406golf Newsletter - February 1, 2024

ON THE FIRST TEE...

With Nick Dietzen

F

raser MacDonald, the second executive director of the Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) passed away in January. In preparation to honor his life and quarter-century of service to the Montana Golf Community (page 10), I was presented with two important opportunities.

First off, Fraser’s passing offered an opportunity to learn more about not only the man, but the organization that he helped develop by speaking with some of Montana golf’s great contributors, friends, and historians. Between Paul Caruso Jr., George Geise and Jim Opitz, the vast knowledge, stories, and history of the MSGA continues to be filled with rich charac-

ters, laughs and stories that undoubtedly need to be shared, preserved, and learned from.

The perspective that comes from understanding the larger historical context and genesis for all things Montana golf has been immensely helpful and I’m grateful to those who have been generous with their time as look to record and honor the traditions of the past, while we also look to celebrate the future MSGA champions, contributors and supporters.

Secondarily, I learned that Fraser was originally a media member (mostly radio), and he understood the value and importance of media coverage. I also came to the MSGA with a journalism background, first as a volunteer, then working on the MSGA newsletter a decade ago.

At that time, my first thought was that we needed to expand the newsletter, we needed to find newer ways to communicate and grow our communications! The always patient and deadline-adhering, Emily Hulsey and I worked together from producing six issues (during the active handicap season months) to publishing monthly issues all year long.

In looking back to the first issue, I was reminded of how much has changed and how much has incredibly remained consistent: 1. “Upcoming social media platforms” – Twitter and Facebook were coming.

10 years later and we have room to grow on Twitter/ “X”, but our Facebook has nearly 2,000 followers and our Instagram has over 400 posts and nearly 1,300 followers.

The Butte Sports Hall of Fame inducted Fraser MacDonald in 2017.

Photo Courtesy: Bill Foley

2

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

2. “You Want My What?” – We were asking for email addresses to help with

MSGA

ABOUT US

BOARD OF DIRECTORS - OFFICERS PRESIDENT........................... Mary Bryson VICE PRESIDENT................. Peter Benson TREASURER............................... Bill Dunn PAST PRESIDENT..................... Carla Berg WOMEN’S CHAIR................ Teresa Brown BOARD OF DIRECTORS

delivery of digital information and member benefits.

10 years later and we are turning back the clock and looking for mailing addresses to send you a new member benefit – PNGA Golfer Magazine. Have you heard? We joined the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.

3. “Rules Talk – Rules Myths to Bust” – Mary Bryson of the MSWGA was busting rules myths.

10 years later and Mary Bryson is the president of the MSGA, leading the board through a strategic planning process after two successful mergers (Women’s and Senior’s Assoc.)

4. “Montana State Match Play” the tournament returned to Helena after a fiveyear absence.

Russ Cravens, Bill Dunn, Ron Ramsbacher, Brett Bennyhoff, Teresa Brown, Rod Stirling, Mary Bryson, Sparkey McLean, Tracy Paine, Karen Rice, Joe Rossman, Peter Benson, Lisa Forsberg, Marcia Hafner, Carla Berg, Cheri Ellis MSGA STAFF Executive Director...................... Nick Dietzen Tournament Director.................... Tim Bakker Communcations Coordinator........ Ty Sparing Operations Manager........... Michael Williams Handicap/Website...................... Emily Hulsey Online Support................................ Ian Hulsey USGA Boatwright Intern................ Katie Fagg PARTNERSHIPS Nick Dietzen .......... 1 (800) 628-3752, ext. 2 406GOLF STAFF Editor in Chief.......................... Nick Dietzen Consulting Editor................... David Bataller Staff Writer................................... Ty Sparing Graphic Designer.......................... Katie Fagg

Ten years later and after Bennett MacIntyre and Spencer Williams invigorated the event, the MSGA successfully held the first MSGA Match Play Tournament in 2023.

5. QR Codes, Smartphone Photos and Graphics Amazingly, the QR Code has withstood the test of time, and is more popular than ever, perhaps?

Montana State Golf Association P.O. Box 4306 Helena, MT 59604 1 (800) 628-3752 www.msgagolf.org

FEBRUARY 2024 -

406GOLF

-

3

As an association spread out over an immense geography – our ability to deliver relevant, valuable, and interesting golf content and communicate with you, our membership, is not only important, but it’s vital. Many thanks to the MSGA team and contributors to 406golf, a special shoutout goes to David Bataller for bringing his publication expertise, and helping bring our collective ideas to life on the page. Katie Fagg, our talented P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern provides elegant design work, Ty Sparing continues to deliver great historical background as well current news and Emily Hulsey for her contributions on the page and online.

