Idaho Golf Hall of Fame: The Inaugural Class of 2024

Pathways from Idaho to the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship

Over the next few months, thousands of hopeful amateurs from across the world will begin their quest to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship — one of the world’s premier amateur events. In 2024, a new route to the U.S. Amateur has emerged exclusively for golfers in the Gem State.

The winner of this year’s Men’s Amateur Championship, along with the Scott Masingill Cup, will earn an automatic exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship field at Hazeltine National GC Aug. 12-18. Runners-up in the 2024 Men’s Amateur (all those finishing second or tied for second) will receive an exemption into Final Qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. No alternate spots will be rewarded for 2024 or 2025.

The 2024 Men’s Amateur Championship will be held July 18-20 at BanBury Golf Course in Eagle, ID.

The IGA will also host 18 holes of Local Qualifying on June 4 at Ridgecrest GC in Nampa, ID, for birth into final stage of qualifying. The USGA has modified its qualifying structure in 2024 by reducing local qualifying from 36 to 18 holes and adding a final qualifying stage for those advancing through a local qualifier.

The number of qualifiers and alternates will be determined by the final field size. Applications for local qualifiers close May 29.

"A Club for Every Kid"

The pursuit of a First Tee Idaho headquarters, and a case for reimagining green-grass golf facilities

 By: Shane René, USGA P.J. Boatwright Media & Operations Intern

In the back wing of what’s been dubbed “Golf House Idaho” — a cozy office space shared by the Idaho Golf Association, Idaho Junior Tour and First Tee Idaho — you’ll find the office of Nick Blasius. Inside, you’ll see the 32-year-old executive director working away, chasing an idea that he believes will unleash the potential of his First Tee chapter. 

Katie McKelvey teaching a class at Falcon Crest Golf Course in Kuna. | Drake Cooper Agency

Through three floor-to-ceiling windows, which limit privacy more than they shout: “executive director,” his desk looks across a cluttered hallway to an office shared by First Tee Idaho Program Director Katie McKelvey and Coordinator Britnee Kemble. The three of them are responsible for running First Tee operations in Idaho, a national organization that introduces young people to golf, engaging them with the values and assets surrounding the game.    

“Our goal is to use the game of golf as a vehicle to give kids skills to be successful in life,” Blasius said. “First Tee does a great job of actually taking those feelings, and that general consensus, and putting it into a curriculum of building strength through character.” 

Britnee Kemble demonstrates a putting lesson for two students | Drake Cooper Agency

McKelvey and Kemble are, in some sense, the faces of First Tee Idaho. Effortlessly personable, bright and bubbling with their own love of golf, they are the ones you’re most likely to see (often accompanied by a small cast of volunteers) out at Treasure Valley golf courses delivering the First Tee curriculum to its students. In the office, you’ll find them shuttling bags of donated clubs to and from parents, planning classes and events, creating promotional content and cobbling together First Tee’s resources into a product that carries its mission forward. They are, in the purest sense, foot soldiers in the grassroots development of youth golf in Idaho.          

Back in his fishbowl of an office — where his PGA credentials hang unassumingly on the wall behind him — General Blasius is channeling his capacity as executive director into a literally and figuratively groundbreaking new project: build a green-grass First Tee facility in Idaho.  

Blasius uses the phrase “golf education center” to describe the concept — something that serves First Tee’s dual mission of teaching golf skills and personal development. And while he’s still in the early phases of pushing his project toward realization, indicators of the projects short-and-long term feasibility, he says, have been strong. And his organization continues to grow, underpinning the case for new space. 

“I’ve learned that it’s a very slow process,” he said. “But you’ve just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other and make sure you believe in the vision — and the concept and vision has changed throughout the process.”  

The origins of this pursuit trace back to those murky, early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, a mere six months into Blasius’s time as executive director. As the PGA Tour, NBA, and every other non-essential institution hit pause, Blasius and his team followed suit, canceling all classes in the spring of 2020.    

But while concerts, schools and restaurants shuttered, golf was having a moment in the sun. Outdoors and naturally distanced, a game that once withered in the economic downturn of 2008 became a safe haven for everyone gone stir-crazy during lockdown. Suddenly, First Tee Idaho found themselves uniquely equipped to solve a crisis for families across the Treasure Valley.  

Hauling in donations of masks and gloves, even cleaning supplies to wipe down grips, Blasius and his team took every precaution they could for a summer full of classes. But as registration opened, the flood of displaced youth was more than they imagined. Classes at Pierce Park Greens were full in just two hours, spilling over into a waitlist twice as long as the number of students they could accommodate. Other host sites filled waitlists of their own.         

“I was frustrated because our job is to service youth and give them an avenue to do this, and we weren’t living up to that,” Blasius said. “Yeah, it filled up; that’s great... but more kids wanted to partake, and we couldn’t do that for them.” 

While First Tee enjoys a productive, if not symbiotic, relationship with many of Southern Idaho’s public golf courses (a relationship Blasius hopes to continue), relying solely on small slices of borrowed space and time seemed to be an impassible barrier to First Tee’s ability to scale its operations. So, Blasius picked up the phone and tapped into an impressive network of golf-loving community figures, and emerged with some faith in the possibility that, one day, First Tee Idaho could have its own space to call home.  

“It turned into this kind of feasibility study with a lot of people in the community about — hey, if we can make something like this happen, does it seem sustainable? Is the community going to rally behind it?” Blasius said.  

“The answer was overwhelmingly ‘yes’.” 

First Tee’s priority is to serve youth and not golfers, per se; they aren’t here to develop Idaho’s next PGA Tour player. And that position gives Blasius some flexibility with the golf-centric elements of this project, which he sees as an opportunity to be as creative as they can with the playing surface.       

“Golf in 2023 isn’t our dad’s version of golf, right?” Blasius said. “Golf has changed a lot; the culture of golf has changed a lot. You don’t see a lot of pleated Dockers on the golf course anymore…  

“Let’s do fun, cool, creative projects.” 

Blasius is as credentialed as golf nuts come. Launching his golf career in the cart barn at Plantation Country Club (now The River Club) as a teenager, he became the club’s head professional in his mid-20's. His office and wardrobe are bursting with items that beg other golf nuts to stop and chat, even when he’s walking his goldendoodle, Ollie, who wears a collar from Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. He represents a growing demographic of golfers willing to re-evaluate the conventions we use to introduce new golfers to the game.   

When we sat down to talk about his project, we quickly found ourselves deep in the weeds, waxing on about the introduction of par as a scoring standard in the early 20th century and the implications its had on the way golfers approach the game. Blasius is exactly the kind of guy you want around for a geek-fest like this, but his greatest skill is understanding how to take golf theory and present it in a way that is palatable, practical and productive. 

Golf, after all, is a game that begs to be explored, not explained. 

Ultimately, this looks like exploring the middle ground between golf’s common arrangement of facilities: 9-or-18-hole loops for play and flat slabs of grass to practice your swing. Places like Pierce Park Greens in Boise (including Falcon Crest’s Cadet course and Sand Creek’s six-hole par-3, among others) are a popular vision of what intermediate or “bridge” facilities look like. Ranging from 85 to 115 yards, no hole will leave you feeling like you’ll never find the bottom of the flag stick. It’s a place where golf’s difficulty is accessible.  

“We need more places like Pierce Park,” Blasius said. Discussions of bridge facilities have gained steam with the rise of Top Golf and other non-traditional golf experiences, as green-grass facilities try to convert new golfers into long-term customers.  

But Blasius is interested in doing something more dynamic — something entirely removed from conventions of par, length, routing or the driving-range teaching model that demands a burdensome time commitment to see results. He’s inspired by places like Bandon Dunes, where the idea that golf courses should have a certain number of holes is seen as a suggestion, not a rule, and where exploration of the land is paramount. He wants to build something that engages a more holistic golf experience, where good golf shots win the day and making eight never needs to matter.  

“From the core of this project, it was going to have to be creative for us to get this done,” he said. “Now the more I do research on it and pursue it, I think the whole project itself is a creative project — it’s essentially giving a golfer, like yourself, a canvas.” 

Maybe that looks like a handful of fun green complexes that can be played in a flexible, undefined routing. Maybe it’s a multi-sided driving range that you can play through the middle of. Maybe it’s one, big hydra of a golf hole that lets you pick your own adventure. 

No matter how that vision solidifies, Blasius wants this to be the coolest golf playground you’ve ever seen.  

“Let’s build something that is every kid’s club,” Blasius said. “Whether you play your golf at Warm Springs or Crane Creek Country Club, this can be a common home for both of those kids.” 

In the Weeks to come: the IGA's new Manager of Rules and Competitions

Boise, Idaho — The Idaho Golf Association has a new chief in its championship department, welcoming PGA member Kyle Weeks aboard as Manager of Rules and Competitions.  

After a career largely focused on innovating how the game is taught — most recently as Director of Golf at Eagle Hills Golf Course — Weeks says he’s eager to return his attention to the competitive game.

“I’m very excited to join the team at the IGA,” Weeks said. “I think competition is the most exciting part of the game and I am really looking forward to bringing my experience as a player and PGA Professional to help grow competitive golf in Idaho.” 

