Operations

Financial Audits for 2019 and 2020

by

The detailed financial Audits for 2019 and 2020 have been posted.

The Board and Officers all have a fiduciary responsibility to manage your money while bringing you opportunities to enjoy golf with your Metro Seniors friends. We must account for your money completely, fairly and accurately. Proper financial controls and documents are critical.

The Audits or 2019 and 2020 identified significant problems and made recommendations to resolve these. These included inadequate control, approval and documentation for course contracts, prize distribution, and budget control.

Most of the current problems have centered on Metro Plus management. However, similar issues are included in a variety budgeted items in administration for all of Metro Seniors.

The Board and Treasurer have not been provided with proper documentation, review, approval, and use of course contracts for comparison to invoices or receipts. Further, terms and conditions – minimum guarantees, cancellation terms, deposit terms and details ae unknown. As a result, all of Metro Seniors may be exposed to significant liabilities.

We had similar issues several years ago with Special Events. With changes in leadership and financial controls the issues were resolved quickly. Now Special Events operations are a model of good governance, excellent financial control, and transparency and efficiency for prize payments and refunds.

The same management and financial control must be implemented for Metro Plus.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Events Calendar Updated

by

The Events Calendar has be revised for the opening of our golf season in June.

Weekly Tournaments for June have been rescheduled for Missouri courses. All but one date for Division 1 have been confirmed for June. We are confirming new schedules each month as conditions change. July reschedules are expected in mid-June.

Special Events have been canceled for April, May and June. We are hopeful to play the remaining schedule, but must reconfirm in June.

Metro Plus events are rescheduled through June with later dates awaiting input from courses and states.

Division 9 Tournaments will resume in June. Details on signup and play are being developed for each Wednesday with Riverside Golf Club.

Most important requirements for health distancing have required changes in our operations. Please watch for updates on the website and from you Division VP for information you will need each week.

  • Health (social) distancing is required everywhere
  • Only one player allowed per cart
  • Advance reservations for tee times is required each week
  • Players limited for weekly tournaments by carts available from a low of 56 up to 100
  • Some play rules have changed

Events Calendar Added to Website

by

Try this out.  Make your comments and suggestions.  We have some time to add more features before the 2019 season.

There is a new EVENTS menu added to the Metro Seniors Website.  This is a searchable and downloadable calendar of events that currently includes:

  • Weekly Tournaments information for all Division 1 – 5 for 2019
  • Special Events Scheduled for 2019
  • General and Board Meetings
  • Notices for registration opening for Special Events

Information on each event includes:

  • Title (example – D1 Wk 2  Course Name, or SE – event Course Name)
  • Description – summary information on the event
  • Venue information
    • Name, Address
    • Cost
    • Link to Google Maps
    • Organizer or leader where appropriate

The staring view is the current full month calendar.  To see other months simply click the next or previous month.  The events will show on the date with their Title.  Click on the event Title for full details of each event.

You can change the view to LIST to see the events in the current and following months.

Really powerful – the calendar is Searchable.  Click FIND and put in a keyword to search all calendar events.  For example, typing in Annbriar, will show all events at Annbriar (5 weekly tournaments).    Type in Shotgun to see all shotgun starts listed (30 total) plus all the Special Events. D1 will find all Division 1 weekly events, D2 – Division  2 and so on.

Use quotes to search for items with spaces – example “Wk 18” will find only the events listed for Week 18 – 5 events D1 – D5.   “D1 Wk18” will find only the event for Division 1 in Week 18.

In  MONTH View you will see the calendar for that specific month with the searched items.  In LIST View you will see the next 20 items starting with the month you selected in the Calendar.  Plus you can forward to the next 20, and next 20 and so on.

The Calendar is downloadable to GOOGLE Calendars.

Having a calendar of events on your website is great. Wouldn’t it be super awesome if you could get those events into a personal calendar as well?

How to Export Events

You’re in luck. The Events Calendar PRO includes a nifty option for you to export the events on your calendar in a flash. Visit your calendar and you’ll notice a button at the bottom.

Export Events Button

Click that button and it will download the events listed on the page as an .ics file.

If you’re wondering what the heck an .ics file is, it allows you to import events into a calendar application, like Apple’s iCal or Google Calendar. For example, here are the step-by-step instructions for importing an .ics file into a Google Calendar.

Division 9 – 2018 Update

by

Division 9 is our 9 hole league that plays Wednesday mornings at Riverside Golf Club in Fenton, MO (I44 at the Meramec River).  It has a 9 hole flight competition with closest to pin very much like our 18 hole divisions 1 – 5.   Handicaps used for Division 9 are generated and used only there.  Tee groups are filled as people arrive.  No commitments and you don’t have to have a 4some established.