As we all are eager for the spring season to arrive, we hope that you enjoy reading and we can’t wait to share more of what’s in store for our membership and golfers in the Treasure State. If the great people of Butte, America will allow me to turn a phrase from our friend Fraser…There are two kinds of golfers – golfers from Montana and those who wish they were.

Thanks for reading. If you liked it, share with a friend (even if they’re not from Montana).

Click on the April/May 2014 Newsletter above to be taken back in time. While many aspects of the MSGA have evolved, some have maintained their respective looks!

While it was fun to look back, my favorite part was that nearly everyone who was a part of the issue is still contributing today – Emily provides valuable leadership and education in the areas of handicapping, course rating and member services. After a long tenure on the MSGA Board, George still contributes stories and historical information as a friend to the association. Mary has provided exemplary leadership as we continue to grow as an association with a committed board and growing volunteer base.

Finally, as I bury the lede, on behalf of our growing and impressive group of staff and contributors – I’m pleased to present our newest iteration of the MSGA Newsletter – 406golf.

4

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

1. Who introduced you to golf?

Mark Murphy, a PGA golf pro from Sacramento who gave me a job at Rancho Murieta Country Club when I was 19.

2. Who influenced you the most in your golf life?

George Steers, he taught me the fundamentals of the game and then drilled them into me daily.

3. What MSGA program are you most passionate about and why?

Having two daughters go through the junior program, high school golf, and then college golf at Montana Tech, I would have to say anything that helps grow junior golf throughout the state of Montana. I’m a big fan.

4. What is your favorite course in Montana and why?

Rock Creek is spectacular. Although, us Grateful Dead fans have a saying: “My favorite is whatever they’re going to play next.”

That’s my answer for favorite course: Whichever one I’m playing next.

5. What is a dream golf course you’d like to play once?

Cypress Point would be the one.

6. What is your dream celebrity foursome (living or deceased)? Why would you choose them?

I’ll take 1953 Ben Hogan, 2001 Annika Sorenstam, and 1977 Tom Watson.

8

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

Michael Williams and family

7. What’s your most memorable moment on a golf course?

Our youngest daughter Lauren shot 73 to beat me a few years back. I’m very competitive, so it was my best/worst moment, I was so proud and mad at the same time.

8. If you could change one thing about the game of golf what would it be?

I would call for a much bigger cup... but I’d leave it short probably.

9. What brought you to the MSGA? What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the board/staff?

After 22 years as a member and tournament player I jumped at the chance to work with the MSGA team. I am proud to be a member of the MSGA and I look forward to growing the game across the state for years to come.

Bonus: Lay up or go for it?

Go For It!!!! It is only a game after all.

2023 #MyGHIN

REWIND

BY EMILY HULSEY

Golf Handicap and Website Administrator Congratulations on another great year! How did you do? Open your GHIN app or log into ghin.com to view your highlights from 2023. You’ll find your personalized GHIN Rewind in the “More” menu. Or, check your inbox for an email from the USGA, with a link to your 2023 GHIN Rewind.

Then, share your GHIN Rewind on social media using the #MyGHINRewind tag for a chance to win a free year of Enhanced GPS in the GHIN app or a USGA Shop gift card. Don’t forget to tag us too at @406golf!

If you need help logging in to GHIN, please contact us at support@msgagolf.org. Join us in celebrating the success of golfers nationwide!

FEBRUARY 2024 -

406GOLF

-

9

In Memoriam

FRASER MACDONALD

1935-2024

BY NICK DIETZEN

MSGA Executive Director

J

ust a few weeks prior to this newsletter’s publication, a dear friend alerted me of the passing of Fraser MacDonald, the second executive director of the Montana State Golf Association (MSGA). MacDonald, who in my tenure as executive director, is always referred to simply as “Fraser,” when referenced by those who knew him.

When I was very young, I was introduced to Fraser in a polite, passing-by type of moment that happens when you’re a child. I didn’t know Fraser, but I feel emboldened enough to say that he was a legend. By definition, Fraser was “of, described in, or based on legends.” I have heard many stories, anecdotes, and quips that I would describe as “larger-than-life” or “tall tales.” Regardless of the veracity of such stories, another definition of legendary – “remarkable enough to be famous; very well known” Fraser was certainly both, well known and remarkable – maybe even famous.

Fraser’s passing offered an opportunity to pause and reflect on not only his life, his contributions, but also his tenure with the MSGA, which is undoubtedly a significant chapter in the 107-year history of the organization.

