompson

Women’s Net Division - Maria Morrison

Women’s Net Division

Senior Net Division

Super Senior Net Division

For Full Standings, Click Here

Sobbe Cup Quarterfinals

The Group Stage of the Thomas O. Sobbe Cup have come to a conclusion. The top teams from the 18 divisions moved on, except for two. With eighteen divisions and only sixteen bracket positions available, four teams battled in a playoff to determine who will move on to the single elimination Round of 16. The four lowest ranked teams following the Group Stage were Greenville Country Club, Ruth Park Golf Course, Old Hickory Golf Club II, and Persimmon Woods Golf Club I. Greenville CC played Ruth Park GC, while Old Hickory GC II played Persimmon Woods GC I to move on. The other top fourteen teams automatically moved on. All teams have completed their Round of 16 matches, and now we move forward to the Quarterfinals. Eight teams have earned their spot in the Quarterfinals and must fight to make it to the Final Four. The Semifinal and Final matches will take place at The Legends Country Club on September 15.

The Ryder Cup Selection

entering the Colosseum in chariots... OK, maybe that’s taking marketing a bit too far.

The Bogeyman

Dan O’Neill

The 2023 version of the Ryder Cup fast approaches, and it will be unique. Strictly speaking, the biennial match play event, which takes place Sept. 26-Oct 1, is not a major championship. But it may as well be. One might even argue it is more popular than any of the majors, at least with the casual sports crowd.

The nature of the exhibition - that’s right, it is an exhibition - grabs the otherwise-disinterested crowd. The head-to-head competition, patriotic tones and tailgate personality of the event makes it irresistible.

What’s more, in more recent years, it truly has become competitive. The U.S. still holds a commanding 27-14 lead overall in the series, but that margin was forged mainly during the formative years. From the inaugural match in 1927 through 1983, the boys from across the pond won only three of 24 meetings. But in 1979, the format of U.S. versus Great Britain and Ireland became U.S. versus all of Europe, and the worm turned.

The European side has claimed the silverware in 12 of the last 18 meetings, including the last six bouts at home. The Yankees have not had a successful road trip since 1993, when they prevailed at The Belfry in England.

Several factors make this 44th Ryder Cup unlike any other. For one, it will be the first conducted in Italy, played at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, 10 miles from the city center of Rome. The new ground being broken continues a refreshing trend for the European side, which has brought the Cup to France, Wales, Ireland and Spain in recent years.

A nice touch would be to have the two sides be introduced while

But another unique and certainly influential aspect to this Ryder Cup is the presence - or lack thereof - of the LIV.

On the European side, one of the requirements for being Ryder Cup eligible is membership to the DP World Tour. However, five prominent names from Ryder Cups past - including Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson have forfeited their memberships to Europe’s established professional tour to join the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV. Combined, those seven players have 45 Ryder Cups to their credit.

Stenson even went a stiff arm further, giving up the captaincy of the European team to accept the Middle East millions.

The American side is a bit different. While playing LIV has made it difficult for the defectors to qualify for the U.S. team, being they can only play and accrue Cup points in the majors. But those players remained “technically eligible.” Thus, while he narrowly missed an automatic berth by slipping out of the top six in the points standings, PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka still secured an at-large spot.

Makes sense, ay? The Ryder Cup is, after all, a PGA of America party. To have its champion be struck from the invite list would be, well, uncivilized.

That said, the LIV factor creates an intriguing matchup. On the one hand, it appears the Europeans have a formidable frontline. As European captain Luke Donald prepared to announce his at-large pic, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Holland - thereof the top four in the Official World Golf Rankings - already had secured automatic slots. Tyrrell Hatton, 13th in OWGR, also was on board, while Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 8) and Tommy Fleetwood (No. 13th) were on the brink of securing spots, by automatic qualification or captain’s pick.

But missing are the crusty Ryder Cup veterans aforementioned, who might provide experience and poise on the back end. For the most part, the second wave of Team Europe is names with which an American audience and a Ryder Cup competition are unfamiliar.

On the American side, the six automatic qualifiers include three Cup rookies - Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman and Max Homa, The thee others - Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay - have played in just one previous Ryder Cup.

But on the back end, U.S. captain Zach Johnson has a healthy amount of experience, with the likes of Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Colin Morikawa among his at-large picks. Sam Burns was the only nonie among the choices.

So while Team Europe appears to be top heavy, Team USA seems strong down below.

The contrast should make for some fast fascinating lineup choices as the captains try to make the most of what they have. Keep in mind, the format of the Ryder Cup makes it possible to hide a player or two and/ or ride a hot hand or two. Only the last day of the competition - singles - exposes all 12 players at once.