While Week’s resumé is headlined by his credentials as a teacher, his work shows exemplary leadership and a routine commitment to growth by advocating for ways to make the game more approachable for players of all ability levels. He’s armed with a keen sense for evolving with the game.  

“Kyle’s experience speaks for itself,” IGA Executive Director Caleb Cox said. “With more than a decade of leadership not just in golf but golf in Idaho, Kyle is an ideal candidate to serve our membership. His perspective on education and commitment to fostering community around the game aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are confident that his credentials as a golf professional will elevate the championship experience for players of all kinds.”  

Before earning PGA membership in 2012, the New Plymouth High School grad played golf at Treasure Valley Community College before transferring to the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program at the University of Idaho, then to Boise State. He would go on to complete the PGM program outside of a university setting, but make no mistake: Weeks bleeds blue and orange.  

Weeks began working in the golf industry in 2006 under Dave Bartels at Terrace Lakes Golf Course in Garden Valley, eventually earning the title of Assistant Pro in 2009. When Eagle Hills Golf Course came calling in 2012, Weeks landed his first gig as Head Professional.  

In 2016, Weeks hopped over state lines to work at Bend Golf Club in Oregon and a short stint teaching full time at Lost Track Golf Club. Eventually, the Treasure Valley called him home, landing him back at Eagle Hills as Director of Golf in 2019. 

Weeks lives in the Eagle foothills with his wife, Lindsey, and two daughters, Palmer (two) and Kollins (8 months). When he’s not working or on the golf course, he enjoys spending time outside with a slate of hobbies familiar to Idahoans such as hiking, hunting, and fishing.    

Weeks is set to take the reins March 18.   

Growing the game by expanding opportunities for women golfers

Written by: Caleb Cox, IGA Executive Director

NOTE: This article was originally published in the PNGA’s Golfer Magazine

Each Spring, I can’t help but feel a renewed excitement as the golf season approaches. The energy that comes from seeing the grass begin to green up, the flowers to bloom, and the sun to shine really fills me with anticipation for the season. Spring brings a fresh set of opportunities to finally get that elusive hole in one, shoot that career low round, or even play that golf course that I’ve only dreamed of playing.

We have many reasons to be excited about the opportunities that our Idaho Golf Association staff has worked tirelessly to prepare for the months ahead. The IGA has recently completed our comprehensive Strategic Plan for the next 5 years, and we look forward to implementing many new ideas and plans that are packed with new initiatives for you, the member. There is one in particular that I’m excited to share with you.

While we at the IGA has been known for many years as an organization that hosts championships for high level players, the last few years have encouraged us to become a more all-encompassing association by offering specific events for members of all ability levels. More recently, we’ve seen immense growth in women’s membership events through initiatives like our Ladies’ Play Days. On the docket for 2024, our Ladies’ Play Days are expanding, and every IGA district will be hosting one of the fun and exciting events. Look for updates on dates and locations in the Treasure Valley, as well as Idaho Falls and Twin Falls.

Secondly, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting our very first Women’s Getaway. Nationally, women’s golf trips have begun to soar in popularity in the last few years. The IGA Getaways have become a popular item on our schedule over the last several years, and our female players have been a big part of that. In 2024, our staff will be hosting the first Idaho Women’s Golf Getaway to Walla Walla, Washington, where the trip will pair exciting golf course play with local wine tastings. Event details will be made available soon on the IGA website.

After returning from the IGA Women’s Golf Getaway, you will need a place to post your pictures and reconnect with Women from the trip. That’s why our Manager of Member Services, Lexie VanAntwerp, has endeavored to create the first ever Idaho Women’s Golf Facebook Community! The goal of this community is to connect women across the Gem State who have a love for the game. We hope this new community helps to connect and inspire women to take the next step in their golf journey while enjoying the company and camaraderie of fellow Idahoans who enjoy the competition and beauty of our local courses.

Finally, Women’s golf in the Idaho has had a rich tradition of great events over the years and the Idaho Women’s Amateur has been part of that staple part of the tradition. We are looking to add to that rich tradition by enhancing the event into a time to celebrate the ladies in this sport. Beginning in 2024, we are combining the Idaho Women’s Amateur and the Idaho Women’s Mid-Amateur into one great event with two fields of players and paired with an evening social celebration for all in attendance. We are confident it will be an event to remember!

Cheers to the IGA staff and the amazing players in our women’s fields across the state! We hope this next year provides opportunities for you to invite others to these exciting new events, allows for growth in your personal abilities and bring more of our community together for the love of the game!

Not a Boys' Club: three keys for women's participation in golf

By: Nicole Rutledge, Manager of Course Rating and Finance 

I’ve been a part of the Idaho golf community since I could hardly hold a club. My father would bring me along to play nine-holes with him at Jerome Country Club when I was just two years old, and I graduated to playing Idaho Junior Tour golf against other girls my age by the time I was nine. Over the years, golf has continued to find its way into my personal and social life, and today I work for the Idaho Golf Association where I manage course ratings and finance. I can’t imagine my life without this game.            

The truth is, not all little girls have a father anxiously waiting to put a club in their hands like me. Many women aren’t presented with the opportunity or resources to play until later in life when the boys-club golf culture can feel intimidating. My childhood on the golf course with my father and brother helped make me comfortable in male spaces, but my life in golf has given me so many of my most cherished relationships with other women who play and love the game. Golf isn’t the boys’ club we imagine it to be. 

This past fall, the IGA set a new strategic plan in motion, driven by our mission to enhance, engage and grow the Idaho golf community. One of our priorities in that mission is women’s participation. For women who want to join this family of golfers, and for golfers looking to bring more women into the family, here are my three keys to encouraging women’s participation in golf.  

Ask and invite questions 

One of the main differences I see with how men and women come into the game is that men are ready to roll with what they think they know; women tend to be much more worried about what they might not know. If you’re new to golf, it can feel like golfers are speaking a different language, and that’s sort of true. We don’t have prices; we have “greens fees.” We don’t have reservations; we have “tee times.” Then there is the pin, the cup, the hole, and the flag — four different words that may or may not mean the same thing.   

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the weird and complicated things about golf, but I know very few lifelong golfers who have mastered them all. Just last year on a course rating trip I was quickly corrected by one of those few when I referred to a bunker as a “sand trap.” It doesn’t matter how much you already know; everyone is still learning this game. This is why it’s so important to ask questions, and for golfers and industry professionals to be ready and willing to answer them.  

Find and build women’s golf communities 

The idea that the golf community has more barriers for women than it does for men is too often overstated. There are millions of women golfers all over the world, which means there are plenty of opportunities for women to find community with other women in the game. My advice for women looking to get involved is to go find them. My advice for golf clubs is to broadcast them.  

One of the best ways to make asking questions more comfortable for women trying to pick up the game is for clubs and associations to create spaces exclusively for women. The time between golf shot, and the time before and after rounds, are sacred moments to many golfers (I even make sure to leave time for these moments with my course rating crew). These are the moments where golfers trade laughs and stories, share memories and pitchers of beer. When women see women in golf engaging in those moments together, the world of golf seems all the more welcoming.  

Don’t be afraid of competition  

For women who do find their way into the golf community, too many seem to think that tournament golf is not for them. This could not be further from the truth. I’ve been playing tournament golf since I was nine, and I’ve found that many of those tournament rounds feel a lot more like social rounds than you might think. Golf tournaments, especially at the club level, are all about community — golfers play them to support the institutions that make the game possible, share a day with other people who love the game, and hand out pro shop credit to those who play well. As long as you have a functional understanding of the rules and can get around the course in a timely manner, golf tournaments are for anyone who calls themselves a golfer. Some of my best memories every year come from community golf tournaments; it’s never because of how well I played. 

I spend many of my working hours surrounded mostly by men on course rating trips. All of them are committed to making sure that ratings for women are given the same attention to detail as the ratings for men because they understand golf is a game for everyone. But this game isn’t for everyone if the people inside the game don’t reach out to those on the outside. I’m proud to be part of an organization that’s reaching out.

A brief note regarding your membership

The IGA will be implementing two changes to how your membership works in the new year that we hope will make it more valuable.

First, we will be improving our membership model. Classically, our membership timeline has been centered around a calendar year where members could get started with their membership and Handicap any time after January 1, and it would expire at the end of the calendar year regardless of when you signed up.

We are excited to announce that starting today, January 1, all memberships will now follow a 365-day cycle, enhancing your membership by providing a full year's worth of membership from the date of purchase. We couldn't be more excited about this change.

For us to make the 365-day membership model happen, we will also need to implement a second change for all public handicap registrations. In 2024, all publicly purchased IGA memberships will have to be purchased directly through the IGA via our online registration system located on our website, over the phone, or by visiting the IGA office.

These changes will enable us to have features like auto-renew and reminder emails that help us enhance your overall membership experience.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year in 2024!

-Caleb Cox, IGA Executive Director

IGA Championships Volunteer: Rick Krajnik

1 – Where are you originally from? If not from Idaho, what brought you here?
Originally from Bayonne, New Jersey, I moved to California with my family. In 2014, we moved to Boise after accepting a position with the State.  We love it here in Boise—from the people to the politics to the geography!

