FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 8, 2013
April 8, 2013
MASTERS TOURNAMENT FOUNDATION, UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION AND THE PGA OF AMERICA ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF DRIVE CHIP AND PUTT CHAMPIONSHIP
AUGUSTA, Ga. –
In an effort to promote interest and participation in the game of golf, the Masters Tournament Foundation, United States Golf Association (USGA) and The PGA of America announced Monday the creation of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, a free, nationwide junior skills competition that will conclude at Augusta National Golf Club in 2014.
Participants in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt Championship will advance through local and regional qualifiers conducted throughout the United States. Competitors will be comprised of boys and girls ages 7-15, and they will compete in separate divisions in four age categories. The regional champions in each of the boys and girls divisions from the four age categories will advance to the finals to be held at Augusta National the Sunday before the Masters Tournament, April 6, 2014. The Championship finals will be produced and broadcast by Golf Channel.
“Generations of players have been inspired by the dream of sinking a winning putt on the 18 green at Augusta National,” said Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament Foundation. “Now an exciting opportunity exists to make that dream a reality. I am confident that our collective efforts with the USGA and The PGA of America will showcase the talents of kids who already play this game and motivate others to give the sport a try.”
Said Glen Nager, President of the USGA: “Among our many responsibilities as a governing body is finding creative ways to make the game more accessible to our nation’s young people. The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is an exciting new opportunity to fulfill this role, and together with our partners at the Masters Tournament Foundation and The PGA of America we look forward to leading its long-term success.”
“The game of golf is built on several fundamental skills, which our 27,000 PGA Professionals around the country teach players of all ages every day,” said Ted Bishop, President of The PGA of America. “The ability to successfully drive, chip and putt a golf ball are some of the basics to the enjoyment of the sport, and we believe this competition will motivate young players to work hard, practice these principle skills and learn to make golf a game of a lifetime.”
Local qualifying events will take place at courses in 19 states and Washington, D.C. In total, local qualifiers will provide more than 17,000 opportunities to compete. An extensive network of PGA Professionals and USGA professional staff and volunteers will conduct these competitions around the country.
Regional qualifying will be conducted at courses in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas (2), Virginia and Washington.
For more information about the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, including official rules, qualifying sites or to register, please visit www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
About the Masters Tournament Foundation
The Masters Tournament Foundation, inspired by the enduring philosophies of Masters Tournament founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is committed to promoting golf’s domestic and international development through financial investment and active participation in initiatives aimed at preserving the traditions of the game and sharing its many virtues.
The Masters Tournament – since its very beginning – strives to provide added exposure to the game of golf and inspire interest in the sport worldwide. For more information about the Masters, visit www.masters.com.
Augusta National Golf Club
Steve Ethun, Director of Communications
(706) 667-6705; spethun@augustanational.com
United States Golf Association
Joe Goode, Managing Director – Communications
(908) 470-5008; jgoode@usga.org
PGA of America
Julius Mason, Senior Director, Communications and Media Relations
(561) 624-8444, jmason@pgahq.com
CHAMPIONSHIP FACT SHEET
ELIGIBILITY
1. The 2014 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is open to boys and girls ages 7-15. Boys and girls will compete in separate divisions in four age categories: 7-9 years old; 10-11 years old; 12-13 years old; and 14-15 years old. Participants will be grouped based on their age as of the Championship Final on Sunday, April 6, 2014.
2. Participants may register to compete in only one local competition.
3. All competitors must conform to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status.
4. Only golf clubs on the most current USGA List of Conforming Clubs may be used in the competition.
ENTRIES
1. All participants must complete an online entry application at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship Web site, www.drivechipandputt.com.
2. Participation will be limited. When entries exceed available spots in any age division, applicants will be chosen via random drawing, with every applicant receiving an equal opportunity to be awarded a place in local qualifying.
3. Entry applications must be received no later than 5 P.M. EDT on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.
4. There is no entry fee for the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship.
SCHEDULE OF COMPETITION
1. The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship will be conducted in three stages:
a. Local qualifying – 110 qualifying events will be conducted from June 1 to July 15, 2013 (courses in each of the following locations – Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C.).
b. Regional qualifying – 11 qualifying events to be conducted from August 1 to August 31, 2013 (Courses in each of the following States – Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas (2), Virginia and Washington).
CHAMPIONSHIP FACT SHEET,
c. Championship final – To be conducted Sunday, April 6, 2014 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
2. All participants must begin the competition at the local qualifying level.
3. From local qualifying, the top two overall point earners in each of the boys and girls divisions from the four age brackets will advance to the regional qualifying level of the competition.
