The Metropolitan Vol 10, No 8 (December 2023) by Curt Rohe

Volume 10 | No. 8

The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

Issue 8 | December 2023

The Metropolitan

Inside the Issue 4 Curt’s Corner

A message from the Executive Director

5 By The Numbers

Play

12 Member Club Champions

Yardage Book A Look Back on 2023

New faces added to the Wall of Champions in 2023.

10 2023 Season Recap

Take a look back at some of the top moments from 2023.

16 Golf Fitness

Hub

The Importance of Golf Movement Assessment

18 Rules Center

Embedded Balls on the Lip of a Bunker.

20 World of Golf

See the World’s Champions from the the past few months.

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:

24 2024

Boatwright Interns USGA PJ Boatwright Intern Applications Open

How you can pass the time during the off season.

Year & Awards

Champions

World Handicap System Changes Coming in 2024 and the New Ball Testing Conditions.

25 Thanks Volunteers! 26 Pass the Time

6 Players of the

8 Hall of

with the USGA

Take a look at the Club Champions from across the region.

14 The Bogeyman

2023 Player of the Year & Host Club Awards.

22 Keeping Up

28 Golf Expo

- Provide GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System - Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs - 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

The STL Golf Expo is back!

29 GHIN Review See GHIN By the Numbers and see how you stack up.

30 2024 Schedule 32 Normandie

Reimagined

An update on the renovation project of Normandie GC.

The Metropolitan

Curt’s Corner

2023 was also very exciting for the Metropolitan Golf Foundation and what we are accomplishing with Normandie Reimagined. While the golf course remained open in 2023, early on extensive brush clearing and the start of tree work opened up vistas and the vision of the Jack Nicklaus renovation came to light even more. Fundraising continued and the golf course closed on November 5th to prepare for the “real” work to begin in early 2024. The most exciting part of this summer at Normandie however was seeing the work of Urban Golf of Greater St. Louis utilize Normandie for a 10-week summer camp. Jerome Harris and his crew hosted over 200 youth from the region, 4 days a week over the 10-weeks. Culminating with each child receiving a brand-new set of custom fitted clubs and new pair of golf shoes. The vision of Normandie Reimagined came to life and made the work we are putting in so fulfilling. But now we look ahead to 2024. There are some exciting changes coming to the World Handicap System which are creating new opportunities for golfers and the Association. We will be rating short courses, like the courses at Family Golf & Learning Center, Tower Tee and Heritage of Hawk Ridge which will allow golfers to post scores played from those courses. 9-hole scores will count right away to your index, no need to wait to post another 9-holes for that score to count. Stay tuned as we will be sharing more and more of these changes with you as we prepare for score posting season beginning March 1. The championship and qualifying season is looking fantastic with another lineup of venues. Notably, the 34th Metropolitan Amateur Championship will be back at Bellerive Country Club in August for the first time since 2009 to challenge the regions top amateur golfers and award the regions most coveted amateur trophy, the Jim Tom Blair Trophy. The 25th edition of our Junior Championships take a step forward in 2024 as we move to a 54-hole format. In order for our Junior Championship to be recognized as a Official World Golf Ranking event we are making this change in hopes in a couple years our Junior Champions will get exemptions into the US Junior and US Girls’ Junior Amateur Championships. US Amateur Championship qualifying will look different in 2024, going to two stages of qualifying similar to the US Open process. We will host the Final Stage in 2024 and will alternate Local and Final stages going forward each year (i.e. 2024 Final, 2025 Local). As I wrap up this final Curt’s Corner for The Metropolitan in 2023, I count my blessings and thank each and everyone of you who read this...play in our events... volunteer for us and overall support us! Looking back 22 years ago... actually 25 years ago as a young intern I NEVER imagined where this game would have taken me. Thank you for reading, Happy New Year and let’s make 2024 even better! STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Curt Rohe curt@metga.org

DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Caroline Buchan caroline@metga.org

The MAGA

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

By The Numbers

Happy New Year!

Greetings members and I hope this edition finds you have a blessed, safe holiday season! 2023 has come and gone...after 22 seasons they seem to go by faster and Curt Rohe - Executive Director faster. As I reflect back on the 2023 season it was, once again, another banner year for the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association. Like most Allied Golf Associations we saw some tremendous growth in our membership, which means more people playing golf and using the services we provide to golfers and clubs in our region. Our championships were all well attended and our Amateur Series saw another record breaking year of participation.

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

2023 BOATWRIGHT INTERNS Anna Marriott Josh Plohr Amari Sewer

Issue 8 | December 2023

- The number of three-putt greens PGA Tour player Justin Thomas had during the 2023 PGA Tour season. A two-time major championship winner, “JT” couldn’t quite dial it in this year. He made numerous adjustments, tried different putters and methods, but he and caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay never solved the dilemma. His 53 three-putts across 72 rounds made him fifth on the Tour in that demoralizing department.

125 - The clubhead speed - in miles per hour - the

R&A and USGA will use in updating the testing conditions used for golf ball conformance under the Overall Distance Standard (ODS). The change is to take effect in January 2028. The revised ball testing conditions will be as follows: 125-mph clubhead speed (equivalent to 183 mph ball speed); spin rate of 2200 rpm and launch angle of 11 degrees. The current conditions - established 20 years ago - are set at 120 mph (equivalent to 176 mph ball speed), 2520 rpm with a 10-degree launch angle. None of it make sense to me - I flunked Latin in high school.

