St. Clair CC #5

Vol. 3 No. 1 TheMetropolitan

Tom O’Toole: pcoming vents A Retrospective U E Page 4 2016 USGA Events A few ‘cool’ items from US Open the PGA Golf Show O’Toole’s Two-Year Page 11 USGA Presidency ends on Local Qualifying ay a high note. M 10 St. Louis Golf History Forest Hills 1971 Ryder Cup It had to come to an end at some point; the travel, trophy presentations, Page 12 US Women’s Open meetings, dinners, receptions and Qualifying cocktail parties. The many trips Old Warson prepares May 24 to Far Hills, NJ to confer with for US Senior Amateur Westwood CC Page 17 USGA staff, executive committee members, event chairs, rules officials and the many requests for speaking US Amateur Four-Ball MAGA Events engagements, interviews and articles. Men & Women In the end, he would not have given May 21-25, 2016 Gateway Cup Matches any of it up, not for a moment! US Junior Amateur April 10-11, 2016 When you have a dream, and you get to live it, the dream is not Qualifying CC of St. Albans only surreal, but at times, you June 20, 2016 almost have to pinch yourself Aberdeen GC Old Warson Cup to ensure you’re not dreaming. May 14-15, 2016 Yes, it really did happen. A native US Girls Junior St. Louis son rose to the top of one Amateur Qualifying of the country’s most prestigious June 22, 2016 Normandie Amateur organizations through hard work, Bogey Hills CC ay M 21-22, 2016 determination and, yes, dreaming that by making the effort, it would US Open happen. We invite you to review, Women’s Amateur June 16-19, 2016 June 8-9, 2016 from the perspective of those who know Tom best, how it happened. Greenbriar Hills See page 13 for full schedule Continued on page 4

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • [email protected] The Metropolitan January-February 2016 The Metropolitan January-February 2016