4. The regional competition is a new competition with no carryover from the local competition. The overall champion in each of the boys and girls division from the four age categories will advance to the finals to be held the Sunday before the Masters Tournament (April 6, 2014).
5. The championship final will take place at Augusta National Golf Club and be staged on its Tournament Practice Facility (Driving / Chipping) and 18 green (Putting). The championship final is a new competition with no carryover from the regional competition.
6. The championship final will be produced and broadcast by Golf Channel.
SCORING / COMPETING
1. Each participant will compete in all three skills (Drive, Chip & Putt). An individual rules sheet for each skill competition is available on the championship Web site, www.drivechipandputt.com.
2. Participants will accumulate points in each skill. The participant with the highest number of accumulated points will be declared the overall champion of their age category.
AWARDS
1. Local Qualifier: Ribbons for 1st – 3rd places overall; Ribbons for 1st – 3rd of each skill; Every participant will receive a Drive, Chip and Putt Championship logoed t-shirt.
2. Regional Qualifier: Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for 1st – 3rd places overall; Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for 1st – 3rd places of each skill; Every participant will receive a Drive, Chip and Putt Championship logoed divot tool, ball markers and towel.
3. Championship Final: Trophies for each age division champion and winners of individual skills; Every participant will receive a Drive, Chip and Putt Championship logoed golf shirt, matching cap, bag tag and three (3) Monday Practice Round tickets for the 2014 Masters Tournament.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 20, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 20, 2013
ELLEN PORT NAMED CAPTAIN OF 2014 USA CURTIS CUP TEAM
Five-Time USGA Champion and St. Louis Native to Lead USA Team at St. Louis Country Club
Far Hills, N.J. (Feb. 20) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced today that five-time USGA champion Ellen Port, of St. Louis, Mo., has been selected as captain of the 2014 Curtis Cup Team. The 38th Match will be conducted in Port’s hometown at St. Louis Country Club from June 6-8.
The Curtis Cup is a biennial competition between female amateur teams from the USA and Great Britain and Ireland, first played in 1932 at Wentworth Golf Club in England. Port was a member of the 1994 and 1996 USA Curtis Cup Teams.
“Ellen is one of the great USGA amateur champions of the modern era,” said Dot Paluck, chairman of the USGA Women’s Committee. “She has well represented the United States in past Curtis Cup Matches, and we are proud to have her as captain of the 2014 Team.”
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve the USGA, my future players and the game that I’ve grown to love as the captain of the 2014 USA Curtis Cup Team,” said Port. “It’s an added bonus to have the venue in my hometown, at a club that is so rich in golf history and tradition.”
Port won the 1995, 1996, 2000 and 2011 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs and the 2012 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur. She is one of two women to win both championships, joining renowned career amateur and two-time USA Curtis Cup Captain Carol Semple Thompson, and the 11-year span between her third and fourth Women’s Mid-Amateur victories is a championship record. She was runner-up at the 2002 Women’s Mid-Amateur, and is a record four-time Women’s Mid-Amateur stroke-play medalist (2000, 2001, 2002, 2010). Port has 58 Women’s Mid-Amateur match victories, the most in championship history, and has also competed in the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and USGA Women’s State Team championships.
In addition to her USGA titles, Port is an eight-time Missouri Women’s Amateur champion, most recently in 2012, the most in championship history. She is a 12-time St. Louis Metropolitan champion, most recently in 2010, and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Port also won the 1994 Women’s TRANS National Golf Association Amateur Championship.
Port began playing golf at age 24 and is a 1983 graduate of the University of Missouri. Since 1986, she has served on the staff of the John Burroughs School in St. Louis, where she teaches physical education and coaches the boys and girls golf teams. She is married to Andy Port and has two teenage children, Drew and Katie.
Great Britain and Ireland won the most recent playing of the Curtis Cup Match, capturing five Sunday singles matches to take a 10.5 to 9.5 victory in 2012 at The Nairn Golf Club in Nairn, Scotland. It was GB&I’s first title since 1996 and seventh in Match history. The USA now holds an overall 27-7-3 record.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
###
Media Contact: Christina Lance, USGA Communications
908-234-2300 x1149
clance@usga.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 11, 2013
USGA ANNOUNCES SERIES OF CHANGES TO FUTURE CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER
Introduces U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championships in 2015, Marking First National Championships to
Be Added to USGA Competition Roster in More Than 25 Years
Announces Plans to Retire U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships After 2014
Far Hills, N.J. (Feb. 11, 2013) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the introduction of two new championships, the first national championships to be added to the USGA’s competition roster in more than 25 years. The addition of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, which will be played annually between mid-March and late May with the inaugural events scheduled for 2015, reflects the Association’s continued commitment to supporting and growing amateur competition well into the future.
