A new golf season is just about in full swing. I would like to welcome back those of you have participated in our tournaments and welcome those who have never participated in one of our events. If you have ever thought about entering one of our tournaments, we hope that this will be the year you will do so. Please know that you do not have to be a seasoned golfer or have a low handicap. You only need to have an established handicap at a MSGA member club and meet the eligibility requirements for each tournament. We have raised the handicap limits in many of our tournaments trying to bring in players new to our events. You do not need to be an expert on golf rules as there are Officials on the course if you should have any questions. We’ve changed the Mid Two-Woman Team to primarily a net event, so all teams have an opportunity to win. Playing with a partner, as in this event and the Two-Woman, is a wonderful way to join in the competition. Also you have an opportunity to play with a male partner in the Mixed Two-Ball. In the individual tournaments, the handicap index limit varies. For example, the Women’s Senior, played in age divisions beginning at age 50, has an upper limit of 36.0; the Amateur 30.0; and the Mid-Amateur 30.0. Many of our events are flighted by handicap, assuring that you will be playing with comparable golfers.
I encourage you to bring a team to our 4-Lady Team Invitational. This event benefits our Junior Girls Golf Program and is a day of fun with dinner and silent auctions, including bidding on rounds of golf at some excellent golf courses. There is no handicap limit for the 4-Lady. Entry forms and information about our tournaments are listed on our website, msgawomen.org. In this newsletter you will also find information about the tournaments.
To mention some other activities, the Women’s Division provides Rules Seminars with classroom and on-course instruction. We are also responsible for the Women’s Course Rating Program where the rating and sloping is done by regional teams across the state. We are looking for volunteers to be trained as course raters. Please see the article in the newsletter for details about the Course Rating Program.
We hope you will attend our Fall Luncheon on November 4th at the Country Club of Maryland when we will honor Jean Mulcahey with our Distinguished Service Award. I would also like to mention that at our Luncheon this past November, we welcomed JoAnne Ballin, Manor Country Club, and Sally Ratcliffe, Elkridge Club, to the Executive Committee. Marilyn Snight and Judi Hans, will be missed. Melly Tucker, our Past President, will stay with us in an advisory capacity.
It’s proves to be an exciting year for the Women’s Division! We hope to increase the number of female players we come in contact with. We are seeking outside funding and sponsorships to enhance what is already in place as well as some new initiatives. We are looking not only to expand the Junior Girls Program, but to create opportunities for female golfer of all ages to get out and enjoy competition in events that are fun. I think everyone agrees that an added benefit to meeting people playing golf is making new friends.
I hope you will join us.
Carolyn Hudson, President, MSGA-Women’s Division
CHANGES TO MSGA-WD TOURNAMENTS FOR 2016
The MSGA-WD has made the following changes to Championships for 2016. This is in an effort to provide more opportunities for higher handicap players and to hopefully increase participation.
Mid-Amateur Championship -Handicap index was increased to 30.0 or less -The event was reduced to a one-day 18-hole competition and the entry fee was reduced to $65.00. Girls Junior Championship -Players can either be a member of an MSGA Member Club or a resident of Maryland Amateur Championship –Handicap index was increased to 30.0 or less -There will be 3 yardages used during this event. All players will play the same yardage during the stroke-play qualifying round. During match play, the Championship and First Flights will play a longer yardage than the other flights. Mixed Two-Ball Championship -To be eligible for the Senior Division, both players must be at least 55 years of age. Two-Woman Mid-Handicap Championship -The competition will be primarily a net four-ball event. Senior Amateur Championship -Handicap index was increased to 36.0 or less Women’s Open Championship -Handicap index was increased to 14.0 or less -The purse will be a minimum of $10,000 for professionals
2016 WOMEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
The 2016 Women’s Team Championship will begin with the first round on Saturday, May 7th. Winning teams will then advance to the second round to be played on Saturday, May 14th, and the final rounds on May 21st and 22nd, depending on the flight.
Thirty-one teams entered the competition this year including defending champion Argyle CC and past champions Congressional CC, Norbeck CC, Sparrows Point CC and Baltimore CC. The thirty-one teams were divided into four flights based on the aggregate handicap index of each team’s roster.
