Virginia Golfer July / August 2015 | Page 9

Moving Forward VSGA finds centralized, spacious new home in Midlothian by ARTHUR UTLEY VSGA ARCHIVES T he welcome mat is out at the Virginia State Golf Association’s new headquarters at 2400 Dovercourt Drive in Midlothian although you still might run into a workman or two. That doesn’t matter to VSGA Executive Director Jamie Conkling, who says, “We’d like all members to know that the VSGA is their association so please stop by and have a cup of coffee, sign up for a One-Day event/ championship, purchase a VIP Card or simply say hello.” Conkling has discovered the spacious new building means the coffee pot isn’t as close to his current office as it was when the VSGA occupied the third floor of the clubhouse at Independence Golf Club. Moving day was May 29 from the previous leased office space at Independence where the VSGA had made its home since 2002. The days of leased space and off-site storage are past. The VSGA owns its own building, a one-story, 6,700-square-foot structure located near the intersection of Salisbury Road West and Winterfield Road in the Salisbury section of Midlothian. Multiple moving trucks had less than a 10-minute drive from the old space to the new. Natasha Triplett, the VSGA’s director of finance and administration, says the process that led to construction and ownership of the building “was intense. There were so many possibilities that we had to ponder through and then try to make the best decision for the w w w. v s g a . o r g VSGA and the staff. After looking at many properties from empty lots to buildings that were for sale, for lease, some already built but never occupied and some previously occupied, I feel as though we made a very sound decision all around. The location is great, the building is beautiful and we have a great place for everyone to come to work.” Some staff members have offices, and workspace is roomier for those who occupy cubicles in the main room. At Independence, offices were located on both sides of a reception area. In the new building, there’s a spacious multi-conference room and an open area where staff members or VSGA board members can gather to hold discussions or meetings. “The best thing [about the new space] is having more square footage,” Triplett says. “We had outgrown the space at IGC and really needed more room. The second best thing for me is all of the newer more modern finishes. Everything is bright and cheery and new!” More storage space was imperative for the new building. Director of Competitions Matt Smiley says the pull-up storage area—a warehouse door opens to the outside—“will allow for much more timely loading and unloading” of tournament materials. “My favorite thing about the new space is the on-site storage. We have spent a lot of time going back and forth from an off-site storage facility while trying to get ready for tournaments,” says One-Day tournament manager Courtney Jones. “The on-site storage makes packing tents, tables, flagsticks, among Visitors will notice a trophy case as they enter the building. other tournament necessities much easier. It’s nice to just have everything in one place.” Jones was part of moving day. While the movers packed up the old space and loaded everything on the trucks, staff members went to the new space to work on materials needed for upcoming tournaments. “Once the movers arrived with all of the crates, everyone worked on starting to unpack as much as we could without getting in their way,” said Jones, who was the staff person in charge for the men’s Senior Stroke Play tournament the week after the move. When she got back from the tournament in Winchester, “Most everyone was still trying to get their space set up the way they wanted, and there was still construction happening around us. I think now, everyone has started to settle in and get used to being in the new office.” Conkling says settling into the new office has given him time to reflect on “all the positives that such a decision has and will have on the association as it moves forward. Relocating offers the VSGA more options, more space, more storage and more independence.” A longtime sportswriter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, author Arthur Utley is a regular contributor to Virginia Golfer. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R 7