2018 Annual Report nd Our 122 Year 2018 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Front row (left to right): Sue Harrigan – Treasurer (Sandy Run), Joanne Elvert – Secretary (Riverton), Karen Green – Vice President (Sandy Run), Bonnie Yothers – President (Indian Valley Back row (left to right): Laura Hammond – Executive Director, Barb Davis (Berkshire), Mary Sabbatelli (Union League at Torresdale), Jane Cousounis (Whitemarsh), Sue Anderson (Philadelphia Cricket), Karen Thomas (RiverCrest), Denise Viola (Trenton), Liz Haines (Merion), Gail Anderson (Wilmington), Pat Carbone (Old York Road) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The 2018 golf season and a year full of rain has come to an end. This was the Association’s One hundred and twenty-second year. We have come a long way from the 4 original founding clubs! In 2018 we had 91 member clubs, and 1912 association members. First, I would like to thank the Executive Committee for their dedication, time and commitment to serving on the WGAP executive committee. Second, the committee would like to thank the entire membership for their participation and support of our Association. We would also like to thank all the volunteers that gave their time to assist us at our tournaments this past year. In the early spring, the LPGA Symetra Tour held the Valley Forge Invitational at Raven’s Claw Golf Club in Limerick. We believe the Women’s Golf Association is about promoting and supporting women’s golf, and we decided to take a sponsor position for the event. Our sponsorship allowed anyone to attend the tournament any day without paying an admission charge. The sponsorship came with a round of golf for three in the Pro-Am, entry into the ‘Meet the Pros Reception’, and pairs of VIP tickets to a tournament rounds each day. We had a member sign-up on our website, and had a random drawing for the lucky winners. We congratulate Merion Golf Club for winning the Philadelphia Cup team matches for the 70th time! In early June we ran an organized trip to take a tour of the Titleist ball plant. Over a dozen members traveled to Massachusetts, played a round of golf, and took a guided tour of the very impressive manufacturing facility. The WGAP was the host this year for the Inter-City matches. The matches were contested at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, PA. Our very strong Philadelphia team prevailed over New York and Massachusetts and won the Griscom Cup. Our Junior Inter-City team traveled to The Apawamis Club in Rye, NY where they competed against juniors from New York and Massachusetts. Our junior team placed second. Many thanks to the players, captains and chaperones for all their contributions to both of the teams. In October, we took our first association golf trip. Twenty-four members traveled to Kiawah Island, South Carolina for three rounds of great golf, great food, and to make new friends. Team and individual competitions were played each day. It was a beautiful and welcoming golf resort for our first golf trip! We were happy to announce the inaugural Player of the Year awards for the 2018 season. We awarded in five categories: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Junior. Thank you to everyone who supported the Platt Caddie Benefit tournaments this year. We were able to donate $ 2,000.00 to the J. Wood Platt Caddie Trust. The following are the Champions for 2018: Match Play Champion – Cara Basso, Whitford Country Club Junior Champion – Casey Oppenheimer, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club Junior-Junior Champion – Curstan Bunch, Applecross Country Club Class B Champion – Jane Warwick, Yardley Country Club Class C Champion – Deb Gera, Penn Oaks Golf Club Class D Champion – Amanda Bielski, RiverCrest Golf Club Farnum Cup – Samantha Perrotta, Old York Country Club at Chesterfield Silver Cross – Katie Edelblut, Trenton Country Club Tournament of Champions – Samantha Miller, The Springhaven Club Class A Player of the Year – Samantha Perrotta, Old York Country Club at Chesterfield Class B Player of the Year – Jane Warwick, Yardley Country Club Class C Player of the Year – Deb Gera, Penn Oaks Golf Club Class D Player of the Year – Amanda Bielski, RiverCrest Golf Club Junior Player of the Year – Casey Oppenheimer, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club As we move into 2019, there are a lot of changes coming to the Rules of Golf. We plan to have several information sessions, email blasts and website posts on the changes that will affect us. We are very fortunate to have Laura Hammond supporting our association as our Executive Director. Her professionalism, dedication, knowledge of golf, and experience will continue to build this organization and enhance your experience as a member. It has been an honor to serve as President of the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia. I have met so many people and made some great friendships while participating in team matches, open days, tournaments and the Platt Caddie Scholarship benefit. There is no greater Women’s golf