MetropolitanThe

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org

St. Louis Golf History1971 Ryder Cup

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O’TOOle’s TwO-Year UsGa PresidencY ends On

a hiGh nOTe.

UPcOminG evenTs

2016 UsGa evenTs

Us OPen lOcal QUalifYinG

maY 10fOresT hills

Us wOmen’s OPen QUalifYinG

maY 24 wesTwOOd cc

Us amaTeUr fOUr-Ball

men & wOmen

maY 21-25, 2016

Us JUniOr amaTeUr QUalifYinG

JUne 20, 2016aBerdeen Gc

Us Girls JUniOr amaTeUr QUalifYinG

JUne 22, 2016BOGeY hills cc

Us OPen

JUne 16-19, 2016

maGa evenTs

Old warsOn cUP

maY 14-15, 2016

nOrmandie amaTeUr

maY 21-22, 2016

wOmen’s amaTeUr

JUne 8-9, 2016GreenBriar hills See page 13 for full schedule

It had to come to an end at some point; the travel, trophy presentations, meetings, dinners, receptions and cocktail parties. The many trips to Far Hills, NJ to confer with USGA staff, executive committee members, event chairs, rules officials and the many requests for speaking engagements, interviews and articles. In the end, he would not have given any of it up, not for a moment! When you have a dream, and you get to live it, the dream is not only surreal, but at times, you almost have to pinch yourself to ensure you’re not dreaming. Yes, it really did happen. A native St. Louis son rose to the top of one of the country’s most prestigious organizations through hard work, determination and, yes, dreaming that by making the effort, it would happen. We invite you to review, from the perspective of those who know Tom best, how it happened.

Vol. 3 No. 1

Tom O’Toole: A Retrospective

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St. Clair CC #5

GaTewaY cUP maTches

aPril 10-11, 2016cc Of sT. alBans

Continued on page 4

A few ‘cool’ items from the PGA Golf Show

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Old Warson prepares for US Senior Amateur

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Curt’s CommentsRules of Golf CoRneR

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STAFFExecutive Director

Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org

P.J. Boatwright Interns - 2016 boatwrightintern@metga.org

METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPSAmateur Championship

Match Play ChampionshipOpen Championship

Women’s Amateur ChampionshipJunior Amateur ChampionshipSenior Amateur Championship

Metropolitan Cup MatchesFour-Ball ChampionshipMid-America Junior Cup

USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDSUS Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional)

US Senior Open QualifyingUS Amateur Qualifying

US Mid-Amateur QualifyingUS Women’s Mid-Amateur

US Junior Amateur QualifyingUS Amateur Public Links Qualifying

US Senior Amateur QualifyingUS Women’s Open Qualifying

US Amateur Four-BallUS Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

EXECUTIVE BOARDStanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus

Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. – Vice-PresidentThomas O. Sobbe Jr. – Vice-President

M. Ray McCraine – SecretaryG. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer

G.F. (Rick) Meyer Jr. – At-Large MemberH. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member

ADVISORY COMMITTEEScott Thomas, Chairman

Dustin AshbyTom Barry

Skip BerkmeyerJim Dunn

David RhoadsCurt Rohe

Metropolitan EditorJim Healey

The nearesT POinT Of relief

We’ve all heard the term nearest point of relief but what exactly is it, when does it come into play and, most importantly, how do you figure out where the heck it is?

The definition (straight out of the Rules of Golf) is that, “The nearest point of relief is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3). It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies that is not nearer the hole, and where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not there.”

Clear as mud? Let’s break it down:• First,whenwearetalkingaboutthenearestpoint of relief, we are only taking about situations where we have interference from an immovable obstruction (e.g. a cart path, a pump house, etc.), an abnormal ground condition (e.g. casual water, ground under repair, etc.), or when our ball lies on a wrong putting green (i.e. any putting green other than the putting green of the hole we are playing, including practice greens). • Forobstructionsandabnormalgroundconditions, “interference” occurs when a ball lies in or on/touching the condition, or when the condition interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing. If the ball lies on the putting green, “interference” also occurs if the condition on the putting green intervenes on the line of putt. For a wrong putting green, “interference” only occurs

when a ball is on the wrong putting green (i.e. there is no relief if the wrong putting green interferes with your stance or area of intended swing).• OneofthegreatprinciplesbehindtheRulesofGolf is to play your ball as it lies. When you can’t play your ball as it lies (or choose not to), and are entitled to relief without penalty, the Rules compel you to play your ball as near as possible to where it lies and no closer to the hole.• Ifyouchoosetotakerelief(andyoucertainlydon’t have to), the nearest point of relief identified must provide complete relief.

