AJGA Blog

Quantifying Opportunities

by Kristi Bradley, AJGA Communications

Easter weekend is one of the AJGA’s busiest times of the year. Take a look at some of the numbers…

4 = number of Easter weekend AJGA tournaments

     - TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star at Château Élan 

     - TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at Innisbrook hosted by Sean O'Hair

     - Goodman Networks Junior at Traditions

     - Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic hosted by Longbow Golf Club

8 = number of newly-crowned AJGA champions

 

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54 = number of juniors who became Fully Exempt after participating in Easter tournaments

1,817 = total number of Performance Stars earned by AJGA players over Easter weekend

132 = number of first-time AJGA members who played over Easter weekend

44 = total number of juniors who earned entry into Easter events via TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifiers

40 = number of states represented in Easter tournament fields

79 = total number of AJGA staff members working (The entire AJGA staff works Easter weekend events and all three spring intern teams also assist with the implementation of these large tournaments).

198 = number of volunteers who spent time manning timing stations, driving shuttles and implementing FJ Live Scoring. Thank you to those who took the time to help over a holiday weekend!

1,016 = total number of playing opportunities for junior golfers at AJGA Easter weekend events. A number that speaks for itself and signifies the goal of the AJGA.

Reflecting on IRW

As the AJGA’s Intern Recruiting Weekend came to a close, invitees were asked to share their thoughts about experiences had and lessons learned:

“From the time I walked into the building I felt like I was at home—the front porch, warm smiles, welcomes and of course the food. It was an experience because no other job seeker or interviewer has treated me like the AJGA did this weekend. I was treated like family.

This was the greatest testament to the organization because if they treated potential interns like family, I knew that the people they served and employed were treated even better.”

- SYDNEY BRUNELLE

“The amount of impressive people in one place is unimaginable.  The energy in the room is contagious, even after a 10-hour day.  After leaving IRW, potential interns not only know what makes the AJGA so special, they know a little more about themselves.  Being in front of people who have completely different backgrounds and experiences helps you find out what makes you so special.  Every single person in the building has some spark that makes them stand out.  I can confidently say that no matter which people get chosen for the job, the future of the AJGA is in great hands.” 

- MORGAN SEELEY

“There’s no better way to meet someone for the first time than to greet them with a yawn and pretend you weren’t just sleeping as they walk through the hotel door.

When I received confirmation that I would be attending the AJGA Intern Recruiting Weekend, I wanted to make sure I couldn’t possibly slip up before I got to Georgia. I booked my flight early. Like crack-of-dawn early. Even though we didn’t need to be in Braselton until 4:00 p.m. or so, I signed up for the first trip out of St. Louis, Mo., at 7:20 a.m.

I got to the hotel with almost five hours to spare (better early than late, right?). After eating lunch two hours earlier than I usually do, an AJGA staff member suggested a nap. God bless his soul. Once you sign on with the AJGA, sleep is like a third-cousin. Always appreciated. Rarely seen.”

- CALEB BARRON

“As I boarded my flight at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport this past Friday, I knew it was going to be a great weekend. Why, you ask? Because someone once told me that if you sit next to a crying baby on a flight then you will have good luck. If that’s the case, then I’m going to win the lottery.

If I had to take one thing away from this amazing weekend, it would be the need to put yourself out in the open, even if you’re not comfortable. By doing this I was able to talk to people that work for the AJGA, are applying for the AJGA or are notable people in successful companies.”

- JAMES MILLARD

“Chasing dreams – a common theme around the AJGA office. Many of the golf industry’s best leaders have come through this association, chasing their dreams. The AJGA’s internship program hosted its annual Intern Recruiting Weekend this past weekend and afforded nearly 100 potential interns the opportunity to chase their dreams.

The benefits from this weekend – whether or not one is chosen for an internship – are numerous. From job search advice, to team building activities and leadership skills sharpening, anyone who leaves here with anything less than a new outlook on their goals did not listen closely enough.”

-STEPHANIE DITTMER

#GOTIME

And the time has come…the 2012 PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Examination.