2 – What is/was your career occupation?
I spent 35 years in the software industry from building a small consultancy focused on security-based software development to working with most of the major consulting companies (such as Microsoft, Accenture and Deloitte) in a director-level role in selling, shaping, and delivering software solutions.

3 – What is it about the game of golf that you love so much?
I started playing when I was about 8 years old with my Dad.  I’ve had a lifelong love affair with the game and during the mid-80s, I was playing tournament-quality rounds.  In addition to falling short at eight different U.S. Open Qualifiers, I was the club champion at Mountain Meadows in LaVerne, California, never to repeat that again.

A late 30’s back injury also forced me to step away for a short 20 years. I have, over the past five years, tried to get my game back, no pun intended.

Rick Krajnik spending quality time with his granddaughter, Sophie.

4 – What made you want to volunteer for the IGA? When did you start?
As I mentioned, I’ve had a lifelong love for golf and came across the IGA as I was looking to try to get back into playing more regularly.  I thought that by being around the game again I’d get myself ready to play again.  

I started with the IGA roughly 6 years ago and have enjoyed the roles that I’ve helped with. I’m always looking to take on more responsibility, I look forward to continuing my work with the IGA.

5 – What do you hope to get out of volunteering for the IGA? What motivates you to keep coming back?
I enjoy watching good quality golf and the IGA tournament delivers that.  I get a feeling of community and contribution when I participate in the IGA events, just as I do when I’m volunteering for the local food banks.  So, both of these have been what I’m looking for and what keeps me coming back!

6 – What has been your favorite memory from volunteering for the IGA?
While working as a spotter, I had a ball whiz by my ear, and because I immediately dove to the ground (why?), I lost track of the ball, and we had to assume it went OB as it was nowhere to be found.  It was quite embarrassing.  

Another favorite memory has been each time I’ve watched the awards presentation for an event and seen the look of pride and relief from the winners - that’s a special moment.

7 – What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Jump in!  The IGA team (Nicole, Anne, etc.) makes the process easy and is always ready to answer any questions you might have.  There are a number of roles, so you’ll very likely find your sweet spot within the team.

8 – What is your fondest memory on the golf course?
Two things jumped out for me… my first eagle (I was 12 years old, hit a three wood to about 4 ft and made the putt… My Dad made me buy beers for him and his friends we were playing with, and of course, they knew the people that worked there).  

Secondly was probably the first time I beat my Dad and his buddies— legit, I was probably 13 or 14.  

9 – When were you introduced to the sport? By who?
At the age of 8.  My Dad would always be going out to the range at the Arcadia Par-3 Course. One day, he asked me to go with him and he’d show me the basics.  It’s been a family activity ever since.

10 – What is your home club? How often do you play?
I am registered at Quail Hollow here in Boise, but unfortunately, I’m still having back problems that keep me from getting out too often. This past year I played three or four rounds, hoping to step it up this coming spring.

11 – What's something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I play lead guitar in a worship band!

12 – Who would be a part of your dream foursome to play a round of golf with?
My Dad, my brother and Frank Sinatra.

13 - What has been your favorite golf course that you have played?
Here in Boise - I like BanBury GC and Quail Hollow GC (Jug Mountain Ranch, further north).  Everywhere else, I like Pebble Beach Golf Links and/or Torrey Pines GC.

14 – Describe your golf game in six words
Painful to play, painful to watch

15 – What's one item that you can’t live without?
My Bible

IGA announces honorees for 2023 Players of the Year Award

BOISE, Idaho — With the tournament season now in the books, the Idaho Golf Association would like to officially announce the recipients of the 2023 Players of the Year Award:

MEN
-Trevor Garus (Men’s)
-Burke Spensky (Men’s Master-40)
-Darren Kuhn (Men’s Senior)

WOMEN
-Maddie Montoya (Women’s)
-Kris Fenwick, Melinda Howard & Sadie Fisher (Women’s Mid-Am)
-Karen Darrington (Women’s Senior)

The IGA would like to congratulate each golfer on their successful year on the golf course and for the impact they’ve had on golf in the great state of Idaho.

MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TREVOR GARUS

Garus, an upcoming golf star in Idaho and a commit to the UCLA Men’s Golf Team, showed this season why he is a force to be reckoned with in future IGA Championships and beyond. His ability to hit the ball a mile while having a soft touch around the greens helped lead him to some stellar finishes, including a victory at the 95th State Amateur at Jug Mountain Ranch — a course that isn’t for the faint of heart.

Here are his finishes for the 2023 season:

Trevor Garus hits an iron off the tee on the 1st hole at Jug Mountain Ranch during State Amateur

-IGA State Amateur Championship (1st)
@Jug Mountain Ranch

-IGA Match Play Championship (2nd)
@Jerome CC

-U.S. Amateur (Qualified)
@Warm Springs GC

-IGA Tournament of Champions (T-4)
@Falcon Crest GC

Nicole Bird, Manager of Rules and Competitions at the IGA, stated: “Winning the Player of the Year Award just caps off an amazing season for [Trevor]. He played so well in every event from finishing runner-up at the Match Play to becoming the IGA State Am Champion. It sure has been a fascinating journey to watch. [He] is definitely worthy of being player of the year for the men in 2023!”

MEN’S MASTER-40 PLAYER OF THE YEAR: BURKE SPENSKY

After being out for the 2022 season, Spenksy returned in style and dominance in all Master-40 events this golf season. With consistency as one of his greatest strengths, Spensky always found himself at or near the top of every leaderboard. Having a solid flat stick and great ball striking, Spensky rarely shot himself out of an event. His top finish this season was as a runner-up at the Mid-Amateur Championship.

Burke Spensky tries to chip it close on the long par-3 16th at Pinecrest GC.

Here are his finishes for the 2023 season:

-IGA Mid-Amateur Championship (T1)
@Pinecrest GC

-IGA State Amateur Championship (7th)
@Jug Mountain Ranch

-IGA Tournament of Champions (6th)
@Falcon Crest GC

“[Burke] had an outstanding year,” Bird said. “We were thrilled to have him back competing in 2023 after being out due to injury in 2022. He had several top finishes at IGA Championships, and due to some great golf, he definitely deserves this award!”

MEN’S SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DARREN KUHN

If there was an event, Kuhn was there. He didn’t just show up to play in almost every event, he showed up to compete and battle his fellow competitors for each event’s shiny hardware. No stranger to big events and competitive fields, Kuhn let his game do the talking this season — using a somewhat unconventional swing and solid mental game to get him there. ‘Mr. Steady’ would be a great nickname for Kuhn, despite having a zero in the win column this season.

Darren Kuhn hits his tee shot off an elevated tee box on the 16th at TimberStone GC during Senior Amateur.

Here are his finishes for the 2023 season:

-IGA Match Play Championship – Men’s Senior Division (2nd)
@Jerome CC

-IGA Senior Amateur Championship (T-3)
@TimberStone GC

-IGA Senior Tournament of Champions (T-4)
@Falcon Crest GC

-PNGA Senior Amateur (T-11)
@Canterwood G&CC (WA)

-IGA Mid-Amateur Championship – Master-40 Division (T-13)
@Pinecrest GC

“[Darren] played in a number of IGA events this year and finished well in all of them,” Bird mentioned. “He finished runner-up at the Senior Match Play and continued his strong play all the way through the Senior TOC, never missing a beat! Congratulations to [Darren] on winning the Senior Men's Player of the Year.”

WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MADDIE MONTOYA

In what is a talented core of young female golfers in the IGA, a single player separated herself from the rest of that cluster with a win at the biggest women’s championship of the year. Montoya, a sophomore on the Montana State Women’s Golf Team, claimed the Women’s Player of the Year award with what may have been the round of the year in women’s golf throughout Idaho.

Maddie Montoya embraces Women’s State Am trophy following comeback victory.

She snuck up on then-leader Emily Cadwell during the final round of the Women’s State Amateur to win the tournament in a playoff after trailing by five strokes to begin the final round — etching her name in the history books and on the trophy that bears the name of Idaho great Jean Smith.

Here are her finishes for the 2023 season:

-IGA Women’s State Amateur Championship (T1)
@Jug Mountain Ranch

Referring to Montoya’s play this year, the IGA’s Manager of Rules and Competitions said: “[Maddie] played really well at the Women's State Amateur and is deserving of this award. I fully expect big things to come for her in future IGA Championships!”

WOMEN’S MID-AM PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: KRIS FENWICK, MELINDA HOWARD & SADIE FISHER

For what might be a first in IGA history, the award for the Women’s Mid-Am Player of the Year will be shared between three individuals: Fenwick and Howard are two familiar faces within women’s golf in Idaho, and Fisher, on the other hand, is an occasional participant in IGA Championships who simply balls out when she does. Each competitor gets to claim a piece of the pie — playing the game in their own way and style.

Here are their finishes for the 2023 season:

-Kris Fenwick finished T-2 at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship
@Pinecrest GC

-Melinda Howard finished T-2 at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship
@Pinecrest GC

Kris Fenwick (top left), Melinda Howard (bottom left) & Sadie Fisher (right)

-Sadie Fisher finished as the runner-up at the IGA Match Play Championship
@Jerome CC

“Congratulations to all three ladies on their co-Player of the Year honors; they all had an outstanding season and are very deserving of this honor,” Bird said.

