KMGA Newsletter – May 31, 2005

Included in this newsletter:

UPCOMING EVENTS
DEMO DAYS
PORCH SALES
DRIVER AND FAIRWAY WOODS SALE
BUNKER RAKES
MEMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PERSONAL NOTE FROM JIM ROSCHEK

UPCOMING EVENTS
            BOB MILLAR – Eastern and Milham will host the BOB MILLAR Best Ball Scramble on Saturday and Sunday, June 4^th and 5^th.  This 2-day event, flighted after the first round, is one of the most popular tournaments of the season.  Entry fee is $15.00 for members and $55.00 for non-members.  Entry deadline is Wednesday at 6:00pm!

            MEMBER MATCH PLAY – The 5^th annual Member Match Play entry deadline is Sunday, June 5^th.  Only KMGA members age 18 and over are eligible.  The entry fee is $15.00.  In this event, participants schedule their own matches with their opponent.  Winners advance to the next round.  There are up to 16 participants in each flight for a total of 4 matches to win your flight.  All flights will be played as gross score except the last flight which will be net.  There will also be a women’s net flight.

            MEMBER – MEMBER FOUR BALL MATCH PLAY – The 2^nd annual Member-Member Four Ball Match Play entry deadline will be Sunday, June 5^th.  Open to KMGA members age 18 and over, this event will feature Ryder-Cup style team four ball matches.  Similar to our Member Match Play event, participants will schedule their own matches throughout the summer.  Flighting and format will be based on the number of entries received.  We’d like to have enough entries to have a gross flight and a net flight, so find your partner and sign up soon!

            KALAMAZOO COUNTY AMATEUR – The 2005 Kalamazoo County Amateur will be held Saturday & Sunday June 25th & 26th at Eastern Hills and Milham Park.  Entry fee is $20.00 for KMGA members and $60.00 for non-Members.  The event is 36-hole stroke play, flighted by handicap.  You must have a valid USGA index as of June 21st to play in a flight other than the Championship Flight.

Entries for all events are available at either pro shop or online at www.kalamazoogolf.org

DEMO DAYS
The Ping demo day at the Milham Park Driving Range has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 2nd from 9:00am - 12:00pm.  Sign-ups are suggested.  Call Milham at 344-7639 for more information.

PORCH SALES
Milham Park will have various discounted merchandise for sale on the Porch throughout the summer.  Look for clearance clothing, shoes, bags and clubs at incredible prices!  Check in regularly and ask "What's on the Porch this week?"

DRIVER AND FAIRWAY WOODS SALE
Milham Park is overstocked with closeout drivers and fairway woods:
Titleist 983 Titanium drivers - $199.95
Titleist 980 Fairway woods - $119.95 Graphite, $99.95 Steel
MacGregor V-Foil Titanium Drivers - $119.95
Cleveland Launcher 400cc Titanium Drivers - $179.95
Taylor Made 580XD or 540XD Titanium Drivers - $199.95
Callaway Great Big Bertha II Titanium Drivers - $199.95

BUNKER RAKES
In an effort to prevent golf balls from getting hung up on the rakes at the edge of our bunkers, our grounds crews are tying something new.  Starting this spring the rakes will be placed with the rake in the bunker and the handle 90 degrees to the edge.  (See pictures).  Now the rake will be completely inside the bunker but the likelihood of a ball getting lodged between the edge of the bunker and the rake has been, hopefully, eliminated.  Please help us in retuning the rake to this position after you have raked your footprints so the players behind you and enjoy the same conditions.  Thank you in advance.

Old Way	New Way

MEMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Congratulations to Ed Manion for his recent Hole-In-One on the 13th hole at Eastern Hills!  This is Ed's third hole-in-one.  He also has aced holes #4 & #7 at Milham Park.

Ed Manion aces #13 at Eastern Hills!

Please tell us about any accomplishments you have made recently:  kmga@kalamazoogolf.org.

PERSONAL NOTE FROM JIM ROSCHEK:
I have been truly blessed to be the golf professional for the Kalamazoo Municipal Golf Association for twenty-five years.  I have had the opportunity to work for many gifted Board of Governors that are truly dedicated to making our facilities the absolute best they can be.  We have had City Administrations that have supported the golf operations and a large and loyal membership that has a lot of pride in our courses. 

The golf business has drastically changed over the past five years, which has prompted a number of changes in how we do business.  We have evolved from trying to find places for everyone to play, to trying to get everyone to play at our place.

In balance and on the whole we strongly believe that the KMGA operations are the strongest value in the area.  Fifty four holes of golf to play, excellent practice facilities, an active tournament program, four PGA professionals to provide instruction, a leading role in junior golf in the area, handicap service, members only golf events, bi-monthly newsletters, and an award winning golf shop that provides the latest in golf equipment and apparel at competitive pricing.

The change in the golf climate has necessitated changes in our operations.  Many have passed along their thoughts about the changes and we listen to every one of the comments made.  Some of the recent ones include: 

            “I don’t like the leagues back at Milham”
            “The price of range balls has gone up”
            “The pin placements are ridiculous”
            “The tees are too long”
            “The greens are too fast”
            “The greens are too slow”
            “Eastern is in better shape than Milham”
            “Milham is in better shape than Eastern”           

-Jim Roschek, Director of Golf

Milham Park Pro Shop
Quality Merchandise, Professional Service, Discount Prices!
Open 7am - 9pm daily.