Each year, the OGA gives recognition to those that have made significant contributions to the game of golf or the community.  Part of this process includes seeking nominations for the categories of Member of the Year, OGA Member Club of the Year and Facility of the Year.

The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has announced their 2009 Player of the Year recipients nominated by the various state and provincial golf associations that comprise the association.

At its annual meeting last week in Portland, Ore., the Pacific Northwest Section of the PGA of America presented a number of prestigious awards.

Duncan Campbell was awarded a 2009 Purpose Prize, which honors social entrepreneurs over 60 who are using their experience and passion to take on society’s biggest challenges.

With both the Open and Senior Divisions all square at 5 points each after yesterdays four-ball and foursome matches,  the outcome was up for grabs.

At the end of the Four-ball and Foursomes matches, the Amateurs and Professionals are all square at 5 poins each.  Individual Stroke Play matches will determine the final outcome tomorrow.

The Oregon Golf Association lost a long time friend and former employee when Mrs. Roberta Sullivan passed away Friday, October 16, 2009 at the age of 88.

Not taking his first round lead for granted, Chris Maletis, 61, of Portland, Ore. fired an impressive 4-under par 68 to capture the Inaugural OGA Players Championship at Waverley Country Club in Milwaukie, Ore. by 3-strokes.

He shot a stellar 5-under par 34-33—67 to take the first round lead at the inaugural OGA Players Championship at Waverley Country Club in Milwaukie, Ore., the first championship of its kind in the nation.

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A step-by-step apporach to help you learn the Rules of Golf.

If you have lifted your ball in the rough, placed it within 6” and thought you were using preferred lies –  please read on. 

Changes to to the 2010-11 Decision on the Rules of Golf will include 28 new decisions, 51 revised decisions and one withdrawn decision.  They will become effective, January 1, 2010.

PGA/USGA Rules Workshops are coming to Portland this winter . . . prefer Florida . . . click for more for the complete schedule - online registration opens October 7.

Without help from the Committee, a player is not permitted to take relief from an aeration hole without penalty.

The wall itself was about 12-feet high and we we hitting from about 15-feet from the front of the wall.  The net on the other side was about 8-feet in diameter and was only 10-feet from the back of the wall.  There was so little room for error. It seemed the best approach was to clear the wall with as little room to spare as possible otherwise there was little chance to hit the net.

I made the cut after the fourth round in the Duramed Futures Tour Qualifier here in Lakeland, Florida, and after having a good first three rounds, today was a bit of a different story. I hung in all day and finished with a 78, good enough to make the cut, putting me in the final round tomorrow, played at Lake Region Golf Club.

This week we had J.B. Holmes make a guest appearance for the Immunity Challenges which included the popular Glass Break Challenge as well as the 100-yard wedge shot and 10-foot putt to determine who would be forced into the elimination challenge.

Former OGA staff member Julie Wells is vying for her chance at full-time status on the Duramed Futures Tour.

I really liked how they put the show together, creating far more drama than it felt like when we were filming.  For the most part, the contest was really slow and boring as we did it—taking a couple hours from start to finish.  You also saw that they [the producers] seem to be starting to create the drama within the show, focusing on the personality clashes between the guys and Andrew Guiliani.  Mikey [Perez] had just the right thing to say at the right time, when he focused on the solitude we finally had when it was Guiliani’s turn at bat!

Make a donation to Oregon Junior Golf and The Children’s Course before October 31, 2009, and it is eligible for matching funds from the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund

There’s sometimes confusion at some Oregon Junior Golf events as to what defines when a scorecard is officially considered “returned” to the Committee. This is a major concern because the penalty could be as severe as DISQUALIFICATION.

Several members of Oregon Junior Golf had the oppotunity to compete with the legends of the game.

With its ongoing support for Oregon Junior Golf, Tournament Golf Foundation has awarded one of its pro-am pairings at the LPGA Safeway Classic to be used by the OGA to reward Junior Golfers who have demonstrated their community spirit and support by giving back to the game.

Heron Lakes Golf Course will host the 10th Anniversary The First Tee of Portland fundraising golf tournament.

Although local scores are not valid to your official handicap after December 1, you are under obligation per the USGA Handicap System, the OGA and your club to post rounds played in year-round golf associations if you travel throughout the winter.

If golf course conditions decline, most of the time you would not automatically want to turn to the use of “Winter Rules” / Preferred Lies.  The Rules of Golf covers these situations.  Most important, if an individual golfer invokes some sort of Preferred Lie when we are in season he/she still must post their score.

Now that many of our golfing friends have returnedg from their winter homes in sunbelt areas such as Southern California or Arizona, handicap committees are double checking to see whether their members have been living up to their responsibility in posting all their scores.

Welcome to Preferred Lies, the new OGA Handicapping Blog.  Why would we use the term "Preferred Lies" when it is actually contrary to anything we support?

There’s a lot more than yardage when it comes to calculating a course’s USGA Course and Slope Ratings.

Several times in the last two weeks, I’ve been asked why, even from the same set of tees and yardage, the numbers are different for men & women.  I assumed most golfers knew the answer, but ...

We recently visited Crestview Golf Club in Waldport, Ore. a 9-hole course that was totally redesigned by Dan Hixson.

Every golfer should ideally play from the set of tees that best suits their ability.  There should be no reason for a senior or beginning man to be uncomfortable playing from forward tees, just as a long-ball scratch-level female hitter such as Michelle Wie might want to play from the tips.   All you need to know is how to post your score!

Designed by Northwest native Dan Hixson, Wine Valley GC is co-owned by longtime Northwest PGA Professional John Thorsnes and Jim Pliska (who also owns Emerald Valley GC in Creswell, Ore.). The full 18-hole championship layout is scheduled to open to the public by May 1st.