All golf associations essentially have the same origin story – group of golfers gather with the purpose of identifying (and crowning) the top amateur golfer in their geography. The MSGA was no different in 1917 and for the better part

10

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

The 1972 headshot of Butte High School Boys’ Basketball Coach Fraser MacDonald. He was head basketball coach from 1968-1972

of 35 years, a board of directors shepherded this organization. In 1952, Shag Miller became the MSGA’s first executive director (primarily

Butte High School Boys’ Basketball Coach Fraser MacDonald (second from right) with players from his 1970 team.

volunteer), a position he held for 22 years before encouraging Fraser to take the reins of the association – which became more professionalized during his 25-year tenure.

During Fraser’s tenure, the leadership of the MSGA saw the birth of the Montana State Mid-Amateur Tournament, the beginning of the Montana Cup, MSGA Hall of Fame and college scholarship program to name a few.

Frequent newsletter contributor and MSGA Hall of Famer, George Geise, reflected on his time and experience working with Fraser: Like many Montana golf fans, I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Fraser MacDonald, one of Butte’s favorite sons.

Fraser spent 25 years as Executive Director of the Montana State Golf Association, and for most of those years I played in State Amateur tournaments that were run by Fraser. I also worked as the Sports Editor of the Great Falls Tribune during that time, an era when newspaper coverage was still con-

sidered an important element of the news media.

Since Fraser also was a highly regarded media member (mainly radio), and also a longtime coach, he understood the value of media coverage for all sports and all athletes.

Long before the advent of computers and the Internet, Fraser and I spent long hours together at scoreboards, compiling results and transmitting hundreds of scores each day to the Tribune and other media sources.

Fraser also understood that I needed to be available to cover the leaders in the final afternoon pairings of the tournament, so he often granted me favorable tee times. If you can consider 7 a.m. a favorable tee time?

Anyway, it worked for him and it (usually) worked for me, and it allowed our readers to get the best report they could get.

Fraser also loved to talk about the Grizzlies and Bobcats, Bulldogs and Bison, the Cop-

FEBRUARY 2024 -

406GOLF

-

11

Fraser MacDonald (seated in golf cart) in 1985 at Meadow Lark Country Club talking with Tournament Chairman Dick Hermanson.

per Kings and any other Montana sports franchise worth discussing. And as Butte radio listeners realized, Fraser was quite a talker. We will miss him. − George Geise Former executive director, Jim Opitz, who took the baton of leadership of the MSGA after MacDonald, recounted his fondest memories of Fraser: For years he was the face of the MSGA. He was my mentor at the association and was generous in helping me get started. I always enjoyed spending time with Fraser because there always was something he would share from his vast experiences. There was always a twinkle in his eye and a story to be shared.

He was truly one the best storytellers. He

12

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

had a great wit about him, and his stories almost always left you smiling. He was a genuine person who listened to you and always made you feel important to him.

He will be missed by all of us who called him friend. − Jim Opitz When interviewed by the Billings Gazette, Aug. 25, 1999, Fraser said: “We had more courses with sand greens than we had courses with grass when I started. Now there’s very few with sand greens.” The MSGA’s member clubs grew from 60 to close to 90 during Fraser’s quarter-century at the MSGA. At that time, the MSGA was described as a supervisor of men’s and junior tournaments in the state that worked with women’s and seniors’ associations to comply with USGA guidelines.

During his career at the Great Falls Tribune, Geise quoted Fraser MacDonald 20-plus years ago with something that has a familiar ring to it… “The popularity of golf has made it more difficult to recruit [private] clubs to use their facilities for tournaments. The 10 clubs we’re currently using for tournaments are telling us they might not be able to handle the load anymore.

Their members don’t want to give up their courses for a week at a time, and I don’t blame them. That’s going to be one of the challenges we (MSGA) will have to address, and we don’t have a lot of options.”

As we continue to see a renaissance in golf popularity, we will do our best to honor Fraser’s contributions by meeting challenges head on and remembering to laugh along the way and not take ourselves too seriously. As referenced in Fraser’s obituary: his last words were, “I’d rather be golfing.”

Editor’s Note: Fraser MacDonald, the MSGA’s second executive director passed away at the age of 88 earlier this month. His obituary can be found here. In recognition of Fraser’s penchant for good storytelling, we will be collecting stories about his time in golf for a future issue. If you have a photo, story or historical note to share, please send an email our way to info@msgagolf.org!

Proud Montana Griz alum Fraser MacDonald (second left) enjoyed 18 holes with friends during the 2017 Butte Sports Hall of Fame weekend.

FEBRUARY 2024 -

Photos Courtesy: Bill Foley

406GOLF

-

13

USGA

Even if cold weather is keeping golfers away, the maintenance team still has plenty to do during the winter.