A couple of other points:• Youarenotentitledtorelieffromimmovableobstructions or abnormal ground conditions if your ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard. You must proceed under the water hazard rule (Rule 26).• Thenearestpointofreliefreferstotheposition of the ball, not the position of your feet [I’ve had a player argue this with me during a match]. • Thenearestpointofreliefcanbetotheleftof, to the right of, or behind the condition. Note that the ‘behind’ option is often overlooked (who wants to move their ball further from the hole?).• “Nearest”impliesthatthereisonepointthatmeets all of the requirements. While it is theoretically possible that there are two equidistant nearest points of relief, it is extremely unlikely. • Thenearestpointofreliefmustbestrictlyinterpreted. It is not necessarily the nicest point of relief. You don’t always get to pick the fairway side of the cart path.• I’malwaysamazedwhenaplayerpickshisballup to take relief before determining what his options are, in this case where the nearest point of relief is. It is entirely possible that the nearest point of relief is in a worse position than where the ball is on the cart path! (And if you subsequently decide not to take relief and replace your ball on the cart path, you incur a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2 for moving your ball at rest.)

Hello Members and welcome to the 2016 season! This roller coaster of a ride we have been on with Mother Nature has hopefully allowed you to get out and hit the ball around a bit in recent weeks.

MAGA is gearing up for another exciting season of MAGA Championships, Amateur Series and the Play 9 Series! Registrations for all MAGA conducted events open on March 1, which is also the 1st day to post scores for handicap purposes in our region. Schedules are all available online at www.metga.org and your club or facility will have our 2016 Schedule of Event posters to display in the next couple weeks.

Briefly I would like to touch on a handicap topic that has created some stir since the beginning of the year, that is the change that scores while played alone are not allowed to be posted for handicap purposes. Peer Review has always and will remain the essential element of the USGA Handicap System, without it, a Handicap Index loses its inherent value and is just a number. By playing alone, a player loses the advantage of someone alongside who can remind the player of a Rules or verify if they made a 5 and not a 6. Additionally, studies show that golfers who play alone are typically “practicing”. They drop an extra ball and hit a shot, take multiple putts on the putting green, etc. and those scores are not eligible for score posting anyway.

Thank you all for your continued support of membership with MAGA and we hope you enjoy The Metropolitan as we embark on our third season of the newsletter. We are starting off with a great look back at MAGA Founder Tom O’Toole Jr.’s journey to USGA President. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me at curt@metga.org.

Curt RoheExecutive Director

Continued on page 18

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Tom O’Toole - A Retrospective

He’s been a caddie for a National Champion; he played high school hockey at St. Louis U. High and collegiate hockey at St. Thomas College (MN) and he was the manager for the St. Louis University Billiken’s hockey team under Bill Selman. He grew up playing junior golf at Westborough, making many lifelong friends along the way. He’s an attorney, a golf rules official, husband, father and, for the past two years, president of the United States Golf Association.

He’s fought illness and political forces; he’s become a world-recognized power-broker in golf; he founded the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association 25-years ago; officiated at over 135 USGA Championships, including every US Open since 1990. He officiated at The Masters, handed Jordan Spieth his second US Junior trophy and the 2015 US Open trophy. He is an excellent presenter, a detailed planner and, for many area golfers, he has made their task of qualifying for a USGA event, something to be attained as his course set-up was always fair, but tough.

Those who know Tom find him gracious and caring; thoughtful and demanding, with a good sense of humor. They also know that he was not always that way, but then life has a way of softening people.

