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Milburn CC Raises nearly $5,000 for Youth on Course

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By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern

Saturday, April 28th, Milburn Country Club held their opening day tournament for the benefit of their members and to kick off the summer season. One member in particular, Dave Jackson, took the opportunity upon himself to raise awareness and money for the local Youth on Course program.

During the duration of the opening day tournament, Jackson perched himself on the #1 tee and passed out information packets as well as advocated for the importance of the Youth on Course program in Kansas City to Milburn members as they passed through. His persuasiveness paid off in a big way. In one day, Jackson and Milburn CC were able to raise nearly $5,00o from its members specifically for the Youth on Course program. On top of a successful donation of nearly $2,000 earlier in the year, Milburn CC has managed to raise almost $7,000 for Youth on Course in 2018 alone.

Despite being a private club and not being able to personally benefit from Youth on Course services, Milburn CC has done a great thing for its Kansas City community.

“It’s great to see private clubs embracing Youth on Course,” said Doug Habel, Executive Director of the Kansas City Golf Association.

“The success of Youth on Course will ensure the success and future of these private clubs for years to come. I hope the rest of the private clubs around Kansas City will also take opportunities such as this to help such an important program.”

Youth on Course is great program that supports local kids’ desire to play golf at an affordable and less competitive environment. In order to keep the game of golf relevant and important for many years to come, the youth movement must continue to grow. Please join us and the many other golf associations in supporting your local Youth on Course program.

A big thank you to Milburn Country Club for their amazing contribution!

Watson Challenge Press Conference

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By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern

The 2018 Watson Challenge Press Conference was held this morning at Shadow Glen GC for the one and only Kansas City legend, Tom Watson. Past players and media personnel gathered at the prestigious club to hear Tom Watson discuss his favorite tournament held every year in Kansas City: The Watson Challenge. An esteem panel was invited to sit alongside Mr. Watson and answer questions from the media as well.

Pictured Left to Right: Travis Mays, Dave Resch, Doug Habel, Tom Watson, Robert Russell at the Watson Challenge Press Conference: April 26, 2018

Travis Mays, David Resch, Brigette Chirpich, Robert Russell, and Executive Director Doug Habel surrounded Tom Watson on the press conference panel. Opening remarks and thanks to Mr. Watson were given by each before the media got their turn with the man himself. The first topic of discussion was Mr. Watson’s recent trip to the Master’s which saw him win the Par 3 Championship and witness a Hole-In-One by Jack Nicklaus’s grandson.

One reporter asked if his success at the Par 3 gave Mr. Watson any desire to get back out and compete at the big stage at Augusta National.

“Not one ioata,” Mr Watson replied humbly. “You need a 280 yard carry [off the tee]”, Mr. Watson described what makes you successful at Augusta. “I wasn’t gonna get any longer, only shorter.”

Mr. Watson then went on to describe how he still loves to “throw down” at the Watson Challenge and how his competitive juices still flow til this day.

“I don’t play this golf tournament any different than I played my first golf tournament on the tour. I play this just like a regular tour event. I’m all in,” said Watson.

In his opening comments, Travis Mays described how honored he especially felt to be able to play in the Watson Challenge as many times as he has and how the Watson Challenge is by far the favorite golf event of his and many other amateur players’ seasons.

According to Watson, the objective of the Watson Challenge tournament is to create a competition opportunity for the best golfers in Kansas City. Watson of course hopes to come out on top this year and secure his title as the best golfer in Kansas City. He’ll have some stiff competition in the likes of Chase Hanna, Andy Spencer: defending Watson champion, Dave Resch, Travis Mays and many others.

The Kansas City Golf Association gets just as excited as the players for this event every year, and we hope to see many of our players and fans out there. It’s an event unlike any other and getting a chance to see the great players in Kansas City as well as Mr. Tom Watson in action is something you can’t miss. The 2018 Watson Challenge tournament will be held June 8-10 at Shadow Glen GC.