STAFF when a ball is on the wrong putting green (i.e. there Executive Director Curt Rohe - [email protected] Curt’s Comments is no relief if the wrong putting green interferes with your stance or area of intended swing). Hello Members and welcome to the ules of olf orner P.J. Boatwright Interns - 2016 2016 season! This roller coaster of R G C • One of the great principles behind the Rules of [email protected] Golf is to play your ball as it lies. When you can’t play a ride we have been on with Mother The Nearest Point of Relief your ball as it lies (or choose not to), and are entitled METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Nature has hopefully allowed you to relief without penalty, the Rules compel you to play Amateur Championship to get out and hit the ball around a We’ve all heard the term nearest point of relief but Match Play Championship bit in recent weeks. what exactly is it, when does it come into play and, your ball as near as possible to where it lies and no Open Championship most importantly, how do you figure out where the closer to the hole. Women’s Amateur Championship MAGA is gearing up for another Curt Rohe heck it is? • If you choose to take relief (and you certainly Junior Amateur Championship exciting season of MAGA Executive Director don’t have to), the nearest point of relief identified Senior Amateur Championship Championships, Amateur Series and The definition (straight out of the Rules of Golf) is must provide complete relief. Metropolitan Cup Matches that, Four-Ball Championship the Play 9 Series! Registrations for all MAGA conducted A couple of other points: Mid-America Junior Cup events open on March 1, which is also the 1st day to post “The nearest point of relief is the reference point for scores for handicap purposes in our region. Schedules taking relief without penalty from interference by • You are not entitled to relief from immovable USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS are all available online at www.metga.org and your club an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal obstructions or abnormal ground conditions if your US Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional) or facility will have our 2016 Schedule of Event posters to ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard. You US Senior Open Qualifying display in the next couple weeks. green (Rule 25-3). It is the point on the course must proceed under the water hazard rule (Rule 26). US Amateur Qualifying nearest to where the ball lies that is not nearer the • The nearest point of relief refers to the US Mid-Amateur Qualifying position of the ball, not the position of your feet [I’ve US Women’s Mid-Amateur Briefly I would like to touch on a handicap topic that has hole, and where, if the ball were so positioned, no US Junior Amateur Qualifying created some stir since the beginning of the year, that is interference by the condition from which relief is had a player argue this with me during a match]. US Amateur Public Links Qualifying the change that scores while played alone are not allowed sought would exist for the stroke the player would • The nearest point of relief can be to the left US Senior Amateur Qualifying to be posted for handicap purposes. Peer Review has have made from the original position if the condition of, to the right of, or behind the condition. Note that US Women’s Open Qualifying always and will remain the essential element of the USGA were not there.” the ‘behind’ option is often overlooked (who wants to US Amateur Four-Ball Handicap System, without it, a Handicap Index loses its move their ball further from the hole?). US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball inherent value and is just a number. By playing alone, a Clear as mud? Let’s break it down: • “Nearest” implies that there is one point that meets all of the requirements. While it is theoretically EXECUTIVE BOARD player loses the advantage of someone alongside who can • First, when we are talking about the nearest Stanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus remind the player of a Rules or verify if they made a 5 and point of relief, we are only taking about situations possible that there are two equidistant nearest points Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. – Vice-President not a 6. Additionally, studies show that golfers who play where we have interference from an immovable of relief, it is extremely unlikely. Thomas O. Sobbe Jr. – Vice-President alone are typically “practicing”. They drop an extra ball obstruction (e.g. a cart path, a pump house, etc.), an • The nearest point of relief must be strictly M. Ray McCraine – Secretary and hit a shot, take multiple putts on the putting green, abnormal ground condition (e.g. casual water, ground interpreted. It is not necessarily the nicest point of G. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer under repair, etc.), or when our ball lies on a wrong relief. You don’t always get to pick the fairway side of G.F. (Rick) Meyer Jr. – At-Large Member etc. and those scores are not eligible for score posting the cart path. H. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member anyway. putting green (i.e. any putting green other than the putting green of the hole we are playing, including • I’m always amazed when a player picks his ball ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thank you all for your continued support of membership practice greens). up to take relief before determining what his options Scott Thomas, Chairman with MAGA and we hope you enjoy The Metropolitan • For obstructions and abnormal ground are, in this case where the nearest point of relief is. It is Dustin Ashby as we embark on our third season of the newsletter. We conditions, “interference” occurs when a ball lies entirely possible that the nearest point of relief is in a Tom Barry are starting off with a great look back at MAGA Founder in or on/touching the condition, or when the worse position than where the ball is on the cart path! Skip Berkmeyer condition interferes with your stance or the area of (And if you subsequently decide not to take relief and Jim Dunn Tom O’Toole Jr.’s journey to USGA President. As always, replace your ball on the cart path, you incur a one- David Rhoads if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to your intended swing. If the ball lies on the putting Curt Rohe me at [email protected]. green, “interference” also occurs if the condition on stroke penalty under Rule 18-2 for moving your ball at the putting green intervenes on the line of putt. For rest.) Metropolitan Editor a wrong putting green, “interference” only occurs Jim Healey Continued on page 18