WOMEN’S SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: KAREN DARRINGTON

Darrington continued to show dominance in 2023 just as she has over the last couple of decades — getting the luxury of adding several new trophies to her already overflowing collection. Darrington known as a crowd favorite amongst peers, showed humility and respect in both victory and defeat this season.
 For those who are entrenched in sport’s lore, agreeance would be had that Darrington has that “It Factor,” and it is something that roots its head at each event. Some would even say it is the very reason why Darrington has been so difficult to beat for the long list of gals who have played in IGA Championships for the last 20-plus years.

Here are her finishes for the 2023 season:

-IGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship (1st)
@TimberStone GC

-IGA Women’s Match Play Championship – Senior (1st)
@Jerome CC

-IGA Senior Tournament of Champions (2nd)
@Falcon Crest GC

-PNGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur (6th)
@Twin Lakes G&CC (WA)

Karen Darrington watches her tee shot off the 1st hole at Blue Lakes CC during the 2023 PNGA Lamey Cup.

“While [Karen] is no stranger to this award, she is definitely worthy this year!” said Bird while describing Darrington’s 2023 season. “She won two events as well as picking up several top finishes in other events. She played really well in 2023 and will be extremely missed during the 2024 season.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

It was an impressive year of golf within the IGA. Golfers were treated to some fabulous venues and weather, well, at least when the thunderstorms stayed away. The competition level in each division raised the quality of play, which proved to be a true testament to the players who registered for them.

Now putting the 2023 season in the past, the IGA couldn’t be more excited about 2024 and all that is in store! Be sure to stay tuned for next year’s schedule! We can’t wait to see you at an IGA event!

CLICK HERE for a complete look at each division’s standings.

2023 Volunteer of the Year

BOISE, Idaho —The Idaho Golf Association is excited to announce the recipient of the 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award: Karen Edwards. The VOY Award is given to individuals who go above and beyond in helping the IGA and those who participate in its services. The IGA’s volunteers are asked to do a plethora of tasks: live scoring, coordinate events, Course Rating, and more.

Edwards was a stalwart all year as she volunteered for nine of the 14 qualifiers and championships the IGA hosted this past season.  If the event was in or near the Treasure Valley, she was there—that’s even including the U.S. Four-Ball Qualifier at Desert Canyon GC in Mountain Home! Edwards often worked multiple days and double shifts for many of these events. As a championship volunteer, she served as a shuttle driver and as a live scorer. Edwards gave off her time and talents in whatever capacity she served in. She also fit right in with the IGA Staff and its other volunteers.

Edwards volunteered at the following events:

-U.S. Open Local Qualifier (shuttle driver)
-U.S. Junior Qualifier (shuttle driver)
-U.S. Amateur Qualifier (live scorer)
-U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier (shuttle driver)
-U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier (live scorer)
-U.S. Four-Ball Qualifier (live scorer)
-IGA Senior Amateur Championship (live scorer)
-IGA Senior Tournament of Champions (live scorer)
-IGA Tournament of Champions (live scorer)

The IGA’s Manager of Rules & Competitions, Nicole Bird, said: “[Karen Edwards] was very deserving of the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2023. She attended most of our championships and qualifiers this year to help with live scoring, shuttle driving, and anything else we needed.”

"She's very dependable and loves chatting with all of the players to learn where they're from and how they are playing,” Bird further stated. “The players enjoy interacting with [Karen] because she's always so cheerful and helpful out on the course. We love having [her] volunteer at our events!”

Her service will continue to be of great value to the IGA for many more years to come.

The IGA would like to congratulate Edwards again on a job well done this year and express its gratitude toward her and all the other volunteers who sacrifice time away from other meaningful things in their lives to give back to the game they each love.

For those interested in volunteering next season, please send an email to Nicole Bird at nicole@idahoga.org for championships, Nicole Rutledge at nicole.r@idahoga.org for Course Rating, and Cecilia Baney at cecilia@idahoga.org for the Idaho Junior Tour.

IGA Course Rating Volunteers: Tim and Julie Finup

 1 – Where are you originally from? If not from Idaho, what brought you here?
Tim is from Michigan originally and came to Idaho for work. Julie was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

2 – What is/was your career occupation?
Tim was an operations engineer and manager at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).  Julie was a supervisor for the Department of Energy overseeing operations of the contractors at the INL.

3 – What is it about the game of golf that you love so much?
Julie loves the friendly competition and friendships she has made through leagues and tournaments. Tim loves challenging himself on every shot. Every shot is different depending on the courses being played.

Julie and Tim Finup enjoy the chance to be spectators at the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links in South Carolina.

4 – What made you want to volunteer for the IGA? 
The head pro at Pinecrest GC recommended it to us as a good retirement activity that would allow us to see all the courses around Idaho. Also, a friend at our country club does Course Rating and said it was really good in helping one understand the game better. When did you start?  We started  doing course ratings and helping with scoring at tournaments in 2022.

5 – What do you hope to get out of volunteering for the IGA? What motivates you to keep coming back?
A better understanding of how golf course conditions play into the handicapping system and playability of the course. It’s fun to work with the other volunteers and play new courses that we haven’t played before.

6 – What has been your favorite memory from volunteering for the IGA?
There are too many to pick just one. It has been interesting to hear all the different perspectives on how a hole should be rated. Playing golf and validating our assumptions has been an eye-opener.

7 – What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering? 
DO IT, volunteering is very rewarding, and being able to learn and do something you love together is a plus.

8 – What is your fondest memory on the golf course?
For Julie, it was the hole-in-one she made at Sage Lakes GC in Idaho Falls. For Tim, it’s the feel of a really good golf shot.

9 – When were you introduced to the sport? By who?
For Julie, she was introduced by Tim after they got married in 1992. Tim was introduced to the sport in his freshman year (1980) of college by a friend.

10 – What is your home club? How often do you play?
Our home club is the Idaho Falls CC. Julie plays four to five times a week in different leagues in Idaho. Tim plays two to three times a week during the summer months in Idaho, and we take several golf trips during the fall and winter months.

11 – What's something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?  
Neither one of us likes to be around big groups of people, but golf is the exception.

12 – Who would be a part of your dream foursome to play a round of golf with?
For Julie, it would be Annika Sörenstam, Julie Inkster, Lexi Thompson and herself.  For Tim, it would be Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Bryson Dechambeau and himself.

13 - What has been your favorite golf course that you have played?
We both really enjoyed playing Glen Eagles in Scotland, with Kingsbarns GC being a close second. In the States, we would have to say Firestone CC.

14 – Describe your golf game in six words.
Tim: simplicity, accuracy, and consistency
Julie: A work in progress.

15 – What's one item that you can’t live without?
For Tim, it’s a really lofted wedge. For Julie, it’s her driver.

Familiar Faces Take Home TOC Titles

Written By: Shane René

Scott Masingill acknowledges the crowd after tapping in the winning putt. | Shane René

Falcon Crest Golf Club spills down and around one of few highpoints in the long, flat stretch of land running south of Boise toward Kuna, exposing itself to the winds known well to residents of the south Treasure Valley. Players in the 2023 Tournament of Champions battled a heavy dose of those winds last week, watching golden leaves and golf balls blown from their intended lines.  

It’s no surprise that some of the IGA’s most consistent and proven competitors — including Scott Masingill, Fran Matthias, Kris Fenwick, Shawna Ianson, Courtney Walters, and Nate Smith — walked away with hardware. 

Senior Divisions:  

Kris Fenwick. | Shane René

The festivities kicked off Wednesday for the Senior and Super-Senior divisions, as club and state champions alike took to the first tee on a brisk and cloudy morning. Karen Darrington and Scott Masingill headlined the list of favorites and found themselves pinned comfortably near the top of the leaderboard before the start of the final round. 

Karen Darrington and her husband, Phil. | Shane René

Masingill, the 2023 Senior Amateur champion, opened with a three-under round of 69 for a two-stroke advantage over Whitetail’s Bob Wheeler, the only other player to drag their round under par on Wednesday. With a bogey on the benign first hole, Masingill returned to his usually mistake-free form, coasting into Falcon Crest’s famously brawny final hole. Poking driver down the middle, Masingill turned his eyes away from water, laying up into the thin stretch of refuge on the left-hand side. With a wedge and a two putt, Masingill finished with 74 — 16 pars and bookend bogeys — to win his second-consecutive Senior TOC title.

On the women’s side, Stacey Camara found herself two-strokes clear of the revered Karen Darrington at the close of play on Wednesday. In her last competitive round before embarking on an 18-month mission to Tonga, Darrington came out of the gates with a tropical heat. A bogey-free 33 on the front nine vaulted her into the lead, before she cooled off in the pond guarding the 10th green. She earned a shot back with a birdie on the par-five 11th, but leaked oil down the rest of the back nine.  

In Darrington’s wake, Kris Fenwick put her head down, playing her final eight holes in even par, finishing one shot clear of Darrington. Fenwicks win is her third consecutive victory at the Senior Women’s TOC, but she notched a rare victory over Darrington, a long-time friend and competitor.  

“Karen has made me a better golfer over the years,” Fenwick said. “Today I feel like I graduated.” 