Groom, Rome & Robbins Highlight First SLAT Event at Loch Lloyd

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By Taylor Albritton, Boatwright Intern

The 2018 Kansas City Golf Association season kicked off this week with our first event at the Country Club of Loch Lloyd. Despite the windy, cold conditions, we had a great turn out for our first Stateline Amateur Tour event with over 100 players.

18th green at CC of Loch Lloyd

On top of the chilly weather, players battled slick greens and the abundant water hazards around Loch Lloyd. This beautiful course lived up to its reputation and players tried their best to navigate this difficult golf course.

The low round of the day belonged to Steve Groom, shooting an even par 72 and claiming the Senior division title. His round was highlighted by three birdies and three bogeys, shooting 36 on both the front and back nine.

Ritch Nigh trailed Groom by one stroke, finishing with a one-over, 73. After starting out bogey-bogey, Nigh battled back to finish with two birdies and one bogey on the back nine. Two players tied for third place in the Senior division, Mark Addington and Kurt Lorenzen, both shooting a four-over, 76 round for the day.

In the Open division, Kevin Rome claimed low-medalist with a three-over, 75. Despite an up and down round from Rome, his three birdies on the day propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.

Jackson Foth followed in second place by one shot with a four-over, 76. Mark Terranova and Chris Beaubien both tied for third place right behind Foth and Rome with five-over, 77 rounds.

In the Legend’s battle, Pete Robbins took home the title in the gross division with a two-over, 74. His round was highlighted by two birdies on the back nine. Keith Forrest claimed second place with a five-over, 77. Three players tied for third place with a 79 (+7) in the gross division: Mitch Bowen, Bob Bezek, and Jim Lodes.

In the Legend’s net division, Keith Forrest came out on top with a six-under, 66 net score. Tom Baddeley secured second place with a three-under, 69 net score. Top three was rounded out by Dan Gray with an even par, 72 net score.

With a four-over, 76, Chris Meyer claimed first place in the Player’s Gross division. Despite a few bogeys, Meyer’s two birdies on the day helped propel him into first. Three players tied for second place shooting a 77 (+5) in the gross division: Anthony Morales, Michael Buckhouse, and Alex Reed.

In the Player’s Net division, Dennis McCormack shot a four-under, 68 net score to claim the lead. In second place was Spencer Webb with a three-under, 69. Two players tied for third with a 70 (-2) net score: Anthony Morales and Alex Reed.

As always, the KCGA thanks of all its participants for sticking through the weather and coming out to play in our first event of the season. We hope to see everyone at our next SLAT event on May 7 at Lawrence Country Club.

To see the full field of results, click here.

To register for our next SLAT, click here.

2018 Tomahawk Hills Invitational

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Tomahawk Hills Women’s Golf Association 2018 Invitational

  • 18 Hole Ladies Invitational – 2 person scramble
  • Wednesday June 6, 2018
  • Enter by May 28, Limited to 50 teams
  • All skill levels are welcome! Event holes, prizes, raffles
  • 8:00 AM Shotgun start
  • $60 per person – includes greens fee, cart, mulligans, breakfast, lunch, participation gift, and cash prizes

Make checks payable to the THWGA and mail to:

Peggy MacKay; 4925 Widmer Rd. Shawnee, KS 66216

Call or email Peggy at Macpeg56@aol.com or (913)-631-1191

For registration form, click here: 2018 THWGA Application.

 

2018 KCGA Season is Officially Open!

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The 2018 KCGA Season has officially begun!

As of 10 AM today, players are now eligible to register for any KCGA event, as well as post scores. Registration for KCGA events will be through Tournament Pairing Program (TPP), the same system used last year.

Click here to register!

To be eligible to register, players must have an active GHIN number. For StateLine Amateur Tour and Kansas City Junior Tour, players must also be a registered member of the league before signing up for individual events.

If you have any questions or issues feel free to email the KCGA staff or give us a call at (913)-649-5242 ext 0.