- As in 2024 will mark the third time the Metropolitan Amateur Championship is conducted at historic Bellerive Country Club. The venerable club, which is slated to play host to the 2026 BMW Championship and the 2030 Presidents Cup, will warm up by hosting the 34th edition of the prestigious MAGA major come this August. In 1996, Tom Barry conquered the Bellerive field and captured the sixth Metropolitan Amateur Championship with a 54-hole score of 213 at Bellerive. In 2009, Skip Berkmeyer shot a cumulative 214 to win the 19th playing of the championship at the club. When they tee it up in 2024, Pete Weaver will be the reigning titleholder, coming off his blistering 206 in the 2023 event at Persimmon Woods.

- The number of USGA championships for which veteran St. Louis amateur Don Bliss has qualified in his career. The list includes 15 U.S. Amateurs, five U.S. Mid-Amateurs, one U.S. Open, two U.S. Senior Opens, four U.S. Senior Amateurs, and two State Team Championships. Bliss also won four Missouri State Championships, two Missouri Mid-Am Championships and five Metropolitan Amateur Championships. All in all, he has captured 13 various Missouri State Championships. Oh yeah, and he owns a USGA record from when he scored two holes-in-one during the same round at the 1987 Mid-Am. Otherwise, Bliss has had a pretty ordinary amateur golf career..

1,242

- At the time of this writing, remarkably enough, this is Tiger Wood’s ranking in the OWGR. The 15-time major championship winner has had a rough go of it physically in recent times, and he walked tournament fairways only twice in 2023. He finished in a tie for 45th in the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club and withdrew from the Masters after making the weekend. At the same time, Tiger went under the knife once more to alleviate problems with his severely injured right leg. Chances are, we will see Woods more often in 2024. Playing in the Hero World Challenge in late November, Woods demonstrated he is in much better - and beefier - physical shape and suggested he might play one event a month in the coming year.

88.9 - The percentage of fairways hit during the

season by LPGA Tour player Lizette Salas. Unofficially since there is no such formal title - this makes Salas who the world’s most accurate driver of the golf ball. Consider, after all, that the PGA Tour’s leader in fairway hitting in the 2022-23 season was Russell Henley, who managed to find the shorter grass 71.74 percent of the time. By the way, Henley’s numbers would have ranked him No. 91 on the women’s circuit.

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The Metropolitan

2023 Players of the Year

After a whirlwind of a season with many new and familiar faces, the season has come to a close. Fourteen Metropolitan championships, nine USGA Qualifiers, and seven Amateur Series events later, we can reflect on the last year and tally the points. It was an extraordinary year full of memorable moments for players and staff alike. New names have been added to the trophies and the record books, but there are a few awards left to give: the Players of the Year and Host Club Awards. Five Player of the Year Awards will be given this year: Men, Senior Men, Women, Southern Illinois, and Senior Southern Illinois. Throughout the year, players have earned points in their respective divisions based on their performance in valid championships, qualifiers, and events. Each division has a set points system for various championships, which can be found here . Players watched their rankings rise and fall following each time they stepped on the course, but only five have come out on top. Here are the 2023 Players of the Year:

Peter Weaver of Bellerive Country Club had an incredible summer to finish the year as the Men’s Player of the Year.

Playing in four points qualifying events, Weaver won three of them. He began the summer with the Missouri State Amateur Championship. Weaver fought his way into the final match at Payne’s Valley Golf Course, where he would win 4 & 2 to be the Champion. He then played in the U.S. Amateur Qualifier, in which he played well enough to earn the second alternate spot. He followed up the state championship win nearly a month later with the St. Louis District Golf Association Griesedick Men’s Championship at Glen Echo Country Club. For a second time, Weaver showed he could contend in a match-play event by winning on the 22nd hole and earning another Champion title. Of course, his summer would not be complete without proving that he could also get it done in stroke-play. Weaver shot three rounds under par at Persimmon Woods Golf Club to hold off his competition by one-stroke at the Metropolitan Amateur Championship. Rounding out his summer as the Metropolitan Amateur Champion, Weaver earned the points to sit at the top of the Player of the Year standings.

Paul Neeman of Persimmon Woods Golf Club played some great golf over the summer to be the Senior Men’s Player of

Issue 8 | December 2023

Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Though it did not earn her points in the player of the year contest, Glennon also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur, where she made it through stroke play and to the Round of 32 before being knocked out of the competition. Glennon’s consistent game gave her the edge needed to be the Women’s Player of the Year.

Aaron Jones of the SIGA eClub worked hard this summer to be the Southern Illinois Player of the Year. He played well

enough to place tied for ninth or better in all Southern Illinois events and qualified for the Illinois State Amateur Championship. He finished tied for ninth in both the SIGA Championship and the Southern Illinois Amateur Championship. Jones started out strong early in the summer, winning the McLeansboro Amateur. He followed this with a third place finish in the Green Hills Amateur. Rounding out his summer, Jones also won the Weeks Fall Classic to scrape out enough points to lead the Southern Illinois Player of the Year standings.

