FWGA 2007 In Review

Dear FWGA members,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the FWGA, thanks to all that participated in our 2007 season. I would like to take this opportunity to review the events of the past season and to bring our members up to speed as to what changes you can expect in 2008.

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2007 season:

Spring Open (Foster Park GC)

Championship Flight: Scott Pieri (142)
First Flight: Ryan Olbin (153)
Second Flight: Scott Stepleton (161)
Senior (50-59): Rich Hall (155)
Senior (60-69): Hal Spranger (140)
Senior (70 & Over): Charlie Kuntz (163)

Little City (McMillen Park GC) (2^nd Round Cancelled due to heavy rain)

Championship Flight: Chip Novak (won sudden-death playoff with Travis Hemsoth) (61)
First Flight: Mike Landram, Dave Ward, Marc Kanalos (69)
Second Flight: Terry Lamb, Robert Gallmeyer, Matthew Johnston (74)
Senior Flight: Alan Hernly, Bill Rutledge (138 (both rounds played))

Hall of Fame Championship (Coyote Creek CC)

Open Division Gross Champion: Hartley McLeod III (68)
Open Division Gross 2^nd Place: Jason Smith (71)
Open Division Gross 3^rd Place: Karl Behrens (72)
Open Division Net: Jason Smith (67)
50-59 Gross: Tom Topp (76)
50-59 Net: John Smith (72)
60-69 Gross: Mike Mommer (73)
60-69 Net: Gordon Ewing (65)
70 & Over Net: Bob Younger (75)

Houlihan & Houlihan Interclub Championship (Brookwood GC)

Team Champions: Cedar Creek GC (292) (2005, 2006, & 2007)

q Mike Bair, Mike Meehan, Ron Schmucker, Bret Richards, Mark Childs

Team 2^nd Place: Coyote Creek GC (293)

q Wyndell Gaff, Brian Lonergan, Chip Novak, Mark Rietdorf, Steve Vernasco

Team 3^rd Place: Pine Valley CC (294)

q Karl Behrens, Dave Dimberio, Kevin Harrison, Aaron Roth, Tom Wood

City Championship (Brookwood GC / Orchard Ridge CC)

Champion: Hartley McLeod III (205)
Runner-Up: Sam Till Jr. (207)
Junior: Adam Parrot (228)

Senior City Championship (Brookwood GC)

Over-all: Bill Argus (146)
50-54: Bill Argus (146)
55-59: Ed Hughes (151)
60-64: Dave Mock (157)
65-69: James Reecer (154)
70-74: Dick Bunnell (152)
75 & Over: Ken Wright (148)

Pizza Hut Mid-Am Team Championship (Brookwood GC)

Champions: Scott Pieri / Mark Rietdorf (134)
Runners-Up: BJ Hayden / Joe Hayden (135)

FWGA Challenge Cup Matches (Pine Valley CC)

FWGA 26 Pros 14

For details of all of these events, please go to our website at www.fwga.com and click on the Home tab and scroll down to ‘Event Archives’.

Where Does the Money Go?

In 2007, with the exception of the City Championship, 100% of the entry money was paid in gift certificates to the host pro shops. Your $15 FWGA membership fee is greatly appreciated and we try to use that money as wisely as possible in regard to our expenses.

Our goal each season is to end up with the same balance in the checkbook as what we started with in the beginning of the season. When we have a surplus, we try to use those monies for upgrades to our computer, office, or equipment for our events (i.e. flagsticks, tee markers, etc…).

As an example, typical expenses for each event include: FWGA scoreboard sheets (designed by Sherri Godschalk), scorecards, trophies, the 2-3 entry fees for the working board members of that event, a small tab for our workers and volunteers, and sometimes a starter. The approximate total expenses (depending on a 1 or 2 day event) run us about $305 / event.

Other yearly expenses include:

The FWGA mailer of printed schedules and entry forms $1,800
Contribution to the Fort Wayne Parks & Rec Tour $500 - $1,000
Printing of the large schedule posted at the golf courses $125

The City Championship is handled a bit differently in regard to the entry fees and where the money goes. We have listed below a review of the 2007 City Tournament.

o Income:

q Qualifier entry fees: 137 @ $50 $6,850

q Exempt entry fees: 60 @ $180 $10,800

q Successful Qualifier fees: 90 @ $155 $13,950

q Exempt H.S. entry fees: 6 @ $75 $300

TOTAL INCOME $33,900

o Expenses

q Green Fees for Qualifier: 137 @ $24 $3,288

q Green Fees for Rounds 1 & 2: 156 @ $50 $7,500

q Green Fees for Round 3: 100 @ $25 $2,500

q Gift Certificates $9,420

q Banquet: $4,833

q Trophies: $1,100

q Tournament Gifts: $1,320

q Range Balls $1,312

q Other Expenses:

q Scorecards, Scoreboard Score sheets, Forecaddies, Scoreboard Workers, Radios, Leader Board Carriers (rounds 2 & 3), tab for volunteers and workers, etc… $2,550

TOTAL EXPENSES $33,823

Good Things in ‘07

2007 marked the first year that High School players could earn a free pass to the City Championship by competing successfully in the Parks & Rec Jr. Tour. We plan to continue this program and the total number of High School exemptions will remain at (6).

2007 was also the 3^rd year of the Parker Motter Scholarship Program. For the past 3 years, the Parks & Rec tournament committee has selected at least 1 Jr. golfer to receive the $500 scholarship on behalf of the FWGA. This scholarship was set up to cover the costs of the following:

q Entry fees to play in all events on the Fort Wayne Junior Pepsi Tour.

q Fees for a junior membership at a local municipal or public golf course.

q Fees associated with a series of lessons from a designated PGA Professional.

q Entry Fees for a designated local event.

