The Maryland State Golf Association was founded in 1921 for the purpose of promoting the best interests of golf in the State of Maryland. During the early years, the primary focus was the conduct of Championships: Amateur (1921), Open (1921), Women's Amateur (1921), Boys Junior (1923), Men's Team Championship (1928), and Senior Amateur (1929). However, as interest in the game of golf grew, the organization broadened its activities so as to reflect the purposes indicated in the MSGA Constitution:
| To promote and conserve throughout the State of Maryland the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions; to sponsor and conduct tournaments throughout the State of Maryland each year; to be responsible for local qualifying tournaments in Maryland relating to the United States Golf Association; to educate and inform its members of changes in the Rules of Golf which occur from time to time and to foster by regulation and example respect for the Rules and the game of golf; and to award scholarships. |
With these objectives in mind, the Maryland State Golf Association
includes among its work the following programs for golfers in
Maryland:
MSGA Team Matches - The men's and women's Team Matches have now become the signals of the start of the golf season in Maryland. In recent years, a full field of 64 teams have participated in the early season men's matches while the women have a full field of 32 teams. In 2000 the team match concept was further developed when the men began a Senior Team Matches event in the fall.
Championships
- Beyond the six early championships mentioned above, the men have added a Father-Son (1936), Two Man Team (1938), Baltimore-Washington Team Matches (1957), Mid Amateur (1987), Senior Two Man Team (1996), and Senior Open (2000), and Amateur Public Links Championship (2003). In recent years, the Association has become involved with the Senior Challenge Matches, also featuring teams from The Golf Association of Philadelphia, the Delaware State Golf Association and the New Jersey State Golf Association. Additional women's championships have been the Women's Senior Amateur (1969), Girls' Junior (1976), Two Woman Team (1994) Mid-Handicap Two-Woman Team (1998), and Women's Open (1999).
Net Tournaments - The MSGA in 2008 will conduct a Net Two Man Team event for the first time, and hope to expand net tournaments in the future if warranted.
The
Women's Division - Organized in 1995, the Maryland State Golf Association Women's Division has dramatically enhanced the association's programs for women golfers around the state. As previously indicated, since its formation the Women's Division has added two very successful competitions - the Two-Woman Mid-Handicap Tournament and the Women's Open. The group vigorously re-established the Women's Team Matches that had lapsed during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Additionally, the WD has increased the participation in the Girls' Junior and developed an interstate competition between Maryland junior girls and their counterparts in Virginia and North Carolina. The women have also conducted their own highly popular annual rules workshops featuring top instructors from the United States Golf Association and have expanded the utilization of resources through the USGA's Women's Regional Affairs Committee. In sum, the MSGA Women's Division has quickly become an exceptionally active and positive part of golf in the State of Maryland.
Course
Ratings - Both the men's and women's organizations have several ratings teams which rate member courses and any other courses in the state requesting the service. The work of these dedicated volunteer course raters ensures that Maryland golfers with valid USGA handicap indexes will be able to fairly compete against other players with such handicap indexes.
Handicap Services - In a three-way program with the Middle Atlantic PGA Section and Golfnet, the Maryland State Golf Association works under the authority of the USGA to provide handicap services to over 50,000 Maryland Golfers at approximately 155 state clubs and courses. Additionally, about 4,000 junior golfers receive handicap services at no charge. Furthermore, Golfnet's On-Line Internet Services - including internet posting, verification, and reporting - and Tournament Services have been significantly upgraded and have become especially valuable resources for golf operations throughout Maryland. In addition the MSGA beginning in December 2005 has a full time Director of Handicap and Member Services who will be responsible for addressing club issues with the handicap program and with the tournament management programs at our member clubs.
Turf
Scholarships and Other Future Charitable Activities
- Since 1969 the Maryland State Golf Association has sponsored the Emmet Gary Turf Scholarships. Named after the late MSGA Secretary who served the Association for more than 25 years, the scholarships are awarded annually to deserving turf program students at the University of Maryland. Through this program, more than 100 Maryland agronomy students have benefited from approximately $200,000 in scholarship funding. Many of the recipients have gone on to serve as golf course superintendents and turf specialists in Maryland and across the country. Beginning at the Annual meeting in November 2007 the MSGA awarded two additional academic scholarships know as the Dave King Scholarship and the MSGA Scholarship each for $2500 to employees or children of employees of MSGA Member Clubs. As a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, the Maryland State Golf Association is accepting direct charitable contributions to support Scholarships as well as other worthy golf-related charitable projects.
Government
Relations - The Board and Staff of the Maryland State Golf Association works with the Middle Atlantic Golf Course Superintendents Association and turfgrass industry organizations to monitor legislation that could effect the game of golf in the State of Maryland and periodically assists with related testimony before state legislative committees.
The
MSGA Web Site (www.msga.org)
- In recent years, as a rapidly growing number of Maryland golfers utilize computer-based materials for information, the Association has sought to offer its web site as a primary source of knowledge on golf in Maryland. Both men's and women's entry forms, starting times, and competition results are readily available via this web site. Articles, news releases, and Rules information of interest to the state golf community are regularly posted. Furthermore, golf club staff members as well as golfers in general now have a quick method by way of the web site to find course ratings and handicap indexes. Recent improvements have permitted on-line credit card entry and real time scoring leader boards. Golfers may also sign up for having their handicap revisions emailed to them each month.
Patron Program - MSGA Patron Member Program - A new program was introduced for Maryland golfers for the 2006 season. The MSGA Patron Member Program offers special privileges at great courses around the state, including a complimentary round of golf at each participating course (cart rental required). There are three levels of participation – Patron, Silver and Gold, with additional special amenities available at the higher levels of membership. The Middle Atlantic PGA is partnering with the MSGA on the program, and clubs and over 60 courses have signed up to participate and support golf in Maryland. Proceeds will support scholarships and junior golf.
Rules
and Turf Conferences - The Maryland State Golf Association regularly conducts various seminars on the Rules of Golf and supports the United States Golf Association in its staging of one of its Regional Conferences, recently held every other year at Woodholme Country Club (alternating with The Dupont Country Club site). The regional conference is an extraordinary opportunity for area golf managers, club members, course officials, and golf association board members to hear expert speakers on timely golf topics and to share information and new perspectives with each other.
Intercollegiate
Rules and Competitions - The Association assists with such area intercollegiate competitions as the Northeast Men's and Women's Championships, the George Washington Invitational, and the Drew Upton Memorial Towson University Golf Tournament.
Preserving
and Protecting The Game - The Maryland State Golf Association functions as the primary voice of the United States Golf Association in the State of Maryland. The Association conducts area qualifying rounds for a number of the USGA National Championships, most notably for the United States Open (Local), the United States Amateur, and the US Senior Amateur. Rules officials of the MSGA are also very active at other area USGA qualifiers conducted under the auspices of other regional golf associations. The MSGA monitors amateur status in the area and processes Amateur Reinstatement Applications for those who seek to regain their amateur status. The Maryland State Golf Association serves as a source of information to the USGA as it formulates golf policy on a national and international basis. In striving to conduct its Championships according to The Rules of Golf under sporting conditions, the Maryland State Golf Association seeks to establish the highest possible standards in the local administration of the greatest game of all.
MSGA MISSION, HISTORY AND SERVICES