The last time the USGA added a national championship for individual golfers was in 1987 with the creation of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the creation of national four-ball championships, given the popularity and enjoyment of this competitive format at the amateur level,” said USGA Vice President and Championship Committee Chairman Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. “Because the four-ball format lends itself to spirited team competition and aggressive risk-reward shotmaking, we are confident these championships will deliver exciting amateur golf to the national stage for both players and spectators alike.”
Eligibility for both national four-ball championships will be limited to amateurs, with no age restrictions. Team partners will not be required to be from the same club, state or country, and substitution of partners will be permitted until the close of entries. Entry is limited to individuals with a USGA Handicap Index® not to exceed 5.4 for men and 14.4 for women.
The USGA’s national amateur four-ball championships will begin with sectional qualifying at dozens of sites across the nation. The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball will consist of 128 and 64 two-player teams respectively, each playing their own ball throughout the round. Each team’s score will be determined using their better-ball score for each hole. After 36 holes of stroke-play competition, the field will be reduced to the low 32 teams for the match-play portion of the championship.
Four-ball has become a widely popular format for State and Regional Golf Associations across the United States. In 2012, more than 150 championships, either strictly four-ball or as part of a competition format, were conducted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“We appreciate the support and energy that the USGA is bringing to these new four-ball national championships,” said Jim Demick, executive director of the Florida State Golf Association, who served on the advisory group of State and Regional Golf Association executives and tournament directors consulted by the USGA. “Along with my fellow associations around the country, we look forward to showcasing this unique brand of team competition through what promise to be first-class events.”
Host sites for the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be announced by the USGA at a later date.
In conjunction with the creation of two national four-ball championships, the USGA also announced the retirement of the U.S. Amateur Public Links (APL) and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links (WAPL) championships, following the completion of the 2014 competitions. The decision follows an internal review which determined that the APL and WAPL championships no longer serve their original mission because of the widespread accessibility public-course golfers today enjoy in USGA championships.
The U.S. Amateur Public Links was first played in 1922, and is the fourth-oldest championship conducted by the USGA. The APL was established to provide public golfers with access to a national championship because, at that time, the U.S. Amateur Championship was restricted to players from USGA Member Clubs. The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links was established in 1977, for the same reason as the APL. In 1979, however, the USGA modified the entry requirements for the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur championships to allow entry to public-course players.
“While our fondness for these championships made this decision a difficult one, we will continue to proudly celebrate the legacy and important role that the APL and WAPL have had on the game by forever honoring them in the USGA Museum, as well as in other appropriate ways,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of Rules, Competitions & Equipment Standards for the USGA. “We also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the champions, participants, host clubs, volunteers and benefactors who, over the years, helped build a strong legacy of public links competition.”
Over the course of their existence, the U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links championships have assembled a rich history across the competitive golf landscape, and are part of the USGA’s long heritage of supporting public golf. The competitions boast an impressive lineup of champions including most recently: Billy Mayfair (1986); Tim Clark (1997); Trevor Immelman (1998); Ryan Moore (2002 and 2004); Brandt Snedeker (2003); Yani Tseng (2004); and T.J. Vogel and Kyung Kim (2012). These championships have also contributed to the USGA’s record books: Michelle Wie (2003) became the youngest champion in USGA history when she won the WAPL at age 13; Ryan Moore (2004) became the first golfer to win the APL and the U.S. Amateur in the same year, while Colt Knost matched the feat in 2007; and Pearl Sinn (1988) and Jennifer Song (2009) won both the WAPL and U.S. Women’s Amateur in the same year.
In addition to staging the U.S. Open Championship at public courses, the USGA continues to grow public golf, and support all golfers, through its various programs, including Rules of Golf education, Course Rating services and Turf Advisory Service visits. Through its partnership with national organizations such as The First Tee, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, The PGA of America and the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, the USGA supports numerous programs that benefit junior golfers, beginning golfers and golfers with disabilities who play at America’s public golf courses. With the development of its new pace-of-play initiative, the USGA hopes to serve golfers by helping public courses identify ways to reduce the time it takes to play the game.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 5 2013
USGA TO DIRECT RESOURCES TOWARD PACE OF PLAY ISSUES IN GOLF
Announces New Multifaceted Research and Education Initiatives
San Diego, Calif., (Feb. 2, 2013) – As part of its ongoing commitment to promote a more welcoming, enjoyable and sustainable game, the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that it will develop a broad set of initiatives to identify challenges and solutions regarding pace of play issues in the game of golf.
