JOE MAHONEY / RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH ight the candles on the cake and let the celebration of service to golfers in the Richmond metro area begin . The Richmond Golf Association is 100 years old . Members of the Country Club of Virginia , Hermitage
Country Club and Jefferson-Lakeside Country Club ( now known as Lakeside Park Club ) are given credit for forming the association in 1922 . As the mission statement says , the RGA is to provide central Virginia golfers with opportunities to play competitive golf in a structured and pleasant environment .
The tournament schedule consisted of one event , the RGA Men ’ s Amateur ( also known as the City Amateur ), for 27 years . A fellow named John Maxwell won the first three titles , didn ’ t win in 1925 then won for the fourth time in 1926 .
Maxwell shares second place on the all-time victory list ( 4 ) with World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Golf Hall of Fame member Lanny Wadkins , Virginia Golf Hall of Famer David Partridge , and Dave Ewell . They ’ re all well behind Nelson Broach , who won 11 times , including four in a row twice .
The RGA is an all-volunteer organization that also promotes camaraderie and fellowship among the thousands of players who are members of RGA clubs in Central Virginia . Clubs from the public , private , semi-private and resort sectors pay dues annually to be members of the RGA .
“ I can ’ t say enough about our Board of Directors and Executive Committee for their commitment to the RGA and the game of golf . Each year they volunteer countless hours assisting with the tournaments and preparing for the season ,” current Board president Ryan Taylor says .
David Jordan in the bunker in 2016 .
PHOTO CREDIT HERE
Last year we rolled out Golf Genius to our tournaments and from the feedback we received , added an enhanced tournament feel by having live leaderboards and instant results . We now have two events ( Senior Am and Mid-Am ) where players can earn VSGA ranking points . This allows us to broaden our reach of players beyond the Richmond area .”
— Ryan Taylor
J ULY M / AY / A UGUST J UNE 2022 2017 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
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