WHAT DOES THE GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE TEAM DO ALL WINTER?

BY GEORGE WATERS

USGA Senior Manager - Green Section Education

Sometimes golfers wonder what the maintenance team does all winter. If little or no golf is being played and the grass isn’t growing, what could there be to do? The answer is a lot! There is always plenty of work in the world of golf course maintenance and never enough time to do it all. Here are a few of the important things that keep superintendents and their teams busy all winter.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE COURSE Just because golf season is over doesn’t mean courses don’t still need regular attention.

The maintenance team makes routine course checks throughout the winter looking for damage, debris or any safety issues that may arise. They also need to be ready for weather that can injure turf. During freeze-thaw cycles, the maintenance staff may be clearing ice or creating drainage channels in melting snow to

14

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

reduce the risk of winter injury. Putting green covers may also require maintenance to keep them in place during high winds. Keeping a close eye on the golf course throughout winter sets the table for great spring golf.

TREE MANAGEMENT Winter is an ideal time for tree management because work can proceed without the safety concerns and delays that come with having golfers on the course. Firm, frozen ground is also ideal for transporting the heavy equipment required for tree work around the golf course. Whether it’s routine pruning or largescale removals, winter allows the maintenance team and tree contractors to work efficiently and get all the wood and debris cleaned up before golf gets going again.

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE Golf course maintenance teams depend on a large fleet of mowers, tractors, work vehicles and more. During the season, equipment maintenance is usually focused on keeping

these machines running and ready for action, and dealing with endless breakdowns.

Winter is an ideal time to perform preventative maintenance and find permanent fixes for some of the Band-Aid solutions that may be necessary to get certain machines through the season. It can take months of work to get the fleet tuned up after a long year.

PLANNING A tremendous amount of planning and preparation goes into a successful golf course maintenance operation. It can be hard to find time for looking ahead when the season is in full swing, but as normal maintenance slows down the team can spend some time evaluating how the past year went and thinking about

how to get even better.

GETTING SOME REST! Maybe the most important thing that superintendents and their teams can do during the winter is to get some rest.During the golf season, they work long hours and deal with a steady stream of problems and challenges.

The arrival of colder weather hopefully gives the maintenance team a chance to spend more time with family and friends and catch up on all the things they put off during the season. Golf course maintenance is a profession that struggles with employee retention and burnout, so making sure the team gets time to recharge their batteries after a long year is essential.

USGA Wind, melting snow and flooding rains left a mess on golf courses. Extensive cleanup will be required in many cases before winter play can resume.

Click Here for more from the USGA Green Section Record ‒ including the latest articles and videos on sustainable management practices that produce better playing conditions for better golf.

FEBRUARY 2024 -

406GOLF

-

15

2024 MSGA BOATWRIGHT INTERNSHIPS –

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

BY NICK DIETZEN

MSGA Executive Director In 1991, the United States Golf Association (USGA) established the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program. This program is designed to give experience to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations in the promotion of amateur golf, on a short-term, entry level basis.

The Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) has three Boatwright Internship Opportunities available for this year. Interns have focus areas but will receive a well-rounded experience and learning opportunities in many areas of golf administration. The nature of tournament administration will test one’s patience, initiative, and decision-making abilities, as well as one’s ability to endure long hours, hard work, and the opportunity to make new friends.

Playing ability is not considered and the MSGA encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, anyone 18 and over is eligible to apply. A prospective intern should demonstrate strong managerial potential and a sufficient interest in golf. Additionally, an interest in learning about the game, it’s traditions and positively promoting golf throughout the state.

Not eligible for hire are golf professionals; USGA employees or their relatives; USGA committee members or their relatives; as well as association and organization employees and officials or their relatives.

The current MSGA Staff includes two Boatwright Alumni: Nick Dietzen (Minnesota 2012), Tyler Sparing (Montana 2022-23) and Katie Fagg (2023-24) who is returning to the MSGA during the springtime.

Katie commented on her time as a Boatwright Intern to-date: So far, my experiences as a MSGA Boatwright Intern have been nothing short of amazing. This internship has offered me many new opportunities including graphic design, tournament preparation and operations, and meeting many new faces within the Montana Golf Community.

Overall, I think that the Boatwright Internship program has been set up in a manner that creates such a well-rounded experience for all of us that get selected to participate. In addition to ensuring that I was exposed to all aspects of the association, the MSGA staff has allowed me to focus on some of the things that I really enjoy, especially graphic design.

I am grateful that the MSGA has allowed me to explore my creativity through many of the projects that I have gotten the chance to work on as a Boatwright Intern. I am very excited to be back and to see what new experiences the offseason brings as we prepare for another incredible summer season!

