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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
We welcome 2015 and look forward to commemorating our 20th Anniversary year! Please mark your calendar for our super celebration at Rolling Road Golf Club on November 6th at 12:00. We promise an entertaining afternoon with lots of memories in store to share and enjoy.
2014 was a great year beginning with the Team Championship culminating with the Open’s 3 way playoff to determine the winner, and the fall luncheon honoring Paula Sovero as the Distinguished Service Award winner. The Championship winners are included on the left column of this newsletter.
Our website remains the “go to” place to check the tournament schedule, post your scores*, take a Rules quiz or two, as well as to find out anything you need to know about the MSGA-WD. Visit often!
Here are a few highlights for 2015:
With the exception of the Team Championship and men’s play in the Mixed Championship, 20 scores in the last calendar year are required for entry.
*Our Tournament Management System is now with GolfNet, and your score will automatically be entered into your scoring record when you play in a MSGA-WD Championship, except for match play during the Amateur and Team Championship which you must post manually.
Both the MSGA and MSGA-WD have adopted the requirement that an eClub member must reside in the state of Maryland in order to be eligible for all Championships.
The ever-popular 4 Lady Tournament benefiting our Junior Girls’ Scholarship and Operating Fund will be held on July 20th at Hunt Valley. Note: this is not a championship tournament and thus anyone with a valid USGA handicap index may play, regardless of residency or club affiliation.
Mixed Championship will feature a “Senior Division” for the first time. Details are within this newsletter. Also note that teams will be eligible for a gross prize only if the male player does not have 20 scores posted in the last year.
The Amateur Championship at Argyle will see the final matches played on a Saturday morning in July!
The year will conclude once again with the Open at Baltimore Country Club’s East Course. The amateur maximum handicap index has been raised to 12.0. Amateurs will fill the remaining spots based on lowest handicap index after the professionals are entered. The field will be limited to 72 players.
Most of our tournaments will see a slight increase in entry fee this year.
Be sure to check the tournament schedule and mark down the dates!
Happy golfing,
Melly Tucker
SOVERO HONORED WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Every other year the MSGA- Women’s Division recognizes an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to amateur golf in Maryland. This year the Executive Committee selected Paula Sovero, a choice overwhelmingly supported by the general membership.
Paula’s first assignment on the Executive Committee was with the Junior Girls. She helped advance the Poindexter Cup, a very competitive program between Maryland and Virginia, each state fielding a team of eight girls. A follow-up to the Poindexter is the Middle Atlantic Challenge which teams four Maryland girls with four VA girls to compete against eight girls from the Carolinas.
Paula established the Junior Girls Scholarship Fund by instituting the 4 Lady Invitational Golf Tournament which benefits both the scholarship fund and provides monies for expenses related to the Junior Girls programs. Paula’s legacy to Maryland State golf is truly in her contributions to and advancement of the Junior Girls program.
Diane Herndon, Pat Kaufman, Jane Mason, Kim Ferguson, Hilary Lawson, Ashley Grier, and Jean Mulcahey all spoke warmly of Paula, praised her accomplishments, and recounted fond memories. All spoke about how deserving she is of the Distinguished Service Award, with Pat Kaufman making the statement that Paula “will enhance this reward by receiving it.”
Join the MSGA-Women’s Division for the annual one-day Rules of Golf Seminar this Spring!
Location: Argyle Country Club (Silver Spring, MD) Date: Monday, April 27 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Registration and breakfast at 8:15 AM Instructor: Joe Sprague, USGA Director of Regional Affairs, Northeast Cost: $40.00 includes continental breakfast, lunch and a copy of the Rules of Golf for 2012-2015 Format: Morning Session- PowerPoint lecture and discussion. Afternoon Session – on course instruction at the bunker, teeing ground, water hazard, putting green, etc.
For the first time in the history of the Mixed Two-Ball, a Senior Division will be added to the competition. Yardage for both men and women will be shorter, and prizes will be awarded separate from the Championship Division. Both team members must be at least 50 years of age in order for a team to elect to play in the Senior Division. Seniors who would rather compete in the Championship Division will have the option to do so. The 2015 Mixed Two-Ball will be held at Turf Valley Resort on July 24th.
20TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON
Do you know why we chose Rolling Road Golf Club as the site for our 20th Anniversary luncheon? Rolling Road was where the first meeting of the MSGA-WD was held in November of 1995.
On Friday, November 6th, join us for a social hour at noon with lunch served at 1:00. There will be many displays and a slide show depicting our last 20 years. The annual meeting will be held along with announcing new Executive Committee members in addition to farewells. Marilyn Snight and her committee of Judi Hans, Deb Watkins and Rebecca Krimski are planning an eventful celebration. If you have any ideas or thoughts you would like to share regarding the organization of this day, photos or other memorabilia, please contact Kim Ferguson (410-653-5300).