Tom Portner of Green Hills Golf Club had a successful run this summer to be the Senior Southern Illinois Player of the

Year. Portner raked in some points by qualifying for the Illinois State Senior Amateur Championship. In Southern Illinois events, he finished tied for second or better in all of the events he played. In the Southern Illinois Amateur, Portner shot three-under par to finish tied for second in the senior division. He also finished tied for second in the SIGA Championship Senior Division at two-over par. At the beginning of August, Portner found a win in the Weeks Fall Classic Senior Division. After playing well in each of these events, Portner finds himself on top of the Senior Southern Illinois Player of the Year leaderboard.

Host Club Awards Each year, at the end of the season, players from across the area vote on the Host Club Awards. Players choose which club - that hosted an MAGA event - they felt were the best in four categories: Host Private Facility, Host Public Facility, Host Superintendent Staff, and Host Professional Staff. This year’s recipients:

the Year. He started the year by battling his way to a runner-up finish in the Old Warson Cup, followed by a tied for fourth finish in the East Side Amateur Senior Division. Neeman’s next best finishes of the summer came from a T-4 finish in the Metropolitan Four-Ball with his partner Brian Hall and a T-5 finish in the Cassett Senior Championship. Racking up all of these points, he was not quite finished. At the end of July, Neeman won the City Championship with a score of sixunder par. A month later, Neeman took a three-stroke lead in the Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship at St. Clair Country Club to win the championship and leap to the top of the Senior Player of the Year leaderboard.

Side Amateur on May 13-14, followed by the U.S. Open Local Qualifier on May 15. Across the two events, the course saw 218 golfers.

Kathy Glennon of the Country Club of St. Albans cut it down to the wire to scrape out a lead for the Women’s Player of

Meadowbrook Country Club is being awarded the Host Private Facility of the Year. The club hosted the 2023 U.S.

the Year. Starting out the summer with a win, Glennon earned her first points through a St. Louis Women’s District Golf Association’s 3-Day Medal championship victory. She then went on to place third in the Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Championship. Glennon’s great golf did not stop there, as she continued a month later to place third in the Missouri State

Gateway National Golf Links is being awarded the Host Public Facility of the Year. In 2023, the club hosted the East

Amateur Qualifier on July 17-18. The event saw 117 participants over the course of the two days.

Mike Carron (Meadowbrook Country Club) is being awarded the Host Superintendent Staff of the Year. As mentioned above, the course hosted the U.S. Amateur Qualifier. Mike and his staff had the course in top shape for the golfers, even through some rainy weather.

Eric Ratzlaff (Persimmon Woods Golf Club) is being awarded the Host Professional Staff of the Year. This year, the club hosted the Metropolitan Amateur Championship on August 3-5, as well as, the first Amateur Series Event of the season on May 1. The Amateur Championship saw 153 participants, while the Amateur Series Event saw 109 participants. Eric and his staff were gracious hosts and made sure that all were taken care of during their time at the facility.

Hall of Champions Kyle Weldon

Southern Illinois Amateur

Max Kreikemeier Old Warson Cup

Tony Gumper East Side Amateur Paul Neeman Senior Amateur

Chad Menke/Mark Kern

Net 4-Ball

Peter Weaver Metropolitan Amateur

Tony Nolfo

Southern Illinois Senior Amateur

Glen Echo CC

McKenna Montgomery

Thomas O. Sobbe Cup

Women’s Amateur

Tony Nolfo/David Strickland

Senior 4-Ball

Amateur Series Championship

Avery McLaughlin

Girls’ Junior Amateur

Bubba Chapman

Junior Amateur

SIGA Championship

Buddy Allen

9-Hole Championship

Gavin Hall Metropolitan Open

East Side Senior Amateur

Curt Wooters/Matt Hall

Senior Net 4-Ball

Chris Kovach/Jason White

Four-Ball

Team MAGA Robert A. Shogren Cup

The Metropolitan

2023 Season Review

What a season it has been for the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association. As always, we could not be more thankful