After a final supper at Outback Steakhouse last night followed by a couple hours of studying and a good night’s sleep, we have arrived at the Houston Marriott North ready to take on the beast.

We have about 45 minutes until the scantrons and no. 2 pencils are passed out and the room is starting to fill with the 80+ attendees at our workshop. I am starting to feel bad for our “professors” as it seems they can’t get a cup of coffee without being bombarded with last-minute questions.

100 questions, 3.5 hours and a couple migraines are en route without question. I think we are all starting to remember what it is like to be back in college! I hope everybody has an enjoyable morning and make sure to check back to see how we all fared!

 

-Blog by Casey Ceman, AJGA Tournament Director

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…

Blog post by Samantha Hirshberg, a first-year Tournament Coordinator with the American Junior Golf Association

The game of golf put simply is to play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies. If only it were that simple. Two months ago, I was handed a 600+ page book that throws the word “simply” right out the window. The Decisions on the Rules of Golf. A book combined by the USGA and R&A to help millions of golfers around the world better understand how the Rules are applied and interpreted. Our job is to study and learn the text within these 600 pages.

Andrew Greenfield, the Director of Rules and Competitions, puts together an in-house rules school that the Operations Department attends each morning for two months. The goal is to better prepare us for not only the PGA/USGA Rules Workshop, but also for the 96 events the AJGA will host in 2012. His in-house rules school leads into a three-day long rules workshop put on by the PGA and USGA, culminating a three and a half hour, 100-question exam.

Currently we are heading into our final day of the PGA/USGA Rules Workshop before the exam. I was unsure what to expect heading to Houston to attend this workshop, which had received so much hype and attention. What I have found is that the AJGA has not only set the precedent and standard within the golf industry in such categories as pace of play and hydration, but also in how we present ourselves. A first-year attendee to the workshop will soon learn when the AJGA is present. We bring more employees than any other organization, we show up early and stay late, we dress the part, we sit in the front row and we consistently perform well on the exam. This dedication and passion for what we do is what sets the AJGA apart from any other golf organization.

Unplayables and Hazards and Obstructions, Oh My!

Toto, we’re not in Georgia anymore. This is the case for 20 AJGA tournament directors that traveled out to Houston, to attend the PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop.

Although the workshop is the time we all want to shine and score the coveted 92 or better on the Rules Exam, it is merely the culmination of much hard work and dedication that has been put in the past eight weeks. Since early December, AJGA tournament directors have gathered in the board room each and every morning from 8 – 10 a.m. (don’t be a second late, or you will be providing breakfast for everybody the next day!) to comb the 600+ pages that compose the Rules of Golf  Decisions Book. How’s that for a headache to start your day?

Now that the studying and preparation has been completed, it’s show time! Here’s a quick breakdown of the past 48 hours…

Sunday, February 5

7:00 a.m. EST – AJGA staff assembles at the National Headquarters in Braselton, Ga., to load up three conversion vans, an SUV, two trucks and a 16-foot trailer with all necessary goods for our weeklong trip. Time to hit to road!

1:20 p.m. CST – Frosty or no frosty? Quick stop off at Wendy’s in Mobile, Ala., for a bite to eat and some time to stretch the legs a bit. There is some bickering as to who has won the most games of NBA Jam during the first seven hours in the vehicles.

6:09 p.m. CST – Tournament Director Rachel Graves wins the first quarter of the Super Bowl squares pool as the Giants lead the Patriots 9-0.

9:34 p.m. CST – The caravan pulls into Houston just after the Giants pull out the victory in Super Bowl XLVI. The staff checks into the hotel and hits the sack in preparation for the first day of the workshop.

Monday, February 6, 2012

8:00 a.m. CST – The big day has come! We all arrive dressed in our finest business attire ready to show what we are made of. After getting registered and putting away some breakfast, we take our seats and begin the workshop.

8:25 a.m. CST – Our three marvelous instructors, Ron Hickman (PGA), Genger Fahleson (USGA/IGA) and Brad Gregory (PGA), have finished their introductions. Between the three of them, they have rules officiated at all four Major Championships and 12 of the 13 USGA Championships, not to mention something called the Ryder Cup. Boy do we have a lot to learn!