2 3 Tom O’Toole - A Retrospective 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 He’s been a caddie for a National Champion; he played high school “back-to-back” US Opens held at Pinehurst, won by Martin Kymer and hockey at St. Louis U. High and collegiate hockey at St. Thomas Michelle Wie. Then, in 2015, the Open was played for the first time in College (MN) and he was the manager for the St. Louis University the Pacific northwest. And while there may have been controversy over Billiken’s hockey team under Bill Selman. He grew up playing junior the grasses, there was none about the champion when Jordan Spieth golf at Westborough, making many lifelong friends along the way. picked up the trophy in dramatic fashion. He’s an attorney, a golf rules official, husband, father and, for the past In political terms, he worked with the R&A to develop a new, updated two years, president of the United States Golf Association. Rules of Golf for 2016 and saw the addition of the Latin American He’s fought illness and political forces; he’s become a world- Amateur becoming part of the USGA. During his tenure, relations with recognized power-broker in golf; he founded the Metropolitan other golf organizations stood on solid ground. Amateur Golf Association 25-years ago; officiated at over 135 USGA Tom’s impact on local golf has been no less dramatic. The formation Championships, including every US Open since 1990. He officiated of the MAGA in 1992 fostered in an era where the area now has a O’Toole - the caddie - walks off the green with at The Masters, handed Jordan Spieth his second US Junior trophy the champion, Jim Holtgrieve, after his win in championship to crown a champion representing players from across the and the 2015 US Open trophy. He is an excellent presenter, a the inaugural US Mid-Amateur Championship region. Joining Tom at that time were Jim Tom Blair, Mike Corry, Stan detailed planner and, for many area golfers, he has made their task of at Bellerive CC in 1981. It was not long after Grossman and Holtgrieve. From the outset, the goal has always been the qualifying for a USGA event, something to be attained as his course this that Tom became involved with the USGA. same; create a championship to produce a true champion, playing some of set-up was always fair, but tough. the area’s best courses. Those who know Tom find him gracious and caring; thoughtful and demanding, with a good sense of humor. They also know that he was Mick Wellington: not always that way, but then life has a way of softening people. Mick met Tommy in 1967 when Tommy hung around the putting green at Westborough Country Club. So, how did this “rules official” find his way to the most important Mick, along with his friend Jim Holtgrieve, looked at the eleven-year-old with some amazement. He was in constant motion. role in golf? Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. USGA President - 2014-2016 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. Jim Holtgrieve: Winning was always paramount in Tommy’s mind. Some may have described him as a perfectionist, which may have There is likely no one who knows Tom better than ‘Grieve.’ Tom was barely big enough to carry Jim’s been true because of his burning desire to be perfectly prepared for every match. That was a given! 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, A famous college basketball coach once said,” I may not always be right but I am never in doubt.” This, in my opinion, from which Tom began his run that would lead him to the presidency of the Association. was Tommy’s mantra. “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 More than that, the quality of play improved drastically as the new breed of collegiate talent joined the life- wanted to get involved and make a difference. Tom felt that he wanted to get more engaged in helping manage local long amateurs to compete for titles. As word spread, not just locally, but with the addition of the MAGA Open, events and improving the level of play. Within a few years of study under Meeks, Tom would be ready to assume a professionals from across the country arrived to compete, with the full knowledge that the competition would be leadership role. Of all the presidents of the USGA I’ve met - and I’ve met 21 of them - none have had the strong administered as well as any similar event nationwide. 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.” National Championships From 1895 to 1981, the area hosted seven USGA National After Jim Holtgrieve’s victory in 1981 at the inaugural US Mid-Amateur at Bellerive - where O’Toole was his Championships. When O’Toole joined the USGA as an official in 1988 USGA Presidents caddie - Tom began to express greater interest in getting involved with the game. Holtgrieve encouraged Tom, and the Executive Committee in 2008, serving as secretary in 2010 and with area ties and following his graduation from law school, introduced him to Tom Meeks, then the USGA director of rules vice president in 2011-13, his presence among the game’s leadership and competition. They immediately hit it off. Taking O’Toole under his wing, Meeks saw Tom’s potential and, proved beneficial for St. Louis golf and its fans. Beginning in 1996 and 1920 George H. Walker with O’Toole attacking the rule book with a passion, quickly became knowledgeable about nearly every facet continuing through the planned US Girls Junior in 2017, St. Louis area 1935 Prescott S. Bush of the game. Meeks assigned O’Toole to his first US Open in 1990 with the run continuing through 2015 at courses will have hosted 12 championships, nearly double the previous 1968-69 Hord W. Hardin Chambers Bay. Tom has officiated at the US Amateur, The Masters and, showing the respect he has earned, 80+ years. While other local USGA Committee leaders also played a officiated at the Women’s US Open, which traditionally had primarily women rules officials. He has, to many, 2014-15 Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. hand in a number of these events coming to the area, Tom’s presence become one of the top five rules officials in the game.