for the number of golfers that continue to participate in each of our championships and events, and for the courses that allow us to use their space. Golf in St. Louis and all the way out to every corner of our area of service is thriving. There is no shortage of golf here, so thank you for keeping us going. As the year winds down we want to take a moment to look back at some of those special moments from this season.. after all, it was a summer of incredible golf. From start to finish of this season, we saw records being chased, tied, and beaten. Players were fighting hard to make it a summer of memories for themselves, and managed to give us some scores to write into the books. The Metropolitan Open had a hard hitting field this year with numerous record book moments. For the first time in the championship’s 18 year history, no amateurs made the cut. A few came close, but the professionals showed one of the strongest fields we have seen. Chris Naegel of Wildwood was one of the first to break a Metropolitan Open Record with his second round score of 62, 9-under par. Naegel’s score became the new record for Lowest Second Round Score, and tied Justin Bryant’s 2018 record for Lowest 18-Holes Score - shot in the first round by Bryant. Ryan Cole of Mount Airy, Maryland wanted a taste of the record books as well when he shot a final round of 64, Chris Naegel 7-under par to tie the record for the Lowest Final Round Score with Logan McCracken in 2019. If you think that’s where the Metropolitan Open records stop, you would be mistaken. The 2023 Metropolitan Open Champion, Gavin Hall of Delray Beach, Florida, decided to really make his mark on the Metropolitan history books. In the first two rounds, Hall fired a 131, 11-under par, to tie the record for Lowest First 36-Holes set by Travis Trace in 2022. Continuing on this run, Hall then set the new record for the Lowest Last 36-Holes with a score of 129, 13-under Ryan Cole par. The three rounds of 67-64-65 placed Hall at 17-under par, 196, to not only become Champion, but to set the new record for Lowest 54-Holes Score and Most Strokes Under Par for 54-Holes. Gavin This brings the total to seven Metropolitan Open records met or broken in just three days in 2023. Hall As the summer played on, we continued to see more and more fantastic golf. At the SIGA Championship, Garrett Mott experienced the shot of a lifetime when he struck the ball for a Hole-in-One on the Par 3, Hole 7 at Green Hills Golf Club. Also at the SIGA Championship, Joseph Malench lifted the Garrett trophy in the Senior Division for a third year in a row, which ties the record of consecutive wins in this Mott championship division with Tom Williams. As we turned towards August, the Metropolitan Amateur Championship decided it would like to join in the fun. Sam Migdal started off the championship with a round of 64, 7-under par which would be good enough to break two records. Migdal now holds the record for Lowest First Zach Round Score and Lowest Score for 18-Holes, beating out Jimmy Seigfried’s 2017 record. Walsh Zach Walsh came ready to play in the second round by firing a 65, 6-under par, securing the record for Lowest Second Round Score by one stroke over Cy Moritz’s 2013 score of 65, 5-under par. After combining Walsh’s first and second round scores, he broke the record for Lowest First 36-Holes with a score of 134, 8-under par. Though Champion Peter Weaver did not break any records, he did try to chase one down. Weaver’s scores of 67-70-69 for a total of 206 placed him in a tie for the second best Lowest 54-Holes Score with Brad Carpenter’s 2019 performance, both 1 stroke back of the best score. Some of our golfers have made their way to the national stage over the last year. In fact, 10 area golfers played in a USGA Championship in 2023. Ryan Eckelkamp and Tony Gumper travelled to the US Amateur Four-Ball Championship where they made it through to the Round of 32. Justin Bryant had quite the year starting off by earning Medalist Honors at the US Open Local Qualifier. Bryant unfortunately did not make it through Final Qualifying

Issue 8 | December 2023

for the US Open, but he did round out the year by qualifying for the US Mid-Amateur Championship, where he made it to the Round of 64. John Kelly and Drew Pranger also ventured to the US Mid-Amateur Championship this year. Buddy Allen qualified for the US Senior Amateur for a second year in a row. Allen also made the journey across the pond to the R&A’s Senior Amateur Championship. For the junior golfers, River Stilley and Madelyn Young qualified for the US Junior and US Girls’ Junior Amateur Championships, respectively. Kathy Glennon and Ellen Port both made their way to the US Senior Women’s Amateur, where they both made it through to the Round of 32. Port also played in the US Senior Women’s Open, finishing Tied for 29th. Two locals, Sam Migdal and Joe Migdal have already secured their spot for next year’s US Sam Migdal Four-Ball Championship when they qualified with Medalist Honors back in September. There are so many golfers and moments throughout the season that it can be hard to keep track, but we try our best. Hopefully every golfer can find a moment from the year that they can keep with them in their own books. Getting to see the talent in this area is a true gift. We would be remiss not to mention all of our champions one more time this year. Every person that lifted a trophy this year played hard to be standing at the top of their respective championship. Once again, your 2023 Champions: Max Kreikemeier - Old Warson Cup Brian Lovett - Senior Old Warson Cup Gavin Hall - Metropolitan Open Peter Weaver - Metropolitan Amateur McKenna Montgomery - Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Bubba Chapman - Metropolitan Junior Amateur Avery McLaughlin - Metropolitan Girls’ Junior Amateur Paul Neeman - Metropolitan Senior Amateur Chris Kovach/Jason White - Metropolitan Four-Ball Chad Menke/Mark Kern - Metropolitan Net Four-Ball Tony Nolfo/David Strickland- Metropolitan Senior Four-Ball Curt Wooters/Matt Hall - Metropolitan Senior Net Four-Ball Tony Gumper - East Side Amateur Buddy Allen - Senior East Side Amateur Kyle Weldon - Southern Illinois Amateur Tony Nolfo - Southern Illinois Senior Amateur Team MAGA - Robert A. Shogren Cup Buddy Allen, Chad Niezing, Drew Pranger, Brad Carpenter, Ryan Eckelkamp, Skip Berkmeyer, Tony Gumper, Paul Neeman, Sam Migdal, Ryan Sullivan, Brian Lovett, Chris Kovach, Joseph Malench, Peter Weaver Glen Echo Country Club - Thomas O. Sobbe Cup Jack Abels, Michael Becker, Josh Cocking, Michael Herbig, Steve Hallemann, Kevin McLaughlin, Jay Ott, Drew Pranger, James Storey Robert Hogan - 9-Hole Championship John DeLuca - 9-Hole Junior Championship Emma Hill - 9-Hole Women’s Championship Jim McLaughlin - 9-Hole Senior Championship Bryce Doughty - SIGA Championship Emma Hill - SIGA Women’s Championship Trey Roessler - SIGA Junior Championship