If a team can build a big enough lead going into the final day, the one-on-one matches can be rendered nearly irrelevant, i.e. too little too late.

Bottom line, anything could happen. Perhaps you remember the entertaining 2003 film Italian Job, with its ensemble cast, action-packed car race and suspenseful storyline. This Ryder Cup might be the sequel.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-ROUND STRETCHING

> This is a topic talked about amongst all athletes, but not all athletes take the 5-10 minutes to stretch before their sporting events.

> Young golfers might get away with not stretching before their rounds, but as golfers get older the importance of stretching before rounds becomes greater.

> Stretching before your round has many positive effects including, increased blood flow to prepare the muscles for activity, increased range of motion and flexibility, and to optimize your performance now that blood flow, range of motion, and flexibility is achieved.

> Proper pre-round stretching, and warm-up has been shown to decrease the risk of injury during your round or sporting event.

THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-ROUND RECOVERY

> Many golfers and athletes overlook the importance of post-round recovery.

> Post-round recovery includes stretching, cooldowns, Normatec compression etc.

> Stretching and the use of Normatec Compression after your round will aid in the elimination of lactic acid and help get your body prepared for your next round.

> Don’t surpass the importance of both pre-round stretching and post-round recovery and check out the stretching that you can start to incorporate into your routine.

Dr. Zach Cutler Sports Chiropractor and TPI Certified Family Golf and Learning Center @FGLCPERFORMANCE

Here are a couple exercises to try out!

Golf is a great lifetime sport and one that I am happy, content and grateful to have been associated with for my entire professional career. Now fully retired as my 70th is just around the corner, I reflect.

I got started in the turf industry at the early age of about 10, when I was push mowing neighbor’s yards. I maxed out at 21 clients in my small home town by age 15, when I decided to transition into what was to become, unbeknownst to me, my lifelong career.. and passion.

After several teenage years working on the local course and a couple years in college, I decided managing a golf course may just be the ticket for me. So, finished up my studies at Kansas State in 1976 and graduated with a degree in Agronomy with an emphasis in Turfgrass Management.

For the next 35+ years, I went on to work as a Golf Course Superintendent at 4 top level country clubs in Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Missouri. During that time I achieved Certification status (CGCS) through our National Superintendents Association (GCSAA) and also had the privilege of working alongside some of the best agronomists in the country for 5 years as a fellow turf consultant with the USGA Green Section. Recently, as I’ve been fading into the sunset, I just completed serving 9 years as the Director of Operations of our local Superintendents Association, the Mississippi Valley GCSA (www.mvgcsa.com). It’s been a full and rewarding career in the golf industry!

Enough of the ground work and thanks for continuing to read. My intent for this article is to speak from experience, as to the dedication, commitment and knowledge required to be a golf course superintendent, especially in today’s world. Currently, this world is all

What A Sweet Ride It has Been!

about instant results and gratification. “I want it now and it should be just the way I want it”, regardless of undeniable, extraneous circumstances. It’s an unrealistic expectation in a lot of circumstances and definitely one that is impossible to achieve every single day on a golf course. Producing and maintaining perfection over a vast 160+ acres involving an infinite number of constantly moving factors is simply not possible. Let’s keep in mind, turf management is a science, not a manufacturing process. Turf science, and practically any science for that matter, isn’t instantaneous. It just doesn’t work that way. It takes the correct inputs, proper nurturing and above all, patience to achieve the desired results.

Not unlike many professions, a golf course superintendent wears many hats. On a daily basis, Supts evaluate plant nutrition, pathology, pest exposure (IPM), soil science, irrigation, equipment performance, weather factors, lake management, erosion, drainage, etc, etc. You get the picture. Let me assure you, it’s not just “cutting the grass”!

Now let’s throw in some critical, non-science issues. Supts must continually keep in mind factors relating to budget, parts and supplies, employee issues, EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, County Code enforcement, tournament schedules, Board and Green Committee agenda’s, and the ever present club politics.

Keep in mind this entire, many faceted operation is centered around dealing with a living and breathing entity, a golf course. Very little is static. Not unlike our children, illness or injury may occur for any number of reasons and it’s often times out of our control. Doesn’t necessarily mean there was negligence, sh*t just happens!

Brings us to Mother Nature. She calls the shots on her own terms, usually at the most inopportune time. Heat, drought, flood, tornadoes, snow, sub-zero temps, you name it. Think 3 steps forward 2 steps back. Well, sometimes it’s 2 steps forward 3 steps back. So your Supt address’s it, applies educated procedures and then must apply patience to revive the desired status quo. Believe me, your Supt wants consistent quality conditions even more than you do! And here’s a thought, very few professions are openly evaluated and judged on a daily basis. Now that’s stress!