So, how did this “rules official” find his way to the most important role in golf? Thomas J. O’Toole Jr.

USGA President - 2014-2016

O’Toole - the caddie - walks off the green with the champion, Jim Holtgrieve, after his win in the inaugural US Mid-Amateur Championship at Bellerive CC in 1981. It was not long after this that Tom became involved with the USGA.

After Jim Holtgrieve’s victory in 1981 at the inaugural US Mid-Amateur at Bellerive - where O’Toole was his caddie - Tom began to express greater interest in getting involved with the game. Holtgrieve encouraged Tom, and following his graduation from law school, introduced him to Tom Meeks, then the USGA director of rules and competition. They immediately hit it off. Taking O’Toole under his wing, Meeks saw Tom’s potential and, with O’Toole attacking the rule book with a passion, quickly became knowledgeable about nearly every facet of the game. Meeks assigned O’Toole to his first US Open in 1990 with the run continuing through 2015 at Chambers Bay. Tom has officiated at the US Amateur, The Masters and, showing the respect he has earned, officiated at the Women’s US Open, which traditionally had primarily women rules officials. He has, to many, become one of the top five rules officials in the game.

Assuming the presidency in 2014, he had already had a significant impact on the game, chairing the Executive Committee which determines where events will be held. In 2014, he presided over the highly successful “back-to-back” US Opens held at Pinehurst, won by Martin Kymer and Michelle Wie. Then, in 2015, the Open was played for the first time in the Pacific northwest. And while there may have been controversy over the grasses, there was none about the champion when Jordan Spieth picked up the trophy in dramatic fashion.

In political terms, he worked with the R&A to develop a new, updated Rules of Golf for 2016 and saw the addition of the Latin American Amateur becoming part of the USGA. During his tenure, relations with other golf organizations stood on solid ground.

Tom’s impact on local golf has been no less dramatic. The formation of the MAGA in 1992 fostered in an era where the area now has a championship to crown a champion representing players from across the region. Joining Tom at that time were Jim Tom Blair, Mike Corry, Stan Grossman and Holtgrieve. From the outset, the goal has always been the same; create a championship to produce a true champion, playing some of the area’s best courses.

There is likely no one who knows Tom better than ‘Grieve.’ Tom was barely big enough to carry Jim’s staff bag when the two began their relationship in the late 1970s. Through US Open’s, Masters, Amateurs and a host of local events, they were together. It was Jim who introduced Tom to Tom Meeks at the USGA, from which Tom began his run that would lead him to the presidency of the Association.

“Tom was 20-years-old when he flew to Muirfield for the Walker Cup and later caddied for Jim in the British Amateur. I believe that when Tom saw the excitement and enthusiasm that was present he made the decision that he wanted to get involved and make a difference. Tom felt that he wanted to get more engaged in helping manage local events and improving the level of play. Within a few years of study under Meeks, Tom would be ready to assume a leadership role. Of all the presidents of the USGA I’ve met - and I’ve met 21 of them - none have had the strong foundation in nearly all phases of the game; as an administrator, rules official, course marker, caddie and more. What Tom has achieved will likely never happen again.”

Jim hOlTGrieve:

mick wellinGTOn:Mick met Tommy in 1967 when Tommy hung around the putting green at Westborough Country Club.

Mick, along with his friend Jim Holtgrieve, looked at the eleven-year-old with some amazement. He was in constant motion.

As the years went by, Tommy and Jim became a team. Tommy was an intense individual; Jim was a great talent. Together they were a great combination. In competition, Tommy had the ability to spark a fire in Jim which helped result in countless victories. His energy level was always high but his respect for the opponent was higher.

Winning was always paramount in Tommy’s mind. Some may have described him as a perfectionist, which may have been true because of his burning desire to be perfectly prepared for every match. That was a given!

A famous college basketball coach once said,” I may not always be right but I am never in doubt.” This, in my opinion, was Tommy’s mantra.