Joseph Malench - SIGA Senior Championship Barry Dalmasso - SIGA Super Senior Championship McLeansboro Golf Club 1 - Tony Stevens Cup Jeff Gray, Shayne Downen, Austyn Downen, Nate Neil, Bryan Warren, Chris Hopfinger Age Division Winners: John DeLuca - Metropolitan 13 & Under Junior Amateur Subaru Kikuchi - Metropolitan 15 & Under Junior Amateur Margaret Farrell - Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Flight A Cynthia Rank - Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Flight B Debra McGinnis - Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Flight C Jim Mauze - Metropolitan 50-59 Senior Amateur Josh Goldman - Metropolitan 50-59 Net Senior Amateur Kevin Erxleben - Metropolitan 60-64 Senior Amateur Mark Lamoureux - Metropolitan 60-64 Net Senior Amateur Patrick Idoux - Metropolitan 65-69 Senior Amateur Kent Plotner - Metropolitan 65-69 Net Senior Amateur R Amos - Metropolitan 70+ Senior Amateur Schooner Fitzgerald - Metropolitan 70+ Net Senior Amateur Jackson Unteriner - 9-Hole Net Championship Eileen Love - 9-Hole Women’s Net Championship Vincent Featherson - 9-Hole Senior Net Championship Amateur Series Winners: John Wasmuth - Senior Net Chris Wager - Open Michael Mervis - Super Senior Chris Canfield - Net Debra McGinnis - Women Terry Souchek - Super Senior Net David Rudd - Senior Players Of The Year: Aaron Jones - Southern Illinois Peter Weaver- Men Tom Portner - Senior Southern Illinois Paul Neeman - Senior Men Kathy Glennon - Women

The Metropolitan

Member Club Champions

Men’s Stroke Play Nick Eaker Ted Moloney Terry Neutzling Brandon Wagner Kyle Moses Kevin Jaeger Michael Wernle Steve Nolan Brian Bohme Pat O’Brien Craig Poe Keenan Yelliott Chase Whitaker Ryan McNeil Andrew Boudreau Lucas Kane Rob Reidelberger Bill DeWitt III Ian Carden Kels Lovegreen Orson Lewis Dan Smith Sean Brennan Scott Fann Tyler Peasel

Bogey Hills CC Boone Valley GC Cardinal Creek GC Crown Pointe GC Crystal Highlands GC Greenbriar Hills CC Greenville CC Kirkwood Forest GC Meadowbrook CC Norwood Hills CC Old Hickory GC Old Warson CC Old Orchard CC Persimmon Woods GC Quincy CC Spring Lake CC St. Clair CC St. Louis CC Stonewolf GC Sunset CC Tee Masters CC of STL Union County CC Westborough CC Whitmoor CC Woods Fort GC

Boys’ Junior William Thies Aiden Edwards Bryce Schultz Owen Sanders Cole Baker Joe Wichlenski Michael Lepper Daniel Lindeman Owen Farley Luke Butler Prince Thomas Jake Montgomery Nick Finlay

Issue 8 | December 2023

Algonquin GC Forest Hills CC Meadowbrook CC Old Hickory GC Old Warson CC Persimmon Woods GC Quincy CC St. Clair CC St. Louis CC Sunset CC Tee Masters CC of STL CC of St. Albans Westborough CC

Men’s Match Play Jamie Froedge Brian Lovett Dan O’Donnell Bob Johnston Parks Peterson Scott Lambert Jeff Budrovich Drew Pranger Brandon Bullard Kevin Jaeger Mike Franklin Doug Graham Dan Emrick Chase Whitaker Justin Bryant Dan Greiner Mason Lewis Earl Mason Brian Holthouse John Pea Conner Mach Jake Hackerson

Algonquin GC Bellerive CC Bogey Hills CC Boone Valley GC Crown Pointe GC Forest Hills CC Fox Run GC Glen Echo CC Green Hills GC Greenbriar Hills GC Kirkwood Forest GC Litchfield CC Old Hickory GC Old Warson CC St. Louis CC Sunset CC Sunset Hills CC Tee Masters CC of STL CC of St. Albans Waterloo CC Westborough CC Whitmoor CC

Women’s Stroke Play Liz Moore Kelly Osborne Catrina Monsod Cathy Moffit Carrie Lewis Gayla Brauns Jacki Rosen Kallie Harrison Bridget Hoogendijk Casey O’Brien Trish Friley Saya Geisendorfer Dana Boots Lynn Renner Tokae Pagliaro Monica Covington Kathy Glennon Marlee Smith Karen Potoff Margaret Farrell Terri Harris Karen Sachs

Algonquin GC Bogey Hills CC Cardinal Creek GC Forest Hills CC Greenbriar Hills CC Greenville CC Meadowbrook CC Norwood Hills CC Old Hickory GC Old Warson CC Persimmon Woods GC Quincy CC Spring Lake CC St. Clair CC Stonewolf GC Sunset CC CC of St. Albans Union County CC Waterloo CC Westborough CC Whitmoor CC Woods Fort GC