The results and scores will be posted on the website after each round. Good luck to all teams participating!
The Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be held at Kenwood Golf & Country Club in Kensington, Maryland on Thursday, June 2nd. The event was reduced to a one-day, eighteen hole Championship in hopes of increasing the field size and allowing more working women to participate.
This event is open to women who are at least 30 years old on June 2nd, with a handicap index at a MSGA Member Club of 30.0 or less. Prizes are awarded to the top finishers gross and net. The entry fee is $65.00, which includes the cart and range fees.
Don’t miss the opportunity to play this beautiful private course, just outside Washington D.C. Kenwood G&CC is also hosting a 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Qualifier in June, so this would be a great chance to play an additional round on the course prior to the qualifying round.
The Annual Rules Seminar of the MSGA-Women’s Division took place at The Elkridge Club in Baltimore on Monday, April 25, 2016. Jerry Duffy, Past President of the Maryland State Golf Association and USGA Rules Official, gave a spirited presentation interspersing humor throughout his discussion of many of the rules. Jerry illustrated through many humorous stories, how knowledge of the rules can benefit the player. There were 80 people in attendance which included 16 past and present members of the Women’s Division and MSGA staff. Questions were asked and answered during the session which kept the audience engaged throughout the morning. After a break for lunch, Jean Mulcahey, Chair of the Women’s Rules Committee and moderator for the day, gave a Power Point presentation on the significant changes to the Rules of Golf in 2016.
Toward mid-afternoon, everyone went outside in groups which moved from station to station where rules were illustrated at a bunker, putting green, and teeing ground, as well as at water hazards and also when encountering obstructions and abnormal ground conditions. Jean was assisted at the stations by presenters Stacey Collins and Diane Herndon, both Past Presidents of the Women’s Division, and Joan Heiss, currently a member of the Women’s Division. All four of the afternoon presenters currently serve on or chair USGA Committees.
For many of the participants this was their first Rules Seminar while many have attended in the past. All participants received a copy of the Rules of Golf. Five participants received a copy of the Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2016-2017, and two received a copy of The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf in a drawing which took place during the morning.
The MSGA-WD is currently seeking volunteers for the women’s course rating program, which consists of teams in five geographic regions: Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis, Western Maryland, and the Eastern Shore. A course rating team is comprised of four or more trained volunteers who are assigned courses within their geographic region. When rating a golf course, the team evaluates each hole using the USGA Course Rating System. The majority of the team’s time is spent measuring distances to various obstacles from specific landing zones based on shot parameters. Upon completion of the course rating, the team is given an opportunity to play the golf course being evaluated.
If you are interested in volunteering please click here to complete a volunteer form.
JEAN MULCAHEY TO RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The MSGA-WD will honor Jean Mulcahey with the Distinguished Service award at the 2016 Annual Luncheon, which will be held at her home course the Country Club of Maryland on Friday, November 4th. This biennial award is presented to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to amateur golf in Maryland, which Jean most certainly has.
Jean served on the Executive Committee of the MSGA-WD from 2001 to 2009 and has served as the Rules Chair for the MSGA-WD since 2004. During her time on the Executive Committee, Jean was the Officer-in-Charge of four Championships and served as a Rules Official at many more. As the Rules Chair, she has been in charge of organizing the very successful annual One-Day Rules Seminar sponsored by the MSGA-WD.
Not only had Jean dedicated her time to the Women’s Division, she has volunteered at the local, regional, and national level. Locally, she has been involved with the Women’s Golf Association of Baltimore (WGA), serving on their Board from 1977-1983. Since 2012, she has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Middle Atlantic Golf Association (MAGA). Within the Mid-Atlantic region, she has worked as a Rules Official for the LPGA, MAPGA, MSGA, NCAA, Special Olympics of Maryland, and Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Tour to name a few.
At a national level, Jean has been very involved in the United States Golf Association (USGA), first serving on the USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Committee from 2007-2013 and now serving on the USGA Women’s Committee, alongside MSGA-WD Past President Stacey Collins. Her Rules knowledge and expertise have allowed her the opportunity to referee at over 30 prestigious USGA competitions including the Curtis Cup, U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior and USGA Women’s State Team.
