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2008 Handicapping & Course Rating Report
By Kelly Neely, Senior Director of Handicapping & Course Rating
With the knowledge that the purpose of the USGA Course Rating System™ is to support the USGA Handicap System™, CEO Barb Trammell made the decision to merge the Handicapping and Course Rating departments in May, and named Kelly Neely as Senior Director of the new department. Not only has she been Director of the Handicapping Department since 1994, she also serves on the USGA’s Handicap Procedures Committee which is responsible for establishing the Rules of the USGA Handicap System.
Gretchen Yoder came on board in August as our new Manager of Handicapping and Course Rating. She has been part of our “family” for years, taking on a variety of roles including volunteering as the Handicap Chair of her club, serving as a member of our TAG Team, working as a Rules Official at OGA Championships and supporting Oregon Junior Golf events and also has served as the USGA’s Women’s Public Links representative, responsible for running the sectional qualifier for the WAPL.
Since joining the OGA, she has been diligently studying the rating process under the tutelage of master course rater John Saegner, Jr., the PNGA/WSGA Senior Director of Membership Services. “The Sage” (as we refer to him) is an esteemed course rater who serves on the USGA Course Rating Committee and is one of a select few asked to travel to Europe to conduct Course Rating seminars alongside the USGA. We greatly appreciate the invaluable assistance and training he has willingly provided.
We attended a special course rating training program with the new staff of the Washington State Golf Association at USGA Headquarters in late October and have continued working closely with Eric Lahman, USGA Assistant Manager of Handicapping and Course Rating. Gretchen has spent much of her time in the off-season learning the intricacies of the system, and has initiated a recruitment campaign for new course rating volunteers. Exciting plans have been formulated to institute regional teams of raters similar to those found at most other golf associations around the country. Gretchen will also serve OGA Member Clubs in providing tech support on GHIN software programs when she is not busy with course rating duties.
Last season, the OGA released new ratings for several area courses including the North Course and South Course at The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club in Aloha, Ore., The Cedars on Salmon Creek in Brush Prairie, Wash., Broadmoor Golf Club in Portland, Ore. and Stone Creek in Oregon City, Ore.
In addition to rating courses under USGA guidelines, the new department is working to improve relationships with courses and overall customer service. This includes working with our allied associations in providing continuing education credits to PGA Professionals who are invited to narrate the course as we rate their course. Club officials are also strongly encouraged to accompany our rating team on the golf course so they can better understand the process as well as inform the team on any unique conditions that may exist at their course. We’re also working to develop programs and materials to educate everyday golfers about course rating.
At the annual GHIN Users’ Meeting, held in New Jersey in October, the Oregon Golf Association received a Best Service Award. The annual award is presented to one golf association based on club survey and feedback, along with input from the GHIN staff. “This award represents the highest level of successful service to member clubs and a commitment to excellence," said Kevin O'Connor, the Senior Director of Handicapping for the United States Golf Association. "If a similar award for excellence relating to Handicap System education existed,” added O’Connor, "Kelly and the Oregon Golf Association would have earned that award more than 10 years ago."
The OGA has arranged for the USGA to visit the Portland area on March 25-26, 2009 to conduct a Handicap Seminar for all those that are interested as well as a Course Rating Seminar for those interested in becoming OGA Course Rating volunteers. The Handicap Certification program for Handicap Chairs will be launched in the spring, and will include live classes around the state as well as a brand new “webinar” option.
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