| |
 |
|
2005
Season Kicks off with AJGA Annual Meeting |
Tournament
chairmen, sponsors and golf professionals among attendees |
By
Robin Solovey
Director of Special Events/Recruiting
The AJGA opened its 2005 season Feb. 17-20 with the 2005 Annual
Meeting at Chateau Élan Resort in Braselton, Ga. This
marks the fifth year the AJGA has hosted the meeting at its
national headquarters.
The Annual Meeting is an educational and fun-filled weekend
designed to honor and reward those who have volunteered their
time and efforts for the betterment of the AJGA. The weekend
included two days of golf, two themed evenings of entertainment,
the Digger Smith Banquet, guided tours of Atlanta and a viewing
of the Broadway show “Hairspray.” It is a weekend
for the AJGA staff to say thank you to all of its sponsors,
tournament chairmen and golf course personnel.
 |
| AJGA
Chairman of the Board Digger Smith spoke at the banquet
that bears his name. |
More
than 150 guests attended the meeting this year, the highest
turnout to date. The weekend started with a Casino Welcome Dinner
on Thursday where the AJGA staff transformed its headquarters
into a scene straight out of Las Vegas. An endless supply of
play money and gambling chips were available to players who
“cashed in” their chips in exchange for raffle tickets.
Golf umbrellas and a Mizuno wedge were given out as prizes to
three lucky contestants.
On Friday, the educational portion of the weekend began with
three simultaneous breakout sessions. Meeting topics included
the AJGA’s newly formed Regional Director program, the
role of tournament chairmen and their committee structure and
a presentation by Tod Pike, Senior Vice President and General
Manager of Sales, Marketing and Administration for the Imaging
Systems Group at Canon regarding the benefits of tournament
title sponsorship.
After a few hours of meetings, a golf tournament broke out.
Around 80 golfers squeezed onto the nine-hole executive par-3
course at Chateau Élan. The scores were pretty impressive
with a 7-under-par 20 taking first place honors. Extra contests,
such as your standard closest to the flag and longest putt were
incorporated on two holes. Unique contests were held on four
other holes, including an opportunity to throw a ball onto the
green and a “swiss cheese” hole in which three cups
were cut into No. 9 green. Unfortunately, this didn’t
make the 160-yard carry over water to get to the green any easier.
 |
| Tournament
Director Brian Gaydica (left) and his father Stephen (right),
Tournament Chairman at the Golf Pride Junior Classic prepare
for the par-3 tournament. |
Friday
finished up with the Digger Smith Banquet where the AJGA recognizes
individuals for their dedication and hard work for the AJGA
and furthering junior golf. The AJGA also recognizes one individual
with the Digger Smith Award, which was given to Dr. Jo Stegall
of the Burgett H. Mooney Jr. Rome Classic.
Saturday started with more breakout sessions that included a
presentation by Todd Rhinehart, executive director of THE TOUR
Championship regarding the upgrading of individual events. Mike
Lane and Don Beattie of the Country Club at Mirasol discussed
how golf facilities should prepare to host an AJGA event. Rob
Coleman and Steve Ethun of the AJGA Communications Department
spoke on the topic of media coverage at AJGA tournaments, while
Jason Miller and Richard Mudafort of the Finance Department
mediated a town-hall discussion on the topic of Junior-Ams.
On Saturday afternoon, 20 teams comprised of AJGA staff members
as well as annual meeting attendees took to the Woodlands Course
at the Chateau Elan Resort for a Junior-Am-style “shamble.”
While the field included a number of golf professionals, scratch
golfers and former AJGA stars, everyone agreed that the golf
should be left to the juniors.
Those that did not get out and play enjoyed a fabulous meal
at Mick’s in Atlanta with a viewing of the Broadway show
“Hairspray” afterwards at the fabulous Fox Theatre.
The evening finished up with a Mardis Gras-themed dinner, complete
with food, decorations and music.
With the end of the Annual Meeting begins the 2005 AJGA season.
The AJGA is looking forward to getting back on the road and
making 2005 the best year to date. Thank you to those who made
weekend so enjoyable and we’ll see you this summer! |
|
