2011 TGA Annual Meeting

We held our 2011 TGA Annual Meeting this past Saturday, February 26th, at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville. We had approximately 50 member clubs represented. The Annual Meeting included reports from Chris Hartwiger, Lead Agronomist for the Southeast Region of the USGA Green Section and Kathy Gordon, Director of Regional Affairs - Southeast for the USGA.

Additional reports were made by TGA Staff: Lynne Howd (Handicapping), Carter Page (Course Rating) and Matt Vanderpool (Association/Industry Update). The meeting lasted approximately two hours and two new individuals were approved to serve on the TGA Board of Directors. They are Kevin Teeters from Pine Lakes Golf Course and Fred Williams from Cattails at Meadowview.

2010 TGA Players of the Year To Be Honored

I wanted to tell everyone about a special recognition that will take place tomorrow (February 14th). The 2010 Tennessee Golf Association Players of the Year will be featured in tomorrow's issue of Global Golf Post (www.globalgolfpost.com). Global Golf Post is the first designed-for-digital weekly golf news publication in the world. It is very similar to our new magazine, Tennessee Golf Quarterly because it offers golf consumers a remarkable online experience, much like reading a traditional magazine or newspaper. It requires no special applications, no software downloads, and no plug-ins. The publication is a browser-based solution that also works on most mobile devices.

Global Golf Post is free and is delivered overnight Sunday, 50 weeks per year, and reading the latest issue is one of the first things I do on Monday morning when I get into the office. I read Global Golf Post to stay abreast of what happened the prior week in golf around the world.

Please join me in congratulating our 2010 TGA Players of the Year and log onto www.globalgolfpost.com to sign up for your free subscription and start staying informed on the global game of golf.

2011 Tournament Schedule

We are in the final stages of completing our 2011 TGA Tournament Schedule. While we are still working to finalize the last several events, the TGA will be posting the updated schedule on our website on February 1st. (www.golfhousetennessee.com) I am in the process of solidifying dates for our three TGA Championships Series events and will hope to add those to the tournament schedule within the next few weeks.

Be on the lookout for an email from the TGA regarding signing up for your new Player I.D. and Password. The TGA has switched some of the tournament software that we use and it will require players to create a new and updated account. Again, you will be receiving an email from us within the next week or so regarding the sign up process and the steps that need to be taken.

We hope everyone has had a wonderful off-season and we look forward to warmer temperatures that will allow us to shake the dust off the clubs!

TGA Is Awarded Tax Exempt Status

The Internal Revenue Service has recently approved the Tennessee Golf Association's application for a change in tax status. The TGA is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

TGA members and tournament players will not see much difference in how the association operates, but the TGA will be able to utilize this new tax status to accept tax-deductible contributions from individuals among other benefits for the association and its volunteers.

2011 Rules Workshops Announced

The 2011 TGA Rules of Golf Workshops are open to anyone interested in learning more about the Rules of Golf. Each workshop will feature a visual presentation on the Rules of Golf by our staff.

Seating at each site is limited and acceptance will be based upon the date the application and fee are received by the TGA.

PGA Members can earn up to 4 MSR hours for attending the entire program.


DATES & SITES


April 12 - Holston Hills Country Club
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Speaker: Chad Anderson, TGF

April 12 - Jackson Country Club
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Speakers: Nathaniel Hantle & Dori Paschall

April 13 - Golf House Tennessee
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Speakers: Carter Page and Dori Paschall

April 14 - Council Fire Golf Club
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Speakers: Carter Page & Nathaniel Hantle


Entry Fees:
$25 - Non Members
$20 - TGA & PGA Members (*must be active at the time of workshop)

*Entry fee will cover drinks & snacks along with various Rules of Golf materials.

A New and Improved 2011

The TGA is currently working on a blog overhaul and will resume in 2011 with weekly posts and updates. We hope that you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New Years!

Tournament Season Underway

(Franklin, TN) - The 2010 tournament season officially began yesterday as player's competed in the TGA Championship Series event at The Governor's Club in Brentwood, TN. The season began, as it has the past couple of year's, with some of the state's top players competing in this Level I Player of the Year point event. A field of 72 players competed in their respective Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur, and Super Senior divisions all hoping to get an early jump on the points race. Home court advantage may have played a part in this year's opener as two Governor's Club members claimed titles in the Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur divisions.

Kevin Watford (Franklin) and Danny Simmerman (Nashville) found themselves in a tie for first after the completion of the 36 hole stroke play event, both carding a 3 over par total of 147. In the end, Mr. Watford took the Mid-Amateur title as he ran in a 30 foot birdie putt on the first hole of the sudden death playoff. Craig McElhaney (Nashville), the winner of last year's season opener, took third with a four over par total of 148. First round leader, Charlie Keene (Nashville), took fourth place honors with a five over total of 149.

Doug Harris (Franklin) set an early lead in the Senior Amateur division after day one posting a three under par 69 giving him a four shot lead heading into today's final round. Battling back from a late triple bogey, Mr. Harris managed to right the ship and post a 2 over par 74 giving him a two day total of 143 (-1). Tom Baird (Signal Mountain) finished second with a two day total of 146 (+2), three shots behind winner Doug Harris. Mike Carroll (Knoxville) rounded out the top three with a tournament score of 150 (+6).

2010 marked the introduction of the Super Senior division (65+) to each of the TGA Championship Series events. Bobby Perkinson (Alcoa) won in convincing fashion posting a two day total of 150 (+6), seven shots better than second and third place finishers Gary Pierce (Franklin) and Tony Cox (Crossville) who both posted totals of 157.