KWGA Memorial Scholarship Applications Now Open

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The Kansas Women’s Golf Association Memorial Scholarship was established January 1, 2018 to commemorate and continue the KWGA Scholarship. This scholarship awarded college/university scholarships from 1991 through 2017. The KWGA Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to one or more Kansas high school seniors or graduates of a Kansas high school who are enrolled as a full-time student of an accredited college or university.

Applications for the KWGA Memorial Scholarship are now open! All applications/supporting materials become the property of the KWGA Memorial Scholarship Committee and MUST BE postmarked on or before March 30, 2018 and mailed by U.S. Mail to:

Karen Exon, Committee Chair, KWGA Memorial Scholarship
2310 SW Mayfair Place
Topeka, KS 66611
Phone – 785.633.2723
Email – karenexon01@gmail.com

Please see the following link for more detailed information such as eligibility and requirements for applications:

KWGA Memorial Scholarship

New Advocacy Group Established by Western Golf Association and Leading Golf Organizations Promotes Youth Caddying

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WGA partners with World Golf Foundation and other organizations on Carry the Game initiative to create more opportunities for youth to work as caddies, learn the game of golf

GOLF, Ill. – Together with a number of leading golf organizations, the Western Golf Association (WGA) announces today a groundbreaking initiative centered around promoting youth caddying and golf called Carry the Game.

Carry the Game is an advocacy group that introduces young students to the game of golf by creating additional opportunities for them to train and work as caddies and encourages them to become lifelong players.

Through caddying, young people learn valuable life lessons, develop a strong work ethic and money management skills, and make professional contacts on the golf course. In addition to being a great way to learn about the game, caddying provides life-changing benefits that are instrumental to their individual growth.

Carry the Game operates under the organizational umbrella of the WGA; participants in the effort include the World Golf Foundation, United States Golf Association, PGA of America, The First Tee and Youth on Course, among other groups. This special collaboration to promote the role of youth caddying within the game of golf will help ensure Carry the Game’s long-term success while encouraging a new generation of young golfers to play the game.

“Over the past few years, numerous leading golf organizations have discussed the importance of creating a governing body for youth caddying, and we’re excited to see that the WGA is spearheading this important initiative,” said World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona. “The WGA is a recognized leader in youth caddying, and we’re all looking forward to working together to help bring this effort to life.”

Carry the Game will be a resource for anyone interested in becoming a caddie or forming a youth caddie program. In 2018, the group will begin an extensive research project to provide qualitative data on the current state of youth caddying and inform the initiative’s work.

The overall goal of Carry the Game is to increase the number of youth caddies – and the diversity of those caddies – by helping to establish additional caddying opportunities at golf clubs nationwide. Carry the Game will also promote youth caddie programs as a way to create future golfers and preserve and enhance the tradition of caddying within the game of golf.

It will offer resources including caddie training materials and certification, a caddie club locator, best practices on creating and managing programs, media and public relations support, and knowledge and expertise on all caddie-related topics.

“Through Carry the Game, our goal is to provide young people with an early introduction to golf by creating life-changing opportunities to work as a caddie,” said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. “Ultimately, we believe the experiences and mentorship gained through caddying are invaluable to a young person’s development and will help cultivate a lifelong passion for playing golf. Some of golf’s greatest players, as well as many of the world’s most successful executives, emerged from the caddie ranks. We look forward to supporting current and future caddies as they continue the legacy of a game so beloved and carry it forward for years to come.”

Carry the Game will also share and promote local and national caddie scholarship opportunities and resources. 

Club Champion Now Open in the Kansas City

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Club Champion Now Open in the Kansas City Area

Golfers Choose from 35,000 Head & Shaft Combinations

Willowbrook, IL — Club Champion, the country’s #1 premium golf club fitting and building company, announces the opening of its new Kansas City fitting studio in Overland Park, Kansas at 7400 W. 121st Street.

