1. How you can help the MSGA promote Amateur Golf in Maine

2. What Does the MSGA Do? Founded in 1917, The Maine State Golf Association, Inc. serves as the state’s governing body and the representative to the USGA, the national governing body of golf. The MSGA sponsors programs that benefit everyone who plays the game in Maine Golf House, located in Far Hills, NJ.

3. Golf Tournaments MSGA Championship and Weekend Tournaments The MSGA hosts more amateur golf tournaments than virtually every other golf association in the country, including the Maine Amateur Championship, the Charlie’s Maine Open and a host of other championship events. Host weekend events every weekend from April into November in which all golfers in Maine are welcome to compete. Three fundraising events – Charlie’s Maine Open Pro Am, Scholarship Classic at Belgrade Lakes; Scholarship Classic at Prouts Neck.

4. Junior Golf and Scholarships Started the Maine Junior Golf tour several years ago Expanded the tour to include four tournaments in Aroostook County so all kids can participate Reward the kids for participation and excellence with NE Junior Championship  Annually give away more than $40,000 in scholarships to deserving Maine students.

5. Golf Education Teach basic rules of golf seminars to groups from beginners to advanced Also have seminars in: Handicapping GHIN and TPP Course marking Pace of Play Tournament administration Work together with the PGA and MGCSA to teach rules and etiquette statewide

6. Enforce the Rules of Amateur Status in Maine The Rules of Amateur Status reinforce the fundamental idea that an amateur is one who plays solely for the enjoyment of the game, without financial benefit.

7. Provide USGA Course Ratings and administer GHIN System Thanks to the USGA’s Handicap System, all golfers can compete on an equal basis. The USGA Course Rating System ensures that golf courses are rated in relation to all other courses. The USGA Slope System adjusts a player’s USGA Handicap Index according to the difficulty of a course. As a result, no matter who golfers play with - or where they play they can enjoy a fair game.

8. Player Rep Program at a Glance (see Player Rep manual) As a representative of the MSGA, the Player rep will: Help the MSGA in securing your club for future MSGA tournaments Help to recruit new MSGA individual members Act as a liaison between club officials and MSGA staff Display MSGA information, collect individual dues and distribute membership materials

9. Player Rep Program at a Glance (continued) Introduce yourself to your pro, superintendent and club management as their MSGA liaison Work with the Club rep to communicate club concerns to the MSGA Keep club informed on informational materials available through the MSGA on everything from rules to course marking Help promote junior golf by letting them know about the MSGA

10. Player Rep Program at a Glance (continued) The Player Rep should not: Try to tell club officials how to do their job – they’re professionals and may resent interference Ever mark the golf course without first being so asked to do so by an official at the club Make any changes to course setup without permission of club staff Make any negative comments about other clubs in the state – every club has its purpose and all need the utmost respect

11. How can the MSGA Player Rep help? Communicate, communicate, communicate! Put your name on the schedule poster and handouts for Pro Shop Ask your club for space in the newsletter to members Make yourself available when the MSGA comes to your club Work with MSGA and club on golf education Set up a table at your club’s Open House with MSGA information Introduce yourself to your fellow members as the MSGA Player Rep Incentivize the players to know you by telling them about the $5 discount

12. Amateur Competitions Championships: Green speeds and hole locations Marking the course Special situations (I.e. ball drops) Rough Heights Fairway firmness Taking care of YOUR golf course It’s your course – you need to tell us what the club’s thoughts and expectations are. COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY.

13. Amateur Competitions Weekend events and Outings: The key is to make your course fun Players want to see your course, but they don’t want to be overwhelmed There’s nothing wrong with average golfers shooting low numbers Golf is a game – it’s supposed to be FUN. If you make the players feel good about themselves, they’ll come back. If the golf course is too hard you will have serious pace of play issues!

14. MSGA Local Rules Local Rules and Conditions Of Competitions for MSGA Events The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play, except as modified by the MSGA. Every player will be provided with a Rules of Golf booklet, an MSGA Member Booklet, and is expected to apply all rules. Ground Under Repair: Defined by white encircled lines or blue stakes. French drains, wheel ruts and aeration holes are deemed ground under repair even if unmarked. Embedded Ball Rule through the green: Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix 1 of Rules of Golf shall be in effect. Conforming Balls and Clubs: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix 1 shall be in effect. Lists are posted by the USGA. Breaking of Ties: When required, Rule 33-6 and Note in Appendix 1, Conditions of the Competition 2c, shall be in effect. Preferred Lies: Whenever the MSGA observes Preferred Lies – which will be used as infrequently as possible – Appendix I-A-4-b will be in affect.

15. MSGA Local Rules Obstructions: Stonewalls are immovable obstructions, as are continuous cart paths and associated worn areas. Flanges supporting markers are part of the marker. For out of bounds markers, they are not obstructions. For hazards, they are moveable obstructions. Cart Usage: For all MSGA events, carts may only be occupied and operated by a player or a designated caddie, and cart operators must have a valid driver's license. Other restrictions may apply. Distance Devices: Players may obtain information by using a device that measures distance only for all MSGA events. A device that gauges or measures other conditions (e.g. wind, speed, gradient, temperature, etc.) is not permitted and would be in violation of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification Host Club’s Local Rules: Local Rules posted at clubs or on club scorecards shall not be in effect.

