From the Executive Director


Excitement is brewing for 2019


T


he end of the year in Arizona is more like Spring for the rest of the golf world. While there still are several


events left including the Patriot All-America Invitational, this year we’re looking forward to the new year even more than other years. The new Rules of Golf go into effect


Jan. 1, and will impact every golfer’s play immediately. The AWGA and AGA combining into one association will create many new opportunities for all members while the new play days open to everyone should help our golf family grow. Our trip this summer to Scotland is starting to fill, with five of the world’s best courses on the schedule. If I may make a suggestion, every


golfer should find the time to attend one of our rules seminars. We have already held more than 30 club seminars for over 2,000 golfers, and distributed nearly 18,000 Players’ Guide Rule books. The books are free for AGA members through your favorite course or club, or you can visit our office in the Scottsdale Airpark to pick one up. Lorraine Thies has a short quiz this


month to get you started (Page 34). The major changes include the ability to drop out of a bunker; hazards expanded into penalty areas that can include areas of desert or heavy vegetation; dropping from knee height into specific relief areas; and the elimination of any penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green. If you won’t be attending one of our classes, please do look at the videos on USGA.org. I’m certain you will find the rules videos both interesting and entertaining.


10 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018 If Scotland is on your bucket list,


then you don’t want to miss our late June AGA-sponsored trip next year. We even have scheduled “off days” for the group, where people can add other courses, sightseeing or distillery visits. With a focus on St. Andrews, golf just doesn’t get much better. The Patriot All-America on Dec.


28-31 will again showcase the amazing collegiate amateurs at The Wigwam. At the same time these great players will be carrying PING golf bags honoring fallen heroes. The West Valley Mavericks are hosting with hospitality tents, food and beverages to make the fan experience memorable. The Patriot alumni include PGA Tour winners like Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau and bomber Cameron Champ — and those are only a few of the Tour stars who have played in the last few years. Finally, we’re also excited to see


what the Waste Management Phoenix Open has in store for us early next year under the leadership of PING’s Chance Cozby (Page 26), who is the 2019 tournament chairman for the Greatest Show on Grass. You’ll want to make plans now to join 150,000 of your closest friends for at least one day. n


By Ed Gowan AZGOLFINSIDER


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS PRESIDENT.............................................................................Mike McWilliams 1ST VICE PRESIDENT .................................................................Bill Burgesser 2ND VICE PRESIDENT .....................................................................Bill Phipps SECRETARY ................................................................................Bob McNichols TREASURER ........................................................................................Tim Brown


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Lee Decof, Mark Jeffery, Joe Hickle, Jerry Huff, Tim Hulscher, Ryan Johnson, Mike Kane, Scott McNevin, Judi Polidori, John Souza


AGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR....................................................................Ed Gowan ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ....................................Lorraine Thies DIRECTOR OF USGA SERVICES. .....................................Derek McKenzie CLUB PROGRAMS MANAGER ............................................Michelle Evens DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING/SPONSORSHIPS ..............Brian Foster* DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS..........................Chris Montgomery DIRECTOR OF RULES AND COMPETITIONS ...........Andrew Polonec MANAGER TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS ..........................Mike Mason CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER ...................................................... .Jim Franko DIRECTOR OF MEMBER AND CLUB RELATIONS .............Alex Tsakiris COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR ....................................Paris Garcia ACCOUNTING.......................................................................... Betty Saltzgiver P. J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS ................... Brianna Gianiorio, Matt Dally


*Denotes independent contractor


THE AZ GOLF INSIDER STAFF PUBLISHER.....................................................................................Mark Nothaft EDITOR-IN-CHIEF .........................................................................Bill Huffman DESIGNER............................................................................Carl Bezuidenhout AGA EDITOR .................................................................................Lorraine Thies SENIOR EDITOR ................................................................................John Davis REAL ESTATE EDITOR ......................................Gremlyn Bradley-Waddell FOOD EDITOR ................................................................................Carey Sweet GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS .......................................................... Jeff Heisner PHOTO EDITOR .........................................................................Jane Zarzynski SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER .......................................................Dennis Scully SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER ........................................................Wade Moran CONTRIBUTORS ..........................Ed Gowan, Lorraine Thies, Julie Fenn Scott McNevin, Robyn Noll, Tom Mackin, Joe Passov, Cori Matheson ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER ........................................Steve Copas For magazine inquiries, backspinmediagroup@gmail.com


BACKSPIN MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT.......................................................................................Bill Huffman GENERAL MANAGER ................................................................Mark Nothaft BackspinMediaGroup@gmail.com


AZ GOLF Insider, is published four times a year by the Arizona Golf Association. It


is supported by members’ dues, utilizing $3 per


member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the Arizona Golf Association. No part of this magazine is intended as an endorsement of any equipment, publication, videotape, golf course or other entity. No part of this magazine may be reproduced for use as an advertising, publicity or endorsement item without written approval of the AGA. AZ GOLF Insider is offered on a subscription basis for $12.95 annually. Individual copies may be obtained by forwarding $5 to the address below.


Arizona Golf Association 7600 E. Redfield Rd., Suite 130 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (602) 944-3035 (800) 458-8484 In-State Line www.azgolf.org


www.azgolf.org


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