Following the round, Karen Darrington was given an award for her eight years of service on the IGA Board of Directors, and continued excellence as model amateur player in the state of Idaho.

Super-Senior Divisions:  

While the men in the IGA’s super-senior divisions are winning the war against Father Time, they keep losing battles to Fran Matthias. But through just a few holes on Thursday morning, the tables seemed to be turning in their favor.  

Matthias rolled out to a two-stroke lead on Wednesday, but two double bogeys in the early goings of his final round had him tumbling down the leader board. After a front-nine 42, another double bogey at the par-5 11th had Matthias’ chances evaporating like the autumn foliage. Then he found his first birdie of the day one hole later, collecting two more on the gettable 15th and 16th, before navigating the 18th for a bogey that would cement his second consecutive Super-Senior TOC title by one stroke. Last year, he won by 11.  

If you’ve spent time around IGA Championship events before, odds are you’ve seen the name “Ianson” floating around on a leaderboard. This year, former Senior TOC Champion Shawna Ianson found her way back into the TOC winners circle with a four-stroke win in the Women’s Super-Senior division. On a golf course that was playing long without the wind, Shawna took hold of the lead with an opening round of 90, shaving one shot in the final round to be one of just two players in her division to break 90.  

Men’s and Women’s Division: 

Courtney Walters

In a dazzling five-birdie display in the first round of the regular TOC event, Boise Ranch club champion Emily Callahan found herself with a two-stroke lead after round one. Out of the River Club, Courtney Walters played her final 13 holes in two-under to salvage an even-par 72.  

Callahan leaked oil early in the final round, managing just three pars for a score of 41 on the front nine. Walters, meanwhile, opened with birdie on the first to go along with 7 pars, opening a lead that would continue to grow as the front runners made their way to the final hole. Like many of this week’s champions, a cozy, closing bogey was more than enough to nail the coffin shut, walking home with a nine-stroke victory. 

Nate Smith

On the men’s side, Tetonia resident and former PGA Tour professional Nate Smith overcame a two-shot deficit in the first round to finish four shots clear of the field for his first win since regaining his amateur status.  

On Saturday, 2023 Idaho State Mid-Amateur champion Jesse Hibler rolled home with a birdie-eagle-par finish to shoot 69. Smith stumbled on the 18th hole to finish with 71. But the professional still lives within the Duke University graduate, who opened the final round with back-to-back birdies, jumping him into the lead after a double bogey from Hibler on the tight, par-four 3rd. The battle continued through the middle of the round as Hibler made back-to-back birdies on the 9th and 10th, a two-stroke swing that would send Hibler back into the lead.  

Smith absorbed another bogey on the 12th, but Hibler was having bigger problems of his own, making double bogey on the 13th and 15th, a stretch that Smith played in one-under. With another birdie on the 16th, Smith arrived on the 18th tee with a four-shot lead over Issac Emerson, who made a valiant charge with a final round 70.  

“Winning is hard, and it’s been a long time since I’ve won a tournament,” Smith said. 

USGA Rules Team Helps You Navigate Your Fall Round

Written by Danny Vohden, USGA

I hit my ball into a pile of leaves, now what?

This involves what the Rules of Golf calls “loose impediments.” In other words, any unattached, natural objects that can be easily removed – things like stones, loose grass and yes, leaves.

Since 2019, golfers are allowed to move those loose impediments anywhere on the golf course, including in a bunker or penalty area. If your ball moves while removing the loose impediment, it’s a one-stroke penalty and you must put the ball back… except if you’re on the putting green. In that case, just put the ball back where it was and play on without penalty.

So feel free to move those leaves out of your way before making your next stroke, but do so carefully. And keep in mind that you can remove leaves, and other loose impediments, by any means. That could mean your hands, a towel, your hat – whatever you’ve got in your bag. Just don’t move the ball!

But wait, isn’t there a “leaf Rule” that gives me free relief?

The short answer is, it depends. The golf course or the Committee running a tournament has the authority to enact Model Local Rule F-14, which allows areas with temporary accumulations of loose impediments (like a pile of leaves) to be treated as ground under repair. This means that you can take free relief from this area, including for a ball that you know is in the pile, even if you can’t find it.

My course is aerating the fairways and greens; what happens if my ball lands in one of the holes?

Aeration holes are not considered ground under repair, so relief is not allowed. But like the so-called “leaf Rule” above, relief may be permitted if a Model Local Rule (E-4) is in effect.

Everyone understands that golfers don’t necessarily want to play on greens and fairways that have just been aerated, but it’s important to keep in mind that the short-term disruption is significantly outweighed by the long-term benefits. For more on that, listen to the USGA Green Section.

What about other Fall maintenance projects underway at my course?

Let’s say there’s been a tree removed or new irrigation system installed – any holes or trenches created by the maintenance staff during those types of projects are considered “ground under repair,” and you’re entitled to free relief.

How do Fall conditions impact posting scores for my Handicap Index®?

The USGA Handicapping Department has you covered there. Check out the five things you need to know about Fall golf and the World Handicap System™.

Looking for more details? Check out the Rules of Golf Explained:

• Loose Impediments

• Abnormal Course Conditions

*CLICK HERE for the original article.

'...Scott Masingill goes wire-to-wire at Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship'

Written by Brayden Conover, USA Today
Photo credited to USA Today

SUPER SENIORS

With a 16-stroke lead heading into the final round, the only question remaining for Scott Masingill was not if he was going to win, but by how many.

“Yesterday, we talked about confidence,” Masingill told Golfweek. “You know, you can be too confident and think ‘I don’t really have to concentrate.”

No matter how experienced you are or how well you may be playing, golf has a funny way of humbling you.

Masingill had a tap in left for par on the par-4 9th. Sweeping it into the hole, it lipped out and resulted in a bogey for the 1971 Pac-8 conference champion (1971, Oregon State). Closing the championship with a 3-over 75, Masingill had wise words that everyone can benefit from:

“There’s the right amount of confidence and there’s the right amount of intensity. You can’t try too hard and you can’t assume that you’re such a good player that you can just go out and play and everything will work out, because it won’t.”

Despite the uncharacteristic day, Masingill closes the week at Wine Valley with the best score to par across the entire field at 7 under 209 and a 17-stroke win in the Super Senior division. Not too shabby for the 72-year-old Idaho legend.

Dan Parkinson (10 over) and Frank Maxwell (12 over) rounded out the podium spots.

*This story has been shortened. To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Distance, solid putting, good teamwork make winning formula

Written by Beaux Yenchik, Manager of Media and Communications

The majority of the sporting world, including those of us who have invested our time and money in golf, find that most of these recreational hobbies were designed to play with a team. Basketball has five players on the floor with the remaining teammates on the bench. Football and soccer have 11. And you get the picture.

Each team is led by a head coach or manager who schemes and plots the path to victory for those he or she leads. Cultures are established. Team banners are hung from the rafters, while parades glide through cities with celebrations adorning the air.

Yet golf, like tennis, is played as an individual. Each choice, swing, putt, etc. comes down to the operator of the golf club. There is no one to blame but oneself for an errant tee shot or a missed birdie putt from close range. Golf intensifies areas like self-accountability and integrity. But, at the end of the day, aren’t these some of the many reasons why we all love the game of golf?

However, all that individuality gets thrown out the window when it comes to team events like the Ryder or Solheim Cup! (I don’t know about you, but the week of the Ryder Cup is one of my favorite times to watch golf along with the majors.) Wouldn’t you agree?

It isn’t often that golfers get the opportunity to play team golf. You have the exceptions like those who play for their respected school teams, but beyond that, for the however many other 90-something percenters that don’t play in those settings, it can be fun and unknown.

On the local level, the Idaho Golf Association has the occasional team event that gives golfers the opportunity to drop their solo acts and go duet-style in various tournaments: the PNGA Lamey Cup, Hogan Cup, Carter Cup, Girls Junior Americas Cup, etc. These team events for both our adult and junior participants give some of our top players opportunities to play in local or regional events that feel like miniature Ryder Cups.

However, there is an event, the IGA Four-Ball Championship, that gives every IGA member an opportunity to play competitively with a partner against the likes of some of the best amateur golfers around the state. It is a two-day event, and this year it was held at RedHawk Golf Course in Nampa – one of the top public courses around.

The field consisted of 45 teams: 25 men, 11 senior men and nine women pairings. Playing a total of 36 holes, each team set off to compete in what is called a four-ball format. For those of you who don’t know what this specific format is, the USGA defines it as “a form of play (in either match play or stroke play) involving partners where two partners compete together as a side, with each player playing their own ball, and a side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.”

Simple enough?

Burke Spensky hitting approach on hole No. 2.

Louis Burke watches his tee shot on the tricky par-3 16th.

Katie Dearing putting a little extra "English" on her birdie attempt.

What makes this format very intriguing is the balancing act teams have to have as they make their way through each round. The hope for each team is to have the ability to “ham and egg” it on every hole if necessary — always ensuring that at least one partner is playing well on any given hole.

"One of us hitting a birdie [made] the other one [think] ‘alright, I got this’ [and feel motivated to play better and help the team out],” Katie Dearing said when referring to the effects team play can have.

