b'the formation of a golf association. The six founders invited the other golf clubs throughout the state to send representatives to a meeting at Waverley on March 15, 1924. Seven clubsHood River, Oregon City, Corvallis, Eugene, Roseburg, Astoria and Alderwoodresponded positively. Albany, Illahe Hills, Salem, and Pendleton joined the March 15th meeting. The group elected Lester Humphreys of Portland Golf Club as president, Harry Thompson of Waverley Country Club as vice-president, and Edwin Neustadter of Tualatin Country Club as secretary of the new association. According to an historical account written by the late Dale Johnson, who spent a quarter century as executive director of the OGA, the key person was Neustadter. He was a member of Tualatin, Johnson wrote in 1996. Although no records exist today of the original formative meetings, later minutes and correspondence credit Neustadter with being the key man in the OGA formation.Neustadter, manager of Neustadter Brothers, a manufacturerRoderick Macleay won the first Oregon Amateur, held of shirts and work clothing, suggested clubs kick in $10 dues toin 1904. He would also win it in 1905, 1907 and 1909. form the OGA. He was a four-time PNGA Mens Amateur champion, Hes credited with being the one who came up with the ideaand was inducted into the PNGA Hall of Fame in 2001. to build this organization, Myrvold said. (Oregon Historical Society)When Barb Trammell came on board as OGA CEO and executive director in 2007, she saw clearly the direction the association needed to go. One of the things we really focused on was expanding services to a broader audience, Trammell said of the strategic planning early in her tenure that would last 15 years.Conducting championships for just the most talented golfers left the OGA impacting just a tiny percentage of its overall membership. The OGA Tour was developed, along with the Womens Interclub Play. That opened paths for everyday golfers to enjoy an event conducted in a professional manner by the OGA staff and frequently at courses an average OGA member might not have an opportunity to enjoy. For a large assortment of members, suddenly the OGA was more than just a handicap service.It was a good educational opportunity as well, Trammell said. We really saw engagement grow from for our members exponentially, and by that I mean people coming to our website, people reading our newsletter, members just getting more engaged because we would continue to provide different benefits of membership.So, from one mans idea some 100 years ago, the OGA has grown into the engagement of over 50,000 golfers.(Visit OGA.org for a complete history of the Oregon Golf Association, as well as an agenda of plans for their centennial year in 2024.) Laurie (King) Kerr won the Oregon Womens Amateur four times1914, 1915, 1919, 1922. (Courtesy Waverley Country Club)MAR 2024|PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER17'