Happy New Year, with the emphasis on New!
NEW AND EXPANDED TGA PROGRAMS
— We are thrilled to welcome nine new schools to TGA. Joining in 2019 are Oakdale Academy in Waterford, Pembroke Academy in Detroit, Oakbrook Elementary in Sterling Heights, Leonard Elementary in the Oxford district and five more Rochester Hills schools — Delta Kelly, University Hills, Baldwin, Hampton and McGregor.
— TGA and assistant chapter director Orie Murray are certified partners with LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national junior golf program that specializes in providing girl-friendly environments for juniors to learn the game. We had one session in fall 2018, and we will expand in spring and fall 2019. There will be spring programs at Somerset Park in Troy and the Huron Valley Recreation Center.
— Last year we held our first advanced sessions of summer camp, specifically designed for boys and girls ages 11-16 who are preparing for high school golf. Our 2019 advanced camps are July 15-19 at Coyote in New Hudson and Aug. 5-9 at Glacier Club in Washington Township.
NEW RULES
Some significant rules changes take effect today, thanks to new and simplified rules adopted by the world’s two main governing bodies — the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A). Here are some of the key changes:
— You can leave the flagstick in while putting.
— You can repair spike marks as well as ball marks on the green.
— There is no longer a penalty if you accidentally move your ball or ball marker on the putting green. Simply replace the ball or marker on its original spot.
— There is no longer a penalty if you accidentally hit the ball more than once with a single stroke.
— When dropping a ball to take relief, players will drop from knee height instead of shoulder height.
— The time limit to search for a lost ball is now three minutes instead of five.
Here’s a complete look at the new rules
NEW PGA TOURNAMENT IN DETROIT
The PGA Tour will visit Detroit for the Rocket Mortgage Classic June 27-30 at Detroit Golf Club, marking the first time a tour event will be held within the city limits. The tournament is two weeks after the U.S. Open and three weeks before the British Open, so it’s likely that many of the world’s top-ranked players will compete. There should be big crowds no matter what, and huge crowds if Tiger Woods plays.
NEW SCHEDULE FOR THE FOUR MAJORS
Beginning this year the PGA Championship is moving permanently from August to May, partly to avoid a conflict with the Olympics every four years, and partly to help the PGA Tour finish the Fed-Ex Cup playoffs before Labor Day to avoid competition with the first weekend of NFL football. Here is the major schedule for 2019:
— Masters April 11-14 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA
— PGA Championship May 16-19 at Bethpage Black in Bethpage, NY
— U.S. Open June 13-16 at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA
— British Open July 18-21 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland
