The Idaho Golf Association (www.idahogolfassn.org) provides many services to its membership that are virtually invisible. The most tangible service is the handicap index. The Idaho Golf Association is licensed by the United State Golf Association to provide handicaps and course ratings to a specific geographical region. All golfers throughout southern Idaho can utilize this tool to track and monitor their golfing ability. Regardless of skill, a handicap index is the most widely used and discussed element of the great game of Golf. Everyone loves to see the handicap index number get lower, because that is evidence that a golfer’s game is improving. However, there is a small faction of golfers who manipulate their handicap index to gain a competitive edge. The Idaho Golf Association in partnership with its member clubs work diligently to maintain the spirit of the game and keep those few so called “Sandbaggers” to a minimum.
Another element that is frequently observed and widely misunderstood is Course Rating. Every golf course in world has a Course Rating and that rating is calculated by the regional golf associations by implementing a strict set of standards to insure uniformity. A golfer evaluates and ultimately chooses whether or not to play a golf course based on two criteria: the actual length and its Course Rating. Therefore, golf course managers place extreme value in an accurate course rating. A core of highly trained individuals makes up the Idaho Golf Association’s Course Rating Committee. The Idaho Golf Association takes its Course Rating role very seriously, because all golfers playing the game in Idaho deserve the most pleasant and fair golfing experience possible.
The two aforementioned services provided by the Idaho Golf Association are sophisticated and supported by mathematical formulas. This service is based on fun and the thrill of competition. The Association conducts several state championships throughout Idaho for all skills and ages. This service alone is the most visible and can create golfing legends and stories that may be preserved for generations to come. Look for the tournament schedule and choose to participate in Idaho golf’s premier events.
The following is an inventory of the benefits Idaho Golf Association’s members are entitled to and support:
The most recognized benefit of joining the IGA is receiving a USGA Certified Handicap Index. The IGA, through its partnership with the USGA’s handicap service, Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN), provides Idaho golfers with the best handicapping service in the world. It allows for easy posting of all scores at networked computers at each golf course in the state and updates twice a month during the golfing season to provide an accurate evaluation of the golfers’ playing potential.
The IGA is also partnered with the International Golf Network (IGN), which enables members to post scores world wide outside the GHIN network.
The IGA supports local club officers in administering handicap services and coordinating club activities.
The IGA and the GHIN service unite all golfers throughout the state under a single handicap provider and make it easier for amateurs and professionals to conduct tournaments. The IGA provides at no additional cost the Tournament Pairing Program (TPP) to its member clubs to assist them in conducting their golfing events.
The IGA using USGA Course Rating standard guidelines rates and measures all golf courses in southern Idaho to provide uniformity in handicapping.
The IGA interprets and enforces the USGA Rules of Golf and provides rules officials at all major tournament events throughout the region.
The IGA with the support of the USGA conducts educational seminars for the Rules of Golf, Handicapping and Course Rating.
The IGA through its Junior Program helps local golf courses in the promotion of new players and the teaching of etiquette, with emphasis on enjoying the great game of Golf.
The IGA Juniors conducts several golf tournaments and clinics which promote the growth of golf in Idaho.
The IGA helps finance the competitors’ travel expenses to the Boys Junior Americas Cup, the Girls Junior Americas Cup, and the Hogan Cup, which are national events that the Idaho Juniors qualify for during the season.
The IGA conducts a series of State Amateur Championships for men, women, seniors and juniors, as well as other tournaments throughout the state.
The IGA coordinates and conducts activities in Idaho for the United States Golf Association, including USGA regional qualifying tournaments for all the national championships.
Your IGA dues also help support the Idaho participants of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Cup, the Pacific Coast Amateur, Morse Cup Team Matches, Carter Cup Matches and the USGA State Team Championship for both men and women.
The IGA provides an interactive Website that posts Association news and results of the various events. The members can also monitor and maintain their handicaps online. This website is undergoing a significant upgrade and will be unveiled during the 2009 golfing season.
The IGA is partnered with local golf magazines such as Pacific Northwest Golfer, the Idaho Golfer and the Mountain West Golf, which collectively provides numerous articles of interest and links the IGA membership together.
The IGA provides advocacy at the local government level for municipal golf courses.
The IGA supports and promotes the PGA Rocky Mountain Section.
The IGA supports the USGA Green Section in its turf grass research and environmental improvement programs by funding USGA Turf Grass visits to Idaho golf courses each year.
The IGA participates in the USGA Boatwright Intern Program, which gives individuals the opportunity to understand the administrative process of running a State and/or Regional Golf Association.
Your IGA dues support the staff of the Association employees who administer the extensive programs and services of the IGA, for which all of Idaho’s golfers benefit.
A Brand New Season
The Idaho Golf Association will unveil a couple of changes to the tournament package in 2009. The changes have been made to be more inclusive. The Association would like to give more Idaho golfers an opportunity to participate in more state events. The Association will introduce two new events and upgrade a popular event.
The IGA Men’s State Amateur will hold regional qualifiers with three different venues conducting an 18 hole play-in. The purpose for the play-in format is to open up the field to more players. The history of the event shows that many players have been turned away due to over subscription. By creating a qualifier, more players can vie for an opportunity to play in the State Am. The maximum handicap index to play in the qualifier will be 10.0 after the June 15th revision.
It is the hopes of the IGA Tournament Committee to see over 250 players compete for 120 spots. Special exemptions will be extended to past State Am champions as well as prior year champions of the other IGA tournaments such as the Match Play, Men’s Am II, Senior and Tournament of the Champions. The State Junior Champion will be recognized along with the participants of the PNGA Cup, Pacific Coast Am and Carter Cup. This format will allow the hottest golfers a chance to play in the State Championship.
The following are two new tournaments that the IGA Tournament Committee will introduce in 2009: the first is a format change to the Men’s Am II. The Men’s Am II will become the IGA Men’s Mid-Am Championship which has a minimum age restriction of 25 years of age as of the day of the Tournament. The tournament will also contain a Master 40 competition. The handicap restriction will be a generous 20.0 as of the August 1st revision. The inaugural Mid-Am Championship will be hosted by Idaho Fall’s Pinecrest Golf Course in the late weekend of August.
The other new tournament will be a team event to be held in the fall as a season finale event. The format will be 2 best balls of 4 players competition that will have no restriction to handicap or gender. There will be flights of men, women and mixed.
The 2009 golf season will be exciting and will produce many fond memories.