The Georgia State Golf Association’s volunteer activities cover a wide range of opportunities. Generally, an individual’s scope of interest best determines how they can serve the Association. Included among the available areas are assistance as tournament officials, in course rating, at Georgia Junior Golf events, in fundraising for the Georgia State Golf Foundation, with membership recruitment and on committees.
In order for the experience to be beneficial for the volunteer and for the GSGA’s competitions program, individuals should have a keen interest in the conduct and administration of a golf tournament and a willingness to improve his or her knowledge of the Rules of Golf, starting, scoring, scoreboard operations and golf course marking and preparation.
Opportunities for training include GSGA Tournament Administration Training videos, the annual GSGA/Georgia PGA Rules of Golf Seminar, a one-day event usually held in the Atlanta area during the winter, or a USGA PGA Rules of Golf Workshop, which is an extensive, three-day study of the Rules of Golf and is held in many areas of the country, including Atlanta, during the first three months of the year.
Volunteers sign up for GSGA competitions and USGA qualifying events from late December to mid-February, with assignments made shortly thereafter. Officials are determined for each event based upon geographic location and their level of expertise.
Officials will be notified of their assignments for the year when they receive the master assignment list. Within a few weeks of each competition, the officials scheduled for that event will be sent a reminder notice which will include the location, reporting time, required uniform and other pertinent information.
Equipment that officials should bring to each tournament include a Rules of Golf booklet, Decisions on the Rules of Golf book, a stopwatch or a wristwatch with a second hand, string for measuring, rain gear and comfortable shoes. Volunteers are provided a local rules sheet, pairing sheet and other information specific to the tournament upon arrival.
The GSGA’s course rating program operates in teams in the state for course rating. Volunteers who are interested in training to become a course rater should contact the GSGA office and speak with the Course Rating department to get an overview of the program.
The opportunity for a volunteer to enter the course rating program depends upon the availability of a position. If there are no positions available at the time the volunteer first contacts the GSGA office, he or she may ask to be placed on a waiting list for training.
In December or January, it is possible to determine where new raters are needed, and invitations are then extended to those on the waiting list who have indicated a strong interest in the program. In order to maintain their skills, it is important that a rater be given an opportunity to rate at least five courses in a year.
All raters - new and experienced - are required to attend annual training each spring. Seminars are offered in different areas of the state. Because all training occurs in February and March and a full schedule of ratings is planned to begin shortly thereafter, it is normally not possible to join the course rating program in mid-year.
Georgia Junior Golf is a statewide program that gives young golfers in Georgia a chance to participate in a competition outside their home clubs. It also is a great opportunity for close dialogue with Member Clubs and for potential volunteers to get their first taste of administering competitions outside their home club.
This program consists of a series of four to six one-day tournaments during June and July in each of the seven geographic sections of the state. Volunteers are needed at each of these events for registration, starting, rules of golf, scoreboard operation and prize distribution.
At the conclusion of the summer, the top point-earners in each age group from each area qualify to participate in a two-day Challenge Match in late July. Volunteers from each section are also needed to assist at this event.
Volunteers for Georgia Junior Golf should have an interest not only in tournament administration, but in helping junior golfers learn the basics of competing in a tournament.
The Georgia State Golf Association Foundation is the charitable affiliate of the GSGA. It offers two college scholarship programs: Yates Scholarships, which are awarded to employees of GSGA Member Clubs or their dependents; and Moncrief Scholarships, which are awarded to students in the fields of agronomy or turfgrass management at the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College or students who work and live in Georgia, but attend an accredited program outside the state.
Volunteers who have an interest in this area of GSGA service may be of great assistance to the Foundation in terms of contacts with golfers, clubs, corporations or other foundations that can be approached for contributions.
An individual is a member of GSGA through his/her affiliation with a GSGA Member Club. GSGA is always looking for ways to increase both individual and club membership.
The GSGA committees provide advice on Association service and policy. Volunteers may sign up for as many committees as they wish. Assignments are made after consultation among the President, Committee Chair and appropriate staff directors and are based upon an individual's time to attend meetings as well as level of interest and/or expertise in a particular area.
Georgia State Golf Association is the official golf association of the state of Georgia, and its membership is open to men, women, juniors, seniors, and golf clubs throughout the state. Golfers who join GSGA have access to invaluable resources and competitions that allow them to advance their knowledge and improve their golfing skills. Joining GSGA means joining an association of more than 350 clubs and 75,000 people who all have one thing in common: a love of golf.