The teams that faired the most in this challenging but doable style of play were Burke Spensky & Justin Merz (men’s winners), Stephen Hartnett & Louis Burke (senior men’s winners), and Dearing & Denise Smith (women’s winners).

These three pairings tackled the daunting task that RedHawk GC presented to each and every golfer who stepped onto its lakeside grounds. From undulating fairways to hard, fast greens, each of these winners managed to rely on their individual strengths to help carry their teams through to the finish line.

For the three winning teams, it was their ability to be long and straight off the tee on a course that pushed north of 6,700 yards (from the back tees). Though the fairways were generous with their widths, if players got outside those boundaries, the long rough and fescue seemed to strangle all hope for the very next shot — a scenario the winners seemed to manage quite well.

"Distance travels everywhere,” Spensky stated. “You can hit all the greens you want, but if you are 30 feet away, you can three-putt these greens.”

"I think for us, keeping two balls in play was huge,” Dearing added. “So, it took the pressure off of one as long [was in the fairway] or at least in play…”

Though driving the ball far and keeping it straight was helpful, having short games that stood up and did not falter under pressure was even more crucial for these three duos. The team of Hartnett and Burke managed to hold off back-to-back defending champions Jay Sutton and Dan Pickens with a key birdie putt on their final hole of the tournament. Spensky’s 30-foot redemption putt on the second playoff hole to win proved to be a key ingredient down the stretch. Team Dearing-Smith rolled in two birdies in their last three holes to give them a two-shot victory.

Though each team’s philosophy and chemistry were different, each managed to take advantage of their length and accuracy off the tee and their ability to make putts when it mattered — proving team golf to be an exciting challenge unlike any other in this sport.

FINAL RESULTS

-Men’s Four-Ball: Burke Spensky & Justin Merz 65-68 = 133 (-7)
-Men’s Senior Four-Ball: Stephen Hartnett & Louis Burke 70-65 = 135 (-7)
-Women’s Four-Ball: Katie Dearing & Denise Smith 74-69 = 143 (+1)

For a complete look at the 2023 IGA Four-Ball Championships leaderboards, CLICK HERE.

Hiskey memorial unveiled at Twin Falls GC

On July 29, Twin Falls (Idaho) Parks and Recreation Department unveiled a monument at Twin Falls Municipal Golf Course to celebrate the contributions of the Hiskey family to the city and the state through the game of golf. Hiskey relatives from around the country were in attendance at the ceremony, and Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued a proclamation declaring July 29 as “Hiskey Family Day.”  

Pete Hiskey (1902-1987) created a golfing legacy for the Magic Valley. In the wake of the Depression, he helped build the original nine holes of Twin Falls Municipal Golf Course on the old Oregon Trail. He served as its superintendent, directed the city parks department, and helped build Blue Lakes Country Club and several other southern Idaho courses.  

Pete and wife Valna raised their family in a stone house near the fifth tee of Twin Falls GC. All the kids caddied, even their daughter Beverly. Their three boys – Sonny, Jim, and Babe – won eight consecutive Idaho amateur championships. Sonny led North Texas State to a NAIA national title, and Jim won three NCAA national team titles while playing for the University of Houston. 

Babe played 15 years on the PGA TOUR, winning three times, and a decade on the PGA Champions Tour.  He competed in two Masters Tournaments. 

The perpetual trophy of the Idaho Golf Association’s Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship is called the Hiskey Family Cup.  

Story and photo credited to the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.

A couple of firsts at historic Idaho venue

Written by Beaux Yenchik, Manager of Media and Communications 
 
For those of you who love golf course architecture, Pinecrest Golf Course in Idaho Falls, ID, is the quintessential example of old-school design in Idaho. Its 18 holes are jammed between four city streets in the heart of Eastern Idaho’s biggest metropolis. When playing this diamond in the rough, one would be reminded of what it is like to golf in the Pacific Northwest — skinny fairways lined with tall, mature pine trees.  
 
Pinecrest was built in 1936 and is the oldest course in Idaho, so talk about being rich in history. One walks into the clubhouse and is immediately met by décor reminiscent of the past and its origins. Yet, it could be considered holy ground in the lore of Idaho golf history. So, when the field teed off for the 2023 IGA Mid-Amateur Championships, each player hoped their name would be added to the history books of Pinecrest GC.  
 
With the course not originally designed to cater to the grip-it-and-rip-it type players, the venue found a way to sift the field — bringing the best ball strikers to the top of the leaderboard. Any wayward movement off the tee left players fighting to make par but often settling for bogey. 
 
It was, at least in my opinion, what cost someone the championship on the final hole of regulation. (More to be shared on this later in the article!) 
 
WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR 
 
There she was, two shots back of first-round leader Melinda Howard after the conclusion of the first round. Having never played in an IGA Championship, Bailey Henley had found herself amongst a field of experienced and trophy-hungry competitors. A score of 79 (+7) had given her claim to second place. Knowing that it wasn’t over by any means, Henley knew her climb to the top would be tough, especially in the local swirling winds, but doable.

Bailey Henley nearly aces the uphill par-3 10th during her opening round.

Friday changed everything for the soon-to-be winner. It could be considered what the PGA Tour calls its Saturdays: “Moving Day.”  Yet, in this case, the women’s field moved in one direction from par while Henley went the other way — shooting an astonishing 68 (-4), which stands as the lowest round of the year to this point in any IGA Women’s Championship. Henley had four birdies and an eagle to go along with her two bogeys on holes five and seven. 
 
What was working for her Saturday, and really all weekend, was the flatstick. The interesting tidbit about Henley’s putter was that it wasn’t even hers! She had putted all week with Nicole Bird’s putter, the IGA’s Manager of Rules and Competitions, after showing up to the event without one. When her original putter was offered to go back in the bag, Henley declined since the borrowed one was working.  
 
“It was kind of more about what I didn’t bring, what I forgot to bring,” said Henley when asked about what she brought to the event that had been working for her. “I was really good with the putter this week, which was [Nicole’s] putter because I actually showed up without one...I had under 30 putts in all three rounds, so that was my saving grace this week I would say.” 
 
With a 10-shot lead heading into the final round, Henley merely needed to avoid imploding and the Vickey Mallea trophy would be hers. Though her final round of 81 (+9) wasn’t the lowest score of the day, Henley managed to do just enough to keep her distance from runner-up Kris Fenwick, who ended the week at +19 and seven shots back.  
 
Henley held command of her game throughout the week, not pulling the driver on every hole or attacking every pin. Yes, she took advantage of her length when the opportunity presented itself, but she showed consistent ball striking and solid putting en route to her inaugural IGA victory. 
 
What was unique though about Henley’s performance was her presence and the way she conducted herself amongst her peers. Some may define the stereotypical golfer, at least a tournament-based player, as someone who is serious and keeps to themselves. Henley’s style was not that. She engaged in conversations, always in a happy mood, and even rooted for her fellow competitors.  
 
As she watched her second-to-last putt slip past the hole, she jokingly made fun of the situation, stating that this was her first time and that she needed another shot to win the championship — in a non-bragging manner.  
 
When asked about what else was working for her besides her putting, she stated: “I feel like it didn’t have as much to do with my golf game as much as it was like how much fun I was having. If I am not having a fun time, if I’m not having a good time, and being glad to be here, I am probably not going to do very good...” 
 
Henley finished her championship by posting scores 79-68-81 = 228 (+12).  
 
To see the entire leaderboard, CLICK HERE.   
 
MEN’S MID-AMATEUR & MASTER-40 
 
As he stood on the 18th tee box, Jesse Hibler had found himself two strokes behind the leader, Burke Spensky, with one hole to play. He had just executed what might have been the best up-and-down par of the tournament on the previous hole — giving himself a chance to force a playoff and win the championship if things unfolded in the best outcome possible. Needing to throw his opponent off ever so slightly, Hibler tossed a wrench into the works as he pulled his driver from the bag on a hole that doesn’t require anything more than a 4-iron or hybrid off the tee. With the fairway bending sharply to the left, Hibler proceeded to pipe his drive into a position many players had yet to see that week.
 
“I just know I had to try to blitz him, so I hit driver where you shouldn’t hit driver to try to make birdie,” Hibler said. “He made a double, I made a par, and we just continued on.”  
 
Having just watched his opponent pull a gutsy move, Spensky kept to his game plan and took a long iron out of the bag — playing the hole the “correct” way. Though steady all day, Spensky proceeded to hit the shot that may have cost him the tournament. The collection of trees to the left of the fairway had reached out and pulled his ball into their grasp, leaving an unsettling punch shot toward the green.  
 
Fast forward a few shots. Spenksy now had a tricky 5-footer for bogey to win, and he watched as his ball lipped out, having taken a brief peek at victory as it glanced at the bottom of the cup while continuing its journey onward. Hibler, needing to respond to the newly found opportunity, stepped up and sunk his 4-foot putt for par to force Spensky to play him in extra holes.  
 
Hibler and Spensky tied with pars on the first playoff hole. Each nearly winning the championship with chips from opposing sides of the green. With the playoff moving to the 15th, the second extra hole, Hibler pummels his driver right down the middle on a hole that is visually intimidating off the tee — out-of-bounds lining the right side of the hole with trees on the left that force players to move the ball left-to-right.   
 
