Senior Golfers Association: Now

Accepting New Members!

By Traci Sanders

In 1956 a group of eight local golfers came together and formed the Senior Golfers Association of Atlanta (SGAA), a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization offering golfing opportunities to senior citizens in Gwinnett and surrounding counties.

The membership grew steadily and reached over 300 members, but unfortunately dwindled during Covid as over a dozen are ninety years and older. The SGAA, which holds 200 active members and provides local and out-of-state golfing events and opportunities, is currently celebrating sixty-seven years of membership. The organization still operates under the motto that it’s “dedicated to good golf and fine fellowship.”

The cost to join SGAA is only $25 initially, and then $25 per year thereafter. Members enjoy reduced fees at 120 tournaments at twenty local golf courses, which also helps local courses fill tee times on weekdays. All applicants must be at least fifty-five and must be sponsored by at least two current active members to be considered. If someone would like to play as a guest to start, they simply contact the SGAA board, and that potential member will be assigned two sponsors.

A wealth of insight and valuable information can be found on the website, including golf scores that are posted to encourage a bit of friendly competition, pictures from previous events, the SGAA handbook, by-laws, downloadable newsletters, and a calendar outlining current and upcoming events. Members can even receive quick tips to improve their game and weather updates to plan their next golfing adventure. A Champions list is also documented annually on the site.

It takes a village to keep an organization of this size running smoothly. Members are elected to handle tasks such as coordinating end-of-theyear banquets, managing software and the website, registering members for the organization and at events, and overseeing outreach efforts, just to name a few.

In addition to playing any number of the 120 local tournaments this year, SGAA members can enjoy meeting up with fellow golfers at one of four scheduled out-of-town events from the North Carolina mountains to the sand hills of Southeast Georgia. The next “away” event is scheduled for June 19 - 21 at the Smoky Mountain Golf Course in Whittier, North Carolina. The course plays just over 6,100 yards (par 71), with almost 400 feet of elevation change. There’s also an opportunity for “organized play,” where handicaps are established and maintained, with four different “flights,” which allows members to compete for prizes against other members of similar capability.

I recently spoke with a current member, Mike Nobles, who shared with me that the SGAA is a way for senior citizens to get out of the house and meet new people who enjoy golf but also stay active and have a purpose in their day while doing something they enjoy. “I was in that boat,” Mike said, “and this ended up being a great thing for me, so I know it can help a lot of other senior citizens in the community as well.”

The SGAA isn’t just about providing an outlet for golf enthusiasts in the area. This group is also interested in giving back to the community. In fact, many of the current members are veterans and are looking into various types of charities to sponsor fellow veterans in Georgia.

More information at https://sgaofatlanta.org/.

Kid’s Corner

Continued from page 9 benefits as a 529 plan, but it does pose some important benefits. Trust accounts allow you as parents to create exact rules around how you want the funds dispersed to your children. For example, you can give the money in a series of installments or request that it be used only toward tuition.

Whether you’re thinking about your child’s education or simply want to set aside funds for when they reach a certain age, plan ahead and consider these tips and options for reaching your goals. (BPT)