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DCP Finals Con ’ t .
Opening Drive
A New-Look Member Club Directory
AVID READERS OF THIS MAGAZINE may have noticed that the January- February 2025 issue was a touch lighter than in previous years .
Last year , we made the decision to cut the printed version of the VSGA Member Club Directory from the year-opening issue of Virginia Golfer . Why ? Most will assume it was a cost-cutting measure , but in this case , that ’ s not true .
I spend a decent amount of time in this space discussing deadlines and timelines for various magazine issues . The editorial deadline for the January-February issue is mid-November and the magazine is put to bed in early December , and that timeline had become problematic for printing an accurate directory .
For example , in 2024 , the VSGA onboarded numerous new clubs at the start of the year as the USGA made the move to allow the rating of 9-hole courses . Most of those courses , in turn , joined the VSGA . By the end of January , the printed Member Club Directory was already out of date .
There are also times that clubs close or ( more rarely ) choose not to renew their membership for the ensuing year . The solution ? Moving the directory online .
Visit VSGA . org and click on the Membership tab at the top of the home page to find the Member Club Directory . When you click on a club ’ s name , you ’ ll find the same information that you found in the print edition — contact information , social media links , etc . But by displaying the member club directory online , we ’ re able to provide members with even more information , including a brief synopsis of the club , names of key club staff and course ratings for various teeing grounds at the facility .
We still value the print product — this magazine will continue to be produced six times a year for the foreseeable future . But this is one place where we believe technology betters the product .
Much like you no longer see the Yellow Pages landing on your doorstep , we suspect that most — when looking for club contact information — pull out their phones first . We ’ ll work to keep all information on VSGA . org as accurate as possible moving forward , making real-time updates as needed .
Thanks for reading this issue , and as always , my inbox is open for story ideas from your neck of Virginia .
Chris Lang , Editor clang @ vsga . org by CHRIS LANG
Visit
VSGA . org and click on the Membership tab at the top of the home page to find the Member Club Directory .
LUCAS DUNAWAY ( Boys 7-9 ) Affiliation / home course : VSGA JGC / Lake Monticello Golf Course . Age / hometown : 9 / Troy . School / grade / favorite subject : Greenbrier Elementary School , Charlottesville / 4th grade / Math . Favorite skill : Chipping . I also love practicing bunker shots . It is fun to challenge myself to get as close to the hole as possible . Winning total : 140 points . Who started you in golf ? At what age ? My parents play golf , so I was on the golf course with them as soon as I could walk . I began competing at age 6 . What attracted you to golf ? Golf was a natural fit for me , and I quickly got hooked on the challenge of the game . My mom and dad were always competing with each other . Both my parents , but especially my mom , inspired me and pushed me to work at the game . What was your mindset for competing in each skill ? For driver , I do not try to swing too hard . My focus is a good rhythm swing to stay inside the 40-yard grid . For chipping and putting , I just follow my routine and accept whatever results happen . What golf ball do you use , and do you mark it a special way for the chipping and putting competition ? I use the Calloway Chrome Soft Triple Track , which already has three distinct stripes that helps me line up to my target . Each tournament , my mom always marks a smiley face , small red heart shape and my initial on the golf ball . Who is your favorite golfer ? I am a big fan of Padraig Harrington and Scottie Scheffler . My favorite female golfer is LPGA player Lauren Coughlin . I have met Harrington a couple of times , and Coughlin multiple times at First Tee of the Virginia Blue Ridge .
DRIVE , CHIP AND PUTT
6 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2025 vsga . org