Some early season golf rumors, whispers, innuendos and half-truths:
– Although dates have been posted to the Tournament Calendar for the ADGA and CGA, watch for some schedule changes coming soon in an effort to eliminate conflicting events and to make it easier to get guys to play in the multi-round formats;
– John Niedzialek and the Cleveland Skins Game plans to make its case to the Metroparks pros running the Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship to include their top five players into the Am’s “exemptions list”. Here’s hoping that happens;
– Big fun for the old guys this year! The 2009 Ohio Senior Amateur Championship will be played in Northeast Ohio, at the beautiful Congress Lake Club in Hartville August 17-19. Details to be posted soon at OhioGolf.org;
– NOGA’s 2009 Northeast Ohio Am will be played at Lake Forest, Oberlin and Lakewood Country Clubs this year — a fun, challenging, ‘all private’ rotation;
– The local qualifiers this spring for the 2009 Ohio Amateur are at the Country Club at Fox Meadows in Medina and at Alliance Country Club. The 2009 Ohio Am proper will be played at Moraine CC in Kettering, near Dayton. Entry blank available here;
– 2008 ‘Public Team’ captain Joe Ungvary Jr. has made it his mission to get some “new blood” (i.e. players) into the Shaw Cup this year, and to expand the event itself and the extra-curriculars, too. It will be interesting to see what expansion he can manage in a tough economy;
– Speaking of the economy, it also will be interesting to track overall league and tournament participation this year. Some people are struggling financially, and others aren’t really struggling but are worried that they might struggle at some point in the future. A lot of golfers fall into the latter category. The screaming media has everyone guessing, and fear may make golfers stay at work and away from the course. Let’s hope some rational thought takes over soon;
More ‘golf chatter’ later…
— Allen Freeman