- Katie Fagg, Carroll College

USGA

P.J. Boatwright, Jr., Interns from across the country gather at USGA Headquarters in Liberty Station, N.J. for a three-day summit each May.

KELLY GILLUM, DAN DAVIES INDUCTED INTO MONTANA STATE BOBCAT HALL OF FAME

BY TY SPARING

MSGA Communications Coordinator Kelly Gillum Legendary Bobcat golfer Kelly Gillum was recently inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in recognition of the success she had on the course during her collegiate career. Hailing from Fort Collins, Colorado Gillum golfed for Montana State from 2005-2009, winning all sorts of accolades on her way to becoming one of the best golfers in program history. A threetime Big Sky All-Conference selection, Gillum was runner up in the 2008 Montana State Women’s Amateur Championship, and in 2009 was named Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Year. When she left the program she possessed a slew of records for future generations to aspire to overcome.

To be considered for the MSU Hall of Fame, ten years must have elapsed since the athlete last participated for the school to go along with the sporting achievements while there. Congratulations to Kelly Gillum!

18

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

Dan Davies Longtime Bobcat Dan Davies also made the MSU Hall of Fame for his vast contributions to Bobcat sports over the years. He was notably Montana State’s very first head golf coach, earning Big Sky Coach of the Year honors in 1995 when he led Bobcat golf team to its first Big Sky Conference Championship. He held the golf coach position for nine years. Along with his achievements on the links, Davies was a member of the Montana State Bobcats football team that won the national championship in 1976, was an assistant coach on the football team that won the 1984 national title, spent decades in a variety of administrative roles within the athletic department, and is the most common voice heard on MSU radio broadcasts, going all the way back to 1988.

Congratulations to Dan Davies on the well-deserved Hall of Fame honors!

Torrey Anderson

O’NEIL AWARDED NFHS SECTION-8 COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD Laurel High School golf coach Jim O’Neil was recently awarded the Section-8 Boy’s Golf Coach of the Year honors by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Nominated by the Montana High School Association, O’Neil’s award comes after a strong last couple of years for Laurel golf that saw the boys team end up as Class A champs in 2022, and runners-up in 2023.

Based out of Indianapolis, the NFHS is a national organization that writes rules for high school sports, and provides guidance to coaches, officials, and school administrations on how to conduct their athletics programs. Since 1982, the NFHS has given out coaching awards for eight different geographical regions within the United States. Along with Montana, Section-8 encompasses Wyoming, Idaho, Wash-

ington, Oregon, and Alaska. The process of nomination is rigorous, generally focusing on coaching performance and community activity, with an advisory committee that consists of eight sectional representatives nominating candidates before being taken to the Board of Directors for final review.

Those who have followed Class A golf the last few years know that the award is well deserved for O’Neil who has built a dominant golf program in Laurel. Since leaving a Defensive Coordinator gig with the Laurel football team for head golf coach duties in 2016, O’Neil has led the Locomotive boys to five state team championships and has won multiple Montana Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards.

Congratulations to Jim and thank you for your dedication to student-athletics! ~ Ty Sparing

FEBRUARY 2024 -

406GOLF

-

19

COLLEGE GOLF

SIGNINGS

BY TY SPARING

MSGA Communications Coordinator

Montana Tech: The Orediggers added two more Montana golfers to the arsenal with the signing of Fort Benton’s Casha Corder and Polson’s Carson Hupka.

Corder (pcitured right), who is a multi-sport athlete for the Longhorns, is a three-time all-state golfer and took home the Class C crown in 2022 as a sophomore when she won the state tournament by seven strokes at the Sidney Country Club. She will be on the shortlist of female golfers looking to take home the state title in this upcoming spring Class C golf season, before next fall when she takes her talents to Butte.

Carson Hupka (pictured above) most recently was an integral part of a Class A state team championship title with the Polson

20

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

Pirates earlier this fall. He is also a three-time all-state golfer, finishing as high as runner-up during the 2022 state tournament. Hupka will join his Polson teammate Otto Lund in Butte this fall as the two will look to keep their winning ways going for the Orediggers.

MSU-Billings The MSU-Billings men’s golf team recently announced they haeve signed Kittipak Akmaneenin out of Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Rocky Mountain College Lee Vernoy The Rocky Mountain College men’s golf recently added Makstr McIntyre, who will join the team from Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

Meanwhile, the Battlin’ Bears women’s team welcomes Kirsten Smith from Fort Collins, Colo., to the roster next season.

Amy Lynn Nelson /Billings Gazette

22

-

406GOLF

-

FEBRUARY 2024

FEBRUARY 2024 -

406GOLF

-

23