Virginia Golfer Nov / Dec 2020 | Page 8

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Opening Drive

Wrapping a Most Unusual 2020

by CHRIS LANG
WHEW . That was … um … something .
Who knows what the history books will say about 2020 , a year marred by a global pandemic and an exhausting presidential race , among other things . No one will soon forget a year that , quite frankly , changed many lives forever .
Matt Smiley , the VSGA ’ s executive director , is known around our office to look for the positives in any situation , something that has definitely rubbed off on me . And when we look back at 2020 , one positive will stand out for those who are affiliated with our great game : Golf thrived despite an avalanche of uncertainty in daily life .
As of Nov . 5 , VSGA members had posted 1,446,229 rounds in 2020 , a 31 percent increase over rounds posted for the entire year of 2019 . Golf checked a lot of boxes during this pandemic-marred year . It ’ s a great socially distanced activity . It got people out of their houses and into the sunshine . It helped us get our minds off the constant churn of the news cycle , improving our mental health .
As an association , we ’ d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our member clubs for finding ways to adapt and succeed during a difficult year . As the numbers show , individual members sure appreciated your efforts .
Also in this issue :
• Though the schedule was truncated in 2020 due to the pandemic , there were still plenty of outstanding performances in VSGA championships . The best of the best are recognized in this issue as we salute seven VSGA Golfers of the Year .
• Celebrating 100 years as a club is a considerable milestone , and we feature one such club — Ole Monterey in Roanoke — in this issue ’ s Great Holes .
• Speaking of clubs that have a long history , Jefferson Lakeside Country Club in Richmond is no more . Arthur Utley takes you inside the rebranding efforts at the newly minted Lakeside Park Club , which features an excellent Donald Ross original golf course .
• We recap the furious sprint to the finish of the VSGA championship season , which featured a number of first-time champions in 2020 .
Thanks for reading , and as always , please reach out with any story ideas that would be a great fit in Virginia Golfer .
Chris Lang , Editor Contact me : clang @ vsga . org
As of Nov . 5 , VSGA members had posted 1,446,229 rounds in 2020 , a 31 percent increase over rounds posted for the entire year of 2019 .
501 ( c )( 3 ) Status Opens Fundraising Doors For the VSGA , cont ' d ...
green fees to remove cost as a barrier to entry for potential lifetime golfers . Since 2006 , YOC members have played more than one million rounds of golf while the organization has helped generate more than $ 7 million in tee-time revenue back to individual golf courses .
“ We are pleased to join the growing list of allied golf associations who have come to recognize a significant impact that this program has had on junior golfers across the country ,” said Gary Beck , president of the VSGA ’ s Board of Directors . “ The VSGA will be committing substantial resources of time and money to ensure the success of this program here in the Commonwealth . We invite our member clubs to embrace this initiative and we appeal to our fellow golfers to support this worthy cause .”
Youth on Course also holds an annual 100 Hole Hike Fundraiser , which raised nearly $ 1 million for the organization in 2020 . The fundraiser features “ hikers ” in 21 states and Canada who receive pledges for dollar amounts for each hole they played — on foot — on a given day , with the goal being 100 holes .
For more information on Youth on Course visit VSGA . org / youthoncourse and for ways to donate to the VSGA and its mission to serve golf in Virginia , please visit VSGA . org / engage / donate .
6 V IRGINIA G OLFER | N OVEMBER / D ECEMBER 2020 vsga . org