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4 5 Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. Area USGA Events - 1996-2017 • 1996 US Women’s Publinks • 1999 US Publinks certainly aided the situation. Perhaps none more so than the 2014 Curtis • 1999 US Mid-Amateur 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, • 2001 US Senior Amateur enabling Tom to present the Curtis Cup to captain Ellen Port - among the • 2001 US Women’s Mid-Amateur most honored of all USGA champions. It was a moment none present will • 2004 US Senior Open ever forget. • 2007 US Junior Amateur O’Toole’s rise in golf has certainly been historic. Many may say it was • 2009 US Women’s Amateur time for the USGA to dip down into the ranks of those responsible for • 2009 US Men’s State Team getting things done. Some say, that it took the right person to come along • 2014 Curtis Cup Match at the right time for this to occur. • 2016 US Senior Amateur There are many throughout the years who have served on the Executive Committee of the USGA. For many, the honor of being selected is • 2017 US Girls Junior deemed sufficient. However, from among this list of hundreds, perhaps thousands, only 63 rose to become president. The odds are long as are One of Tom’s best moments during his the hours spent serving the game. To be viewed among your peers as the Tom and son Zach on the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews presidency, presenting the 2014 Curtis Cup best individual at the time to serve as the game’s top official is not just an Jeff Smith: to Captain Ellen Port at St. Louis CC. Jeff was the Executive Director of the Gateway PGA when he and Tom Stan Grossman: first became acquainted when he was Stan became involved in golf when asked by the president of Forest Hills to become the Rep to the forming the MAGA. Jeff offered the Men’s District Golf Association from the club in 1968. Later, he served as president of the Association on fledging group space in their building. two occasions. When Tom O’Toole began assembling his team to form the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Later, when Jeff became the principal Association, Stan was one of those contacted. Since 1992, he has served in many capacities in area, regional of Walters Golf Management, their and national golf. His relationship with Tom is among the longest tenured of area golf administrators. In relationship continued as Jeff became a 2012, he received the Joe Dey award from the USGA strong supporter of the MAGA. “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 “Tom has a passion for the game. MAGA and then serving the game as one of the top rules official in the game. Finally, he became part of the USGA’s Whether it was caddying for Holtgrieve, Executive Committee, leading the organization to new heights. But more than that, Tom has always wanted to ensure learning the Rules of Golf, officiating that whatever aspect of the game he was involved with, that it was done with the highest level of professionalism and a a tournament or leading the USGA, it desire to ensure that players competed on a level field.” 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 honor; it is a statement of the esteem for which that individual is Tom presenting the Area USGA Events - 1895-1981 US Open trophies to world. It’s probably what also has made held in the eyes of those serving with him or her. him a good attorney. However, it was the • 1921 US Amateur Martin Kymer in 2014 Tom became the fourth individual with ties to the area, and (r) at Pinehurst and to way he earned the respect of those he served • 1925 US Women’s Amateur only the second to reside here during their presidency. As Jordan Spieth in 2015 at with on committees that enabled him to move through the ranks. From 2008, when • 1947 US Open someone who has seen Tom’s rise from somewhat of a distance, Chambers Bay. (above) he first joined the Executive Committee, • 1960 US Amateur and who holds him in high regard, I can only say that for an those who served with him saw the traits • 1965 US Open organization whose sole purpose is to “preserve and protect” that made him the right person to ascend the game, I can’t think of a better individual to have been in that • 1972 US Women’s Amateur to the presidency. In many respects, Tom’s chair for the past two years. tenure as president ushered in a new • 1981 US Mid-Amateur era within the USGA, making it more accessible to golfers everywhere.”

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6 7 Though he never played a varsity sport at St. Louis University, Tom was inducted in the Billiken Hall of The Many Sides of Tom O’Toole... 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 John Moore: and earned a degree in English in 1924. During his years at Harvard, he won the 1923 US Open and the Growing up at Westborough with Tom, Moore was a basketball player and golfer. At a District event in 1924 US Amateur. Despite this, Jones accepted the position of assistant manager for the golf team, earning 1975, he was to caddy for Jim Holtgrieve. However, at the last minute he was unable to do, so he asked his his “H” in the process. It’s rumored that he once played all six members of the Harvard golf team in a friend Tom O’Toole if he would like to caddie for Holtgrieve. The rest, as they say, is history. 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. “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 Curt Rohe: 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 “I started this career journey with Tom in 1998 as the PJ Boatwright Intern for MAGA. People have asked me events should be. He was drawn toward the USGA as much for this reason as any other.” 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!”

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

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 Going back to his roots. Like any good father, showing up to caddie him one of his US Junior Trophies. Tom added, for Zach at a Junior event at Normandie (the day after the US Open “Well perhaps I’ll get the honor to do it again one day.” Tom (l) presenting the prestigious Bob Jones Award to Barbara Nicklaus was completed) To which Jordan replied, “How about in June?” As as Jack looks on. everyone knows, Tom was able to present Jordan with the 2015 US Open trophy in June. Standing in the USGA Museum with the symbols of the USGA’s championships.