More than that, the quality of play improved drastically as the new breed of collegiate talent joined the life-long amateurs to compete for titles. As word spread, not just locally, but with the addition of the MAGA Open, professionals from across the country arrived to compete, with the full knowledge that the competition would be administered as well as any similar event nationwide.

naTiOnal chamPiOnshiPs

From 1895 to 1981, the area hosted seven USGA National Championships. When O’Toole joined the USGA as an official in 1988 and the Executive Committee in 2008, serving as secretary in 2010 and vice president in 2011-13, his presence among the game’s leadership proved beneficial for St. Louis golf and its fans. Beginning in 1996 and continuing through the planned US Girls Junior in 2017, St. Louis area courses will have hosted 12 championships, nearly double the previous 80+ years. While other local USGA Committee leaders also played a hand in a number of these events coming to the area, Tom’s presence

UsGa PresidenTs wiTh area Ties

1920 George H. Walker1935 Prescott S. Bush1968-69 Hord W. Hardin2014-15 Thomas J. O’Toole Jr.

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Thomas J. O’Toole Jr.

sTan GrOssman:Stan became involved in golf when asked by the president of Forest Hills to become the Rep to the

Men’s District Golf Association from the club in 1968. Later, he served as president of the Association on two occasions. When Tom O’Toole began assembling his team to form the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association, Stan was one of those contacted. Since 1992, he has served in many capacities in area, regional and national golf. His relationship with Tom is among the longest tenured of area golf administrators. In 2012, he received the Joe Dey award from the USGA

“Tom has always had a desire to grow the game. First as a rules official in the local area, then as a founder of the MAGA and then serving the game as one of the top rules official in the game. Finally, he became part of the USGA’s Executive Committee, leading the organization to new heights. But more than that, Tom has always wanted to ensure that whatever aspect of the game he was involved with, that it was done with the highest level of professionalism and a desire to ensure that players competed on a level field.”

Jeff smiTh:

Jeff was the Executive Director of the Gateway PGA when he and Tom first became acquainted when he was forming the MAGA. Jeff offered the fledging group space in their building. Later, when Jeff became the principal of Walters Golf Management, their relationship continued as Jeff became a strong supporter of the MAGA.

“Tom has a passion for the game. Whether it was caddying for Holtgrieve, learning the Rules of Golf, officiating a tournament or leading the USGA, it was performed with the highest level of professionalism. His attention to detail has made him, in my opinion, one of the top five experts on the Rules of Golf in the world. It’s probably what also has made him a good attorney. However, it was the way he earned the respect of those he served with on committees that enabled him to move through the ranks. From 2008, when he first joined the Executive Committee, those who served with him saw the traits that made him the right person to ascend to the presidency. In many respects, Tom’s tenure as president ushered in a new era within the USGA, making it more accessible to golfers everywhere.”

One of Tom’s best moments during his presidency, presenting the 2014 Curtis Cup to Captain Ellen Port at St. Louis CC.

certainly aided the situation. Perhaps none more so than the 2014 Curtis Cup at St. Louis Country Club. It was Tom who first held discussions with club leaders nearly two years earlier, concluding with a USA win, enabling Tom to present the Curtis Cup to captain Ellen Port - among the most honored of all USGA champions. It was a moment none present will ever forget.

O’Toole’s rise in golf has certainly been historic. Many may say it was time for the USGA to dip down into the ranks of those responsible for getting things done. Some say, that it took the right person to come along at the right time for this to occur.

There are many throughout the years who have served on the Executive Committee of the USGA. For many, the honor of being selected is deemed sufficient. However, from among this list of hundreds, perhaps thousands, only 63 rose to become president. The odds are long as are the hours spent serving the game. To be viewed among your peers as the best individual at the time to serve as the game’s top official is not just an

AreA USGA eventS - 1895-1981• 1921 US Amateur• 1925 US Women’s Amateur• 1947 US Open• 1960 US Amateur• 1965 US Open• 1972 US Women’s Amateur• 1981 US Mid-Amateur

AreA USGA eventS - 1996-2017• 1996 US Women’s Publinks• 1999 US Publinks• 1999 US Mid-Amateur• 2001 US Senior Amateur• 2001 US Women’s Mid-Amateur• 2004 US Senior Open• 2007 US Junior Amateur• 2009 US Women’s Amateur• 2009 US Men’s State Team• 2014 Curtis Cup Match• 2016 US Senior Amateur• 2017 US Girls Junior

honor; it is a statement of the esteem for which that individual is held in the eyes of those serving with him or her.