Senior Women Girls’ Junior Annie Rothery Gabriella DeLuca Brooke Inchiostro Nancy Scholz Lucy Sipula Anna Kowach Maryn Hill Anadra Chaney Lexi Napuli Grace Fagan Lindsey Salem

Algonquin GC Forest Hills CC Old Hickory GC Quincy CC St. Clair CC St. Louis CC Sunset CC Tee Masters CC of STL CC of St. Albans Westborough CC Whitmoor CC

Brenda Lammers Jennifer Williams Time Siemer Vicki Hayden Linda Thompson Sherri Brown Colliean Hayes (Super Sr)

Bogey Hills CC Glen Echo CC Old Hickory GC Quincy CC Union County CC Whitmoor CC Whitmoor CC

Super Senior Men Jim Etzkorn Paul Lane John Juette David Bone Tyrus Dwellingham Kevin Jacobsmeyer Steve Nahrup

Algonquin GC Old Warson CC Quincy CC St. Clair CC Tee Masters CC of STL Waterloo CC Whitmoor CC

Women’s Match Play Margaret Manning Frisella Connie Cissell Becky Kingston Becky Hood Cori Dallas Debbie Sutton Linda Whitelaw Katie Forand Ali Geminn Haley Tomazic Terri Harris

Bellerive CC Bogey Hills CC Glen Echo CC Greenbriar Hills CC Old Hickory GC Old Warson CC St. Louis CC Sunset CC Sunset Hills CC Westborough CC Whitmoor CC

Senior Men Craig Caringer Phil Caster Dennis Osborne Bill Ebersohl Mike Agers Tom Dean Jeff Lulaschnyk Doug Taylor Terry Schultz Jim Dunn Gary Hill Tom Caradonna Dave Bremer Matt Ehrhart Scott Ward Bill Bitting Bob Sigmund Scott Niehaus Douglas Petty Tom Wheeler Jim Woodard Dan Umcheid Joe Mills Rich Grimshaw

Algonquin GC Bellerive CC Bogey Hills CC Cardinal Creek GC Crown Pointe GC Forest Hills CC Glen Echo CC Litchfield CC Meadowbrook CC Norwood Hills CC Old Hickory GC Old Warson CC Persimmon Woods GC Quincy CC St. Clair CC St. Louis CC Sunset CC Sunset Hills CC Tee Masters CC of STL CC of St. Albans Union County CC Waterloo CC Whitmoor CC Woods Fort GC

The Metropolitan

Issue 8 | December 2023

A Wild Ride in 2023 The Bogeyman Dan O’Neill

As we toss another calendar into the can and open a new one, it

seems appropriate to look back and identify some of the most turbulent and memorable moments of 2023.

Player of the Year On the course, there were a number of great performances. Scottie Scheffler won three times on the PGA Tour, had 12 top-three finishes, 17 top 10s, 21 top 25s and didn’t miss a cut in 23 starts. Viktor Hovland went nuts at the end of the year and captured the FedExCup, establishing himself as one of golf’s elite players. But for my money - rather for his money - Jon Rahm is the guy. First, he won the Masters in April, then he won the lottery in December, accepting a five-year, $500 million contract from LIV. That averages out to $100 million per year, which is better than what Shohei Ohtani got. There’s not a scorecard around that can top that.

Story of the Year In June, the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund - which finances LIV Golf - shocked the golf world by announcing a “framework agreement.” However, the devil is in the details, which were said to still be finalized. In the framework, both sides agreed to refrain from signing away each other’s players. But on feedback from the Justice Department, concerning antitrust concerns, that part of the arrangement was erased. No problem, the PGA Tour suggested, the “no sign” language was unnecessary because “all parties are

negotiating in good faith.” Six months later, another shoe dropped and LIV locked up Rahm with untold riches. “I think a lot of people are going to be thinking, how’s he leaving when we are supposed to be merging?” Justin Rose said at the Grant Thornton Invitational. “But I don’t think we’re very close to that being the real situation.” What comes next looms over 2024.

Best Newcomer Gotta be Ludvig Aberg. He is a product of the PGA Tour University program, which certainly appears to have served him well. After turning pro, he won both on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour and had 11 top-25 finishes. He was a prominent player in the Ryder Cup, as he became the first in history to participate before playing in his first major championship - and he won two points for Luke Donald’s side. He is an amazing ball striker and one of the best drivers in the game. Keep an eye on him in 2024 majors, starting with the Masters.

The Lazarus Award This has to go to Rickie Fowler, although there were a number of candidates, including Lucas Glover, Jason Day, Camilo Villegas and Rose. Fowler contended at the U.S. Open, and then came all the way back from the dead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, breaking a 96-start winless slump by capturing a playoff. He also played his way onto the Ryder Cup squad and worked his way inside the OWGR top 25. He dipped to 185 at his low point. Suddenly, all of those commercials he appears in made sense.

Best Round Hovland shot a 61 at Olympia Fields to win the BMW Championship. I know Bryson DeChambeau had a 58 in LIV competition - and that’s remarkable. But for me, Hovland’s “Roger Maris” to win a significant

championship and run down significant others trumps all. He managed it with a 28 on the back nine, catching and passing two major champions in Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Best Moment Nick Taylor won the Canadian Open with a 72-foot bomb at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club by Abbotsford’s. The eagle putt came on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff and made him the first Canadian to win his country’s national open in 70 years. As CBS commentator Jim Nantz put it on the TV side, the moment was “Glorious and free.” And that has to rank as the Call of the Year.

