KMGA Newsletter – April 6, 2004

In this issue: 

EXPANDED TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
ACTIVE HANDICAP SEASON
RULES OF GOLF SEMINAR
EASTERN HILLS GOLF AND CART SPECIAL
JUNIOR GOLF
ADULT INSTRUCTION
DEMO DAYS
MERCHANDISE SALES
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

The EXPANDED TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE is under way.  The season kicks off with the Masters Grand Slam event this Saturday.  Entry is only $5 and anyone playing 18 holes on Saturday can participate.  All you have to do is select a PGA Tour player as you partner.  Your net score will be added to his Saturday score at The Masters to get your team score.  There will also be similar events for the other 3 major tournaments this season.  Winners will be paid for each event as well as an overall winner for the 3 best scores of the 4 events for the season.
Entries are being accepted for the Spring Festival to be played on Saturday and Sunday, April 17^th and 18^th.  This popular event is a 2-person team event consisting of 9-holes each of best ball, scramble, Pinehurst (modified alternate-shot) and alternate-shot.  The event will be flighted after the first 18 holes.  Entries are available online at www.kalamazoogolf.org or at either pro shop.
Look for entry forms for the 3-man 27-hole scramble at Eastern Hills on Saturday, April 24^th and the Sunday Skins at Milham Park on Sunday, April 25^th to be available soon.  (The Sunday Skins originally scheduled for this Sunday at Eastern will be rescheduled.)

The ACTIVE HANDICAP POSTING SEASON for Michigan started April 1^st.  The first revision date will be April 13^th.  Be sure to post all of your winter scores before then.  If you haven’t activated your handicap yet, stop by Milham to get set up.  Non-members pay $15 for this year’s handicap service.  Remember, you can now use your member number to post scores! 

Milham Park will host a RULES OF GOLF SEMINAR on Monday, April 26^th at 7:00pm:
   Every four years, the USGA and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, get together and change the Rules of Golf.  This year, 2004, introduces the most changes in the last 20 years.  There are many new equipment rules, and several changes about how you may play:

•    May you use your hat or glove to brush those pesky leaves aside on the putting green?
•    May you move the goose dung on a green?
•    What happens if you move a stick near your ball, and then the ball moves?
•    May you use that new "No Name" driver whose head is 480 cc, and is 50" long?
•    May you be penalized for being a jerk?
•    What happens if you win that $750 watch for closest to the pin?
•    Can you move your ball to avoid that sprinkler head near the green?

   These and other Rules issues will be the topic of an open meeting for all Milham members, families and friends, at Milham Golf Course on April 26, 2004, starting at 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM.  PGA Golf Professional Jim Roschek, and USGA/ PGA Rules Official John Allen will be there to tell you about the new changes, discuss the most common rules situations, and answer all of your questions.        Reservations are required and a 2004 USGA Rule Book will be provided.  Call 344-7639 to sign up.

EASTERN HILLS GOLF AND CART SPECIAL - Weekdays before 3:00, play 9 holes with a power cart for $13.50 or play 18 holes for $27.00.  No tee times are required.  Remember, if you are heading out to Eastern, G Ave. is closed at Sprinkle Road.  Get to G Ave. either from Gull Road or cut through the Wal-Mart parking lot.

JUNIOR GOLF – The JGA newsletter is available online and will be mailed out by next week.  An expanded schedule highlights this season.  The nominal $35 entry fee continues to be a great value for our local junior golfers.  Included in the newsletter is an extensive instructional schedule for juniors.  Download the newsletter now at www.kalamazoogolf.org/Junior/ or stop by the pro shops next week to pick up a copy.

ADULT INSTRUCTION – Milham and Eastern will both host Link Up 2 Golf clinics throughout the season.  These fun clinics are designed to introduce new people to golf as well as encourage occasional participants to play more.  The first class starts April 26^th.  If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about golf, go to www.playgolfamerica.com to sign up.

DEMO DAYS will start at Milham Park on Thursday, April 22^nd from 4:00 – 7:00 at the driving range.  Come try out the latest equipment from Callaway, Taylor Made, Cobra, Titleist, Nike, MacGregor, Mizuno, Wilson, Ping and more.  Burrows Golf has an exclusive Driver fitting system with interchangeable clubheads and shafts that no one should miss!

Milham Park MERCHANDISE SALES continue with the “Red Dot” sale through May 1^st.  All putters, wedges and bags with a “Red Dot” on them are $20 off our already low sale price.  Check out our new line of ECCO shoes as well as new rainwear from MacGregor, Sun Mountain and Foot-Joy.  Other in-store specials include:  Maxfli M3 golf balls – buy 1 get 1 free; Foot-Joy “slightly blemished” gloves - $9.95 each or 2 for $18;  Callaway watches by Fossil, $59.95 - $69.95;  Ashworth sweatshirts and SDI pullovers – 50% off retail.

 ON THE LIGHTER SIDE – A friend just told me about a new instructional Golf Book by Bobby Rusher. I haven't seen a copy yet, however I did see a flyer, and from the list of Chapters, it looks like it might be one in which you might have some interest. The title is "How to Line up Your 4th Putt" by BOBBY RUSHER. Here are some of the more notable chapters: A. How to hit a Top Flite from the rough when you hit a Titleist from the tee. B. How to avoid the water when you lie 8 in the bunker. C. How to get more distance out of a shank. D. Using your shadow on the greens to maximize earnings. E. Proper etiquette when you are playing with a complete jerk. F. Crying and how to handle it. G. How to rationalize a 7 hour round. H. How to find the ball that everyone else saw go in the water. I. Why your wife no longer cares that you birdied the 4th. J. How to let a foursome play through your twosome without getting embarrassed. K. How to relax when you're hitting five off the tee. L.When to suggest swing corrections to your opponent. M. God and the meaning of the double bogey. BOBBY is now working on the book's sequel, "When to Re-grip Your Ball Retriever"