Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all. I knew it had been a while since I wrote a blog entry when I struggled to remember my login password. It's not like we haven't been busy at the MGA, but I fell out of the habit of logging on and the time has really slipped by.

A lot has happened in golf since I last chimed in here in late October. No, I will not get into my take on the Tiger Woods saga as everybody has talked about it and disected it ad nauseum. I don't think anybody really knows when he might return to competition.

The off season has been a busy one preparing for the new 2010 season. We have another great rotation of courses for MGA championships including Myopia Hunt for the Amateur and Wellesley for the Open. On-line registration will begin around mid-February. Check the web site for updates.

In addition to our usual offering of championship events, the MGA will be offering one-day events for any MGA member (anyone who holds an MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap). Called MGA Member Days, these one-day events will be an opportunity for any MGA golfer to play a nice course at a reasonable rate. The emphasis will not be on the competition, but there will be tournament prizes. There will just be a few events in 2010, and they are being finalized right now. Turn to the web site in the spring for updates and more info on this program.

On March 31 at Andover CC the MGA will be teaming with several allied golf organizings to present the New England Golf Summit. A day of education and networking, the summit will feature talks on 'Golf and the Economy', 'Golf and the Environment', 'Legislative and Club Issues' and 'Growth of the Game'. Aimed at attracting club officials (presidents, golf chairs, green chairs) in addition to golf professionals, superintendents and club managers, it is hoped that the day will offer some timely information during a time in which the game and many clubs are struggling. Later this week there will be info on the MGA web site as well as web sites of the other organizations that we are partnering with (NEPGA, GCSANE, NECMA, WGAM, Ouimet Fund, Deutsche Bank Championship, USGA).