There’s no doubt, there are plenty of you reading that are dealing with every bit of a laundry list of similar responsibilities in regards to your

profession. Please understand I’m not expecting special consideration for my colleagues, only understanding. When the weatherman states that you should stay in the A/C and avoid prolonged periods outside due to 100+ temps, know that your Supt and staff are out there all day dragging hose’s trying to minimize turf decline. As for green speeds, don’t raz the Supt, just tap it a little harder when temps dictate seasonal greens management programs. Remember, your Supt has a few other stressful issues on the plate. It’s a little more than “just cutting grass”.

To summarizing, unlike many other professions, the privilege of my team work environment, providing the opportunity to oversee a beautiful landscape in the serenity of the early sun cresting the horizon, is a memory I will always cherish. I have no reservations with the decision of my career path many years ago. And neither do many of my colleagues. It’s a passion thing. It has to be or one won’t survive.

Wrapping this up, I would like to announce that a former MV Board member and I will be chairing a committee that will host an annual Supt benefit golf event kicking off in 2024 and we encourage ALL golfers to attend. There is a national 501(c)3 organization known as the Wee One Foundation (www.weeone.org) that provides financial aid to those in the golf course industry who face overwhelming expenses due to medical hardship. This outstanding organization has provided aid nationwide to the tune of over $2M to Supt’s in need since its inception in 2004. Locally, this foundation has stepped up more than once and provided much needed assistance to our own Mississippi Valley members. So a few of us, in conjunction with the MVGCSA, have decided it was about time to join the nearly 30 other chapters and groups who assist the Wee One Foundation in their mission. Please stay tuned for upcoming information.

Thank you for your time reading this and next time on the course, shoot a smile and a thumbs up to the guy that ardently juggles countless variables to provide you a beautiful, calm and quiet escape from this hectic, instantaneous world. It’s a win-win situation!

Chuck Gast

MVGCSA Director of Operations

Rules Center Hi Def Look on

Hideki(’s Club)

Back in 2022 at the Memorial, you may remember a little situation involving former Masters Champion, Hideki Matsuyama. Officials at the Memorial saw that there were white markings on the face of Matsuyama’s 3-wood after images came out following his opening tee shot. The markings were made with what seemed to be some sort of white paint, which would be a violation of the rules on adding foreign substances to a club face. Though it appeared that the substances purpose was an alignment aid, it was still a violation of the rules as it was deemed that the paint was excessive. There was also no way for the committee to determine that the sole purpose of the paint was for alignment and in no way altered the trajectory or distance of a ball hit with the club. Matsuyama had taken this club out of his bag and used it on the first tee shot of the day.

As people watched from home and the subject was brought up, it was confusing as to why he was allowed to continue the round for 9 holes before, or rather why it took 9 holes to determine him being disqualified. A Rules

Official has since explained that Matsuyama was in fact told of the potential violation on the 2nd hole of the day, and reconfirmed what had happened on the 5th hole. The committee did not make any immediate decisions because they wanted to confer with the USGA on the violation to make sure the correct decision was made, and the situation was handled properly.

After consulting the USGA and confirming with Matsuyama that yes, he had the club in his bag and yes, he had used the club on the first hole, there was nothing else the committee could do. Disqualification was inevitable. If he had not used the club, there would have been no penalty, but since it was the first club used on the first shot of his round, the damage was already done. Once the committee had done their due diligence of checking the rule and the situation, they had no choice but to approach Hideki on the 10th tee and disqualify him for a violation of Rule 4.1a.

John further explains Club Face Equipment Rules -->

Impact Tape

Dear John: I like using impact tape on the face of my clubs when I practice. It gives me confidence that I’m consistently hitting the ball on the sweet spot. I was wondering, is it legal to use impact tape under actual playing conditions during a competition?

Dear Spot On: Let’s just stick (no pun intended) to using impact tape on the club face during practice. “External attachments” to the club face are prohibited and make the club non-conforming, potentially affecting club performance (Part 2, Section 1a (iv) of the USGA/R&A Equipment Rules).

There is no penalty for carrying a club with an attachment on the club face but subsequently making a stroke with the non-conforming club during the round results in disqualification (Rule 4.1a). Having said that, the player may remove the external attachment (e.g. impact tape) without penalty during the round before making a stroke with the club so long as it otherwise conforms (Exception to Rule 4.1a(3)).

Indeed, Rory Sabatini was disqualified after the first round of the 2021 RSM Classic for playing his 3-wood during the round with reflective “shot stickers” on the club face. Such stickers are used for swing analysis. Rory inadvertantly left the stickers on his 3-wood following a driving-range session and self-reported the situation to a Rules Official after the round.

