Mark Your Calendars:
Upcoming MGA Tournaments (all Saturday 8:00am starts):
#3 – September 18
#4 – October 23

The MGA held its second tournament of the month on May 8th, with 20 members participating.

The top 8 low-net winners shared the $400 pot as follows:

River Ridge Men’s Golf Association (MGA)
For all River Ridge members
We are the MGA

Introduction: The MGA is a nonprofit association formed in 1998 to provide all male River Ridge Golf Club members aged 16 years and older with the opportunity to participate in golfing events at the club. Our primary objective is to provide a means for members with golfing interests to meet other River Ridge members, participate in organized events, enjoy the challenge of competition, and improve our golfing ability. The MGA operates its events with an annual budget collected in the form of annual dues from all MGA members. This forms the expenditure pool for participation in such events as MGA tournaments, post-tournament gatherings, and hole-in-one awards. In past years the MGA averaged 45-50 paid members and a budget of $2,500.00

How to become an MGA member: All male River Ridge Golf Club members are invited to become members of the MGA with the payment of the annual dues. For 2010, the annual dues are $50.00. A check is preferred and payable to the River Ridge MGA. Personal details, including name, address, phone number, and especially email address, can be left in the pro shop. Tim Cockrell and his team will ensure that new members get introduced to an MGA director. A prospective MGA member (annual dues not paid) may participate in only two events to familiarize himself with the MGA and its members. In very rare circumstances, the MGA directors may decline a River Ridge member’s dues payment if the prospective MGA member‘s behavior would be viewed as detrimental to the MGA.

MGA Directors: MGA directors are elected by the membership at the first meeting of the season (usually in March of each year). All MGA members are encouraged to play a role in the direction of the MGA. Directors are as follows for the 2010 season:

• President: Hugh Bannard
• Secretary and Treasurer: Frank Bayno
• Tournament Director: Hugh Bannard
• Saturday Events: Tom Mariner assisted by Kumar Hate and George Mathis

Meetings: Meetings take place in the River Ridge Clubhouse at 7:00pm on the first Thursday in March of each year, and then as scheduled during the season. Exceptions are posted and emailed to all MGA members. The 2010 opening meeting was held on Thursday, March 4, at 7:00pm. All River Ridge members and nonmembers were invited to attend. The annual meeting of each year is the most important, as any changes to our bylaws for the upcoming season are adopted during this meeting. A quorum of eight MGA members is required for major changes in our bylaws.

The agenda is prepared and posted at least two weeks before this annual meeting.

MGA Events: The vast majority of events (held on Saturdays) that are sponsored and run by the MGA are “Net Score” competitions based on each member’s USGA handicap within the handicap system in the River Ridge pro shop. Official USGA handicaps are updated at the beginning of each month. Instant or trending handicaps are not used.

In general, two separate and distinct competitions take place at every event. All event monies are returned to the winners as determined by the format that day. Singles, twosome, threesome, and foursome matches are held, depending on turnout and variety. A random draw determines the playing partners/competition.

The  following guidelines apply for all events: The sign-up deadline is 5:00pm on each Thursday  preceding every Saturday match. Members are expected to telephone or sign up in person at the pro shop computer. Cancellations are expected no later than 5:00pm on Friday. In case of emergency, MGA members must call the pro shop to cancel at least 45 minutes prior to start of play. Golfers are expected to be on site at least 30 minutes before start of play. Failure to notify or show up may lead to suspension of playing privileges in the MGA. For MGA tournaments, longer sign-up lead times and payment deadlines are made known with enough notice, usually two weeks before the Saturday of the event.

Event Details:
1-Saturday Morning Scramble: Entry fee of $10.00 per person. Held every Saturday at 8:00am during the summer season, which commences in March and ends in November of each year. Different net score formats are chosen to match the number of players and to provide an assortment of single and team competitions. All money is returned to the winners each Saturday. An optional $10 weekly birdie competition has proved popular with members.

2-MGA Tournaments: The MGA hosts tournaments each season, beginning with our new summer season Opening Tournament  and culminating in a season final tournament in late October or November to officially close the season. There are four formal Saturday tournaments in the summer season. Each tournament has an entry fee, which is normally $20, and all money is returned to the winners. There are MGA-sponsored closest–to–the–pin competitions on all Par 3 holes and a straightest drive competition. $25 gift certificates are awarded. In the past, all tournaments have been followed by lunch and refreshments paid for by the MGA. Payouts and celebrations take place at the luncheon.

3-Carolinas Interclub: The MGA supports  and encourages participation in the Carolinas Interclub competitions each season. The interclub is based on the best of the last 12 months’ handicap and is limited to USGA handicaps of 18 and less. Home and home competitions between River Ridge and three other local golf clubs are scheduled by the club professionals, and two individual matches and a two-man team match are contested. To date, the interclub matches have been scheduled on weekends during the summer.

Feedback, Suggestions, Comments Welcomed: All MGA members are invited to attend scheduled meetings as posted. Since a quorum of eight members is needed to change or adopt a new bylaw, the MGA secretary will endeavor to ensure that enough members are present to approve the change. If any MGA member wishes to introduce a change or new bylaw, he should communicate the proposal to the secretary, who will in turn ensure that an email notification is issued to all MGA members for whom an email address is on file.

Please direct enquiries to Secretary Frank Bayno by phone at 919-773-0167 (home) or by email at Fbayno@nc.rr.com.