11:55 a.m. CST – After covering Rules 1 and 13 in addition to all the important definitions that comprise the Rules of Golf, we break for lunch to try and make sense of everything.

4:50 p.m. CST – Eight grueling rules later, the day has finally come to a close and we head back to our hotel for the evening…but don’t think the day ends there! Rules guru Andrew Greenfield (AJGA Director of Rules & Competitions) will be leading a review session in the hotel lobby to cover everything we learned during the day.

11 p.m. CST – Lights out and time to catch up on some sleep…another fun-filled day is just around the corner!

Be sure to keep checking in on the AJGA blog as I will be posting  daily updates from Houston as we battle through the Rules and prepare for the big test on Thursday morning!

-Blog by Casey Ceman, AJGA Tournament Director

In Charge at the Women's Open

The players on the course are not the only AJGA alumni at the 2011 U.S. Women's Open. The USGA's man in charge, Director Ben Kimball, is a former AJGA tournament director now at the helm of the USGA's national championship.

From 2002-2005, Kimball was an exemplary tournament director at the AJGA before departing to the USGA as a Manager of Competitions. After conducting various USGA championships during his early years, Kimball's role was elevated this year as the director of the U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Amateur.

At The Broadmoor, Kimball is reunited with top professional women who also played junior golf during his AJGA years. Inbee Park, the 2008 Women's Open champion was the 2002 Rolex Junior Player of the Year. Defending Women's Open champion Paula Creamer was the 2003 Rolex Junior Player of the Year.

Other players that Kimball saw with the AJGA in the early 2000s, and who also have made the jump to this week's Women's Open, include Morgan Pressel, Amanda Blumenherst, Brittany Lincicome, Stacy Lewis, In-Kyung Kim and Julieta Granada (pictured below with Kimball), among others. The AJGA will be rooting for the success of all our former players -- and former staff -- this weekend.

Happy National Golf Day!

April 13. I look at my calendar and there is no national holiday listed, but for those of us in the golf industry, today marks a special day. April 13 is the fourth annual National Golf Day, a day that seeks to recognize the social, economical, environmental, wellness and charitable benefits of the game of golf.

At the same time I as I sit and write about this day and what it means to our industry, leaders in the world of golf are in Washington D.C. speaking to lawmakers about the benefits of this game that makes up a large part of our lives.

Whether it be the four hours spent on the actual golf course, or the eight I will spend at my desk today, I will be thinking, writing and speaking about golf. And now, thinking over my years at the AJGA and the time I’ve been fortunate enough to spend with our members, I realize that golf has done much more for me than simply provide my salary. This game and the people who make up the AJGA- our members and their families, tournament committees, volunteers and the rest of the AJGA staff- have taught me patience, charity, integrity and compassion.

I’ve seen players disqualify themselves for a breach of the rules and have seen members of the local community open up their homes to our staff for the week. I have seen volunteers get teary eyed at the gratitude displayed by our players and I’ve seen those same players give their time to work with handicapped and underprivileged children who just wanted to know more about the game of golf. I’ve seen players raise thousands of dollars for charity before they even get their drivers license.

So when I think of all the game of golf has given to me, I realize it’s the people who play the game that make it as special as it is. It is the volunteer who gets out of bed at 5 a.m. and drives half an hour to the golf course. It is the parent that diligently follows his son around the course, not wanting to miss a single shot. It is the handshake on the 18th green as another day ends. This is golf to me.

On this day, National Golf Day, I say thank you to all of those in the AJGA family who have taught me about this game and its history, and I encourage each of you to take a vested interest in its future.

Oh to be at Pebble Beach!

            Team 3 has made it to our second tournament of the spring in Patterson, Calif., where the AJGA Junior at Diablo Grande will take place starting Saturday. Since we got to the tournament a little early, our wonderful tournament director, Casey Ceman, decided we should take a day off and head up to Pebble Beach and the 17 Mile Drive for the day.

