NJSGA Tournament & Course Rating Committees Seek Volunteers
KENILWORTH, N.J. - The NJSGA is currently seeking volunteers to assist on its Tournament Committee and Course Rating Committee for the 2023 season.
Tournament Committee
This volunteer contingent, which oversees the NJSGA’s annual schedule of championships, qualifying rounds as well as various USGA Sectional Qualifying competitions, is primarily active between the months of April and October. In total, there are approximately 60 “tournament” days during the year.
An extensive knowledge of the Rules of Golf is not required to be part of the committee, however a passion for golf, desire to give back to the game, and willingness to be part of a team of dedicated women and men are prerequisites. Many members of the current committee, which consists of approximately 75 women and men from around the state, have volunteered for more than a decade. The common thread among this steadfast group is their love of “being around the game”, the camaraderie within the group, and its welcoming nature toward new volunteers.
Tournament Committee members fill an array of different roles. Those with exceptional Rules of Golf knowledge and multiple years of experience are assigned to an event’s “Rules Committee” where they often serve in an on-site leadership capacity, and either as a starter, scorer, and/or as an on-course rules official. Others with less experience or rules knowledge fill the vital roles of on-course observers, pace of play officials, among other responsibilities.
For more information and to apply to volunteer, head to the registration page HERE, or contact Brad Bardon, Director, Championships at bradb@njsga.org or by phone at (908) 241-GOLF. A series of training sessions will take place beginning in February of 2023 which includes Rules of Golf instruction and an overview of committee responsibilities and roles.
Course Rating Committee
The NJSGA is currently seeking a limited number of new volunteer apprentices to assist on its Course Rating Committee for the 2023 season. Those are that passionate about golf, have a flexible schedule and interested in different aspects of the game are encouraged to volunteer in the course rating committee.
This course rating contingent, which oversees the NJSGA’s completion of accurate course and slope ratings, is primarily active between the months of April through November. In total, there are approximately 40 days during the year in which course ratings are conducted. Courses are rated at least once every ten years, or more frequently when modifications require review.
The NJSGA Course Rating Committee consists of approximately 35 highly qualified volunteers (men and women), each of whom is required to attend an introductory seminar and undergo a number of on-course training sessions.
Officially defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA), a Course Rating is the mark that indicates the evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course under normal course and weather conditions. It is expressed as strokes taken to one decimal place and is based on yardage and other obstacles to the extent that they affect scoring difficulty for the scratch golfer. A USGA Course Rating is equal to the average of the better half of a scratch golfer’s scores under normal conditions. This value is the most accurate indicator of the difficulty of a golf course.
For more information and to apply to volunteer, head to the registration page HERE, or contact Rich Kennedy, Director, Handicapping & Membership Services at richk@njsga.org or by phone at (908) 241-GOLF. Apprentice training will take place in March of 2023 and a Committee Course rating calibration in May.
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