Club Champion fits, sells, and builds custom golf clubs constructed from clubheads, shafts, and grips from the best brands in golf including Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, PXG, Fujikura, Golf Pride and many more. The company delivers a Tour-quality fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots, with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate for golfers of any ability level.

The new location features approximately 3,000 square feet of space and has been designed to showcase Club Champion’s premium fitting experience and 35,000 hittable clubhead and shaft combinations. The studio includes two indoor hitting bays with Trackman launch monitors for analyzing performance, a SAM PuttLab’s fitting system to find the perfect putter on their practice green, and a build shop for repairing and assembling golf clubs by hand.

“We are excited to bring the finest club fitting and building to the Kansas City area,” said Joe Lee, CEO and president of Club Champion. “Our approach is unbiased, with no promotion of any specific vendors. Our only goal is to find the best combination of components to help customers hit longer, more accurate shots, and lower their scores and enjoy the game more.”

Ranked by Golf Digest as one of the 100 Best Club Fitters eight years running, Club Champion hires experienced fitters who then receive an additional 150+ hours of training before starting their job; unmatched in the golf industry. The company has a unique coupling system that allows them to combine any head and shaft together, so golfers hit the precise combination to be custom built for them. They are the only fitter in the country to offer 35,000 interchangeable head and shaft combinations on-site, at all locations. Golfers get to hit the exact club that will be custom built for them.

Says Lee, “Our unrivaled fitters and demo options generate unmatched results. A recent Golf Magazine study showed our average customer gained 22 yards off the tee, 15 yards with their irons and lowered their scores by 3 strokes. Many players think they aren’t good enough to be custom fit. But the study showed that higher-handicappers saw the biggest gains. Some of these golfers gained as much as 25 more yards with their drivers and shaved as many as 10 strokes per round.”

 

With advances in club technology, most golfers could easily hit the ball farther and more accurately, yet a Golf Magazine study found that 90% of US golfers may be playing with improperly fit clubs. Club Champion endorser and world-renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter stated, “It never ceases to amaze me that golfers buy clubs off the shelf and assume they’re right for them. Whether you’re a great golfer or a casual one, getting a custom club fitting is one of the quickest ways to improve your game.”

To celebrate the new opening, for a limited time (see website for details), the Kansas City store will offer 50% off full bag fittings, normally $350 (now $175), and 33% off driver, fairway wood, long game, hybrid, wedge, and putter fittings. This store opening special will run until March 31, 2018. The studio is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  More information on the company can be found at www.clubchampiongolf.com or by calling (888) 340-7820.

 About Club Champion

Established in 2010, Club Champion is a national club fitting and building company headquartered in Chicago, IL. The company currently has 28 studios in major markets across the country and will be adding 11 new locations by Summer 2018. The studios carry all the top golf club, shaft, and grip manufacturers in the industry, which allows for 35,000+ equipment combinations for customers to trial. Studios are equipped with advanced analysis technology with highly trained certified fitters and builders that must complete an extensive training program. Services include custom fitting and building for all club purchases, repair services, personalization, and highly engaging corporate and personal entertainment events. For more information about Club Champion, visit www.clubchampiongolf.com.

The 2018 Kansas City Golf Show is Coming Up!

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Kansas City Golf Show • Feb. 16-18 • Overland Park Convention Center

The Kansas City Golf Show returns to the Overland Park Convention Center, Feb. 16-18, 2018, with even more great deals, fun activities, incredible giveaways, and the largest gathering golf retailers and exhibitors under one roof in the entire state! This is our biggest year yet! Get fitted and take advantage of the seasons lowest on name-brand clubs and equipment from the industry’s top manufacturers, be the first to try out hot new clubs for free on an indoor driving range. Play fun skills contests featuring thousands of dollars in prizes, take a free lesson from a top PGA pro, or visit special areas for golf travel and other exciting activities. In addition, attendees will receive a front door goody bag including free rounds of golf and more! For more information, visit http://kansascitygolfshow.com/.