MGA Foundation's 2009 Spring Education Series is Underway
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (February 26, 2009) - The MGA Foundation’s 2009 Spring Educational Forums series is well underway. These programs feature presentations by industry experts that are designed to educate club leaders and the golfing public about a wide range of topics of interest including the Rules of Golf, handicapping procedures and new technology.
The 2008 Green Chairman Education Series, hosted by the MGA Foundation in conjunction with the USGA Green Section, was on Thursday, March 19 at Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell, N.J. An impressive roster of speakers addressed a variety of turfgrass-related issues as well as ways clubs officials and superintendents can manage their budgets in light of member expectations and the recent economic downturn. Jim Sluiter, an ecologist at Audubon International, addressed issues on the business value of environmental stewardship on golf courses. Adam Meoller, an agronomist with the Northeast Region of the USGA Green Section, discussed the changes made at Bethpage Black for the 2009 U.S. Open Championship in June. Piping Rock Club superintendent Richard Spear and Met PGA executive director Charlie Robson discussed the changing priorities of golf clubs and how costs may or may not be saved. David Oatis, the director of the Northeast Region of the USGA Green Section, addressed the role of a club’s Green Committee and its responsibilities. The seminar was followed by the presentation of the MGA Club Environmental Award to Westchester Country Club. For more information please contact Kate Keller (kkeller@mgagolf.org) or Kevin Kline (kkline@mgagolf.org) at the MGA, 914-347-4653.
The annual MGA/Met PGA Rules Workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 25 at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, N.Y. This year’s seminar features David Staebler of the USGA who will address the crowd on a number of Rules questions and also lead a Q&A session. The 2008 seminar was attended by more than 60 golf professionals, club officials and MGA Committeemen and this year’s seminar promises to provide a forum for lively discussion of the Rules of Golf. While open to the public, this seminar is designed to attract people who are deeply interested in the Rules of Golf. For more information please contact Brian Mahoney (bmahoney@mgagolf.org) at the MGA office, 914-347-4653 or visit the Member Services section of www.mgagolf.org.
The annual MGA Rules and Handicap Seminars, the first of which takes place on Saturday, March 21 at the Cherry Valley Club in Garden City, N.Y., provides a refresher course for the Handicap system as well as the Rules of Golf. Cherry Valley is followed by two other seminars, on Saturday, March 28 at the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., and on Saturday, April 4 at Montclair Golf Club in Verona, N.J. For more information contact Kevin Kline via e-mail (kkline@mgagolf.org) or by phone, 914-347-4653, ext. 267.
