IAGA holds regional meeting at Pumpkin Ridge

The Western Regional Meeting of the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) was held Jan. 29-31 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, Ore.

Attending the conference were staff members of eight golf associations from throughout the west, including the Southern California Golf Association, Northern California Golf Association, Southern Nevada Golf Association, Arizona Golf Association, Idaho Golf Association, British Columbia Golf Association, and Washington State Golf Association.

Also attending was staff from the Oregon Golf Association, which acted as the host of the event. Barb Trammell, the CEO of the OGA, is also the president of the IAGA, and facilitated the agenda.

Also in attendance was Mike Sweeney, the USGA director of western regional affairs, and Jane Geddes, the former LPGA Tour player who now serves as the executive director of the IAGA. Geddes, who began her role with the IAGA in July 2016 as the association’s first executive director, gave a keynote address during the retreat’s first full day of meetings.

The WSGA, OGA and British Columbia Golf have held smaller staff retreats in the past, but this is the first time they’ve gathered together with colleagues from other West Coast golf associations for a regional meeting.

Some of the topics of discussion during the two and a half day conference included membership engagement, exploring new concepts and redefining the golf association’s role in the community, collaborating with allied associations and organizations outside the golf industry, and reviewing alternative approaches to non-traditional methods of the game’s participation.

The IAGA holds its annual national meeting in early November, where a host of IAGA members and guest speakers make presentations on golf-related topics. The IAGA has members from the United States Golf Association, Golf Canada, and most of the state and provincial golf associations throughout North America.

The IAGA was formed in 1968 and represents over 100 golf associations. It serves as a medium for golf administrators to exchange information, techniques and other data relating to the game of golf and establish channels of communication among all of the world’s golfing organizations.

To view more photos from the meeting visit the PNGA Facebook page.