Tom became the fourth individual with ties to the area, and only the second to reside here during their presidency. As someone who has seen Tom’s rise from somewhat of a distance, and who holds him in high regard, I can only say that for an organization whose sole purpose is to “preserve and protect” the game, I can’t think of a better individual to have been in that chair for the past two years.

Tom and son Zach on the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews

Tom presenting the US Open trophies to Martin Kymer in 2014 (r) at Pinehurst and to Jordan Spieth in 2015 at Chambers Bay. (above)

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The Many Sides of Tom O’Toole...

cUrT rOhe:“I started this career journey with Tom in 1998 as the PJ Boatwright Intern for MAGA. People have asked me

numerous times, “What did you go to school for to do this job?” While I do have a degree from SLU, they did not teach golf administration down on Grand Avenue! The education of golf administration began on Brentwood Blvd. in the offices of MAGA with one instructor, Tom. The one mantra that was preached early and often was “Continue to raise the bar!” and we still use that saying to this day. I could not be more proud to have gone on this USGA journey with Tom and even more grateful I had a pretty great seat along the way!”

JOhn mOOre:Growing up at Westborough with Tom, Moore was a basketball player and golfer. At a District event in

1975, he was to caddy for Jim Holtgrieve. However, at the last minute he was unable to do, so he asked his friend Tom O’Toole if he would like to caddie for Holtgrieve. The rest, as they say, is history.

“As Tom began to get more involved with the game, and as players saw his dedication toward making each event more professional, their praise for him increased. Gone were the infamous 6-hour rounds; replaced by events run very much like the USGA would run one. More and more, players encouraged Tom to make local events even better. Essentially, he gained their trust. Soon, his reputation spread as players looking to qualify for USGA events made a point of coming to St. Louis to do so as they knew the events here would help prepare them for the actual USGA championship.

As Tom’s stature grew, he found the USGA style events - well-run, professional, efficient - fit his concept of what golf events should be. He was drawn toward the USGA as much for this reason as any other.”

Tom (r) with USGA Executive Director Mike Davis as they prepare a course for a championship.

Tom (l) presenting the prestigious Bob Jones Award to Barbara Nicklaus as Jack looks on.

Standing in the USGA Museum with the symbols of the USGA’s championships.

Going back to his roots. Like any good father, showing up to caddie for Zach at a Junior event at Normandie (the day after the US Open was completed)

When Jordan Spieth won the 2015 Masters, Tom was among those invited to the post-round dinner. As Spieth was being introduced around the room, he came to Tom’s table. Jordan immediately said that he knew Mr. O’Toole as he had presented him one of his US Junior Trophies. Tom added, “Well perhaps I’ll get the honor to do it again one day.” To which Jordan replied, “How about in June?” As everyone knows, Tom was able to present Jordan with the 2015 US Open trophy in June.

Though he never played a varsity sport at St. Louis University, Tom was inducted in the Billiken Hall of Fame for his work as manager of the hockey team in the mid-1970s under coach Bill Selman, placing him in some very good company.

Another rather famous individual, who made his mark in golf, was inducted into a collegiate Hall of Fame for his work with the school’s golf team. Bobby Jones had completed his college eligibility when he graduated from Georgia Tech in 1922 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then entered Harvard and earned a degree in English in 1924. During his years at Harvard, he won the 1923 US Open and the 1924 US Amateur. Despite this, Jones accepted the position of assistant manager for the golf team, earning his “H” in the process. It’s rumored that he once played all six members of the Harvard golf team in a match and won against the team’s best ball. Later, he enrolled at the School of Law at Emory University, graduating in just three semesters, before joining his father’s law firm.

