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Golf Genius Announces Long-Term Partnership with IAGA

 

 

Golf Genius will be the Title Sponsor and
Official Tournament Management Solution of the IAGA

Golf Genius Software, Inc. (GGS), the leading worldwide provider of tournament management solutions, today announced a five-year partnership and sponsorship commitment to the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).  Under this partnership, Golf Genius is the Title Sponsor of the IAGA Annual Conference and the Official Tournament Management System of the IAGA.

“After several years as Title Sponsor of the IAGA Annual Conference, we are delighted to extend and expand our relationship with the IAGA,” said Golf Genius co-CEO Chris Kallmeyer.  “IAGA brings golf administrators together, including Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) in the United States, provinces in Canada, and leading tournament operators like the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), to share best practices, cultivate professional relationships, and celebrate the lifetime achievements of IAGA members.  As a provider of tournament management solutions to this community of golf leaders, our ongoing partnership with IAGA gives us a unique and powerful opportunity to engage directly with our customers, build relationships, and drive innovation.”

“Tournament administration is a major focus of all IAGA member organizations and Golf Genius is the world’s leading supplier of tournament management solutions,” said IAGA Executive Director Bill Walker.  “They continue to set the standard and raise the bar, so we are thrilled expand our close relationship with Golf Genius and align our brand with an innovative leader in the golf industry.”

About Golf Genius

Golf Genius Software powers tournament management at over 10,000 private clubs, public courses, resorts, golf associations, and tours in over 60 countries.  GGS has more than 130 employees, including 40+ PGA professionals, with sales and support operations in the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia.  For more information, visit www.golfgenius.com.

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Jeff Rivard to Receive the IAGA Distinguished Service Award

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) will honor former Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (WPGA), Golf Association of Michigan (GAM), and Sun Country Amateur Golf Association (SCAGA) Executive Director Jeff Rivard at The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort and Spa on Nov. 9 during the IAGA Annual Conference (Click HERE to learn more).

Rivard, 77, of Las Cruces, N.M., retired from a storied career in golf administration in 2015. He is only one of two individuals to have served as executive director for three state golf associations. In addition to these roles, he worked for both the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the LPGA Tour.

Rivard began his golf administration career in 1977, serving as the executive director and first full-time employee of the SCAGA near Albuquerque, N.M.  During his time at the SCAGA, the organization grew from 3,000 to 16,000 members. Following his tenure at the SCAGA, Rivard served as a Rules Official on the LPGA Tour and followed this post as Director, Regional Affairs with the USGA. In 1984, Rivard returned to his home state as the executive director of the GAM and concluded his golf administration career with a 22-year post as the WPGA executive director.

In between, Rivard, a firm believer in volunteerism, served as a USGA Rules Official for 33 years.  He had a significant impact on the IAGA, leading numerous committees, which led to his appointment as the association president in 1992.

Rivard’s influence on the golf industry has been far and wide, and felt by many peers within the IAGA community. Below are just a few thoughts from fellow IAGA members:

Jamie Conkling (Virginia State Golf Association, Executive Director – Retired)

“In his many decades of employment in the golf industry, Jeff has exhibited excellent administrative abilities, displayed superior administrative knowledge, and has certainly excelled in promoting dialogue between golf administrators and golf organizations without pretense or expectation.”

Terry Teasdale (Western Pennsylvania Golf Association, Executive Director)

“Throughout his lengthy 40 years of service, Jeff has been a dedicated and committed steward of the game.  He has also been a vocal advocate for the game, its history, and traditions on local and national levels.”

Bill Dickens (Iowa Golf Association, Executive Director – Retired)

“Jeff Rivard is a legend in the world of golf administration.  He has been a leader in advocacy for the profession.  He is probably the most quoted person in our community – “Rivardisms” has become a common reference when quoting any dozens of pearls of wisdom that he has given our community.”

Today, Rivard remains actively engaged in the golf association world, whether assisting the SCAGA with its championships to most recently working the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.  Rivard was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame in 2019.

