b'GOLF MONTANAEmbracing Montanas Golf CommunityA nd just like that, the 2024 golf season is coming to a close. After the Montana State Four-Ball Championships at Meadow Lark Country Club in Great Falls on September 20-21, another chapter in the history books of amateur golf in Montana will have been written.a safe one and get ahead of potential issues.NICK DIETZENMSGA The MSGA recently completed the statesTim Bakker, our Tournament Director, is in his second EXECUTIVE two longest-running amateur championships,season and patrols the weather alerts in advance, anticipates DIRECTOR with the men contesting their championshipareas where Rules questions may come up and whether its at Laurel Golf Club and the women returningnine-minute intervals or 10 minutes between starting times, no to the original host, Butte Country Club. details are too small for him to consider.Both events included some history, with the Mens AmateurWe are fortunate to have great help, and as Shanda told seeing a playoff span over two days, with the winner, Liam Clancy,me after we reviewed a Rules question with a player during the earning a spot in last months U.S. Amateur Championship. final round, I love being able to educate our players on the On the womens side, Lauren Greeny picked up back-to- Rules. Sometimes they arent sure about terminology or how to back victories for the first time in nearly two decades of thisproceed, and its great when they take an interest and want to championship, and Jo Smith set a record with her fourth Seniorknow how to do things correctly.Amateur Championship. My role at tournaments is usually to stay out of the way of The MSGA team spent many days on the road this season,important things and attend to matters like making sure Tim conducting our various events and spending time with courseeats at least one meal during the 16-hour day and working on staff, players and volunteers. pronunciations on the tee box while starting.One of our Rules officials, Shanda Imlay of Missoula, wonIn all seriousness, in my conversations with players during the 1977 Womens State Amateur and was twice the runner-up.this seasons events, the main takeaway was that no matter if it Shanda has officiated several of our championships and is usuallywas a player in their first state event or the eventual champion, in constant motion on the golf course, attending to matters withthey all had first tee jitters, nearly everyone had some special players and exhibiting her deft touch of anticipating scenarios. Atmarking on their golf ball, and they all wondered how they were the Womens Amateur I was riding with her as we trailed the finalgoing to play. group. Member play had begun, and it was entirely possible thatIn my opinion, after starting hundreds of golfers off the they could catch the lead group given that play had started on bothfirst tee, golf is more fun when we clap for one another on the nines due to an imminent forecast that could have jeopardized thetee box and help each other out along the way. While not every event, and we were running a few minutes behind schedule. Theplayer will enter the history books or have their name etched members were respectful of course, but Shanda droveon a trophy, it was an awesome sight to see a former the cart in the fairway behind to provide just enoughchampion provide assistance and encouragement buffer to make it obvious to the group behind.to tournament rookies.That type of anticipation could have helpedThank you to all our volunteers, the clubs, make a critical putt quiet versus a cart drivingthe members, and the players, for making up from behind. this another season to remember. Keep Its all in the small details for eventthose clubs out as long as you can this fall, organization, and we are proud of the staffand well see you on the golf course. and clubs we work with on an annual basis that create great tournament atmospheres and coverTodd Sisson of Bozeman found a friend on the 12th hole at Laurel GC during the Mens Am. A good the bases to not only ensure a fun experience, buttime to practice social distancing on the golf course. 2 GOLF MONTANA|SEPT 2024'