From the Executive Director
Will 2018 be another breakthrough season in AZ?
closed doors and the tourists have yet to crowd our courses. The Patriot All-America kicks off the 2018 season during the last week of December. This will be our seventh time hosting collegiate golf’s best players. Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka are a few of the names who graced the Patriot a few short years ago. Join us Dec. 29-31 at The Wigwam, enjoy complimentary snacks and watch golf’s future stars in action. That’s just the prelude to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which rocks the world of golf in early February. One of the Arizona Golf
D
Association’s biggest efforts in the coming year will be statewide education seminars and webinars on the new Rules of Golf that go into effect Jan. 1, 2019. You have already seen a few of the new rules put into place, like a ball accidentally moving on the putting green and the limits on close-ups of on-course rules infractions. The common language of the new rules, a complete redirection of language to help the common golfer understand better what’s expected, will make it quite difficult to say, “I just don’t understand the rules.” At least then folks will have to make a minimum attempt to read before they can claim lack of knowledge. There are so many changes for the better that the average player will find it easier to follow the rules, as in many cases it will help them through their round. Our featured package in this issue
on Tucson golf should remind everyone how many great courses are waiting
14 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2017
ecember is a great time in the State of Golf. We can still play while the rest of the world is hiding behind
a visit, with apologies to the residents who will see a little more crowding this season. We also covered the dining scene in the Old Pueblo, specifically the 23 Miles of Mexican food. AGA friend Gary Van Sickle once
again looks into his crystal ball toward golf in 2018. Although he’s not as strident as Gary Player about clubs and balls, Van Sickle’s vision is usually entertaining and on target. Finally, join all of us in a toast to our 2017 Hall of Fame class of Betsy King, Cliff Whittle, Shawn Emerson, Kathy Cornelius and Bill Coore. They have brought so much to Arizona golf. Lastly, if you haven’t yet made
your pilgrimage to Ireland for golf, we have a great trip planned for June 2-9 with Sullivan Golf Travel, with an exceptional price tag, hosted together with our friends at the Southern Nevada Golf Association. Your AGA hosts will take care of everything while you’re enjoying the best of Irish golf. Join us for five (or more) of the best courses golf has to offer, not to mention the incredible Irish hospitality. Best wishes to all for a lower
handicap this coming season and, at least, one round of golf more than you played in 2017. 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 HANDICAPPING & COURSE RATING.
..............................................................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 MANAGER
............................Joselyn Wojtalewicz ACCOUNTING.......................................................................... Betty Saltzgiver P. J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS
................Nicole Prague, Jesse Tenkman
*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 ACCOUNT MANAGER ................................Ryan Chackel ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER
........................................Steve Copas For magazine inquiries,
backspinmediagroup@gmail.com
BACKSPIN MEDIA GROUP
PRESIDENT.......................................................................................Bill Huffman GENERAL MANAGER
................................................................Mark Nothaft
BackspinMediaGroupUSA@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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