“We are excited to have our community celebrate and honor Jeff and this well-deserved recognition at our Annual Conference in November.” said Jesse Menachem, IAGA president. “He has been a loyal ambassador to our community for decades, and his work has left an indelible mark on our industry.”

The IAGA Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize individuals or groups whose actions have fostered the IAGA objectives as stated in its bylaws: “To promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions.” It is the organization’s highest honor. The selection criteria includes the demonstration of superior or innovative administrative abilities, excellence in information exchange and dialogue between golf administrators and golf organizations.

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Merchant Advocate Partners with the International Association of Golf Administrators

Merchant Advocate, a trusted leader in Merchant Services Auditing, has agreed to a five-year Platinum Level Corporate Partnership with the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).

“As with many businesses, our member associations are experiencing an increase in credit card transactions, and having a trusted company like Merchant Advocate available as a resource to analyze and advocate for our members is certainly a benefit,” said Bill Walker, IAGA Executive Director.

“We are thrilled to be a Platinum Level Partner of the IAGA. This partnership will provide the opportunity for golf associations to add money back to their bottom line. Merchant Advocate is committed to driving fairness and transparency in the merchant services industry. We are happy to be able to offer our services to IAGA associations.” said Eric Cohen, Chief Executive Officer at Merchant Advocate.

 

About Merchant Advocate

Merchant Advocate has helped businesses save over $100 million in excess credit card processing fees without switching processors. They understand the credit card processing industry and can help get the best rates and lower fees. There are no upfront costs for their services, and they are paid out of the savings that are achieved from recovering revenue that was otherwise lost. Learn more at www.merchantadvocate.com.

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Former Golf Ontario Executive Director Dave Mills Passes Away

The IAGA was saddened to hear that former Golf Ontario Executive Director and 2018 IAGA Distinguished Service Award recipient Dave Mills passed away after a short battle with cancer.  Our condolences go out to Dave’s family, friends and the Golf Ontario team.

Click HERE to read more about Dave and the positive impact he had on golf in Ontario.

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Chris Montgomery, 1st African American Board Member at the IAGA

January 12, 2021 | By African American Golfer’s Digest Staff

Get better acquainted with Chris Montgomery, Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships with the Arizona Golf Association (AGA). He is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing the business marketing and revenue-generating strategy and the first African American to be a member of its Board.

Chris believes golf is a game that enhances people’s lives by providing opportunities to compete, be active, and build great relationships. Chris sees the Arizona Golf Association platform as potentially one of the most influential in all of sports.

In his last 6 years with the Arizona Golf Association, he has generated over half-a-million dollars in sponsorship and partnership revenue, identified strategies and initiatives to drive retention and membership acquisitions, and developed new promotions to attract golfers and build the golf association brand awareness.

Before joining the Arizona Golf Association in 2014, Montgomery worked with the NBA and the Phoenix Suns for 19 years. He served as the Director of Premium Membership Services in the last 9 years where he was accountable for managing a $1.1 million dollar budget and the premium client portfolio of over $10 million dollars annually.

In the 10 years previous with the Phoenix Suns he was responsible for sales and staff development, generating revenue through memberships, sponsorships, and marketing events at the venue. He is on the ASU Sports Advisory board and is active in Career Concepts for Youth, a program for underserved middle school children in Phoenix that encourages them to stay in school by demonstrating how education can lead to fulfilling careers and adult lives.

