LPGA Amateur Golf Association - Northern New Jersey
Bunker Buzz - 2021
Separator
  • President’s Message
  • Chapter News
  • Upcoming Events
  • Leagues
  • Education
  • Membership
  • Reminders
President’s Message

Dear Friends,

Spring is around the corner and with that comes the much-awaited golf season!!!!  I know I am looking forward to getting back on the course with my LPGA Amateur friends. And I am sure you are too!!!!

We made it through an unprecedented year in 2020 and have brighter days ahead of us for 2021.  The good news in 2020 was that the golf industry surged with record increases in rounds played and equipment sales as more casual players flocked to the socially distanced sport during the pandemic. It is anticipated that there will be continued traction in 2021, following a year that delivered some 60 million more rounds played compared to 2019. (bizjournals.com)

Your Board is navigating this new challenging climate and we have lots of fun planned for this year.  I can assure you that we have worked hard to secure those elusive tee times for you and have negotiated the best possible prices.  We want you to know that you have tee times available for you so you can play as much or as little as you want to this year.  

Many details on what is in store for this year are highlighted in this Bunker Buzz.  We will keep in touch with you via emails as new events are posted for registration.  But keep in mind to regularly check our website, Instagram and Facebook page so you don’t miss out on anything!!!

There are many new women golfers that have either just started playing or have come back to playing during 2020.  Many of them do not have a place to call home - the LPGA Amateurs can be that place.  As a valuable member of our organization, we are hoping that you will spread the word about us so these women can join our wonderful group.  

Looking forward to seeing you on the course soon!!!!!

Regards,
Jane A. Egan
President
LPGA Amateur Golf Association- Northern New Jersey
973-907-4290

VIRTUAL BRUNCH and TEE OFF
is tomorrow
SUNDAY MARCH 14, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Grateful for the Chapter's Donations
Did you make a donation via our Virtual Holiday Party? We received two heartwarming Thank You Letters. Click on the letter images below to see a readable version of each letter.
Thank You Ltr



Toni’s Kitchen is a food ministry of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, NJ. 
JBWS is a private, nonprofit agency that provides safety, support and solutions for abuse for anyone who lives or works in primarily Morris County, NJ and faces the issues of intimate partner abuse.
Section Hdr-Events
Coming In March
Sun. Mar. 14 - Virtual Tee-Off Brunch
Mon. Mar. 15 - League Registration Opens
Sat. Mar. 27 - TOPGOLF Outing

Watch for these April Happenings
  • TOPGOLF Outing Number 2
  • 1 Day Golf School with MaryBeth Kohberger (sold-out, waitlist only)
  • Get the Rust Off Clinic
Separator Leagues
REGISTRATION
League registration opens on March 15th at 7:00AM.  We are excited to add a new Monday afternoon,18 Hole league at Farmstead.
You must have a valid membership by March 15th to register for League Play. Be sure to RENEW before March 15th.
Upcoming Programs
  • A One Day Golf School, conducted by PGA Member Mary Beth Kohberger of the Leadbetter Golf Academy at Black Bear will be held on Saturday, April 17th.  The program includes clinic work on the Full Swing, Short Game, and Putting followed by an instructor guided afternoon of golf. COVID requirements limit this in-person program to eight, and it sold-out 2 hours after registration opened on Friday, March 12.
  • Stay tuned for details on our "Get the Rust Off" clinic coming later in April.
Recent Virtual Programs
We designated February as “Rules Month”, launching with a ZOOM based 
  • Refresher on 2019 Rule Changes on February 4th, followed up by
  • Doing Rules Right - Get Ready for Stroke and Match Competition on February 18th. Both programs were well attended and we received great feedback from participants.
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In response to our recent Member Survey, a special presentation on All Things Handicap was presented on February 25th, providing clarification on numerous questions submitted by members.

A special thank you to member and Handicap Chair Sue Stager, for hosting all three of these informative programs, and to Fran Lapinski for facilitating each session.


