What better way to get your mind off the snow and cold outside than to start thinking and planning for the 2010 competitive golf season?Entries for KGA championship events and the KGA Senior Series program will open at 9:00 am on Monday, February 1, 2010.
The Kansas Golf Association is pleased to provide you with the following updates and news regarding the upcoming schedule.There is something in this memo for golfers of all ages, so please take a moment to see what applies to you.
Important dates:
February 1st:First day to enter 2010 KGA Championships and 2010 KGA Senior Series program (online, mail or walk in)
March 1st:First day to enter 2010 KJGA program (one-day summer junior events).
The 100th Kansas Amateur will be played at Prairie Dunes Country Club in July (19-25).We are making some special plans for this historic championship, including the “unveiling” of a new traveling trophy.
The biggest change for this event is the entry fee structure.It is now a two-tiered price.You pay $80 to enter a qualifying event, and then if you play well enough to advance to the Championship, you will pay an additional $120 for a total of $200.Last year all entrants paid the same $130.Championship qualifiers will be required to remit the balance of the entry fee within three days after their qualifying.
But here is the biggest news!Beginning in 2010 the KGA will offer a “second chance” qualifier.For those golfers that either failed to qualify at one of the five regional qualifiers or who missed the entry deadline, there will be a sixth “last chance” qualifier on July 7th at Alvamar Golf Course in Lawrence.The entry fee will be $80.So, a golfer that paid $80 to qualify and then missed by a stroke or two, can give it another try for another $80.The good news is that, if you make it the second time, you only have to pay another $40 for the Championship (never more than $200 total).
Entries for the last chance qualifier will be opened on July 1st (after the last regular qualifier) and will be closed on July 5th and will be limited to the first 102 golfers to enter.
KGA Senior Championships
Good news for those of you 65 and older!For the three senior championships (Senior Amateur, Senior Four-Ball and Senior Team), there will now be a separate division or title for Super Seniors.This “championship within a championship” will be for those golfers age 65 or older that designate in advance that they want to play from what will be shorter set of tees and against only those in the “super senior” age group.For the two team events, both partners must be age 65 or older to participate in the super senior division.
For all seniors, the KGA senior championships will eliminate the “gross” prizes for what was formerly called the “gross/net” division.This division, which will play from the same shorter set of tees as the super seniors, will now be strictly awarded prizes for net scores.Any super senior that wants to compete for a net prize will be included in the net competition those golfers younger than 65.
KGA Public Links Championship
The age group divisions for this event have been realigned to 25 and under, 26 to 49, and 50 and older.This will match our player of the year points system.This event will also see a small increase in the entry fee in order to provide mandatory golf carts for all contestants.The championship will be held at Colbert Hills Golf Course, May 22-23.
Kansas Four-Ball Championship
This championship returns to its traditional site of Alvamar Golf Course, however, the entire event will now be played at the “public” golf course only.
The Masters Division will continue for 2010 to give golfers 40 and older one more year to embrace this idea.The separate match play bracket for this age group did not draw well the last two years.So, spread the word if you like this idea!
Mid-Am Team Championship
The 2010 championship will be held at Indian Hills Country Club, a fabulous fall venue.The entry fee has been increased from $350 to $400 and golf carts will now be provided to all teams for all three days.Sorry, there will still be a cut to the low 48 teams (and ties) after 36 holes!
KGA Senior Series
The schedule of events has been set with 21 dates, including the traditional “western swing”, a “road trip” to Nebraska, a “step across the border” into Missouri and a good spread throughout the state from April 29th through September 21st.There are no changes in dues or fees for 2010.The KGA Senior Series Championship will be October 4-5 at Shawnee Country Club in Topeka.Missouri will host the Ozark Senior Challenge in October at a site to be determined. The schedule can be viewed on the KGA website at this time.
Kansas Junior Golf Association
This competitive summer program for boys and girls divides the state of Kansas into six sections and offers up to four regional events prior to a state championship. This year’s Junior Section Team Championship will be held at Eagle Bend Golf Course on July 26-28th in Lawrence.
One change to the 2010 program will be that girl golfers are only allowed to participate in the Northeast, North Central, and West sections. Although traveling may be more difficult for some, this change was made to allow a more enjoyable and competitive environment for all.
The 2010 KJGA Schedule and entry forms will be posted on February 1st. Entries begin on March 1st and entrants are encouraged to enroll early to avoid being wait-listed. For a complete description of the program, go to the KGA website, www.kansasgolf.org.