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8 9 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

The Metropolitan January-February 2016

11 Competition Schedule St. Louis Golf History 2016 MAGA Competitions 1971 Ryder Cup Entry Old Warson CC Championship Date(s) deadline venue Founded in the early 1950s, Old Warson The Old Warson Cup May 14-15 Invitational Old Warson Country Club opened in 1955 to much fanfare. Founders Normandie Amateur May 21-22 May 11 Normandie Golf Club Al Hayes and Jim Rarick had a quality Women’s Amateur Championship June 29-30 June 8 Greenbriar Hills Country Club membership, a course designed by Robert East Side Amateur June 11-12 June 1 Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Trent Jones and a prime location in St. Louis Open Championship July 8-10 June 22 The Country Club of St. Albans County. Hayes set about to find a hallmark Junior Amateur Championship July 11-12 June 29 Franklin County Country Club event for the club to host, cementing its position among the area’s top clubs. After Amateur Championship August 4-6 July 13 Glen Echo Country Club attempting to secure a US Open and a PGA - Senior Amateur Championship August 15-16 August 3 WingHaven Country Club both of which would be years away - the PGA Four-Ball Championship October 3 September 14 Sunset Country Club did commit in 1966 to award a Ryder Cup to MId-America Junior Cup October 15-16 Invitational TBD the club. However, with the 1967 event going to Champions CC in Houston and the 1969 in 2016 USGA Qualifying Rounds Great Britain, Old Warson would have to wait Entry until 1971. It was an anxious four years. At Championship Date(s) deadline venue the time, the Ryder Cup was played between US Open Local Qualifying May 10 April 27 Forest Hills Country Club America and a team from Great Britain and US Women’s Open Qualifying (36-holes) May 24 May 4 Westwood Country Club Ireland, much like the Curtis Cup and Walker US Junior Amateur Qualifying (36-holes) June 20 June 1 Aberdeen Golf Club Cup today. It would not be until 1979 when Palmer provides his input on Nicklaus’ putt US Girls’ Junior Amateur Qualifying June 22 June 1 Bogey Hills Country Club the first European team competed against a US Senior Open Qualifying June 27 June 8 St. Clair Country Club United States squad. US Amateur Qualifying July 18-19 June 29 Old Hickory Golf Club With Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee US Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 July 20 Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Trevino, Billy Casper and Gene Littler leading US Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 July 27 Spencer T. Olin Golf Course the charge the US claimed an 18.5 to 13.5 US Senior Amateur Qualifying August 29 August 3 The Country Club of St. Albans (TC) victory. Palmer won 41/2 points as he also US Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying September 26 August 10 Lake Forest Golf & Country Club teamed with Nicklaus in a Four-Ball match. US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qual. September 26 August 10 Lake Forest Golf & Country Club These were also the days before tour caddies came with the players. Local golfers and caddies signed up for the role. One famous 2016 MAGA Amateur incident took place during Day Two when an eries chedule 2016 MAGA Play 9 American caddie, carring the bag for Bernard S S Gallacher, was in the group with Palmer. Event date venue Event date venue Being a fan, he watches Arnie’s play as much #1 May 2 WingHaven Country Club #1 April 16 Ballwin GC Post-Match dinner. After all the speeches and toasts #2 June 17 Sunset Hills Country Club #2 May 7 Highlands at Forest Park were completed, Palmer walked down the hall to the as his player’s. On the par 3 seventh, after other end of the clubhouse where a party was also Arnie hit, the caddie, without thinking, asked #3 July 15 Bear Creek Golf Club #3 June 18 Ruth Park Golf Course being held for the volunteers. He immediately joined him what he hit - more out of inquisitiveness #4 July 25 Tamarack Golf Club #4 July 16 Berry Hill GC in the celebration, even sitting at a piano and joining that trying to gain an edge. A rules official #5 August 19 Annbriar Golf Club #5 August 20 Joachim GC in on several songs. After more than 30 minutes, he overhead the question and penalized Gallacher #6 September 9 Forest Park Golf Course #6 September 10 Creve Coeur GC realized he needed to return to the “other” celebration for it, sending the American’s 2-up. Papers and bid good-bye to the volunteers, who had a lifetime Championship October 8-9 Aberdeen Golf Club Championship October 1 Four Seasons CC memory of those moments with “The King.” 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. Online applications for ALL MAGA events are available on the MAGA website. Events in grey have been completed.