We hope you are able to join us in November to celebrate Jean’s accomplishments and recognize her service to golfers in Maryland.
20TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON & CELEBRATION
The MSGA-WD 20th Anniversary luncheon was held on Friday, November 6th at Rolling Road Golf Club. The first meeting and luncheon of the MSGA-WD was held November 13, 1995 at Rolling Road, so it seemed fitting to return for this special celebration. The eighty-five attendees included some of the original board members — Pat Kaufman, Rose Marie Vargo, Jane Mason and Joan Winchester. Each went on to serve as President of the Maryland State Golf Association-Women’s Division. Four other Past Presidents were also in attendance (Marilyn Snight, Diane Herndon, Emily DiCicco, and Stasia Collins) along with many past committee members, club delegates, champions, and long-time tournament golfers. Two very important people to the MSGA-WD (Randy Reed and Ann Bergquist) were not able to attend, but were remembered for their significant contributions.
A great power point presentation, developed by Rebecca Krimski, ran throughout the afternoon. It covered the history and personnel involved in the MSGA-WD throughout the last 20 years. Pat Kaufman, the first President of the MSGA-WD, shared with us some of her special memories.
As part of the agenda, President Melly Tucker thanked Judi Hans for her eight years of service to the MSGA-WD. Judi had devoted her time to working tirelessly and successfully with the Junior Girls Program. She was presented with a gift in appreciation for her commitment.
JoAnne Ballin (Manor Country Club) and Sally Ratcliffe (The Elkridge Club) were elected to the Executive Committee. They were both presented with a blue blazer to welcome them to the committee.
Finally, Melly turned over the gavel to incoming President Carolyn Hudson, Bowie Golf & Country Club. Melly was thanked for her eight years of service and was presented with a special commemorative gold medal necklace. Carolyn then announced her slate of officers for 2016-2017.
Vice President – Deb Watkins, Hunt Valley Golf Club Treasurer – Hae Han, TPC Potomac at Avenel Recording Secretary – Rebecca Krimski, Baltimore Country Club Corresponding Secretary – Patsy DiMuzio, Country Club at Woodmore Ex Officio – Melly Tucker, Argyle Country Club
The meeting was adjourned with best wishes for another 20 years of success.
If your club does not currently have a Delegate and you are interested in that role, please email kferguson@msga.org
USGA RULES OF GOLF CHANGES FOR 2016
Among the most significant of the changes in the 2016 edition of the Rules are the following:
Withdrawal of Rule on Ball Moving After Address: Now a one-stroke penalty will be applied only when the facts show that the player has caused the ball to move.
Limited exception to disqualification penalty for submission of incorrect score card: In this new exception, a player is not disqualified for returning a lower score for a hole than actually taken as a result of failing to include penalty strokes that the player did not know were incurred. Instead, the player incurs the penalty under the Rule that was breached and must add an additional penalty of two strokes for the score card error. In all other cases in which a player returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, the penalty will continue to be disqualification.
Modification of penalty for a single impermissible use of artificial devices or equipment: The penalty for a player’s first breach during the round has been reduced from disqualification to loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. The penalty for any subsequent breach of Rule 14-3 will continue to be disqualification.
Prohibition on anchoring the club while making a stroke: This Rule prohibits anchoring the club either “directly” or by use of an “anchor point” in making a stroke. The penalty is loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.
To read further details about each of these changes, click here.
USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM CHANGES 2016-2017
There are six significant changes that were implemented January 1, 2016:
Definition of a tournament score
Adjusting hole scores
Posting scores when a player is disqualified
Anchoring and posting
Playing alone and necessary peer review
Committee responsibilities
Playing alone and necessary peer review is likely the change that impacts the most golfers. The USGA created an infographic explaining the reasoning behind the change as well as answering some frequently asked questions associated with the change. To view the infographic, please click here.
To read further details about the five additional changes, click here.
2016 MSGA-WD Tournament Schedule
Click the tournament name to view the tournament information page.