This year there are about 60 Division 9 only members.  However about 30 members from Division 1-5 play in Division 9 too.

I’ve played several times with Division 9, had fun, and will continue to to do so.  Play is competitive and quick,

This might just be the little extra practice that you need to score better on Thursday or Friday.

CLICK HERE for more information on Division 9

Smartphone Scorecard Aid APP for 2018

by

Looking for the right tee choices (forward/back with colors) for the weekly tournaments?

Want to make sure you have the right member names and numbers for scorecards?

We have a smartphone app for that!

It will work for any smartphone (or tablet or PC) with internet access.  You simply go to the division form webpage and the form pots up.  No apps downloaded.  No security issues. It works great with a touch screen.

You simply select the course and number of players.  You can then select each player (for name and number) and the selected tees for the outing.  This is a simple “lookup” form.  You will still fill out and submit the paper scorecards.

This type form will be the basis for our future electronic scorecards.  One form for each 18 hole division (Divisions 1 – 5) with the most recent player listing, courses and tees.

This version DOES NOT have scoring.  You do not have to complete the form or submit any data.

However, this is a start to get you used to using the mobile data platform.  When we add scoring, you will already be comfortable with the form.

This form does allow information on starting groups (Tee Sequence Number) and Start and Scorer Times.  We will be testing this for pace of play logs.

Want to see it?  Sure you do!

Simply click on the following links for each Division.

Division 1          https://enketo.ona.io/x/#pzyD

Division 2          https://enketo.ona.io/x/#pzUv

Division 3          https://enketo.ona.io/x/#pzUT

Division 4          https://enketo.ona.io/x/#pzUM

Division 5          https://enketo.ona.io/x/#pzUX

You can access it on you smartphone by copying the same link to your smartphone browser.

Note: Select 2, 3, or 4 players to get 2, 3, of  4 players selections respectively.  This keeps the form shorter.

Also, if you complete the form including the Start and Finish Times, you can submit the form and the data can be added to our Pace data.

Finally – I will be forming the Mobile Scorecard Committee soon to start testing of the full scorecard form.  This will include collecting and submitting real scores for outings in test mode.

Want to Help?  Contact me – david.l.wicks@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access to OurGolfStats.com – UPDATE

by

Our handicap website was moved to a different hosting service over the off season and last year access problems have been eliminated.  Here is a quick reminder of how to get on this website:

  1. type ourgolfstats.com into your browser.  You can also use www.ourgolfstats.com.  And, you can use either http: at the beginning of your browser line or https:  The “s” stands for a “secure” connection.
  2. In the upper right corner, click on the “Member Login” button.  Early in 2018, this page of the website was optimized for smart phone users, so it looks a little different than in the past.  Smart phone users can get to the Menu by touching the icon that is 3 horizontal lines (also known as the “hamburger” icon).
  3. On the Log In screen, click (or touch) in the rectangle with the down arrow to get a list of leagues using these handicap services.  Choose, by clicking or touching, Metro St Louis Seniors Division _  –  which ever division you are in.  Press or click on Enter.
  4. Type the password for your Division.  This should be in the Membership Directory.  Press Enter.
  5. After the successful Login, click or press on the link to your Division’s page.
  6. Under the picture can be found the menu items:  #1 is the Roster, #2 is the Course Handicaps, etc.

Look around the website and see what all is available to you.

Member Book Now Available Online

by

Members, new and old, we had higher than expected turnout at the Membership Meeting last week.  Thank you for coming!

Unfortunately, we ran short of the Member Book.

Good News!  We have printed more copies and you can pick yours up at your first weekly tournament.  These have been delivered to your Division VP.

Better News!  We have a complete copy of the Member Book now available on this website as a PDF file. This copy will be updated for changes as needed during the season.  You can view the book from your PC or smartphone at any time.  You can download it for your PC or smartphone.  You can also print it all or page by page using your PDF viewer controls.  See Below.

This has everything in the print version including Starter/Scorer Instructions, Special Events information, Close To Pin and Tee information, and schedules.

Wallet /Credit Card sized schedule is the last 2 pages of the book are a special printable wallet schedule for each division including Special Events.  If you have a duplex printer (prints on 2 sides of paper) you can print it directly and cut out your division.  If not print 2 pages and attach front and back.

So all I really want to print is the wallet schedule!   Here it is – 2 pages, print on both sides is you have a duplex printer.  

