January 10, 2009

Message from the LAGA President

Welcome new and returning members of Los Altos Golf Association. We, me and the rest of the Board of Directors, are looking forward to another successful year of amateur golf at Los Altos Golf Course.

I joined this association when I retired almost 20 years ago. I have watched it grow into what a lot of us consider to be one of the best and biggest golf organizations in New Mexico. Back then there were about 100 members. Last year we had 425 members. We offer weekend tournament competition once a month from February through November with various fun formats. We also offer Wednesday League Play each week during the same months. The Wednesday League has grown from 10-20 players each week, to an average of about 130 a week.

There are several reasons for our success. First, we have a dedicated core of returning board members who share a lot of responsibilities and who openly operate the association under our constitution and by-laws. Sprinkle in a few new board members each year and we keep the board as fresh as possible. We seldom turn volunteers away, so step right up, but when you do, be ready to help. This is not a closed organization.

Second, when we play, we play by the rules of golf. We give each new member a copy of the current USGA Rules of Golf. We expect each member who plays in our tournaments and league play to play by the rules of golf. Each of us has the responsibility to play by the rules and “to help” others know and play by the rules. We also have a set of Los Altos Golf Association Local Rules covering situations specific to Los Altos Golf Course.

Third, we do our best to communicate with our membership. We publish a monthly newsletter, The Duffer, with all the information about upcoming and past tournaments and other association news and commentary provided by the editor, Dick Geha. We have our own Web page at www.abqlaga.org where we publish tournament information, entry forms, tee times, results, constitution, by-laws, board members with phone numbers, and much more. The web page also has links to all kinds of other golf related web pages. Carl Pearson maintains the Web Page. Both these volunteers spend considerable time and effort to produce and maintain these important communications between the board and you. Another means of communication we employ is email. If we have your email address, we try to notify you of upcoming tournaments and events.

Fourth, is handicapping. Membership with LAGA includes membership in Sun Country Amateur Golf Association with computerized handicaps provided by the Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN). Scores for all weekend tournament play and all Wednesday League play are entered by our tournament committees. All other legitimate rounds of golf need to be posted by you into the computer. Need help with the computer, let one of us know. We will help.

We hope you will participate in our events. You will undoubtedly meet people in this organization who you will enjoy golfing with and begin lasting friendships and fellowships as I have.

Wally Iverson, LAGA President