Local Knowledge

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER CALCULATION

Many golf clubs present an annual most improved player award as a way of recognizing a player’s achievement and dedication to the game. The USGA Handicap Committee Guide’s recommended method for determining a golf club’s most improved player at the end of a season, year or custom time period is as follows:

Add 12 to the player’s Handicap Index® at the start date. This value is A. Add 12 to the player’s Handicap Index at the end date. This value is B.

Divide value A by value B, calculating to three decimal places. This is the improvement factor. The player with the highest improvement factor should receive the most improved player award.

Example:

Starting Handicap Index: 24.3

Ending Handicap Index: 16.2

Value A: 24.3 + 12 = 36.3

Value B: 16.2 + 12 = 28.2

A / B: 36.3 / 28.2 = 1.287

Improvement factor: 1.287

The player with the highest improvement factor is the most improved player.

Important Notes:

• The World Handicap System™ was introduced on January 1, 2020. All players within the USGA centralized computation service had their Handicap Index re-calculated under the World Handicap System formula. Only a Handicap Index calculated under the World Handicap System formula should be considered for the most improved player.

• Players that had a Handicap Index adjustment (withdrawn, freeze, adjustment) during the selected time period should not be eligible for the most improved player.

TGA ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM EVENT

The TGA is pleased to announce the addition of a new team competition to the fall schedule beginning in 2023, one with a unique approach that is welcoming to players of all levels of ability.

The Texas Two-Step is set to debut Nov. 10-12 at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville, as part of the TGA’s popular Fun Golf Series. The new event is a retooling of the old Texas Stableford Handicap tournament to make it more accessible to a wider range of golfers who want to enjoy the pleasure of playing in a friendly competition in a relaxed environment.

“We wanted to provide another opportunity for TGA members to get together on a great course to compete and have a good time,” said Brian Fry, TGA Foundation/Outreach Manager. “We believe the Texas Two-Step fits the bill perfectly and will be a unique and rewarding tournament experience for the players.”

The Texas Two-Step is open to all TGA members with an up-to-date WHS Handicap Index® and will have gross and net flight divisions for men’s, women’s and mixed teams. The creative twist to the new 36-hole, two-person team competition is its novel format, which will feature two different tournaments in one. On Day 1, teams will play 18 holes of best ball, then on Day 2 the format switches to an 18-hole scramble. Prizes will be awarded on both days to the lowest team scores in each division after the conclusion of play.

For more information about the TGA Texas Two-Step, click here.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 2024 PGA SHOW

Complimentary registration for the 2024 PGA Show, scheduled for Jan. 23-26 in Orlando, Fla., is now open for PGA of America Golf Professionals, LPGA Professionals, golf buyers and industry executives at PGAShow.com. The 71st edition of the longest running and largest global gathering of the golf industry is expected to be better than ever in 2024 as the Show Floor is already larger than last year with strong support from top and emerging brands, and exciting new event announcements are coming soon.

The PGA Show, organized by the PGA of America and PGA Golf Exhibitions, will bring together thousands of golf industry professionals from around the world who will source new products from nearly 1,000 golf and golf lifestyle brands, attend high-level industry presentations, participate in education and career workshops and connect in person with peers and golf leaders to drive continued growth of the sport and the business of golf.

PGA Show Week also will include multiple allied industry events, including the AGM Retail Conference (Jan. 23) and the PGA Show Education Conference (Jan. 23-26) at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and the NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference (Jan. 22-24) at both the Rosen Centre Hotel and the Convention Center. The PGA Show Demo Day – where golf industry professionals test the latest innovations outdoors and learn best practices in coaching, club fitting and range operations – will be held Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Orange County National Golf Center. PGA Show exhibits, demonstrations, presentations and exciting, new special events will fill out the industry calendar Wednesday – Friday, Jan. 24-26, at the Convention Center.

For more information about the 2024 PGA Show, click here.

BEYOND THE BAR: EMERGING NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK MENUS IN CLUBS [CMAA]

When you think of non-alcoholic beverages, what comes to mind? Until recently, probably a soft drink, water, lemonade, or maybe a club soda and lime if you’re feeling frisky. That’s all changing with the onset and increase in demand for more interesting drink choices with all the flavor and none of the liquor. Mixologists, beverage producers, and consumers alike have recognized the potential of non-alcoholic drinks, making them an essential element of contemporary drinking culture.

Non-alcoholic cocktails and drinks are having a moment that does not appear to be ending any time soon. The numbers alone around non-alcoholic drinks are significant: Nielsen reports that between August 2021 and August 2022, total dollar sales of non-alcoholic drinks in the US hit $395 million, translating to a year-on-year growth of more than 20 percent. Most of those dollars came from the sale of NA beer, but non-alcoholic spirits were up 88 percent in sales from 2021-2022.

The trend toward non-alcoholic drinks goes beyond numbers, however. Increasingly consumers are opting toward health-conscious living and mindful choices, pushing the rise in popularity of non-alcoholic beverages and creating a refreshing refreshment trend. That is prompting bar and beverage staff to meet and exceed those consumer desires with zero-proof cocktails, artisanal mocktails, and seemingly endless, diverse, and enticing options for those who want to forgo alcohol.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Molly Olson takes a closer look at how the rise of non-alcoholic drinks brings innovation to cocktail menus and allows for both a deeper understanding of member preferences and another avenue for engagement with club members.

To read more about Beyond the Bar, click here.