As always, Delegates, Championship winners, Course Raters and former Executive Committee members will be our guests. We anticipate that the cost for others wishing to attend will be under $30.00.
APPLY TO PLAY — USGA WOMEN’S STATE TEAM
A two year point system will be used for selecting members of the Maryland State Golf Association Women’s Division Team to represent our state at the 2015 USGA State Team Championship. The Championship will be held at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The Maryland team will consist of the two eligible players accumulating the most points and one captain’s choice player. If either of the first two eligible players cannot attend the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, then the next candidate in line with the most points will be invited to participate.
Please be prepared to submit your golf resume in the summer of 2015, immediately following the end of the Women’s Amateur on July 18, so that the MSGA-WD Board may select the best team to represent our state.
Young female golfers are invited to submit their golf resume in consideration for participation in the Poindexter Cup and the Mid-Atlantic Challenge. To be eligible players must be at least 13 years of age, must not have turned 19, and cannot be attending college.
The Poindexter Cup is scheduled on June 27-28, 2015 at Olde Mill Golf Course in Laurel Fork, VA. Here eight Maryland girls compete against eight Virginia girls in four-ball and singles match play.
The Mid-Atlantic Challenge will be held on July 25-26, 2015 at River Landing Golf Course in Wallace, North Carolina. Four Maryland girls team up with four Virginia girls and take on eight Carolina girls in four-ball and singles match play.
Club Delegates are our biggest club resource as we rely upon you to disseminate our information to your club mates and we appreciate your endeavors by:
Treating you to lunch and 9 holes of golf (weather permitting) at our biennial Delegate Day
Being our guest at the 20th Anniversary Luncheon at Rolling Road Golf Club and Annual Luncheons in the future.
If you are interested in becoming the Delegate for your club, please email kferguson@msga.org
REASONS TO PLAY IN MSGA-WD EVENTS
You get to play golf at premiere venues, including private clubs, at a relatively low cost.
New friendships and acquaintances are developed.
Excellent competition and the potential to win a prize! Both gross and net prizes are awarded in most of the tournaments.
Is there a better way to spend the day than out on a lovely golf course?
GUIDELINES FOR POSTING SCORES
With the advent of ability to post your score from anywhere using your smartphone or computer thus eliminating the necessity of having to post at your club’s posting station, there is really no reason why your score shouldn’t be entered. Following are guidelines:
Scores to Post:
If 7-12 holes are played, the player shall post a nine-hole score. If 13 or more holes are played, the player shall post an 18-hole score.
All match play and stroke play scores made in accordance with the principles of the Rules of Golf. This includes scores made in match play, in multi-ball, or in team competitions in which players have not completed one or more holes or in which players are requested to pick up when out of contention on a hole.
All scores at courses with a USGA Course and Slope Rating made during an active season, both home and away.
A player who is disqualified from a competition, but has an acceptable score, shall record his adjusted gross score for handicap purposes.
Unacceptable Scores:
If you play fewer than 7 holes.
The competition limits the number of clubs used.
The 18 hole course is less than 3,000 yards or 1,500 yards for 9 holes.
Format is scramble or if the majority of holes are not played according to the principles of the Rules of Golf.
If the golf course is in an area in which an inactive season is in effect.
When a score is made on a course with no USGA Course and Slope Rating.
What if you do not finish a hole?
This is especially common in team play and match play.
When you pick up on a hole, record what you would most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed your Equitable Stroke Control*(ESC) limit. (Note: Do not automatically take your ESC score. Count the number of strokes made and add any additional likely strokes.)
*Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make the Handicap Index more representative of a player’s potential ability. (Note: This is for posting your score only; your actual score for the competition remains the same). Determine the maximum number for a hole by your course handicap:
Course Handicap
Maximum Number on any hole
9 or less
Double Bogey
10-19
7
20-29
8
30-39
9
40 or more
10
What if you do not play a hole?
When you do not play a hole, your score must be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes you are entitled to receive on the hole based on your course handicap.
HAE HAN TO SERVE ON THE USGA JUNIOR GIRLS COMMITTEE
In March of 2015, MSGA-WD Executive Committee member Hae Han was selected to serve on the United States Golf Association Junior Girls Championship Committee. Congratulations to Hae on this honor.
Hae joins the following past and present MSGA-WD Executive Committee members in assisting on USGA Committees:
A two year point system will be used for selecting members of the Maryland State Golf Association Women’s Division Team to represent our state at the 2015 USGA State Team Championship. The Championship will be held at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 
Young female golfers are invited to submit their golf resume in consideration for participation in the Poindexter Cup and the Mid-Atlantic Challenge. To be eligible players must be at least 13 years of age, must not have turned 19, and cannot be attending college.
In March of 2015, MSGA-WD Executive Committee member Hae Han was selected to serve on the United States Golf Association Junior Girls Championship Committee. Congratulations to Hae on this honor.