Massachusetts Golf Association Inc

TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY AND VALUES OF GOLF THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

GOLF EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS - EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS GOLFERS OF ALL ABILITIES COMPETE IN VARYING EVENTS RANGING FROM STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, MEMBER TOURNAMENTS, AND USGA REGIONAL QUALIFYING EVENTS.

COMMUNITY GOLF AND JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM - THE LINKS AT MASS GOLF SERVES AS A PERMANENT GOLF EDUCATION CENTER FOR MASSACHUSETTS THAT PROVIDES ACCESS FOR MANY YOUTH-BASED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WITH THE GOAL OF POSITIVELY AFFECTING THE LIVES OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE LINKS IS THE HOME BASE FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM. A SERIES OF DAY AND WEEK-LONG CLINICS ARE HOSTED FOR VARIOUS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AT THE CLUB THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN ADDITION, THE FIRST TEE OF MASSACHUSETTS RUNS SATELLITE FACILITIES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES WITHIN MASSACHUSETTS; SPRINGFIELD, HYANNIS, BOSTON, NATICK AND BROCKTON. THE COURSE AT THE LINKS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND - WEATHER PERMITTING - AND PROVIDES AFFORDABLE GOLF ACCESS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING JUNIORS, SENIORS AND WOMEN.

HANDICAPPING SERVICE - PROVIDES ACCURATE AND TIMELY HANDICAP INDEXES FOR ROUGHLY 87,000 GOLFERS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND UPHOLDS THE INTEGRITY OF THE USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM. MAINTAINING A HANDICAP INDEX ALLOWS GOLFERS OF VARYING SKILL LEVELS TO COMPETE ON AN EQUITABLE BASIS.

MISCELLANEOUS - COURSE RATING, MEASURING AND MARKING - THE MGA RATES COURSES FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE USGA COURSE & SLOPE RATING SYSTEM. PRECISE RATINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH SET OF TEES SO THAT GOLFERS CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF AN ACCURATE AND EQUITABLE HANDICAP SYSTEM. THE MGA ALSO ACCURATELY MEASURES COURSES TO ENSURE PRECISE RATINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MGA ASSISTS ITS CLUBS IN PROPERLY MARKING AND DEFINING THEIR GOLF COURSES (I.E. WATER HAZARDS, OUT OF BOUNDS, BALL DROPS, ETC.) FOR EITHER COMPETITIVE OR RECREATIONAL PLAY SO THAT MEMBERS CAN BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING UNDER THE RULES OF GOLF. THESE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AS A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE TO GOLF CLUBS.EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS - THE MGA CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS ON A MYRIAD OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE RULES OF GOLF, ETIQUETTE, HANDICAP SYSTEM, TOURNAMENT PAIRING PROGRAMS AND COURSE RATING.USGA LIAISON - THE MGA ASSISTS THE USGA WITH NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING AMATEUR GOLF, PROCESSES AMATEUR STATUS REINSTATEMENT APPLICATIONS, CONDUCTS QUALIFYING ROUNDS FOR USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND UPHOLDS THE INTEGRITY OF THE USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM. THE USGA RELIES HEAVILY ON STATE AND REGIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATIONS TO COORDINATE ITS PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISH ITS OBJECTIVES.