organization than ours. I hope you continue to support this wonderful association and the great game of golf we so enjoy! Bonnie Yothers FINANCIAL REPORT MATCH PLAY CHAMPION Cara Basso, Whitford Country Club FOX CUP WINNER Delia Keys, RiverCrest Golf Club and Preserve WGAP 2018 ANNUAL MEETING The One Hundred Twenty-Second Annual meeting of The Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia was held at Old York Country Club on Friday, December 7, 2018. Delegates from 48 of our 91 Member Clubs attended. Bonnie Yothers welcomed the delegates, members and guests to the Annual Meeting, and introduced the Executive Committee and Executive Director, Laura Hammond. Honorary Member Charlotte Barnhard was recognized. Past presidents, Gail Anderson, Pat Carbone, Faythe Uminski, Ann Morton, Sonja Stutchfield, and Anne Sly were introduced. Adele LeBow was remembered and a moment of silence was held. Minutes of this meeting will be in the 2018 Annual Report, along with the President’s Report, Financial Report, and the Executive Committee Report. The Financial Report was presented by Sue Harrigan and will be published in the Annual Report which will be on our website. Total association revenues were $217,010 and expenses totaled $207,040. The net increase in assets was $9,970. These figures are estimates and an annual review of the 2018 Financial statements will be prepared by the independent CPA firm of McCusker and Associates. The cash reserve balances at year’s end were $527,353. The Prizes Report was given by Karen Green. Total prize budget was $16,875. Total spent was $12,553.49. Prizes were under budget by $4321.51. Prizes not used due to rainouts will be carried over to next year. The Tournament Report was given by Sue Harrigan. Participation was down by 15.7%. This was mostly due to rainouts and rescheduled tournaments. For the BCD stroke play tournaments, we will be moving to Stableford scoring which will enable players to pick up after a certain number of strokes on a hole and not be disqualified. For the Tournament of Champions, the Senior and Super Senior champions of each club will now be eligible to play, in addition to the Club Champion. The Team Match Report was given by Sue Anderson. Merion Golf Club won the Philadelphia Cup. The matches on April 27th were cancelled due to weather conditions. Next year there will be 22 cups. The Junior Committee Report was given by Mary Sabbatelli. Junior Championship was held at West Chester Golf and Country Club. There were 14 junior and 7 Junior-Junior players. Casey Oppenheimer was a repeat Junior winner and Curstan Bunch won the Junior-Junior. Junior Inter-City was held in New York. New York won with 20 points. Philadelphia was 2nd with 13 points, and Massachusetts was 3rd with 12 points. Next year’s match will be in Philadelphia at Whitford Country Club on June 26-27, 2019. The Inter-City Match Report was given by captain Liz Haines. The matches were held at Rolling Green on May 31 and June 1, 2018. Philadelphia won the matches with 51 points, New York was 2nd with 34 points, and Massachusetts was 3rd with 23 points. Player of the Year Awards were announced by Bonnie Yothers. Class A - Samantha Perrotta of Old York CC Class B - Jane Warwick of Yardley CC Class C - Deb Gera of Penn Oaks CC Class D - Amanda Bielski of Rivercrest GC Junior - Casey Oppenheimer of Whitemarsh Valley CC Jane Cousounis announced the Holes-in-One reported to the Golf office. George McNamara was our guest speaker. George has been a PGA Professional for over 50 years. He spoke about Extraordinary Golf and his relationship with Fred Shoemaker. He focused his talk on the mental game and what awareness we are missing that could improve our experience with golf. Tracy Albertelli acknowledged retiring President Bonnie Yothers, Indian Valley Country Club, and thanked her for her service. The Nominating Committee represented by Tracy Albertelli, Manufacturers Golf and CC presented the slate for 2018 Officers and Executive Committee members. The Nominating Committee was comprised of Tracy Albertelli, Chairman of the Committee, Manufacturers Golf and CC; Diane Bartunek, Rivercrest Golf Club and Preserve; Joanne Bidwell, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Karen Siegel, Commonwealth National Golf Club and Bonnie Yothers, Indian Valley Country Club. NOMINATING COMMITTEE SLATE: PRESIDENT: Karen Green, Sandy Run Country Club VICE PRESIDENT: Denise Viola, Trenton Country Club SECRETARY: Sue Anderson, Philadelphia Cricket Club TREASURER: Sue Harrigan, Sandy Run Country Club Members of the Executive Committee: Gail Anderson, Wilmington Country Club Pat Carbone, Old York Road Country Club Jane Cousounis, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club Barbara Davis, Berkshire Country Club Joanne Elvert, Riverton Country Club Liz Haines, Merion Golf Club Jacinta Koerper, Huntington Valley Country Club Mary Sabbatelli, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale Karen Thomas, Rivercrest Golf Club and Preserve It was moved and seconded that all nominees for office be elected.