Download (PDF, 59KB)

Member Book 2018 for Viewing or Download

Download (PDF, 663KB)

 

Close to Pin Selections for Special Events

by

Here are the selected CTP holes for Special Events and the Association Championships.  These are chosen to match our target distances / difficulty for both the forward and back tee locations for each course.  These have been reviewed by the Special Events and Tournament Committees with cooperation from the Handicap Committee.

The Event Leaders and Special Events Chair have the final authority for selection of tees at the Event to adjust for course or event conditions.

Special Events and Championship CTP Holes 

Download (PDF, 34KB)

 

First Tee Collection / Donations at 2018 General Meeting

by
Looking for a way to make more space in your garage or basement?
Get those extra golf clubs and old but usable bags and even used (or new shoes) to the Metro Seniors Member meeting on March 13 and make a donation to First Tee.  Maybe you can even get a tax deduction for 2018 for your donation.
Past President Bob Zaruba is organizing Metro St. Louis  Seniors Golf Association collections at the General Meeting for the First Tee Charity.  Donate your excess golf gear for great use with their charity program for kids.
First Tee will be at the Kirkwood Community Center about 12:15 – 1:00 on Tuesday March 13 – right before the annual spring meeting.  Get there early, make your donation, and meet friends at your Division Table before the meeting.  Parking gets full early.
First Tee gladly accepts golf clubs that are no older than 15 years old, golf bags that are in good usable condition and golf balls.  Sorry, we cannot accept anything with alcohol advertising.
Want more information about First Tee – CLICK HERE

With the 2nd Swing Club Donation Program you can put any of your old equipment to great use and make a huge impact. The value of your used clubs and equipment is sent to generate cash donations.

Can’t make the General Meeting????  You can still make a donation that will benefit First Tee of Greater St. Louis.  The following directions will help.

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR EQUIPMENT DONATION:

First Tee has an online donation form that includes a detailed valuation for lots of equipment.  If you use their form, you can get a detailed tax valuation summary for your donation.

Click here to get started.

  • When completing the donation form, fill in our chapter name to ensure the donation is directed to us (there are 165+ chapters so this is important!).
  • If you have equipment to donate that you cannot find in the system, add it to your shipping box and make a note in the “notes” section of the donation form.
  • You can also donate golf balls, apparel, golf bags, range finders, etc. 2nd Swing’s staff will process the items and contact you about their donation value.
  • When shipping your equipment to 2nd Swing, please print your FREE shipping labels and include a copy of your donation summary in each box. The donation summary can be printed directly from the website or from your email confirmation.
  • A donation receipt will be sent to you within 3-4 weeks of receiving the donation. Our chapter will receive your donation within a month.

Close to Pin Holes – Weekly Schedule

by

Revised 3-20-2018 – Yardages adjusted for a few holes per Handicap Committee review.

The Division VPs have the primary responsibility for selection of the CTP holes and positioning (Forward and Back) for each weekly tournament.  in 2017, Rick Hines, VP Division 5, pulled together a consolidated list of suggested CTP location for each weekly tournament that is included here.

We expect that most Divisions will be using these positions.  However, the VPs may make changes as they feel appropriate and will confirm via email to the Starters before a tournament.   Since most of our courses continue from year to year, we will make CTP changes as needed for new courses added to the weekly tournaments,

This will give you a peek before you get to the course.  This will be included online as an additional resource.

Selection of the holes requires some thought to make this competition fair and challenging without picking holes that are excessively long or short.  We try to have both a Forward and a Back CTP on each of the front and back nine.  However, some courses don’t have a good layout.

Forward CTP Holes

  • 110 to 115 Yards Average
  • 145 Yards Max
  • 83 Yards Min

Back CTP Holes

  • 140 to 145 Yards Average
  • 165 to 170 Yards Max
  • 100 to 105 Yards Min

Several courses will have both the Forward (Red) CTP and the Back (Yellow) CTP on the same hole.  This is to prevent having exceptionally long or short holes.  For example, the 190 yard par 3s at The Prairies or Florissant or the 225 yard 18th at Normandie would not be included.

The STARTERS can use this list instead of selecting CTP holes by themselves.  They will use the VP email instructions or pick used the suggested CTP holes and position in the spreadsheet.    However, STARTERS will still prepare the CTP Cards for the selected holes and get these to the first group or the hole assigned group.

We will simplify the Starter’s Instructions and delete the detailed description on selecting Closest To Pin locations for each weekly tournament.

Suggested CTP for 2018 Weekly Tournaments 

Download (PDF, 67KB)