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PGA Golf Show

Cool ‘non-equipment items’ from the show...

swinGBYTe

When you attach this device to the shaft of any club (it weighs less than an ounce), it captures your swing and transmits it to your smartphone or tablet. From there, it offers digitized feedback (including swing path, speed and lie angle) and allows you to share the information with your instructor, golf buddies, etc. ($149; swingbyte.com

AbAcUS tUrnberry WindStopper SWeAter

The classic-looking sweater has a full-stretch liner with built-in shoulder gussets to allow for full range of motion. Cord shoulder patches, Birdseye fabric on the collar and elbow patches make it a fashion statement as well as a technical piece. abacussportswear.com

Golf cApS deSiGned SpecificAlly for bAld heAdS.

Company founder Steve Aranson, a bald golfer, said that embroidery on traditional caps is irritating, as is the metal button. That sounds right. His solution was to design caps without either. $20 4headwear.com

cUStom-mAde Golf GloveS.

In this era of fitting, here’s a tailor-made glove. A hand scanner produces 45 geometric data points from the surface area of the consumer’s hand (shown). It also measures the length, width and girth of the palm and fingers and creates a three-dimensional digital model from which the glove is made. precisionglove.com $30

oAkley fASt JAcket

A lever above each lens makes it easier than ever for you to change them. The sunglasses, worn by Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy, come with two sets of lenses, which are available in polarized and non-polarized versions. The G30 lens creates contrasts in green colors, which is designed to make it easier for you to read greens. ($220 non-polarized, $280 polarized; Oakley.com

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sT. lOUis GOlf hisTOrY1971 rYder cUP

Old warsOn ccFounded in the early 1950s, Old Warson

opened in 1955 to much fanfare. Founders Al Hayes and Jim Rarick had a quality membership, a course designed by Robert Trent Jones and a prime location in St. Louis County. Hayes set about to find a hallmark event for the club to host, cementing its position among the area’s top clubs. After attempting to secure a US Open and a PGA - both of which would be years away - the PGA did commit in 1966 to award a Ryder Cup to the club. However, with the 1967 event going to Champions CC in Houston and the 1969 in Great Britain, Old Warson would have to wait until 1971. It was an anxious four years. At the time, the Ryder Cup was played between America and a team from Great Britain and Ireland, much like the Curtis Cup and Walker Cup today. It would not be until 1979 when the first European team competed against a United States squad.

With Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper and Gene Littler leading the charge the US claimed an 18.5 to 13.5 victory. Palmer won 41/2 points as he also teamed with Nicklaus in a Four-Ball match.

These were also the days before tour caddies came with the players. Local golfers and caddies signed up for the role. One famous incident took place during Day Two when an American caddie, carring the bag for Bernard Gallacher, was in the group with Palmer. Being a fan, he watches Arnie’s play as much as his player’s. On the par 3 seventh, after Arnie hit, the caddie, without thinking, asked him what he hit - more out of inquisitiveness that trying to gain an edge. A rules official overhead the question and penalized Gallacher for it, sending the American’s 2-up. Papers the next day quoted the GB&I captain as saying that his team not only had to defeat the Americans, but their own caddies as well.

Palmer provides his input on Nicklaus’ putt

Post-Match dinner. After all the speeches and toasts were completed, Palmer walked down the hall to the other end of the clubhouse where a party was also being held for the volunteers. He immediately joined in the celebration, even sitting at a piano and joining in on several songs. After more than 30 minutes, he realized he needed to return to the “other” celebration and bid good-bye to the volunteers, who had a lifetime memory of those moments with “The King.”

cOmPeTiTiOn schedUle

2016 maGa cOmPeTiTiOns enTrY

chamPiOnshiP daTe(s) deadline venUe

2016 maGa amaTeUr series schedUle

evenT daTe venUe

The Old Warson Cup May 14-15 Invitational Old Warson Country ClubNormandie Amateur May 21-22 May 11 Normandie Golf ClubWomen’s Amateur Championship June 29-30 June 8 Greenbriar Hills Country ClubEast Side Amateur June 11-12 June 1 Spencer T. Olin Golf CourseOpen Championship July 8-10 June 22 The Country Club of St. AlbansJunior Amateur Championship July 11-12 June 29 Franklin County Country ClubAmateur Championship August 4-6 July 13 Glen Echo Country ClubSenior Amateur Championship August 15-16 August 3 WingHaven Country ClubFour-Ball Championship October 3 September 14 Sunset Country ClubMId-America Junior Cup October 15-16 Invitational TBD