Worst Moment Seconds after Taylor’s putt went in, a confused security guard tackled Adam Hadwin as he attempted to shower Taylor with celebratory champagne. Hadwin is a good friend and a former teammate of Taylor’s on Canada’s amateur team, and he grew up at the same Ledgeview Golf Club course. He was simply trying to honor his buddy. The awkward moment became even more viral than the winning putt.

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GOLF FITNESS HUB

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOLF MOVEMENT ASSESSMENTS

Here are a couple exercises to try out!

> Golf movement assessments pinpoint areas of the body that are limited in regard to range of motion. Combining mobility assessments, with power and swing assessments, gives medical professionals and teaching professionals a full view on how well a golfer’s body moves. > Golf movement assessments all medical professionals and personal trainers to create personalized treatment and exercise programs for exactly what you need work on. > The mobility, stability, power, and swing results are then combined with the golfer’s goals, to create the most personalized program for each and every golfer. > Golf movements assessments allows golfers to train most effectively while keeping engaged with the PGA Teaching Instructors.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ROTATION IN THE GOLF SWING > Thoracic spine rotation is very crucial in order to produce a very powerful and consistent golf swing. > The thoracic spine makes up the middle portion of the spine and consists of 12 vertebrae. The majority of rotation of the torso comes from the thoracic spine and how the joints are oriented. > Limited thoracic spine rotation for golfers results in lack of depth in the back swing, more arm dominance, and most commonly results with swinging “over the top”. > Improving thoracic spine rotation will result in a more full back swing, more separation between the upper and lower body, and the ability to create more power!

Dr. Zach Cutler

Sports Chiropractor and TPI Certified

Golf and Training Institute @GOLFANDTRAININGINSTITUTE

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Embedded

Rules Center

Hole 16 at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club seemed to have bunker that was trapping players and taking names. In the third round, Corey Conners made rough contact when playing his ball out of the bunker and for a second thought maybe the ball had somehow made its way out.. But once nothing landed, it was decided it had to have embedded in the side of the bunker. It initially took a minute for them to find the ball, unsure of if it was embedded or just lying somewhere amongst the thick rough. After finally finding it embedded in the grass in the bunker lip, the rulings came into place. Due to the location it was difficult for them to find the proper relief location for a drop, but with the help of the Rules Official, Conners dropped the ball and was on his way. One would think this was a one off event, but it happened AGAIN. The following day, in the final round, Viktor Hovland drove into the same bunker. In a nearly identical spot, he drilled his shot straight into the lip of the bunker just as we had seen the day before. After finding the ball (which took much less time as Hovland had watched it go directly in there), Hovland along with the help and supervision of an Official went through the procedure of taking a drop. In both cases a free drop was granted due to the lip of the bunker being part of the general area. That right hand side bunker clearly had a vendeta to settle that weekend because unfortunately for both players, despite a free drop, the hole proved costly to their position on the leaderboard due to the difficulty of getting out of the rough from their positions. So, how do you know where and how to drop if you’re in this situation?

John further explains embedded bunker lip balls -->

Issue 8 | December 2023

Balls Embedded in Lip Above Bunker Dear John: My druve on the par-5 13th hole found the fairway bunker. I played a hybrid off the sand and absolutely drilled it into the lip of the bunker just above the sand. I had no shot. I presume my only recourse is to take unplayable-ball relief, right? - Stuckup

Dear Stuckup: You may take unplayable-ball relief with a one-stroke penalty if you really like, but be advised that free relief is available. Since the ball lies above the normal level of sand in the bunker, it is in the general area, not the bunker (definition of BUNKER). As such, you may take relief for an embedded ball (Rule 16.3). Depending on whether the player is right - or left -handed, he or she may drop the original ball (or another ball) on the grass within one club-length to either side of the reference point right behind the embedded ball and no closer to the hole. The available relief area is a narrow wedge. If the dropped ball rolls into the bunker, drop again. If the re-dropped ball also rolls into the bunker, place a ball where the re-dropped ball first struck the course (Rule 14.3c(2)). You can still make birdie! Here’s a fine point. The reference point for embedded ball relief must be in the general area, not another area of the course(e.g., bunker or penalty area). In the rare instance where the ball is embedded so close to the sand in a bunker or the edge of a penalty area that the spot right behind the ball is in the bunker or penalty area, the player wishing to take relief must go to nearest point in the general area, no closer to the hole, and use that spot as the reference point (Clarification 16.3b/1). This edition of the Rules Center features an excerpt from MAGA Rules Official John Thorman’s e-book Let’s Get It Right

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Issue 8 | December 2023

PGA Tour WWT Championship - Erik van Rooyen Butterfield Bermuda Championship - Camilo Villegas RSM Classic - Ludvig Aberg Hero World Challenge - Scottie Scheffler Grant Thornton Invitational - Jason Day & Lydia Ko