Impact Tape

Up Next for MAGA

Player of the Year Points Standings

Men’s POY

Deadlines

September Schedule

Annbriar GC Sept 6 Southern Illinois Amateur Green Hills GC The Legends CC

US Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier

Hills GC Sept 9 Sobbe Cup Final 4

Sept 15

Sept 25-26 Franklin County CC Four-Ball Championship

Women’s

*For Full Standings Click the Underlined Heading*

SIGA Player of the Year Points Standings

Men’s POY

Keeping Up with the USGA

5 Things to Know to Understand Your Handicap Index

The USGA’s Managing Director of Handicapping, Course Rating, and GHIN - Steve Edmondson - was recently interviewed by Golf.com to discuss Handicap Idexes. Steve named 5 key things that will help you better understand your Handicap Index and how it works:

1. Handicap Index measures *current* form

2. Only 8 scores count

3. Shooting your Handicap isn’t common

4. Handicap Index isn’t your average score

5. You don’t have to be an avid golfer to get a Handicap Index

To read more on Edmondson’s explainations on these 5 points, click here.

POY

2023 Walker Cup

The Walker Cup is upon us and the team has been selected. The USA’s best amateur golfers are in St. Andrew’s, Scotland ready to battle Great Britain and Ireland’s best amateur golfers at the home of golf. The Walker Cup will take place September 2-3.

Team USA(pictured below):

Nick Dunlap (No. 5), David Ford (No. 4), Nick Gabrelcik (No. 10), Austin Greaser (No. 9), Stewart Hagestad (No. 18), Ben James (No. 7), Dylan Menante (No. 6), Gordon Sargent (No. 1), Preston Summerhays (No. 14), Caleb Surratt (No. 8)

Captain - Mike McCoy

*For Full Standings Click the Underlined Heading*

Team GB&I: James Ashfield (No. 70), Jack Bigham (No. 90), Barclay Brown (No. 26), John Gough (No. 13), Connor Graham (No. 210), Alex Maguire (No. 144), Matthew McClean (No. 53), Liam Nolan (No. 140), Mark Power (No. 97), Calum Scott (No. 31)

Captain - Stuart Wilson

PGA Tour

3M Open - Lee Hodges

Wyndham Championship - Lucas Glover

FedEx St. Jude Championship - Lucas Glover

BMW Championship - Viktor Hovland

Tour Championship - Viktor Hovland

DP World Tour

ISPS Handa World Invitational - Daniel Brown

D+D Real Czech Masters - Todd Clements

LPGA/LET

Freed Group Women’s Scottish Open - Celine Boutier

AIG Women’s Open - Lilia Vu

ISPS Handa World Invitational - Alexa Pano

Korn Ferry Tour

Evans Scholars Invitational - Trace Crowe

Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank - Roger Sloan

Pinnacle Bank Championship - Alejandro Tosti

Magnit Championship - Chan Kim

Albertsons Boise Open presented by Chevron - Chan Kim

PGA Tour Champions

Boeing Classic - Stephen Ames

Shaw Charity Classic - Ken Duke

The Ally Challenge - Vijay Singh

CPKC Women’s Open - Megan Khang

Epson Tour

French Lick Charity Classic - Jiwon Jeon

Four Winds Invitational - Gabriela Ruffels

Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic - Xiaowen Yin

Circling Raven Championship - Yue Ren

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League Champions road jersey and two game tickets2 when you open Cardinals Checking.

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Normandie Project Update: Normandie UCamp Completed

The UCamp at Normandie Golf Club has come to an end. Urban Golf of St. Louis headed up this program to introduce young kids from within the community to golf. They are learned golf terminology, etiquette, and the fundamentals to swinging a golf club. The kids even began to learn the role of a caddie as they walk from tee to green.

On the final day of camp, all campers came together to have a friendly competition as both individuals and in teams. Each camper received new golf shoes from New Balance, a golf bag with clubs, a golf shirt, and a bag with other golf essentials such as a glove, tees, and ball markers. The winning team recieved a trophy as did the top individuals golfers from the camp.

For a glimpse into the camp, click here.

For more information on the Normandie Renovation Project and how you can help, visit https://www.metga.org/nicklaus-and-normandie or contact normandie@metga.org

“The appeal of this project to me was to be involved in an effort that could serve as a catalyst to change needed in our country today, beginning with parts of St. Louis

County. Restoring Normandie for a community in need will have a long-lasting positive impact on the lives of youth in St. Louis.”

-Jack Niclaus

on his involvement in Normandie Reimagined