Speaking at the Association’s annual meeting in San Diego, USGA President Glen D. Nager outlined the main components of the multifaceted program, which will include:
- Analysis of key factors known to influence pace of play
- Development of a pace-of-play model based on quantifiable data
- Improvements to the USGA Pace Rating System
- On-site assistance at golf courses to help managers assess and improve pace of play
- Creation of player education programs
“The cry that pace of play has become one of the most significant threats to the game’s health has become only louder over the last year,” said Nager. “Industry research clearly shows that slow play and the amount of time it takes to play a round of golf detract from the overall experience and threaten to drive players away from the game. This problem touches every golfer, from the professional to the elite amateur to the collegiate player to the millions of recreational golfers at both public and private facilities.”
USGA Executive Director Mike Davis added: “It is appropriate for the USGA to examine pace of play issues in part because we experience them at our own championships. Six-hour rounds are just not good for the players, our championships or the game. Slow play is also incompatible with our modern society, in which our personal time for recreation is compressed. This is an issue that demands our complete attention.”
Stressing that pace of play cannot be tackled from a singular perspective Nager discussed in detail the various elements of the USGA initiative, which will commence this year. Emphasizing that the USGA will seek to establish partnerships with various golf industry leaders, from allied organizations to media partners to golf course managers, Nager said: “We must be committed to addressing over the long term the amount of time it takes to play, armed with the determination to improve pace of play and a belief that the time that golf takes to play can be reduced through the dedicated efforts of everyone connected with the game.”
USGA Pace of Play Initiative:
Analysis of Key Factors: Factors known to influence pace of play include course design (overall length, green-to-tee walks, location and number of hazards); course management and setup (green speed, hole locations, height and location of rough); player management (most significantly, the proper distribution of starting times); and the effectiveness of player education programs.
Research to Produce Pace-of-Play Modeling: A major study is underway at the USGA’s Research and Test Center to create the first-ever dynamic model of pace of play based on quantifiable data – a model that will be applicable to both competitive and recreational golf. Previous models and programs addressing pace of play have been based largely on observations and anecdotal evidence, while the new USGA model will draw from large-scale real-world inputs, including data from the PGA Tour’s Shotlink system. Once completed, analysis of the model should greatly increase understanding of the key factors affecting pace of play and allow recommendations for improving pace of play on a course-by-course basis.
Pace Rating System: The Test Center model will drive improvements in the USGA Pace Rating System, first developed in 1993 to help players complete a round of golf at an optimum, reasonable pace. The USGA Handicap Department will utilize data from the Test Center model to better customize the Pace Rating System for individual courses
On-site Assistance at Golf Courses: New programs to help golf course managers assess and improve pace of play will be delivered by the USGA Green Section through its Turf Advisory Service. The group will expand its educational efforts about aspects of course management that impact pace of play. The on-site visits will evaluate the overall playing quality of a golf course, of which pace of play is a central component. Recommendations provided by the USGA may also generate economic and environmental benefits, providing additional incentives for course managers to implement new practices.
Player Education Programs: Nager said the Association needs to “double down” on its efforts to educate players on the fundamentals of how to play faster. To this end, the USGA will use its communication channels to reach its Members and the larger golf community with messages on improving pace of play, such as picking up one’s ball on a hole once a player’s Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) limit is reached. Other efforts could include promotion of alternate formats such as match play, foursomes and Stableford scoring that are popular in other parts of the world and that take less time to play than the standard individual stroke-play format. The TEE IT FORWARD campaign, developed in conjunction with The PGA of America, will continue to be promoted as a way to speed play and provide more enjoyment. The Association will support these educational efforts with an online resource center at www.usga.org that contains information to help golfers improve their pace of play.
“Progress in improving pace of play will come only when the entire golf community is committed to working seriously to address the issue,” said Nager. “In this regard, I am pleased that the leadership of the PGA of America shares our concern about this critical issue. As our program develops, we look forward to engaging with the 27,000 members of the PGA, who can play an essential role in supporting our efforts to educate players and facility managers on how to improve pace of play.”
The USGA will also work to promote the nine-hole round of golf as a viable option for golfers who are pressed for time. Contrary to the beliefs of some golfers, a nine-hole round is fully compatible with both the Rules of Golf and the USGA Handicap System. The USGA will work over the coming months with partners across the industry to identify the best opportunities to help golfers and golf facilities embrace and value the nine-hole experience.
“As a governing body, we can look at the Rules of Golf, at the Handicap System, and at many other factors from our unique position within the game to help to advance the contributions made by so many individuals and associations who have addressed this problem in the past,” said Nager. “Significantly improving pace of play in the game is eminently possible, and we welcome the enthusiasm and contributions of the entire golf community as we work together toward this important goal.”
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
###
Media Contacts:
Joe Goode, USGA Communications
908-470-5008; jgoode@usga.org
Jeff Altstadter, USGA Communications
973-908-9991; jaltstadter@usga.org