2016 UsGa QUalifYinG rOUnds enTrY

chamPiOnshiP daTe(s) deadline venUe

US Open Local Qualifying May 10 April 27 Forest Hills Country ClubUS Women’s Open Qualifying (36-holes) May 24 May 4 Westwood Country ClubUS Junior Amateur Qualifying (36-holes) June 20 June 1 Aberdeen Golf ClubUS Girls’ Junior Amateur Qualifying June 22 June 1 Bogey Hills Country ClubUS Senior Open Qualifying June 27 June 8 St. Clair Country ClubUS Amateur Qualifying July 18-19 June 29 Old Hickory Golf ClubUS Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 July 20 Spencer T. Olin Golf CourseUS Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 July 27 Spencer T. Olin Golf CourseUS Senior Amateur Qualifying August 29 August 3 The Country Club of St. Albans (TC)US Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying September 26 August 10 Lake Forest Golf & Country ClubUS Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qual. September 26 August 10 Lake Forest Golf & Country Club

#1 May 2 WingHaven Country Club#2 June 17 Sunset Hills Country Club#3 July 15 Bear Creek Golf Club#4 July 25 Tamarack Golf Club#5 August 19 Annbriar Golf Club#6 September 9 Forest Park Golf CourseChampionship October 8-9 Aberdeen Golf Club

Online applications for ALL MAGA events are available on the MAGA website.Events in grey have been completed.

2016 maGa PlaY 9evenT daTe venUe

#1 April 16 Ballwin GC#2 May 7 Highlands at Forest Park#3 June 18 Ruth Park Golf Course#4 July 16 Berry Hill GC#5 August 20 Joachim GC #6 September 10 Creve Coeur GCChampionship October 1 Four Seasons CC

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MARCH 2016

APRIL 2016

MAGA Events in RED | USGA Events in BLUE

January-February 2016

pleASe SUpport oUr SUpporterS

exclUSive corporAte pArtner of the metropolitAn AmAteUr Golf ASSociAtion

Allied Golf ASSociAtionS And SUpporterS of the

metropolitAn AmAteUr Golf ASSociAtion

reSoUrceS

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St. Louis District Golf Association publishes Centennial Book

OrGanizaTiOn celeBraTes 100Th seasOn Of chamPiOnshiP GOlf

This coffee-table book chronicles the 100-year history of the area’s oldest golf organization. The current 23 clubs that make up the organization are each featured within the book, along with photos of some of the area’s top players throughout the years, among them are: Bob Goalby, Jay Haas, Jerry Haas, Jim Holtgrieve, Skip Berkmeyer, Jim Jackson, Bob Cochran, Jim Tom Blair and many more. In addition, a complete listing of the champions and runner-up in each event since 1916 is included, along with over 75 pages listing competitors since 2001.

If you have played in a District Event, or just want to see what a great history golf has had through the years, this is the book for you. Nearly 300 pages of pictures, records, results, and facts about area clubs, courses and players.

TO PUrchase YOUr cOPY send YOUr check fOr $37.25

(includes tax and shipping) TO:

sTldGa cenTennial BOOk

PO BOx 31696des Peres, mO 63131

This is a limiTed ediTiOn PrinT rUn Of OnlY 1,500 cOPies. Over 1,100 BOOks are PreviOUslY cOmmiTTed TO disTricT memBer clUBs. The BOOk will nOT Be rePrinTed.

The St. Louis District and the MAGA are proud to support the efforts of each organization to promote golf within the St. Louis area. The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

provided support for the publishing of this book by the St. Louis District Golf Association.

2016 US Senior Amateur

Old warsOn PreParinG fOr UPcOminG chamPiOnshiP

During the week of September 17-22, some of the very best Senior Amateurs will be heading toward St. Louis to compete for the USGA Senior Amateur Championship. The event was held in the area in 2001 at Norwood Hills, won by Kemp Richardson. Chip Lutz is the defending champion.