Spensky, needing again to match his opponent’s aggressiveness, proceeded to duck hook the ball off the tee into the greenside bunker on hole No. 17 — never being able to fully recover. Hibler — after hitting his second on to the green — two putted for par to claim his first Mid-Amateur and Master-40 Championship. (2023 being the first IGA Master-40 Championship.) He had snagged the victory right out of the grasp of Spensky, who had gotten wafts of the winner’s circle no more than 30 minutes prior.  
 
“[My] mental set, like I didn’t panic,” Hibler stated when asked what his biggest advantage was for the week. “If it was a 10-footer, 20-footer or a 3-footer, it was the same attitude. I think that is what panned out. I didn’t' over overreact on certain things. I gave myself five to six bad shots, so I didn’t overreact...When it gets down to playing in these things, it is always between the ears.” 

Humble in victory, the newly crowned champion had accepted his win in the same manner he would have defeat. Hibler showed graciousness and poise through it all — having proven his mental set to be superior, at least for the week.

Jesse Hibler hits his approach shot on the narrow 17th hole.

So, it comes as no surprise to anyone when Hibler goes wire-to-wire with the lead at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship. He held off fellow 2023 Lamey Cup teammates Chris Boquette and Nate Smith — who shot a tournament-low 64 on Sunday and whose quintuple bogey on Saturday had kicked him out of contention — and local favorites: Lee Reed, Scott Nelson and Taylor Price. 

Hibler had tamed the beast with distance and ball-striking, putting and a crisp short game. He walked away having mastered it all as the Mid-Amateur and Master-40 Champion — shooting 66-68-70 = 204 (-6). 

CLICK HERE for the full leaderboard. 

CONCLUSION 
 
It was a championship filled with suspense, playoffs, testy weather, and more. It displayed championship-caliber golf on a course that has withstood the test of time. The cream of the crop had risen and those worthy to lift their respected trophies did so.  
 
The IGA’s next event is its Four-Ball Championship at RedHawk Golf Course on September 9 and 10. See you there! 

2023 IGA Mid-Amateur Championship Payout

A Growing List of IGA Member Benefits

Written by Caleb Cox, Executive Director

For many years, we at the Idaho Golf Association have been dedicated to primarily two things: running top-notch state championships, tournaments and qualifiers for all ages; and maintaining the USGA’s core services of products. These services include everything from your Handicap Index to every golf course in the state of Idaho being rated by the USGA Course Rating System, demonstrating why these two things are the main reasons IGA memberships are purchased annually.

But did you know that the IGA has more benefits of membership than just owning a Handicap Index?

Throughout the last couple of years, we have been trying to bring you more benefits and opportunities that match your golfing ability, as well as lifestyle and other interests.

While this is a semi-new endeavor with plenty of room to grow, we have been extremely excited to bring some new programs to the IGA membership benefit scope that are well worth your time learning about.

Throughout 2023, we have been updating our member-perks list by working to form partnerships with businesses around the state, where you can take advantage of exclusive deals that are offered to IGA Members only.

These can be found in the “Membership Benefits” section of our website (IdahoGA.org) and will be advertised occasionally on our social media outlets.

These benefits provide a variety of perks, including indoor golf simulators, local online shopping discounts, and deals with local breweries!

Additionally, beginning in last month, we have a new partnership with an online discount platform that has IGA-exclusive deals on travel, food, shopping and tickets. These deals are constantly being updated, sometimes daily, so visit our website and see what’s new.

Last year, our manager of member services, Lexie VanAntwerp, launched our Ladies’ Play Days by hosting the first event at Falcon Crest Golf Club. These events were created to facilitate a great time of social interaction among women golfers of all ability levels under Lexie’s favorite slogan, “Make golf fun again!” Since that first event, Lexie has run several other Ladies’ Play Days both in the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley with an event coming soon to the Idaho Falls area.

Finally, let us not forget about a couple of our favorite events: our Vegas and Palm Desert Getaways. Designed to help golfers play great courses in warmer climates during the offseason, these two fun events have flighted formats that are great for all ability levels. We opened registration for these events in late August, so be sure to sign up early, because these trips usually fill up fast!

*Originally published in the Pacific Northwest Golfer, which will be published digitally soon!

Father Time’s Achilles Heel: senior golfers

Written by Beaux Yenchik, Manager of Media and Communications

Father Time can be quite the fickled character. He takes and gives as he pleases, never really justifying his actions or choices. Though most of his work is done amongst the senior demographic, Father Time disregards age and gender. Yet, he has an Achilles Heel, a specific group of individuals he has yet to figure out how to deal with, senior-aged golfers.

Though the style of golf they played may be slightly different from those of yesteryears, it was clearly evident at the 2023 Senior Amateur Championship that these seniors can still flat-out ball. It’s as if each stopped by the Fountain of Youth for a brief welcome drink before they pulled off of Aura Vista Way into the pebble-ridden parking lot of TimberStone Golf Course — ignoring Father Time as they passed each day.

The Senior Am simply became a new chapter in the golfing legacy of its victors. Three of the four winners claimed the title for a second consecutive year — Karen Darrington, Scott Masingill and Fran Matthias — with Marilyn Celano capturing her first senior major.

WOMEN’S SENIOR

For Darrington, Saturday’s victory was the ninth time she hoisted the Women’s Senior Amateur trophy — the trophy named after her and her legacy. As she tapped in her final putt, a decent crowd had gathered off of the 18th green to cheer and congratulate one of Idaho’s most decorated golfers. Her accomplishment was met with hugs and congratulations from her fellow competitors. The only emotion shown in that crowd was that of a smile.

But for this decorated champion, her accomplishment of winning was met by that of realizing that her near future would be different, at least for the next 18 months, as her participation in IGA Championships would soon come to a pause due to her choice of serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga.

After a light-hearted start to the trophy ceremony where it was joked that she should present herself her own trophy, she spoke to those gathered about how much this meant to her and the camaraderie that had been developed over the years with these ladies with whom she has competed against since her first State Amateur back in 1979.

Karen Darrington hits her approach shot on hole No. 5.

“I’m really going to miss the friendships of all of you,” Darrington said emotionally during the trophy ceremony. “We’re really lucky to all be friends and support one another. I just want you to know how much I love and appreciate you all, and I’ll miss you.”

Going into the final round, Darrington held a two-shot lead over Melinda Howard, with several others hot on their heels. Knowing she needed to shoot a good score, better than the scores she posted for rounds one and two, Darrington buckled down and played to win — a trait that very few seem to have.

"I really try to play the golf course,” Darrington mentions. “I set a goal for myself, like today, I really wanted to shoot under par. I figured if I could shoot even par or under that I could take care of business today. One of my strengths is my mental game, so I just try to use [it] to help me a lot…”

Darrington was the only female in the entire field of both senior and super-senior women to shoot a round of even par or better. When most of the field was trending in the opposite direction, Darrington remained cool, calm and collected as she hit fairway after fairway, green after green en route to her even par 72. It doesn’t matter what sport one plays, if you are consistent, you are pretty hard to beat.

Darrington finished her championship by winning by six shots and going 77-78-72 — 229 for a final score of 11-over par.

Despite taking a year-and-a-half hiatus for her mission, Darrington will be back, and it is safe to say she will still be a force for Father Time to reckon with.

WOMEN’S SUPER-SENIOR

Despite its luscious-green fairways and smooth-rolling greens, TimberStone can and did prove to be a brute to every golfer in the field. Its length can be an issue, especially for those who don’t quite hit the ball as far as they once did. For Celano and her fellow counterparts in the Women’s Super-Senior Division, the course played tough, but they pushed back with some phenomenal golf.

Celano demonstrated to the field that her game was on point and she was there to win. Celano was coming off an already successful 2023 and even late 2022. She had lost in the championship match of the Women’s Match Play to Darrington and had won the 2022 Women’s Super-Senior Tournament of Champions last October at Elkhorn Golf Club in Sun Valley. Needless to say, Celano has quickly made herself a name among various circles as a favorite to walk away with any trophy.

Finishing the event at 30-over par, going 80-84-82 — 246, Celano’s next closest competitor was a mere 16 shots behind her. That wouldn’t have been the predicted outcome for those who followed the event and saw the scores after day one. Shawna Ianson, who finished third overall, found herself tied for the lead after day one and just ended up going in the wrong direction, like everyone else in the field, with bogeys and double bogeys flooding everyone’s scorecards.

Celano, at the age of 71, proved yet again that age is just a number. For someone who picked up golf later in life, she demonstrated that hard work and practice pay off.

Marilyn Celano hitting her infamous fairway-finder.

"Well, I started playing [golf] in 1996 as a 46-year-old and was a former tennis player,” Celano said. “I tried to transfer some of those skills with trying to stay focused when I play and more on my short game…I just feel that I’m seeing some results.”

It was an impressive showing of ball striking. On a course that played long and had some difficult hole locations, having the ability to be able to hit the ball consistently off the center of the club face is so helpful, especially when your longer irons, hybrids, and even woods are used to hit into some of these par 4s and longer par 3s — showing Father Time he doesn’t have anything on her and her game.