A native of Chicago, IL, Chris earned a full Division I football scholarship to Northern Illinois University, where he played fullback and was a three-year letterman and graduated with a degree in Corporate Communications. Montgomery, his wife Megan, and their children live in Scottsdale, AZ. For more about the Arizona Golf Association visit https://www.azgolf.org/

Click HERE for video interview

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Mass Golf’s Menachem to Lead IAGA in 2021

Mass Golf’s Menachem to Lead IAGA in 2021

Virtual Conference Reaches over 500 Industry Professionals

 

Nov. 19, 2020

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) conducted its first-ever Virtual Conference and Annual Meeting sponsored by Golf Genius.  The event welcomed more than 500 individuals representing over 80 associations and industry companies to enjoy three days of networking and education with peers and industry leaders.  “Collaboration and learning from others is more important now than ever in the golf industry, and we were thrilled to be able to provide a platform last week for industry professionals to network and engage virtually in 2020.  A special thank you goes out to our attendees, speakers and sponsors who made this event possible,” said IAGA Executive Director, Bill Walker.

During the Annual Business Meeting portion of the Conference, it was announced that Jesse Menachem, Executive Director/CEO of Mass Golf, would serve as the 55th president of IAGA.

“I am thrilled to serve as the President of the IAGA and represent our members as we navigate uncertain times in our industry.  It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of Mass Golf leaders Richard Haskell, Tom Landry and Joe Sprague, who also served as IAGA presidents.  I would be remiss in not thanking the team at Mass Golf for its support, as well as my fellow board members of the IAGA for their confidence.”

Troy Andrew, CEO/ED of Washington Golf (Vice President) and Matt Vanderpool, Executive Director of the Georgia State Golf Association (Secretary/Treasurer) join Menachem as IAGA officers in 2021.

The IAGA also welcomed Chris Montgomery to the Board of Directors as an At-Large member.  Chris currently serves as the Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships with the Arizona Golf Association.

“Chris has been a valuable contributor to the IAGA in recent years serving on the Program Committee. We are thrilled to have him involved on our board as a he brings a wealth of knowledge, perspective and experience from his successes both inside and out of our industry,” said Menachem.

Below is a complete listing of the IAGA Board of Directors:

  • Jesse Menachem, President (Mass Golf)
  • Troy Andrew, Vice President (Washington Golf)
  • Matt Vanderpool, Secretary/Treasurer (Georgia State GA)
  • Mark Peterson, Immediate Past President (Golf Association of Philadelphia)
  • Rob Jansen, Member At Large, (Wisconsin State GA)
  • Brian Mahoney, Member At Large (Metropolitan GA)
  • Chris Montgomery, Member At Large (Arizona GA)
  • Kevin O’Connor, Member At Large (Southern California GA)
  • Lisa Overom, Member At Large (Minnesota GA)

About the IAGA

IAGA was formed in 1968 to promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. With those pursuits in mind, the IAGA 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 fraternities.

Members are golf administrators of state and regional amateur golf associations and other invited national golf-related organizations. These administrators manage the affairs of their respective golf associations in various capacities. 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 holds its annual meeting in early November. A host of IAGA members and guest speakers make presentations on golf-related topics. Breakout sessions allow members to interact and discuss specific problems in their fields, and a new Board of Directors is elected during the business meeting.

 

Contact Information

Bill Walker

bwalker@iaga.org

IAGA Executive Director

www.iaga.org

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IAGA Announces Format Change for 2020 Annual Conference

The IAGA has made the difficult decision to change the format of our event from a traditional in-person conference to a completely virtual event due to concerns surrounding COVD-19. The safety of our members, speakers, and partners was of paramount concern. The IAGA also understands the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on our industry and recognize that adjusted budgets could prohibit attendance at an in-person event this fall.

Below are some FAQs regarding this new virtual event.

FAQs

  • Conference Dates: We intend for the conference to remain during the week of Nov. 9-13, as many of you have already blocked off these dates. A specific schedule of events will be posted HERE shortly.
  • What are the plans for the 2021 IAGA Annual Conference? The 2021 event is scheduled for Nov. 7-10 at The Westin Stonebriar in Frisco, TX.
  • What is the registration fee for this new virtual event? There will be two tiers of fees (Members and Non-Members). Exact pricing will be released soon. Both individual and organizational fee structures will be available.
  • Will sessions be recorded? Yes, we will have a mixture of live and recorded sessions. All sessions will be available for replay as well.
  • Will attendees be able to network virtually? Yes, the IAGA is exploring virtual platforms that will allow for group and 1:1 video networking.
  • When will a list of speakers be available? Speakers will start being announced in mid-August. Interested speakers may fill out an application for consideration to present at the 2020 IAGA Annual Conference.
  • How many attendees typically attend the IAGA Annual Conference? Typically, our in-person events range from 150 to 200 golf administrators. We anticipate that we will reach close to 500 attendees in a virtual format.