16. Golf Course Set-Up Handicapping Maintaining Course Rating Yardage is still king Considerations for weather Using different tees Hole locations Landing Zones for different tees by handicap Pace of Play Proper marking of OB, hazards and GUR Establishing local rules Lateral vs. water hazards “Lateral Trees” Consider the audience The “Short-Right” factor Areas of concern: Cart Paths Green Speeds and health Educating the membership

17. Marking Out of Bounds Know when and when not to mark OB Use existing objects to define whenever possible Interior OB Tie off stakes Consider removing if not safety issue OB coming into hazards Consider making all OB or all hazard

18. Ground Under Repair Express It!: Establishing local rules to play by all the time It it’s not in play, ignore it Avoid the Chicken Pox (a.k.a. the Continents)

19. “Lateral Trees” Why not to mark wooded areas with red stakes No such thing as “lateral trees” – there has to be water Doesn’t take advantage of proper rule: Playing provisional ball Penalizes the player who: Moves a loose impediment, Grounds club, Otherwise violates hazard rules Discourages players from playing by the right rules

20. Local Rules Dropping Zones Establishing special areas on which balls may or must be dropped when it is not feasible or practicable to proceed exactly in conformity with Rule 24-2b Immovable Obstruction), Rule 24-3 (Ball in Obstruction Not Found), Rule 25-1b or 25-1c (Abnormal Ground Conditions), Rule 25-3 (Wrong Putting Green), Rule 26-1 (Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).24-2b24-325-1b 25-1c25-326-128

21. The “Short Right” Factor Most American amateur golfers are right handed Most have handicaps over 20 Most, if they miss, will miss short and right Supers should be aware of this, especially at the beginning of the round Clean out wooded areas on right; Beware of rough height; By making it easier if a player misses short right, you’re not compromising the integrity of your course for championships, as better players miss long left

22. The “Short- Right” Factor BOLO: Extreme rough Confusing markings on hazards Uncleared wooded areas Players NOT playing provisional ball Anything else that slows down play

23. Consider the Audience Championships are NOT the same as outing or casual golf, and levels of championships vary too. Jesse Spiers, 2009 Maine Amateur Champ, left, and Reese McFarlane, 2009 Maine 13-14 champ (at age 12)

24. Consider the weather Golf ball travels less far in temperatures under 70 degrees When golf course is wet there is no roll Adjust tee placements accordingly Charlie’s Maine Open August 2008 at Fox Ridge, Auburn, ME

25. Focus: Green Speeds Most championship events are played on a stimp of 10-11 Faster green speeds will limit number of hole locations Older golf courses can’t sustain faster green speeds Please work with your golf associations to make sure green speeds don’t become unmanageable We DO care about the health of your greens! Rough Height Won’t affect rating if less than an inch different WILL affect how easily players will be able to find ball!

26. Handicapping: Maintaining course rating Know the yardage values for each set of tees Yardage is still King! Hole lengths are measured from middle of tee to middle of green Try to stay within 50-100 yards OVERALL of course rating yardage

27. Handicapping: Maintaining course rating If move some tees up, make sure to move others back Beware of left-right, front-back hole locations Know what obstacles affect course rating Bunkers when in fairway landing zone only Proximity of: Trees Extreme rough Out of bounds Width of landing area Recoverability factor Adding a new tee less than 25 yards from old tee makes virtually no difference in course rating

28. Handicapping: Maintaining course rating Try to set up golf course so different tees target different levels of golfers & encourage golfers to play to their level Be aware of landing areas for “scratch” and “bogey” golfers, both men and women The best golf courses offer something for every level golfer

29. Handicapping: Understanding slope rating Don’t worry about SLOPE RATING Courses are rated for “scratch” and “bogey” golfers -- COURSE RATING Slope rating has no meaning if course rating not considered Slope rating is simply the difficulty of the course for the bogey golfer as compared to the scratch golfer

30. Golf course set-up pitfalls Setting up golf course exceptionally difficult Be aware of the format and your influence on scores posted Tee markers for middle tees from the back Players will post scores from incorrect rating Sunday hole locations should be reserved for gross only championships Setting up golf course exceptionally easy Sometimes done to speed up play If players are posting score, negatively affect their handicap by adding a score better than they would have made if course was set up to rating

31. Thank you so much for your participation! We look forward to working with you and wish you the best for the coming season ! By working together, we hope to make this the MSGA’s best season in a long time!

32. New Forms Weekend and Senior Events

33. $45 $40 $175 4/23Fox Ridge Ernie Els Tiger Woods Sergio Garcia Phil Michelson

35. Bubba Watson WAT32$15.00 Augusta National 3/25/2011