It is also worth mentioning the appearance of Jean Smith, an Idaho legend in the amateur golf world. Smith, who finished in fourth place, put together an impressive showing for an 82-year-old competitor. Smith, a role model for many of the gals who competed, showed true grit and the fire she has always had when it comes to competing and the yearning for victory. As the only Idahoan to ever win a national USGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, she has to be considered a central figure on Idaho’s Mount Rushmore of amateur golfers.

MEN’S SENIOR

Anyone who has ever followed the golfing career of Masingill has seen nothing but consistency and a plethora of trophies at his side. He’s competed at every level of golf —having spent roughly 10 seasons on the PGA Tour Champions once he turned 50 years old. He has claimed nine IGA State Amateur trophies and a handful of others. And upon returning to amateur golf, Masingill picked up right where he left off.

Yet, in what may be the biggest pushback on Father Time, Masingill doesn’t seem to be slowing down. The recently turned 72-year-old had a top-20 finish at this year’s State Amateur at Jug Mountain Ranch in McCall — an event that he had a top-five finish at last year and one that many would say he has “no place” competing in. Then, to top it all off, he did a repeat at this year’s Senior Am — putting his trophy count at some absurd number like only a few others have, including the likes of Darrington and Smith.

The storyline for Masingill’s victory followed a very similar path to last year’s event, a nail-biter to the end with non-other than Scott Vermeer. The final round, or as we like to call it: “the Battle of the Scotts,” came down to the two of them seeking to capture a second Senior Amateur victory.

Masingill said: “It means something to me, especially with [ Joe Malay’s] name on the cup…But yes, this really matters to me. I work toward it. I work hard to try to keep myself in good shape and get my game in shape. It really matters to me.”

The two Scotts had hung tough through the opening two rounds, playing solid enough golf to keep themselves in the competition, sitting near or on top of the leaderboard following day two. Finding themselves paired with one another in the final group of the final round, the challenge of playing with deja vu was accepted by each golfer — allowing Father Time to flip the hourglass back in time.

Things got extremely interesting as the two entered their back nines. Vermeer went birdie-birdie on holes 10 and 11 to tie Masingill for the lead. It was on 13 when Masingill made his lone bogey of the final round, flipping the tide in favor of Vermeer who had captured the lead for the first time this tournament.

Yet, just as quickly as one can be given the lead, it can be taken away. Heading into hole No. 14, Masingill noticed his wife off in the distance — a surprise visit for the soon-to-be victor. With just 20 feet left for birdie, Masingill rolled in his putt with confidence and swagger, saying thanks to the applause from the gallery before his ball even fell into the hole. Vermeer would go on to go bogey the hole and then proceed to bogey his next two holes, finding the trophy to be just out of reach.

Scott Masingill watches as his ball falls in the hole for a birdie on hole No. 14.

"You know, I wasn’t playing all that well, [and] just wasn’t that confident,” Masingill stated. “I thought when I was one stroke down with four or five to play, I thought, you know there is just no reason to hold back. I was a little tentative earlier and my wife, Lori, showed up, so she is my good luck charm. And so I knew I was in good hands.”

After stuffing his final approach shot into the 18th green, Masingill sunk his final birdie and soon walked off the green to be greeted by his wife who proved to be the difference maker for Masingill’s quest for victory.

Hey, when you’re playing the level of golf that he is at his age, one could say he may have the upper edge on Father Time — shooting 72-70-71 — 213 (-3).

MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR

It is pretty safe to say that the Men’s Super-Senior Amateur was more Matthias’ to lose than for anyone else to step up and challenge the two-time champion. Placard in a cheetah-based printed shirt for his final round, Matthias owned the championship from start to finish in his division. Going sub-par in two of his three rounds proved that the only way he was losing was if some sort of catastrophe happened.

Finishing at a solid 5-under par for the week with rounds of 68-73-70 — 211, Matthias’ control of the golf ball and his game was simply unmatched. As players crumbled under the weight of the heat bearing down on them and the difficulty of the golf course, Matthias continued his solid play: hitting long drives into almost every fairway, accumulating greens in regulation, and rolling the rock better than the remainder of the field.

With a gentle smile and a confident walk, nothing was going to rattle him on the golf course. His work ethic is well-known, and his goal is to win and claim the throne for top men’s super-senior golfer year-in-and-year-out.

"Well, coming into it, I was a little nervous because last year I didn’t have any expectations,” Matthias said. “I just wanted to try to play my best. Where it ended up, it ended up. Being last year’s champion and coming into this year, I had more expectations for myself to finish higher and hopefully win it. I spent the week working pretty hard on my golf game.”

Clear demonstration of Fran Matthias’ practice paying off.

Sometimes it is the little moments that propel individuals into achieving great things. As mentioned above, it was the sight of his wife that worked for Masingill, for Matthias, it was his caddie, Garrett Stephenson, who asked him what was wrong with him and that he needed to straighten up a little bit after his shaky start through his first seven holes of his opening round. Taking the advice to heart, Matthias went on to par his next hole and then string together three straight birdies. Never looking back.

Must be a blessing to have your driver as the greatest weapon in your golf back, something Father Time probably throws fits about.

CONCLUSION

To keep this wrap-up brief, the 2023 Senior Amateur Championship displayed some of the best golf of the year. From all-time greats to maybe first-time participants, the golf was high quality and didn’t disappoint. Watching the process of these golfers working their way around a course is inspiring and definitely cool to see — doing things that I can’t do, being nearly 30-40 years my senior.

If I could say one thing to Father Time, it would be, “You might want to get that Achilles Heel looked at.”

For a complete look at the 2023 Senior Amateur Championship leaderboard, CLICK HERE.

2023 Senior Amateur Payout

IGA Championships Volunteer: Larry Warden Jr.

1 – Where are you originally from? If not from Idaho, what brought you here?
​I grew up in Oklahoma. I met my wife, Jen, when we were both working at the University of ​Colorado, and we moved to Boise when she was hired as the Women’s Basketball Coach at ​Boise State in 2002. We made the mistake of moving away in 2005, but after years of trying, ​we made it back to​ the Gem State in 2019.

2 – What is/was your career occupation?
​I currently own a mortgage brokerage and have been fortunate enough over the years to have ​had successful careers in athletics administration, flight instruction, banking, the golf business ​(both as an assistant pro and equipment rep), real estate, and my favorite…a stay-at-home dad.

3 – What is it about the game of golf that you love so much?
​Golf is a reflection of the human condition. You learn everything you need to know about ​someone, including yourself, when you play golf with them.

4 – What made you want to volunteer for the IGA? When did you start?
​I have volunteered for other state associations on our previous stops around the country and ​enjoyed the experience, so once we moved back, it was important to me to get involved with ​the IGA. I believe I worked my first IGA tournament in 2020 by helping with scoring.

Larry Warden Jr. spends quality time with his family on the water.

5 – What do you hope to get out of volunteering for the IGA? What motivates you to keep coming back?
​I hope that my presence at tournaments adds value to both the competitors and the ​Association. I am motivated to help the families of Idaho grow their LOVE of the game, and ​by conducting well-run competitions, that growth will surely follow.

6 – What has been your favorite memory from volunteering for the IGA?
​I absolutely love seeing the joy on a competitor’s face when they pull off the shot they had ​envisioned and with the level of golfers we have in Idaho, that happens quite a bit… so, many ​favorite memories.

7 – What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering?
​This is a wonderful organization that is run by consummate professionals. The more you can ​surround yourself with the type of people that conduct and play in our tournaments, the ​happier and better you will be.

8 – What is your fondest memory on the golf course?
​Hard to nail down just one…Our family was fortunate enough to be able to play together ​a few times while the world was shut down, and I will never take for granted the ​experiences that this game afforded us during a tough period in everyone’s lives.

9 – When were you introduced to the sport? By who?
​My dad would take me to Kickingbird Golf Course in my hometown of Edmond, OK, with him ​when I was five. He would always let me hit a drive on this really cool hole where you ​teed off over a small canyon, or gully as we called them in OK. I can still feel the happiness of ​driving it over that gully for the first time.

10 – What is your home club? How often do you play?
​I am a member of the Quail Hollow Men’s Association and play there a bit, and I really enjoy ​playing tournaments at McCall Golf Club, Boise Ranch, and Terrace Lakes. I play as often as I ​can, but we all know that is never enough.

11 – What's something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
​I “ran” and finished the Portland Marathon in 2012.

12 – Who would be a part of your dream foursome to play a round of golf with?
​My friends may laugh at this because they know I am a golf purist, but I will have to break ​club protocol and play a fivesome with my wife (Jen), my sons (Brice and Brock), and my dad.

13 - What has been your favorite golf course that you have played?
​I have been fortunate to play amazing courses and when I factor in the things I love about our ​game, I would say a little nine-hole loop called Manzanita Links in Manzanita, OR. Our ​honeymoon was in that town and we have taken the boys there many times. That course ​epitomizes what is important in golf… fun times with friends and family in a beautiful outdoor ​setting.

14 – Describe your golf game in six words
​Never dull, a work in progress

15 – What's one item that you can’t live without?
​It is hard to live without sleep and I cannot sleep well without a fan, so let’s go with a fan.