            Wednesday morning arrived and we hopped in the car and drove the two hours up to Pebble Beach. Let me tell you, it was absolutely worth the trip. When we first got there, before seeing Pebble Beach, there were other courses we saw such as Spyglass Hill Golf Course, the Links at Spanish Bay, and Del Monte Golf Course. Some of the holes on these course were amazing, but I was glad I wasn’t playing them. They hugged the Pacific Coast and I’m sure more than a handful of golf balls have found their way into those waves.

            The coastline was absolutely beautiful and the waves were huge. If you have ever watched a tournament on TV from Pebble Beach, you always see the Lone Cypress, well we saw it. Absolutely breath-taking to put it simply.

            Finally, we reached the point we were all looking forward to, Pebble Beach, and believe me, it didn’t disappoint. When you looked out onto the 18th hole with the waves crashing in the background you almost thought it was a postcard, that’s how perfect it was. To see where Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell and Tom Watson have won will be a memory I will cherish forever. If someone asks if you want to go to Pebble Beach and the 17 Mile Drive, I suggest you go. 

-Written by Cassandra Stein, AJGA Communications

Big Ten Heads Down South

All the Big Ten men’s golf teams have made the trip down to PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to compete in the Big Ten Match Play Championship. And so has the AJGA staff. Five staff members have traveled to Palm Beach Gardens to conduct tournament operations and serve as rules officials for the event.

The AJGA staff definitely knows their way around the PGA National Champion Course as that is the home of the Polo Golf Junior Classic. The AJGA is also providing FootJoy Live Scoring to the event so there will up-to-date scoring of every match on the course. Be sure to follow all the action starting at 7 a.m. ET on Friday Feb. 11 at www.ajga.org/big10MPC

 
 
Interested in a couple of fun facts? All 11 of the Big Ten players ranked in Golfweek’s top 100 are AJGA alumni. Also 50 of the 66 players in the match play event are former AJGA players.

The PGA-USGA Rules Exam: A Tale of Two Graduates

In January, there is one staple on the AJGA Operations Department’s schedule. In bold, black ink there are two words that strike excitement, and maybe a little fear, into the hearts of the tournament directors: RULES SCHOOL.

In all, 13 of the 17 AJGA attendees achieved a 92 or higher, raising the number of tournament directors who are Rules Certified to 16. The AJGA staff as a whole boasts 28 staff members who are fully certified.

The ops staff travels to a PGA-USGA Rules of Golf Workshop each year with the hopes of reaching the highest level of certification, which is done by achieving a 92 or better on the exam. Following is the story of two AJGA Tournament Directors, Rules School Veteran Andrew Greenfield and first-year TD Lindsay Dodge.

The first step of preparing for the Rules exam, for AJGA staffers, is to study, study, study….

Andrew Greenfield: I begin preparing for the AJGA In-House Rules School about one month prior to the first class. We started our In-House program November 29, only two days after the conclusion of the Polo Golf Junior Classic. For the first two weeks of December the operations department met each morning from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Lindsay Dodge: As a new hire, I was still finishing up my semester in Kansas while  Rules School started on Nov. 29th. While juggling finals and work, I was receiving multiple emails from Andrew Greenfield everyday regarding the Rules of Golf.  Overwhelmed by all of this, I took one quiz at a time averaging about a 50% on each of them and trying to figure out exactly how to study for the Rules of Golf.

But of course, along the way, roadblocks will arise, forcing the operations department to find creative ways to prepare…

Greenfield: During the last week of the In-House Rules School, the city of Atlanta was hit with a snow and ice storm that closed AJGA Headquarters for three days. This could have really hurt the operations department’s progress with the rules, but the staff did a great job studying at home, doing my quizzes on their computers and asking questions via e-mail and cell phone. On the last day of the office being closed we were able to have two study sessions at designated. For some the snow storm was a blessing, as the office and road closures left nothing to do, but study the rules.

