b'GOLF MONTANACreating Golf in Montana TogetherW eather had provided us an early start to the season which soon consisted of long days of sunshine and good times on the course. Whether youre a recreational golfer or enjoy competition, we appreciate you being a part of our Montana golf community. Id like to express my admiration for our staff and volunteers who have made our events better each year.Ask any golfer what makes a tournament NICK DIETZEN memorable, and youll hear about a clutch MSGA putt, a perfect weather day, or maybeKaye Carlson and Shanda Imlay (left to right) are just two of the EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR a personal best. But behind every greatdedicated volunteers who make golf a great experience in Montana. tournament is a small army of people, hours of planning, and countless moving parts thaton-the-fly adjustments. Its a dance between preparation and most players never see. At the Montana State Golf Association,flexibility onsite. We are grateful that the courses we work with we believe the best-run events are the ones that feel seamless,understand the opportunity to showcase their facility and for because everything behind the scenes worked exactly as itour players to put their best competition feet forward.should. Just like golf, not everything goes perfectly each time,For players, a great event might mean fast greens and a but we aspire to that goal. smooth check-in. But to us, it also means brisk pace-of-play, A successful tournament begins long before the first balltimely scoring, fair setups, clear rules, and all the small details is teed up. Site selection, course coordination, and schedulingcoming together. We aim to create a competitive environment are foundational. We work with host clubs across the state,that feels special, whether youre a first-time junior or a building relationships and ensuring that logisticslike coursedefending champion. That also means honoring traditions, conditions, cart availability, food service and lodging optionsanswering questions and ensuring everyone feels welcomeare aligned well in advance. One size doesnt fit all. A juniorand expectations are set.event in Shelby looks different than a Mid-Amateur in Bozeman.Volunteers deserve special mention. From spotters on Each demands its own unique attention to detail. tough holes to rules officials with decades of experience, they Once the site is locked in, preparation ramps up. Committeesare the unsung heroes. Their presence brings both credibility meet, entry forms are created, field sizes, tee sheets, rulesand camaraderie to our events, and without them, much of sheets, pairings, player communications, sponsorships, andwhat we do wouldnt be possible. It has been a tall task to scoreboards all come to life. Technology helps streamline somedevelop a volunteer corps across the geography of Montana. of the process, but the core of tournament operations remainsThere are scheduling conflicts, injuries and last-minute events peoplecommitted staff and volunteers who understand thethat can change who is available the day of the event. If youve rhythms and pressures of competition. ever been curious or interested, please reach out to us and we Preparation with painting of penalty areas and othercan provide helpful information. We would love to have you!components of play occur, and our partner courses workGreat tournaments arent just about competitiontheyre to prepare the course for championship play day. Day- about community. When players shake hands on the 18th of logistics are where the magic (and sometimes chaos)green, when parents snap photos of their kids, when seniors happens. Equipment is unloaded. Starter boxes are prepped,linger for a post-round recapthats when we know the event volunteer assignments are set. Theres a rhythm to it, but nowas a success. Its not just about crowning a winner. Its about two mornings are exactly alike. A frost delay, a no-show, acreating a moment that feels bigger than a scorecard and last-minute withdraw, or a cart path-only mandate can forcemake next year a must-attend. 2 GOLF MONTANA|SEPT 2025'