DP World Tour Qatar Masters - Sami Valimaki Nedbank Golf Challenge - Max Homa DPWT Championship - Nicolai Hojgaard Fortinet Australian PGA Championship - Min Woo Lee Joberg Open - Dean Burmester ISPS Handa Australian Open - Joaquin Niemann Investec South Afrian Open - Dean Burmester Alfred Dunhill Championship - Louis Oosthuizen AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open - Louis Oosthuizen

PGA Tour Champions Timbertech Championship - Padraig Harrington Charles Schwab Cup Championship - Steven Alker World Champions Cup - Team USA PNC Championship - Bernhard & Jason Langer

LPGA Toto Japan Classic - Mone Inami The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican - Lilia Vu CME Group Tour Championship - Amy Yang Grant Thornton Invitational - Lydio Ko & Jason Day

Ladies European Tour Mallorca Ladies Open - Alex Fosterling Andalucia Costa del Sol Open - Aditi Ashok

Q-School Final Stage Receiving their PGA Tour Card: 1. Harrison Endycott 2. Trace Crowe 3. Blaine Hale, Jr. T4. Raul Pereda T4. Hayden Springer

World of Golf November & December Champions 2023 Awards Courage Award - Chris Kirk Payne Stewart Award - Gary Koch Jacklin Nicklaus Award - Justin Rose Byron Nelson Award - Scottie Scheffler Harry Vardon Award - Rory McIlroy Collegiate Hogan Award - Ludvig Aberg Jack Nicklaus Award - Ludvig Aberg Fred Haskins Award - Ludvig Aberg Byron Nelson Award - David Nyfjall

Keeping Up with the USGA

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Handicapping Changes Coming in 2024 The USGA and The R&A today announced the first update to the World Handicap System™ (WHS™) as part of an ongoing review of the Rules of Handicapping™ and Course Rating System™ with a continued emphasis on accuracy, consistency and equity. The latest revisions will go into effect beginning January 1, 2024. Many countries have seen significant increases in the number of scores being submitted for handicapping purposes since the WHS was introduced in January 2020, reflecting golf ’s broadening appeal. More than 100 million scores have been posted each year, unifying millions of golfers through a standard measure of playing ability. The 2024 update leverages the performance data gathered from around the world, in addition to feedback received from many of the 125 countries now using the system. Significant updates to the WHS include: · Inclusion of Shorter-Length Golf Courses Within the Course Rating System: The overall length requirements for Course Rating in the WHS will be significantly reduced. A set of tees on an 18-hole course may be as short as 1,500 yards [1,370 meters] to be eligible for a Course Rating and Slope Rating®, and a set of tees on a 9-hole course may be as short as 750 yards [685 meters]. This change is intended to expand the WHS to thousands of shorter length courses, including par-3 courses, and enable more golfers to obtain and use a Handicap Index. · Use of an Expected Score for a Hole Not Played: Improvements have been made to the method used to handle holes not played, which will now be based on a player’s expected score rather than a score of net par. This new method will produce a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential that more accurately reflects a player’s ability. As golfers across the world are playing more 9-hole rounds, an expected score can also be used to convert a 9-hole round into an 18-hole Score Differential. For some countries, this means that 9-hole scores will be considered in the calculation of a player’s Handicap Index immediately after the day of play, rather than waiting to combine with another 9-hole score. · Playing Conditions Calculation Adjustments Made More Frequent: The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) has been modified to increase the likelihood of an adjustment for abnormal playing conditions. National associations were given discretion, beginning in July 2022, to introduce this revision within their computation platforms, which will be complete by April 1, 2024. · Enhanced Guidance on Conducting a Handicap Review: The role of the Handicap Committee is vital to the success of the WHS and the Rules recommend that a Handicap Review is conducted regularly, or at least once a year to ensure a Handicap Index® remains reflective of a player’s ability. New reporting tools have been developed that national associations can incorporate into their handicapping software to assist Committees in conducting the review process effectively and consistently.

Issue 8 | December 2023

Revised Golf Ball Testing Conditions The R&A and USGA will update the testing conditions used for golf ball conformance under the Overall Distance Standard (ODS), which will take effect in January 2028. The decision aims to reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf ’s long-term sustainability while minimizing the impact on the recreational game. The revised ball testing conditions will be as follows: 125-mph clubhead speed (equivalent to 183 mph ball speed); spin rate of 2200 rpm and launch angle of 11 degrees. The current conditions, which were established 20 years ago, are set at 120 mph (equivalent to 176 mph ball speed), 2520 rpm with a 10-degree launch angle. The revised conditions are based on analysis of data from the worldwide tours and the game over several years and are intended to ensure that the ODS (whose limit will remain unchanged at 317 yards with a 3-yard tolerance) continues to represent the ability of the game’s longest hitters. An analysis of ball speeds among golf ’s longest hitters in 2023 shows that the fastest 10 players had an average ball speed of 186 mph, while the average ball speed of the fastest 25 was 183.4 mph (the very fastest averaged 190 mph). The longest hitters are expected to see a reduction of as much as 13-15 yards in drive distance. Average professional tour and elite male players are expected to see a reduction of 9-11 yards, with a 5-7-yard reduction for an average LPGA or Ladies European Tour (LET) player. The change in testing speed is expected to have a minimal distance impact, 5 yards or less, for most recreational golfers. Research shows an average swing speed of 93 mph for male golfers and 72 mph for female players.