Dodge: As week one came to an end, I left the office in preparation to spend my weekend in Atlanta looking over the “Blue Pages” in the decisions book and be back on Monday with a fresh start.  I was wrong.  Our area was hit with the Atlanta Blizzard on Sunday Night and we were snowed in for three days.  Good thing I didn’t leave my rules book at my desk… Between snowball fights and sledding in my apartment complex, I was able to study with my roommate.  We had a few study sessions over Skype with other members of the Operations Department, and even conference called Andrew once or twice. I can now say Thank You to my three snow days for fully preparing me for the exam.

 After a 17-hour drive to San Antonio, the Operations Department was up bright and early to the begin the Rules Workshop…

 Greenfield: For the next three days the AJGA staff experienced nothing but the Rules of Golf from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After dinner each evening the Operations Department would meet in my room to discuss key points of the day and ask any questions. This meeting would last around 30 minutes. After our meeting the staff would return to their rooms or other areas of the hotel to study on their own or in smaller groups doing practice questions.

Dodge: The AJGA was the first group of people in the room on the first day of the workshop which meant that we could pick the best seats.  I remembered back to my high school days when my teacher’s always taught me to sit in the “T” Zone because it is more conducive to learning.  I felt like a nerd as I picked my seat in the very front row in front of the projection screen.

 After three days of non-stop Rules of Golf studying, they were ready to take the test. Test-day jitters were bound to make an appearance…

 Greenfield: The morning of the test is always nerve-wracking and you just want to get the test over with. Everyone has worked so hard for more than two months and you want that effort to translate into a good score. I know not everyone is going to hit that mark and knowing that is a tough pill to swallow. I wish everyone good luck before the test and give one last reminder to make sure to read each question carefully.

 Dodge: The exam started at 8 a.m. and we left our hotel around 6:45 so we could get to the hotel to eat breakfast and have a last minute study session on our own.  The nerves starting kicking in as we arrived at the Marriot in San Antonio, where the workshop was being held.  I found myself not being able to eat breakfast.  The worst part about the exam is that even though I felt prepared, I had no idea what the outcome of the test would be because I had never taken it before.

Unlike some exams, test-takers at the USGA-PGA Rules Examination can get an unofficial score within an hour or so of finishing the test. Keep reading to find out how Greenfield and Dodge scored…

Greenfield: After the test is over, the grading is the hardest part. The instructors put the answer key on the overhead projector and read out the answers (we hand in our scantron answer keys, but mark our answers down on an unofficial sheet so we can self-grade immediately after the test). While some tournament directors do not look at the overhead and just listen to the instructor’s voice, I do not have that patience. I immediately look at the overhead answer key and start going down my sheet. After the closed-book section, I have not missed any questions. I am relieved, but my heart is pumping forcefully in my chest. I look around to see the expressions of the rest of the staff. Everyone looks optimistic after the closed-book portion. For the open-book section, once again the scantron is placed on the overhead and the calling out of the answers resumes. I immediately look at the overhead and grade my test quickly- 100 for the second straight year! Not too bad.

Dodge: I finished the exam with about five minutes left and I could finally breathe again.  I thought the worst part was over, but then an overwhelming feeling came over me when I realized I had to grade my own exam. At the time, it seemed like the slowest process.  Each answer came out A…as in ALPHA, B…as in Boy.  My hand was shaking as I went down the first column and starting getting butterflies when I realized that I was not missing any questions.  The second column came and I missed four and before I could think about it, we had graded the closed portion and I scored a 46 out of 50.  I couldn’t believe it, it was the best I had done so far between any of the practice tests.  After grading the open book portion of the test, I found out that I had only missed five on the entire test which means I scored a 95.  I couldn’t believe it and I was so excited that I had passed.  All of the long hours of studying the Rules of Golf had paid off!

Greenfield: Once all the answers had been called out, I looked around at the staff. Excitement poured out across our section. Three tournament directors achieved 92 or better for the first time and they were beaming. We now have all seven female tournament directors rules certified, an impressive feat. Two other tournament directors scored 100 for the first time. Whether they achieved the 92 score or not, a sigh of relief comes over everyone. It’s time to relax, celebrate and return to Atlanta. Our rules knowledge will guide us through the upcoming tournament season and we will close the chapter on intense studying, until January 2012 when we begin it all again.