This will be the third USGA Championship hosted by Old Warson. In 1999, the US Mid-Amateur, won by Danny Green, was held over the venerable Robert Trent Jones course. Then, in 2009, Jennifer Song outlasted a strong field of the best women amateurs, including 14-year-old Lexi Thompson, to win the US Women’s Amateur title.

Designed by Jones in 1953-54, the course opened in 1955 to much fanfare. At over 7,000 yards, playing with persimmon woods and forged clubs, it made for a very formidable test. After hosting the 1957 Western Amateur, the club hosted the 1962 Trans-Mississippi championship, at the time one of the nation’s top championship events. In 1966, it began the journey to host the Ryder Cup, as the PGA named the club as the host for the 1971 Matches. At the 1971 Ryder Cup, the strong US Team, highlighted by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Gene Littler, won the Cup with a score of 18 1/2 to 13 1/2. This would be among the last times that the Ryder Cup was played between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. The Ryder Cup format changed in 1979 as the matches became an event between the United States and Europe.

Place this on your calendars and plan to come out to show your support for Old Warson and St. Louis Golf.

The par 4 9th hole (left) with the par 3 13th below

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The Metropolitan January-February 2016

18

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org

importAnt informAtionUSGA website: www.usga.org

MAGA website: www.metga.orgGHIN website: www.ghin.org

Vol. 3 No. 1

St. Clair CC #5(Continued from page 3)

How do you determine the nearest point of relief?The Rules of Golf describe a procedure for determining the nearest point of relief as follows:In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.

For example if, absent the interference, you would normally use a right-handed stroke with a 4-iron to play the ball from its original position toward the green, you should use a right-handed stroke with a 4-iron played toward the green to determine your nearest point of relief. It may be obvious which direction you’re going move to find the nearest point of relief (to the right or left of the ball along an arc that is the same distance to the hole as where your ball lies, or behind the ball). If not, start simulating your stance and swing in one of those directions until you find the point where you no longer have (any) interference from the condition. Mark this spot with a tee. Repeat for the other two directions and then determine which of those three points is closest to where your ball lies. That is your nearest point of relief.

Curiously, there is no penalty for failing to follow this recommended procedure provided that the ball is put into play (i.e. dropped or, on the putting green, placed) at a spot that satisfies the requirements of the applicable rule. If not, you are subject to penalty for playing from a wrong place (2 strokes).

Relief without penalty (“free” relief), other than on the putting green, is obtained by lifting and dropping the original ball within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. If you’re in a bunker, you must drop the ball in the bunker. If your ball is on the putting green, you must place the ball at the nearest point of relief (which may or may not be on the putting green). You can use any club in your bag to measure the area in which you are required to drop the ball. Once the ball is properly in play (See Rule 20),

you are not obligated to use the club, type of stroke, or direction of play that you used to determine the nearest point of relief. The GOlf GOds smiled (for a Change)

I officiated at a state high school championship where the following incident occurred:

A player, playing a long par 4 hole, hit his second shot onto the green about three feet from the hole. All three of his fellow competitors were short of the green. The player marked and lifted his ball and then his fellow competitors proceeded to chip up onto the green. When it was his turn to putt, the player replaced his ball and it rolled into the hole. He removed it from the hole and placed it back in front of his ball marker and it rolled to a point approximately six inches from the hole. It was at this point that they waved me over. What is the ruling?

Before I could make the ruling, I needed to know (from the player and from his fellow competitors):1) Was the player’s ball at rest on the spot before it started rolling?2) Did the player do anything to cause the ball to move?

The player stated that, yes, his ball was at rest in front of his ball marker before it started to roll and, no, he had not addressed the ball or done anything else to cause his ball to move. All of his fellow competitors concurred.

The ruling was that the player was deemed to have holed out with his previous (second) stroke. Had the answer to the first question been different (i.e. the ball had not been at rest before it started moving), the player would have been required to replace the ball without penalty. If the answer to the second question had been different (i.e. the player did something to cause the ball to move), the player would have incurred a one-stroke penalty and been required to replace the ball.

See Decisions 20-3d/1 and 18-2/0.5