A most humble and gracious appreciation goes to the Parker Motter legacy. Parker passed away in early 2007. Parker was a very humble person in regard to his many golfing accomplishments. The FWGA to Parker, as we know it, held a very special place in his heart. The FWGA was recently invited to a luncheon, organized by the Motter family, honoring Parker and his estate. A part of his estate was granted to the FWGA and the Fort Wayne Parks and Rec Jr. Golf program. With the monies deposited into an interest bearing account, it is hoped that (3) scholarships will be awarded each year on behalf on the FWGA and Parks & Rec Jr. Golf program. Other local beneficiaries included his church, WFWA (Channel 39), the American Cancer Society, the Elks, and the League for the Blind. Please be sure to thank the Motter family for this most generous gift to Fort Wayne golf.

What to Expect in ‘08

Our 2008 schedule is complete except for some of the Senior FWGA events. We think we’ve put together a schedule that includes variety, challenges, and our continued competitive camaraderie amongst our members. Please see our schedule below:

Date Event Course

April 26 FWGA 5 – Man Scramble Lakeside GC

(No FWGA membership required for this event)

May 17 – 18 FWGA Spring Open Championship Foster Park GC

May 31 Senior FWGA 2 – Man BB Brookwood GC

June 7 – 8 FWGA Little City Championship McMillen Park GC

June 21 FWGA Amateur Open Cedar Creek GC

July 12 Parker Motter Memorial Hall of Fame Championship Coyote Creek GC

July 26 FWGA City Qualifier (A-L) Foster Park GC

(M-Z) Brookwood GC

August 3 Houlihan & Houlihan FWGA Interclub Championship Brookwood GC

August 9 – 11 FWGA City Championship Sycamore Hills GC

Brookwood GC

September 19 FWGA Mid-Am Team Championship Brookwood GC

October 10 FWGA Challenge Cup Matches Pine Valley CC

*Expect a more detailed schedule with the 2008 Entry Form Packet*

* More Chances to Qualify for the City Championship

As a player, qualifying for a championship event is probably the most difficult type of golf one has to play. It is not any different for our members the day of City Qualifying. Beginning in 2008, you will find out that there is more than one chance to get into the City Championship. This is how it will work:

o For the Spring Open and Little City:

q Any golfer finishing in the ‘Top 10’ places of the championship flight and is not currently on the 2008 exempt list, now becomes exempt from qualifying (one must meet all eligibility requirements).

o For the Amateur Open and Parker Motter Hall of Fame Championship:

q Any golfer finishing in the ‘Top 10’ places of the ‘Gross’ flight and is not currently on the 2008 exempt list, now becomes exempt from qualifying (one must meet all eligibility requirements).

o Beginning with the Spring Open at Foster Park, the 2008 Exempt list will be posted at the official scoreboard. At the end of the event, those golfers meeting the above requirements will be added to the list and posted at the next event. The last chance to take advantage will be Saturday, July 12^th at the Parker Motter Memorial Hall of Fame Championship being played at Coyote Creek GC.

o Thank you Mike Nealley for bringing this idea to the FWGA board.

Changes to the City Championship

We are proud to announce that Sycamore Hills GC and Brookwood GC will host the 2008 City Championship this August 9^th – 11^th. Qualifying will be Saturday, July 26^th at Foster Park GC (A-L) and Brookwood GC (M-Z). For those playing in the 2008 Championship, you can expect the following:

o Play will begin Saturday, August 9^th at Brookwood GC with a total field of 156 players.

q 78 players begin play at 8:00 AM on #1 and #10 tees.

q 78 players begin play at 1:00 PM on #1 and #10 tees.

o The field will re-pair after round 1 based upon one’s score and head to Sycamore Hills GC for Sunday’s second round.

q 78 players begin play at 8:00 AM on #1 and #10 tees.

q 78 players begin play at 1:00 PM on #1 and #10 tees.

o After completion of round 2, the field will be reduced to the top 120* scores and ties. (Note in years past the cut line was the top 100 and ties.)

q Beginning at 8:00 AM, players will re-pair based upon score and will begin play off of #1 tee and end at approximately 2:00 PM with the leaders in the final groups.

o At the completion of play, Sycamore Hills Clubhouse will host our 2008 Banquet. At that time we will recognize the year’s event champions as well as the following:

q The 2008 ‘Low’ Junior winner.

q The 2008 City Championship Runner(s) Up.

q The 2008 City Champion

q The 2008 Challenge Cup Team

q The ‘Exempt’ score (top 60 and ties) for the 2009 City Championship.

q The ‘Payout’ list. We plan to pay all those making the 2009 exempt list, which will be the top 60 and ties.

*In case you did not notice, please note the following major changes to the 2008 City Championship:

o If you are not exempt for the 2008 City Championship, you now have a total of (5) opportunities to get into the field of 156.

q Top ten finishes in the Spring Open, Little City, Amateur Open, Parker Motter Memorial, or the City Qualifier.

o The cut-line after Round 2 of the City Championship will be the top 120 scores & ties. (Since we began the (2) round cut, the cut-line was the top 100 scores and ties.)

Questionnaire

1. Would you rather receive your FWGA packet (entry forms & schedule) via the mail or by downloading the information from the FWGA website?

(Please email your answer to the ‘Contact Us’ on the FWGA home page. Point to the Home tab and click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab. Submit your answer in the comments block.)

If someone has a concern or an idea to pass along to the board, please feel free to share those ideas with us via the phone, email, or at the course.

Once again, thank you for your participation and we look forward to seeing you at the April 26^th Lakeside Scramble.

Sincerely,

Steve Vernasco

President, FWGA