LPGA Professional Carol Charbonnier presented Conversations with the Pros: Getting Ready from Anywhere, live from lock down in Gabarone, Botswana on Thursday, March 11th at 5:30 PM. Carol talked about the basics, while helping us face the challenges of getting moving again, despite the mental and physical challenges of COVID, weather and other life events. 
Carol Charbonnier
Do you know this Rule Change?
Shortened Search Time

New Rule: Under Rule 18.2, the time for a ball search (before the ball becomes lost) has been reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes.

Reasons for Change:
Limiting the search period to 3 minutes is more consistent with the underlying principle that golf is to be played in a prompt and continuous way, without long pauses in play. In most cases, if the ball is going to be found, it will be found within the first 3 minutes.
Knowing that the search time is limited to 3 minutes should encourage players to play a provisional ball when they believe there is a chance their ball may not be found.
A video about this rule can be viewed here:
MEMBER SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS:

Thank you to those who responded to our Education Programs Interest Survey. 

  • General interest was expressed for Getting Ready and Rules, and a high interest in Handicaps, so virtual ZOOM programs were held on all three topics.
  • Putting and Short game programs and clinics hold the most member interest, and we plan to offer these in early May. 
  • Weekday evenings and Saturday mornings are preferred times for most In-Person programs,
  • Regarding Golf School, a one-day session with clinics and afternoon golf was the clearly preferred format.
  • Twenty members have volunteered to help with Education and Instruction, and the Mentor program (10). 

Out of the 90 surveys that were opened, 30 were submitted for review. We encourage you to open emails from LPGA Amateurs - Northern New Jersey Chapter and continue to provide your feedback. We love to hear from you. Thanks for participating.
It is the dedication and support of our members that keeps our chapter thriving.  Thank you for promoting our organization and helping to recruit new members to our Chapter.  We welcome the following new members who became part of our Northern New Jersey family since the last issue of Bunker Buzz in December 2020:

  • Donna Bayliff
  • Maribeth Bowen
  • Lucille Callari
  • Michelle Caulfield
  • Mary Cobb
  • Beliza Ann Furman
  • Terri Genardi
  • Joanne Howard
  • Helen Ji
  • Phyllis Johnson
  • Colleen Matthews
  • Kimberly Maycott
  • Holly Ryan
  • Joanne Sofia
  • Christine Thorpe
  • Natalie Vakman
  • Alexandra Wei
Section Hdr-Reminders
We value your membership and look forward to seeing you on the golf course in 2021! 
Just a reminder that all 2020 memberships expired on December 31.  Renew NOW… it’s easy!  Just follow the steps below so you can take full advantage of all the opportunities lined up for 2021. 
To renew your 2021 LPGA Amateurs dues online: 
  • Go to LPGAAmateurs.com 
  • Press “Sign In” on the top right to log in to your account
  • Go to “My Profile” from left menu and press the “Renew” button
  • Review the accuracy of the information for the Chapter(s) selected
  • Make sure your date of birth is correct and you have selected your ethnicity and press “Next”
  • Add the choice(s) to the cart and press “Next”
  • Complete the credit card payment process 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to 
Mindy Oosten, Member Services Director 
2021 LPGA Amateurs National Events

  • Scramble Tournaments (4 person teams)- open to all handicaps. At Pinehurst, NC and/or Geneva National, WI.
  • CUP Qualifiers (8 person teams)- Match play format open to all handicaps. Choose from 8 locations including Crystal Springs Resort, NJ.
  • Stableford Tournament (2 person teams) – better ball Net Stableford format open to all handicaps. 
  • Championship Tournament- (1 person team)- stroke play tournament with gross and net winners (flighted by handicap). Walt Disney World, FL. 
  • Solheim Cup- trip to Ohio to watch the USA take on the European team.
Check out the schedule here. Get your teams together. Registration will be announced in early 2021.  

Additional information and registration details will be available in the Member Clubhouse>Golf Events in 2021.
Virtual Events
LPGA Amateurs Webinars and Facebook Live Events
Available OnDemand Now

Are you ready to start binge watching something other than Netflix? Mindset of a Champion, Grip It and Rip It, Rules 101, Nancy Lopez and more await you in the Member Clubhouse -> Webinar/Facebook Live -> On Demand section. Take advantage of down time during the holidays and get ready for the new year by watching a few of these entertaining and educational sessions!
 
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LPGA Amateur Golf Association
Northern New Jersey Chapter