News

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Jan. 10, 2018) – Fifty-nine regional golf associations have
entered into a new relationship with the United States Golf Association to enhance the
golfer experience at the state and local levels in the United States.
These Allied Golf Associations (AGAs), supported by the USGA’s five existing regional
affairs offices, will administer the USGA Handicap and Course Rating Systems within
defined geographic areas across the country. In addition, they will serve as the
community’s primary resource for USGA services such as championship qualifiers,
governance, golf facility support and programs that help grow and improve the long-term
health of the game.

Golfers can find an Allied Golf Association in their area by clicking here:
http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/about/allied- golf-associations.html

While MAGA is listed under Missouri in the above link, its territory services club, courses and
golfers in counties in both Missouri and Illinois.  For full list of the counties MAGA serves,
click here.

“Regional golf associations are the lifeblood of the golf community and the USGA,” said
Mike Davis, USGA CEO. “We felt that now was the best time to formalize this new
alliance, in the spirit of working together on grassroots programs, improving how we serve
golfers and providing a healthy foundation from which the entire golf community can
grow.”

Newly recognized AGAs were identified through a nearly year-long discovery process that
encouraged collaboration among existing golf organizations within each state and region,
sharing best practices and leveraging programs that have made a positive impact.
The resulting relationship will enable AGAs to provide a variety of competitive playing
opportunities that engage more golfers of all levels within their region. The AGAs will also
serve as local experts for education on topics such as modernizing golf’s rules, the new
World Handicap System and related governance functions.

Each AGA will also have direct access to USGA research, funding for programs such as
USGA P.J. Boatwright Internships, data and technology, additional expertise to better
serve the health of golf facilities and support of national grow-the- game initiatives
including PLAY9.

One of the alliance’s most significant benefits to golfers will be the centralized
computation of USGA Handicap Indexes in the United States to improve efficiency,
consistency and governance oversight. The move to a more modernized, digital platform
will also empower Allied Golf Associations to more deeply engage golfers within their
community through rich, real-time player data.

An AGA Council has been formed to share information, help ongoing service delivery and
provide continuous feedback directly to the USGA to better serve golfers and golf clubs.
The 12-member council consists of AGA executive directors who will represent regions
and markets throughout the United States.

The alliance marks the latest step by the USGA to more deeply engage the local and
regional golf community. It complements the USGA’s existing presence in all five major
golf regions in the United States – Northeast, Great Lakes, Southeast, Central and West –
where dedicated Regional Affairs directors currently serve in residence.
In addition to its five Regional Affairs directors, the USGA also supports golf clubs and
facilities through the USGA Green Section, providing agronomic expertise through 13
regional offices.

About the USGA
The USGA celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we
conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the
U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set
of playing, equipment and amateur status rules. Our operating jurisdiction for these
governance functions is the United States, its territories and Mexico. The USGA Handicap
System is utilized in more than 40 countries and our Course Rating System covers 95
percent of the world’s golf courses, enabling all golfers to play on an equitable basis. The
USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and
Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for
the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the
game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more,
visit usga.org.

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