Benefits with Virtual Conference

  • Opportunity for ALL IAGA members to attend and benefit from this event.
  • Engage and attract more associations to the event.
  • Chance/opportunity to attract a diverse list of industry and business professionals as speakers/presenters.
  • Cost-effective for member associations.
  • Increased networking opportunities for attendees.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please feel free to reach out Bill Walker at bwalker@iaga.org.

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Scotland Golf Tours and the IAGA Announce Corporate Partnership

Scotland Golf Tours and the IAGA announce a three-year corporate partnership beginning in August 2020.

Formed in 1997, Scotland Tours provides the ultimate vacation planning service dedicated to creating memorable vacations. The company offers a variety of services for visitors to Scotland, Ireland & London, whether on business or leisure.

“We aim is to supply clients with the vacation of a lifetime, supported by professional levels of service and expert local knowledge. We believe in providing value for money and that the process of reserving your vacation should be as easy and efficient as possible.  Whether you are four golfers intending to travel here and play the big-name courses or you are an IAGA member association seeking a first-class experience for your members, e will design and deliver a great trip for you all.” said Ronnie Pook, Managing Director of Scotland Golf Tours.

“The IAGA is excited about our partnership with Scotland Golf Tours.  As associations continue to seek unique, experienced-based member benefits and Scotland Golf Tours certainly provides these opportunities.  It is great to partner with a company that was highly recommended from current members such as the Georgia State Golf Association and the Tennessee Golf Association.” said Bill Walker, Executive Director, IAGA.

Click HERE to access the welcome letter from Scotland Golf Tours.

About Scotland Golf Tours: Click HERE

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Golf Canada’s 2020 National Amateur Championships cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – Due to continued health concerns as well as government restrictions on travel and group gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Golf Canada has cancelled all of its amateur golf competitions for the duration of the 2020 season.

“National amateur competitions have been a proud focus throughout our 125-year history and while we share in the disappointment of competitors, our host clubs and event volunteers, the most important consideration is the health and safety of the people who come together at our championships,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Ongoing travel restrictions—both international and across some provincial borders—in addition to continued restrictions on larger group gatherings and limitations on player training were significant contributors to this decision. We are also sensitive to the needs of our host clubs to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their staff and members.”
Click HERE to read more.
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The Alabama Golf Association Partners with Youth on Course to Offer Affordable Access to Golf and Life-Changing Opportunities

HOOVER, AL (June 15, 2020)  – Youth on Course – the non-profit organization providing youth ages 6-18 access to opportunities through subsidized golf, college scholarships, paid internships and a caddie program – partners with the Alabama Golf Association to introduce rounds for $5 or less in the State of Alabama.

Youth on Course (YOC) has been recognized by The Golf Channel and Golf Digest as a valuable step toward bridging the gap between youth instruction and consistent play throughout adulthood. Alumni of YOC have moved forward as collegiate golfers and influential members in the industry altogether.

The partnership between the Alabama Golf Association and Youth on Course opens the door for more than 2,000 golfers in Alabama ages 6-18 to play rounds of golf for $5 or less at participating facilities.

Funds raised by the Alabama Golf Association and the Youth on Course Alabama Board of Directors will go toward round subsidies as facilities across the state begin to adopt the initiative. To date, Youth on Course has subsidized over 950,000 rounds of golf.

Starting with courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the Alabama Golf Association will announce partner facilities as they join the effort. Golfers in Alabama can sign up for a Youth on Course membership here: www.youthoncourse.org/join.

Click HERE to read more

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