Included in this issue:

MAY IS "DEMO DAY" MONTH AT MILHAM PARK
FAMILY FUN WEEKENDS AT EASTERN HILLS
COUPLES DROP-IN FRIDAYS
PACE OF PLAY AND GOLF CARS
PLAY THE BALL AS IT LIES
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUNIOR GOLFERS
SPRING FESTIVAL
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
TWO "NEW PROFESSIONALS JOIN KMGA STAFF
NEW HANDICAP SYSTEM NOW IN PLACE

MAY IS "DEMO DAY" MONTH AT MILHAM PARK
The month of May is packed with a number of days where equipment manufacturers bring in their equipment and allow everyone and anyone to give them a try.  We begin our "Demo Day" line on May 9th where representatives from Cleveland and Cobra will be at the range at Milham Park demonstrating the advantages of their equipment.  The entire line-up is as follows:

FAMILY FUN WEEKENDS AT EASTERN HILLS
In an effort to encourage family golf, we are dropping our prices for family golf on the weekends at Eastern Hills.  When the family plays as a unit, nine holes for an adult is $10.00 and kids 17 & under pay only $5.00 for nine holes.  Where else can a family of four play nine holes for $30.00?  Times are restricted but your family can play any Saturday or Sunday afternoon after 3:00pm for the above rates.  Come out and play every weekend this summer.

COUPLES DROP-IN ON FRIDAYS BEGINS MAY 13th
We are promoting “Couples Friday” at Milham Park this summer.  Any Friday from noon to 7:00pm we will be promoting couples golf.  We are going to be having great bargains on golf and carts and special restaurant promotions with area eateries.  For $50.00 a couple can play eighteen holes with a cart and get a promotional restaurant certificate for after golf.  For $30.00 a couple can play nine holes with a cart and also receive the same certificate.  KMGA members can take advantage of the day by getting the restaurant promotion and an eighteen hole cart for $20.00 and a nine hole cart for $10.00.  This summer think couples golf, think Fridays, think Milham Park.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON PACE OF PLAY AND GOLF CARS
We understand that many of today’s golfers are relatively new to rules and etiquette of the game.  Pace of Play and golf car do’s and don’ts are not familiar with everyone.  We wanted to highlight a few of the prominent suggestions. 

·        Once on the green, put your clubs near the back of the greens in a position that will decrease the amount of time it takes to safely clear the green.

·        Always remember your position on the golf course is relative to the group in front of you, not behind you.  “We weren’t holding anyone up” is not a viable excuse for playing nine holes in 2 ½ hours.

·        The golf course is not a practice range.  Multiple balls played on a hole could lead to clubhouse intervention.

·        Partners in carts should use the “drop off” method in order to take full advantage of the golf car’s speed from point A to point B.

·        When approaching your ball, start locating yardage indicators so that you have a good idea of your yardage before you arrive at your ball.

·        Replace your divots and repair your ball marks can never be said enough.

PLAY THE BALL AS IT LIES
Play the ball as it lies and the course as you find it is the basic tenet in golf.  The USGA has a new shortcut to the rules book out this year and this it what it says about “Playing the ball as it lies.”

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUNIOR GOLFERS
The end of school is in sight and our junior golfers are looking forward to a lot of golf activities.  The junior golf association has a lot of tournaments and golf instruction for those juniors ages 6-17.  Visit www.kalamazoogolf.org/junior for loads of information on the junior golf scene.

Eastern Hills Head Professional Paul Simonds is continuing the Bill Yates tradition at Eastern with Competition Camps for High School golfers.  These camps are designed for the junior golfer, ages 12-18, who want to take his/her game to the next level for competitive golf.  Call Eastern Hills at 385-8175 to sign up.

The Michigan PGA announces a new Junior Golf Tour played on some of Michigan’s fines golf courses.  The tour is open to Michigan residents Boys and Girls age 13-18.  The foundation of the tour will be professionally run tournaments at excellent facilities. Visit www.michigan.pga.com to register or for more information.

88 PARTICIPANTS PLAY IN SPRING FESTIVAL
88 golfers participated in the inaugural 2006 tournament.  They braved the rain on Sunday at Milham Park but many commented on how much fun was had in this unique format.  The format called for two-man teams playing different events on each of four nines.  The group played a Best Ball and a Pinehurst for the first eighteen at Eastern Hills.  The event moved to Milham Park on Sunday where the players played a Pinehurst and Alternate Shot event.

Click here to get the entire breakdown on scores and prizes.  Congratulations to Bryan Miller and Dan Johns (Championship Flight), Dan Frever and Jeff Kirk (First Flight), and Jerry Sikkema and Craig Brown (Second Flight).

Chad Glerum trudges through Sunday rain at Milham Park	Craig Brown and Jerry Sikkema in front of new scoreboard at Milham Park

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
Sign up for the Member-Member Best Ball to be held on Saturday, May 13th at Milham Park!  Click here for an entry blank.

Sign up for the 25th Annual Bob Millar Best Ball/Scramble to be held at Eastern Hills and Milham Park on June 3rd and 4th.  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.  Click here for an entry blank.
 

TWO “NEW” PROFESSIONALS JOIN KMGA STAFF

Congratulations to Milham Park’s Jeff Rohrstaff for completing all the work needed to become a Class A PGA professional.  Jeff has gone through a long apprenticeship that included playing ability test, classes, workbooks, interviews, and presentations to achieve Class A status.

On the other side of the spectrum, Caitlan Roschek begins her journey to become a PGA Professional.  Many of you know Caitlan as hot dog girl, junior golf star, Western Michigan University golfer, and now Assistant Professional at Milham Park.  Caitlan begins her apprenticeship on May 1st, takes her playing ability test during May, and will be teaching beginning golfers, women and juniors at the Milham Range.

NEW HANDICAP SYSTEM NOW IN PLACE
We have recently invested in new handicap software for our KMGA members and guests.  The new software provides everything the old software did plus it allows the participants to access their handicap information and to post scores on line.  Handicomp is the new provider and www.handinet.com is the website that you access to view your information.

You may review your handicap index on this website and you may post as many scores as you have played.  The handicap system uses the best 10 score differentials of the last 20 scores reported.

Your handicap index is a measure of your potential, not your actual play.  Your actual score is generally three shots or more over your handicap.

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