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12 13 The Metropolitan January-February 2016 The Metropolitan January-February 2016

MARCH 2016 Please Support our Supporters 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Exclusive Corporate Partner of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Allied golf associations and supporters of the 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

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MAGA Events in RED | USGA Events in BLUE

APRIL 2016

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3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Cup Matches Cup Matches Play 9 #1 Resources 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

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14 15 St. Louis District Golf Association publishes Centennial Book 2016 US Senior Amateur

Old Warson Preparing for Upcoming Championship Organization celebrates 100th season of Championship Golf During the week of September 17-22, some of the very best Senior Amateurs This coffee-table book chronicles the 100-year history of the area’s oldest will be heading toward St. Louis to compete for the USGA Senior Amateur golf organization. The current 23 clubs that make up the organization are each Championship. The event was held in the area in 2001 at Norwood Hills, won featured within the book, along with photos of some of the area’s top players by Kemp Richardson. Chip Lutz is the defending champion. throughout the years, among them are: Bob Goalby, Jay Haas, Jerry Haas, Jim Holtgrieve, Skip Berkmeyer, Jim Jackson, Bob Cochran, Jim Tom Blair and This will be the third USGA Championship hosted by Old Warson. In 1999, many more. In addition, a complete listing of the champions and runner-up in the US Mid-Amateur, won by Danny Green, was held over the venerable each event since 1916 is included, along with over 75 pages listing competitors Robert Trent Jones course. Then, in 2009, Jennifer Song outlasted a strong since 2001. field of the best women amateurs, including 14-year-old Lexi Thompson, to win the US Women’s Amateur title. 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 Designed by Jones in 1953-54, the course opened in 1955 to much fanfare. At over 7,000 yards, playing pages of pictures, records, results, and facts about area clubs, courses and with persimmon woods and forged clubs, it made for a very formidable test. After hosting the 1957 Western players. 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 To purchase your copy send your check for par 3 13th below $37.25 (includes tax and shipping) to: STLDGA Centennial Book PO Box 31696 Des 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.

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16 17 (Continued from page 3) you are not obligated to use the club, type of stroke, or direction of play that you used to determine the nearest St. Clair CC #5 How do you determine the nearest point of relief? point of relief. The Rules of Golf describe a procedure for determining Vol. 3 No. 1 the nearest point of relief as follows: The Golf Gods Smiled (for a Change) In order to determine the nearest point of relief The accurately, the player should use the club with which he I officiated at a state high school championship where Metropolitan would have made his next stroke if the condition were the following incident occurred: not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke. A player, playing a long par 4 hole, hit his second shot onto the green about three feet from the hole. All three For example if, absent the interference, you would of his fellow competitors were short of the green. The normally use a right-handed stroke with a 4-iron to play player marked and lifted his ball and then his fellow Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 the ball from its original position toward the green, you competitors proceeded to chip up onto the green. When 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • [email protected] should use a right-handed stroke with a 4-iron played it was his turn to putt, the player replaced his ball and it toward the green to determine your nearest point of rolled into the hole. He removed it from the hole and relief. It may be obvious which direction you’re going placed it back in front of his ball marker and it rolled to move to find the nearest point of relief (to the right or a point approximately six inches from the hole. It was at left of the ball along an arc that is the same distance to this point that they waved me over. What is the ruling? Important Information the hole as where your ball lies, or behind the ball). If USGA website: www.usga.org not, start simulating your stance and swing in one of Before I could make the ruling, I needed to know (from MAGA website: www.metga.org those directions until you find the point where you no the player and from his fellow competitors): longer have (any) interference from the condition. Mark 1) Was the player’s ball at rest on the spot before it GHIN website: www.ghin.org this spot with a tee. Repeat for the other two directions started rolling? and then determine which of those three points is closest 2) Did the player do anything to cause the ball to move? to where your ball lies. That is your nearest point of relief. 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 Curiously, there is no penalty for failing to follow this not addressed the ball or done anything else to cause his recommended procedure provided that the ball is put ball to move. All of his fellow competitors concurred. into play (i.e. dropped or, on the putting green, placed) at a spot that satisfies the requirements of the applicable The ruling was that the player was deemed to have CONNECT WITH US... rule. If not, you are subject to penalty for playing from a holed out with his previous (second) stroke. Had the wrong place (2 strokes). answer to the first question been different (i.e. the ball Visit us on Facebook had not been at rest before it started moving), the player Relief without penalty (“free” relief), other than on the would have been required to replace the ball without Or for the Latest Updates... putting green, is obtained by lifting and dropping the penalty. If the answer to the second question had been original ball within one club-length of and not nearer different (i.e. the player did something to cause the ball the hole than the nearest point of relief. If you’re in a to move), the player would have incurred a one-stroke At Twitter bunker, you must drop the ball in the bunker. If your penalty and been required to replace the ball. ball is on the putting green, you must place the ball at the nearest point of relief (which may or may not be on See Decisions 20-3d/1 and 18-2/0.5 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),

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