2012 Fee and Award Changes

Entry fees for all golfing events, will be $63 per day and awards will be same in each event, although the number of flights and places paid will vary based on participation.
 - We will always award $40 for 1st place, (Last year the first place awards ranged from $25 to $43)
 - We will award $30 to 2nd place and $20 to 3rd place when participation allows.

Last year we received about $2000 in subsidies (from the Sullivan Travel Agency for the Solheim/Ireland trip) which helped us lower the cost of several tournaments and helped support the Girls Golf Program. With this subsidy the average cost per tournament was about $62.40.  In addition MWGA subsidized a couple of events, hoping that would help us draw more players.  It didn't.  We lost money last year. 

The average cost per event, per day in:
 - 2010 was $66 and in
 - 2009 was $70

So, without sponsorship and subsidy's, $63, which includes awards and occasionally food, is a good deal.  But to make it work, we need your support.  We need you to play in our events.  We need you to encourage your friends and fellow members to play with us.  And finally, we need you to donate to our Girls Golf and other MWGA programs, either by volunteering to work with the girls or by giving your monetary support.  Without your support, event fees will definitely go up and we will struggle to maintain the Girls Golf Program.

MWGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization, and we need you to help us continue to be a viable organization, and to continue to provide you with quality events, at a good price.

--- The following is Nancy Serra's article from Issue 1 of the 2012 NEWSLINX ----

        Over the years the MWGA has taken on numerous tasks and has accomplished many of the goals it has set for itself.  This year our biggest goal is to increase the number of our members that attend our events.  That having been said, while putting together the schedule this year I tried to be conscious of location, playability, and desirability of the courses I chose.  I know we cannot please everyone all the time, but I hope you will like the schedule enough to put a good number of the events on your calendar so as to “save the date”!   We implore you to invite some of the other members, that maybe you don’t see too often, to join you.  But don’t forget to invite your friends that are not yet members also.                       

    Keeping our primary goal in mind, we have embarked on another endeavor.  Let me be clear, we’ve made a change to standardize our pricing and prize awards so that it will be easier for you to plan and more equitable regarding prize payouts. For instance, you won’t be penalized if you win first place in an event with a low turnout. In the past, the pot to divide would be smaller than one attended by 70 or 80 players.  Therefore all the events will cost $63 or $126 for two day events.  Non-members still pay an additional $20.  Awards will be $40 for first place, $30 for second place and $20 for third place (when there is enough participation to pay third place).  We will still maintain the integrity of all prize monies being paid back to the players.  Should any money be left, it will carry over to the next tournament.  And when food is included the price is still $63.

   When comparing the cost of the tournaments it is best to hear from the guru of numbers, Cynthia Pinkard.  Cynthia says “Last year we received about $2000 in subsidies (from the travel agency we used for the Solheim/Ireland trip) which helped us lower the cost of several tournaments.  We obviously lowered them too much, because we lost money last year.  Remember the Annual Meeting & Scramble?  It was $49.  In 2010 it was $72, even with the great deal Geri Lowman gave us.  In 2009 it was $91.  We also gave good deals on a couple of other tournaments last year”.  Keeping this in mind, any comparison to last year really isn’t comparing apples to apples .One more thing, this change will make it extremely easier for several of the steps it takes to bring you events of the quality and organization we offer.  We operate with the knowledge that our first commitment is to you, the player and MWGA Member!

   At the Annual Meeting, the Board will be glad to answer any questions you have regarding this issue or any other issue.  I hope to see all of you there this Spring on May 5^th, when we can finally enjoy the outdoors on the Salem Hills fairways, breathe in some fresh air, swing away at that little white globe and, last but not least, enjoy our golfing buddies once again!