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2010 slate should provide another record year for KGA Senior Series

It seems the KGA Senior Series, like many of its players, keeps getting better with age. In 2009, a record number of players joined the ranks of the Series that takes golfers to some of

the Sunflower State’s finest facilities and some just beyond its borders throughout the golf season.
   According to Senior Series Commissioner Dick Kendrick, the 2010 schedule might be even better and provides some challenging tests of golf for the players.
   “I think I may say this every year, but when you look at this year’s schedule in its entirety, I think we have the best one we’ve had for the Senior Series since I’ve been doing this,” says Kendrick, who took the reigns as commissioner back in 2003. “When you look at how we’ve grouped the events and the courses that we will be playing, our competitors will have some outstanding chances to play great courses on back-to-back days in various parts of the state.”
   For more information on the KGA Senior Series or to enter an event go to www.kansasgolf.org/kga-senior-series.

Senior Series experience
   Kendrick says there won’t be any major changes to format for the 2010 Senior Series events. Super seniors, who play in the 65 and older bracket, will play from a shorter set of tees whenever possible, Kendrick says. There will be no “double point” days this season, according to Kendrick. Golfers play 18 holes in 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, or 65 and older age divisions at each Series stop. A season-long points standings is maintained and those who qualify compete in the Series’ season-ending Championship event, to be played this Oct. 4-5 Dick Kendrick

at Topeka’s Shawnee Country Club.
   Kendrick, who lives in Overland Park after a long career working for the IRS, says the Senior Series usually draws anywhere from 60-100 players for regular events. The number is usually between 40-60 for “destination” outings like the Series’ western swing prior to the High Plains Amateur in late August and its two-day sojourn to Nebraska to close out the regular season.
   “When we go to Dodge City Country Club, Southwind and Buffalo Dunes, prior to the High Plains, it’s just five days of golf that our players can really kick back and enjoy playing golf and the camaraderie of being around all the guys,” Kendrick says. “That’s really what the Senior Series is all about.
   “I had an e-mail from a guy, inquiring about the Senior Series and really just wondering if he would fit in. He said he was about a 6.5 handicap, but hadn’t played competitive golf in a while…I e-mailed him it didn’t matter if he could play to that level or was more like a 16 or a 17, the Senior Series had a place for him and he would really enjoy it. He e-mailed back and that was all the assurance he needed to hear.”

Season kicks off in Wichita
   This year, the Senior Series will give the KGA some April golf, kicking off the 2010 campaign with a trip to Wichita. On April 29, players will compete at Tallgrass Country Club before moving over to Crestview Country Club on April 30.
   “It’s nice to get back to Tallgrass and Crestview, courses in Wichita that we haven’t seen in a while,” Kendrick says.
   On May 10, the series makes a return to Lawrence Country Club in the first of two events in the Lawrence/Topeka areas. The following day the Series takes on Shawnee Country Club in Topeka in a preview of the season-ending Championship to be played at the facility in early October.
   “We’re very excited to have Shawnee Country Club back on the schedule and it’s nice that the players will get a chance to familiarize themselves with the course before our Championship event later in the year,” Kendrick says.
   Late in May, the Series makes its first 2010 appearance in the Kansas City area for a pair of events. On May 26 players face challenging Ironhorse Golf Club in Leawood and on May 27 they move over to The Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, which has hosted PGA Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour events in recent years.

Heading West
   In June, the Senior Series moves back West for a pair of events in Manhattan. On June 23, the seniors face always-challenging Colbert Hills Golf Club, nestled in the Flint Hills and home of the Kansas State Wildcats. The following day the tour moves over to Manhattan Country Club for another 18-hole event.
   A pair of two-day Senior Series trips is planned in hot July. The first comes on July 13 when Andy Smith

seniors move to Newton and play highly-regarded Sand Creek Station. The following day they take on challenging Wichita Country Club, site of the 2009 Ozark Senior Challenge matches.
   “We’re just thrilled to have Wichita Country Club back on our schedule…that’s just a great golf course,” Kendrick says of the site of the 2008 Kansas Amateur. “And though I haven’t played it yet, I have officiated several events at Sand Creek Station and all you hear are good things from those who play the course.”
   The Series begins its second half back in the Kansas City area on the Missouri side later in July. The Greg Norman-designed Stone Canyon in Independence, Mo., is the site for an 18-holer on July 28. The new course hosted the KGA seniors at the last minute due to some weather issues in 2010 and it played to rave reviews. On July 29, The Golf Club at Creekmoor in Raymore, Mo., hosts the Series again. Creekmoor, site of the 2009 KGA Senior Team Championship, has been an anticipated stop on the tour, according to Kendrick.

Alvamar doubles up
   KGA seniors get the unique opportunity to play both of the fine courses at Alvamar Golf Club to kick off the August portion of the Senior Series slate. On Aug. 9, the Series plays the Alvamar Country Club course and on Aug. 10 a round is planned on the Public course, home of the University of Kansas Jayhawks.
   “That’s really a great chance for anyone who hasn’t been to Alvamar to play both golf courses in just two days,” Kendrick says. “It’s wonderful that we were able to couple both Bill McDonald

courses like that.”
   The Series closes out the summer months with its Western swing later in August with three events planned right before the annual High Plains Amateur at The Golf Club at Southwind in Garden City (Aug. 28-29). On Aug. 25, the KGA seniors play Dodge City Country. They move over to Southwind for an event on Aug. 26 and close out the three-day test on Aug. 27 at Garden City’s Buffalo Dunes.
   The seniors move back to the Kansas City area for the final time in 2010 for a pair of early September events. Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club in Prairie Village is host for a Series stop on Sept. 8. The following day the Series makes its return to Falcon Ridge Golf Club in Lenexa.
   The Series’ “regular season” comes to an end later in September with a trip “north of the border.” The KGA seniors take on the Country Club of Lincoln (Neb.) on Sept. 20 and move over to challenge Arbor Links in Nebraska City on Sept. 21.
   “I just can’t say enough about the condition of the course at Arbor Links…it’s unbelievable,” Kendrick says. “That is really an outstanding trip for us to close out the schedule.”

Shawnee Country Club hosts ’10 Championship
   Much the same way the PGA Tour players close out their season at the Tour Championship, KGA seniors conclude theirs with the Senior Series Championship, this season to be contested Oct. 4-5 at Shawnee Country Club in Topeka. Site of one of the qualifying rounds for the 2007 Kansas Amateur Championship, Shawnee Country Club should provide a stiff challenge for competitors who qualify.
   “All I have heard about the course is good and we think Shawnee Country Club will be an

excellent site for our season-ending event and provide a worthy champion,” Kendrick says.
Last year, Andy Smith, the 2007 KGA Senior Player of the Year, ended 2008 Senior Player of the Year Mike Grosdidier’s two-year run as Senior Series Championship titlist. Kansas City’s Smith edged Baldwin City’s Grosdidier by a single shot after two rounds at Colbert Hills.
The Senior Series Championship also establishes the Kansas teams for the Ozark Senior Challenge and Association Senior Cup competitions to be contested later in October against the Missouri teams. Those Ryder Cup-style matches are to be hosted by the Missouri Golf Association this season and rotate between the two associations each year. Both Missouri squads retained their respective cups last season in closely contested battles at Wichita Country Club so you can bet the Kansas squads will be looking to regain cups this fall.